Chicken

Slow Cooker Jalapeno Lime Chicken

~ lk529 ~ 2 Comments

My New Year’s Resolution for 2015 is to create at least one original recipe a month. I created three new recipes in December 2014! All three were spurred from a case of the empty fridge. But it gave me the idea to adopt a New Year’s Resolution. If I hope to expand my presence in the food community (ahem, Food Network, are you listening?) then I need to have recipes of my own. I also can’t create a cookbook of “copied” recipes! Everything stems from my ability to be creative in the kitchen. And the only way to test that ability is to give myself a challenge/goal. And with this homework assignment every month I can create my grocery list based off of my idea – not create my idea based on my pantry supply.

Today’s post is one of December’s recipes. In fact, it’s one that I made before leaving town for Thanksgiving and then tweaking into the recipe I post today. The first version of this dish, while tasty didn’t feel Mexican. I added garlic, salsa, and cumin. I reduced the amount of liquid and omitted the corn. As much as I love corn it didn’t quite fit with the shredded chicken and got lost. In the photo below you can see how different the two versions are; version 1 is on the left and the final version is on the right.

Jalapeno Lime Chicken

What I love most about this recipe is its versatility. My favorite way to eat it was as nachos. I put tortilla chips on a plate, topped them with the shredded chicken and shredded cheese. I microwaved the nachos for 30 seconds until the cheese was melted and dipped in salsa. The shredded chicken can also be rolled into a burrito with beans, rice, and cheese. Or use it to top some flavored rice. Create a sandwich with the chicken, salsa, cheese, and lettuce. Even stuff it in a lettuce wrap for a carb-free version.

An Original Recipe

Slow Cooker Jalapeno Lime Chicken

Ingredients:

  • 2 large chicken breasts
  • 1 onion, sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 jalapeno, diced (for mild heat remove seeds)
  • 1/4 C chicken stock
  • 1/4 C salsa
  • zest and juice of 1 lime
  • 1 tbsp taco seasoning
  • 1/2 tsp cumin
  • 1/4 C fresh cilantro

Steps:

  1. Season chicken with S+P. Place in the bottom of a slow cooker. Top with onion, garlic, and jalapeno.
  2. In a bowl, whisk together stock, salsa, lime, taco seasoning, and cumin. Pour over chicken.
  3. Add cilantro to the slow cooker.
  4. Cook on LOW 5 – 7 hours or HIGH  3 – 5 hours.
  5. Shred chicken and return to sauce until ready to serve.

Jalapeno Lime Chicken Nachos

Chicharrones de Pollo

~ lk529 ~ 1 Comment

Today is my dad’s birthday! And that means he gets to be front and center on the blog today.

I have no shame in admitting that I am a Daddy’s Girl. Just talking to my dad on the phone can make me homesick. I could pull out every positive adjective from the dictionary to describe my father. He is a very successful man who never once puts family second behind work. He travels a lot for his job and growing up we really only saw him on the weekends, but I never felt deserted. My dad knows how much I appreciate everything he has done for our family, I tell him in every Father’s Day and Birthday card. Yes, I’m one of those softies who just can’t buy the funny card – no matter how fitting.

Dad

Wedding photography by Cher Hanna

My dad’s birthday dinner is typically pierogi. It’s the test batch before Christmas Eve. With pierogi already on the blog Dad got free reign on the recipe I should post today. He asked for Chicharrones de pollo. Of course I couldn’t say no.

My father’s family is from the Dominican Republic, my dad was the first born in the states. So really this was a perfect dish to feature today. I don’t make Dominican food nor have I ever really eaten it. Dominican food is very similar to Cuban and Puerto Rican cuisine. I didn’t know if he had a recipe in mind and when I asked he pointed me in the direction of my aunt to get his mom’s recipe. But, of course my grandmother didn’t write down the recipe! So I found a couple versions of this classic Dominican dish and followed my aunt’s advice. I looked at the ratios of the ingredients in the marinade to adjust the quantity and added some seasonings. My aunt uses Ranchero Sazon de Criollo in her recipe but I don’t have that Dominican all-purpose seasoning on hand, so I had to compromise. I spent hours trying to find the ingredient list for this spice blend but had zero luck. Both of the recipes I used for inspiration put paprika in the flour – a step my aunt doesn’t do. But, because I don’t have Ranchero Sazon de Criollo I figured it’d help give it some more of the flavors I was missing.

