Sunday, January 30, 2011

Chicken Scarpariello

Chicken Scarpariello I posted this recipe way back when I first started blogging. I think I had 3 comments at that time. Decided to repost as it is a family favorite in my home, and is so freaking good! Original recipe found here from Gourmet magazine. It is a breeze to make, and tastes delicious!I also have made this a day or two ahead and it tastes just as good as the first day!

Let's start. Begin by cutting your chicken thighs in half. Pat chicken dry and season them with salt and pepper.Heat one tablespoon of oil in a skillet( I used nonstick) over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking. Saute the chicken in 2 batches. beginning skin side down, turning occasionally and adjusting heat to keep from burning until cooked through, and browned on all sides, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate and keep warm, covered with foil. Pour off all but one tablespoon of oil from skillet. Add your chopped onion, bell peppers, and hot cherry peppers to taste over moderate heat covered for 7 minutes. Stir occasionally. Add your garlicand cook, stirring until golden. About 2 minutes. Add your wine and broth and boil uncovered, until most of liquid is evaporated, about 4 minutes.Add chicken (along with any juices that accumulated on plate) and parsley and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until cooked through, then season with salt. Wonderful dish! Fabulous weeknight meal. Such pretty colors too. You will so enjoy this one. Dig in, baby!

Chicken Scarpariello

<p>Absolutely delicious weeknight meal adapted from Gourmet magazine!</p>

See Chicken Scarpariello on Key Ingredient.

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Swirl of Chocolate Cheesecake Squares

Swirl of Chocolate Cheesecake Squares My FFH had a bad toothache the other night but was craving a sweet treat. Something soft. Something creamy. I could talk dirty right now, but I refrain. This quick dessert suited his needs perfectly.

To begin you make a simple graham cracker crust by combining graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and sugar. Press this into the bottom of a buttered 8x8 inch baking pan. Grab the rest of your ingredients. In a blender or food processor, combine cream cheese, evaporated milk, sugar, egg, flour, and vanilla. Process till smooth. Gradually stir 1/2 cup cheese mixture into melted chocolate. Pour remaining cheese mixture over crust. Now pour chocolate mixture on top of that. Swirl mixture together with a knife to create marbled effect. Bake in a preheated 300 degree oven for 40-45 minutes or until set. Cool in pan on wire rack. Store, covered in refrigerator. Grab a piece as needed.A nice tasty treasure.

Swirl of Chocolate Cheesecake Squares

<p>Quick tasty weeknight dessert! Creamy, flavorful, easy to prepare!</p>

See Swirl of Chocolate Cheesecake Squares on Key Ingredient.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Firehouse Chili, Shrimp Scampi, and Mustard-Soy Chicken

Firehouse Chili Ina's Shrimp Scampi Mustard-Soy Chicken Simple Spinach Ever have those dishes you make all the time , but the photos won't cooperate enough to make them post-worthy? Well , I do and here are four of them.

My FFH makes his chili all the time, and I can never photo it right, but I am posting it anyway because it's so good, and I want to.

Ina's shrimp scampi has been a favorite of mine for years...again could never catch it right, and I continue not to. Doesn't mean it isn't beyond wonderful though.

This mustard-soy chicken I have gotten from my sister, and I always make it as a quick weeknight dish with my fried rice, and some simple spinach. My husbands favorite way to eat spinach, mind you. So, rather than waste time posting with step by step photos, I have just included the 4 recipes below. Because they are always repeated in my home, I wanted them on my blog.

Simple Spinach

<p>Simplest way to prepare fresh spinach.. our favorite.</p>

See Simple Spinach on Key Ingredient.

Chicken with Mustard Soy Sauce

<p>Yummy weeknight chicken dinner. Pair it with fried rice and some spinach!</p>

See Chicken with Mustard Soy Sauce on Key Ingredient.

Firehouse Chili

<p>Our favorite chili recipe.. always made by my firefighter husband. Tones the heat down a bit for us.</p>

See Firehouse Chili on Key Ingredient.

Shrimp Scampi

<p>Ina Garten&#8217;s Shrimp Scampi.. Perfection.</p>

See Shrimp Scampi on Key Ingredient.

Friday, January 7, 2011

Brickle Drop Cookies

Brickle Drop Cookies. My FFH is a huge fan of Heath toffee bits. I have made many recipes using them. Always I am on the lookout for new ways to use them. So when I saw this new recipe on the back of the Heath Bits package, I gave it a whirl. And he ate 'em up.OK, so he did have a little help from my 4 children and his co-fighters of flames...

Simple cookie recipe with a buttery sublime taste, they were a hit. So pretty too.

Original recipe found here. So simple to make and one batch yields about 6 dozen. Begin by creaming your butter, brown and white sugars, eggs, vanilla, and salt. Add in your flour, cream of tartar, and baking soda. Mix in your toffee bits and drop by teaspoonfuls onto baking sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes at 350 and let cool slightly before removing to wire rack to cool completely. yes. lovely. A "so good mom" cookie.

Brickle Drop Cookies

<p>Buttery toffee laden cookie!</p>

See Brickle Drop Cookies on Key Ingredient.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Cookie Sticks

Cookie Sticks. Found this fun recipe here, adapted from Taste of Home via Amanda's blog. This is the cookie recipe to go to when you need a freshly homemade batch of cookies, but no time to wait for softened butter. Kids love the whimsical shape too!

Begin by gathering your egg, vanilla, oil, and sugars. Combine them. In a separate bowl, combine flour, salt, and baking soda. Gradually add to sugar mixture and mix well. Divide dough in half. On a greased baking sheet, shape each portion into a 15 x 3" Rectangle, about 3 inches apart. Sprinkle with chocolate chips and press lightly. Bake at 375 for 6-7 minutes,8-9 for a crispier cookie. Cool for 5 minutes. Cut with a serrated knife into 1 inch strips, and remove to wire racks to cool. These are a very good cookie. My favorite? No. Just a nice ,quick, FUN treat.These chocolate chip cookies are still my favorite at the moment..

Cookie Sticks

<p>If you have a craving for cookies and you want them now, these yummy strips take just a few minutes to make from start to finish&#8230; adapted from taste of home</p>

See Cookie Sticks on Key Ingredient.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Baked Onion Rings

Baked Onion Rings Boy! Were these ever yummy. Crispy, tasty and easy to prepare. AND in the spirit of the Healthy New Year, BAKED, not Fried!! I paired them with Sloppy Joe sliders, and coleslaw! I used my most favorite sloppy joe recipe HERE, and turned them into sliders.

Next time I make these onion rings, and there will indeed be a next time, I shall make a horseradish-y dip to go with them. Original recipe from Martha Stewart's Everyday Food magazine. Begin by cutting a simply gorgeous vidalia onion into quarters crosswise and separating into rings, discarding the small center ones. Now grab your cornflakes and some plain breadcrumbs. Pulse them in your food processor till finely ground. Pour in bowl. Now combine buttermilk, cayenne, salt, pepper, flour, and egg in another bowl. Whisk. Set up your dipping station. Dip onion ring into buttermilk mixture, letting excess drip off, dredge in cornflake mixture, lay on plate. Pour olive oil onto a rimmed baking sheet. Place in preheated 450 oven for 2 minutes. Remove from oven and evenly spread oil on sheet. Place onion rings on sheet. Bake for 16 minutes, turning once, until golden brown. Sprinkle with salt. Serve. Delicious! Enjoyed the crunchy coating and the enticing flavor! Give them a try!

Baked Onion Rings

<p>Crispy, tasty, and Easy to prepare. Adapted from Everyday Food magazine.</p>

See Baked Onion Rings on Key Ingredient.