Author: QuiltLady

SLOW COOKER APPLE SAUCE

Slow Cooker Apple Sauce
8 cups diced apples (peeled and cored)
1 cup golden raisins
1 cup light brown sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 dash freshly grated nutmeg
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 teaspoon Sea salt
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

  • Put all the ingredient in a slow cooker and mix thoroughly.  
  • Cover and cook on high until apples are tender, about 3 hours.
  • Add raisins last hour.
  • This produces a  yummy salted-cinnamon-vanilla-caramel sauce that coats the apples and will thicken slightly upon cooling.  
  • Cool uncovered for a thicker sauce.

Vegetable Pork Stir Fry

VEGETABLE PORK STIR FRY
Peanut Oil
egg white (save the yolk for the fried rice)
1 tablespoon cornstarch
3/4 pound thin pork chops (chicken works great too)
1 large bunch green onions, sliced thin
1 cup snow peas
3/4 cup carrots slices
1 cup broccoli florets
3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1/4 cup orange juice

  • An hour before you plan on cooking slice pork chops into thin strips.
  • Whisk together the egg white and cornstarch.
  • Coat pork strips in egg mixture and chill for 1 hour.
  • Slice the onions, carrots and broccoli to bite size pieces.
  • Cut the snow peas in half if they are large or leave whole.
  • Heat peanut oil to medium high.
  • Stir Fry pork pieces quickly and remove to drain on paper towel.
  • Add vegetables and stir fry until tender. Add pork slices back in.
  • Whisk together the soy sauce, sesame oil and orange juice.
  • Add to the pan and toss to coat.
  • Heat through until glaze forms.
  • Serve with Fried Rice (recipe follows).

SOUTHWEST GRILLED CHICKEN

SOUTHWEST GRILLED CHICKEN
2 pounds chicken wings
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper.
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 cup hot red pepper jelly

  • Heat gas grill to medium high or a charcoal grill to medium hot fire.
  • Wash and dry chicken wings.
  • Mix spices together until well blended.
  • Sprinkle 2 tablespoons on the spice mixture over chicken pieces.
  • When grill is hot rub the grate with oil and grill chicken 20 minutes or so.
  • Combine remaining spices with jelly.
  • Brush chicken pieces with jelly and cook another 5 minutes or so turning every few minutes until browned and crisp.
  • Let stand 5 minutes.

SAUCY SPICY GRILLED BBQ CHICKEN

SAUCY SPICY GRILLED BBQ CHICKEN
2 pounds chicken wings
salt & pepper
1/4 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon garlic rice wine vinegar
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
2 green onions, minced

  • Heat gas grill to medium high or a charcoal grill to medium hot fire. 
  • Wash and dry chicken wings. 
  •  Generously salt and pepper the wings. 
  • When grill is hot rub the grate with oil and grill chicken 20 minutes or so, turning every few minutes until browned and crisp. 
  •  In a small bowl whisk together the ketchup, soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, pepper flakes and half of the onions. 
  • When wings are done either brush them with the sauce or transfer the wings to a large bowl and toss with sauce. 
  • Sprinkle with remaining onions.

BBQ CHICKEN CHILE CORNBREAD REDNECK CUPCAKES

My buddy Dave over at My Year on the Grill “invented” the Redneck Cupcake.  Pure genius I tell you!

I do like the “cake” part on the bottom – so much easier to eat!  The “cake” envelops the meat and the cheese oozes and goozes down into the meat.   It was also my birthday last week and my mom sent me a box full of “goodies”.  Among those goodies were these awesome muffin tart baking cups that require no muffin tin and are larger and flatter than the average so once again they are easier to eat. I may try those next time, but this time I think in order to qualify as a “redneck” cupcake they must be made in leftover birthday wrappers.

Dave and I are both believers in using all your leftovers as he demonstrates with his Redneck Cupcakes.   My recipe uses all the small tidbits from when you skin your Rotisserie chicken.  I use absolutely everything from my rotisserie chickens including the bones!

BBQ CHICKEN CHILE CORNBREAD REDNECK CUPCAKES makes 15-18 cupcakes

2-3 cups Rotisserie Chicken pieces
1/4 cup favorite BBQ sauce
1 batch Chile Cornbread
Havarti cheese slices or Vermont White Cheddar, quartered
  • Toss chicken pieces with BBQ sauce and set aside for an hour before preparing muffins.
  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  • Prepare the cornbread and fill baking cups 2/3 full.
  • Drain chicken pieces of excess sauce.
  • Top with a layer of meat.
  • Top with a very thin slice of cheese.
  •  Bake 20 minutes or until cornbread tests JUST done with a toothpick or until cheese oozes and goozes into the chicken pieces.

