Confessions of a Foodie

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Showing posts with label Slow-Cooker Cream Cheese Chicken. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Slow-Cooker Cream Cheese Chicken. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

Chicken

Today's post deals with chicken recipes. Check out the Balsamic Chicken Massimo with Artichoke Soubise, Ina Garten's Skillet-Roasted Lemon Chicken, and the rest of today's yumminess. Enjoy!

SALT-AND-PEPPER ROAST CHICKEN

This comes from Melissa Clark in The New York Times' Cooking e-newsletter. Melissa writes, “Calling for just four ingredients – chicken, salt, pepper and whatever herbs you have around – this is a recipe for roast chicken at its simplest and best. The method is fairly straightforward. You season the bird, then roast it at high heat until the skin is bronzed and crisp and the flesh juicy. If you have time to season the chicken ahead, you should; it makes a difference in flavor. And bear in mind, if you have the kind of oven that starts smoking at high heat, you can cook your bird at 400 degrees instead of 450, though you’ll need an extra 5 to 20 minutes to get it done.” Makes 4 servings.

To view this recipe, as well as a great guide on roasting chicken, written by Melissa Clark, click here. Very thorough!

Ingredients

1 (3-1/2-pound) whole chicken, patted dry

2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

2 teaspoons black pepper

Small bunch mixed herbs, such as rosemary, thyme and sage

Preparation

Season the chicken inside and out with salt and pepper. If you have time, refrigerate the chicken, uncovered, for an hour, or overnight.

Heat oven to 450 degrees. Place chicken breast-side up in a roasting pan or large ovenproof skillet. Stuff cavity with herbs and tie the legs together with kitchen twine. (If you don’t have twine, leave the legs as they are.)

Roast 50 minutes, then baste chicken with pan juices. Continue roasting until chicken's juices run clear when skin is pierced with a knife, 5 to 10 minutes longer. Let stand 10 minutes before carving.

Tips: (by Melissa Clark)

“Now that you know the basics of roasting a chicken, here are some suggestions for how to serve it:

“Try a side sauce. Aioli, béarnaise sauce, salsa verde, romesco sauce, chimichurri, and make-ahead gravy can be prepared in advance, and transform a simple roast chicken into a something a little more special. Even a dollop of Dijon mustard does wonders here.

“Serve your chicken directly on top of a pile of watercress, baby kale, tatsoi, arugula, or other tender, dark greens that have been sprinkled with lemon juice and dusted with salt. The heat of the bird will wilt some of the greens while others remain crisp, and the hot chicken fat makes an instant dressing once it mixes with the lemon juice.

“Substitute hot toasted bread for the watercress or greens, above. The hot chicken fat makes these croutons exquisite.”

GREEN GODDESS ROASTED CHICKEN

This also comes from Melissa Clark in The New York Times' Cooking e-newsletter. Here, Melissa writes, “Green Goddess dressing — a creamy, piquant blend of herbs, garlic and anchovies — is good to eat on salad. And it’s wonderful as a dipping sauce for vegetables. But its best use may be as a marinade for roast chicken. The mild chicken absorbs all the zippy flavors of the dressing, to emerge from the oven fragrant and golden, flecked with green. To intensify the herbal flavor, some of the green goddess mixture is set aside to use as a sauce. You could even pour a little on a salad or some vegetables on the side, and enjoy the best of all the Green Goddess variations in one savory bite.” Makes 4 servings.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups buttermilk or plain yogurt

1 cup packed basil leaves

1/4 cup packed chives

2 garlic cloves, peeled

2 anchovy fillets (optional)

1 scallion, white and green parts

Finely grated zest and juice of 1 lime

2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

1 (4- to 5-pound) chicken, halved through the breast and back bones, patted dry with paper towels

1 to 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling

Preparation

In a blender, purée buttermilk, basil, chives, garlic, anchovies (if using), scallion, lime zest and juice, salt and pepper until smooth.

Put chicken halves in a bowl or large heavy-duty resealable plastic bag and cover with three-quarters of the Green Goddess marinade. (Save the rest to serve as a sauce.) Refrigerate for at least 6 hours or up to overnight.

Heat oven to 500 degrees. Remove chicken from the marinade, shaking off as much liquid as possible, and lay the halves on a rimmed baking sheet. (Discard the used marinade.) Pat chicken tops dry with paper towels and drizzle with oil. Roast until cooked through, about 30 to 45 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving, with some of the reserved sauce if you like.

BALSAMIC CHICKEN MASSIMO WITH ARTICHOKE SOUBISE

This is from Mario Carbone on the TODAY Show cooking e-newsletter. The recipe begins, “Amp up chicken breasts with a luscious balsamic glaze served with thinly sliced artichokes and onions that are cooked low and slow until they become a creamy sauce.

“’I love this recipe because these flavors feel familiar but it’s prepared in an unusual way,’ says chef Mario Carbone of Carbone restaurants in New York and Las Vegas. ‘Plus it’s my mom’s favorite dish so it’s not going anywhere!’

