Classic Wedge Salad

I’m really not a huge fan of lettuce, but that’s just not true when it comes to the Classic Wedge Salad. This one is a classic for a reason. It’s tasty and with just a few ingredients that are easy to pull together, it’s also dead simple. And while steak houses will charge you a pretty penny for it, you can enjoy it in your own home for a very affordable price. The people around my table find an entire ‘wedge’ too big so you can cut them in half lengthwise if this is true for you, too. I find the size of an entire wedge to be just right but like Elaine on Seinfeld, I do really love a big salad!

Ingredients:

1 head of iceberg lettuce, cut into quarters so you have four large wedges

1 cup of cherry tomatoes, chopped

1 cup of cucumber, chopped

6 – 8 slices of bacon, depending on how much you like

For blue cheese salad dressing:

1 cup of plain Greek yogurt

1/2 cup of mayonnaise

3 tablespoons heavy cream

3 teaspoons red wine vinegar

1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese, plus 3 tablespoons

2 tablespoons of fresh chives, thinly sliced

Directions:

1.) Place all ingredients for blue cheese salad dressing, except 3 remaining tablespoons of blue cheese and chives, into a blender. Blend until smooth. Pour into an airtight container and add remaining 3 tablespoons of blue cheese and chives. Stir and let sit in fridge for at least one hour to allow flavours to marry.

2.) When ready to assemble salad, cook bacon until crisp and then crumble into small pieces.

3.) Place wedges of lettuce on four separate plates. Drizzle blue cheese dressing liberally (if you choose; I like a lot of dressing) over the wedge. Add tomatoes, cucumbers, and bacon pieces.

4.) Serve and enjoy!

Chicken Fricassee

Chicken Fricassee is a classic French chicken stew. As with any stew, how you make it and what you put in it is entirely up to you. Some people add cream, some people add mushrooms and other veggies and in fact, you can even use veal or rabbit and make a slight name change. In my house, the dish is known simply as “Lemon Chicken” because I leave it pretty simple. Boneless chicken breasts, chicken stock, and lemons are all I really use. Oh, and white wine. That is a must if you want to call it Chicken Fricassee, but that’s really the only rule.

I’ve made it many ways but I’ve found this recipe to be quite simple and more importantly, it hasn’t failed me yet. Mine also isn’t so much a stew but rather, really tender pieces of chicken in a luscious sauce.

Ingredients:

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1/2 cup of all-purpose flour, plus 1 tablespoon

1 tablespoon of butter

3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

1 cup dry white wine

3 cups of chicken broth

1 lemon, slice half thinly and seeds removed and leave other half intact

1 tablespoon of dried oregano

Small bunch of parsley, minced finely

Lots of olive oil (about 1 cup)

Salt

Directions:

1.) Starting at the thickest part of each breast, cut chicken in half. Place each half in a resealable bag and pound lightly to an even thickness. Season each side of the chicken lightly with salt.

2.) Place 1/2 cup of flour in a bowl and season with oregano and salt. Dredge chicken in flour mixture and set aside (you can just leave the chicken in the flour until ready to use).

3.) Make a beurre manie by kneading the butter and 1 tablespoon of flour together. The term ‘beurre manie’ is actually French for ‘kneaded butter’.

4.) Place most of the oil in a pan (I really prefer a stainless steel pan for this recipe) over medium-high heat. When hot, add chicken in batches. Cook hard and fast, rotating as needed to ensure even browning. Cook on one side until about 80 percent done and then flip. Cook other side hot and fast, rotating again to ensure even browning. After first batch is done, remove chicken to a plate and continue doing the same with other pieces.

5.) Once all chicken is cooked, drain oil from the pan and cool slightly.

6.) Add a small amount of new oil to the pan over medium-high heat. When hot, add garlic and cook for about 30 seconds while stirring.

7.) Add white wine to the pan (remove pan from heat first if using a gas stove). Turn heat up under pan and reduce wine until there are lots of little bubbles, about two to three minutes.

8.) Add chicken broth and bring to a boil. Reduce chicken broth until it is reduced about halfway.

9.) Add the beurre manie and whisk to incorporate and make sure there are no lumps. Bring mixture back to a boil.

10.) Add in slices of lemon and juice the remaining half into the broth. Taste and season with more salt, if necessary.

