Chicken - Double-Post Thursday

Besides being Diabetic Thursday, it's also Double-Post Thursday. Today's double post deals with chicken.

There was a time when chicken was relegated to Sunday dinner. Now, it's an anytime meal. Chicken fast food restaurants seem to be everywhere; even burger places frequently have chicken sandwiches and nuggets. And many picnics and pot luck dinners have at least one or two chicken dishes, whether fried or baked, with or without gravy – there are hundreds of ways to have chicken.

As you probably guessed by now, today's post gives you six tasty ways to fix chicken, including Kung Pao Chicken and No Peek Chicken. Enjoy!

ONE-POT CHICKEN AND POTATOES

This comes from The TODAY Show, and begins, “Get all the homey, satisfying flavors of a roast chicken dinner in one pan -- no carving or trussing necessary. Aromatic garlic, shallots and herbs bring the best out of simple chicken breasts for a filling weeknight meal.” Makes 4 servings.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

2 (1 pound) boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 pound Yukon Gold or red potatoes, cut into 1-inch chunks

Kosher salt

2 cloves large garlic, thinly sliced

Freshly ground black pepper

1 medium shallot, thinly sliced

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 teaspoon minced fresh sage

Parsley, for optional garnish

Rosemary sprigs, for optional garnish

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 375.

Pat the chicken breasts dry and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Heat the butter and oil in an ovenproof 10- to 12-inch skillet or 4-quart saute pan over medium-high heat until bubbling and steaming. Add the chicken breasts and cook about 2-3 minutes per side until just golden brown.

Remove the chicken from the skillet and add the potatoes, garlic, shallot, rosemary, and sage, tossing to coat in the butter and oil.

Place the chicken on top of the potatoes and transfer to the oven. Bake for 30 minutes or until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chicken reads 165.

Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving.

CHICKEN IN WINE

This is one of my numerous inventions before I moved out on my own, and can be found in my e-cookbook, titled Off the Wall Cooking, which I'm currently updating.

Ingredients

2 onions, chopped

2-3 cloves garlic, minced

2 T butter

2-3 lb. chicken, cut up

1 tsp mustard

1/4 C red wine (see note)

1 tsp Worchester sauce

1/4 C milk or water

3 T honey

1/2-1 C cornmeal

3 1/2 C tomatoes

6 oz. can tomato paste

salt, pepper, spices to taste (note)

Directions

Brown onions and garlic in butter. Add 2 T honey to milk or water. Dip chicken in milk and honey, then in cornmeal. Add to onions and garlic. Mix other ingredients and pour over chicken. Cover and simmer until done (about 45 minutes). Serve over brown rice.

Note: Alcohol-free wine, water or tomato juice can be used in place of the wine. For the spices, I used a mixture of oregano, marjoram, thyme, savory, and ground lemon peel, for a total of about 2 T (not including salt & pepper), though any spices can be used.

KUNG PAO CHICKEN

This was posted by Daring Gourmet in tbsp. (tablespoon)’s website. She wrote, “One of the most popular dishes throughout China and the Western world alike, this sweet and spicy chicken dish is not for the faint of taste buds. It packs a punch, or should we say, ‘PAO, right in the kisser!’” Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 25 minutes; makes 4 servings.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

3 tablespoons peanut or vegetable oil

6-10 dried hot red chili peppers (or less according to heat preference), seeded and membranes removed (gloves recommended)

1 1/2 pounds chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 1/2 teaspoons fresh ginger, minced

3/4 cup dry roasted peanuts

1 bunch green onions (about 6 green onions)

For the Marinade:

1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce

1 tablespoon Chinese rice wine or sherry

3/4 teaspoon cornstarch

For the Sauce:

1/4 cup black Chinese vinegar or dark balsamic vinegar

3 tablespoons soy sauce

1 1/2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil

3 tablespoons white sugar

2 tablespoons hoisin sauce

2 teaspoons cornstarch

Directions

Combine the marinade ingredients in a small bowl and pour over the chicken pieces. Toss to coat and let the chicken sit while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.