“Chicken Massimo is named after star Italian chef Massimo Bottura, a friend of Carbone.

Technique tip: Finish the vegetables by adding butter to bring the flavors together.

Swap option: Use canned vegetable stock instead of chicken stock.”

Cook Time: 60 minutes; Servings: 2

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

Balsamic Glaze

4 cups balsamic vinegar

1 cup chicken stock

1 tablespoon sugar

Artichoke Soubise

1 onion, sliced

6 artichoke hearts, sliced (frozen are OK)

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 dash salt

1 tablespoon butter

Chicken

2 chicken breasts

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Freshly grated Parmesan

Preparation

Make the balsamic glaze: Bring all ingredients to a simmer and allow to reduce until there are approximately 2 cups remaining, about 20 to 30 minutes.

Make the artichoke soubise: In a sauté pan, heat olive oil. Sauté artichokes, onion and salt for 10 to 15 minutes until soft and translucent. Add butter to finish. While soubise is cooking, prep the chicken.

Make the chicken:

Preheat oven to 400°F.

In an oven proof pan, sauté chicken until golden crust forms, approximately 5 minutes.

Add balsamic glaze to chicken and baste several times. Place in oven. Continue basting every 2 minutes to form a coating over the chicken for 10 to 12 minutes.

Remove chicken from oven and grate Parmesan cheese over the top. Give it a generous coating and place under broiler until golden brown.

INA GARTEN’S SKILLET-ROASTED LEMON CHICKEN

This was sent in a TODAY Show’s email. It begins with this from Ina Garten, “I can't tell you how many times I've made this! I have the butcher butterfly the chicken so all I do is grind the thyme, fennel seeds, salt, and pepper, mix it with olive oil, and brush it on the chicken. When the lemon slices are roasted and caramelized, you can eat them with the chicken.

Notes: Remove the ends of the lemon, cut in half through the stem ends, and slice thinly crosswise. Sometimes I sprinkle the chicken with minced fresh rosemary before allowing it to rest.

Make-ahead tip: Assemble the chicken in the pan and refrigerate for a few hours before roasting.”

To view this online, click here.

Note: The recipe calls for 1/2 cup dry white wine, such as Pinot Grigio. I don’t keep alcohol around the house. Whenever I want to try a new recipe that has any kind of alcohol as an ingredient, I either use an alcohol-free version or, if it’s not available or I decide not to go that way, I substitute water. Ina, if you’re reading this, sorry! I still love your recipes!

Ingredients

2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves

1 teaspoon whole fennel seeds

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1/3 cup good olive oil

1 lemon, halved and sliced 1/4-inch thick (see note)

1 yellow onion, halved and sliced 1/4-inch thick

2 large garlic cloves, thinly sliced

1 (4-pound) chicken, backbone removed and butterflied

1/2 cup dry white wine, such as Pinot Grigio

1 lemon, juiced

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 450ºF.

Place the thyme, fennel seeds, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper in a mini food processor and process until ground. Pour the olive oil into a small glass measuring cup, stir in the herb mixture, and set aside.

Distribute the lemon slices in a 12-inch cast-iron skillet and distribute the onion and garlic on top. Place the chicken, skin side down, on top of the onion and brush with about half the oil and herb mixture. Turn the chicken skin side up, pat it dry with paper towels (very important!), and brush it all over with the rest of the oil and herb mixture.

Roast the chicken for 30 minutes. Pour the wine into the pan (not on the chicken!) and roast for another 10 to 15 minutes, until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast registers 155 to 160 degrees.

Remove the chicken from the oven, sprinkle it with the lemon juice, cover the skillet tightly with aluminum foil, and allow to rest for 10 to 15 minutes. Cut the chicken into quarters or eighths, sprinkle with salt, and serve hot with the pan juices, cooked lemon, and onion.

CHICKEN FAJITA PASTA

This comes from Machismo, an avid cook on tbsp.com. The recipe begins, “Tex-Mex meets Italian in this awesomely easy weeknight dinner dish.” Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; makes 4 servings.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 lb. chicken breast, sliced thin

1 packet Old El Paso™ taco seasoning mix chicken

1/4 cup water

1/2 red bell pepper, sliced thin

1/2 green bell pepper, sliced thin

1/2 yellow bell pepper, sliced thin

1/2 red onion, sliced thin

1/2 lb. spaghetti (1/2 of a 16 oz. box)

4 oz. cheddar cheese, grated

Salt and pepper

Directions

In a large skillet, add olive oil over medium heat. Once hot, add the chicken and cook, stirring regularly, until chicken is cooked through, around 8 minutes.

Add chicken seasoning to the skillet along with 1/4 cup water and stir together. Add sliced bell peppers and onion and cook until they are softened a bit.

Meanwhile, cook spaghetti according to package until al dente. When pasta is cooked through, use tongs to move it directly from the cooking water to the chicken fajita skillet. Stir to combine, and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Top the skillet with grated cheddar cheese and reduce heat to low until cheese is melted. Serve hot.

