Category: RECIPES

APPLE PIE CAKE

This was a Bobby Flay French toast recipe, but with a few changes, it’s now a cake!  You could still call it French toast and serve it for Brunch, but it’s yummy enough for dessert too!

APPLE PIE CAKE majorly altered and formerly known as APPLE CRISP FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE ala Bobby Flay

TOAST
1 loaf day-old sourdough bread, crust removed, cut into 1-inch cubes

  • Preheat the oven to 275 °.
  • Spread the bread cubes on a large baking sheet and bake 20 minutes.
  • Let cool.
  • Adjust the oven to 350°.

APPLES
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup apple cider, plus more for syrup if needed
Juice of 1 lemon
4 LARGE Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and diced
2 tablespoons Coconut Rum
1/2 cup golden raisins

  • Combine the sugar, apple cider, lemon juice and coconut rum in a large saute pan and bring to a simmer over medium heat.
  • Stir in the apples and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and caramelized, about 15 minutes.
  • Using a slotted spoon, transfer the apples to a bowl (you don’t want the apples to be too wet) and let cool 10 minutes.
  • Reserve the apple cooking liquid for serving.
  • Fold in the golden raisins.

STREUSEL
1 stick (8 tablespoons) butter, softened
1/4 teaspoon fine salt
1/4 cup sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/3 cup crushed walnut pieces

  • While the apples cool mix together the butter, salt and sugar in a large bowl until smooth.
  • Add the flour, oats. crushed nuts and cinnamon and mix until well combined.
  • Refrigerate for 15 minutes.

ASSEMBLY
Softened butter for greasing the baking dish
3 LARGE eggs
2 LARGE egg yolks
1 teaspoon  PURE vanilla
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 1/2 cups half-and-half
2 tablespoons PURE maple syrup, for apple syrup
4 tablespoons cold butter, cut into pieces for syrup

  • Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with some softened butter.
  • Whisk the eggs, yolks, vanilla and cinnamon in a large bowl until smooth.
  • Whisk in the half-and-half, then fold in the cooled apples.
  • Add the bread and stir to coat, pressing down to make sure bread is totally submerged.
  • Let sit for 10 minutes.
  • Transfer the apple-bread mixture to the buttered 9×13 baking dish, pressing down to make sure the top is an even layer.
  • Scatter the streusel evenly over the top.
  • Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
  • Uncover and continue baking until set, slightly puffed and lightly golden brown, another 30 minutes or so.
  • Remove from the oven and let cool slightly.
  • Reheat the reserved apple cooking liquid. (If very thin, simmer briefly over medium heat until reduced to a syrup; if there isn’t much, add some apple cider and simmer briefly.)
  • Turn the heat to low and whisk in the maple syrup and cold butter, piece by piece, until emulsified.
  • Pour syrup over each piece as you serve it.

CRISPY PEANUT BUTTER CHICKEN

CRISPY PEANUT BUTTER CHICKEN
This is just like crispy peanut butter  served in many Chinese restaurants.

CHICKEN
1 1/2 pounds boneless chicken tenders
3/4 cup milk
3 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
1 LARGE egg
FRESH ground salt and pepper
2-3 cups crushed Corn Flakes
Avocado Oil

  • Whisk together the milk, peanut butter, and egg.
  • Season with salt and pepper.
  • Soak your chicken in this mixture for 15 minutes.
  • Drain chicken pieces.
  • Dredge chicken pieces in Corn Flakes.
  • Cook in hot oil, flipping once, until browned on both sides and cooked through.
  • Serve over prepared rice.
    Drizzle with peanut butter sauce.

SAUCE
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter (or maybe a little more)
3 tablespoons Bragg’s liquid aminos
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 -3/4 cup water (Adjust to desired thickness)
Drizzle of honey

  • Combine sauce ingredients in bowl or microwave safe measuring cup. Start with 1/4 cup of water and add more later to reach your desired consistency.
  • Microwave for 30 seconds and then whisk to thoroughly combine.
  • Microwave another 30 seconds until hot – Add water a teaspoon at a time until you reach your desired consistency.
  • Whisk again and pour over sliced chicken, or dip chicken pieces in sauce.
  • You can prepare the sauce ahead of time and reheat as needed.

