From the category archives:

Chicken Recipes

Recipes from Gourmet Meals in Crappy Little Kitchens

by Joi on June 28, 2010

The recipes below are from Gourmet Meals in Crappy Little Kitchens by Chef Jennifer Schaertl. (You can read my review of this VERY delightful cookbook by clicking the link.)

Holy Moly Chicken Pasole

Makes 2.5 Quarts

A gourmet version of tortilla soup, this rustic version is actually thickened with finely diced pieces of corn tortilla that break down as the stew simmers. It’s also a great way to utilize leftover chicken, which makes it a standard on my rotation of Soupe du Jour in my restaurant. There’s always leftover chicken laying around!

1 rotisserie chicken, shredded off the bone
8 c chicken stock
1 onion, diced
6 cloves garlic
1 green bell, diced
1 rib of celery, diced
2 T chili powder
1 T ground cumin
1/2 c tomato puree
1 large tomato, diced
1 T oregano
5 corn tortilla finely minced
1/2 tsp red pepper
Sea salt and black pepper to taste
1/2 c cilantro, chopped

  1. In a large stock pot over a medium-high heat, bring the shredded chicken, stock, onion, garlic, bell pepper, and celery to a gentle simmer. Once simmering, add all of the other ingredients except for salt, pepper, and cilantro.
  2. Once the tortilla has begun to break down and thicken the stew (about 30 minutes), season to your tastes with salt and pepper. Garnish with the chopped cilantro.

Nobody Better Lay a Finger on My Corn Fritter

Makes 15-20 fritters

Beautiful little side dishes, but I usually put them in bread baskets along with the rolls at my restaurants. The corn is sweet and juicy inside this fluffy pan fried biscuit. The kids will eat with butter and the adults will dip it in the soup, but everyone will be all over this moist and flavorful fritter.

3-1/2 c all purpose flour
1 T baking powder
1 T sea salt
5 eggs
2/3 c whole milk
3-3/4 c yellow corn kernels, canned or defrosted, but well drained
2 T butter, melted plus more for frying

  1. Preheat your oven to 500 degrees. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in large bowl. Add the eggs, milk, corn and melted butter and fold until completely moistened. Don’t worry, it’s supposed to be lumpy!
  2. Place a large sauté pan over a medium heat. Add just enough melted butter to cover the bottom of the pan, and drop corn batter by tablespoon full into the hot butter. Fry until brown on both sides, and transfer to a baking sheet to bake at 500 degrees for 5 minutes once all the fritters have been fried. Cool slightly before serving.

Make no Mistake Coffee Cake

Makes approximately 18 pieces

Whether for brunch, dessert, or coffee table edible décor for company, this is a fool proof classic. It mixes together easily, looks beautiful, and tastes a buttery and divine. I’ve served it as a complimentary table gift at brunch serves, but my good friend and wonderful pastry chef friend, Tsuki, makes it for her family all the time.

Cake:

1 cup sugar
1 cup butter, unsalted, room temperature
1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs
3 cups all purpose flour
1 T Baking powder
1 cup milk, room temperature
1 tsp. vanilla

Filling:

1-1/2 cups brown sugar
1 T Cinnamon
4 T Butter
4 T all purpose flour

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9 x 13-inch disposable pan with pan spray.
  2. Make certain that the butter is a soft, room temperature to make sure it creams easily. Using a whisk cream the butter, sugar, and salt together until they become light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time.
  3. Sift the remaining dry ingredients into a clean bowl or plate using a fine wire strainer. Fold in half of the dry ingredients to the cake batter and then half of the milk and vanilla. Repeat with the last of the dry and wet. Combine the filling ingredients in a separate container.
  4. In prepped pan layer add 1/2 cake batter, sprinkle 1/2 filling, and then the other 1/2 of the cake batter. Carefully spread the batter evenly with a spoon or spatula, trying to keep the filling in place. Sprinkle remaining filling over the top.
  5. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a tooth pick comes out clean. Cool 15 minutes and serve.

Rhubarb Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend

Makes approximately 18 pieces

Use the same bowl for the crust and the filling with this recipe, rather than making multiple dishes for washing. This is also a crazy adaptable recipe. Substitute berries or any other fruit that is in season for the rhubarb, or even 1/2 cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice and 3 tablespoons of lemon zest to make a traditional lemon bar. Feel free to dust them with powdered sugar using a fine mesh strainer, but I don’t feel the distraction is needed.

