Showing posts with label main dish. Show all posts
Showing posts with label main dish. Show all posts

Sunday, August 17, 2025

Pork Schnitzel with Garlic Sauce

 



INGREDIENTS

4 Harter House Pork Cutlets
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper
2 large eggs
1/2 cup milk
4 cups plain dried bread crumbs or Panko.
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
1 sprig thyme
lemon wedges


Put the flour in a shallow dish and season with salt and pepper.  Whisk the eggs and milk in another shallow dish and season with salt and pepper.  Put the bread crumbs in a third dish and again season with salt and pepper.

Lightly dredge each piece of pork in flour, then egg, and finally the bread crumbs, pressing the bread crumbs onto the pork gently so they have a nice even coating.

Lay the breaded pork cutlets in a single layer on a plate lined with parchment and refrigerate uncovered, for 10 - 12 minutes to allow the coating to dry out a little and adhere to the pork.

Heat oil and butter in a nonstick skillet over medium high heat.  Add the thyme sprig and let it fry for about 1 minute to infuse the oil.  Remove the thyme sprig and reserve.  Gently lay the cutlets into the pan and cook until golden brown and crispy, about 3 minutes per side.  

Remove to paper towels to drain.  Season with salt and transfer to a serving platter while still hot.  Garnish with lemon wedges and the fried sprig of thyme before serving.


GARLIC SAUCE for 4 cutlets

4 Tablespoons butter
2 clove garlic
2 Lemon, juiced
Fresh Parsley or thyme

Add butter and whole garlic and heat to infuse butter.
Squeeze lemon and add parsley / thyme to the pan.  Mix well and pour over schnitzel.





PORK SCHNITZEL SANDWICH

There is not much better than this Pork sandwich.
Add your favorite sauce. provolone cheese, lettuce, tomato, and  onion, on a toasted bun.


Sunday, May 25, 2025

Chicken Alfredo Baked Ziti


Creamy alfredo sauce, savory chicken, hearty pasta,
two delicious kinds of melty cheese — what’s not to love?!
There’s a reason why this one will always be a classic.

Ingredients

Chicken Baked Ziti Ingredients:

  • 12 ounces uncooked ziti (or any pasta shape)
  • 2 cups shredded, cooked chicken (about 2 small chicken breasts)
  • 1 batch alfredo sauce (see below)
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
  • toppings: lots of freshly-grated Parmesan cheese, finely-chopped fresh basil or parsley

Alfredo Sauce Ingredients:

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup chicken or vegetable stock
  • 1 cup low-fat milk
  • 3/4 cup freshly-grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper


Instructions

To Make The Chicken Baked Ziti:

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F.  Mist a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray; set aside.
  2. Cook the pasta al dente in a large stockpot of well-salted boiling according to package instructions. Drain. Return pasta to the stockpot and add chicken and alfredo sauce. Gently toss to combine until the pasta is evenly coated.
  3. Pour half of the pasta into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle evenly with 1 cup of cheese. Layer the remaining half of the pasta evenly on top. Sprinkle evenly with the remaining 1/2 cup of cheese.
  4. Bake for 20-25 minutes until the cheese is melted and just barely starts to turn golden. Remove and serve immediately, sprinkled with additional toppings if desired.

To Make The Alfredo Sauce:

  1. Heat olive oil in a large sauce pan over medium-high heat. Add garlic and saute one minute, stirring occasionally, until fragrant. Sprinkle with flour, and stir to combine. Saute for an additional minute to cook the flour, stirring occasionally.
  2. Slowly add chicken broth, whisking to combine until smooth. Whisk in milk, and bring the mixture to a simmer. Let cook for an additional minute until thickened, then stir in Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper until the cheese melted. Remove from heat and set aside.

