Friday, March 29, 2024

Chicken and Mushroom Stroganoff



 

Yesterday we went a doctors appointment near our favorite Korean grocery and got some pre marinated spicy pork bulgogi and that was dinner last night. I had been planning to make  this then but it got made today.  The green beans were leftover from a couple days ago.


Chicken and Mushroom Stroganoff

Serves 4.

Lighter than the traditional beef stroganoff, this chicken and mushroom version is still luxuriously rich and creamy. It’s also quick and easy to make, so you can pamper yourself any night of the week.

12 oz. uncooked extra-wide egg noodles

5 tbsp. unsalted butter, divided

8 oz. cremini mushrooms, trimmed and sliced thin

1 medium onion, thinly sliced

1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken thighs, trimmed and cut into 1-in. pieces

3 cloves garlic, finely chopped

3 tbsp. all-purpose flour

1 tsp. Hungarian sweet paprika

3/4 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

1/2 tsp. dried thyme

1 1/4 c. chicken broth

2 tbsp. dry sherry (see Note)

1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

1/2 c. sour cream

2 tbsp. finely chopped fresh parsley

Cook noodles according to package directions, then drain. Toss hot noodles with 1 tablespoon butter.

Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over high heat. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until they are browned, about 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate.

To the same skillet, over medium heat, add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Add onion and cook until softened, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add the chicken, garlic, flour, paprika, salt, pepper and thyme. Cook, stirring, until the chicken is lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Stir in the browned mushrooms, chicken broth, sherry (see Note) and Worcestershire sauce and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and gently simmer until chicken is cooked through and the sauce is thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the sour cream. Taste and re-season with salt and pepper, if necessary. To serve, divide the noodles among plates. Top with the chicken mixture and a sprinkling of parsley.

Note: You can substitute 1/4 cup of dry white wine or a teaspoon of lemon juice for the sherry in this recipe.

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Air Fried Chicken was dinner today


 Used Zatarain air frier mix for chicken, made mashed potatoes and green beans.

Southern Green Beans Recipe


Now, these easy Southern Green Beans combine fresh green beans, smoked bacon, and onion into the most perfect side dish imaginable.

  • Author: Small Town Woman Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 90 minutes Total  Time: 1 hour 50 minutes Yield:
  • INGREDIENTS
  • 4 slices bacon diced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 lbs fresh green beans trimmed
  • 2 1/2 – 3-1/2 cups chicken broth
  • Optional 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning (please see notes)
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, cook the bacon until almost completely browned. Add the onion and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Turn heat to low and add garlic; cook for 30 seconds. Remove the bacon/onion mixture to a bowl using a slotted spoon. Reserve the bacon grease. Do not wash the saucepan.
  2. Add the green beans and enough chicken broth to cover the green beans. Add the Cajun seasoning.
  3. Bring to a low boil. Cover and reduce to simmer. Simmer for 1 – 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally. Drain chicken broth, return bacon/onion mixture, and heat for 1-2 minutes. Add butter, stir, and serve. If needed, season with salt and black pepper to taste. 
Potatoes were cooked in the microwave, peeled mashed with butter, sour cream, milk and granulated garlic.

Monday, March 25, 2024

Looks like we have been eating a lot or chicken lately. Both of there were at Charlies request

Breast of Chicken Martini style 


A couple decades ago I called this Martini Chicken and I still do now but I have probably changed it enough that a purist might take issue with the way I make it now. I still bread it with grated cheese but add some panko bread crumbs and serve it with pasta and Alfredo sauce.

Petto di Pollo alla Martini  

Morso Restaurant Bar Cafe 420 E. 59th st. NYC

Chicken Breast Martini Style  -  one serving



Kosher salt

1/2 C. green beans (haricot vert)

1/2 C. baby carrots

1 boneless skinless chicken breast pounded out thinly (1/2 breast)

fresh ground black pepper

2-3 T. AP flour

1 lar. egg, beaten

olive oil

1/4 C. grated Parmigiano-Reggiano 

1/2 T. unsalted butter, melted

1/2 T. fresh lemon juice

1/2 C. good quality white wine


Preheat oven to 425º


Bring large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Fill a bowl with ice water.  Add the green beans and carrots to the boiling water until they are brightly colored but still crisp, about 3 minutes. Drain and transfer to ice water to stop cooking


Sprinkle salt and pepper on both sides of chicken, dredge in flour. Shake off excess. Dip in egg and then cheese.