Combine all the sauce ingredients in a bowl, stirring until the cornstarch and sugar is dissolved. Set aside.

Heat the oil in a wok or skillet over high heat. Fry the chilies for a few seconds until they turn darker in color.

Add the chicken and marinade and fry until no longer pink. Add the garlic, ginger, and white parts of the green onions and fry for two minutes. Add the sauce and stir until thickened. Reduce the heat to medium-high and stir in the peanuts. Simmer for one minute. Remove from heat and stir in the green onions. Serve immediately with steamed rice.

EASY SHEET-PAN CHICKEN

This comes from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “Crisp-skinned and very juicy, this is a more sophisticated version of the crumb-coated, oven-fried chicken dishes of childhood. In addition to bread crumbs, the chicken is slathered with two kinds of mustard plus fresh thyme and minced garlic, which makes it deeply flavored, bright and complex. And because it calls for only one pan, clean up is minimal. While the recipe calls for bone-in drumsticks and/or thighs, if you prefer boneless white meat, feel free to substitute it, reducing the cooking time by 5 to 10 minutes. Serve this with potatoes – either sweet or white – and your favorite green vegetable or salad. It’s weeknight cooking at its finest.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: About 1 hour.

This was featured in “Behold, the Sturdy Sheet Pan”, and can be viewed online here.

Ingredients

3 tablespoons whole-grain mustard

2 teaspoons chopped thyme leaves

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

3 pounds bone-in chicken thighs or drumsticks (or a mixture), patted dry

2 teaspoons kosher salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

2/3 cup plain dried bread crumbs

Olive oil, for drizzling

Preparation

Heat oven to 425 degrees. In a small bowl, combine whole-grain mustard, thyme leaves, garlic cloves, butter and Dijon mustard.

Season chicken with salt and pepper. Rub mustard butter mixture all over chicken (some might fall off but that’s O.K.). Place bread crumbs in a wide, shallow bowl, then coat the chicken evenly with bread crumbs. Transfer chicken to a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil.

Bake until chicken is golden and no longer pink, 35 to 40 minutes.

MISO CHICKEN

This comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “Making a compound of unsalted butter and the salty, fungal deliciousness of Japanese miso paste is a surefire way of adding immense flavor to a simple weeknight meal. Here the mixture is spread over chicken thighs, which are then roasted to golden perfection. But you could easily use it on salmon or flounder, on corn or potatoes. The recipe calls for white miso, which is more mild than the aged version known as red miso. But you could certainly use red for a more intense result.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: 45 minutes.

This was featured in Asian Pantry Essentials and can also be found online by clicking here.

Ingredients

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

1/2 cup white miso

2 tablespoons honey

1 tablespoon rice vinegar (do not use seasoned rice vinegar)

Black pepper, to taste

8 skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs, approximately 2 1/2 to 3 pounds

Preparation

Heat oven to 425 degrees. Combine butter, miso, honey, rice vinegar and black pepper in a large bowl and mix with a spatula or spoon until it is well combined.

Add chicken to the bowl and massage the miso-butter mixture all over it. Place the chicken in a single layer in a roasting pan and slide it into the oven. Roast for 30 to 40 minutes, turning the chicken pieces over once or twice, until the skin is golden brown and crisp, and the internal temperature of the meat is 160 to 165 degrees.

NO PEEK CHICKEN

This is from the infamous long-since-forgotten email lists.

4 skinless, boneless, chicken breasts

2 cans cream of chicken soup

1/2 package dry onion soup mix

1 cup milk or water

3/4 cup rice

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place chicken in a baking dish. In a bowl, mix remaining ingredients together. Pour mixture over chicken breasts. Cover dish with aluminum foil and bake for 2 hours, remembering not to peek!

Chicken

A generation or two (or three) ago, Sunday dinner wasn't Sunday Dinner without chicken. At one time, chicken was more expensive than it is now (comparatively speaking), so it was reserved for the big meal of the week.

