Category: RECIPES

FARMHOUSE CHOPPED SALAD

FARMHOUSE CHOPPED SALAD serves 6

12 ounces bacon, chopped

  • Cook bacon over medium heat until crispy.
  • Drain on paper toweling.

DRESSING
1 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup FRESH parsley, chopped
2 tablespoons FRESH chives, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper

  • Whisk the mayonnaise, sour cream and buttermilk together until smooth.
  • Fold in the parsley, chives, garlic, FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper.

1 head romaine lettuce, chopped
1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
1 bunch green onions, THINLY sliced
1 cup carrot matchsticks
2 cups shredded sharp white or yellow cheddar cheese
2-3 cups grilled or rotisserie chicken pieces (see note)

  • In a large bowl toss together the lettuce, green onions, carrots, tomatoes, 3/4 of the bacon pieces, chicken pieces and 1 1/2 cups of the cheese.
  • Add dressing, tossing to coat.
  • Garnish with remaining cheese and bacon.

NOTE:

  • I like to make this salad the same day I go to Costco.  I pick up a rotisserie chicken from their deli and it’s the perfect time to pick the chicken from the bone, make a salad and make FRESH chicken stock from the carcass.
  • I sometimes add chopped avocado or even radishes.

UPDATED CHICKEN CACCIATORE

This recipe is one that is so versatile that it can feel like you are eating separate dishes on the same night.  Hubby doesn’t do cooked mushrooms.  I don’t do capers or olives. So, I make the red part of the sauce and then split it in half and prepare each half with the items we like individually. 😀

UPDATED CHICKEN CACCIATORE
6 BONELESS, SKINLESS chicken chicken steaks
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
1/3 cup WONDRA all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon avocado oil
1 tablespoon butter
1 small onion, finely chopped
1/2 pound sliced cremini mushrooms (optional)
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 red bell pepper, THINLY sliced
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 teaspoon FRESH and FINELY chopped oregano
1 teaspoon FRESH and FINELY chopped rosemary or thyme
One 28-ounce CRUSHED whole tomatoes
1/3 cup chopped black olives
2 tablespoons drained capers, chopped
1/4 cup torn FRESH basil leaves

  • Sprinkle the chicken thighs with salt and pepper, then toss them in a bowl with the flour to lightly coat.
  • Heat the oil and butter in a large, wide pot over medium-high heat until shimmering.
  • Add the chicken and cook, turning once, until golden brown on both sides, about 2-3 minutes per side. Remove the chicken to a plate.
  • Add the onion and mushrooms to the pot and cook, stirring, until the onion is softened and the mushrooms are lightly golden, about 5 minutes.
  • Add the garlic and peppers, stirring, until the peppers are just starting to soften, about 1 minute.
  • Add the wine and bring to a boil, then cook, scraping up any brown bits, until reduced by about half.
  • Add the oregano and rosemary or thyme.
  • Add the tomatoes and their juice and bring to a simmer.
  • Add the olives and capers.
  • Return the chicken to the pot, nestling in the sauce.
  • Reduce the heat to keep the sauce at a gentle simmer and cook until the chicken is cooked through, about 5-10 minutes.
  • Sprinkle with the basil.
  • Serve immediately.

SHEET PAN RANCH PORK CHOPS

SHEET PAN RANCH PORK CHOPS
5 tablespoons Avocado Oil
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 ounce Ranch dressing dry mix packet
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
1 LARGE red onion, cut into wedges
1 red bell pepper, seeded and cut into strips
2 small sweet peppers (orange and yellow), seeded and cut into strips
4 THICK boneless pork chops
1 teaspoon paprika
1/4 cup FRESH, FINELY chopped Parsley

  • Preheat oven to 475°.
  • In a large bowl whisk together Avocado oil, Worcestershire sauce, ranch dressing mix, salt and pepper until well blended.
  • Reserve 3 tablespoons in a small bowl.
  • Add the onions and peppers to the marinade and toss until well coated.
  • Remove the onions and peppers with a slotted spoon and layer evenly on your sheet pan.
  • Bake 15-20 minutes until beginning to soften.
  • Add reserve marinade to bowl.
  • Add pork chops and toss to coat.
  • Sprinkle pork chops with paprika.
  • Add pork chops to sheet pan and bake 7-8 minutes until cooked through and no longer pink.
  • Sprinkle with Parsley and serve immediately.