Place olive oin in hot skillet and brown the chicken on both sides. Drain on paper towels


In separate skillet, combine wine, butter and lemon juice and bring to a boil. Place browned chicken in the wine mixture, top with carrots and green beans. Bake in oven 6-7 minutes @375º Remove and plate




 This was a few days ago and also at Charlies request. It is Cornish hens with an orange teriyaki-ish sauce 





I used to marinate the hens in this sauce but now I just bake them and serve the thickened sauce on top.

HONEY LACQUERED GAME HENS II

2 game hens
1/4 C. triple sec
1 C. orange juice
1/3 C. soy sauce
3 inch strip orange zest
1/3 C. honey
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 C. dry vermouth
1/8 tsp red pepper flakes
1/4 C. sesame oil
1/2 inch thin slice of ginger
1/4 tsp. sesame salt
1 garlic clove, split and peeled

2 tsp. cornstarch dissolved in water to make a paste



Wednesday, March 20, 2024

Spicy Italian Chicken


This recipe with the silly name was in the Kansas City Star a few days ago and I decided to try it today. Charlie said how much he liked this recipe three of four times during the meal.  It had two ingredients that I could not find at the store and had to substitute. One was sun-dried tomatoes.  This store had them before but not today. Another was canned-in-oil calabrian chiles. I substituted tomato paste and canned  chopped jalapeño chilies. I also substituted fresh mozzarella chiles for the goat cheese. There are several goat cheeses I don't care for but I don't remember which ones and preferred not to take a chance.

 Spicy Marry Me Chicken

Calabrian chiles and melted goat cheese take this modern classic dinner to new heights. Calabrian chiles are Italian and come in a jar or can with oil and sometimes flavored.  Serves 4.

By Marianne Williams Published on March 11, 2024 


Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 (5-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken cutlets
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 5 medium garlic cloves, finely chopped (about 5 teaspoons)
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine
  • 3/4 cup chicken broth
  • 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes (from 1 [7-ounce] jar)
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoons crushed Calabrian chili peppers in oil, drained (from 1 [10-ounce] jar)
  • 1 ounce freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese (1/4 cup)
  • 1 (4-ounce) log goat cheese, sliced into 4 even medallions
  • Basil leaves, for garnish
  • Lemon wedges, for serving



  • Directions
  1. Heat oil in a large stainless steel or cast-iron skillet over high heat. Season chicken cutlets evenly with salt and pepper. Place in skillet; cook, undisturbed, until golden brown on first side, 3 to 4 minutes. Flip chicken and continue to cook for 1 minute. Transfer to a large plate (chicken will not be cooked through).
  2. Preheat oven to broil with oven rack in upper third position. Pour off and discard oil from skillet; wipe skillet dry. Place over low heat, and add butter and garlic. Cook, stirring often, until butter is melted and bubbling, and garlic is fragrant, about 2 minutes. Increase heat to medium-high. Add wine; cook, stirring occasionally and scraping up any browned bits on bottom of skillet, until wine has reduced slightly, 2 to 3 minutes. Add broth and sundried tomatoes; cook, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes have softened and liquid has thickened slightly (a spoon should leave a streak through liquid in skillet), about 3 minutes. Reduce heat to low; add cream and Calabrian chilis. Cook, whisking vigorously and constantly, until slightly thickened and creamy, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat; add Parmigiano-Reggiano; stir until incorporated.

  3. Nestle reserved chicken into sauce in skillet; spoon some of sauce over chicken. Place goat cheese medallions on top of each chicken cutlet. Broil until cheese has started to brown in spots, sauce is bubbling, and chicken is cooked through, about 5 minutes. Remove from oven, and gently stir sauce around chicken. Garnish with basil leaves. Serve immediately with lemon wedges.