Never having eaten Chicharrones de Pollo (at least that I’m aware of) I don’t know if my flavors were right, but I do know they were delicious. And funnily enough, the smell of the marinade made me think of my grandmother, the aroma was very comforting, so I knew I was at least on a good path. This fried chicken has a thin, perfectly crispy coating and a very bright flavor. I will definitely be looking for more Dominican recipes to add to my repertoire. I served the chicharrones with rice and beans.

Chicharrones de Pollo

Ingredients:

  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 8 tbsp lime juice (100 mL, between 1/3 – 1/2 C)
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp salt, divided use
  • 1 1/4 lb chicken breast, cubed
  • 1 C flour
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • vegetable oil, for frying

Steps:

  1. In a small bowl whisk together Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, lime juice, garlic powder, onion powder, and 1/2 tsp salt. Place in a plastic bag with the cubed chicken. Let marinate overnight.
  2. Fill a high sided skillet with 2-3″ vegetable oil. Heat over medium-high heat until oil shimmers. Test oil temperature by tossing in a pinch of flour, if it sizzles you’re good to go!
  3. In a shallow bowl mix flour, paprika, and 1/2 tsp salt.
  4. Gently shake excess marinade off chicken and toss in flour mixture. Knock off excess flour.
  5. Fry chicken in hot oil in batches of 10-12 pieces for 2-3 minutes, flip and cook another 1-2 minutes, until nuggets are golden brown. Remove to paper towel lined plate.

chicharrones de pollo

And I can’t write a post about my father without using his tag line: Do your best.

Cheesy Turkey and Rice Skillet

~ lk529 ~ Leave a comment

Today’s Thanksgiving leftovers recipe is one that I’ve made in my kitchen before. I made this one pot meal last month when my mother-in-law was visiting. We had just joined Sam’s Club and had a coupon for a free rotisserie chicken! This skillet meal was a perfect way to use some of that chicken. We all went back for seconds. So when I decided to Thanksgiving leftovers leading up to Turkey Day I knew this dish would be on the menu.

What makes this meal perfect for after Thanksgiving is that it only dirties one pot. Okay, two pots because you need to cook some rice ahead of time. But after a whole day of pulling out casserole dishes you forgot you had, eating on that once-a-year china, and stacking up the Tuperware it’s nice to not have to wash eight thousand dishes.

This recipe can be adjusted based on your leftovers. Swap out the broccoli for some green beans or Brussels sprouts.

Cheesy Turkey and Rice Skillet

Ingredients:

  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 2 1/2 C broccoli
  • 2 tbsp flour
  • 2 C milk
  • 1/2 tsp ground mustard
  • 2 C diced cooked turkey
  • 2 C shredded cheddar cheese
  • 2 C cooked rice (brown, white, or a mix of both)

Steps:

  1. In a high sided skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. Saute onion and broccoli until tender. Stir in flour. Slowly mix in the milk. Allow to simmer until thickened slightly. Season with ground mustard, S+P.
  2. Add in the cooked turkey. Melt in the cheese. Mix in the rice.

*This recipe is adapted from Lauren at http://www.laurenslatest.com/broccoli-cheddar-brown-rice-skillet/*

Skillet

Slow Cooker Hoisin Chicken

~ lk529 ~ Leave a comment

As I sit here, trying desperately to come up with a Next Food Network Star style story behind the dish I find myself coming face-to-face with writer’s block.

I don’t have any personal connection behind this dish. And it has all of the usual selling points: Slow Cooker, Chinese food, Barbecue, chicken. Easy, fast, delicious. Wait? Chinese food and barbecue in the same dish? Absolutely!