11.) Add chicken and any pan juices that collected on the plate back into the pan. Lower heat and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes, just to reheat the chicken.

12.) Finish the dish with fresh chopped parsley.

13.) Serve and enjoy!

Tomato Chicken

Originally published on August 9, 2009

I came up with this recipe one day when I was looking for something different to do with my cans of stewed tomatoes. It’s so good that it’s now something I regularly make for my family. And whenever my mom comes to visit, it’s always what she wants me to make for her first supper. My whole family really loves it too and anyone I’ve given the recipe to always gives it a big thumbs up as well. I usually serve it over rice because my family prefers it over noodles but either can be used.

Ingredients:

4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt  
1 pinch ground black pepper
3 tablespoons butter
1 can diced tomatoes, with juices
1/2 cup water2 tablespoons brown sugar

2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons chili powder

1 teaspoon mustard powder
1/2 teaspoon celery seed
3 cloves garlic, minced
A dash of hot sauce

Directions:

1.) Place a large frying pan on the stove with the butter inside and turn to medium-high heat. Place the flour into a shallow bowl and sprinkle the salt and pepper into it. Pat the chicken breasts dry and dredge them through the flour. Once the butter is melted and hot, place the chicken breasts in the pan and brown on both sides.

2.) While the chicken is browning, combine the remaining ingredients in a large bowl. Stir until it is blended. Once the chicken has browned on all sides, remove from pan. Add the tomato mixture to the hot pan and bring to a boil. Add the chicken back into the pan and reduce the heat to medium or medium-low, depending on your stovetop. Cook for 30-35 minutes until the chicken is no longer pink and juices run clear.

3.) Serve and enjoy!

Martha’s Barbecue Sauce

Originally published on August 21, 2009

As the name suggests, this barbecue sauce recipe comes from Martha Stewart, off of her own website www.marthastewart.com. I found it one day when I really wanted to make ribs but went to the fridge and, to my dismay, discovered that I was all out of barbecue sauce! Quick and easy wasn’t really a concern to me with this one. I just wanted something that tasted really, really great. And you know you can always count on Martha for that! It was a pleasant surprise to me when I found out that not only does it taste great, but it’s quick and easy too! Needless to say, I will never buy another jar of barbecue sauce again!

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped 
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon mustard powder 
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
3 tablespoon light brown sugar 
2 cups ketchup 
1/3 cup Worcestershire sauce  
1/3 cup cider vinegar 
1 tablespoon molasses 
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 

Directions:

1.) Place oil into a small saucepan and heat over medium heat.

2.) When oil is hot, add the onion and the garlic. Cook until onions are translucent, about 5 minutes.

3.) Once onions are ready, add mustard powder and red pepper flakes. Cook for another 30 seconds.

4.) Add the rest of the ingredients: sugar, ketchup, molasses, worcestershire sauce, vinegar, and pepper.

5.) Turn heat down to low and cook for 10-15 minutes or until the sauce has thickened.

6.) Remove from heat and allow to cool. Place in an airtight container to keep in the fridge. It will keep for at least a month!

7.) Serve and enjoy!

Mom’s Chili

This is one of those meals that got me excited when I was young and noticed Mom cooking it. It’s hearty and it makes the house smell terrific. More importantly than anything, it’s delicious! Mom always told me that the secret to this chili is in the stewing beef and she might not be wrong. Everyone that I’ve ever served this chili to loves the addition of the stewing beef. And now I add even more to keep Brent, the meatatarian, happy! I personally though, think that the real secret to this yummy chili is in the onion rounds. It’s just not Mom’s chili unless you have a honkin piece of onion hanging off your spoon! And they get so soft and delicious because they’re in the pot for so long, there’s no beatin it!

When you’re finished, you’re going to have a massively sized pot of chili – no matter how much you eat for dinner! Divide it up into portions that you like and toss them in the freezer. The chili will stay for months and months! When I take it out, I like to turn it out into a pot and slowly reheat it but you can throw it in the microwave too!

Ingredients:

2 pounds stewing beef 
2 pounds ground beef 
4 cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed 
4 cans diced tomatoes 
1 can tomato sauce 
1 large onion, cut into thick rounds 
1/4 cup paprika 
1/4 cup chili powder 

Directions:

1.) Brown the stewing beef and the ground beef in a frying pan.

