Category: POULTRY

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.

CHICKEN EMPANADAS

CHICKEN TURNOVERS
2 cups shredded cooked chicken
1 large bunch green onions, chopped
1/4 cup salsa
1/4 cup guacamole
1 can refrigerator biscuits, grand size
1 cup shredded shredded cheddar cheese

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  • Combine in large bowl the salsa, guacamole, green onions, chicken and cheese.
  • On a floured board between wax paper layers, roll out each biscuit to about double the original size.
  • Fill each biscuit with chicken mixture and fold over into a moon shape.
  • Press the edges firmly to seal.
  • Bake 20 minutes or until golden brown.
  • Serve with a side of sour cream and salsa for dipping.

Hot Wings & Bleu Cheese

HOT WINGS

  • 2-3 dozen+ chicken wings ~ We prefer drumettes (with a little meat on them) to actual wings, but it’s your choice. Today I used what was in the freezer for picture sake, but next week it’ll be drumettes for sure!
  • 2 cups Flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • hidden valley ranch dressing mix (DRY) OR Good Seasons Italian dressing mix (DRY)
  • 2 sticks butter+
  • Frank’s Hot Sauce
  • PURE
I also prefer to use an old cast iron frying pan (our is at least 3rd generation, dating back to hubby’s grandfather that we know for sure). I still believe this gives you the most even browning.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  • Wash and dry the chicken pieces.
  • Mix together the flour and seasonings in a plastic ziploc bag. Using a ziploc bag makes it easy to throw away the whole mess after dredging all the chicken pieces and it helps you coat every possible spot of the chicken pieces.
  • Add chicken a few pieces at a time and coat them well. Set chicken pieces aside.
  • While you’re doing this, have the butter melting in the pan. Start with 1 stick and add as necessary, but make sure you don’t run out dry.
  • Once all the chicken has been dredged start frying. After you have the pan full pepper the pieces again. Don’t turn the chicken until you can see blood. You only need to turn the chicken one time. Brown evenly and then set aside on paper towels until all pieces have been fried.
  • As the last batch is frying melt the other stick of butter in a 4 cup measure cup. To that add 1 cup of Frank’s hot sauce per stick of butter. Whisk them together well.
  • Spray a cookie sheet with PURE.
  • Dip each piece of chicken into the hot sauce mixture and put on cookie sheet.
  • After you’re all done and if you have hot sauce & butter mixture left, pour a little over the top of each wing.
  • Bake for 30 minutes.
  • Serve hot with my homemade Bleu cheese dressing and celery sticks if you’d like.

Home made “BLEU” CHEESE DRESSING

  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 cup large curd cottage cheese
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 4 ounces Bleu cheese crumbles (sometimes I use Gorgonzola for a bit of change or when I accidentally pick up the wrong container at the grocery store and we like it just as well)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • I put it all in my food processor and pulse until it’s well mixed. Chill for 24-48 hours before serving.

CASHEW CHICKEN STIR FRY

CASHEW CHICKEN STIR FRY
3/4 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into thin strips
1 tablespoon corn starch
1 JUMBO egg white
2 bunches green onions, sliced thin
1/2 pound mushrooms, sliced thin
1 cup bean sprouts (optional)*
1 cup honey roasted cashews, whole or chopped
1/4 cup sweet cooking rice wine
1/8 cup bead molasses
1/8 cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
Peanut Oil

  • Whisk together the cornstarch and egg white. Coat the chicken strips and chill 1 hour before preparing the meal.
  • Heat 1 tablespoon peanut oil.
  • Quickly stir fry the mushrooms, onions and bean sprouts.
  • Lift out veggies with a slotted spoon and set aside.
  • Add another tablespoon +/- of peanut oil and heat.
  • Add chicken pieces and stir fry until white and tender.
  • Whisk together the rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, bead molasses, salt and sugar. Add to pan and coat chicken well and continue stir frying until most of the liquid is absorbed and chicken is glazed.
  • Add veggies back in as well as the cashews. Mix well and heat through.
  • Serve over rice or with noodles.

*You just can’t always get fresh and I don’t care for the canned.