Possible Variations:

There are so many ways to customize this chicken alfredo bake!  For example, feel free to…
  • Add in veggies. Broccoli, asparagus, mushrooms, cauliflower, and any number of other veggies would be delicious added to this chicken alfredo recipe.  Just note that they won’t get cooked much during the 20 minutes of baking time.  So if whatever veggies you add require a longer cooking time, feel free to toss them into the boiling water with the pasta for a few minutes or sauté (or roast) them for a few minutes before adding them to the casserole.
  • Add in extra Italian herbs. If you would like an herbier chicken alfredo pasta, feel free to add some dried Italian Seasoning or chopped fresh Italian herbs into the alfredo sauce.  (Or, you can also sprinkle some chopped fresh basil on top of the pasta after baking.)
  • Nix the protein.  Not into chicken?  Feel free to use shrimp in this recipe instead.  (Or make it vegetarian and add in some extra veggies instead.)
  • Make it spicy. I really love sprinkling lots of crushed red pepper into (and on top of) this casserole to give it a bit of a kick.
  • Make it cajun. To give this recipe a Cajun twist, feel free to stir 1-2 tablespoons Cajun seasiing (to taste) into the alfredo sauce.
  • Make it gluten-free.  Just use your favorite certified gluten-free pasta, and my gluten-free alfredo sauce recipe.

This recipe comes from GimmeSomeOven.com





Sunday, April 13, 2025

Slow Cooker Pepper Pork Chops

I haven't tried this recipe yet, but it looks really good. 
The recipe calls for marinating overnight, so be sure to plan ahead!   ~Shelly


Prep - 20 Minutes
Marinate - 8 hours
Slow Cooker - 6 hr, 20 minutes
Serves 4

Ingredients

2 cups vegetable broth
1/2 cup kosher salt
1/2 cup light brown sugar
2 tablespoons black peppercorns, slightly crushed
1 pound ice
4 (1 to 1 1/2-inch thick) bone-in pork chops  
2 teaspoons kosher salt
3 ounces dried apple slices (Opt. dried apricots or fresh apples)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, julienned
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 tablespoon coarsely ground black pepper
1 teaspoon dried thyme


Directions

Combine the vegetable broth, 1/2 cup kosher salt, brown sugar and peppercorns in a medium saucepan and set over medium-high heat. Cook just until the salt and sugar dissolve, then remove from the heat and add the ice. Place the pork chops into a 2-gallon zip-top bag along with the mixture and seal. Place in a plastic container and refrigerate overnight.
Remove the chops from the brine, rinse, and pat dry. Season on both sides with the kosher salt and set aside

Place the apples in the slow cooker.
Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a 12-inch stainless steel saute pan over medium-high heat. Saute the pork chops on both sides until golden brown, approximately 5 to 6 minutes per side. Once browned, place the pork chops into the slow cooker atop the apples.

Add the remaining 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil to the pan followed by the onions and saute until they begin to brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the chicken broth to the pan to deglaze. Add the black pepper and thyme and stir to combine. Transfer this to the slow cooker, set to high, cover and cook for 1 1/2 hours. Decrease the heat to low and continue cooking for another 4 hours and 30 minutes or until the pork is tender and falling away from the bone.   


Recipe courtesy of Alton Brown
Pairs well with Pinot Noir.       





Sunday, January 5, 2025

Garlic Butter Baked Pork Chops with 2 sides



Garlic Butter Baked Pork chops are juicy, tender, and super flavorful thanks to the amazing butter sauce.

INGREDIENTS
2 medium sized Pork Chops
kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
4 Tablespoons butter - melted
1 Tablespoon fresh thyme - chopped
2 cloves garlic - minced
1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Preheat oven to 375 F.
  2. Season the pork chops with salt and pepper, and set aside.
  3. In a small bowl, mix together the butter, thyme, and garlic.  Set aside.
  4. In a cast iron skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat.
  5. When the skillet is really hot, add the pork chops.  Sear until golden, about 2 minutes per side.
  6. Pour garlic butter mixture over the pork chops.
  7. Place the skillet in the oven, and cook until the pork chops reach an internal temperature of 145 F, about 10-12 minutes.  The time depends on the thickness of the pork chops.*
  8. Remove from the oven.  Using a spoon, pour some of the butter sauce left in the skillet onto the pork chops before serving.

