Category: RECIPES

CHICKEN COUNTRY CASSOULET

CHICKEN COUNTRY CASSOULET
3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite sized pieces
1/2 pound thick-cut bacon, diced
1 pound fat sausages of choice, cut into bite sized pieces
3 tablespoons butter
1 large Vidalia onion, diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
4 carrots, sliced
1/2 pound snap peas, washed and deveined
1/4 cup fresh minced parsley
1 14-ounce can petit diced tomatoes, basil, garlic & oregano
1 tablespoon Classico sun-dried tomato puree
1/2 teaspoon dried sage
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme or 1 tablespoon dried
2 +/- cups chicken stock
2 cups seasoned bread crumbs**
salt and ground black pepper

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
  • Brown the bacon until browned and crumbly in Dutch oven casserole dish.  Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
  • Add chicken and sausages and brown on all sides. Remove from fat and set aside. 
  • Add the onions and garlic and cook 3-4 minutes until softened. 
  • Add the carrots, snap peas and parsley, sauteing 3-4 more minutes.
  • Add tomatoes, tomato puree, spices and salt and pepper to taste.
  • Add meat back in.
  • Add enough of the stock to just cover the meat and veggies, you don’t want things swimming around too much.  You can always add more stock during the cooking if needed. 
  • Cover dish and cook 1 hour.
  • Add more stock if necessary. Spread crumbs over the top and cook uncovered for 40 more minutes or until browned. 

**Try adding other vegetables such as broccoli or white beans for variety.   I used crushed Ritz crackers today and they worked reallllllllllllllly well as a substitute!

CHICKEN MILANO

CHICKEN MILANO

4 tablespoons butter, divided*

2 pounds chicken tenders

1 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped**

3-4 cloves garlic, minced

1 bunch green onions, sliced thin

2 cups chicken broth

2 cups heavy cream

1 pound fettucini

salt and pepper, to taste

2 tablespoons chopped basil

  • In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat.  Add garlic and saute until fragrant.
  • Add onions and saute until soft.
  • Add tomatoes and 3/4 cup of the chicken broth. Simmer 10minutes.
  • Add the cream and bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
  • Reduce heat to a simmer and cook until sauce is thickened to desired consistency.
  • Meanwhile prepare pasta per package directions.
  • In another skillet melt remaining butter over medium heat.
  • Wash chicken pieces and pat dry.
  • Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper generously.
  • Add chicken to butter and saute on both sides until cooked through.
  • Plate chicken.
  • Toss fettuccini and sauce together until well coated. Add to plated chicken.
  • Sprinkle with basil.
  • Enjoy.

* I use butter or safflower oil

**next time I will probably puree them slightly

CHICKEN MILANO

CHICKEN MILANO
4 tablespoons butter, divided*
2 pounds chicken tenders
1 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped**
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
1 bunch green onions, sliced thin
2 cups chicken broth
2 cups heavy cream
1 pound fettucini
salt and pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons chopped basil

  • In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat.  Add garlic and saute until fragrant.
  • Add onions and saute until soft.
  • Add tomatoes and 3/4 cup of the chicken broth. Simmer 10minutes.
  • Add the cream and bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
  • Reduce heat to a simmer and cook until sauce is thickened to desired consistency.
  • Meanwhile prepare pasta per package directions.
  • In another skillet melt remaining butter over medium heat.
  • Wash chicken pieces and pat dry.
  • Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper generously.
  • Add chicken to butter and saute on both sides until cooked through.
  • Plate chicken.
  • Toss fettuccini and sauce together until well coated. Add to plated chicken.
  • Sprinkle with basil.
  • Enjoy.