CREAMY “ROQUEFORT” BLUE CHEESE DRESSING

Hubby has been begging for some good Roquefort salad dressing. What’s the difference between that and blue cheese you ask? Well, Roquefort is a type of Blue cheese as is Gorgonzola. Roquefort is a French sheep’s milk cheese and Gorgonzola is Italian and made from cow’s milk. Roquefort has a sharper flavor, but is not as strongly flavored as robust and aromatic Gorgonzola. There is also Stilton  blue cheese.  Any of these work wonderful for this dressing.

CREAMY “ROQUEFORT” BLUE CHEESE DRESSING
2 cups sour cream
1/4 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
1/2 teaspoon celery salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon paprika
3-4 ounces Roquefort

  • Mix everything together in a food processor.  For a chunky dressing leave a few chunks if you to add in after you process everything.
  • Chill AT LEAST 4 hours before serving.

CREAMY SUN DRIED TOMATO CHICKEN

CREAMY SUN DRIED TOMATO CHICKEN
1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste
1/2 cup marinated sun dried tomato strips, drained of oil, reserve oil
2 tablespoons marinated sun dried tomatoes oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup white wine
3/4 cup chicken broth/stock , low sodium
3/4 cup heavy cream
1/3 cup FINELY shredded Parmesan
1 cup basil leaves, packed
Prepared pasta or mashed potatoes

  • Slice chicken breasts in half horizontally to form 2 thin steaks.
  • Generously sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper.
  • Heat sun dried tomato oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  • 
Add the chicken and cook until golden on both sides and cooked through.
  • Remove to a plate, keep warm.
  • Add the garlic and cook for 15 seconds until light golden.
  • Add wine.
  • Bring to simmer and scrape the bottom of the skillet to mix all the brown bits into the wine.
Let the wine simmer for 1 minute or so.
  • Add the chicken broth, heavy cream, Parmesan and sun dried tomatoes.
  • 
Bring to simmer, then reduce heat to medium and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes until thickened and well combined.
  • Taste sauce and adjust seasoning as needed.
  • Fold in basil leaves.
  • Return chicken into pan, turning to coat in sauce.
  • Serve over prepared pasta or mashed potatoes.
  • Serve immediately with garlic bread to sop up sauce!

SWEET & SPICY APRICOT BBQ CHICKEN

With summer here this recipe also works GREAT on the grill 😀

SWEET & SPICY APRICOT BBQ CHICKEN
SAUCE
Canola oil
1 cup finely chopped yellow onion
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
4 cloves, minced garlic
13-ounce jar apricot or apricot-pineapple jam
1/2 cup FRESH orange juice (1 LARGE orange)
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup jalapeno ketchup
2 tablespoons QUALITY honey
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

  • Heat 1 tablespoon canola oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
  • Add the onions and cook until soft, 3 to 4 minutes.
  • Add the red pepper flakes and garlic; cook an additional 2 minutes.
  • Stir in the jam; cook until the jam melts, 3 to 4 minutes more.
  • Pour in the orange juice and cider vinegar, bring to a simmer, and then add the ketchup, honey and
  • Worcestershire.
  • Adjust the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring often, until thickened, 15 minutes.
  • Remove from the heat and let cool for 5 minutes.
  • Transfer the sauce to a blender and puree until smooth.
  • Add salt to taste.
  • Remove 1 cup for basting the chicken; reserve the rest for serving.

CHICKEN
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
FRESH ground sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
16 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
Avocado oil
Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

  • Preheat the oven to 375°.
  • In a small bowl, stir together the smoked paprika, 1 tablespoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper.
  • Place the chicken thighs on two foil-lined baking sheets.
  • Lightly coat the thighs with canola oil and sprinkle liberally with the spice mixture on both sides.
  • Bake until the chicken is cooked through, 35 minutes.
  • Turn the oven to broil.
  • Baste the chicken with BBQ sauce and broil until the sauce has caramelized and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the chicken reads 160°, about 2 minutes.
  • Remove to a platter, let rest for 5 minutes
  • Sprinkle the chicken with parsley, and serve with the reserved BBQ sauce.

APRICOT VINAIGRETTE

APRICOT VINAIGRETTE

16 ounce can apricot halves, drained WELL
2 tablespoons QUALITY balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon white wine
1 tablespoon water
1 large garlic clove, FINELY mined
1 teaspoon FRESH minced thyme
2 tablespoons avocado oil

  • In blender, everything except the avocado oil; blending until smooth.
  • With blender running, slowly add oil, blending until smooth.