And so, without further adieu, I present six chicken recipes, including Monterey Chicken Fajitas and Mexicorn Chicken. Enjoy!

CHICKEN IN WINE

This is one of my numerous inventions before I moved out on my own, and can be found in my e-cookbook, titled Off the Wall Cooking.

2 onions, chopped

2-3 cloves garlic, minced

2 T butter

2-3 lb. chicken, cut up

1 tsp mustard

1/4 C red wine (see note)

1 tsp Worchester sauce

1/4 C milk or water

3 T honey

1/2-1 C cornmeal

3 1/2 C tomatoes

6 oz. can tomato paste

salt, pepper, spices to taste (note)

Brown onions & garlic in butter. Add 2 T honey to milk or water. Dip chicken in milk & honey, then in cornmeal. Add to onions & garlic. Mix other ingredients & pour over chicken. Cover & simmer until done (about 45 minutes). Serve over brown rice.

NOTE: Alcohol-free wine, water or tomato juice can be used in place of the wine. For the spices, I used a mixture of oregano, marjoram, thyme, savory, & ground lemon peel, for a total of about 2 T (not including salt & pepper), though any spices can be used.

FAST CHICKEN CURRY

1 C sour cream

2-5 oz cans boned chicken

4 T butter

2 T flour

1 1/2 tsp. curry

1 small can pineapple, crushed

1 lb. cooked string beans

salt & pepper to taste

Melt butter slowly & add chicken. Stir constantly & heat thoroughly. Add flour, curry, salt & pepper. Add enough water to make thick cream sauce. Add pineapple, string beans & sour cream. Simmer 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Serve over boiled rice with hot rolls & tossed salad. Serves 4. Time about 1/2 hour.

CHICKEN SPECIAL

Another one of my inventions, also found in Off the Wall Cooking.

2 – 3 lb. chicken, cut up

3 T oil

1 onion, chopped

2 T butter, melted

2 1/2 T peanut butter

salt & pepper to taste

8 oz can tomato sauce

1 C water

16 oz package peas & carrots

Brown chicken in oil. Put in casserole or baking dish. Sauté onions in butter. Put on top of chicken. Add salt & pepper, tomato sauce, water & peas & carrots. Top with peanutbutter. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

MEXICORN CHICKEN

Another one of my inventions.

2-3 lb. chicken, cut up

3 T oil

1 onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 T wheat germ

12 oz. can Mexicorn

1 can condensed tomato soup

1 C water

1 T soy sauce

1 T honey

Brown chicken to oil. Put in baking dish. Brown onion, garlic & wheat germ, stirring. Pour over chicken. Add mexicorn, soup, water, soy sauce & hone. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

NO PEEK CHICKEN

This is from the infamous long-since-forgotten email lists.

4 skinless, boneless, chicken breasts

2 cans cream of chicken soup

1/2 package dry onion soup mix

1 cup milk or water

3/4 cup rice

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place chicken in a baking dish. In a bowl, mix remaining ingredients together. Pour mixture over chicken breasts. Cover dish with aluminum foil and bake for 2 hours, remembering not to peek!

MONTEREY CHICKEN FAJITAS

This is from FamilyTime, and begins, “Stir-fried chicken strips, peppers and onions are simmered in a zesty sauce and wrapped in warm tortillas.”

Serves: 8 servings; Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

4 skinless, boneless chicken breast half (about 1 pound), cut into strips

1 medium green pepper, cut into 2-inch strips (about 1 1/2 cups)

1 medium onion, sliced (about 1/2 cup)

1 can (10 3/4 ounce) Campbell's® Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup (Regular or 98% Fat Free)

1/2 cup Pace® Chunky Salsa

8 flour tortillas (8-inch), warmed

1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese (about 4 ounces)

Directions

Heat the oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until well browned, stirring often.

Reduce the heat to medium. Add the pepper and onion to the skillet and cook until the vegetables are tender-crisp, stirring occasionally. Stir in the soup and salsa and cook until the chicken is cooked through.