2.) Meanwhile, combine all the other ingredients in a very large stock pot.

3.) After the meat has finished cooking, add it to the chili pot and stir to make sure that everything is mixed together.

4.) Cook on very low heat for at least 2 hours.

5.) Serve and enjoy!

Sweet N’ Sour Chicken

Originally published on October 11, 2009

I love pairing this recipe with chicken fried rice when I’m in the mood for some good Chinese food. And my kids love it too, which always make any recipe score big with me. And super easy to make! But,  you can make it even easier.

My best friend makes this recipe but she browns small pieces of her chicken first. Meanwhile, she has the sauce simmering away and reducing on the stovetop. When the chicken is done, she tosses them into the pan with her sauce and lets it cook a little while longer. I’ve never tried it so if any of you do, you’ll have to let me know if you love it as much as she does – and which version you like better!

Ingredients:

8 bone-in chicken pieces (legs, thighs, or breasts)  
2 eggs, beaten 
1/4 cup all-purpose flour  
2 tablespoons canola oil  

For the Sauce
3 tablespoons soy sauce  
3 tablespoons water 
1/2 cup brown sugar  
1/2 cup honey  
1/2 cup white vinegar 

Directions:

1.) Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

2.) Heat oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Dredge the chicken legs, one by one, through the egg and then through the flour.

3.) Place all the chicken legs in the pan and brown on all sides. It should take about 15 minutes.

4.) Meanwhile, mix all the remaining ingredients together to form a sauce.

5.) When the chicken is ready, place into a casserole dish and pour the sauce evenly over the chicken. Bake for about 30 minutes, turning throughout.

6.) Serve and enjoy!

Mom’s Lasagna

Originally published on October 25, 2009

This really was the first thing I ever learned to cook. I still remember watching my mom make it in one of the first kitchens I remember. And lasagna night always meant that supper was going to be good! When I became much older, I asked my mom to teach me how to make it and of course, she did. She told me that two things were important: not to cook the lasagna noodles first even if the package said so because it’s a waste of time; and that you could use ricotta cheese if you wanted but it was more expensive and tasted the same.

Since then, I’ve had many different lasagnas that all use ricotta cheese. And I have to say, I actually prefer the cottage cheese. There’s just something about it that makes the lasagna even gooier and tastier! And she was right about the noodles too! I’ve tried cooking them before just to see if it would make any difference and not only did it not make a difference, but I find dry noodles much easier to work with.

But what I love most about this recipe? It comes from my mom and always takes me back to that time when I would sit on the kitchen stool and watch her pile it together piece by piece!

Ingredients:

1/2 package of lasagna noodles  
2 pounds of ground beef 
1 onion, diced  
3 cloves garlic, minced 
2 large tubs of cottage cheese  
2 cans of spaghetti sauce 
2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese 

Directions:

1.) Spray a 9″ x 13″ casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

2.) In a large frying pan, brown the ground beef with the onion and the garlic mixed in. Once it has browned, drain.

3.) Spread a thin layer of spaghetti sauce in the bottom of the casserole dish. Spread out one layer of lasagna noodles on top of the sauce. Onto the noodles, spread out a thin (or thick if you’d like!) layer of the browned ground beef. Over the beef, spread a layer of cottage cheese. Top with one more layer of noodles and spread another thin layer of spaghetti sauce over the noodles. Repeat until you reach the top of the casserole dish, ending with a layer of lasagna noodles.

4.) Spread a thin layer of spaghetti sauce over the top layer of noodles. Over this sauce, spread out the shredded mozzarella cheese.

5.) Bake in the oven for 50 – 60 minutes or until the top is golden brown and bubbly.

6.) Serve and enjoy!

Pita Chips

Originally published on October 28, 2009

I made these for Maddie’s 2nd birthday party. Everyone loved them so much, I was afraid that I was going to run out – and I used almost 2 full packages of pitas! They are simply delish! You need to make sure though that when you’re cooking them, you don’t overcook them! I hate it when people say that because it’s such an obvious thing but with these chips, you do have to check them all the time. Just a minute too long in the oven and the entire batch will be ruined! (That’s why I used almost 2 packages of pitas and not 2 whole packages.) I used white pitas but I’m sure whole wheat pitas would be perfect too, and healthier! Use them to serve with hummus, salsa, or your favourite dip!