Chicken & Sausage Gumbo

CHICKEN SAUSAGE GUMBO
6-8 cups chicken broth
2 stalks celery, diced
2 large carrots, diced
1 large bunch green onions, sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes with chipotle peppers
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoons hot shot black & red pepper blend by McCormick
2 teaspoons Frank’s Red Hot Pepper Sauce
8 ounces smoked sausage, diced
3 chicken tenders, diced
½ cup long grain rice
½ cup medium pasta shells
Combine all ingredients except for the pasta and rice. Cook on high 1 hour. Add pasta and rice. Cook 1 additional hour. Serve with cornbread or biscuits.

GARLIC PARMESAN STUFFED CHICKEN with MELTED STRAWBERRIES


GARLIC PARMESAN STUFFED CHICKEN with MELTED STRAWBERRIES*
4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
4 ounces grated Parmesan cheese
2 cloves minced garlic, jar
1 large bunch green onions sliced
1/4 cup seedless strawberry or raspberry jam*
3 1/2 cups strawberry pieces*
salt and pepper to taste
Juice of 1 lime
2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon olive oil

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  • Whisk together the jam, lime juice and vinegar.
  • Pour over strawberries and onions toss together.
  • Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Spread into a 3 quart baking dish.
  • Toss garlic and Parmesan cheese together.
  • Cut a pocket in the side of each chicken breast and fill with garlic cheese mixture. Secure with toothpicks to close or use these cool loops or band! Salt and pepper each side.
  • In a skillet, heat olive oil and saute’ onions. Add chicken and brown on each side.
  • Transfer chicken to a baking dish and put into the oven for 10 minutes.
  • Add the strawberry baking dish to oven and bake both another 15-20 minutes until chicken is no longer pink, the berries have softened and the jam mixture has thickened.
  • Serve chicken with the berries over top and with Herb Rice Pilaf.

*I like to also change it out sometimes and make it with apricot pineapple jam, an 8 ounce can drained crushed pineapple and 2 cups of fresh apricot pieces.

CHICKEN FRIED CHICKEN with PEPPERED GRAVY, Family Favorite Mashed Potatoes and Sugared Carrots

CHICKEN FRIED CHICKEN
2 large boneless chicken breasts
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
2-4 tablespoons butter(enough to keep chicken from burning~add as necessary)

  • Rinse and pat dry the chicken breasts.
  • In a shallow glass pan, pour buttermilk over chicken 1-2 hours prior to cooking.
  • Make sure to coat chicken well and turn at least once during soaking.
  • Drain, but do NOT rinse the buttermilk off.
  • In a medium sized fry pan melt the butter over medium heat. As butter melts and begins to very slightly sizzle, prepare breasts.
  • In a small ziploc bag mix together the flour, salt and pepper.
  • One at a time, put each chicken breast in bag and coat well with flour mix and then into sizzling butter.
  • Cook on one side until edges begin to bleed and then turn.
  • About 6 minutes each side depending on plumpness.
  • Keep chicken warm.

PEPPERED GRAVY
3 tablespoons butter
5 tablespoons Wondra flour
1 1/4 cups whole milk
3/4 cup whipping cream
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon Black pepper + (to taste)

  • Melt butter into bottom of pan you just cooked the chicken in.
  • Scrape up any of the chicken pieces and mix into new butter.
  • Add flour slowly, stirring until absorbed by butter and golden brown.
  • Slowly add first the milk and then the cream.
  • Stir constantly until thickens.
  • If necessary sprinkle in more Wondra until desired thickness is reached.
  • Serve over chicken and mashed potatoes.

FAMILY FAVORITE MASHED POTATOES
4 large Yukon potatoes, peeled & quartered
4 ounces Philadelphia Cream Cheese, softened
1 small bunch green onions, sliced thin
1/4 + buttermilk
4 tablespoons butter
salt & pepper to taste

  • Boil potatoes in salted water until fork tender.
  • Drain.
  • Mash all together salt and peppering to taste.

SUGARED CARROTS
1 small bag baby carrots, washed
1 cup packed dark brown sugar
4 tablespoons PURE maple syrup
2 tablespoons melted butter

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Blanche carrots in sugared water until just tender.
  • Drain.
  • Blend together brown sugar, maple syrup and butter.
  • Toss with carrots.
  • Bake 20 minutes.

Chicken Bundles – What Did You Bake Today?