Spoon about 1/2 cup chicken mixture down the center of each tortilla. Top with the cheese and additional salsa. Fold the tortillas around the filling.

Chicken!

Wednesday – half-way through the work week. Here are six yummy recipes to help you through the day, including Chicken Piccata and Chicken Enchiladas . Enjoy!

CHICKEN POT PIE

This comes from Ree Drummond of The Food Network’s The Pioneer Woman. Total: 2 hr 15 min; Active: 1 hr; Yield: 6 servings; Level: Intermediate.

To view this online, go to http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/chicken-pot-pie.

Ingredients

Cooked Chicken:

One 2- to 3-pound chicken fryer, cut up

Chicken Pot Pie:

3 celery stalks

3 medium carrots, peeled

1 large yellow onion

4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

2 cups low-sodium chicken broth or stock

1 chicken bouillon cube

1/4 cup white wine, optional

1/2 cup frozen peas

1 cup heavy cream

2 sprigs fresh thyme

1 teaspoon kosher salt, or more as needed

Black pepper

1/2 recipe Thyme Pastry, recipe follows

Thyme Pastry:

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) cold butter

1 egg

5 tablespoons cold water

1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar

1 sprig fresh thyme leaves

Directions

Chicken Pot Pie:

For the chicken: Start by putting the chicken in a pot and covering it with water. Bring the water to a boil, and then reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 45 minutes, and then remove the chicken from the pot. Set the chicken aside to cool briefly.

Shred the chicken with 2 forks, reserving the bones. For the stock, return the bones to the pot and boil for 20 minutes. Remove the bones from the pot and discard.

For the pot pie: When you're ready to use the Thyme Pastry, remove from the freezer and allow it to sit on the counter to thaw slightly, about 20 minutes. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Begin by finely dicing the vegetables. Slice the celery stalks into narrow strips, then slice in the other direction to create a fine dice. Repeat this process with the carrots, and the onion.

Melt the butter in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots and celery. Saute until the vegetables start to turn translucent, a couple of minutes.

Add 2 cups of the shredded chicken and stir to combine. Sprinkle the flour evenly over the vegetables and chicken, and stir to combine. Cook for a couple of minutes, stirring gently.

Pour in the chicken broth, stirring constantly. Stir in the bouillon cube and wine if using. The flour will combine with the chicken to create a delicious gravy. Next, add the peas.

Pour in the cream and stir. Allow the mixture to cook over low heat, thickening gradually, about 4 minutes. Season with the thyme, salt and pepper, and remove from the heat. Taste and adjust the seasonings as needed. Be sure it's adequately salted!

Pour the chicken mixture into a deep pie pan or small casserole dish.

Roll out the pastry so that it's 1 inch larger than the pan. Place the crust on top of the chicken mixture and cut small slits in the top. Press the crust gently into the sides of the dish to seal. I don't worry about making a perfect edge on my chicken pot pie because a) it looks more rustic and b) I'm lazy, hungry and I want to eat.

Bake until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbly, about 30 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes before serving.

To freeze: Allow the filling to cool completely then top with the crust. Cover with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and place in the freezer.

To cook from frozen: Remove the pot pie from the freezer, brush with egg wash (1 egg mixed with 2 tablespoons water or cream) and place directly in a 375-degree F oven and bake until lightly browned and bubbly, 30 to 45 minutes.

Thyme Pastry:

For the thyme pastry: Combine the flour and salt in a large bowl. Using pastry cutter, gradually work the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles tiny pebbles. This step should take 3 or 4 minutes.

Lightly beat the egg with a fork, and then add it to the mixture. Next, add in the cold water and vinegar. Stir the mixture together until it's just combined, and then remove half the dough from the bowl. (Dividing the dough in half results in two pretty generous pie crusts. If you desire a thinner crust, you may divide the dough into three crusts.)

Place in a large plastic bag (do not seal) and slightly flatten with a rolling pin. This makes it much easier to roll out the crust later. After flattening, seal the bag tightly.