* I use butter or safflower oil

**next time I will probably puree them slightly

STIR FRY BEEF & VEGGIES ~ Healthy Meals

Hi.  I’m back with a healthy meal to share.  Not only was it healthy, but it was quite tasty as well.
STIR FRY BEEF & VEGGIES
1 pound of stir fry beef, the leaner the cut the better, cut into trim strips.
1 red pepper, washed and sliced thin
1 green pepper, washed and sliced thin
1 tablespoon of olive oil 
3-4 cloves of garlic. 
1 bottle of your favorite stir-fry sauce
rice
  • Put a tablespoon of olive oil in the stir-fry pan and let it warm up.  
  • Add the beef and peppers.  
  • When the beef is almost cooked brown, press three or four cloves of garlic and stir into the mixture. 
  • Add the stir-fry sauce.  
  • Let this simmer for about 10 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, cook your favorite brand of white or brown rice, about a 2-cup serving.
  • Serve the stir-fry beef and veggies over rice.  
  • Add a side.  We chose broccoli.
The entire stir fry dish with rice has a total of:
1,034 calories
48 grams of fat
240 cholesterol
438 of sodium
6 grams of fiber
54 carbohydrates
8 sugars
89 grams of protein
 Divide these numbers by the number of servings you will use, and you have a healthy, lowfat, low calorie meal.
We had 5 servings, so each of our servings came out to 207 calories and 9.6 grams of fat. 
This is a low sugar, low fat, low cholesterol, low carb meal.

ROCKY ROAD FLUFF CAKE

** this picture depicts a half portion of the recipe.

ROCKY ROAD FLUFF CAKE **
1 package milk chocolate chips
4 eggs, separated
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 pint whipping cream
1/4 cup chopped pecans
3/4 cup marshmallows
1/2 cup Heath Bar pieces
1 angel food cake broken into bite sized pieces
optional ~ sliced strawberries added throughout
optional ~ serve with French vanilla ice cream

  • Melt chocolate chips in the microwave 30 seconds at a time so they don’t burn. Cool slightly.
  • Beat the egg yolks and add to chocolate mixture.
  • Beat egg whites. Add sugar.
  • Add egg white mixture to chocolate mixture also.
  • Stir in vanilla and salt until well blended.
  • Stir in nuts and Heath Bar pieces.
  • Whip the cream until soft peaks form.
  • Fold cream into chocolate mixture.
  • Place a layer of angel food pieces on the bottom of the pan.
  • Pour 1/3+ of chocolate mixture over top.
  • Sprinkle marshmallows over top.
  • Top with the rest of the angel food cake pieces.
  • Pour remaining chocolate mixture over top.
  • Chill overnight.
  • Invert on a plate.
  • Enjoy.

LOADED BAKED POTATO SOUP

LOADED BAKED POTATO SOUP
3 tablespoons butter
1 large Vidalia onion, chopped
2 tablespoons flour
6 cups hot water
1 tablespoon Better than Bouillon Chicken Base
1/2 pound bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
6 large Yukon potatoes, peeled 3 potatoes diced and 3 potatoes finely grated
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon white pepper
1/4 teaspoon basil
1/4 teaspoon thyme
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 green onions, sliced thin

  • Whisk together the hot water and bouillon base.
  • Melt butter in a skillet and saute onion until tender.
  • Stir in flour until golden.
  • Gradually add 1 cup of the broth.
  • Bring to a boil.
  • Cook and stir until thickened.
  • Transfer to slow cooker.
  • Add the remaining broth and blend well.
  • Add in the bacon, potatoes, salt, pepper, basil and thyme.
  • Cook on low 6-8 hours or until potatoes are tender.
  • Stir in heavy and sour cream and heat through.
  • Garnish each bowl with green onions and cheese.
  • Serve with buttermilk biscuits and maple honey.

NOT YOUR MOM’S TUNA CASSEROLE

BUT SERIOUS COMFORT FOOD NONE THE LESS.

NOT YOUR MOM’S TUNA CASSEROLE

1/2 rotiserrie chicken, cut into small pieces or 2 large cans albacore white tuna
1 can cream of mushroom soup or substitute FOR NO PRESERVATIVES
1 can chopped green chiles, drained
1/2 cup milk
1 large can French’s French fried onion rings
1 bunch green onions, diced
1 stalk celery, diced
1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
2 cups wide egg noodles

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Bring a large sauce pan of water to a roiling boil.  Add noodles and simmer 5 minutes.
  • Whisk together soup or soup substitute and milk.
  • Add onions, celery, chiles and chicken pieces blending well.
  • Add in 1/2 can French’s onion rings, blending well again.
  • Add in drained noodles and cheeses, blending again until well mixed.
  • Pour into a greased casserole dish and top with remaining Frnech’s onion rings.
  • Bake 30 minutes.
  • Enjoy.

PICKLED EGGS

I used to make these for our VFW and they were a favorite!