Saturday, March 16, 2024

St Patricks a day early.



Charlie told me that his car club monthly meeting had been set for Sunday and asked if I could cook out dinner a day early or late. He tried to tell them that 15 guys trying to find a quiet corner in a bar on St. Patricks day was a crazy idea but they plan to go ahead with it.  I planned to make the dinner on Monday but this morning decided to do it today.  The meat was home made corned beef brisket.  I have always made it with Tender Quick instead of Canning Salt (Prague Powder)  Other than that the way I make it is listed below.  When I cook it, I wash it off, put it in a pot and cover with water and bring it to a simmer. Then I pour off the water, fill it again. let is sit a little, pour that water off and add water again for the last time with carrots, onions and celery and cook it as directed.  I cook the other vegetables after the corn beef is done.  This time and a few other times I cooked  the cabbage in the oven but this time it was burnt on the bottom when I took it out.  We didn't have cabbage this year even though there is one on the plate.... it was just for the picture.

Scotch eggs may seem like a weird thing to have for an Irish dinner but this recipe came out of an Irish  pub food cookbook and is a popular bar food all over England and Ireland and it the best Scotch eggs recipe I have ever tried.

I didn't want to have a totally treditional Irish immigrant all boiled dinner and chose Irish Roast Potatoes instead.

The carrots, parsnips and rutabaga were boiled in strained corn beef broth.

Homemade Corned Beef with Vegetables


INGREDIENTS

Serves 8.

FOR THE BRINE

2 quarts water

1 cup coarse salt

1 tablespoon pink curing salt

1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon coriander seeds, crushed

1 teaspoon mustard seeds, crushed

1 teaspoon black peppercorns, crushed

1 cinnamon stick, crushed

4 dried bay leaves, crushed

8 whole cloves

FOR THE CORNED BEEF

5 pounds flat-cut beef brisket

1 medium onion, halved

1 medium celery stalk, halved

1 medium carrot, peeled, halved

1 pound baby turnips, peeled, trimmed

1 pound baby carrots, peeled, trimmed

1 medium head cabbage, cut into 8 wedges

1 pound small red potatoes

Dijon mustard, for serving

DIRECTIONS

1. Make the brine: Bring water to a boil in a large pot. Add salts, sugar, and spices; remove from heat, and stir until salts and sugar dissolve. Let cool.

2. Make the corned beef: Place brisket in a nonreactive container just large enough to hold it. Pour cooled brine over meat. Place 2 small plates on top to keep meat submerged; cover, and refrigerate for 2 weeks.


3. Rinse brisket; discard brine. Place in a large pot. Add enough water to cover by 2 inches. Add onion, celery, and halved carrot, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer until very tender, 3 to 3 1/2 hours.

4. Set a steamer in a large saucepan. Add enough water to reach the bottom, and bring to a boil. Add turnips. Reduce heat, cover, and steam until tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a bowl. Repeat with baby carrots, steaming 10 to 12 minutes. Add to turnips.

5. Transfer corned beef to a cutting board. Tent with foil, and let rest for 30 minutes. Discard remaining solids from broth, then bring to a boil. Add cabbage and potatoes, and simmer until tender, about 25 minutes. Add turnips and carrots, and cook until warmed through. Transfer vegetables to a platter; reserve broth.

6. Trim excess fat from beef. Slice thinly against grain, and transfer to platter. Serve with broth and mustard.

First published   


Irish Soda Scone

Recipe photo courtesy of Raymond Hom

These scones pack the hallmarks of our favorite St. Patrick's Day bread -- loads of currants and caraway seeds -- into a single serving with a light, fluffy texture. Just mix, scoop, bake, and enjoy with a spot of tea. Source: Martha Stewart Living, March 2018 prep 20 min  total 40 min. makes 8

  2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 stick cold unsalted butter
1/2 cup dried currants
2 teaspoons caraway seeds
1 cup cold buttermilk
1 cup confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons whole milk
1/4 teaspoon grated orange zest

DIRECTIONS

  • 1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, granulated sugar, and salt.

