Monday, February 13, 2017

Maple Mustard: One Pan

Ingredients
  • 4 skinless, bone-in chicken thighs
  • 1 to 1-1/2 pounds small new potatoes, halved
  • salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
  • 1/3 cup brown mustard
  • 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 375F.
  2. Season chicken and potatoes with salt and pepper; transfer to a nonstick pan or 12-inch skillet that is oven safe. Set aside.
  3. In a small mixing bowl, combine mustards and maple syrup; whisk to combine.
  4. Pour the mustard mixture over the chicken and potatoes; toss to coat.
  5. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until chicken is done cooking and potatoes are tender.

Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Chicken, Apple, Sweet Potato, and Brussels Sprouts Skillet

Ingredients:

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 4 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped
  • 3 cups Brussels sprouts, trimmed and quartered (about 3/4 pound)
  • 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch cubes (about 8 ounces)
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 2 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and cut into 3/4 inch cubes
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced (about 2 teaspoons)
  • 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth, divided

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large,nonstick or cast iron skillet over medium high, until hot and shimmering. Add the chicken, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and black pepper. Cook until lightly browned and cooked through, about 5 minutes. Transfer to plate lined with paper towels.
  2. Reduce skillet heat to medium low. Add the chopped bacon and cook until crisp and brown and the fat has rendered, about 8 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate (I simply laid another paper towel on top of the plate with the chicken, then stacked the bacon on that). Discard all but 1 1/2 tablespoons bacon fat from the pan.
  3. Increase skillet heat back to medium high. Add Brussels sprouts, sweet potato, onion, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until crisp-tender and the onions are beginning to look translucent, about 10 minutes.
  4. Stir in the apples, garlic, thyme, and cinnamon. Cook 30 seconds, then pour in 1/2 cup of the broth. Bring to a boil and cook until evaporated, about 2 minutes. Add the reserved chicken and remaining 1/2 cup broth. Cook until heated through, about 2 minutes. Stir in reserved bacon and serve warm.

Chicken Spaghetti Bake

Ingredients

  • 8 oz angel hair pasta 1/2 box
  • 2 cups chopped, cooked chicken
  • 2 10 oz cans cream of chicken soup
  • 1 cup salsa
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 2 cups Mexican cheese blend divided use
  • 1 tbsp taco seasoning
  • dried parsley for topping (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350f degrees.
  2. Spray a 9x13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
  3. Cook pasta according to package directions (remember, you are only using half a box of angel hair pasta here.)
  4. Once pasta is cooked, drain well.
  5. Place pasta back into the pot and add diced chicken, cream of chicken soups, salsa, sour cream, 1 cup of Mexican cheese blend and taco seasoning.
  6. Stir well to combine (this will take a few minutes.)
  7. Pour combined mixture into your prepared baking dish.
  8. Top with remaining cheese and a sprinkling of dried parsley.
  9. Cover with nonstick aluminum foil.
  10. Cook in the oven for about 25 minutes (until hot and bubbly.)

Recipe Notes

You can purchase the pre-cooked or pre-grilled chicken in the refrigerated section and freezer sections of your grocery store to cut down on time.

Pesto Spaghetti Squash Sausage Skillet

Ingredients
  • 1 medium spaghetti squash, cut in half and seeds discarded
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 sweet pepper, diced
  • 1 medium onion, finely diced
  • 4 chicken or turkey sausages, sliced 1/4-in thick
  • 1/2 cup prepared basil pesto
  • Shredded Parmesan cheese for topping, optional
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 400F. Prick spaghetti squash halves with a fork several times and rub inside with 1 tablespoon oil. Season with salt and pepper. Place squash flesh side-down on a greased baking sheet. Bake spaghetti squash at 400F 40-45 minutes or until squash is tender. Allow squash to cool slightly, then shred squash inside with a fork and place spaghetti squash in a bowl. Set aside.
  2. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat remaining oil until hot. Saute onion and sausage 5-7 minutes until lightly golden.
  3. Add spaghetti squash to skillet and stir occasionally until squash is heated through. Stir pesto into squash and season skillet with salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese if desired. Serve spaghetti squash warm. Enjoy!


Salsa Verde Tacos

  • 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 cup mild salsa verde (I use Herdez in the jar)
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1/2 cup lime juice
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • Hot sauce to taste
Tacos
  1. Rub chicken breasts with olive oil and place in the bottom of your slow cooker. Add all of the remaining Slow Cooker ingredients except for the hot sauce. Cook on high for 2-4 hours or on low for 6-7 hours or until chicken is tender enough to shred.
  2. Remove chicken to a cutting board, and let rest 5 minutes before shredding (there will be a lot of liquid remaining). Return shredded chicken and let cook on low for an additional 20-30 minutes to absorb some of the liquid/juices. Drain excess liquid before serving or use tongs to remove shredded chicken. Taste and add more honey for sweeter, lime for more tang, hot sauce for spicier.

Frozen Mudslide Cake

Ingredients
  • 1 box of Ghirardelli double chocolate brownie mix
  • 1/3 c. water
  • 1/3 c. vegetable oil
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 gallon of vanilla or coffee ice cream
  • 5 Tablespoons of Kahlua coffee liquor, divided
  • 2/3 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 5 TBLS boiling water
  • 1 stick of butter, softened
  • 3 c. powdered sugar
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 325*
  2. Prepare a large 9x13 glass baking dish by spraying it with cooking spray
  3. Stir together the brownie mix, water, oil and egg in a large bowl and pour in the pan. Bake for 30 minutes or until the brownies no longer jiggle and an inserted toothpick comes out fairly clean.
  4. Allow to cool for 15 minutes and then poke holes in the top of the brownies and brush 2 TBLS of Kahlua over the top. Place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to continue cooling.
  5. In the meantime make the frosting by placing the cocoa in a large mixing bowl and pour the boiling water over it. Stir with a spoon until well combined.
  6. Add the butter and blend it until well mixed. Add the 3 remaining TBLS of Kahlua and mix until combined.
  7. Add the powdered sugar and mix until smooth and creamy. Taste it. If you want more Kahlua flavor, add another TBLS. Add a little more powdered sugar if necessary until desired consistency is reached.
  8. Remove the brownies from the refrigerator and scoop the ice cream over the top and smooth it into a flat layer. Place covered in the freezer for ten minutes.
  9. Remove and spread the frosting over the top. Cover and place in the freezer for at least an hour before serving. Store any remaining dessert covered in the freezer.

S'Mores Cobbler

Ingredients:
5 oz pkg cook & serve chocolate pudding
3 cups whole milk
12 graham cracker squares
3/4 cup miniature semi sweet chocolate chips
15 oz box chocolate cake mix, dry
1/2 cup cold butter, sliced
10 oz pkg miniature marshmallows
whipped cream
Instructions: 


  • Prepare chocolate pudding with milk on stove top as directed on package. Allow to cool in pot for 15 minutes.
  • Spread pudding evenly into the bottom of a 9 x 13 baking dish. Lay graham crackers evenly in pudding and sprinkle with 1/2 cup chocolate chips.
  • Sprinkle dry cake mix over pudding and dot with slices of butter. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.
  • Remove from oven and stir making sure any dry cake mix spots have be moistened.

  • Sprinkle evenly with marshmallows and remaining chocolate chips. Bake an additional 5 - 8 minutes or until marshmallows are puffy and brown. Allow cobbler to cool 15 minutes before serving.