Crust:

2 c flour
3/4 c sugar
1 c butter at room temperature

Filling:

5 eggs
1-1/2 c sugar
1/2 c flour
1/2 tsp salt
4 c rhubarb, medium dice

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl, work the flour, sugar and soft butter together until a soft dough ball forms. Press this dough evenly into the bottom of a 9×11 baking dish and bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown.
  2. Work quickly because this filling works best if poured over the crust while it’s hot from the oven. Simply whisk together the filling ingredients in the same bowl that you made the crust.
  3. Pour over the piping hot crust and put back in the oven for 45 minutes or until golden brown and set. When cool, cut into desired shapes, but I prefer diamond shapes. They stack just as well as squares, but look far more striking to the eye.

For more recipes like these, order Gourmet Meals in Crappy Little Kitchens by Chef Jennifer Schaertl today. This is one of the funnest cookbooks you’ll ever use. Again and again and again…

Quick and Easy Picante Chicken Recipe

by Joi on June 8, 2010

This Picante Chicken recipe is a regular in our household.  Not only do we love chicken, we’re crazy wild about picante sauce.  I made egg omelet breakfast burritos not long ago and they were good without picante sauce, but outstanding when the red deliciousness was added.

This picante chicken recipe is extremely easy – almost as easy as it is delicious.  I’m certain it’ll become a favorite in your house as well.

Picante Chicken

Yield: 4 servings

4 chicken breast halves (boneless and skinless)
1 16 oz jar Pace Picante Sauce
3 Tablespoons brown sugar
1 Tablespoon mustard
Salt and Pepper
fresh cilantro, optional

Salt and pepper the chicken and place it into a greased baking dish.

Combine the Picante sauce, the brown sugar, and the mustard. Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken. Bake, uncovered, at 400 degrees for about 35 minutes – or until chicken juices run clear. Serve a little fresh cilantro on the side and/or snip a little over the picante chicken.

Dinner Idea: Serve the picante chicken with fresh corn on the cob and rice or a tossed salad and hominy.

Easy Chicken Recipes! Chicken with Rice

by Joi on May 24, 2010

Chicken Truck
Chicken Truck Giclee Print
Buy at AllPosters.com

Some of the most popular recipes (online or offline) are chicken recipes.  Everyone and their uncle seems to be searching for chicken recipes, easy chicken recipes, and fresh ways to serve chicken.  This chicken recipe is sure to be a hit in your kitchen because it has several things going for it:  It’s a delicious way to fix chicken, it’s an easy way to fix chicken, and it’s a unique recipe that looks and tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen.  Feel free to substitute for the olives by adding more onions, celery, or carrots.  Personally, I think black or green olives add an unexpected little twist, but not everyone is as big a fan of olives as I am.   My favorite pizza?  A cheese pizza with nothing on top but tons of green olives.

Delish!

An Easy Chicken Recipe:  Chicken With Rice

1 small chicken, cut up
1 can (16 oz) peas
1 onion, chopped
1 small can or jar of mushrooms
2 large stalks celery, chopped
4 medium carrots, sliced
2 large tomatoes, chopped
1 jar olives, chopped
1 can (8 oz) tomato paste
Garlic, salt, and pepper, to taste
1 large green pepper, chopped
1 pkg. long grain rice

In a large saucepan, cook chicken in enough water to cover. Drain, reserving broth. Shred the chicken, discarding the bones. Combine the peas, onion, mushrooms, celery, carrots, tomatoes, olives, tomato paste, and green pepper in a large saucepan or Dutch Oven. Add enough water to cover and season with garlic, salt, and pepper.

Add chicken.

Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until carrots are tender.

Prepare rice according to the directions on the package, but substitute the reserved broth for water. Very important! Serve chicken mixture over rice.

Yield: 12 servings


**********

Anytime you’re making rice, substitute chicken broth for the water in the recipe and you’ll be blown away by the results. Somehow, chicken broth just takes rice to a whole new delicious level. Normally, I love butter on cooked rice but when you use chicken broth instead of water, you don’t need the butter at all.

Quick and Easy Recipe: Pork Chops and Rice

by Joi on April 19, 2010

Presto Electric Skillet, White

When I was thinking of a name for this easy Pork Chops and Rice recipe, I thought of how perfect it was for busy days. So, Busy Day Pork Chops and Rice came right to mind.  But the argumentative part of my mind challenged, “What days aren’t busy days?“  With a to do list that gives me a headache, I didn’t have an answer.