ORANGE GLAZED SALMON

ORANGE GLAZED SALMON
2 salmon fillets, about the same size and thickness
2 tablespoons Cajun spice
1/2 teaspoon brown sugar
PINCH sea salt
FRESH ground black pepper
1 tablespoon avocado oil
2 tablespoons orange marmalade (see note)
Juice from small lime
Lime wedges, garnish

  • Combine Cajun spice, sugar, salt and pepper in small bowl.
  • Rub spice mixture all over salmon fillets.
  • Heat avocado oil in non-stick skillet over medium heat.
  • Sear skin side of fillets for 3-4 minutes until crispy.
  • Flip and saute’ another 2-3 minutes until salmon is cooked through.
  • Whisk marmalade and lime juice together.
  • Swirl into skillet, turning fillets to coat well with glaze.
  • Serve immediately.

    NOTE:  You can change the flavor up by using any flavor jam!  I’ve made this with pineapple, apricot pineapple, peach and even raspberry!  YUM!

MEATBALL POTATO VEGGIE MEDLEY

This is a WONDERFUL one pan, winter meal for any weeknight! It’s easy to assemble and makes great leftovers!  OR it can be completely made from scratch – your choice!

MEATBALL POTATO VEGGIE MEDLEY
1 can Campbell’s Cream of Potato Soup
1/2 cup sour cream
1 small bunch green onions, sliced thin
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 can sliced potatoes, drained WELL
1 can whole green beans, drained WELL
1 1/2 cups frozen corn, thawed
12 fully cooked meatballs, thawed, if frozen
3/4 cup shredded Gruyere or baby Swiss cheese

  • Preheat oven to 375°.
  • Coat baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Whisk together the soup, sour cream, salt and pepper.
  • Fold in green onions and lemon zest.
  • Gently fold in potatoes, green beans and corn.
  • Spread mixture into baking dish.
  • Tuck meatballs into mixture, gently pressing into the sauce.
  • Sprinkle with cheese.
  • Bake 35-40 minutes until top is golden and mixture is bubbling.

WILTED CHICKEN SPINACH PASTA

This is a luscious Chicken Alfredo with plenty of OOMPH from the wilted spinach and sun dried tomatoes. The bacon adds yet another layer of flavor making it similar to a Carbonara. Shredding the chickens adds plenty of nooks and crannies for the sauce to adhere and provide lots and lots of flavors, though I tend to use tenders and serve them whole.  I adapted from RECIPE TIN EATS

WILTED CHICKEN SPINACH PASTA serves 4

10 ounces fettuccine (see notes)

  • Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water for package directions minus 2 minutes.  The pasta will finish cooking in the sauce.  Just before draining, scoop out a cup of cooking water. Then drain pasta as directed.

1 tablespoons avocado oil
1 1/2 pounds of chicken breasts, cut in half horizontally or chicken tenders
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper

  • Sprinkle both sides of chicken with salt and pepper.
  • Melt half the butter in a large skillet over high heat.
  • Add chicken and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side until deep golden.
  • Remove chicken onto plate, rest for a few minutes then shred with 2 forks.

SAUCE
2 tablespoons butter
3 garlic cloves , minced
1 small red pepper sliced
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/2 cup chicken broth
1 1/4 cups heavy cream – DO NOT USE LIGHT
3/4 cup FINELY shredded Parmesan cheese + more for garnish
1-2  cups torn baby spinach
3 ounces sun dried tomato strips, DRAINED (see notes)
4 slices bacon, diced and browned
FRESH chopped Parsley, for garnish

  • Reduce the heat of your skillet to medium high.
  • Add remaining butter, sun-dried tomato oil and garlic.
  • Cook garlic for 30 seconds until golden.
  • Add red pepper slices and cook another minute.
  • Add wine, simmering quickly and stirring to scrape up any brown bits off the bottom of the pan.
  • Once mostly evaporated, add chicken broth, cream, Parmesan and sun dried tomato pieces.
    Simmer on medium for 3 – 5 minutes, stirring often, until it reduces and thickens.

ASSEMBLY

  • Add spinach, chicken, bacon pieces and cooked pasta.
  • TOSS – this is a MUST if you are shredding the chicken!
  • Cook sauce for 2 minutes, until sauce thickens and coats the pasta. (see notes)
  • Serve immediately with Parmesan and parsley if desired.


NOTES:

  • Flat wide pastas are best for creamy sauces, but any pasta will work in reality. DO NOT use fresh pastas.
  • When I drain the sun-dried tomatoes, I drain them into my skillet as part of my cooking oil for the sauce.
  • Use the reserved pasta cooking water as needed if the sauce gets too thick.