SLOW-COOKER CREAM CHEESE CHICKEN

This comes from tbsp.com and begins, “Simple, easy, and kid-friendly, and easy on the wallet, this slow-cooker chicken recipe is easy to customize with your favorite flavors and add-ins. Reduced-fat ingredient substitutions work well, too.” Prep Time: 5 minutes; Total Time: 5 hours 0 minutes; Makes 4 servings.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 1/2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts

2 cans (10.75 oz. each) condensed cream of chicken or cream of mushroom soup

1 can (10.75 oz.) chicken broth

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder (or more to taste)

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper (or more to taste)

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (or more to taste)

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

6 cups hot cooked rice or egg noodles

Directions

Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper and place in bottom of slow cooker.

In a medium bowl, combine soup and broth and mix well. Add garlic powder and pour mixture over chicken. Cook on LOW for 5 hours or HIGH for 3 hours.

Fifteen minutes before end of cook time, remove chicken from the slow cooker. Break softened cream cheese into chunks and add to slow cooker, whisking until the sauce is smooth.

Shred chicken if desired and return to slow cooker. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste.

Serve chicken over hot rice or egg noodles and top with sauce.

Wednesday, July 17, 2024

Chicken

There was a time when Chicken was reserved for the Sunday or holiday dinner table. (Think early- to mid-twentieth century.)

Now, it's an anytime meal. To that end, here are six chicken recipes to help you through the day, including Slow-Cooker Cream Cheese Chicken and Savory Chicken Pot Pie. Enjoy!

CHICKEN PAPRIKASH

This comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “Spices lose their flavor over time but few as quickly as paprika, which starts out tasting of pepper and sunshine but deteriorates in but a few months to sawdust and bitterness. For this recipe, get some new at the market: sweet or hot Hungarian paprika is best, but the generic article isn’t terrible and the smoky Spanish varieties known as pimentón de La Vera would not be out of place either, lending a deep, woodsy aroma reminiscent of cooking over an open fire. It’s a dish that pairs beautifully with butter-slicked egg noodles.” Yield: Serves 4 - 6; Time: 1 hour.

This was featured in “The Fresher the Spice, the Better the Chicken Paprikash” and can be viewed online here.

Ingredients

3 to 4 pounds chicken thighs and drumsticks, or whole chicken legs

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

1 tablespoon neutral oil, like canola

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 large yellow or Spanish onion, peeled and diced

3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced

3 tablespoons Hungarian paprika, sweet or hot, or a combination

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 cup canned crushed tomatoes or 1 large ripe tomato, chopped

1 cup chicken broth, homemade or, if not, low-sodium

1 pound egg noodles

3/4 cup sour cream

Preparation

Heat oven to 400. Season the chicken aggressively with salt and pepper. Heat the oil and 1 tablespoon of the butter in a large, heavy, oven-safe sauté pan or Dutch oven set over high flame, until the butter is foaming. Sear the chicken in batches, skin-side down, until it is golden and crisp, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Then turn the chicken over, and repeat on the other side, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Remove chicken to a plate to rest.

Pour off all but a tablespoon or 2 of the accumulated fat in the pot. Return the pot to the stove, over medium heat, and add the onion. Cook, stirring frequently with a spoon to scrape off any browned bits of chicken skin, until the onion has softened and gone translucent, approximately 5 minutes. Add the garlic, and stir again, cooking it until it has softened, approximately 3 to 4 minutes. Add the paprika and the flour, and stir well to combine, then cook until the mixture is fragrant and the taste of the flour has been cooked out, approximately 4 to 5 minutes.

Add tomatoes and broth, whisk until smooth and then nestle the chicken back in the pan, skin-side up. Slide the pan or pot into the oven, and cook until the chicken has cooked through and the sauce has thickened slightly, approximately 25 to 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, set a large pot of heavily salted water to boil over high heat. Cook noodles in the water until they are almost completely tender, approximately 7 to 8 minutes. Drain the noodles, and toss them in a bowl with the remaining butter, then toss again to coat.

Place the chicken on top of the noodles, then add the sour cream to the sauce, stir to combine and ladle it over the whole.

SAVORY CHICKEN POT PIE

This is from Kraft Recipes, and begins, “When a chicken pot pie bubbles and oozes this much creamy comfort in every bite, you know you’re home.” Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 50 minutes; Servings: 8

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, cubed

1/2 cup fat-free reduced-sodium chicken broth

3 cups chopped cooked chicken

1 pkg. (16 oz.) frozen mixed vegetables (carrots, corn, green beans, peas), thawed

1/4 tsp. garlic powder

1 egg

1/2 cup milk

1 cup all-purpose baking mix

Directions

Heat oven to 400°F.

Cook cream cheese and broth in large saucepan on low heat until cream cheese is completely melted and mixture is well blended, stirring frequently with whisk. Stir in chicken, vegetables and garlic powder.

Spoon into 9-inch pie plate. Whisk egg and milk in medium bowl until blended. Add baking mix; stir just until moistened. Spread over chicken mixture. Place pie plate on baking sheet.

Bake 25 to 30 min. or until golden brown.