CHILE CORNBREAD
15.25 oz. can white corn
4 oz. can chopped green chiles, drained REALLY well
8.5 oz. can cream corn
8 oz. sour cream
1 egg
1 box JIFFY (small blue box) Corn Muffin Mix
1/2 cup melted butter

  • Mix all together by hand. 
  • Pour into greased 9×9 pan. 
  • Bake 45 minutes at 350 degrees. 
  • If doubling recipe, use a 13×9 baking pan and bake at 350degrees for 1 hour or golden brown and set.
Wouldn’t these make awesome football food?

PIQUANT CHICKEN with CHARRED TOMATO SAUCE

Chipotle chiles add a nice smoky heat to the sauce.  Serve this piquant chicken with lime wedges, chopped cilantro and chiles, and sour cream.

PIQUANT CHICKEN with CHARRED TOMATO SAUCE
3 pounds skinless chicken breast
1-1/2 cups oil
2 cans Chipolte Peppers in Adobo Sauce
1 (can) 16 ounce whole tomatoes, chopped
1 cup onions, chopped fine
1/2 cup chopped celery
1 large bunches green onions, chopped
1/4 cup chopped parsley
3 large cloves garlic, sliced thin
3 cups chicken broth
1 tablespoon red pepper
1 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons sea salt
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon oregano
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

  • Drain peppers, retaining sauce. Finely chop peppers and set aside.
  • In a heavy skillet, add 1/4 oil and heat until hot. 
  • Add 1/2 cup flour and stir mixture until roux is a nice caramel color.  Set aside.
  • In a 4 quart heavy pot add 2 to 3 tablespoons of oil and adobo sauce. 
  • Cook on low heat until brown in color. 
  • Add onions, celery, garlic and stir until mixture is sauteed. 
  • Add roux, a pepper or two depending on your heat index and whole tomatoes, while continuing to stir to keep mixture from sticking to bottom of pot. 
  • Slowly add chicken broth while stirring to blend all ingredients together. 
  • Add all seasonings, sugar and Worcestershire sauce. 
  • Cook on medium heat for about 1 hour, stirring every 10 to 15 minutes. 
  • Turn down heat, and add green onions and parsley. 
  • Heat remaining oil until hot. 
  • Slowly add chicken and pan-fry until slightly brown. Salt and peppering generously.
  • Drain on paper towels to remove excess oil. 
  • Slowly add chicken to the sauce and cook for about 45 minutes.

PARSLEY, SAGE, ROSEMARY & THYME CHICKEN

PARSLEY, SAGE, ROSEMARY & THYME CHICKEN
6-7 pound chicken
1/2 cup white wine
1/2 cup chicken broth
2 cups baby carrots
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsely leaves
1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage leaves
2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary leaves
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
1 small onion, cut into eighths
4 cloves garlic, minced

  • Preheat oven to 325˚.
  • Generously grease baking dish.
  • Scatter onions, carrots and garlic along the bottom.
  • In a small food processor pulse 3/4 of all the leaves together until well blended.
  • Add butter until well blended.
  • Working from the large cavity end of the bird, use your fingers to loosen the skin form the meat.
  • Using a rubber spatula, place 2/3 of the butter mixture under the skin on both sides of the breast bone.
  • Spread the remaining butter over the outside of the bird.
  • Generously sprinkle the entire bird with salt and pepper.
  • Sprinkle with remaining herbs.
  • Roast 1 1/2 hours or until desired temperature.
  • Remove from pan and let rest 15-20 minutes.
  • Strain vegetables and make gravy with drippings if desired.
  • Carve and serve.

CAMPFIRE POTATOES

Amounts are proportionate and per taste.
Slice some yukon gold potatoes and Vidalia onions.
Generously sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Toss with melted butter until well coated.
Using heavy duty foil cut out generous sized squares per person.
Squirt a generous amount of yellow mustard all around.
Sprinkle with grated cheddar cheese and crumbled crisp bacon.
Seal well.
Seal well and toss on grill for 25-30 minutes.