FISHY (in a good way) CHICKEN STEW

FISHY (in a good way) CHICKEN STEW
3 slices bacon, chopped
1 tablespoon avocado oil
1 1/2 pounds chicken tenders
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
1 LARGE shallot, chopped fine
1 celery stalk, chopped fine
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons anchovy paste
3 sprigs FRESH thyme, minced
3/4 cup white wine
5 cups chicken broth
2 tablespoons Bragg’s liquid aminos
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1/3 cup WONDRA flour
1 pound white potatoes, diced
3 carrots, diced
chopped FRESH parsley for garnish

  • In a large saute pan, cook bacon JUST until crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon to drain on paper toweling.
  • Add avocado oil to the bacon rendering in the pan and heat over medium flame.
  • GENEROUSLY season chicken pieces with FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper.
  • Add chicken to hot oil and sear on both sides until cooked through. Transfer to a plate and cover with foil to keep warm.
  • Add onion, garlic, celery, anchovy paste and thyme, cooking 2-3 minutes until well blended.
  • Add wine, 1 cup of the broth and liquid aminos, simmering until almost ALL the liquid is evaporated.
  • Preheat oven to 325°.
  • Add butter.
  • When butter has melted, sprinkle with flour, stirring to combine.
  • Whisk in remaining broth,
  • Shred chicken and add to broth along with carrots and potatoes, stirring to combine.
  • Cover and bake 30 minutes.
  • Stir and bake another 30-45 minutes until carrots and potatoes are fork tender.
  • Season to taste and fold in bacon pieces.
  • Garnish and serve immediately.  We like it over pasta.  I know that’s weird, but it’s a family thing.

CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER CHEESECAKE

This recipe is every peanut butter lovers dream! It’s a ROLL YOUR EYES BACK IN YOUR HEAD AND SIGH KIND OF AWESOME! I’ve included 3 choices of ganaches.

CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER CHEESECAKE

CRUST
15 chocolate graham crackers
3 tablespoons sugar
PINCH sea salt
4 tablespoons butter, melted

  • Butter 9″ spring form pan and wrap bottom and sides of pan in a double layer of aluminum foil.
  • Set rack in middle of oven and preheat to 350°.
  • In a food processor grind chocolate graham crackers into VERY fine crumbs.
  • Add sugar and salt, pulsing to combine.
  • Transfer crumbs to a medium bowl, add butter, and use fork or fingers to blend mixture until crumbs are evenly moist.
  • Press into bottom and about a third of the way up the sides of spring form pan.
  • Freeze 10 minutes.
  • Place pan on baking sheet and bake crust for 10 minutes.
  • Set on rack to cool and reduce oven temperature to 325°.
  • Bring tea kettle full of water to a boil.

CHEESECAKE
4 8-ounce packages cream cheese, softened at room temperature
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 tablespoons PURE vanilla extract
4 large eggs, room temperature
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 cup creamy peanut butter
3/4 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup sour cream
1 ¼ cups miniature chocolate chips
Reese’s, for garnish

  • In the bowl of a stand mixer using the whisk attachment, beat cream cheese on medium speed, scraping down the bowl as necessary, until completely smooth, 3 to 4 minutes.
  • Add sugar and salt, beating and scraping down bowl as necessary, until smooth and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes.
  • Add vanilla and beat for 30 seconds.
  • Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each addition until incorporated and occasionally scraping bottom and sides of bowl.
  • Add lemon zest, beating until combined.
  • Add peanut butter, heavy cream, and sour cream and beat on low until completely combined and smooth, about 1 minute.
  • Fold in mini chocolate chips.
  • Pour cheesecake batter into cooled crust and smooth top evenly.
  • Place cheesecake in deep roasting pan and set on middle rack of oven.
  • Carefully pour enough boiling water into roasting pan to come about halfway up sides of spring form pan.
  • Bake cheesecake until top is just starting to brown and crack, about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
  • Turn off oven, prop door open, and let cheesecake slowly cool in the water bath for 1 hour.
  • Remove roasting pan from oven, carefully lift spring form pan out of water and remove foil.
  • Set on cooling rack and cool to room temperature.
  • Once COMPLETELY cool, loosely cover cheesecake with plastic wrap and refrigerate, AT LEAST 4 hours, or preferably overnight.

CHOCOLATE GANACHE
6 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped (DO NOT USED UNSWEETENED)
3/4 cup heavy cream
PINCH sea salt

  • When ready to serve, carefully remove sides of spring form pan.
  • Place chocolate in a clean, dry medium bowl.
  • In a small saucepan, warm cream until just barely simmering.
  • Pour cream over chocolate and let sit 10 minutes, then add salt and stir until smooth.
  • Pour ganache over cheesecake, spreading it evenly and allowing some to drip down sides of cake.
  • Sprinkle with chopped Reese’s.

