Wednesday Recipes

We're half-way through the week; if we made it this far, we can make it until the weekend, right?

Today's post has a little of this, a little of that, and includes Dutch Oven Chicken and Vinaigrette and Slow Cooker Chicken Stroganoff. Enjoy!

ENCHILADA SOUP

This is from Old El Paso, and begins, "Give your go-to chicken dish a soup-upgrade with this Chicken Enchilada Soup recipe. The best part is that with the help of some Old El Paso™ enchilada sauce, your slow cooker will do the work for you. You can bring the heat with the hot sauce or keep it mild, but either way, it's an easy option to bring delicious chicken enchilada soup flavor to your next fall meal."

Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 8 hours 10 minutes; Makes 6 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/enchilada-soup.

Ingredients

2 cups Progresso™ chicken broth (from 32-oz carton)

1 can (19 oz) Old El Paso™ mild or hot enchilada sauce

1 can (4.5 oz) Old El Paso™ chopped mild green chiles

1 package (20 oz) bone-in chicken breasts, skin removed

1 can (15 oz) Progresso™ black beans, drained, rinsed

1 bag (12 oz) frozen corn, thawed, drained

Shredded Mexican cheese blend, if desired

Chopped fresh cilantro, if desired

Crushed tortilla chips, if desired

Preparation

Spray 4- to 5-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. In cooker, mix broth, enchilada sauce and chiles. Place chicken into enchilada sauce mixture; spoon sauce over chicken.

Cover; cook on Low heat setting 7 to 8 hours.

Remove chicken from cooker with slotted spoon. Stir beans and corn into mixture in cooker. Increase heat setting to High. Cover; cook 5 to 10 minutes longer. Meanwhile, shred chicken by pulling apart with 2 forks; return to cooker. Cook until thoroughly heated.

Top each serving with cheese, cilantro and tortilla chips.

Expert Tips

Transfer corn from freezer to refrigerator when chicken starts to cook. It will be completely thawed by the time it is added to the slow cooker.

Vary the heat in this soup by using mild or hot enchilada sauce and serving with red pepper sauce on the side.

MEXICAN-STYLE STUFFED BELL PEPPERS

This also comes from the November 2014 issue of Heart Insight Magazine. This one begins, “In this Latin twist on stuffed bell peppers, black beans replace the traditional rice and salsa stands in for the standard tomato sauce.” Serves 4; 1 stuffed bell pepper per serving.

To view this online, go to http://heartinsight.heart.org/November-2014/Mexican-Style-Stuffed-Bell-Peppers/.

Ingredients

4 large red or green bell peppers, or a combination, stems, seeds, and ribs discarded, tops chopped and reserved

Cooking spray

1/2 cup chopped onion

3 medium garlic cloves, minced

8 ounces 95% fat-free ground beef

2 teaspoons chili powder

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1/8 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup salsa (lowest sodium available)

1 cup canned no-salt-added black beans, rinsed and drained

1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, divided use

1/4 cup low-fat shredded 4-cheese Mexican blend

1/4 cup fat-free sour cream

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375°F.

In a microwave oven, place the bell peppers with the cut side up on a paper towel. Microwave on 100% power (high) for 4–5 minutes, or until tender-crisp. Transfer with the cut side up to a 9-inch square baking dish or shallow casserole dish.

Meanwhile, lightly spray a large skillet with cooking spray. Heat over medium heat. Cook the chopped bell pepper tops, onion, and garlic for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Stir in the beef. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to turn and break up the beef. Discard any drippings.

Sprinkle the beef mixture with the chili powder, cumin, and salt. Cook for 1 minute. Stir in the salsa. Remove from the heat.

Gently stir in the beans and cup cilantro. Spoon the beef mixture into the peppers. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil.

Bake for 30 minutes, or until heated through. Remove from the oven. Sprinkle the Mexican blend cheese over the beef mixture. Let stand for 5 minutes.

Top the peppers with the sour cream. Sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons cilantro.

SLOW COOKER CHICKEN STROGANOFF

This comes from Judi Ann at Allrecipes. Judi Ann wrote, "Cubed chicken breast cooked in the slow cooker with a simple, creamy sauce mixture. This is so good, and so easy to make on a busy day. Serve over hot cooked rice, if desired."

Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 5 hours; Total: 5 hours 10 minutes; Yield: 4 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/17227/slow-cooker-chicken-stroganoff/.

Ingredients

4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cubed

1/8 cup margarine

1 (.7 ounce) package dry Italian-style salad dressing mix

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese

1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup

Directions

Put chicken, margarine and dressing mix in slow cooker; mix together and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours.

Add cream cheese and soup, mix together and cook on high for another 1/2 hour or until heated through and warm.

VEGETARIAN MEXICAN INSPIRED STUFFED PEPPERS

This yumminess comes from Donnam at allrecipes. She wrote, "I created this so it's not too spicy, but is packed with flavor. My kids loved it! For variety, add corn or other vegetables or switch to other chopped tomato varieties (chiles, jalapenos, etc.). Follow the boiling method prior to baking if you don't want a crispy bell pepper. If you have small peppers, use more of them for this recipe. They taste great with a dollop of sour cream on top."

Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes; Total Time: 55 minutes; Servings: 4

To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/231514/vegetarian-mexican-inspired-stuffed-peppers/.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon salt

4 large green bell peppers - tops, seeds, and membranes removed

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 cup chopped onion

2 cups cooked rice

1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 (14.5 ounce) can chili-style diced tomatoes

1 teaspoon chili powder

1 teaspoon garlic salt

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 (8 ounce) package shredded Mexican cheese blend (such as Sargento® Authentic Mexican)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Bring a large pot of water and 1 tablespoon salt to a boil; cook green bell peppers in the boiling water until slightly softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain.

Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat; cook and stir onion in the hot oil until softened and transparent, 5 to 10 minutes.

Mix rice, black beans, tomatoes, and cooked onion in a large bowl. Add chili powder, garlic salt, cumin, 1/2 teaspoon salt; stir until evenly mixed. Fold 1 1/2 cups Mexican cheese blend into rice mixture. Spoon rice mixture into each bell pepper; arrange peppers in 9x9-inch baking dish. Sprinkle peppers with remaining Mexican cheese blend.

Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted and bubbling, about 30 minutes.

Cook's Note:

I like to use Sargento(R) Authentic Mexican shredded cheese, which takes it over the top!

PAPRIKA CAULIFLOWER PITA POCKETS

This is from the September 2007 (?) issue of Vegetarian Times (page 76), and begins, "Cauliflower, like paprika, is frequently undervalued in home kitchens. What better way to highlight them both than with this simple dish. Try topping with fresh tomatoes, chopped black olives, and some low-fat Parmesan cheese." Makes 4 servings; Time: 30 minutes

To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/paprika-cauliflower-pita-pockets/.

Ingredients

1 head cauliflower (2 lb.), cut into bite-size florets

3 Tbs. olive oil

2 Tbs. sweet Hungarian paprika

1/2 tsp. ground black pepper

1/2 tsp. fine sea salt

1 small red onion, diced (1 cup)

1 clove garlic, minced (1 tsp.)

1/2 cup low-sodium vegetable broth

2 Tbs. lemon juice

4 pita bread rounds, halved and warmed

Preparation

Steam cauliflower 7 to 9 minutes, or until tender.

Heat oil, paprika, pepper, and salt in nonstick skillet over medium-low heat, 2 minutes, or until fragrant, stirring constantly. Add onion and garlic, and sauté 2 minutes more. Stir in broth and cauliflower, and simmer 3 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in lemon juice. Serve with pita halves.

DUTCH OVEN CHICKEN AND VINAIGRETTE

This is from Dorie Greenspan in The New York Times cooking newsletter. She wrote, "This is a simple dish: chicken that’s a little bit braised and a little bit roasted in a covered Dutch oven. The seasonings — garlic, onions, herbs and lemon — are basic and border on assertive until they cook together, when their aromas intensify and their flavors soften. Putting half the aromatics in the pot with oil and wine, tucking the other half inside the chicken and cooking in this enclosed, steamy environment means that everything that goes into the pot goes into the chicken. When the chicken’s cooked through, pour off the pan juices, crush the tender garlic and add sharp mustard and vinegar to make a vinaigrette that’s as good over salad greens as over the chicken."

Yield: 4 servings; Time: About 2 hours

This was featured in "A Holy-Grail, One-Pot Roast Chicken", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1022498-dutch-oven-chicken-and-vinaigrette.

Ingredients

For the Chicken:

1/4 cup olive oil

1 medium onion (preferably yellow), trimmed, peeled and cut into eighths

1 head garlic, cut crosswise

5 fresh thyme sprigs

5 fresh rosemary sprigs

Fine or coarse sea salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1 whole chicken (about 4 pounds)

1/2 lemon

3/4 cup white wine

For the Vinaigrette:

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

2 tablespoons wine vinegar (preferably sherry)

1 teaspoon walnut oil (optional)

For Serving:

3 to 4 handfuls salad greens

Preparation

Make the chicken: Heat oven to 450 degrees.

Pour 3 tablespoons of the olive oil into a Dutch oven large enough to hold the chicken, then toss in all but 1 piece of the onion. Add the garlic and 4 sprigs each of the thyme and rosemary. Stir to coat, then season generously with salt and pepper.

Pat the chicken dry, season the inside with salt and pepper, and tuck in the remaining piece of onion and herb sprigs. Rub the chicken with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Squeeze the juice from the lemon half over the bird, and then pop the lemon inside it with the herbs and onion. Settle the chicken into the pot, breast side up. Pour in the wine and cover.

Roast the chicken for 60 minutes, then check on it: It’s done when a thermometer plunged into the thickest part of the thigh has reached 165 degrees. If it’s done but doesn’t have enough color for you, you can run it under the broiler for a few minutes; if it’s not done, remove the lid and continue to roast until done, 15 to 30 minutes more. Transfer the chicken to a platter, cover loosely with a foil tent, and let rest.

While the chicken rests, make the vinaigrette: Pour off the pan drippings, measure out 6 tablespoons and return them to the pot. (If your drippings are scant or very dark, you can still use them. Keep any extra drippings for another use.) Hold onto the garlic but discard the onion and herbs from the pot. Place the pot over medium heat, pour in 1/2 cup water, and boil for a couple of minutes, scraping the bottom of the pan to pick up any stuck bits. You should have about 1/3 cup of drippings; if they’re very chunky, strain them when you add them to the vinaigrette.

Working in a medium bowl, mash 6 to 8 cloves of the soft garlic with the mustard, then whisk in the vinegar. Slowly whisk in the reserved liquid, followed by the walnut oil, if using. Taste for salt and pepper, then pour the vinaigrette into a small pitcher.

To serve, carve the chicken, cutting it into quarters or eighths, and arrange on the platter. Pour over a little of the vinaigrette. Dress the salad greens lightly with vinaigrette and serve on the platter or in a shallow bowl. Pass the rest of the sauce at the table.