BALSAMIC CHICKEN MASSIMO WITH ARTICHOKE SOUBISE

This is from Mario Carbone on the TODAY Show cooking e-newsletter. The recipe begins, “Amp up chicken breasts with a luscious balsamic glaze served with thinly sliced artichokes and onions that are cooked low and slow until they become a creamy sauce.

“’I love this recipe because these flavors feel familiar but it’s prepared in an unusual way,’ says chef Mario Carbone of Carbone restaurants in New York and Las Vegas. ‘Plus it’s my mom’s favorite dish so it’s not going anywhere!’

“Chicken Massimo is named after star Italian chef Massimo Bottura, a friend of Carbone.

Technique tip: Finish the vegetables by adding butter to bring the flavors together.

Swap option: Use canned vegetable stock instead of chicken stock.”

Cook Time: 60 minutes; Servings: 2

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

Balsamic Glaze

4 cups balsamic vinegar

1 cup chicken stock

1 tablespoon sugar

Artichoke Soubise

1 onion, sliced

6 artichoke hearts, sliced (frozen are OK)

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 dash salt

1 tablespoon butter

Chicken

2 chicken breasts

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Freshly grated Parmesan

Preparation

Make the balsamic glaze: Bring all ingredients to a simmer and allow to reduce until there are approximately 2 cups remaining, about 20 to 30 minutes.

Make the artichoke soubise: In a sauté pan, heat olive oil. Sauté artichokes, onion and salt for 10 to 15 minutes until soft and translucent. Add butter to finish. While soubise is cooking, prep the chicken.

Make the chicken:

Preheat oven to 400°F.

In an oven proof pan, sauté chicken until golden crust forms, approximately 5 minutes.

Add balsamic glaze to chicken and baste several times. Place in oven. Continue basting every 2 minutes to form a coating over the chicken for 10 to 12 minutes.

Remove chicken from oven and grate Parmesan cheese over the top. Give it a generous coating and place under broiler until golden brown.

SLOW-COOKER CREAM CHEESE CHICKEN

This comes from tbsp.com and begins, “Simple, easy, and kid-friendly, and easy on the wallet, this slow-cooker chicken recipe is easy to customize with your favorite flavors and add-ins. Reduced-fat ingredient substitutions work well, too.” Prep Time: 5 minutes; Total Time: 5 hours 0 minutes; Makes 4 servings.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 1/2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts

2 cans (10.75 oz. each) condensed cream of chicken or cream of mushroom soup

1 can (10.75 oz.) chicken broth

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder (or more to taste)

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper (or more to taste)

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (or more to taste)

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

6 cups hot cooked rice or egg noodles

Directions

Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper and place in bottom of slow cooker.

In a medium bowl, combine soup and broth and mix well. Add garlic powder and pour mixture over chicken. Cook on LOW for 5 hours or HIGH for 3 hours.

Fifteen minutes before end of cook time, remove chicken from the slow cooker. Break softened cream cheese into chunks and add to slow cooker, whisking until the sauce is smooth.

Shred chicken if desired and return to slow cooker. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste.

Serve chicken over hot rice or egg noodles and top with sauce.

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.

CHICKEN SPAGHETTI

This comes from Southern Living, and begins, "Give your traditional chicken casserole a break and serve this bright and lively chicken spaghetti. You only need a Dutch oven and a 9-x-13 baking dish to create this delicious meal, meaning there is less clean-up afterwards. Cook and shred your chicken in advance to save time."

Active Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes; Serves: 10

To view this online, go to https://www.southernliving.com/recipes/easy-chicken-spaghetti.

Ingredients

6 cups unsalted chicken stock

1 (14-oz.) bone-in, skin-on chicken breast, skin removed

3 (7-oz.) bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, skin removed

12 ounces uncooked spaghetti

1 (5-oz.) can evaporated milk

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon lower-sodium Worcestershire sauce

2 teaspoons hot sauce

2 teaspoons kosher salt

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 1/2 cups chopped yellow onion (about 1 medium onion)

1-1/2 cups chopped red bell pepper (about 1 large pepper)

2 cups chopped tomatoes (about 3 medium tomatoes)

4 ounces sharp white Cheddar cheese, shredded (about 1 cup)

Directions

Preheat oven to 400°F. Bring stock to a boil in a Dutch oven over high. Add chicken to stock. Cover; reduce heat to medium. Cook until a thermometer inserted in thickest piece of chicken registers 160°F, about 25 minutes. Remove chicken; let stand until ready to use. (Inner temperature of chicken will rise as it stands.)

Return stock to a boil over high. Add pasta to Dutch oven, and cook until just tender, about 9 minutes. Transfer pasta to a medium bowl (reserving stock). Return stock to a boil over high; boil until liquid is reduced to about 2-1/2 cups, about 1 minute. Whisk together evaporated milk and flour in a small bowl. Stir into stock; boil until slightly thickened, 2 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and salt. Pour stock mixture over pasta.

