Category: POULTRY

CHICKEN PUFFS

I’m not quite sure where I originally found this recipe, but we fell in love with it and it makes a wonderful presentation for company.  The pictures are from when I originally made it with whole chicken breasts, but I have since changed it to using bite sized pieces.  Using chicken tenders works best.  It bakes better and is much easier to eat!
CHICKEN PUFFS
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or tenders
4 Pepperidge farm puff pastry sheets, defrosted
4 ounces cream cheese
1/2 pound bacon, cut into quarters
1 bunch green onions, chopped
1 handful flat leaf parsley
sea salt and white pepper to taste
1 large egg, beaten
PURE
  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  • Add cream cheese, green onions, parsley, salt and pepper to a small food processor and process until well blended.  Set aside.
  • Cook bacon until crisp.  Drain on paper towels.
  • Cut chicken into bite size pieces.
  • In a large bowl, toss chicken pieces with cream cheese mixture until well coated.
  • On a large jelly roll pan that has been sprayed with PURE, lay out your puff pastry pieces and seal any stray seams.
  • Divide chicken evenly among the 4 sheets.
  • Top evenly with the bacon.
  • Pull up all four corners and give them a little twist in the center.
  • Brush with beaten egg.
  • Bake 30 minutes until golden brown.
  • Serve immediately.

Fire Day Friday: Grilled Chicken Sandwich with Manchalapeno sauce

Never heard of Manchapeno sauce before?

Me either until I made it up the other day when I made up this summery grilled chicken sandwich inspired by the Kentucky Hot Brown. Manchapeno sauce is a white sauce powered by a fire roasted jalapeno pepper and the salty nutty taste of manchego cheese.

The result was decadent. If it wasn’t for the sound of the crispy bacon as I bit into this, I think I would have been able to hear my taste buds sing.
Open Faced Grilled Chicken Sandwich with Manchapeno Sauce
3 large chicken thighs, boneless, skinless
Chicken Rub (see recipe)
3 sliced Italian bread
2 ea roma tomatoes, sliced in 1/4” pieces
6 slices bacon, cooked
Manchapeno Sauce (see recipe)
NMT Basic Chicken Rub
½ tsp kosher salt
¼ tsp black pepper
¼ tsp garlic powder
¼ tsp paprika
¼ tsp turbinado sugar
Manchapeno Sauce
1 Tbsp butter, unsalted
1 clove garlic, minced
1 Tbsp flour, all purpose
1 cup milk
1 cup manchego cheese
¼ tsp pepper
¼ tsp salt
1 jalapeno (red if possible), fire roasted, peeled and seeded
2 Tbsp parsley, finely diced
Season chicken with the chicken rub. Feel free to substitute a purchased chicken rub if you have it on hand.
Make the “manchapeno sauce”. Melt the butter and saute garlic over medium heat for 1-2 minutes. Add the flour and stir until well blended in (2-3 minutes), starting to form a roux.
Add in the milk and lightly simmer for 5-6 minutes. Stir in the cheese in small batches until all blended. Stir in the salt, pepper, jalapeno, and parsley. Keep warm on low, stirring occasionally.
Grill chicken over direct heat at 400f for 4 minutes. Flip can cook another 4 minutes.
Boneless thighs are thin and cook quick, keep an eye on them.
Flip again and cook 1-2 minutes. Flip last time and cook 1-2 minutes until chicken is an internal temp of 160f.
Toast both sides of the bread over the flames. 
Top each piece of bread with a piece of chicken, slices of tomato, and 2 slices of bacon. Then ladle the sauce over the sandwich and serve immediately.
Note: I used a red jalapeno from our front yard. Fire roasting the pepper gives it a smokiness like a “quickie chipotle”. Feel free to use a regular jalapeno or any other fire roasted chili. If you don’t like heat, you could use a roasted red bell pepper instead.

Fire Day Friday: Sparkling Barbecue Chicken

Last year, I won a copy of Steven Raichlen’s Planet Barbecue! and it has become one of my favorite cookbooks… or grill-books I should say 🙂  Either way you say it, I love it.


Now, I have not made as many things out of this book as I would like, but I’ll get there, I just need time and patience.

Of all the recipes I have tried, though, this one is definitely the easiest.  It was a quick way to put together a tasty meal with very little effort.  And, I thought it was an interesting little spin on the standard barbecue chicken.

So what makes it sparkling?  Lemon-lime soda, of course.  The great thing is, this barbecue sauce truly did sparkle.  And the soda brought a bit of a sweet flavor to the barbecue sauce.  It was delicious!