I’m sticking with the name though – simply because I haven’t the time to come up with another one!  Recipes don’t come any easier or quicker than this one.  Of course, that’d mean very little if it weren’t delicious, wouldn’t it?  Fortunately, it’s as fabulous as it is fast.

Busy Day Pork Chops and Rice Recipe

3 to 4 pork chops
1 can or jar of mushrooms
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 soup can of water
Minute Rice, unprepared
minced dry onion
salt and pepper, to taste

Brown pork chops in electric skillet on both sides.  Drain grease.  Layer the pork chops, mushrooms, and onions. Top with Minute Rice.  Spread the soup over all and pour water around the sides.

Place lid on the electric skillet and cook at 300 degrees for 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Chicken can be used as easily as pork in this recipe.

Credit: The gorgeous Presto Electric Skillet, White pictured at the top of the post is from Cooking.com. It’s a big white slice of Heaven and no kitchen should even try to be a kitchen without it.

Tuscan Chicken Recipe from Jolane’s Cafe

by Joi on February 9, 2010

Jolane’s Tuscan Chicken Recipe

Serves 2

2 6-8oz Chicken breast- boneless-skin on
1 cup grape tomatoes-halved
1/4 cup red onion-sliced thin
3 tbs fresh basil-chopped
1/2 loaf crusty French bread torn into chucks
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tbs chopped garlic

Marinade:
1 cup white wine
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
Juice from 1 lemon
2 springs of fresh rosemary
1 tbs chopped fresh garlic
1 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp cracked black pepper

Balsamic Vinaigrette:
4 oz extra virgin olive oil
2 oz balsamic vinegar1/2 tsp chopped garlic
1/4 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp dried basil
Kosher salt (To taste)
Cracked black pepper (TT)

Marinate chicken breast for minimum 4-6 hours or overnight for best results. Remove chicken from marinate and pat dry with a clean towel. Place chicken, skin side down, in a hot pan with 1 tbs of canola oil. Cook for 7 to 8 minutes or until skin becomes crispy and golden brown. Turn chicken over and cook for an additional 4 minutes. Transfer chicken to a preheated oven and cook for 10-15 minutes at 425 degrees. In a bowl, combine grape tomatoes, red onions, basil and balsamic vinaigrette. Toss and set aside. Combine extra virgin olive oil and garlic. Drizzle over bread and toss to coat. Place bread on a sheet pan and bake at 425 degrees for 5 minutes or until golden brown. On two plates portion out the bread and the tomato mixtures and place 1 chicken breast on each plate.

Garnish with fresh basil and serve immediately.

The elegant recipe above is from an equally elegant restaurant, Jolane’s Cafe.

The fascinating history behind Jolane’s:
Jolane was born November 26, 1906, in Korompa on the Austria-Hungary border, near the city of Vienna, where Julius Meinl coffee originated. She arrived in America on September 7, 1913, at the age of six, with nothing more than the shirt on her back. Jolane was almost turned away at Ellis Island due to a problem with her eyes.

Nothing came easy in life for Jolane. Her family settled on the Near West Side of Chicago starting out in typical immigrant fashion of the time by selling vegetables from a wagon. She was an independent young woman who graduated from Tuley High School and obtained an Associate’s degree in Accounting from Crane Junior College. Because she saved her money, she did not hesitate to do anything that made her happy. She was one of few women to drive a car in the mid-1920s and went to Cuba by herself when she was 26.

Jölane married her husband and business partner, Dave, in 1934. They opened an electronics store in 1936 in Logan Square with her $800. Times were tough, but they worked side-by-side, for long hours, while at the same time starting a family. Jolane relished the role of mother, ensuring her three children were always well taken care of. She went home every day to fix lunch and had a hot meal on the table every night.

Their business grew into one of the most successful family businesses in the United States. Jolane remained active in the business well into her 70s. Her carefree spirit and sense of adventure never faltered. She cruised to Alaska at the age of 84 and flew alone to Japan when she was 90. Jölane lived almost 97 years.

Jolane’s main focus in life above everything else was simply to be a good person. – Jolane’s Cafe.com

Jolane’s Cafe Address:
1100 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Glenview, IL 60025

Healthy Recipes from Prevention’s Flat Belly Diet For Men

by Joi on February 6, 2010

Football and unhealthy food often go hand in hand. Chips, dips, nachos, wings — not necessarily the best food for one’s waistline! The following recipes are from Prevention’s new book, The Flat Belly Diet! for Men and I can easily see them putting the other foods on the DL – as in Don’t touch List. Okay, that would actually be the DTL, but we’ll just let it go.