Ingredients:

2 pita bread, pocket style 
1 egg white  
1 tablespoon olive oil 
Salt 
1 tablespoon Emeril’s Essence

Directions:

1.) Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

2.) With kitchen shears, cut pitas around the outside so that you are left with 2 rounds for each pita.

3.) Whisk together the egg white and olive oil and brush onto the insides of each round.

4.) Sprinkle Emeril’s Essence onto the egg white and olive oil mixture of each pita round.

5.) Stack the rounds on top of each other and cut vertically. Now you’ll be left with half-moons of pita rounds. With them still stacked, cut the half moons in half. Then cut these each in half so you are left with 8 small triangles for each pita round.

6.) Spread in a single layer on a baking sheet, seasoned side up, and bake for about 15 minutes until they are no longer soft and just beginning to brown.

7.) Serve and enjoy!

Parmesan-Crusted Asparagus

Originally published on October 30, 2009

I made these for Maddie’s second birthday party and honestly, I knew they would be good but I didn’t realize just how heavenly they would be! I hate it when ingredients get lost in a recipe but you can truly taste each and every thing that’s put into these spears! The mayonnaise, the lemon juice, yum! It’s all so very, very good! And who doesn’t love roasted vegetables? Especially when that vegetable is asparagus? Party guests raved about them and even though no one from my immediate family touched them, I may just make these a regular at suppertime!

Ingredients:

3/4 cup mayonnaise 
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard 
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice 
1 teaspoon Kosher salt 
1 1/2 cups panko 
3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
2 large bunches of asparagus  
2 tablespoons olive oil 

Directions:

1.) Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Coat a large baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray.

2.) In a large bowl, whisk mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and salt.

3.) On a large plate, combine panko and Parmesan.

4.) Stalk by stalk, dip asparagus in mayonnaise mixture followed by the panko mixture. Place crusted asparagus on the prepared baking sheet and sprinkle the stalks with olive oil.

5.) At this point you can place the tray in the refrigerator for a few hours before baking. To cook, bake 14-16 minutes turning the asparagus halfway through cooking. Sprink with coarse salt before serving.

6.) Serve and enjoy!

Simple Stuffing

Originally published on November 3, 2009

I had only made turkey stuffing once before making it this time for Thanksgiving. And that first time I made it, it was a total flop. Needless to say, I was holding my breath every step of the way with this one.

But, when I pulled it out of the oven and taste tested it, it was fantastic! I didn’t think it would be so good because it was simple to pull together, and things that are easy to cook just can’t taste any good, right? I did dry out the bread crumbs and cook the vegetables the day before which made it a bit easier. Next time I will make sure to tear up the bread into much smaller pieces. I will also cover the dish with buttered foil before baking, as so many people have suggested to me since then.

Ingredients:

2 loaves Italian bread, torn into bite-sized pieces 
4 tablespoons butter, room temperature, plus more for baking dish 
4 celery stalks, thinly sliced  
4 shallots, minced  
2 garlic cloves, minced  
Coarse salt and ground pepper  
1/2 cup dry white wine 
1/2 cup fresh parsley leaves, chopped OR 1/4 cup dried parsley flakes
3 large eggs, lightly beaten 
2 cups chicken broth

Directions:

1.) Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Arrange bread in a single layer on two rimmed baking sheets. Bake until crisp but not browned, about 10 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through.

2.) In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add celery, shallots, and garlic; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are softened, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add wine until evaporated, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl. At this point, you can keep the dried bread out and the vegetables in the fridge after cooking to pull the dish together easily the next day.

3.) To vegetables in bowl, add bread, parsley, and eggs. Season with 1 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and stir to combine. Mix in half of the broth. Continue adding broth just until the bread is moistened but not wet. There should be just enough liquid in the bowl as there is bread to soak it up, with none of the broth sitting in the bottom of the bowl.

4.) Just before roasting turkey, stuff the cavity with 4 cups of stuffing. Spoon remaining stuffing into a casserole dish. Cover with buttered aluminum foil and refrigerate. When turkey is taken out of oven to rest, place covered dish in oven, and bake until it is warmed through, 25 to 30 minutes. Uncover and bake another 10 minutes until crisp and golden.

5.) Serve and enjoy!