Repeat with the other half of the dough and place the plastic bags in the freezer. I like to make several batches of pie crust at a time so I always have a crust ready to go.

For recipes other than this pot pie, remove from the bag and place on a lightly floured surface. With a rolling pin, begin rolling the dough from the center, outward. Be gentle and patient; it'll take a little time to get the dough completely rolled out.

If you think the bottom is really sticking to the surface below, use a nice, sharp spatula to loosen it and sprinkle some extra flour on top. Then flip it over to finish rolling. Remember to roll from the center in single, outward strokes; no back-and-forth rolling.

Again with a spatula, loosen and lift the pie crust and carefully lay it over a pie pan. Using your hand, lightly form the crust so that it fits inside the pan and overlaps the edges.

Because it's quick and easy, I just tuck the excess dough under itself above the rim. Then you can apply whatever decorative effects that you like to the edge. Or you can leave it plain if you'd like! Just tell yourself it's more rustic that way!

Fill the pie crust with filling and bake according to the pie recipe's directions. Or, for a pre-baked crust, fill with pie weights (or pinto beans placed on aluminum foil) and bake at 400 degrees F until golden, about 10 minutes.

Cook's Note

Prepare the filling and pie crust ahead of time. Just keep them separate in the fridge until you're ready to assemble and bake. Or, fully assemble, cover tightly and freeze, unbaked, until ready.

CHICKEN ENCHILADAS

This comes from Food.com, and begins, “I call this gloppy and sloppy and definitely my family's favorite.” Makes 6 servings; Prep Time: 40 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes; Total Time: 1 hr. 20 minutes.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 (10 1/2 ounce) can cream of chicken soup

1 cup sour cream

3 cups diced cooked chicken

1 (4 ounce) can mushrooms, drained and chopped

1⁄2 onion, chopped

1 (4 ounce) can green chilies, drained

1⁄4 teaspoon oregano

salt and pepper

10 -12 flour tortillas

Topping

1 (10 1/2 ounce) can cream of chicken soup

1⁄4 cup milk

1 lb shredded monterey jack cheese or 1 lb monterey jack pepper cheese

Directions

Mix together first 7 ingredients.

Add salt and pepper to taste.

Place 2-3 tablespoons of filling in center of each tortilla; roll mixture up in tortilla.

With seam side down, place each rolled tortilla side by side in a 13x9 inch casserole dish Mix together first 2 topping ingredients.

Pour evenly over enchiladas in casserole dish.

Sprinkle with shredded cheese.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes.

CHICKEN PICCATA

This comes from Ina Garten of The Food Network’s Barefoot Contesssa. Total Time: 30 minutes; Active Time: 15 minutes; Yield: 2 servings; Level: Intermediate.

To view this online, go to http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/chicken-piccata-recipe.

Ingredients

2 split (1 whole) boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1 extra-large egg

1/2 tablespoon water

3/4 cup seasoned dry bread crumbs

Good olive oil

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature, divided

1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons), lemon halves reserved

1/2 cup dry white wine

Sliced lemon, for serving

Chopped fresh parsley leaves, for serving

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.

Place each chicken breast between 2 sheets of parchment paper or plastic wrap and pound out to 1/4-inch thick. Sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper.

Mix the flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper in a shallow plate. In a second plate, beat the egg and 1/2 tablespoon of water together. Place the bread crumbs on a third plate. Dip each chicken breast first in the flour, shake off the excess, and then dip in the egg and bread crumb mixtures.

Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large saute pan over medium to medium-low heat. Add the chicken breasts and cook for 2 minutes on each side, until browned. Place them on the sheet pan and allow them to bake for 5 to 10 minutes while you make the sauce.

For the sauce, wipe out the saute pan with a dry paper towel. Over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter and then add the lemon juice, wine, the reserved lemon halves, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Boil over high heat until reduced in half, about 2 minutes. Off the heat, add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and swirl to combine. Discard the lemon halves and serve 1 chicken breast on each plate. Spoon on the sauce and serve with a slice of lemon and a sprinkling of fresh parsley.