NOTE:  Canned peaches or pears work really well also for a bit of a different flavor profile.

CHICKEN FRANCAISE

CHICKEN FRANCAISE adapted from RECIPE 30

This recipe is a flavorful pan seared breaded chicken on a rich lemony, tangy butter sauce.  Some call it French because of the wine and butter, some American and even more Italian according to Wikipedia.  What we know for sure is that it is FLAVORFUL!

4 chicken breast steaks
1/3 cup WONDRA flour
2 LARGE eggs
1 tablespoon heavy cream
FRESH chopped Flat Leaf parsley
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, finely grated
1 cup QUALITY white wine
1 cup chicken stock
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
4 tablespoons avocado oil
4 tablespoons butter
Juice of 1 LARGE lemon
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper

  • Beat eggs in a large shallow dish.
  • Whisk in the heavy cream and FRESH ground salt and pepper.
  • Add half the chopped parsley to the egg mixture.
  • Add Parmesan cheese to egg mixture, mixing well. Set aside.
  • Heat avocado oil and half of the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Dip chicken breasts in the flour, shaking off any excess and then the egg wash and then into flour again.
  • Add chicken to the hot pan and cooking 3-4 minutes per side.
  • Transfer chicken to a hot plate and keep warm.
  • Increase the heat.
  • Add wine and chicken stock, stirring to blend.
  • Add the garlic and lemon juice, cooking several minutes until slightly reduced.
  • Reduce heat to low.
  • Add the remaining chopped parsley and butter, whisking until butter is melted.
  • Return the chicken to the sauce, turning to coat for 30 seconds or so.
  • 
Garnish with parsley sprigs.

NOTE: Use medium sized flattened chicken breasts or thin chicken steaks.

SHEET PAN SCALLOPED POTATOES ala VALERIE BERTINELLI

SHEET PAN SCALLOPED POTATOES ala VALERIE BERTINELLI
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 large VIDALIA onion, THINLY sliced
2 to 3 cloves garlic, minced
3 1/4 pounds medium Yukon Gold potatoes (6 to 7 potatoes), cut into 1/8-inch rounds
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
1 1/2 cups grated Fontina cheese – about 8 ounces
1 cup grated Parmesan – about 5 ounces
2 cups heavy cream
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh rosemary
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon lemon zest

  • Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
  • Spray a LARGE 18X13, rimmed baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Melt the butter in a large sauté pan over medium heat.
  • Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly caramelized, 15 to 20 minutes; if the onions are browning too quickly, reduce the heat to low. When the onions are almost done, stir in the garlic and cook an additional 2 minutes to lightly toast. Remove from the heat.
  • Layer half of the potatoes, shingle style in 6 or 7 even rows on the prepared baking sheet, making sure the sheet is completely covered.
  • Season the potatoes with salt and pepper, and sprinkle with half of the fontina and Parmesan.
  • Spread the caramelized onions evenly over the top.
  • Shingle the remaining half of the potatoes over the onions, and season with more salt and pepper.
  • Turn the heat to medium under the sauté pan.
  • Add the cream, rosemary, Dijon and lemon zest, stir together and bring to a SLOW simmer.
  • Season with salt and then pour the cream over the potatoes; tilt the baking sheet slightly in all directions to ensure even coverage. Top with the remaining Fontina and Parmesan.
  • Cover the baking sheet with foil and bake for 15 minutes.
  • Remove the foil and continue baking until the top is golden brown, the edges are crispy and the potatoes are tender, another 20 to 25 minutes.
  • Let the cool for 15 minutes before serving.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH, BACON and APPLE HOT DISH

This is a Molly Yeh recipe from Girl Meets Farm. I normally love her recipes and experimenting with new things, but this one needed some serious tweaking to make it right.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH, BACON and APPLE HOT DISH
FILLING
3/4 pound thick-cut bacon
2 large purple onions, chunky thin wedges
2 pounds 1 small butternut squash, seeded, peeled and chopped into small 1/2-inch cubes
6 sprigs fresh thyme, stems removed
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Crushed red pepper flakes
1/8 cup white wine
1/2 cup vegetable broth
2 3 large Honey Crisp Granny Smith apples, chopped into 1/2-inch cubes