Sparkling Barbecue Chicken

Adapted from Steven Raichlen’s Planet Barbecue!
Ingredients:
1/4 cup lemon-lime soda (like 7up or Sprite)
1/4 cup ketchup
1/4 cup of your favorite barbecue sauce (recipe for homemade bbq sauce)
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Directions:
Mix together all the ingredients except for the chicken, in a bowl until well combined.  Reserve 3-4 tablespoons of the sauce.  Put chicken in a resealable bag and pour the remaining sauce of the chicken.  Allow to marinate in the refrigerator for 4 hours (you can really get away with 2, but the longer it marinates the more flavorful it will be).

Preheat grill to 375 degrees F.  Brush oil on the grill grates.  Remove the chicken from the marinade and place directly over the fire.  Grill for 8-10 minutes per side or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.  You can use the reserved sauce for basting in the last 5 minutes of grill time or you can serve it along side – heck, do both, I dare you 🙂  Enjoy!

YUCATAN CHICKEN ~ ACHIOTE PASTE – YUCATAN STYLE SAUCE

YUCATAN CHICKEN 

1/2 cup achiote paste
2 tablespoons chopped chipotle chile pepper
1 ripe banana
1 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons kosher salt
10 large boneless chicken breasts

  • Blend marinade ingredients in a food processor until the mixture is thick. 
  • Pour into a sealable plastic bag, add the chicken and marinate overnight in the refrigerator. 
  • Barbeque with marinade on chicken, being careful not to burn the chicken as it cooks. 
  • Watch closely. The finished chicken will have nice orange red color. 

RASPBERRY GLAZED ROSEMARY CHICKEN BREASTS

Don’t you just love all the things you can do with chicken?  I love trying new toppings and glazes.  It just seems fun to be able to dress up a chicken in different ways.

The rosemary was the predominant flavor on this. If you love rosemary, you will love these. The raspberry preserves resulted in a very nice sweetness that wasn’t overpoweringly tasting like raspberry. They really were well flavored and sweetened. I would make these again for sure.Raspberry Glazed Rosemary Chicken Breasts1 1/2 pounds chicken breasts (I used 3 – 6 oz. breasts)
1 tablespoon crushed rosemary
1 teaspoon rubbed sage
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup raspberry preserves
1/2 teaspoon honey mustard
1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary leaves (I left this out)

Preheat oven to 350. In a small bowl, stir together crushed rosemary, sage and oregano. Rub each side of the breasts with herb mixture. Place chicken in a baking dish and pour broth over chicken. Bake for about 20 minutes. Place raspberry preserves in microwave and heat for 20 – 30 seconds to soften. Stir in honey mustard and fresh rosemary. Spread preserve mixture evenly over each breast. Bake about 10 minutes more or until chicken is done.

Total calories for 18 oz. of chicken = 902
3 servings = 301 calories per chicken breast

CHICKEN FLAUTAS

I used to have a favorite lunch haunt called simply ‘Nachos’. It started as a hole in the wall, literally!, with ‘mama’ making her own tortillas and sauces. Mama couldn’t speak a word of English, but her traditional Mexican fare spoke volumes for her. She prepared the best Mexican food! At work we used to all pool together, call in a big order, send someone to pick it up and then truly pig out when the food arrived back at work! Their Nachos were truly awe inspiring ~ crisp and gooey all at the same time.
One of my very favorite meals that she made was her Chicken Flautas! Now that we’re here in the North Woods, where honestly they wouldn’t know Mexican food if it bit them on the butt, I crave those Chicken Flautas and have been working to replicate them. I tried boiling chickens with various seasoning combinations, none of which were correct and then finally settled on this recipe. It’s actually easier and tastes perfect too.

1 lemon herb rotisserie chicken (lemon & herb works best)
1 cup finely shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Juice of 1 lime
sea salt
1 bunch green onions, finely minced
1 package tortillas
sour cream
Fresh Guacamole
Garden Tomato Salsa
1 cup or so Safflower oil for frying

  • Remove chicken pieces from the bone and finely shred the meat.
  • Toss the chicken pieces with the green onions, lime juice and salt.
  • Warm tortillas so they are soft and pliable.
  • Distribute the chicken and cheese mixture evenly amongst the tortillas.
  • Sprinkle onions over top.
  • Sprinkle with sea salt and lime juice.
  • Roll each tortilla up jelly roll style.
  • This works best with deep frying, but I found a cast iron pan works well as long as the oil goes at least half way up the side.
  • Fry each Flauta until golden. (Don’t crowd them in the pan)
  • Drain on a paper towel.
  • Serve with sour cream, Fresh Guacamole & Garden Tomato Salsa for dipping.