Return Dutch oven to medium-high heat. Add butter, onion, and bell pepper. Cook, stirring often, until tender, 5 to 6 minutes. Remove from heat; add pasta mixture back to Dutch oven. Shred chicken, discarding bones. (You should have about 4-1/2 cups meat.) Add chicken and tomatoes to Dutch oven; toss to coat. Pour mixture into a 13- x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Top with cheese. Lightly coat aluminum foil with cooking spray. Cover with foil; bake until cheese is melted, 25 to 30 minutes.

Chef's Notes

You don't have to be a food stylist to create a casserole that looks as good as it tastes. Instead of pouring the pasta mixture from the pot into the baking dish, use tongs and a large spoon to twirl the noodles into nests, as shown below.

Friday, February 3, 2017

Friday Recipes

Finally, it's Friday! Here are six recipes to help you through the weekend, including two different recipes for Apple Cinnamon Muffins. Enjoy!

MARCELLA HAZAN’S TOMATO SAUCE

This is also from The New York Times cooking e-newsletter, and begins, “This is perhaps the most famous recipe created by Marcella Hazan, the cookbook author who changed how Americans cook Italian food. It also may be her easiest. Use your favorite canned tomatoes for this and don’t be scared off by the butter. It gives the sauce an unparalleled velvety richness.” Time: 1 hour.

To view this online, go to http://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1015178-marcella-hazans-tomato-sauce.

Ingredients

2 cups tomatoes, in addition to their juices (for example, a 28-ounce can of San Marzano whole peeled tomatoes)

5 tablespoons butter

1 onion, peeled and cut in half

Salt

Preparation

Combine the tomatoes, their juices, the butter and the onion halves in a saucepan. Add a pinch or two of salt.

Place over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Cook, uncovered, for about 45 minutes. Stir occasionally, mashing any large pieces of tomato with a spoon. Add salt as needed.

Discard the onion before tossing the sauce with pasta. This recipe makes enough sauce for a pound of pasta.

MARCELLA HAZAN’S BOLOGNESE SAUCE

This also comes from The New York Times cooking e-newsletter, and begins, “After the death in 2013 of Marcella Hazan, the cookbook author who changed the way Americans cook Italian food, The Times asked readers which of her recipes had become staples in their kitchens. Many people answered with one word: 'Bolognese.' So here it is: Ms. Hazan's classic, go-to Bolognese sauce, which one reader called 'the gold standard.' Try it and see for yourself.” Time: at least 4 hours; makes 2 heaping cups, for about 6 servings and 1 1/2 pounds pasta.

To view this online, go to http://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1015181-marcella-hazans-bolognese-sauce.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

3 tablespoons butter plus 1 tablespoon for tossing the pasta

1/2 cup chopped onion

2/3 cup chopped celery

2/3 cup chopped carrot

3/4 pound ground beef chuck (or you can use 1 part pork to 2 parts beef)

Salt

Black pepper, ground fresh from the mill

1 cup whole milk

Whole nutmeg

1 cup dry white wine

1 1/2 cups canned imported Italian plum tomatoes, cut up, with their juice

1 1/4 to 1 1/2 pounds pasta

Freshly grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese at the table

Preparation

Put the oil, butter and chopped onion in the pot and turn the heat on to medium. Cook and stir the onion until it has become translucent, then add the chopped celery and carrot. Cook for about 2 minutes, stirring vegetables to coat them well.

Add ground beef, a large pinch of salt and a few grindings of pepper. Crumble the meat with a fork, stir well and cook until the beef has lost its raw, red color.

Add milk and let it simmer gently, stirring frequently, until it has bubbled away completely. Add a tiny grating -- about 1/8 teaspoon -- of nutmeg, and stir.

Add the wine, let it simmer until it has evaporated, then add the tomatoes and stir thoroughly to coat all ingredients well. When the tomatoes begin to bubble, turn the heat down so that the sauce cooks at the laziest of simmers, with just an intermittent bubble breaking through to the surface. Cook, uncovered, for 3 hours or more, stirring from time to time. While the sauce is cooking, you are likely to find that it begins to dry out and the fat separates from the meat. To keep it from sticking, add 1/2 cup of water whenever necessary. At the end, however, no water at all must be left and the fat must separate from the sauce. Taste and correct for salt.

Toss with cooked drained pasta, adding the tablespoon of butter, and serve with freshly grated Parmesan on the side.

APPLE CINNAMON MUFFINS

Servings: 12

View recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/170.shtml

Print Friendly: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=170

Ingredients

1-1/4 cup oat bran cereal; uncooked

1 cup whole wheat flour

2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce

1 cup apple, peeled, cored, diced

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 egg

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 375.

Coat 12 medium-size cups with vegetables oil or line with paper baking cups.

In a medium bowl combine oat bran cereal, flour, cinnamon, baking powder, soda, and salt.

In large bowl combine applesauce, honey, oil, egg, and vanilla. Stir in dry ingredients; mix well. Stir in apple.

