Category: COOKING THURSDAY

ITALIAN CORN CHOWDER ~ BLOG 365.33

January was NATIONAL SOUP MONTH so what better time for comfort food like this warm and comforting super creamy corn and potato chowder that includes sweet Italian sausage to oomph the flavor. This sausage and corn chowder is the perfect comfort food year round, but especially in the winter. In the summer use fresh corn and in the winter, frozen corn works well!

Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 35 minutes Total Time: 50 minutes Servings: 6

ITALIAN CORN CHOWDER adapted from CLOSET COOKING

1 pound Sweet Italian sausage, casings removed
4 tablespoons butter
1 cup sweet Vidalia onion, diced
1 cup diced carrots
1 cup diced celery
1 cup red pepper, diced
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
1 pinch red pepper flakes
3-4 tablespoons WONDRA flour
4 cups homemade chicken broth
2 LARGE potatoes, peeled and cubed
4 cups corn (fresh, frozen, or canned depending on season)
1 teaspoon FRESH chopped oregano
1 teaspoon FRESH thyme leaves
FRESH ground salt and pepper to taste
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons FRESH chopped Italian flat leaf parsley
2 green onions, thinly sliced

  • Cook the sausage in a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it into small pieces, until cooked through. Set aside.
  • Add the butter to the pan and let it melt.
  • Add the onion, carrots, celery and peppers cooking 7-10 minutes until tender.
  • Add the garlic and red pepper flakes, stirring well.
  • Sprinkle with the flour and cook 2-3 minutes until golden.
  • Add the broth, sausage, potatoes, corn, oregano, and thyme.
  • Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer until the potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes.
  • Turn off the flame.
  • Lightly whisk together the heavy cream and Parmesan until the cheese melts in.
  • Adjust seasoning to taste with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Mix in the parsley and green onions.

BLOG 365.26 ~ SNICKER DOODLE BREAD

Do you love a good snickerdoodle? What could be better than a warm cookie? Warm bread of course!

SNICKER DOODLE BREAD
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons QUALITY cinnamon (see notes)
1 bag Hershey’s cinnamon chips (see notes)
1 cup butter, room temperature
2 cups sugar
2 LARGE eggs
1 tablespoon PURE vanilla
3/4 cup sour cream

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Grease 3 loaf pans.
  • Sift together the flour baking powder, salt and cinnamon.
  • Fold in cinnamon chips and Set aside.
  • Cream together the butter and sugar.
  • Add eggs, blending until fluffy and uniform in color.
  • Mix in vanilla and sour cream.
  • Gradually add in the dry ingredients.
  • Distribute evenly amongst the loaf pans.
  • Bake 45-50 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.

NOTES:

  • This recipe easily transforms into a seasonal taste by using apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice in combination with the cinnamon.
  • You can also substitute the cinnamon chips for butterscotch chips.

MARRY ME CHICKEN MADE SIMPLY ITALIAN ~ UPDATED ~ BLOG 365.5

This saucy, tender and creamy meal is just so delicious that he will propose LOL or at least that’s what was said in years past. He may not propose, but he will be satisfied with this truly melt in your mouth chicken dish.

MARRY ME CHICKEN

2 tablespoon avocado oil+
A pint of cherry or grape tomatoes, cut in half
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste
2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs or chicken steaks (your preference)
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon FRESH thyme or tarragon (your preference)
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
scant 1/4 cup champagne (pink moscato is my favorite) or white wine
1 cup homemade chicken stock
3/4 cup heavy cream
FRESH chopped parsley, torn to garnish
1 tablespoon potato starch or cornstarch, for thickening