CHOCOLATE GANACHE
½ cup heavy cream
1 ½ cups milk chocolate chips, FINELY chopped OR grated

  • When the cake is completely cooled, run a thin knife around the edge and release the ring of spring form pan, then transfer the cake on a serving plate.
  • On a medium heat bring heavy cream to boil.
  • Pour hot cream on top of the chocolate and peanut butter. Cover with a plate for 5 minutes. The heat from the cream mixture will help melt the chocolate in a few minutes.
  • Stir well to combine until smooth.
  • Set aside to cool. The ganache should be pourable, but not too thin.
  • Slowly pour the ganache around the edges and let it drip down the sides.  Let the ganache set slightly then sprinkle with chopped peanuts and pile with coarsely chopped Reese’s.
  • Set in the fridge until ready to serve.

PEANUT BUTTER GANACHE

5 ounces QUALITY dark chocolate, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup CREAMY (NOT chunky OR crunchy) peanut butter
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • Place the chopped chocolate and peanut butter in a bowl and set aside.
  • Heat cream and vanilla on the stove and bring to a simmer for 3 minutes.
  • Pour hot cream on top of the chocolate and peanut butter. Cover with a plate for 5 minutes. The heat from the cream mixture will help melt the chocolate in a few minutes.
  • Stir well to combine until smooth.
  • Slowly pour the ganache around the edges and let it drip down the sides.  Let the ganache set slightly then sprinkle with chopped peanuts and pile with coarsely chopped Reese’s.
  • Set in the fridge until ready to serve.

GARNISH (optional)
Chopped Reese’s cups
Crushed roasted peanuts

NOTES: The quality of your chocolate WILL have a HUGE impact on the flavor of your ganache. ALWAYS use the best quality artisan chocolate for the best flavor. Natural peanut butters are more flavorful, but their gritty texture interferes with the formation of a SMOOTH ganache – use the smoothest textured peanut butter you can find.

SLOW COOKER GINGER CHICKEN & SLAW

SLOW COOKER GINGER CHICKEN & SLAW
CHICKEN
1/4 cup apricot jam
2 tablespoons ketchup (Jalapeno ketchup adds a bit of a kick)
1/4 cup Bragg’s liquid aminos
2 tablespoons FRESH grated ginger
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, trimmed of fat
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion, chopped small
1 red Jalapeno pepper, chopped small
1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper

  • Whisk together the apricot jam, ketchup, liquid aminos and ginger in 5 quart slow cooker.
  • Add onion, garlic, jalapeno and chicken, tossing to coat.
  • Cook covered 4-5 hours on low, until chicken is cooked through.
  • Transfer chicken to cutting board and shred.
  • Return chicken to slow cooker.
  • Stir in rice vinegar.
  • Season with FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste.
  • 1 cup long grain white rice, prepared 25-30 minutes before serving according to package directions.

SLAW
1/4 small red cabbage, cored and thinly sliced
1 small green onions, sliced thin
2 tablespoons FRESH chopped cilantro
1 tablespoon avocado oil
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
Toasted sesame seeds, for garnish

  • Toss all together.
  • Season to taste.
  • Serve chicken over rice with slaw.
  • Top with a sprinkling of sesame seeds.

TAMALE BUNDT PIE with SALSA VERDE CREMA

TAMALE BUNDT PIE
FILLING
1 1/4 pounds ground beef
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
16 ounces thick and chunky salsa
1 small can chopped green chiles, drained WELL

  • Brown ground beef and drain off fat.
  • Add seasonings and salsa, stirring to blend. Cook 5 minutes over medium-high heat.

CORN BREAD
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 1/4 cups WHOLE milk
2 eggs
1/4 cup avocado oil
1 cup SHARP cheddar cheese

  • Sift together flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder and salt into a mixing bowl.
  • Whisk together the milk, oil and eggs.
  • Add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients whisking JUST until dry ingredients are moistened.
  • Stir in cheese.

ASSEMBLY

  • Preheat oven to 375.
  • GENEROUSLY spray bundt pan with non-stick spray.
  • Sprinkle green chiles on bottom of pan.
  • Spread half the batter over the green chiles.
  • Top evenly with filling.
  • Add remaining batter and spread smooth.
  • Bake 35-40 minutes until top is lightly browned.
  • Cool 5 minutes on rack.
  • Loosen edges with a knife.
  • Invert onto serving plate.
  • Garnish with crema and chopped tomatoes.