Fill prepared muffin cup almost full. Bake 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 160; Protein: 3 g; Fat: 7 g; Carbohydrates: 22 g; Exchanges: 1 Starch/Bread; 1 Fat; 1/2 Fruit

APPLE CINNAMON ROLLS

Years ago, there was a show on (I think) The Food Network called Breaking Bread with Father Dominic. Unfortunately, the show has since left the air, at least where I live, although the episodes can still be found here. Check out his website, The Bread Monk, at http://www.breadmonk.com/. YIELD: 24 rolls

Dough

5 to 5 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup sugar

2 envelopes FLEISCHMANN’S RapidRise Yeast

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup milk

1/4 cup butter or margarine

3 large eggs

Apple Filling

2 large cooking apples, chopped

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup butter or margarine

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

Cinnamon-Sugar Topping

3/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

In large bowl, combine 1 cup flour, sugar, undissolved yeast, & salt. Heat water, milk, & butter until very warm (120 to 130 degrees). Gradually add to flour mixture. Beat 2 minutes at medium speed of electric mixer, scraping bowl occasionally. Add eggs & 1 cup flour; beat 2 minutes at high speed, scraping bowl occasionally. Stir in enough remaining flour to make a soft dough. Knead on lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic, about 8 to 10 minutes.

Cover; let rest 10 minutes. Divide dough into 2 equal portions. Roll each portion into 12 x 8-inch rectangle. Spread Apple Filling evenly over dough. Beginning at long end of each, roll up tightly as for jelly roll. Pinch seams to seal. Cut each roll into 12 equal pieces. Place, cut sides up, in greased 9-inch round pans. Cover, let rise in warm, draft-free place until doubled in size, about 45 minutes. Sprinkle with Cinnamon-Sugar Topping. Bake at 375 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes or until done. Remove from pans; serve warm.

Apple Filling: Combine chopped apples, flour, sugar, & butter in medium saucepan; bring to a boil over medium high heat. Cook 3 minutes. Reduce heat to medium low; cook 10 minutes, stirring constantly until thick. Stir in cinnamon and nutmeg. Cool completely.

Cinnamon-Sugar Topping: Combine sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Stir until well-blended.

SLOW-COOKER CREAM CHEESE CHICKEN

This comes from tbsp.com and begins, “Simple, easy, and kid-friendly, and easy on the wallet, this slow-cooker chicken recipe is easy to customize with your favorite flavors and add-ins. Reduced-fat ingredient substitutions work well, too.” Prep Time: 5 minutes; Total Time: 5 hours 0 minutes; Makes 4 servings.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 1/2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts

2 cans (10.75 oz. each) condensed cream of chicken or cream of mushroom soup

1 can (10.75 oz.) chicken broth

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder (or more to taste)

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper (or more to taste)

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (or more to taste)

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

6 cups hot cooked rice or egg noodles

Directions

Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper and place in bottom of slow cooker.

In a medium bowl, combine soup and broth and mix well. Add garlic powder and pour mixture over chicken. Cook on LOW for 5 hours or HIGH for 3 hours.

Fifteen minutes before end of cook time, remove chicken from the slow cooker. Break softened cream cheese into chunks and add to slow cooker, whisking until the sauce is smooth.

Shred chicken if desired and return to slow cooker. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste.

Serve chicken over hot rice or egg noodles and top with sauce.

PECAN BUTTER CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES WITH SEA SALT

This dessert recipe is from the September 2016 issue of Runner's World, page 81, and begins, “Easy-to-digest dates are high in minerals, including potassium.”

This is adapted from Run Fast, Eat Slow: Nourishing Recipes for Athletes, by Shalane Flanagan and Elyse Kopecky. Published by Rodale, owner of Runner’s World.

Makes 12 muffins.

This can be viewed online at http://www.runnersworld.com/recipes/run-fast-eat-slow.

Ingredients (for the pecan butter)

2 cups pecans

10 Deglet dates, pitted

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

Ingredients (for the coating)

2 Tbsp. virgin coconut oil

3 Tbsp. maple syrup

3 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tsp. coarse sea salt

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

To make the pecan butter: Spread the pecans out on a baking sheet and roast in the center of the oven for 8 minutes, stirring after 4 minutes. Allow the pecans to cool completely.

In a food processor or high-speed blender, combine the pecans, dates, and cinnamon. Pulse or blend on high until smooth. Do not overprocess—you want the pecan butter thick. Transfer to a small bowl.

Use your hands to roll the pecan butter into bite-size balls. (If the nut butter is warm or liquid-y, chill it in the fridge to make it easier to handle.) Place the balls on the baking sheet.

To make the coating: Place the oil in a small microwaveable bowl and microwave in increments of 10 seconds, stirring in between, until almost completely melted. (Alternatively, the oil can be melted in a small saucepan over low heat.) Stir in the maple syrup and cocoa powder until smooth.

Drop one ball at a time in the chocolate coating, use a fork to lift out, and return it to the baking sheet. Continue with the remaining balls. Top each truffle with a small pinch of the salt.

Place the baking sheet in the fridge for 10 to 15 minutes or until ready to serve. Makes 18 balls.



Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Chicken!