  • Preheat oven to 400°.
  • Heat a large oven proof skillet over medium heat with 2 tablespoons avocado oil.
  • Place tomato halves in the skillet.
  • Add a few pinches of salt and pepper and toss it all together to combine.
  • Place in the oven to roast for 15-20 minutes, stirring once and roasting until the tomatoes have sizzled off some of their water and begin to brown slightly.
  • While the tomatoes are roasting, season the chicken generously on both sides with salt and pepper.
  • Remove skillet from the oven and reduce the oven temperature to 375°.
  • Transfer all of the tomatoes to a small bowl. Set aside.
  • Add a bit more avocado oil if necessary and sear the chicken in the same pan the tomatoes roasted in until golden brown on both sides. Don’t worry about cooking the chicken all the way through. It will spend enough time in the oven to cook through and tenderize.
  • Place the seared chicken in a shallow bowl or platter with a lip to catch any juices and set aside.
  • Reduce the heat to low. DO NOT WIPE OUT PAN! You want the nice browned bits across the pan for flavor!
  • Add garlic to the pan and stir constantly around the pan for 1 minute.
  • Stir in thyme or tarragon and red pepper flakes.
  • Return the tomatoes to the pan along with the champagne.
  • Scrape all those browned bits off the bottom of the pan as the wine cooks off.
  • Stir in chicken stock and heavy cream and bring to a low simmer.
  • Return the chicken pieces to the pan, nestling them in the sauce.
  • Place the skillet in the oven and bake for 18-20 minutes.
  • Remove from the oven when chicken is cooked through.
  • Transfer chicken to a plate and keep warm.
  • In a small bowl whisk together cornstarch or potato starch and 1 tablespoon of water.
  • Add to sauce, whisking to thicken. If the sauce doesn’t thicken immediately, place it back on a burner on low for a minute or two.
  • Return the chicken to the sauce and garnish with FRESH parsley.
  • Serve over rice, pasta or mashed potatoes.

WILTED GREENS with HOT BACON DRESSING ~ BLOG 366.277

This recipe has changed for us A LOT over the years so I’m going to give you both my original recipe AND my revised versions! BUT, this top revision is my favorite and final version!!!!!!!

WILTED GREENS with HOT BACON DRESSING serves 4 (3rd & FINAL REVISION)
8 cups torn lettuce and/or spinach of choice
3 stalks celery, halved and sliced
1/2 cup sliced and chopped red onion
1 cucumber, halved and sliced thick
4 slices bacon, diced
1 SMALL egg
2/3 cup water
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar
2 teaspoons cornstarch
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste
1 hard boiled egg per person

  • Toss lettuce, chopped red onion and celery pieces in a large salad bowl. Set aside.
  • In a large skillet, cook bacon until JUST crisp.
  • Remove bacon pieces with a slotted spoon to drain on paper toweling. Discard all but 2 tablespoons of the drippings.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the water and egg until well blended. Whisk into bacon drippings.
  • Whisk together the vinegar, sugar, cornstarch, FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper. Add to the drippings also, whisking to blend.
  • Bring to a boil while stirring constantly.
  • Remove from heat.
  • Pour over salad.
  • Add half of the bacon pieces and toss well.
  • Top with red onion slices, sliced hard boiled egg and crumbled bacon.
  • Serve immediately.

HOT WILTED GREENS (original)
1 head green leaf lettuce, washed and shredded
1 large bunch green onion, sliced thin, tops too
1/2 pound bacon, browned and crumbled (save 1/2 cup bacon grease)
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
6 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

  • Toss together the shredded lettuce, green onion slices and crumbled bacon in a large salad bowl and set aside.
  • In a saucepan bring the remaining ingredients to a boil.
  • Just before serving pour the dressing over the salad and toss.
  • Serve immediately.

HOT WILTED GREENS (REVISED)

3 cups torn green leaf lettuce, washed
3 cups FRESH spinach, washed and trimmed
1/2 cup chopped red onions
1 large bunch green onions, sliced thin, tops too
2 stalks celery, washed, halved and sliced thin
4 slices bacon, browned and crumbled (save 3 tablespoons bacon grease)
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
1 cup chopped Plum tomatoes, garnish
Hard boiled egg, garnish

  • Toss together the shredded lettuce, spinach, chopped red onions, celery, green onion slices and crumbled bacon in a large salad bowl and set aside.
  • In a saucepan bring the remaining ingredients to a boil.
  • Just before serving pour the dressing over the salad and toss.
  • Garnish with tomatoes and eggs.
  • Serve immediately.

WILTED GREENS with BACON DRESSING serves 4 (SECOND REVISED VERSION)
6 cups torn lettuce and/or spinach of choice
2 stalks celery, halved and sliced
1/3 cup minced red onion
3 slices bacon, diced
1 SMALL egg
1/3 cup water
SCANT 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon cornstarch
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper

  • Toss lettuce, red onion and celery pieces in a large salad bowl. Set aside.
  • In a large skillet, cook bacon until JUST crisp. Remove bacon pieces with a slotted spoon to drain on paper toweling. Discard all but 1 tablespoon of the drippings.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the water and egg until well blended. Whisk into bacon drippings.
  • Whisk together the vinegar, sugar, cornstarch, FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper. Add to the drippings also, whisking to blend. Bring to a boil while stirring constantly.
  • Remove from heat.
  • Pour over salad.
  • Add bacon pieces and toss well.
  • Serve immediately.

REVISED MANY TIMES, BUT THE FINAL REVISION WAS 8-25-2024