Creole Chicken with Okra

 

Creole Chicken with Okra

Ingredients

• 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breast

• 4 T. olive oil divided

• 1/2 c. diced onion

• 1/2 c. chopped green bell pepper

• 2 cloves garlic minced

• 1 c. halved grape tomatoes

• 1/2 c. fresh chopped or frozen cut okra

• 1/2 tsp. dried thyme

• 1 T. Louisiana hot sauce

• 1/2 tsp. salt

• 2 c. cooked brown rice

Instructions

1. Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Heat a large nonstick skillet on medium high heat. Add 2 T. olive oil to the skillet. When hot, add the chicken and cook until chicken is almost cook through, stirring frequently. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.

2. Return the skillet to medium-high heat and add 2 T. olive oil. Add the onion and pepper and cook until lightly brown, stirring frequently. Add the garlic and cook for 15 seconds, stirring constantly. Add 1/2 c. water, the tomato halves, okra and thyme. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover and simmer for 10 minutes or until the okra is just tender. Add the chicken, hot sauce and salt. Cook for 5 minutes to combine the flavors. Serve over the cooked brown rice.

 

Game Day Bars

 

Game Day Bars

Ingredients

• 2 sticks butter brought to room temperature
• 3/4 c. brown sugar
• 3/4 c. granulated sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 2 1/2 c. flour
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. salt
• 2 c. chocolate chunks
• 1/2 c. pretzels broken into pieces
• 1/2 c. peanuts

Instructions

• Beat the butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar together until fluffy.  Add the vanilla and eggs and beat until combined.
• Whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt.  Stir the flour mixture into the butter mixture.  Add the chocolate chunks, peanuts and pretzels.
• Press the mixture into a 9” x 13” pan.  Bake for 40 minutes at 350 degrees.

Cookbooks

People have expressed an interest in the ebook cookbooks that are available.  There are 2 cookbooks available on www.smashwords.com:  Gourmet Simplified Amazing Appetizers and Gourmet Simplified Delicious Desserts.  I hope you get a chance to check them out.  I love having these books available on my iPad when I travel and want to use one of the recipes that isn't on the blog.


Gourmet Simplified Delicious Desserts

  Gourmet Appetizers Simplified

Napa Cabbage Salad

Napa Cabbage Salad

Ingredients

• 1/2 c. sliced almonds

• 3 T. canola oil

• 2 T. rice vinegar

• 1 T. soy sauce

• 1/2 tsp. sugar

• 1/2 tsp. freshly ground pepper

• 1 pound Napa cabbage chopped

• 1 diced shallot

• 1/4 c. chopped cilantro

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Put the almonds in a pie plate. Bake for just a few minutes until lightly toasted. Let cool.

2. In a large bowl, whisk the oil, vinegar, soy sauce, sugar and ground pepper. 

3. Add the cabbage, shallot and cilantro and toss. Add the almonds and toss again right before serving.

Pizza In A Bread Bowl

 

Pizza In A Bread Bowl

Ingredients

• 1 1 lb. oblong loaf soft Italian bread

• 3 T. olive oil

• 2 garlic cloves

• 1/2 c. chopped onion

• 10 oz. hot Italian sausage

• 1 16 oz. jar pizza sauce

• 4 oz. fresh mozzarella thinly sliced

• 2 T. grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut out the center of the bread leaving a 1-inch shell. Using your fingers, hollow out the bread to leave a 1" shell in the bottom also. Cut the bread you removed into rectangular pieces for dippers. Place the pieces on a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil and toss. Place the bread bowl on a baking sheet. Bake both pans until the pieces are just toasted and the bowl is slightly dried out, approximately 20 minutes.

2. Remove the bread from the oven and rub the inside of the bread bowl with 1 clove of cut garlic.

3. Head 1 T. olive oil in a dutch oven. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes. Chop the remaining garlic clove and add to the onion. Add the sausage, cook until brown, stirring to break into chunks. Add the pizza sauce. Cook for 5 minutes.

4. Pour the sauce into the bread bowl on the baking sheet. Top with the mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Return the bread bowl to the oven. Bake until the cheese melts about 10 minutes.

5. Serve on a platter surrounded by the bread cube dippers.

Apple Cinnamon Coffeecake

 

Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake

Ingredients

• 1/3 c. brown sugar
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1 1/2 c. flour
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 2/3 c. sugar
• 1/2 c. vegetable oil
• 2 eggs room temperature
• 3/4 c. buttermilk
• 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
• 2 medium apples cored, peeled and chopped into 1/2” pieces

Instructions

• Set out the eggs to warm to room temperature.  Peel and core the apples.  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Spray an 8” x 8” baking dish with cooking spray.
• In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar and cinnamon.
• In a large bowl, combine the flour, salt, and baking powder with a whisk.
• In a large 4 c. measuring cup, combine with sugar, oil, eggs, buttermilk and vanilla.
• Pour the wet ingredients into the flour mixture and mix just until combined.  Do not over mix.
• Chop the apples into 1/2” pieces.  Spread 1/2 the batter into the prepared pan.  Top with half the apples and half the brown sugar mixture.  Press down slightly.  Spread the remaining batter over the apples and then top with the remaining apples and brown sugar mixture.  With a knife, swirl the batter slightly to mix the apples into the batter.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 40 - 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.  

• Allow to cool for 15 minutes then serve.  This is best served wam.

Cheddar Sausage Biscuits

 Cheddar Sausage Biscuits

3 c. flour

5 tsp. baking powder

1 1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 c. butter

1 lb. breakfast sausage

2 c. shredded cheddar cheese

2 T. fresh chives

1 c. buttermilk

Place the butter in the freezer to freeze.  Brown the sausage, breaking it up into small pieces, then drain thoroughly.  Chop the chives.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.  Set aside.  Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.  

In a large mixing bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda with a whisk.  Grate the frozen butter then add it to the flour mixture.  Stir together.  To the bowl, add the drained sausage, shredded cheese and chopped chives.  Mix well.

Make a well in the center then add the buttermilk.  Mix thoroughly.  Turn out onto a lightly floured non-stick surface.  Knead a couple of times to bring it together.  Shape it into a 9” x 9” square around 1” thick. Use a sharp knife to cut into 12 even squares.

Place the squares on the prepared baking sheet.  Bake for 18 - 20 minutes until golden brown.  Serve immediately.