Of course, these recipes will be fantastic whether it’s Superbowl Sunday or not.

Every recipe in this book, written by Liz Vaccariello, Editor-in-Chief of Prevention, with Milton Stokes, MPH, RD, weighs in at less than 400 calories per serving and boasts a MUFA, or mono-unsaturated fatty acid, which have been proven to help shed belly fat (including the dangerous visceral fat that increases your risk for a number of serious health problems) and improve heart health.

They certainly have my attention, how about you?

For more information, visit Flat Belly Diet for Men.com.   After checking out Flat Belly Diet for Men’s website, you’ll want to head to Prevention’s website for more great recipes from the Flat Belly Diet.   There’s a Spinach-Pesto dip that I have an appointment with soon.  Very soon.

SPICY CHICKEN CHEESE STEAK WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS AND PEPPERS

Preparation time: 10 minutes / Cooking time: 16 minutes / Makes 4 servings

1/4 cup olive oil (MUFA)
12 ounces boneless skinless chicken breast halves, thinly sliced
1 onion, thinly sliced
1 green bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 ounces shredded 50 percent reduced fat sharp Cheddar cheese
1 (8-ounce) French baguette, split lengthwise

1. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook, stirring occasionally, 4 to 5 minutes, or until cooked through. Transfer to a plate and reserve. Return the skillet to the stove and heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Add the onion, bell pepper, oregano, and red-pepper flakes. Cook, stirring occasionally, 8 to 9 minutes, or until the onions are golden. Stir in the garlic and cook 1 minute, or until starting to brown. Add the chicken, Worcestershire sauce, and salt. Cook 1 minute, or until hot. Remove from the heat and add in the cheese, stirring until melted.

2. Top the baguette with the chicken mixture. Cut into 4 portions and serve.

*********************************

BLACK AND RED BEAN CHILI WITH WAGON WHEELS

Preparation time: 10 minutes / Cooking time: 30 minutes / Makes 4 Servings

4 ounces wagon wheel pasta
1/4 cup olive oil (MUFA)
2 onions, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
4 cloves garlic minced
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 (15-ounce) no-salt-added black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15-ounce) can no-salt-added red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15-ounce) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
1/2 cup water
1/2 ounce semisweet chocolate
1/4 teaspoon salt

1. Bring pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions, then drain.

2. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the onions, bell peppers, and garlic. Cook 6 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until crisp-tender. Stir in the chili powder, cumin, and oregano and cook 1 minute. Add the black beans, kidney beans, tomatoes, and water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer 30 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the chocolate and salt, stirring until the chocolate has melted. Serve over the pasta.

Original Super Bowl Recipes Courtesy of the Amazing Avocado!

by Joi on January 31, 2010

I can’t even tell you how much I love avocados.  I’ve tried before and felt that I came up short, so I figure why even try?  Suffice to say, I could eat two every single day for the rest of my life and want more.  I use them in guacamole (of course), on paninis, in tossed salads, in pasta salads, on pizza, in tacos, in fajitas, and I’ve even put them into scrambled eggs before.

I also love to slice them, remove the pit, and sprinkle a little fresh lemon juice inside.  Then I toss a little finely chopped tomato with a little olive oil and salt and glob the tomato mixture onto the avocado.  If I have fresh cilantro on hand, I sprinkle some on top.  Then I have a party in my mouth.  Naturally, I also simply slice them and eat them quite often as well.

A year or so ago, while reading a favorite cookbook, Nigella Express, I came across this quote from the beautiful author:  “I eat an enormous amount of avocados…. (I remember reading) when I was really quite young, just in my teens, that the dogs that lived in avocado orchards always had shiny, glossy coats because of all the windfall fruit they snaffled up daily.  That image has stuck with me, and it is such an appealing one.  I always have it in mind as I prepare myself an avocado, which is often.”

Ever since reading that quote, I picture Nigella’s gorgeous hair when I cut open an avocado!

Below you’ll find a wealth of Avocado information – how to pick an avocado, how to cut an avocado, how to prepare an avocado, the nutritional values of avocados, a guacamole recipe, and a Chicken and Avocado Pizza recipe.  Have mercy!   The avocado recipes below (as well as the ones linked to at the end of this Mega Avocado Post) can give you the power to have the best Superbowl Snacks on the block when the Colts and the Saints fight it out for the big one.  This has nothing to do with avocados or even cooking, but for the first time EVER, I honestly don’t care which team wins this year – I like them about the same.  Peyton Manning is a class act and the Colts are a classy organization -what’s not to like about them?  At the same time, the Saints are a lot of fun to watch and they’ve really built their program up to a position of dominance.  It’d be great to see them rewarded for all their hard work.

