Category: RECIPES

LEMON LIME PEPPER CHICKEN

LEMON LIME PEPPER CHICKEN
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
flour
1 lemon
1 lime
2-3 tablespoons butter
  • In a large skillet melt butter.
  • Dredge chicken breast in flour.
  • Sprinkle each side with salt & pepper mix as you brown them (about 5-6 minutes per side)
  • While chicken is browning, roll lemon and lime on the counter to loosen pulp and juice.
  • Juice lemon and lime.
  • Pour juice and pulp over chicken breasts and cook a few minutes more until juice forms a glaze.
  • Serve immediately.

Loaded Baked Potato Salad

Min here, from The Bad Girl’s Kitchen.  Long time no see!  I was lured over here yesterday by Melynda’s Apricot Pie, if you must know.  Then I just had to come back over and share my new creation with you!!

This recipe came about when I received an email listing “summer salads.”  There was a link to a recipe someone had called “Loaded Baked Potato Salad,” which I thought sounded great…but when I read through the recipe, it was really a casserole…?! 

What do I mean by “casserole?”  It was a potato dish that was assembled and then BAKED in a 9×13 pan.  Sort of reminiscent of my Twice Baked Potato Casserole, actually.  Totally not a “salad” at all, (salad in my mind means “cold”), and certainly not a dish I would think about serving in the heat of summer.

I set out to create a true potato salad.

First, I used my grill to bake the potatoes.  I just clean them, rub them with olive oil, then grill on the top rack over medium-ish heat for about one hour, turning over halfway through.  You want them baked but not too soft, keep in mind your grill may cook differently than mine.  Remove potatoes from grill and let cool before chopping, of course. I found that using a serrated knife helps the potatoes hold together better, while keeping the skin pieces intact.

Once salad ingredients are prepped, it’s important not to mix it until you’ve added everything, because the potatoes are a bit fragile.  You want to gently fold the ingredients together.  I used a mixture of sour cream and real mayonnaise because that’s what I prefer.  The real mayo adds a bit of flavor you wouldn’t get with sour cream alone.  You need to put this salad together ahead of time, and I’d recommend chilling it in the refrigerator for at least an hour or so if you have time.

I have to tell you, this is an amazing potato salad!  Make it for your next barbecue, and everyone will be impressed!  I think the baked potatoes add so much to the flavor compared to a traditional potato salad made with boiled potatoes, that I may actually try to bake all my potatoes for salads from now on.

My family and I loved this potato salad; in fact my oldest son H-Bomb even asked for seconds although he’s not a huge potato fan.  It’s my new favorite, and I’m going to make more today!

Loaded Baked Potato Salad 
Serves 6 to 8 

6 baked potatoes, skin on
1/2 pound bacon, chopped and cooked until crisp, then drained and cooled on paper towels
3 – 4 scallions, chopped
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup mayonnaise
Salt and pepper to taste

Reserve a few pieces bacon, some green onions and cheese to use as garnish. 

Use a serrated knife to gently chop potatoes, leaving skin on.  I cut each potato in quarters lengthwise, before chopping in pieces.  Add to large mixing bowl.

Add bacon, onions and cheese; do not mix. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.

In a small bowl, mix sour cream and mayo.  Add to potato mixture and mix gently with a rubber spatula.  Taste and adjust salt and pepper, if needed.  Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Before serving, garnish with reserved cheese, bacon and green onions.

Don’t forget to visit me at The Bad Girl’s Kitchen for more fabulous recipes!

I also host the fun monthly food blog event, Taste & Create!  Please join us!

BANANA BREAD PANCAKES & CREAM CHEESE SYRUP

Banana Bread Pancakes
Yields about 1 dozen
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup whole milk
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons buttermilk
1 cup mashed well, overripe bananas (about 2 bananas)
1/4 cup sour cream
1 egg
2 tablespoons butter, melted
banana slices, for garnish (optional) – hubs ate these, sorry they’re not in the picture
chopped walnuts or pecans, for garnish (optional)
  • Preheat a non-stick griddle.
  • In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt, set aside.
  • In a separate mixing bowl whisk together buttermilk, milk, mashed bananas, sour cream, egg, vanilla and melted butter.
  • Add dry ingredients to milk mixture and whisk just until combine.
  • Pour about 1/4 cup mixture onto buttered preheated griddle and using the measuring cup slightly spread the batter outward keeping a circular form (this helps them to be more even so you don’t get the fat center and thin sides).
  • Cook until bubbles begin to appear on the surface and bottom is golden, then flip pancake and cook opposite side until golden.
  • Serve immediately with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Syrup and garnish with optional banana slices and chopped nuts.
Cream Cheese Syrup
1/4 cup butter
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup buttermilk
4 oz cream cheese
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium low heat.
  • Stir in sugar, cinnamon, buttermilk and cream cheese.
  • Cook mixture, whisking constantly until cream cheese has melted.
  • Stir in baking soda and whisk for about 10 seconds until very frothy.
  • Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
  • Serve warm.
  • Store in refrigerator up to 1 week.