Here are today's six chicken recipes to help you through the day, including Ina Garten's Skillet-Roasted Lemon Chicken and Savory Chicken Pot Pie. Enjoy!

CHICKEN FAJITA PASTA

This comes from Machismo, an avid cook on tbsp.com. The recipe begins, “Tex-Mex meets Italian in this awesomely easy weeknight dinner dish.” Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; makes 4 servings.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 lb. chicken breast, sliced thin

1 packet Old El Paso™ taco seasoning mix chicken

1/4 cup water

1/2 red bell pepper, sliced thin

1/2 green bell pepper, sliced thin

1/2 yellow bell pepper, sliced thin

1/2 red onion, sliced thin

1/2 lb. spaghetti (1/2 of a 16 oz. box)

4 oz. cheddar cheese, grated

Salt and pepper

Directions

In a large skillet, add olive oil over medium heat. Once hot, add the chicken and cook, stirring regularly, until chicken is cooked through, around 8 minutes.

Add chicken seasoning to the skillet along with 1/4 cup water and stir together. Add sliced bell peppers and onion and cook until they are softened a bit.

Meanwhile, cook spaghetti according to package until al dente. When pasta is cooked through, use tongs to move it directly from the cooking water to the chicken fajita skillet. Stir to combine, and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Top the skillet with grated cheddar cheese and reduce heat to low until cheese is melted. Serve hot.

SLOW-COOKER CREAM CHEESE CHICKEN

This comes from tbsp.com and begins, “Simple, easy, and kid-friendly, and easy on the wallet, this slow-cooker chicken recipe is easy to customize with your favorite flavors and add-ins. Reduced-fat ingredient substitutions work well, too.” Prep Time: 5 minutes; Total Time: 5 hours 0 minutes; Makes 4 servings.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 1/2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts

2 cans (10.75 oz. each) condensed cream of chicken or cream of mushroom soup

1 can (10.75 oz.) chicken broth

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder (or more to taste)

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper (or more to taste)

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (or more to taste)

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

6 cups hot cooked rice or egg noodles

Directions

Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper and place in bottom of slow cooker.

In a medium bowl, combine soup and broth and mix well. Add garlic powder and pour mixture over chicken. Cook on LOW for 5 hours or HIGH for 3 hours.

Fifteen minutes before end of cook time, remove chicken from the slow cooker. Break softened cream cheese into chunks and add to slow cooker, whisking until the sauce is smooth.

Shred chicken if desired and return to slow cooker. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste.

Serve chicken over hot rice or egg noodles and top with sauce.

SALT-AND-PEPPER ROAST CHICKEN

This is from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “Calling for just four ingredients – chicken, salt, pepper and whatever herbs you have around – this is a recipe for roast chicken at its simplest and best. The method is fairly straightforward. You season the bird, then roast it at high heat until the skin is bronzed and crisp and the flesh juicy. If you have time to season the chicken ahead, you should; it makes a difference in flavor. And bear in mind, if you have the kind of oven that starts smoking at high heat, you can cook your bird at 400 degrees instead of 450, though you’ll need an extra 5 to 20 minutes to get it done.” Yield: 4 servings.

This was featured in “Roast Chicken, the Easy Way” and can be viewed online here.

Ingredients

1 (3 1/2-pound) whole chicken, patted dry

2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

2 teaspoons black pepper

Small bunch mixed herbs, such as rosemary, thyme and sage

Preparation

Season the chicken inside and out with salt and pepper. If you have time, refrigerate the chicken, uncovered, for an hour, or overnight.

Heat oven to 450 degrees. Place chicken breast-side up in a roasting pan or large ovenproof skillet. Stuff cavity with herbs and tie the legs together with kitchen twine. (If you don’t have twine, leave the legs as they are.)

Roast 50 minutes, then baste chicken with pan juices. Continue roasting until chicken's juices run clear when skin is pierced with a knife, 5 to 10 minutes longer. Let stand 10 minutes before carving.

Tips

“Now that you know the basics of roasting a chicken, here are some suggestions for how to serve it:

“Try a side sauce. Aioli, béarnaise sauce, salsa verde, romesco sauce, chimichurri, and make-ahead gravy can be prepared in advance, and transform a simple roast chicken into a something a little more special. Even a dollop of Dijon mustard does wonders here.

“Serve your chicken directly on top of a pile of watercress, baby kale, tatsoi, arugula, or other tender, dark greens that have been sprinkled with lemon juice and dusted with salt. The heat of the bird will wilt some of the greens while others remain crisp, and the hot chicken fat makes an instant dressing once it mixes with the lemon juice.

“Substitute hot toasted bread for the watercress or greens, above. The hot chicken fat makes these croutons exquisite.”

INA GARTEN’S SKILLET-ROASTED LEMON CHICKEN

This was sent in a TODAY Show’s email. It begins with this from Ina Garten, “I can't tell you how many times I've made this! I have the butcher butterfly the chicken so all I do is grind the thyme, fennel seeds, salt, and pepper, mix it with olive oil, and brush it on the chicken. When the lemon slices are roasted and caramelized, you can eat them with the chicken.