PICKLED EGGS
1 dozen JUMBO eggs
1 1/2 cups vinegar
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 onion, sliced into thin rings
1 whole dried chile pepper

  • Hard boil the eggs.
  • Drain and fill with cold water. Allow eggs to sit in cold water for 20 minutes.
  • Peel the eggs and place in a glass jar, alternating with the onion rings. Add the red pepper.
  • In a medium saucepan combine the vinegar, water, sugar, salt and cloves. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer 5 minutes.
  • Pour the hot vinegar solution over the eggs. Cover tightly and let stand in refrigerator for several days before serving.

COMFORT STEW

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1 1/2 pounds select stew meat
2 (10 ounce) cans French onion soup
1 (10 ounce) can cream of onion soup
1 (10 ounce) can cream of celery soup
1 (16 ounce) package frozen stew vegetables, thawed
  • Place stew meat in sprayed slow cooker.
  • Add soups as listed and spread evenly over meat.
  • DO NOT STIR. Turn slow cooker to HIGH and cook just long enough for ingredients to get hot.
  • Change heat setting to LOW, cover and cook for 7 to 8 hours.
  • Serves 4 to 6.
Happy Eating…


Fire Day Friday: Grilled Thai Style Green Beans

I love preparing green beans on the grill.  Honestly, it’s my favorite way to enjoy them.  But, I don’t usually get too creative with them when preparing them….So when I saw Mary at One Perfect Bite post her recipe for Thai Style Green Beans, I knew I was going to have to work on jazzing my grilled green beans up.

This is a simple little dish that can be made in the oven or on the stove, but really…. you just gotta try them on the grill.  You may never want them another way again.  Serve these along side my Vietnamese Spiced Pork Chops and Sweet Chili Sauce and you have got yourself a fantastic summer meal!
Grilled Thai Style Green Beans
Adapted from One Perfect Bite

Printable Recipe 
Ingredients:
1/4-1/2 pound green beans
1 teaspoon low sodium soy sauce
1 teaspoon hoisin
1 teaspoon creamy peanut butter
1 teaspoon water
1 teaspoon sweet chili sauce
salt and pepper

Directions:
Preheat grill to 375 degrees F.  Place the green beans in a large bowl.  Mix together all remaining ingredients until well combined.  Pour over green beans and toss to coat.

Fold a 36×18-inch piece of heavy foil in half to make an 18-inch square.  Spray square with non-stick cooking spray.  Place green beans in the middle of the foil and bring together two opposite edges of foil; seal with a double fold.  Fold remaining edges together and enclose beans, leaving space for steam to build up.  Place packet on preheated grill and grill for 15-20 minutes, flipping packet over once.  Carefully remove from grill and foil packet.  Enjoy!

GREEN TABASCO CHICKEN

GREEN TABASCO CHICKEN
2 pounds chicken tenders
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 orange halved
1 teaspoon Penzey’s California crushed jalapenos
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup Green Jalapeño Tabasco Sauce
1 bunch green onions, sliced thin
1/4 cup melted butter
1-1/2 chicken broth

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Juice 1/2 of orange.
  • Section other half of orange.
  • In a small sauce pan whisk together the orange juice and green Tabasco sauce.
  • Add the butter, garlic and chicken broth.
  • Simmer 10-15 minutes until well blended and slightly reduced.
  • Spray a baking pan with pure.
  • Toss together the chicken and green onions.  Arrange in baking dish. Add orange sections.
  • Pour sauce over top.
  • Bake 30 minutes.  Serve with Parmesan Potatoes and tortillas.

GREEN TABASCO CHICKEN

GREEN TABASCO CHICKEN
2 pounds chicken tenders
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 orange halved
1 teaspoon Penzey’s California crushed jalapenos
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup Green Jalapeño Tabasco Sauce
1 bunch green onions, sliced thin
1/4 cup melted butter
1-1/2 chicken broth

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Juice 1/2 of orange.
  • Section other half of orange.
  • In a small sauce pan whisk together the orange juice and green Tabasco sauce.
  • Add the butter, garlic and chicken broth.
  • Simmer 10-15 minutes until well blended and slightly reduced.
  • Spray a baking pan with pure.
  • Toss together the chicken and green onions.  Arrange in baking dish. Add orange sections.
  • Pour sauce over top.
  • Bake 30 minutes.  Serve with Parmesan Potatoes and tortillas.