I guess I’ll just sit back and enjoy the game, almost as much as the snacks!

Guacamole Monster Dip Recipe

1 fully ripened Avocado from Mexico – halved, pitted and diced
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon wasabi
1 cup plain thick Greek-style yogurt
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon finely minced ginger
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

  1. In bowl, combine avocado, yogurt, ginger, salt, wasabi, garlic, and lime juice; stir until well mixed.
  2. Cover and chill until ready to serve.
  3. Garnish with chopped chives, if desired.
  4. Serve as a dip with chips or vegetables or topping for iceberg lettuce wedges or romaine hearts.

Preparation time is about 5 minutes. Yields about 1-1/2 cups.

Chicken and Avocado Pizza Recipe

California-style pizza, ready to enjoy in less than 15 minutes | Serves 2-4

1 12-inch Boboli ready-made pizza crust
1/2 cup pizza sauce
1/4 teaspoon chipotle Tabasco
1 cup cooked shredded chicken
3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 fully ripened Avocado from Mexico, halved pitted, peeled and sliced

-Heat oven to 425°F. Place pizza crust on a baking sheet; bake crust 7 minutes.
-In small bowl, combine pizza sauce and Tabasco.
-Spread pizza with sauce; top with chicken, Avocado and cheese.
-Bake until crust is crisp on the bottom, 4 to 6 minutes longer. Yields 8 slices.

Nutritional Information for Avocados:

  • One-fifth of a medium avocado (3 slices), or about one ounce, has only 50 calories.
  • Avocados contribute nearly 20 vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients, including 4% of the recommended Daily Value (DV) for vitamin E, 4% vitamin C, 8% folate, 4% fiber, 2% iron, 4% potassium, with 81 micrograms of lutein and 19 micrograms of beta-carotene.
  • Avocados contribute good fats to one’s diet, providing 3 grams monounsaturated fat and 0.5 polyunsaturated grams fat per 1 oz. serving.
  • Avocados have a favorable unsaturated-to-saturated fat ratio of 3.5 grams to 0.5 grams, making them a great substitute for foods rich in saturated fats.
  • Avocados can help consumers meet the dietary guidelines of the American Heart Association (AHA), which are to eat a diet that is low to moderate in fat. According to the AHA, mono and polyunsaturated fats, when consumed in moderation and eaten in place of saturated or trans fats, can help reduce blood cholesterol levels and decrease risk for heart disease.
  • Avocados are cholesterol- and sodium-free, and more than 50 percent of the fruit’s fat content comes from monounsaturated fats. The avocado is virtually the only fruit that has monounsaturated fat.
  • Avocados act as a “nutrient booster” by enabling the body to absorb more fat-soluble nutrients, such as alpha- and beta-carotene as well as lutein, in foods that are eaten with the fruit.
  • Avocados contain 76 milligrams beta-sitosterol in a 3-oz serving of avocado. Beta-sitosterol is a natural plant sterol which may help maintain healthy cholesterol levels.
  • Avocados contain 81 micrograms of the carotenoid lutein in a 1 oz. serving, which some studies suggest may help maintain healthy eyes.

How to Choose the Perfect Avocado from Mexico

(Or, How to recognize your Hass!)

  • Avocados from Mexico are available year round. You can spot a ripe Hass Avocado from Mexico by its green-black pebbly textured skin.
  • Look for the “Avocados from Mexico” sticker
  • It appears on only the finest Avocados imported from Mexico.
  • Hass has heft
  • When you hold the Avocado, it should feel heavy for its size and have no mushy spots.

Get it ripe
Avocados mature on the tree, but they soften and develop their fullest flavor after picking. You can count on a firm green Avocado to ripen within three to four days. If the skin is a mottled color – green with black patches – it will be ready for use in a shorter time, two to three days.

Need your Avocado now?
If you need Avocados to use right away, look for fruit whose skin has turned dark green or black. The Avocado should yield to gentle pressure from a thumb.