*  Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the pork chop.



CRISPY ROASTED GREEN BEANS

INGREDIENTS
2 pounds green beans - trimmed
4 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
salt and fresh ground pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Preheat oven to 425 F
  2. Place a baking sheet in the oven for 10 minutes
  3. In a medium bowl, place the green beans and all the remaining ingredients.
  4. Mix well.
  5. Arrange the seasoned green beans in a single layer on the preheated baking sheet.
  6. Bake for about 8 minutes or until crisp tender.


ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH MASH

INGREDIENTS
1 butternut squash
2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3 gloves garlic - minced
4 Tablespoons butter
Salt and black pepper
cayenne pepper for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Preheat oven to 400 F
  2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil.  Set aside
  3. Wash and cut the butternut squash in half lengthwise.  Using a spoon, scoop out the seeds.
  4. Place both halves face up on the prepared baking sheet.
  5. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt, pepper, and garlic.
  6. Roast in the oven for 45 - 60 minutes until fork tender.
  7. Remove the squash from the oven, and let cool for about 5 minutes.
  8. Using a large spoon, remove all of the squash flesh from the skin, and place it into a bowl for mashing.
  9. Add the butter, sea salt and pepper, and mash well until fluffy and smooth.  I like to use a hand mixer.
  10. Sprinkle with cayenne pepper and butter for extra flavor before serving.





Sunday, December 15, 2024

Ribeye Steak with Onion and Blue Cheese Sauce

This Blue Cheese sauce comes from the The Pioneer Woman.  A customer first brought it to my attention and now I make it for guests all the time.  EVERYONE loves it, and it's SO simple. 
 




Ingredients
2 whole Ribeye Steaks (Beef Tenderloin, T-Bone or Porterhouse works well also)
2 Tablespoons Butter
Salt
Pepper
4 Tablespoons Butter
1 whole Very Large Yellow Onion, Sliced
1 cup Heavy Cream
1/2 cup Crumbled Blue Cheese

Instructions
Salt and pepper both sides of the steaks. Grill in 2 tablespoons butter until medium rare.

Saute onions in 4 tablespoons butter over high heat. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes, or until dark and caramelized. Reduce heat to simmer and pour in cream. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes, or until reduced by half. Stir in blue cheese until melted. Serve steaks on generous portion of sauce.

*******************************************


Grab a large onion.  Very large.   Cut it in half from root to tip…
Then peel off the outer layer and make relatively thick slices. Not huge, but definitely not thin.

Melt 1/2 stick (4 tablespoons) butter in a heavy skillet over high heat.
When it’s all melted… Throw in the sliced onions.
Stir them around, then let them sit and cook over high heat. Stir them only occasionally; we want them to get nice and brownish/black.
 
Meanwhile, grab a Harter House Ribeye Steak
Since the sauce is so flavorful, all I use to season is salt and pepper.

Heat up the grill outside, or heat up a grill pan. Add lots of butter so it’ll get brown.

While the steak cooks, go ahead and make the (very easy) sauce.
 
Turn the skillet with the onions down to low heat…

Then pour in 3/4 to 1 cup heavy cream.

Heat it all up…
And stir it gently as it cooks. Slowly the white cream will take on the color of the caramelized onions and your soul will sing.

You want to cook it for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the sauce thickens and reduces by about half. If it gets too thick (it shouldn’t), you can splash in a little beef broth.

Stir in 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese.
Please do this, even if you think you don’t like blue cheese.

Now stir it around while the cheese melts and makes the sauce even more creamy than it was before.
 
To serve, make a nice, generous bed of sauce on a large plate.
This dish is for, shall we say, hearty appetites.

Then place the steak, which is now grilled (medium rare) to perfection, right on top!