Fire Day Friday: Grilled Chicken with Oregano, Lemon, and Feta Cheese

If you follow my blog (Jenn’s Food Journey), then you may have heard me mention that I used to be a personal chef.  Well, I tried to be a personal chef.  It didn’t work out the way I had hoped, but that’s ok.  At the time, it worked out for the best.  I just wasn’t truly ready for that task and I was trying to work a full time job on top of it.  What I did learn was that although I love to cook, I did not love to cook for 8 hours straight…two or more days a row.  It just wasn’t for me.  I started to really dislike cooking and I knew that was not what I wanted.  So, I packed up my short lived career and was completely ok with it.  What’s nice, is I have learned so much since then and, well, I can always go back to it if I ever choose to 🙂

I tell this story because this recipe was actually a recipe that one of my clients requested as one of their “fresh” meals…. i.e… not a meal that I would freeze for him.  It, of course, was called for baking the chicken and it’s good that way.  But, if you know me at all, you know I would rather grill than bake any day… but especially when it’s over 100 degrees!!
This is a perfect recipe to make on a busy week night when you have little time to actually spend in the kitchen (or by the grill) yet want a delicious and almost elegant meal.  Ok, it’s at least delicious!

Grilled Chicken with Oregano, Lemon, and Feta Cheese
Adapted from Cooking.com
Printable Recipe 
Ingredients:
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
3 Tablespoons mayonnaise
2 Tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4-1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese (I only used about 1/4 cup cause the chicken breasts were on the smaller side)

Directions:
Mix together the mayo, lemon juice, oregano, and garlic clove.  Rinse of the chicken and pat dray.  Slather the mayo mixture on both sides of each piece of chicken and allow to marinate for at least 2 hours.

Preheat your grill to 370 degrees.  Oil the grill grates.  Place the chicken directly over the fire and grill for 8-10 minutes per side or until the chicken is cooked through.  In the last 2 minutes, top with feta cheese, close the lid, and allow the cheese to melt or soften just a bit.  Remove from grill and allow to rest for 3-5 minutes before cutting into it.  Enjoy!

PAN SEARED CHICKEN with BROWNED PARSLEY BUTTER

PAN SEARED CHICKEN with BROWNED PARSLEY BUTTER
4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
flour for dredging
4 tablespoons butter
1 large green onion, sliced thin
salt, pepper and paprika to taste
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat leaf parsley
Juice of 1 lemon
Juice of 1 lime

  • Place chicken between the folds of a clean cheesecloth towel.  
  • Pound chicken breasts to 1/4 inch thick.
  • Cut each breast in half.
  • Generously season both sides of chicken breasts.
  • Dredge chicken in flour.
  • In a large skillet melt butter over medium high heat.
  • When butter is sizzling, but not browning, add onions and chicken pieces.
  • Generously season AGAIN!
  • Cook chicken 4-5 minutes on each side.
  • Plate chicken and keep warm.
  • Add parsley, lemon and lime juices, cooking until browned. 
  • Pour over chicken pieces.
  • Garnish with parsely.

CHICKEN POT PIE, the HEALTHY WAY

When I was growing up, we ate a few too many Swanson frozen chicken pot pies.  For years and years, I wouldn’t eat the stuff.  No way, no how.  But, not too long ago, I asked a co-worker what she was eating, and she gave me a taste, and it was delicious!  It was nothing like that frozen stuff I had growing up.  So, I got to thinking how I could make it taste good and healthy at the same time.  The solution was simple!

CHICKEN POT PIE
2 12-oz cans of white meat chicken (this is the only thing I will eat with canned chicken)
1 can 98% fat free cream of celery soup
1 can 98% fat free cream of chicken soup
1 bag (10-12 ounces) frozen mixed vegetables
1 can refrigerated crescent rolls
salt and pepper to taste

Mix chicken, soups, and vegetables in a large bowl.  Season with salt and pepper.  Pour in a baking dish.  Unroll the crescent dough.  Place on top of the chicken mixture.  Bake at 375 degrees for about 40 minutes or until center is no longer doughy.
This is such an easy recipe.  It served my family of 5 with a serving left over.  Dividing this recipe by 6 servings, each serving has 12 grams of fat and 340 calories.  Enjoy!