I did an inventory of the outside fridge and found two rolls of Pillsbury Crescent sheets. I feel ashamed to be using these store bought puffy pastries after Dave’s amazing post about homemade puffed pastries, but I am too frugal not to use what I have…next time, Dave, they will be homemade all the way….just wait.
I digress…Anyway, to use them up, I decided to make the old stand-by, Chicken Bundles. I also ended up creating something new that I will share below.
Chicken Bundles:
3 cups cooked chicken
1 8 ounce package cream cheese
1 small jar pimentos
1/4 cup chopped green onions
2 packages crescent rolls or sheets

Mix chicken with cream cheese, pimentos and green onions. Spread out the cresent sheets. If you are using the rolls, pinch them together to form one giant rectangle. Cut each big rectangle into 4 pieces. Place about 1/3 cup of chicken mixture onto one half of each piece. Fold the other half of the crescent piece over the chicken mixture. Using a fork, seal the edges. Bake 400 degrees 15 minutes.
If, like me, you happen to have a lot of chicken mixture left over and you realize that you need more dinner to feed your crew, get out a box of chicken flavored Stove Top and make it up really quick….Place the chicken mixture on the bottom of a microwave safe bowl and top with the Stove Top. Heat for 5 minutes in the microwave and Voila! you have a new and surprisingly delicious main dish.
Don’t forget about the Oatmeal challenge….link up your recipes using Oatmeal on January 29th.
What Did You Bake Today?

Baked Smoked Turkey in a Slow Cooker: What Did You Bake Today?

I realize that I am completely pushing the limits of the whole “bake” thing with this post.  Hopefully, you will have it in your hearts to hear me out.  This is a new technique I learned reading Cheater BBQ by Mindy Merrill and R.B. Quinn.  The premise being that slow cookers can act as mini ovens on occasion.  By wrapping meat tightly in foil, it doesn’t end up like the typical crockpot stew but stays firm as though it were cooked in the oven.
 
Now, here’s the bad news.  This is the only picture I took of the turkey breast.  Yep!  You have to use your imagination and trust me a Lot!
Smoked Turkey Breast (based on the Cheater BBQ Hobo Crock Turkey Breast)
One thawed turkey breast
4 Tbls butter, melted
1/4 cup liquid smoke
2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tsp paprika
Line the crockpot with foil large enough to completely encase the turkey breast.  Place the turkey in the middle of it.  Combine the spices and rub them all over the meat, including in the cavity.  Combine the butter and liquid smoke and pour it all over everything.  Wrap the foil over the turkey, sealing snuggly.  Cook on low 6-8 hours or until internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F.  I cooked mine for the originally prescribed 10 hours and had a very dry bird.   Serve with your favorite BBQ sauce.
We only ate half of the meat.  With the leftovers, I borrowed another recipe from the Cheater BBQ cookbook…..and I really baked it in the oven.
Cornbread Turkey Bean Casserole:
3 cups chopped leftover smoked turkey
1/2 large onion, chopped
2 Tbls olive oil
2 cans Texas Ranch style beans (ranch brand)
1 can hickory bbq beans (bush’s brand)
1 cup cornmeal
1 cup flour
1 heaping tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup milk
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 small can green chilies
Saute the onion in the oil until soft.  Combine the meat, beans and onion and pour into the bottom of a greased casserole dish.  Combine the cornmeal, flour, baking powder and salt in a mixing bowl.  Stir in the milk until moistened.  Add the cheese and chilies.  Spread the mixture over the beans.  Bake uncovered 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes or until cornbread is done.  (Note: if, like me, you take it out of the oven a bit too soon and find that there is a thin layer of not done cornbread between the beans and the baked cornbread…microwave it for 3 minutes.)
 What Did You Bake Today?
 

Garlic Sauce Chicken ~ Dieter’s Delight

Garlic Sauce Chicken

OK, you have to be a garlic lover to like this one, but I promise it rocks!

6 skinless boneless chicken breasts
3 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 1/2 cups fat free chicken broth
1 cup whole peeled garlic
  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  • Brown chicken in a nonstick skillet.
  • Remove chicken and add rice vinegar and chicken broth to pan. Cook over high heat for 2 minutes.
  • Put the garlic cloves into a 11 x 13 baking dish. Place the chicken on top and pour sauce on chicken.
  • Bake for 30 minutes.
  • Mash the garlic into the sauce and pour over chicken.
Serves 6
Calories – 171
Fat – 3 grams

This one is so simple and does not taste like diet food!

What’s feeding your diet this week?


Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner – Joanne of Eats Well With Others

So I have to admit. I’m a little nervous. This is my first time.