Avocado Ripening and Storage Information

How to tell if your Avocado is ripe
To determine if your Avocado from Mexico is ripe, gently press on the bottom with your finger; ripe Avocados will feel slightly soft. And when shopping for and storing Avocados, use this guide:

Storing ripe Avocados
Avocados at stages 2 – 4 can be stored at room temperature in an area with good circulation to continue their ripening. For speedier ripening, keep Avocados in a closed paper bag. To slow down ripening, refrigerate them until a few days before use.
Avocados at stages 4 – 5 can be stored in your refrigerator (36º to 40º F) for up to one week. When saving part of an Avocado for later use, cover the exposed flesh with plastic wrap to slow oxidation.

How to Cut and Prepare an Avocado

Cut
Using a sharp knife, cut into the Avocado straight down, longitudinally (from top to bottom) until you hit the pit.
Twist
Take the Avocado and twist it until it separates into two halves, one of which will contain the pit.
Hit
Carefully strike the pit with your knife. Using a twisting motion, use the knife’s leverage to loosen and dislodge the pit.
Spoon
With a spoon, gently scoop away the Avocado’s flesh from the outer skin.
Enjoy
Your Avocado is now ready to make your appetizer or entrée a work of culinary art.

Ways to Serve Avocados

Avocados are most commonly used to make guacamole, but they are so versatile and can be incorporated into many other dishes like main entrees,, salads, dips, desserts, and sandwiches.

Avocados substituted as a spread in place of many other popular foods may help reduce dietary intake of calories, fat, saturated fat, sodium and cholesterol.

Images, recipes, and information are courtesy of  www.theamazingavocado.com.  Visit their site  for hundreds of recipes.  I just found one for Fish Tacos that I’ll be trying this week (I’d make it tonight  if I didn’t already have a huge pot of Great Northern beans, potatoes, and ham cooking!).   Another favorite is the Portabella Burgers with Avocado Spread.  I’ve linked you to the page containing these recipes – be sure to browse around for more.  That’s where I’m headed!

Hearty, Delicious Soup Recipes to Celebrate National Soup Month

by Joi on January 19, 2010

January is, appropriately enough, National Soup Month.  As a soup lover, I’m certainly game.  Below are a few outstanding recipes from Swanson.  The Corn and Red Pepper Chowder sounds like my kind of soup – served with a slice of warm, fresh from the oven bread…. that’s what I’m talking about!

Corn & Red Pepper Chowder Recipe

Prep: 20 minutes | Cook: 45 minutes  |  Makes: 6 servings (1 3/4 cups each)

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 large sweet onion, diced (about 1 cup)
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cloves garlic, minced
6 cups Swanson® Chicken Broth (Regular, Natural GoodnessTM or Certified
Organic)
2 medium Yukon gold potatoes, diced (about 2 cups)
2 cups fresh whole kernel corn or 1 package (about 10 ounces) frozen whole
kernel corn
1 jar (about 7 ounces) roasted red peppers, drained and chopped
1/2 cup heavy cream (optional)
1/3 cup chopped fresh basil leaves

1. Heat the oil in a 4-quart saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until it’s tender. Stir in the flour and garlic. Cook and stir for 1 minute.

2. Stir the broth and potatoes in the saucepan. Heat to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 20 minutes or until the potatoes are tender.

3. Stir the corn and red pepper in the saucepan. Cook for 10 minutes.

4. Add the cream, if desired, and 1/4 cup of the basil. Season to taste. Divide the soup among 6 serving bowls. Sprinkle each serving of soup with the remaining basil.

Hearty Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe

Prep: 10 minute | Cook: 30 minutes | Makes: 6 servings (1 1/2 cups per serving)

Vegetable cooking spray
4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces (about 1 pound)
3 1/2 cups Swanson® Chicken Broth (Regular, Natural GoodnessTM or Certified
Organic)
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 cup uncooked regular long-grain white rice
1 can (11 ounces) whole kernel corn with red and green peppers, drained
1 cup Pace® Chunky Salsa
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro leaves
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
Crisp Tortilla Strips

1. Spray a 6-quart saucepot with cooking spray. Heat over medium-high heat for 1 minute. Add the chicken to the saucepot. Cook until it’s browned, stirring often.

2. Stir the broth, cumin and rice in the saucepot. Heat to a boil. Reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook for 20 minutes.

3. Stir the corn, salsa, cilantro and lime juice in the saucepot. Cook until the rice is tender. Top each serving of soup with Crisp Tortilla Strips.