KRAB & PEA FRITTERS

KRAB & PEA FRITTERS
1 cup sour cream
1 small bunch green onions, whites and greens, finely minced and divided
2 large eggs
3/4 cup whole milk*
12 ounces krab, minced
1 cup frozen peas
1 1/4 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
Sea Salt
red pepper
Frank’s Hot sauce
Juice of 1 lemon
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil

*I only had heavy cream and 1% milk on hand, so I used 1/2 cup heavy cream and 1/4 cup 1% milk and they were perfect.

  • In a medium bowl mix together the sour cream and half the green onions.  
  • Add in lemon juice, salt, pepper and hot sauce to taste.
  • Set aside.
  • In a large bowl whisk the eggs until frothy.
  • Whisk in the milk.
  • Add the flour, baking soda, salt and pepper to taste, blending until combined well.
  • Fold in the krab, the other half of green onions and peas until well blended.
  • Using a deep skillet (at least 2 inches) heat the oil over a medium high heat until it shimmers.
  • Add the batter to the oil 1 heaping tablespoon at a time.
  • Cook the fritters in batches, 2-3 minutes per side.  Use a slotted spoon to turn them.  Be sure not to crowd the pan.
  •  Transfer fritters to paper towels to drain.
  • Serve hot with sour cream.

FRENCH ONION GRILLED CHEESE

FRENCH ONION GRILLED CHEESE
1 tablespoon each safflower oil and butter, for frying

2 slices of french baguette or french bread
1 tablespoon softened butter
enough shredded
gruyere cheese to generously cover both slices of bread

½ cup wine-braised onions (see recipe below)
salt and pepper to taste

  • Heat oil in frying pan over medium low heat. Add butter and allow to melt.
  • Spread each slice of French bread with softened butter. 
  • Add half the shredded cheese to one slice of bread
  • Pile braised onions on top
  • Sprinkle with the salt and pepper, then add the rest of the cheese. 
  • Top with the other slice of bread, and gently press together.
  • Place the sandwich in the hot pan and cook until bread is toasted brown and cheese has started to melt. 
  • Carefully flip the sandwich over in the pan and cook until the other side is toasted brown and cheese has completely melted.
  • Remove the grilled sandwich from the pan and serve.

WINE BRAISED ONIONS
1 clove garlic per
2 onions
 (cook about 3-5 at a time, as you will find many uses for leftover caramelized onions)
butter
beef stock

  • Cut the onions in half lengthwise, then slice thinly again lengthwise.
  • For every 1 large onion, heat about 1 teaspoon safflower oil in a large, heavy-bottom pan over medium heat. Add the same amount of butter, allow to melt, then add minced garlic. 
  • Allow the garlic to soften (but not color), then add the onions. 
  • Stir to coat the garlic and onions in oil+butter.
  • Turn down the heat to medium low (so onions don’t burn). Continue to cook the onions until they are soft and deep golden brown, 30-40 minutes (depending on how many onions you cook).
  • Add about 1/8 cup wine of choice and 1/8 cup beef stock, and allow to cook down with the onions, another 5-7 minutes. 
  • Remove from heat and set aside enough onions for grilled cheese sandwich.

POMMES MAXIM

POMMES MAXIM as seen on Ashley Brouwer adapted from the New York Times

Pommes maxim plate beautifully. Add a sprig of rosemary to the middle of each spiral, serve with a dollop of sour cream on top, or just eat them hot right out of the oven. 
POMMES MAXIM
10 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 large Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and sliced paper thin
Sea salt
Fresh Ground Pepper
  • Heat oven to 300 degrees. Place butter in a saucepan over low heat. As the butter melts, skim the foam from the surface and discard. Slowly pour off the clear, golden, melted butter into a bowl, discarding any milky residue.
  • Toss the potato slices in a bowl with the clarified butter. Arrange the slices, overlapping, on a baking sheet and sprinkle with salt. Keller recommends using a nonstick baking sheet, but I don’t own one and was still able to easily remove the pommes maxim from the pan with a metal spatula.
  • Bake the potatoes 45 to 50 minutes or until crisp and golden.
  • They can be set aside at room temperature for 1-2 hours until you are ready to serve. To reheat, place them in a 325-degree oven for 10 minutes or until warm.
  • Makes approximately six servings, although this number may vary depending on how large your potatoes are and how many slices you use per circle.

CHICKEN SNAP PEA STIR FRY

CHICKEN SNAP PEA STIR FRY
1 pound chicken breast tenders, cut into strips
3 1/2 tablespoons safflower oil
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon baking soda
sea salt
1 tablespoon oyster sauce
3/4 pound sugar snap peas, halved
soy sauce 
white rice
  • Toss  chicken with 1 1/2 tablespoons safflower oil, cornstarch and baking soda.
  • Cover and marinate 1 hour.
  • Remove from refrigerator 15 minutes before cooking.
  • Heat Wok or large frying pan over high heat.
  • Add remaining oil to pan.
  • When hot, add chicken and saute until golden.
  • Add salt.
  • Stir in oyster sauce.
  • Transfer to bowl and set aside.
  • Return  wok to high heat and add peas, stir frying 2-3 minutes until tender crisp.
  • Stir in chicken.
  • Serve over rice with soy sauce.