NEAPOLITAN CHICKEN

NEAPOLITAN CHICKEN
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 cup Panko crumbs
1/2 cup flour
2 eggs, beaten
1/8 cup milk
3 tablespoons butter
1 cup ricotta cheese
1 egg, beaten
2 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
2 ounces shredded Parmesan cheese
4 slices sliced provolone
3-4 cups marinara sauce
salt and pepper to taste

  • Preheat oven to 350˚.
  • In a shallow bowl mix together the 2 beaten eggs and milk.
  • In a medium mixing bowl cream together the ricotta cheese, 1 beaten egg, Parmesan cheese and mozzarella cheese. Generously salt and pepper. Set aside.
  • Flatten chicken breasts to uniform size.
  • Bring butter to a melt over medium heat.
  • Coat chicken in flour.
  • Dip chicken in egg wash.
  • Coat in panko crumbs.
  • Brown chicken breasts on both sides.
  • Drain chicken breasts on paper towels.
  • Place half the marinara sauce in a baking dish.
  • Add the chicken breasts.
  • Top with a thin layer of marinara.
  • Spread a generous portion of the ricotta mixture on each chicken breast.
  • Top each breast with a provolone slice.
  • Bake for 20 minutes or until cheese is bubbly.
  • Serve with pasta.

7UP TROPICAL GLAZED PORK CHOPS or TENDERLOIN

7UP TROPICAL GLAZED PORK CHOPS
4-6 large pork steaks, chops or loin
4 ounces 7UP
3/4 cup apricot pineapple preserves
1 cup brown sugar
8 ounces crushed pineapple juice
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

  • Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
  • Whisk together the 7UP, pineapple, apricot preserves, red pepper flakes and brown sugar.
  • Generously salt and pepper the pork chops.
  • Spread a small layer of the glaze on the bottom of the roasting pan.
  • Lay the pork chops on top and spread the remaining glaze on top and along the sides.
  • Baste as necessary.
  • Bake 25-30 minutes or until meat thermometer reads 165-170 degrees.

This is also a great way to prepare chicken.

STUFFED MEATBALLS & ROASTED VEGGIE SPAGHETTI SAUCE

  • I start with whatever vegetables I have in the vegetable bin. Today was Roma tomatoes, celery stalks, green onions and snap peas.
  • Then I drizzle olive oil and salt and pepper over it all and bake it for an hour at 400 degrees.
  • I started the sauce with a can of Contadina tomato paste, 1 teaspoon Better than Beef Bouillon paste, 2 cups orange juice and a V8. This truly was a clean out the fridge day.
  • When done roasting add the vegetables to the sauce and set to simmer all day. The vegetables will continue to cook down into a uniform consistency with the sauce. Salt & pepper taste.


For the meatballs:
1 pound hamburger
1 pound sweet Italian sausage, casings removed
3 large slices sourdough bread, crumbled
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheeseAlign Center
2 tablespoons fresh minced parsley
1 bunch green onions, finely minced
2 teaspoons minced garlic, jar
mozzarella cheese, about 4 ounces, cut into 1 inch cubes

  • Crumble bread into a large bowl.
  • Toss in Parmesan cheese, parsley, green onions and garlic.
  • Add meat and with your hands mix extremely well until you have a uniform mixture.
  • Roll meatballs around a Parmesan cheese cube.
  • Chill Meatballs until sauce is done.
  • Just before the sauce is finished, brown meatballs.**
  • Add the meatballs to the sauce and bring to a medium high simmer until meatballs are cooked though, about 20 minutes.
  • Prepare pasta and Parmesan Cheese Bread while meatballs are cooking.
  • Enjoy

**If you prefer you can add the meatballs directly to the sauce and SLOW simmer for a couple hours instead of browning.

Ricotta Herbed Manicotti with homemade Bolognese Sauce

One of our favorites is Herbed Ricotta Cheese Manicotti with Bolognese sauce. Anyone who knows me knows when I make Bolognese, that I make it by the vat full and then freeze it in easy to use sizes. That step makes this a super easy dish to make.


HERBED RICOTTA CHEESE MANICOTTI with BOLOGNESE SAUCE
16 ounces part skim Ricotta Cheese
4 ounces Manicotti shells (1 tray)
2 teaspoons Italian herb seasoning
2 servings of your favorite BOLOGNESE sauce or marinara sauce
4 ounces Italian blend* grated cheese

  • Prepare pasta according to directions. Rinse in cool water and set aside.
  • With a hand mixer whip the Ricotta Cheese and add seasoning until well blended.
  • Gently stuff the cooled shells and place in a baking dish.
  • Top with sauce and cheese.
  • Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Personally I like to bake these a day ahead of when I want to serve them and let the flavors meld together. I think they are better the next day.

Italian blend cheese ~ Mozzarella, Provolone, Romano, Asiago, Parmesan