Hoisin sauce is used in China in a similar manner that Americans use ketchup or barbecue sauce, and by shredding the chicken you get the same versatility you get with pulled pork barbecue. You can turn this slow cooker meal into lettuce wraps like the original recipe, serve it atop steamed brown rice like I did, or even make it into a sandwich.

Slow Cooker Hoisin Chicken

Ingredients:

  • 1 onion, sliced
  • 1/2 bell pepper, sliced
  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 jar (8.5 oz) hoisin sauce
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 3 tbsp water
  • 2 tbsp grated fresh ginger
  • 1/2 tbsp minced garlic
  • 2 scallions, chopped

Steps:

  1. Place sliced onions and peppers in bottom of slow cooker. Season chicken with S+P and place on top of vegetables.
  2. In a small bowl whisk together hoisin, soy, water, ginger, and garlic. Pour over chicken.
  3. Cook on low 5-7 hours.
  4. Shred chicken and return to sauce.
  5. Serve with steamed rice. Garnish with scallions.

*This recipe is adapted from Rebecca at http://whoneedsacape.com/2014/05/crock-pot-chicken-lettuce-wraps/ *

Hoisin Chicken

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

#10DaysofTailgate: Thai Chicken Skewers

~ lk529 ~ 9 Comments

Tailgate LogoWe are now more than halfway through #10DaysofTailgate hosted by Camilla of Culinary Adventures with Camilla. While there are a few healthy tailgating dishes that have been shared by my fellow blogger pals, I think it’s safe to say that the majority of our posts lean a little more towards the sinful side of the diet spectrum. So today I’m going to share a healthy grilling recipe with you! (Actually, come to think of it, my post tomorrow is healthy too! So be sure to come back and check it out. I promise, I don’t plan these things.)

Today’s recipes features two of our wonderful sponsors – Gourmet Garden and FireWire Grilling.

If you’ve never used Gourmet Garden herbs before I highly encourage you give them a try. I’ve purchased their herbs before, and usually buy them instead of bunches of fresh herbs. Gourmet GardenI cannot grow anything to save my life and I can’t keep fresh herbs alive for more than a day after bringing them home from the store. So unless I need fresh herbs for garnish, I’ll buy Gourmet Garden’s herb pastes. They last in the fridge for up to 3 months and give you that fresh flavor you’re looking for.

FireWire Grilling provided their Flexible Grilling Skewers for us to try. I don’t often go crazy for grilling gadgets, but these are worth getting excited about! I’ll admit, I was hesitant. Why would you want a flexible skewer? I asked. FireWire logoWell, let me tell you (in my best infomercial voice)! Don’t you hate it when you’re putting marinated meat and veggies on a skewer and your hands are all sticky and messy? Instead, put your meat and veggies on the skewer, and put it in the bowl or bag of marinade! (Yes, you still have to wash your hands if you’re handling raw meat, sorry.) That wouldn’t be possible with a typical straight skewer – it wouldn’t fit! What I also loved about these skewers was the skewer tip – it’s not sharp yet the meat slipped on easily. Remember that bag you’re putting the skewer in? It won’t poke a hole through it. There’s also no more fear of piercing fingers!

FireWire Flexible Skewers

An Original Recipe

Thai Chicken Skewers

Ingredients:

Steps:

  1. In a bowl whisk together sugar, lime and orange juices, fish sauce, coriander, pepper, chunky garlic paste, cilantro paste, and Thai seasoning. Reserve about a 1/3 C to baste skewers with.
  2. Place chicken and onion on skewers.
  3. Marinate skewers a minimum of 30 minutes.
  4. Grill skewers 4-5 minutes on each side, or until chicken is cooked through.