Cue awkward silence.

AS A GUEST BLOGGER!

But have no fear, I will try to make the experience as pleasurable and painless as possible. I am Joanne from Eats Well With Others, a first year MD/PhD student from NYC who spends most of her time avoiding studying by either (a) running or (b) cooking. These may seem like two antithetical things but they are actually one vicious cycle. I run so that I can eat what I want. And then I cook so that I can eat to fuel the running. I also like taking long walks on the beach and watching sunsets. And am just looking for someone who will make me laugh. Just thought I’d throw that in there in case this paragraph didn’t sound enough like a singles ad.

So let’s see, what do I cook? When people used to ask me this I always used to say, “Well, I can do just about anything with a sweet potato.” Which used to be very true and still is to some extent (sweet potatoes are one of my favorite vegetables), except that they have kind of been usurped by winter squash. And pasta. When you train for a marathon, you need to eat a lot of pasta. So that is by far what has been dominating my blog for the past five months. In general, though, I cook mostly vegetarian dishes, not necessarily by choice but mainly because I am a med student on a budget and it is cheaper this way. I use a TON of vegetables in my cooking and I truly believe that no meal is complete without them. I have also recently started baking. Which is infinitely more of a challenge than cooking is. But the end products are usually equally tasty.

Anyway, that’s enough about me. Let’s get on to our feature presentation!

Whenever I go home to visit my parents and siblings, I am the one who does the cooking. Mainly because if I don’t take the reins, we end up eating Chinese take-out at 10PM. And no one wants that. Except, of course, for my brother who is a stereotypical 20-year-old boy and could happily live off of Tex-Mex and General Tso’s Chicken for the rest of his life. Until his metabolism catches up with him. But that is another grievance for another day.

This dish is one of the few successes that I have had when cooking for my family. They are very picky eaters and so every dish I make is scrutinized heavily for spice content (my dad hates almost all herbs and spices. He can handle basil in small quantities. It is a situation. We are working on it) as well as for veggie content.

Two things that they do like, however, are chicken and potatoes. I’ll take what I can get.

Thus, I present you with grilled Hoisin chicken breasts, accompanied by a side of maple mustard glazed potatoes and string beans. I hope they are as celebrated in your kitchen as they were in mine.

Thank you to the ladies of the Krazy Kitchen for gracing me with the opportunity to share these with you all! Enjoy!

Grilled Hoisin Chicken Breasts
Serves 4

1/2 cup hoisin sauce
4 cloves garlic
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp sesame oil
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp rice vinegar
1 1/2 lb chicken breasts

1. Whisk together all of the ingredients except for the chicken in a small bowl. Heat up your grill.

2. Arrange chicken on a platter and brush lightly with the hoisin sauce mixture. Turn to the other side and coat as well. Place the chicken on the grill and cook, occasionally brushing with sauce and turning every 5 minutes, until chicken is cooked through.

Maple Mustard Glazed Potatoes and String Beans
Serves 6, adapted from Vegan With A Vengeance

2 lb red potatoes, scrubbed and diced
1 lb string beans
1 yellow onion, diced
2 cloves garlic
3 tbsp soy sauce
1/4 cup maple syrup
3 tbsp dijon mustard
1 tbsp olive oil

1. Preheat your oven to 400.

2. Arrange the vegetables in a 9×13 casserole dish. In a mixing bowl, stir together all of the other ingredients. Pour over the vegetables and mix until everything is coated. Cover with foil and place in the oven. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and toss everything. Turn down the oven to 350 and cook, uncovered, for another 25 minutes. Remove from the oven, toss again, and cook for another 25 minutes or until potatoes are cooked through.

Oven Barbecued Chicken ~ Simply Delicious Sunday

OVEN BARBECUED CHICKEN

2-3 pounds boneless chicken breasts
olive oil to coat pan well
3 tablespoons butter
1 small onion, chopped
1 cup ketchup
1/3 cup roasted garlic rice vinegar
4 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon white pepper

  • Heat oil in a large skillet
  • Brown chicken on all sides
  • Transfer chicken to 9×13 olive oiled baking dish
  • In a saucepan melt the butter and saute the onion
  • Stir in the remaining the ingredients and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes
  • Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken
  • Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour
  • Baste periodically
  • We like to use the excess sauce over a serving of rice and serve this with home made Potato Salad

Previously posted at 3 Sides of Crazy May 2008