Roasted Almond and Maple Butter, soooo good!

I love maple, real maple syrup is delicious.

OK I also like maple flavored pancake syrup, but with the sugar, it does not agree with me. Before it is proper time to eat the next meal, my blood sugar has already plummeted.

On Mother’s Day in addition to a day of labor in my yard, I was served a delicious dinner that included real maple in many of the dishes. The chicken breast were marinaded in a maple and spice bath, and there was a maple and cream bread pudding for dessert. Good stuff!

If that was not enough, I also received a jar of this delicious almond butter.

(I should probably remove that little sticky note…)

Maple Almond Butter
made by the lovely Jess, and here is the note she sent me by email…..

** I switched out the oil for coconut oil, and I have to say, it took a lot more than two teaspoons to get it to that creamy consistency.. the first batch I did, I used oil that I had around the house and it still took much more than two teaspoons..** also, I added a bit more maple syrup in to the food processor when I was blending it, I wanted a stronger maple flavor.

Maple Almond Butter
1 1/2 cups of raw almonds
3 tablespoons maple syrup update: more for blending
pinch of sea salt
1-2 teaspoons walnut oil (or any other complimentary/neutral oil) update: start with 1 T coconut oil

Spread the almonds on a rimmed cookie sheet, preferably with a baking mat or sheet of parchment underneath them. Drizzle the maple syrup over the almonds and toss the nuts with your fingers so that they get evenly coated. Roast them at 325 degrees for 20 minutes, tossing at least once during the cooking process.

When the nuts are fully roasted, remove the pan from the oven and let cool for at least 10-15 minutes.
Pour the nuts into the food processor and pulse to begin breaking them up. Add a drizzle of your oil and run the processor 30-45 seconds. Remove the lid and scrape down the sides. Continue with this process/scrape/drizzle procedure until your nuts have broken down in butter. You may not need all the oil, it just depends on the moisture content of the almonds.

 Yes, we have been enjoying this almond butter, look at all those crumbs!

This is so good! 

As always, thank you for taking a moment to stop and say hello. I appreciate your time and your wonderful comments!

For additional recipes and more, come visit at Moms Sunday Cafe, we love having company!

SWEET and SPICY PORK RIBS

Sweet, Spicy, Tender, Perfect…

SWEET and SPICY PORK RIBS
3 pounds spareribs,  cut into 4-5 rib sections, rinsed and patted dry
1/2 cup Hoisin sauce
3 tablespoons dry sherry
3 tablespoons sesame oil
3 tablespoons, minced fresh ginger
1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
1 large clove garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

  • Generously salt and pepper ribs.
  • In a medium mixing bowl whisk together the Hoisin sauce, sherry, sesame oil, ginger, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, garlic and pepper flakes.
  • Place ribs in a LARGE ziploc bag and pour sauce over the ribs. Refrigerate overnight.
  • Heat gas grill to medium high or a charcoal grill to medium hot fire.
  • Spray grill with PURE.
  • Grill ribs over indirect heat for 30-45 minutes or until ribs are fork tender and easily separate, turning and basting frequently with reserved marinade.
  • Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve.
OR a sauce we LOVE
1/2 cup Smucker’s Apricot Jam
1/2 cup Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce
1 tablespoon red pepper flakes

CHICKEN MARSELLAISE

Taste and Create was started as a food event by Nicole from For the Love of Food.  The whole purpose of Taste and Create was, and has been, and continues to be to create a community of bloggers who test each others’ recipes and share links. The participants of the event are paired together and try a new recipe from one another’s blog.  

My partner this month is Carol from NO REASON NEEDED for our 4th pairing. I spent yet another lazy afternoon perusing her recipes again and was still intrigued by her unusual recipe titles like elephant ear cookies, zippy slow cooker chili, pizza stuffed pretzels and super easy strawberry and lime ice cream but opted for her Chicken Marsellaise. Carol’s recipe is here.

 

I added some Parmesan cheese and hubs loved it!
CHICKEN MARSELLAISE

2 whole chickens, cut up (I used 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts)
1.5 cups Catalina Fat Free Salad Dressing
2 cans (16 oz.) tomatoes with juice
2 large onions, sliced
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon celery seed
1/2 teaspoon pepper
3 tablespoons flour
1 cup chicken broth or stock
  • Arrange chicken pieces in large skillet. 
  • Pour 1 cup Catalina dressing over chicken and cook over low heat. 
  • Turn chicken as needed in order to brown chicken on all sides. 
  • When chicken is browned, add remaining Catalina along with tomatoes, onion, salt, celery seed and pepper. Cover skillet and cook chicken over medium-low heat for 30 minutes or until chicken tests done. When chicken is done, remove from skillet and arrange on serving platter. 
  • Gradually add flour to chicken broth and stir until dissolved. 
  • Pour broth into skillet’s hot liquid and stir constantly, increasing the heat to medium-high. 
  • Cook until mixture forms a thick gravy sauce. 
  • Pour sauce over chicken and serve.