*This recipe was inspired by http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/shrimp-with-thai-lemongrass-marinade *

Thai Chicken Skewers FG1

Don’t forget to enter our giveaway and be sure to check out the other bloggers who posted more tailgating recipes today:

Starters
Diablo’d Cheesy Bacon-Onion Pinwheel Rolls by Things I Make (for Dinner)
Spiced Kofta with Carrot Karma Yogurt Dip by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
Dips
Baked Potato Beer Dip by Cheese Curd In Paradise
Hot Caramelized Onion Dip by Eliot’s Eats
Healthier Buffalo Cauliflower Dip by The Spiffy Cookie
Dunkin Duck, Cheesy Bacon and Ranch Dip by A Day in the Life on the Farm
Mains
El Diablo Mango Mustard Glazed Grilled Scallops by Making Miracles
Honey Grilled Chicken and Vegetable Kebabs by Debbi Does Dinner Healthy
Bacon Cheeseburger Soup by From Gate to Plate
Sides
Grilled Parsley Potatoes by Curious Cuisiniere
Grilled Vegetables by Summer Scraps
 Sweets
Pumpkin Bars by The Pajama Chef

And for yesterday’s tailgating fare check out Camilla’s page here.

Thursday Thoughts #8

~ lk529 ~ 1 Comment

Thursday Thoughts

I’m posting a second Thursday Thoughts this month because there’s just so much going on!

We’ve been in our new house a little over a month now – and we’re getting closer to calling it home. We downsized when we moved to Ohio. I know, sounds crazy when we added a family member! With an older house we have much less storage space inside the home – but there’s a shed in the backyard and an add-on at the back of the garage where all of our extra furniture is housed in while here. Funnily enough I have a smaller kitchen, but more cupboard space. A very small amount of counter space though means the dishes pile up quickly; I’m still working on how to efficiently do my food prep. One thing I haven’t figured out is the lighting. The light fixtures, while new, have covers on them and provide a very yellow glow. I’ve been utilizing the covered back porch to get natural light and take my food outside to photograph. I’m not so sure foodgawker likes seeing grass in the background of my photos – it’s been a struggle to have images accepted on their site again. So, it’s back to square one with food photography. I do have a photobox that I might just have to become more proficient in using. If anyone has any tips please let me know!

IMG_0245We signed the lease for this house sight-unseen while still in Florida. We were hoping to avoid our belongings being placed in storage by having a door-to-door move. Unfortunately, our personal plans of a week’s vacation along the way meant that wouldn’t be possible. When we arrived, the house was smaller than we anticipated (the storage room I mentioned was included in the square footage, but it’s not a livable space). The photographs of the property that we saw online were accurate though, which was comforting. We were nervous this house wouldn’t work for us, but with creative use of space we’re happy with our new home. What is meant to be the dining room is our living room with couch, tv, and small table to eat on and the living room doubles as Stuart’s office and my craft space. The backyard is beautiful, too. The sink in the kitchen is underneath a window that looks into the yard and I love it!

I do love our neighborhood, and better yet, our neighbors! We always said we were “bad neighbors” in Florida. We’d always do the kind “wave hello” driving through the neighborhood and on our walks, occasionally we stopped to converse with the family on the corner. We vowed to be better neighbors when we moved and so far our neighbors have made that possible. Our next door neighbors stopped by to welcome us with fresh tomatoes from their garden. (You may have seen the photos on Instagram)

I’ve always heard that nothing can compare to homegrown tomatoes. That statement is absolutely correct. I don’t eat tomatoes plain – but these I could with a sprinkling of salt and pepper. Perfectly firm yet juicy and full of fresh flavor. I wanted to do these tomatoes justice – by not heating them! – and prepared two meals with them. We did BLTs that hit the spot and I created a tomato blueberry “salsa” to top grilled honey balsamic chicken which we ate over a bed of wild rice (photographed below).

Tomato Blueberry Salsa

Fried Chicken Salad

~ lk529 ~ Leave a comment

When we moved to Ohio we spent a week with Stuart’s family in northern Alabama. As a welcome, his aunt provided dinner for us – fried chicken!

I couldn’t tell you the last time I’d had fried chicken. (Other than Chick-fil-A, of course.) It’s not something I have, or even crave, that often. But when it’s made right it makes me wonder why I haven’t been enjoying it more! Perfectly seasoned, crispy batter and juicy meat makes for finger licking good eats.

But what do you do with the leftovers?