  • In a LARGE cast iron skillet cook bacon until crisp. Remove to paper toweling for draining.
  • Drain half the bacon grease from the skillet, leaving just enough to coat the skillet.
  • Add the onions and turn the heat to medium-high. Saute until soft, about 10 minutes.
  • Add the squash, thyme, some salt, a few turns of pepper and a few pinches of crushed red pepper, stirring occasionally, about 8-10 more minutes.
  • Add the wine and broth.
  • Roughly chop the bacon and add it to the skillet along with the apples.
  • Bring the mixture to a SLOW boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10-15 minutes, while you make the biscuits.

BISCUITS
2 cups all-purpose flour, plus additional for dusting
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
14 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold and cubed
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 large egg, lightly beaten
FRESHLY ground black pepper

  • Preheat the oven to 425°.
  • Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl.
  • Add the butter and, using a food processor, pastry cutter or your hands, incorporate the butter until the mixture is the consistency of raw oatmeal.
  • Mix in the cream until the mixture comes together to form a dough.
  • Turn it out onto a floured work surface, pat it out to 3/4-inch thick and then cut out round biscuits, re-rolling scraps as needed.
  • Turn off the heat before dotting the top of the skillet with the biscuits.
  • Brush the biscuits with the beaten egg and top with black pepper.
  • Bake until the biscuits are golden brown, cooked through and flaky, about 25 minutes.
  • Remove from oven and serve right from the skillet!

NOTE: 

  • NEXT TIME I will change the apples to Granny Smiths and add an extra apple and decrease the squash.  Hubby wants me to trade the squash altogether for potatoes or Brussels sprouts.
  • This recipe also works well with “cheater” biscuits from the dairy case 😀

BACON CHEDDAR CORNBREAD

BACON CHEDDAR CORNBREAD
6 slices thick bacon, diced, reserve a few pieces for garnish
1 small onion, FINELY diced
1 can white shoepeg kernel corn
2 cups yellow cornmeal
1 cup flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
1 1/4 cups finely grated sharp cheddar cheese, divided, reserve a small amount for garnish
2 cups buttermilk
2 LARGE eggs

  • Preheat oven to 400°.
  • Brown bacon pieces in a deep 10 inch cast iron pan until crisp.
  • Remove bacon with a slotted spoon to paper toweling.
  • Reserve all but 2 tablespoons of the bacon grease in a small bowl, leaving the 2 tablespoons in the skillet.
  • Add onion and corn, cooking until tender for 2-3 minutes.
  • Remove corn and onions from pan.
  • Add reserved bacon dripping back to the skillet.
  • Whisk together the cornmeal, flour, salt, sugar and baking powder in a large bowl.
  • Add 1 cup of the cheese.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, eggs and any remaining drippings.
  • Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients.
  • Add buttermilk mixture to the well, stirring JUST until combined.
  • Sprinkle a thin layer of the cornmeal in the skillet.
  • Pour batter into skillet and top with bacon and remaining cheese.
  • Bake 25-30 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.
  • Garnish with a few bacon pieces.
  • Serve with butter.

PAN SEARED CHICKEN with LEMON and CHIVE SAUCE

PAN SEARED CHICKEN with LEMON and CHIVE SAUCE
CHICKEN
4 boneless, skinless thin sliced chicken breast steaks
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
1 tablespoon avocado oil
2 tablespoons butter
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup +1 tablespoon WONDRA flour
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 shallot minced
1 tablespoon WONDRA flour
1 cup chicken broth
Juice of 1 LARGE lemon
1 tablespoon FRESH minced chives
1 tablespoon COLD unsalted butter

  • Generously season chicken steaks with FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper.
  • Heat oil and butter in skillet over medium heat.
  • Dredge chicken in beaten egg and the 1/4 cup flour, shaking off excess.
  • Sear chicken breasts in skillet for 2 minutes per side.
  • Remove chicken steaks to plate and keep warm.
  • Add shallot and cook over medium heat for about 2 minutes until softened.
  • Add the 1 tablespoon of flour and cornstarch, stirring to coat shallot 30 seconds or so.
  • Slowly whisk in broth and bring to a simmer 5-10 minutes until reduced and slightly thickened.
  • Remove from heat and whisk in lemon juice, chives and butter.
  • Season to taste.
  • Serve over chicken.