Tuesday, April 6, 2010

I found this recipe on The Pioneer Woman's website and it looks simply amazing...auh-ma-za-zing.

Ya see, I love chicken. And cajun. And spicy stuff.

I introduce you to her wonderful recipe of...

*Recipe courtesy of The Pioneer Woman. Make sure to check out her website. It is amazing! Here's a link to the recipe so you can see the ultra-yummy looking pictures on there: Cajun Chicken Pasta.

Cajun Chicken Pasta

Ingredients:
3 whole Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts, Cut Into Cubes
3 teaspoons Cajun Spice Mix, More To Taste
1 pound Fettuccine
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
2 Tablespoons Butter
1 whole Green Bell Pepper, Seeded And Sliced
1 whole Red Bell Pepper, Seeded And Sliced
½ whole Large Red Onion, Sliced
3 cloves Garlic, Minced
4 whole Roma Tomatoes, Diced
2 cups Low Sodium Chicken Broth
½ cups White Wine
1 cup Heavy Cream
Cayenne Pepper To Taste
Freshly Ground Black Pepper, To Taste
Salt To Taste
Chopped Fresh Parsley, To Taste

Preparation Instructions:
Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain when pasta is still al dente; do not overcook!

Sprinkle 1 1/2 teaspoons Cajun spice over chicken pieces. Toss around to coat. Heat 1 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a heavy skillet over high heat. Add half the chicken in a single layer; do not stir. Allow chicken to brown on one side, about 1 minute. Flip to the other side and cook an additional minute. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on a clean plate.

Repeat with remaining chicken. Remove chicken, leaving pan on high heat.

Add remaining olive oil and butter. When heated, add peppers, onions, and garlic. Sprinkle on remaining Cajun spice, and add salt if needed. Cook over very high heat for 1 minute, stirring gently and trying to get the vegetables as dark/black as possible. Add tomatoes and cook for an additional 30 seconds. Remove all vegetables from the pan.

With the pan over high heat, pour in the wine and chicken broth. Cook on high for 3 to 5 minutes, scraping the bottom of the pan to deglaze. Reduce heat to medium-low and pour in cream, stirring/whisking constantly. Cook sauce over medium-low heat for a few minutes, until cream starts to thicken the mixture. Taste and add freshly ground black pepper, cayenne pepper, and/or salt to taste. Sauce should be spicy!

Finally, add chicken and vegetables to sauce, making sure to include all the juices that have drained onto the plate. Stir and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until mixture is bubbly and hot. Add drained fettuccine and toss to combine.

Top with chopped fresh parsley and chow down!

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Easy Vegetable Soup


Ingredients:


1 (14 ounce) can chicken broth
1 (11.5 ounce) can tomato-vegetable juice cocktail
1 cup water
1 large potato, diced
2 carrots, sliced
2 stalks celery, diced
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 cup chopped fresh green beans
1 cup fresh corn kernels
salt and pepper to taste
Creole seasoning to taste


Directions:

In a large stock pot, combine broth, tomato juice, water, potatoes, carrots, celery, undrained chopped tomatoes, green beans, and corn. Season with salt, pepper and Creole seasoning. Bring to a boil and simmer for 30 minutes or until all vegetables are tender.

Pasta Salad

One of my favorite things to eat!

Ingredients: 
1 bag tricolor pasta
1 bottle Wishbone Italian dressing
1 small jar marinated artichoke hearts, chopped and not drained
2 cans sliced olives
1/2 cup chopped bell peppers
1 cup chopped broccoli


Directions:

1. Cook pasta until al denté and drain. Rinse with cool water.
2. In a large bowl, combine chopped artichoke hearts and liquid from the jar, olives, broccoli and peppers.
3. Combine pasta with vegetables and stir to blend.
4. Pour Wishbone Italian Dressing into pasta to taste.
5. Cover and refrigerate for at least two hours to cool and let flavors blend.
6. Enjoy!

*You can also add diced cherry tomatoes, pepperoni, or parmesan cheese.
Easy Chicken Parmesan


Ingredients:

4 boneless chicken breasts, pounded to 1/2 inch thickness
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
seasoned bread crumbs
2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil
8 slices mozzarella cheese, or more
1 jar (16 oz) spaghetti sauce
Parmesan cheese

Directions:

Whisk together the egg and milk. Dip the chicken breasts in milk and egg mixture and then in bread crumbs. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the chicken in the hot oil on both sides until golden, about 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Set chicken in a baking dish. Slice 8 pieces of mozzarella cheese and put two on each chicken breast. Pour 1 jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce over all. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and a little more mozzarella and bake at 350° for about 25 to 30 minutes, or until bubbly. Serve with spaghetti, garlic bread and a nice green salad.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Hamburger Soup

Thanks again to Grandma B and Momma B for this recipe!

Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef
5 cups water
16 oz. can stewed tomatoes
2 med. onions
2 stalks celery
1/3 cup barley
1/4 cup ketchup
1 beef bouillion cube(optional)
2 tsp seasoned salt
1 tsp basil
1 bay leaf (optional)
Salt & pepper to taste'

Directions:

Cook ground beef, pour off grease.
Add water and other ingredients.
Simmer covered until desired doneness
according to taste.

*This freezes well! You will need
a large pot or cut recipe in half.
Crockpot Apple Betty


Ingredients:

3 pounds cooking apples, Rome, Granny Smith, Jonathan, etc.
10 slices of bread, cubed, about 4 cups of bread cubes
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/8 tsp. salt
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup melted butter

Directions:

Wash apples, peel, core, cut into eighths. You should have about 7 to 8 cups of sliced apples. Place apple slices in bottom of buttered crockpot. Combine bread cubes with cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, sugar, butter; toss together. Place on top of apples in crock. Cover and cook on LOW for 2 1/2 to 4 hours.
Serves 6.
Apple Betty 

Thank you Grandma B for this recipe! 

This is an apple betty recipe that you can make in a skillet, I also have one that you can make in the crockpot that I will share :-)

Ingredients:

6 apples (I use Granny Smith)
6 slices white bread (I use Arnolds)
Sugar and cinnamon to taste
Butter (see below)

Directions:

- Melt about 1 Tablespoon Butter in bottom of a heavy saucepan and add about 2 Tablespoons of water.
- Toast the bread and butter it.
- Peel and slice a layer of apples into the saucepan. Sprinkle the apples with cinnamon & sugar.Ad some dots of butter.(Layer #1)
- Break up 3 slices of bread and put on top of apples (Layer #2)
- Repeat Layers #1 and #2
- I usually put a lump of butter on the top of the last layer.'
- Simmer covered on low heat until the apples are done.

This can be served warm or room temperature and can be served with light cream, ice cream or ssharp cheese It s a good substitute for apple pie.