    2. Cut butter into small pieces; work into flour mixture with your fingers or a pastry cutter until dough resembles coarse meal. Add currants, caraway seeds, and buttermilk; stir until just combined.

    3. Scoop 1/3 cup-size mounds of dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, spaced 3 inches apart. Bake until bottoms are golden, 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool completely on sheet.

    4. Meanwhile, combine confectioners' sugar, milk, and orange zest. Drizzle over scones; serve.

Roasted Cabbage Wedges


Super simple to make, this healthy side dish packs a crunchy, flavorful punch.  Source: Everyday Food, April 2010


1 tablespoon plus 2 more tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium head green cabbage, cut into 1-inch-thick rounds
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 teaspoon caraway or fennel seeds

DIRECTIONS

  • 1.
    Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Brush a rimmed baking sheet with 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil. Place 1 medium head green cabbage, cut into 1-inch-thick rounds, in a single layer on sheet and brush with 2 tablespoons oil. Season with coarse salt and ground pepper and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon caraway or fennel seeds. Roast until cabbage is tender and edges are golden, 40 to 45 minutes.
  • Step 3 Rinse brisket; discard brine. Place in a large pot. Add enough water to cover by 2 inches. Add onion, celery, and halved carrot, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer until very tender, 3 to 3 1/2 hours.

  • Step 4 Set a steamer in a large saucepan. Add enough water to reach the bottom, and bring to a boil. Add turnips. Reduce heat, cover, and steam until tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a bowl. Repeat with baby carrots, steaming 10 to 12 minutes. Add to turnips.

  • Step 5 Transfer corned beef to a cutting board. Tent with foil, and let rest for 30 minutes. Discard remaining solids from broth, then bring to a boil. Add cabbage and potatoes, and simmer until tender, about 25 minutes. Add turnips and carrots, and cook until warmed through. Transfer vegetables to a platter; reserve broth.

  • Step 6 Trim excess fat from beef. Slice thinly against grain, and transfer to platter. Serve with broth and mustard. 

Irish Roast Potatoes

Ingredients

  • 8 medium russet potatoes
  • ⅓ cup vegetable oil or goose fat
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper optional

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees 

2. Peel potatoes. Leave whole or cut in half or quarters depending on size desired

3. Place in large saucepan and cover with water and a pinch or two of salt.  Boil, lower             heat and simmer 5 minutes


4. Drain, toss in saucepan or colander to roughen the outer surfaces. Let sit a few minutes to steam dry.


5. Pour oil into large roasting pans and heat in the oven a few minutes.


6.Place potatoes in the hot oil and turn them gently to evenly coat the surface with oil.  Do not place potatoes too close together.


7. Season with salt and pepper. Roast in the oven 30-60 minutes depending on size of potatoes. Turn the Potato after 15 & 30 minutes of cooking 


8. Potatoes are cooked when the outer surface has turned golden and crispy.  Serve hot with roast poultry or meat


Scotch Eggs   From Irish Pub Food ©2021


10 eggs, divided

2 T. vegetable oil

1 1/2 C panko bread crumbs

1 lb. bulk breakfast sausage

1/4 C thinly sliced green onions

3/4 C AP flour

2 T. whole grain mustard


  1. preheat oven to 400º
  2. hard cook 8 eggs
  3. heat oil In med. skillet over med. heat. Add panko; cook about 8 minutes or until toasted and golden brown, stirring occasionally. Remove and allow to cook
  4. Combine sausage and green onions. Place flour in another bowl 
  5. add mustard to two  lightly beaten eggs in another bowl 
  6. divide sausage into 8, spread out and wrap sausage around each egg. dip each sausage in flour then in egg mustard mixture.  Roll in Panko crumbs.  
  7. Place on lined cooking sheet and bake 16 to 18 minutes.  Drain well on paper towels. Serve warm.