Crisp Tortilla Strips: Heat the oven to 425°F. Cut 4 corn tortillas into thin strips and place them on a baking sheet. Spray with cooking spray. Bake for 10 minutes or until golden.

Campbell’s Kitchen Tip: Use a pastry wheel when cutting the tortillas to create a special touch for the soup garnish.

Chicken & Tortellini Soup

Prep: 10 minutes | Cook: 35 minutes | Makes: 6 servings

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
3/4 pound skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into cubes
1 cup frozen sliced carrots
1 cup frozen cut green beans
3/4 cup chopped onion
8 cups Swanson® Chicken Broth
1 cup dried cheese-filled tortellini
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (OPTIONAL)

1. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a 6-quart saucepot over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until it’s well browned, stirring often. Remove the chicken.

2. Add the remaining oil to the saucepot. Add the carrots, beans and onions. Cook over medium-heat until the vegetable are tender-crisp.

3. Stir in the broth. Heat to a boil. Add the tortellini and parsley, if desired. Cook for 10 minutes or until the tortellini is tender. Return the chicken to the saucepot and heat through.

Albondigas Soup Recipe

Prep: 15 minutes | Cook: 7 hours | Makes: 6 servings (about 1 1/2 cups per serving)

4 cups Swanson® Beef Broth (Regular, 50% Less Sodium or Certified Organic)*
1 jar (11 ounces) Pace® Chunky Salsa
1 can (about 14 1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes
3 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 cup uncooked regular long-grain white rice
Mexican Meatballs
3 tablespoons chopped
fresh cilantro leaves

1. Stir the broth, salsa, tomatoes, garlic, rice and Mexican Meatballs in a 6-quart slow cooker.

2. Cover and cook on LOW for 7 to 8 hours** or until the rice is tender and the meatballs are cooked through. Sprinkle with the cilantro before serving.

Mexican Meatballs: Mix thoroughly 1 pound of ground beef, 1 egg, 1/3 cup cornmeal, 1/3 cup water, 1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce and 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves in a large bowl. Shape the beef mixture firmly into 24 meatballs. Add to the cooker as directed above.

*This recipe is also delicious with Swanson® Chicken Broth (Regular, Natural GoodnessTM or Certified Organic) instead of the beef broth.

**Or on HIGH for 4 to 5 hours.

For more amazing Swanson recipes than you could ever hope for, see Campbell’s Kitchen Recipes.   I go by their recipe box regularly and pluck out a new recipe to try.   I’ve just always been drawn to the goodness of Campbell’s recipes and foods. It may sound overly poetic for a Tuesday, but they just taste like home.  I know, I know, I should’ve saved that for a Friday.

Recipe for Hawaiian Chicken Salad That’ll Leave You Speechless

by Joi on January 13, 2010

I’ve been trying out different recipes from an outstanding cookbook, Dining in Historic Kentucky: A Restaurant Guide With Recipes. So far, everything I’ve tried has been a rip roaring, plate-cleaning, lip-licking success.

I was blown away by a recipe for chicken salad… not just any chicken salad, mind you. This recipe was for deSHA’S Hawaiian Chicken Salad and you need to speed to your favorite grocery store for the ingredients right now. It is unbelievable.

deSha’s Hawaiian Chicken Salad Recipe

1 pound cooked white meat of chicken, cut bite-sized
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 green onion, chopped
1 cup canned chunky pineapple, drained
1 cup chopped pecans

In a mixing bowl, combine chicken, mayonnaise, and green onion and mix well. Stir in pineapple and nuts.

How I colored outside of the lines: I cooked more chicken and added chopped celery along with the pineapple and pecans, so I also added a little more green onions and mayo. This chicken salad looked gorgeous with the pineapples and pecans all big and chunky, but I wanted to serve the chicken salad in pita pockets, so I cut the chunks into much smaller pieces and even chopped the pecans a little more.

If I had had some grapes on hand, I would have chopped some on top of each pita-wich. But, alas, I am who I am and had given our grapes to a possum who was passing by. (She was most grateful and couldn’t have been cuter.)

If you made this chicken salad with chunky pineapples, large chunks of chicken, coarsely chopped pecans, green onions, and maybe even grapes, it would be delicious with or without bread. I could see eating this remarkable dish with crackers. Please do give it a try – you’ll be thrilled that you did.

About deSha’s:
deSha’s Restaurant is located on the northwest corner of Main and Broadway in historic Lexington, Kentucky. These two streets were vital to Lexington when it was laid out in 1780… and no, I wasn’t there.