RASPBERRY TURKEY TENDERLOINS ~

RASPBERRY TURKEY TENDERLOINS
1/2 cup seedless raspberry jam
1/3 cup cider vinegar
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon grated orange peel
1/2 teaspoon minced fresh thyme or 1/8 dried thyme
4 turkey breast tenderloins
1/8 teaspoon salt

Directions:  In a small saucepan, combine the jam, vinegar, mustard, orange peel and thyme.  Cook and stir for 2-3 minutes or until heated through.  Set aside 1/4 cup for serving.
Sprinkle turkey with salt.  Moisten a paper towel with cooking oil; using long-handled tongs, lightly coat the grill rack.  Grill turkey, covered, over medium heat or broil 4 inches from the heat for 13-18 minutes or until a meat thermometer reads 170 degrees, turning occassionaly.  Baste with remaining sauce during last 5 minutes of cooking. 

Let stand for 5 minutes before slicing.  Serve with reserved sauce.

Here’s what you’ll need:

Put jam, apple cider vinegar, mustard, and orange peel in a saucepan on low.

Add the thyme.

Salt the turkey breasts and put them on the grill for 16-18 minutes or until 190 degrees in the center.  Use some of the sauce to baste the turkey.

Pull off the grill and let rest.  

Pour the remainder of the sauce of the turkey breast.

Here’ what you’ll end up with:

SKILLET CHICKEN & RICE

Son2 as a Junior this past year took cooking for one of his electives… This past week he made dinner for the family…


This is the recipe he used from class… I copied it word for word straight from the cookbook he made in class… 

Boneless, skinless chicken breast or thighs 
1 tablespoon oil 
1/2 cup chopped onions 
1-2 garlic cloves 
1 cup broccoli 
1 1/4 cup rice 
2 3/4 cup water 
2-3 teaspoon chicken bouillon 
Pepper, dash 
Garlic salt, dash 
1 cup shredded mild cheddar cheese 
Optional–1/2 cup thinly sliced red peppers and or 1/4 cup shredded carrot
1. Wash and pat dry chicken.
2. Cut chicken into thin strips about 1/4 inch wide.

3. Heat oil in Teflon frying pan or a frying pan with a lid. Be careful for smoke point.
 4. Add chicken, onions, garlic, and (shredded carrots if you choose to have them). Stir constantly browning the onions and chicken. Spice with pepper and garlic salt.
 5. Carefully add water, bouillon, and rice. Bring to a hard boil.
 6. Add broccoli and any other vegetables.
 7. Cover and lower temperature to simmer 15 minutes without looking. (Do not allow the steam to escape).
 8. After 15 minutes, check to see if rice is soft. If not, cover and cook another five minutes. Add small amount of water if needed.

9. When rice is soft, turn off temperature. Add cheese and cover with lid for 3 minutes to melt the cheese.



Happy Eating…



Fire Day Friday: Spicy Peach-Molasses Grilled Chicken

I’m having a bit of a creative block in the kitchen.  Which then also translates to a slight writers block when it comes to posts.  I can say that it all has to do with how much I’ve been working lately, but honestly, I really do think I’m just in a slump.  But, nice thing about being in a slump these days is that we always have the internet to help give us inspiring new ideas!  Or it can at least give us recipes we can play with to create a fantastic meal in the kitchen.  This is one of those meals.  I was uninspired and needed to use up some peach preserves I had in the fridge, so I stumbled across this recipe on Grilling.com…. it was perfect!  Simple, delicious, and, well, let’s be honest, I didn’t have to think too hard when it came to putting this together….exactly what I needed 🙂

Spicy Peach-Molasses Grilled Chicken
Adapted from Grilling.com
Printable Recipe 
Ingredients:
1/4 cup peach preserves
1 teaspoon molasses
3/4 teaspoon low sodium soy sauce
3/4 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2-1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Directions:

In a small bowl, mix all ingredients together except the chicken.  Spread half of the mixture of the chicken – reserve the other half for later.  Allow the chicken to marinate in the fridge for 2-4 hours.
Preheat grill to 375-400 degrees.  Oil the grill grates.  Place the chicken over the fire and allow to grill for 5-8 minutes or until nice and brown.  Flip the chicken and spread remaining sauce over chicken.  Allow to grill for 5-10 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.  Remove from grill and allow to rest for 3 minutes before cutting into the chicken.  Enjoy!