GRILLED SESAME CHICKEN BREAST

Servings: 4

Print Friendly: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=20

View recipe with photo: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/20.shtml

Ingredients

3 tablespoons lite soy sauce

1 teaspoon + 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, dried

2 cloves garlic

8 ounces chicken breast, skinless and raw

1/8 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

1 tablespoon brown sugar
Directions

Combine all ingredients except chicken in a shallow dish.

Mix well.

Add chicken, turning to coat.

Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.

Remove chicken from the marinade.

Grill 4-5 inches from medium-hot coals for 15 minutes.

Turn and grill.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 114; Protein: 15.1 g; Fat: 2.5 g; Sodium: 413 mg; Cholesterol: 32 mg; Carbohydrates: 7.2 g; Exchanges: 2 Very Lean Meat; 1/2 Fat; 1/2 Starch

CHICKEN IN WINE

This is one of my numerous inventions before I moved out on my own.

This can be found in my e-cookbook, Off the Wall Cooking.

2 onions, chopped

1/4 milk or water

2-3 cloves garlic, minced

3 T honey

2 T butter

1/2-1 C cornmeal

2-3 lb. chicken, cut up

3 1/2 C tomatoes

1 tsp mustard

6 oz. can tomato paste

1/4 C red wine (note)

salt, pepper, spices to taste (note)

1 tsp Worchester sauce

Brown onions & garlic in butter. Add 2 T honey to milk or water. Dip chicken in milk & honey, then in cornmeal. Add to onions & garlic. Mix other ingredients & pour over chicken. Cover & simmer until done (about 45 minutes). Serve over brown rice.

NOTE: Alcohol-free wine, water or tomato juice can be used in place of the wine. For the spices, I used a mixture of oregano, marjoram, thyme, savory, & ground lemon peel, for a total of about 2 T (not including salt & pepper), though any spices can be used.

CHICKEN SPECIAL

Another one of my inventions, also in my e-book, Off the Wall Cooking.

2 – 3 lb. chicken, cut up

salt & pepper to taste

3 T oil

8 oz can tomato sauce

1 onion, chopped

1 C water

2 T butter, melted

16 oz package peas & carrots

2 1/2 T peanut butter

Brown chicken in oil. Put in casserole or baking dish. Sauté onions in butter. Put on top of chicken. Add salt & pepper, tomato sauce, water & peas & carrots. Top with peanut butter. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

Tuesday Recipes

Two kinds of Mac and Cheese (!), Applesauce Spice Cookies with Browned Butter-Cream Cheese Frosting, chicken, beef stew...Hungry yet? Enjoy!

HOMEMADE MACARONI AND CHEESE

I had been looking for a really simple but good homemade macaroni and cheese recipe, and this fits the bill. My daughter and granddaughter had come over on my granddaughter's birthday; while they were here, my daughter whipped up this recipe. She'd been making it for quite a while. It was a definite hit with everyone in the house.

1 box (16 ounce) cannelloni pasta (see Note)

3 tablespoons butter

3 tablespoons flour

2 cups milk

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Salt and pepper, to taste

Note: Just about any tubular pasta can be used in this recipe, though it seems to work best with something bigger than elbow macaroni. Some of the better substitutes for the cannelloni would be ziti, penne, rigatoni, or elicoidali.

Turn oven on to 350 degrees.

Cook pasta according to package directions. If the package gives you a bracket – say, 12 – 14 minutes – lean toward the lower time, since you don't want the pasta to be too mushy. Drain, rinse, and set aside.

In a large pot, melt butter on low heat, then add flour, salt, and pepper. Cook on low heat, stirring continuously, for 2 to 3 minutes. Add milk and cook on medium heat for approximately 5 minutes until mixture thickens, stirring continuously.

Remove from heat and add macaroni, stirring it into mixture. Add the shredded cheese, and stir in completely.

Pour mixture into a 13 X 9 inch pan and bake at 350 for 10 – 15 minutes. Remove carefully, as it will be hot. (You knew that, right?) Dig in.