On this northwest corner of the intersection stood the first Fayette County Courthouse, with a hut for a jail alongside. A hut!

Although the interior has been altered, a great effort was made to preserve the Victorian feeling. deSha’s has been described as a “Fun or casual place, with a lively atmosphere and upbeat music in the background.” Somehow they forgot to mention the best chicken salad in the universe.

Delicious Pace Recipes For Superbowl Snacks: From Wings to Spinach Dip

by Joi on January 11, 2010

As a nation, we love our food, don’t we?! So much so that in a study they conducted, Pace found that the Super Bowl has become as much about the food as it is about football. Especially if, like me, your team never seems to make it to the big game. But enough about my Broncos.

The study revealed that Super Bowl Sunday has become the top at-home party day of the year (surpassing even New Year’s Eve!) and is second only to Thanksgiving as the biggest eating day of the year. The study even found that more people remember what they ate on Super Bowl Sunday than who won the game.

I can attest to that… Who did win last year?

In preparation for Super Bowl XLIV (taking place Feb. 7 in Miami), here are four of Pace Kitchens’ favorite recipes for Super Bowl Sunday, to help make your party more festive and more memorable.

Warm Spinach Dip with a Kick
Prep: 15 minutes Cook: 15 minutes Yield: 32 servings (2 tablespoons each)

Vegetable cooking spray
1 medium onion, chopped (about 1/2 cup)
2 packages (10 ounces each) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well drained
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup milk
1 cup Pace® Picante Sauce
4 ounces shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese (about 1cup)
Tortilla chips or fresh vegetables

1. Spray a 2-quart saucepan with the cooking spray and heat over medium heat for 1 minute. Add the onion and cook until it’s tender, stirring occasionally.
2. Stir the spinach and flour in the skillet. Gradually stir the milk in the skillet. Cook and stir until the mixture boils and thickens. Stir in the picante sauce and cheese and cook until the cheese is melted. Serve with the tortilla chips for dipping.

Sweet & Spicy Chicken Wings
Prep: 10 min. Bake: 35 min. Yield: 24 pieces

12 chicken wings or 24 chicken drumettes
1 cup Pace® Picante Sauce
1/4 cup honey
1/2 tsp. ground ginger

1. Cut off chicken wing tips and discard. Cut chicken wings in half at joint. Place chicken into foil-lined shallow baking pan.
2. Stir picante sauce, honey and ginger in large bowl. Toss chicken with 1/3 cup of picante mixture.
3. Bake at 500°F. on lowest oven rack 35 min. or until crispy and cooked through, turning chicken over once halfway through baking. Remove chicken and toss with remaining picante mixture.

Sweet & Spicy Barbecued Brisket
Prep: 10 minutes Marinate: 8 hours Bake: 4 hours 30 minutes Yield: 10 servings

1 trimmed beef brisket (about 5 pounds)
Ground black pepper
1 tablespoon garlic powder
2 cups Pace® Picante Sauce
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce
10 Pepperidge Farm® Classic Sandwich Buns with Sesame Seeds or Pepperidge
Farm® Farmhouse Premium White Rolls with Sesame Seeds

1. Season the beef with the black pepper and garlic powder and place into a 3-quart shallow baking dish. Stir the picante sauce, brown sugar and Worcestershire in a small bowl. Spread the picante sauce mixture over the beef. Cover the dish and refrigerate overnight.
2. Bake, covered, at 300°F. for 4 1/2 hours or until the beef is fork-tender. Slice or shred the beef. Divide the beef and sauce among the rolls.

Salsa Verde Meatballs
Prep: 15 min. Bake: 20 min. Yield: 16 meatballs

1 1/4 cups Pace® Salsa Verde
1 1/2 lb. ground beef
1 egg
3/4 cup finely crushed tortilla chips
4 green onions, minced

1. Heat oven to 350°F.
2. Thoroughly mix 3/4 cup salsa, beef, egg, tortilla chips and green onions in large bowl. Shape mixture firmly into 16 meatballs.
3. Place meatballs into 3-qt. shallow baking dish. Top each with 1 tsp. salsa.
4. Bake 20 min. or until meatballs are cooked through. Serve with remaining salsa. Mini Meatballs: Prepare beef mixture as directed above. Shape mixture firmly into 48 mini meatballs. Place meatballs into 4-qt. shallow baking dish. Bake at 350°F. 10 min. or until meatballs are cooked through. Serve with remaining salsa.

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