Damaris Phillips, winner of last season’s Next Food Network Star, has an answer!

Chicken salad.

I really like chicken salad (as long as it’s made with mayo and not Miracle Whip). I love it on top of a croissant, between toasted bread, and eaten with crackers. There are many options when it comes to chicken salad mix-ins: from nuts, to fruits, to vegetables, even bacon and cheese.

When I watched Damaris make this on her show Southern at Heart, I immediately wanted to make it. I was ecstatic to have the opportunity! This chicken salad is fantastic. I love the tang from the buttermilk, the kick from the cayenne, the crunch from the celery, and the zip from the scallion. I even followed Damaris’s suggestion and served it on a croissant. That buttery, flaky bread is the perfect vessel for the chicken salad.

I encourage you to go out and get some fried chicken, or make your own, just so you can have this chicken salad. Bring it to your next tailgate, go on a picnic, or spice up your weekday lunchbox. Find any excuse you can to make this sandwich!

Fried Chicken Salad

Ingredients:

  • 3/4 C mayonnaise
  • 1/4 C whole-grain mustard
  • 1/2 C buttermilk
  • 1 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 tsp cayenne
  • 5-6 C cold fried chicken, diced
  • 3 stalks celery, diced
  • 3 scallions, sliced

Steps:

  1. In a large bowl, whisk together mayo, mustard, buttermilk, Italian seasoning, and cayenne. Stir in chicken, celery, and scallion.
  2. Create sandwiches with croissants. Makes 6-8 sandwiches.

*This recipe is adapted from Damaris at http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/damaris-phillips/fried-chicken-salad-sandwiches.html*

Fried Chicken Salad

Slow Cooker Fiesta Chicken

~ lk529 ~ 1 Comment

This Mexican Monday post is the first Mexican Monday meal I prepared in our new Ohio home. With a little one to care for and a house to turn into a home, I happily let my slow cooker do the work for me.

This creamy, saucy, shredded chicken goes great over top a pile of rice. It’s a hearty meal perfect for when the days and nights start to get a little colder.

This dish provides wonderful leftovers too (and I don’t say that lightly) – remake some rice or even turn it into another Mexican Monday favorite – enchiladas, tacos, or quesadillas. I even scooped it up with some tortilla chips.

The original recipe called for a can of Rotel, but as I’m breastfeeding and trying to avoid too spicy of food I substituted a partial can of diced tomatoes with garlic and onion. Next time I’d even add in a can of corn!

Slow Cooker Fiesta Chicken

Ingredients:

  • 1 can (10.75 oz) cream of chicken soup
  • 1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes with garlic and onion
  • 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1/2 red onion, chopped
  • 2 large chicken breasts
  • 1 C sour cream

Steps:

  1. In a slow cooker, combine cream of chicken soup, tomatoes, beans, and onion.
  2. Season chicken with S+P. Add to slow cooker.
  3. Cook on LOW 7 hours.
  4. Shred chicken and return to the slow cooker. Stir in sour cream.
  5. Serve over rice.

*This recipe is adapted from Sarah at http://themagicalslowcooker.com/2014/08/16/slow-cooker-fiesta-chicken-bake/*

Fiesta Chicken

Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta

~ lk529 ~ Leave a comment

It’s no secret that I love pasta. And cream based sauces are my absolute favorite.

There is a restaurant in Auburn, Brick Oven Pizza, that we’d always go to when parents were in town. And while their pizzas and calzones are fantastic (I love their crust), it’s their Cajun Chicken Pasta that I always order.

Now that I’m living in Ohio (with a newborn) trips to Auburn are going to be very few and far between. So when I saw this recipe on Pinterest, it looked exactly like Brick Oven’s pasta dish that I love so much. It was immediately pinned and finally prepared. I switched out the pasta shape to penne and added mushrooms and parmesan cheese.

I have intentions of making a few more Auburn favorites in the coming year. War Eagle!

Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 tsp paprika
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/4 tsp dried thyme
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/8 tsp black pepper
  • 1/8 tsp onion powder
  • 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast, cubed
  • 8 oz penne pasta
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/4 red bell pepper, diced
  • 1/4 green bell pepper, diced
  • 1/2 onion, diced
  • 4 oz mushrooms, diced
  • 2 C half-and-half
  • 1 C heavy cream
  • 2/3 C shredded parmesan cheese
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 tbsp water
  • 3 scallions, sliced

Steps:

  1. In a small bowl, combine paprika, garlic powder, oregano, thyme, salt, pepper, onion powder, and cayenne. (Alternatively, you can use Cajun seasoning.)
  2. Season chicken with half of the spice mix from Step 1 and S+P.
  3. In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium high heat. Brown chicken. When cooked through, remove and set aside.
  4. In the same pot, add more olive oil if needed. Saute bell peppers, onion, and mushroom. Season with the remaining spice mix from Step 1 and S+P. Cook until vegetables are tender. (Note: if you’d like a little spice to your pasta add a little extra cayenne pepper at this step.)
  5. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
  6. Add half-and-half and heavy cream to the vegetables. Bring to a boil and add in the parmesan cheese.
  7. In a small bowl whisk together the cornstarch and water. Pour into the cream sauce. Reduce to a simmer and allow to cook until thickened. Add cooked chicken and pasta to the sauce and toss. Stir in the scallions. Garnish with additional Cajun seasoning if desired.

*This recipe is modified from Annie at http://www.annies-eats.com/2009/07/10/louisiana-chicken-pasta/*

Cajun Chicken Pasta

Guest Post: Grilled Marinated Chicken with Tomato-Fruit Salsa

~ lk529 ~ 1 Comment

I am very excited to feature my first guest post on Sew You Think You Can Cook! This post is brought to you on behalf of Hunt’s by Julia. Her recipe is perfect for summer and the grilling season. Enjoy! -Lauren

When I think of summer I think of dinners out on the back porch with food fresh off the grill.   While there will always be a soft spot in my heart for hot dogs and burgers, my favorite grill-able is chicken breast simply because of the huge range of flavor possibilities.  Thanks to the science of marinating, there is a chicken breast for every taste, so preparing a light dinner for a picky family is a snap.

This grilled chicken recipe was a hit for my entire family, including my preteen who has recently become “too cool” to enjoy his mom’s cooking.  The marinade kept the chicken from becoming dry, and the tomato-fruit salsa on top added a unique dimension of flavor that really took the edge off a hot summer night.

Grilled Chicken with Tomato-Fruit Salsa

 Grilled Marinated Chicken with Tomato-Fruit Salsa

 Ingredients for Chicken:

  • 1/4 cup Hunt’s® Tomato Ketchup
  • 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 2 tbsp light soy sauce
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 6 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
  • PAM® Grilling Spray

Ingredients for Salsa:

  • 1 can (14.5oz each) Hunt’s® Petite Diced Tomatoes, drained
  • 1 cup finely chopped fresh pineapple
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro

Steps:

  1. Combine ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, honey, soy sauce and garlic in large resealable plastic bag; blend well. Pound chicken with meat mallet to even out thickness for more even cooking. Add chicken to bag; seal. Turn to coat evenly with ketchup marinade. Refrigerate 2 hours or overnight.
  2. Remove chicken from bag; discard marinade.
  3. Combine drained tomatoes, pineapple, onion and cilantro in small bowl; set aside.
  4. Spray cold grill and utensils with grilling spray. Preheat grill to medium heat.
  5. Grill chicken about 10 minutes or until no longer pink in center (165°F), turning once. Serve chicken with salsa.

Pro Tips:

  • If you don’t want to us a grill, this chicken can also be cooked in a non-stick skillet over medium heat.  As always with chicken, be sure to cook all the way through until no longer pink in center (165°F).
  • Pineapple can be substituted for other favorite tropical fruits, like mango or papaya (or a combination!)

Author Bio: This is a guest post by Julia S. on behalf of Hunt’s. Visit our site at www.hunts.com to find tomato recipes, chili recipes, and easy meatloaf recipes.