This makes 4 – 5 servings.

CHICKEN IN WINE

This recipe, as well as the Beef Stew and Grandma's Mac and Cheese, which follows, comes from my e-cookbook, titled Off the Wall Cooking, found on Amazon.com. I came up with this recipe shortly after moving out on my own.

2 onions, chopped

1/4 C milk or water

2 – 3 cloves garlic, minced

3 T honey

2 T butter

1/2 – 1 C cornmeal

2 – 3 lb. chicken, cut up

3 1/2 C tomatoes

1 tsp mustard

6 oz. can tomato paste

1/4 C red wine (see Note)

salt, pepper, spices to taste (see Note)

1 tsp Worchester sauce

Brown onions & garlic in butter. Add 2 T honey to milk or water. Dip chicken in milk & honey, then in cornmeal. Add to onions & garlic. Mix other ingredients & pour over chicken. Cover & simmer until done (about 45 minutes). Serve over brown rice.

Note: Alcohol-free wine, water or tomato juice can be used in place of the wine. For the spices, I used a mixture of oregano, marjoram, thyme, savory, & ground lemon peel, for a total of about 2 T (not including salt & pepper), though any spices can be used.

BEEF STEW

Another invention of mine, also from Off The Wall Cooking.

2 – 3 lbs. stewing beef

1 clove garlic, minced

3 T oil

4 carrots, cut up

2 C water

1 large potato, peeled & cut up

1 onion, chopped

6 oz tomato paste

8 oz tomato sauce

4 T vinegar

1 C flour

3 T honey

1 T soy sauce

salt & pepper, to taste

Cut beef into bite-sized pieces. Trim fat & dredge in flour & brown in oil. Add everything except carrots & potato. Cook 15 minutes. Add carrots & cook 15 more minutes. Add potato & cook 30 minutes. Add water as needed. Serve over noodles.

GRANDMA'S MAC AND CHEESE

This comes from my e-cookbook, titled Off the Wall Cooking, found on Amazon.com.

Both of my grandmas were characters—I could write a book about either one. This is my dad's mom's version of the ultimate comfort food. She told me she made this for my dad and my uncle when they were kids. Very simple, but very good.

1 lb. elbow macaroni

1 – 2 jars of Cheese Whiz

Cook macaroni according to package directions. Heat Cheese Whiz, either in microwave or boiling water. (Remove lids from jars first.) Drain macaroni, dump into a large bowl, add heated Cheese Whiz, stir, and PIG OUT!!!

CHICKEN YAKISOBA

This recipe comes from Tablespoon.com and begins, “A quick noodle stir-fry packed with flavor!” Prep Time: 15 min; Cook Time: 30 min; Servings: 4

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

8 oz. soba noodles

1 tablespoon sesame oil

1 pound chicken, sliced thin

4 cups shredded cabbage

2 carrots, grated

1/2 red pepper, sliced thin

2 tablespoons neutral oil

Fresh cilantro, garnish

Yakisoba Sauce:

1/4 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup water

2 tablespoons ketchup

1 lime, juice only

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1 teaspoon red curry paste

Directions

It’s very important to prep all the ingredients before starting this dish, as it cooks quickly. Cook soba noodles according to instructions, rinse with cold water and toss with sesame oil. Slice chicken thin, shred cabbage, grate carrots and slice red peppers.

For sauce, whisk together ingredients until smooth.

Heat a large wok or skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add oil and chicken. Cook chicken for 3-4 minutes until cooked through.

Remove chicken and add cabbage, carrots, and red peppers. If pan is very dry, add another drizzle of oil. Cook, stirring regularly, until vegetables are slightly soft, 3-4 minutes.

Add chicken back to pan along with noodles and sauce. Toss together for a minute or two to heat ingredients and let the sauce thicken.

Serve up heaping bowls of the yakisoba with fresh cilantro.