Notes: Remove the ends of the lemon, cut in half through the stem ends, and slice thinly crosswise. Sometimes I sprinkle the chicken with minced fresh rosemary before allowing it to rest.

Make-ahead tip: Assemble the chicken in the pan and refrigerate for a few hours before roasting.”

To view this online, click here.

Note: The recipe calls for 1/2 cup dry white wine, such as Pinot Grigio. I don’t keep alcohol around the house. Whenever I want to try a new recipe that has any kind of alcohol as an ingredient, I either use an alcohol-free version or, if it’s not available or I decide not to go that way, I substitute water. Ina, if you’re reading this, sorry! I still love your recipes!

Ingredients

2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves

1 teaspoon whole fennel seeds

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1/3 cup good olive oil

1 lemon, halved and sliced 1/4-inch thick (see note)

1 yellow onion, halved and sliced 1⁄4-inch thick

2 large garlic cloves, thinly sliced

1 (4-pound) chicken, backbone removed and butterflied

1/2 cup dry white wine, such as Pinot Grigio

1 lemon, juiced

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 450ºF.

Place the thyme, fennel seeds, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper in a mini food processor and process until ground. Pour the olive oil into a small glass measuring cup, stir in the herb mixture, and set aside.

Distribute the lemon slices in a 12-inch cast-iron skillet and distribute the onion and garlic on top. Place the chicken, skin side down, on top of the onion and brush with about half the oil and herb mixture. Turn the chicken skin side up, pat it dry with paper towels (very important!), and brush it all over with the rest of the oil and herb mixture.

Roast the chicken for 30 minutes. Pour the wine into the pan (not on the chicken!) and roast for another 10 to 15 minutes, until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast registers 155 to 160 degrees.

Remove the chicken from the oven, sprinkle it with the lemon juice, cover the skillet tightly with aluminum foil, and allow to rest for 10 to 15 minutes. Cut the chicken into quarters or eighths, sprinkle with salt, and serve hot with the pan juices, cooked lemon, and onion.

BALSAMIC CHICKEN MASSIMO WITH ARTICHOKE SOUBISE

This is from Mario Carbone on the TODAY Show cooking e-newsletter. The recipe begins, “Amp up chicken breasts with a luscious balsamic glaze served with thinly sliced artichokes and onions that are cooked low and slow until they become a creamy sauce.

“’I love this recipe because these flavors feel familiar but it’s prepared in an unusual way,’ says chef Mario Carbone of Carbone restaurants in New York and Las Vegas. ‘Plus it’s my mom’s favorite dish so it’s not going anywhere!’

“Chicken Massimo is named after star Italian chef Massimo Bottura, a friend of Carbone.

Technique tip: Finish the vegetables by adding butter to bring the flavors together.

Swap option: Use canned vegetable stock instead of chicken stock.”

Cook Time: 60 minutes; Servings: 2

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

Balsamic Glaze

4 cups balsamic vinegar

1 cup chicken stock

1 tablespoon sugar

Artichoke Soubise

1 onion, sliced

6 artichoke hearts, sliced (frozen are OK)

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 dash salt

1 tablespoon butter

Chicken

2 chicken breasts

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Freshly grated Parmesan

Preparation

Make the balsamic glaze: Bring all ingredients to a simmer and allow to reduce until there are approximately 2 cups remaining, about 20 to 30 minutes.

Make the artichoke soubise: In a sauté pan, heat olive oil. Sauté artichokes, onion and salt for 10 to 15 minutes until soft and translucent. Add butter to finish. While soubise is cooking, prep the chicken.

Make the chicken:

Preheat oven to 400°F.

In an oven proof pan, sauté chicken until golden crust forms, approximately 5 minutes.

Add balsamic glaze to chicken and baste several times. Place in oven. Continue basting every 2 minutes to form a coating over the chicken for 10 to 12 minutes.

Remove chicken from oven and grate Parmesan cheese over the top. Give it a generous coating and place under broiler until golden brown.

SAVORY CHICKEN POT PIE

This is from Kraft Recipes, and begins, “When a chicken pot pie bubbles and oozes this much creamy comfort in every bite, you know you’re home.” Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 50 minutes; Servings: 8

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, cubed

1/2 cup fat-free reduced-sodium chicken broth

3 cups chopped cooked chicken

1 pkg. (16 oz.) frozen mixed vegetables (carrots, corn, green beans, peas), thawed

1/4 tsp. garlic powder

1 egg

1/2 cup milk

1 cup all-purpose baking mix

Directions

Heat oven to 400°F.

Cook cream cheese and broth in large saucepan on low heat until cream cheese is completely melted and mixture is well blended, stirring frequently with whisk. Stir in chicken, vegetables and garlic powder.

Spoon into 9-inch pie plate. Whisk egg and milk in medium bowl until blended. Add baking mix; stir just until moistened. Spread over chicken mixture. Place pie plate on baking sheet.

Bake 25 to 30 min. or until golden brown.