SALSA VERDE CREMA
1 cup sour cream
1 cup salsa verde
handful chopped cilantro
1 lime juiced
FRESH ground sea salt and tri-color pepper

  • Pulse all the ingredients together to desired color and consistency. The more you blend the lighter the color will become.

CREAMY CHICKEN & SPINACH ENCHILADAS

CREAMY CHICKEN & SPINACH ENCHILADAS
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons salsa verde
8 ounce package of frozen spinach, thawed and drained WELL
3 tablespoons milk
3 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
1 1/2 cups Monterey Jack cheese
scant 1/4 cup FRESH chopped cilantro
2 green onions, FINELY chopped
FRESH ground sea salt and tri-color pepper
flour tortillas

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Spray baking dish with non-stick spray.
  • Stir together the cream cheese and salsa verde until smooth.
  • Add spinach and blend well.
  • Transfer half the mixture to a separate bowl.
  • Stir in milk and set aside.
  • Fold in chicken, cilantro, green onions, 1/2 cup of cheese, salt and pepper to the first bowl.
  • Heat skillet over medium heat.
  • Add tortillas, one at a time, turning and cooking 1-2 minutes until blistered.
  • Divide chicken mixture evenly among tortillas.
  • Roll up and place in baking dish in a single layer.
  • Spread reserved spinach mixture over top of enchiladas.
  • Sprinkle with remaining cheese.
  • Bake uncovered, 20-25 minutes.
  • Brown under broiler 1-2 minutes until cheese is melted and browned.

PEACH WILD BLUEBERRY PIE

PEACH WILD BLUEBERRY PIE
I LOVE THIS RECIPE! It’s quick, easy and SUPER versatile using simple ingredients and ready in no time at all!

scant 1 cup water
Juice of 1 lemon
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 teaspoon PURE vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon QUALITY cinnamon
1 cup small WILD blueberries**
5 cups FRESH Peaches, peeled, pitted and cut into large chop**

  • In a large saucepan whisk together the water, lemon juice, sugar, cornstarch and cook 5-10 minutes over medium-high heat until mixture becomes thick.
 Stir constantly to prevent lumps in your mixture.
  • Remove from heat.
  • Add vanilla and cinnamon whisking until smooth.
  • Allow to cool 5 minutes.
  • Fold in peach pieces and blueberries.
  • Allow the filling to cool down completely before filling the pie shell.

NOTES:

  • **You can use canned or frozen fruit though I really don’t recommend it, but if you do use it make sure they are thawed and drained REALLY WELL!
  • Other terrific flavor combinations are:
    Plum and Cherry
    Apricot blueberry
    Peach and Raspberry

CONVEYOR BELT CHICKEN

I can’t tell you what cook book this is from because it is just a photoed page, not even a good photo or a whole page. 😀 BUT, the title caught my attention so I tucked it away for a future date and guess what, today’s the day. I finally sat down and read the recipe only to find it is SO SO simple and similar to a way grams used to prepare chicken.

According to the author, it’s more the method than the ingredients that led to the name of this recipe. She used bone-in thighs that she de-boned, but retained the skin. I left the bone in though for simplicity and to add some flavor. They are cooked over a medium low heat in pre-heated cast iron with a weighted press. The moderate heat plus the weighted press encourages the fat to render evenly and leaves behind a golden crisp skin and VERY tender meat.

I’ve adapted it ever so slightly by adding minced garlic and chopped thyme during the cooking. In my opinion it ALWAYS creates a golden, crisp skin and super tender meat that presents itself beautiful enough for a company inspired dinner.

I will warn you that this is a horrible picture, but it didn’t change the awesome flavor! Oh and the conveyor belt name?  It apparently came from the author’s friend’s husband loving the chicken so much that he wanted to build a conveyor belt from the plate to his mouth!

CONVEYOR BELT CHICKEN
1 large chicken thigh per person
Avocado oil (or olive oil if you prefer)
1 tablespoon butter
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons FRESH chopped thyme leaves

  • Preheat cast iron pan over medium heat.
  • Reduce heat slightly.
  • Add butter, garlic and thyme, swirling to coat pan.
  • Rub chicken with avocado oil and add to the pan skin side down.
  • Add weight press and cook 10 minutes undisturbed until skin is golden.
  • Remove the weight and cook 2 minutes more.
  • Spoon any remaining butter and herbs over the chicken pieces and serve.