APPLESAUCE SPICE COOKIES WITH BROWNED BUTTER-CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

This also comes from Tablespoon.com, and begins, “Betty Crocker™ SuperMoist™ spice cake mix combined with applesauce makes these chewy cookies taste like fall, while a browned butter-cream cheese frosting spread adds extra decadence.” Prep Time: 15 min; Total Time: 60 min; Servings: 36.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

Cookies

1 box Betty Crocker™ SuperMoist™ spice cake mix

1 cup unsweetened applesauce

1 egg, slightly beaten

1/4 cup canola oil

Frosting

1/4 cup unsalted butter

1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened

2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Dash of salt

Directions

Heat oven to 350° F. Line 2 cookie sheets with cooking parchment paper; set aside.

In large bowl, beat Cookie ingredients with whisk until combined. Using 2-tablespoon scoop, drop mixture 2 inches apart onto cookie sheets.

Bake about 10 minutes or until edges start to brown, tops are dry and cookies spring back when touched lightly in center. Cool 5 minutes; remove from cookie sheets to cooling racks. Cool completely before frosting.

In 1-quart saucepan or 6-inch skillet, brown the butter by melting over medium heat until it begins to foam, then stirring constantly until solid bits in butter turn dark brown and smell fragrant like toffee. Remove from heat; pour into heatproof dish to cool.

In medium bowl, beat cream cheese and cooled butter with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Add powdered sugar and salt; beat to combine. Generously frost cooled cookies with frosting.

Sunday Chicken

A generation or two (or three) ago, Sunday dinner wasn't Sunday Dinner without chicken. At one time, chicken was more expensive than it is now (comparatively speaking), so it was reserved for the big meal of the week.

And so, without further adieu, I present chicken...

Chicken in Wine

One of my numerous inventions before I moved out on my own.

2 onions, chopped

2-3 cloves garlic, minced

2 T butter

2-3 lb. chicken, cut up

1 tsp mustard

1/4 C red wine (note)

1 tsp Worchester sauce

1/4 C milk or water

3 T honey

1/2-1 C cornmeal

3 1/2 C tomatoes

6 oz. can tomato paste

salt, pepper, spices to taste (note)

Brown onions & garlic in butter. Add 2 T honey to milk or water. Dip chicken in milk & honey, then in cornmeal. Add to onions & garlic. Mix other ingredients & pour over chicken. Cover & simmer until done (about 45 minutes). Serve over brown rice.

NOTE: Alcohol-free wine, water or tomato juice can be used in place of the wine. For the spices, I used a mixture of oregano, marjoram, thyme, savory, & ground lemon peel, for a total of about 2 T (not including salt & pepper), though any spices can be used.

Fast Chicken Curry

1 C sour cream

2-5 oz cans boned chicken

4 T butter

2 T flour

1 1/2 tsp. curry

1 small can pineapple, crushed

1 lb. cooked string beans

salt & pepper to taste

Melt butter slowly & add chicken. Stir constantly & heat thoroughly. Add flour, curry, salt & pepper. Add enough water to make thick cream sauce. Add pineapple, string beans & sour cream. Simmer 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Serve over boiled rice with hot rolls & tossed salad. Serves 4. Time about 1/2 hour.

Chicken Special

One of my inventions.

2-3 lb. chicken, cut up

3 T oil

1 onion, chopped

2 T butter, melted

2 1/2 T peanut butter

salt & pepper to taste

8 oz can tomato sauce

1 C water

16 oz package peas & carrots

Brown chicken in oil. Put in casserole or baking dish. Sauté onions in butter. Put on top of chicken. Add salt & pepper, tomato sauce, water & peas & carrots. Top with peanutbutter. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

Mexicorn Chicken

Another one of my inventions.

2-3 lb. chicken, cut up

3 T oil

1 onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 T wheat germ

12 oz. can Mexicorn

1 can condensed tomato soup

1 C water

1 T soy sauce

1 T honey

Brown chicken to oil. Put in baking dish. Brown onion, garlic & wheat germ, stirring. Pour over chicken. Add mexicorn, soup, water, soy sauce & hone. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.