Enjoy! 
Be ready to accept much praise from your guests.


 

Monday, August 30, 2021

Pea and Orzo Salad

 This recipe popped up on one of my paid subscriptions (The Epoch Times).

It looked really good so I tried it and I was pleasantly surprised. 
It was something totally new and different than I usually cook.

Also I used a bag of Spinach and Arugula, because we did not have only arugula.  
It worked well.
I didn't think I liked arugula that much, but it has a nutty flavor that works well in this recipe.

Orzo is a pasta, which resembles rice, but made from semolina flour.  
This recipe can be a side or a light main dish.  I had it as a side with some grilled chicken.  Yummy!


Serves 3-4

INGREDIENTS

12 ounces orzo pasta
1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1 Tbsp fresh lime juice
1 c. defrosted frozen peas
1 garlic clove, minced
1 Tsp lemon zest
1/2 Tsp kosher salt
1/4 Tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 Tsp fresh ground black pepper
1 handful baby arugula. about 1 cup packed
1/4 c. fresh mint leaves, chopped
1/4 c. fresh dill sprigs
2 Tbsp chopped chives
Grated Parmesan or crumbles Feta cheese  (I used fresh grated Parmesan)

DIRECTIONS
Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil.  Add the orzo and cook until al dente, following package instructions.  Drain the orzo and transfer to a large bowl.

Stir in the olive oil and lemon juice and then add the peas, garlic, lemon zest, salt, red pepper flakes, and black pepper.  Stir to combine and gently warm the peas.  Add the arugula, mint, dill, and chives and stir to gently wilt the arugula.  If the pasta is too dry, add 1 more Tbsp of oil and taste for seasoning.

Serve garnished with the grated Parmesan or Feta and freshly ground black pepper.  Serve at room temperature or chilled.









Monday, November 16, 2020

Chardonnay paired with Chicken Makhani (Indian Butter Chicken)

Chardonnays have become very popular.

It is unmistakable in the mouth because of its impeccable sugar/acid balance, its full body, and its easy smoothness. Its aroma is distinct, yet delicate. 

Chardonnay grapes are relatively resilient and are able to survive in a variety of environments. It is used in so many different places to produce so many different wines because the Chardonnay grapes themselves are relatively neutral in flavor. Most of their flavor is derived first from the conditions in which the grapes are grown and second from the conditions of the wine production. This makes it easier for different wineries to produce distinctly different Chardonnay wines.

Typical Chardonnay characteristics include; Lemon, Apple, Tropical Fruit, Melon, Pineapple, and Mango. 

Oaked Chardonnays can display characteristics like; Smoke, Vanilla, Spice, Toast, Nuts, Butterscotch, Caramel, Coconut, Cloves and Cinnamon. 

Unoaked or less heavily oaked Chardonnays tend to have lighter, delicate flavors which can be matched with a fairly wide variety of dishes. There are some foods which tend to go better than average with Chardonnay such as Chicken, Turkey, Fish, Pork and mushrooms. 

More heavily oaked Chardonnays go poorly with delicate dishes, like fish, but pair well with Japanese Cuisine, Chinese Cuisine, Spicy Dishes and Smoked Fish.

Harter House World Flavors offers a wide variety of Chardonnay’s. Of course , my favorite is La Crema, an exquisite Chardonnay.



 
Chicken Makhani (Indian Butter Chicken) 

1 tablespoon peanut oil 
1 red onion, finely chopped 
1/4 white onion, chopped 
2 tablespoons butter 
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste 
1 teaspoon garam masala 
1 teaspoon chili powder 
1 teaspoon ground cumin 
1 bay leaf o 1/4 cup plain yogurt 
1 cup cream o 1 cup tomato puree 
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, to taste 
1 pinch salt 
1 pinch black pepper 
1 tablespoon peanut oil 
1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs cut into bite size pieces 
1 teaspoon garam masala 
1 pinch cayenne pepper 
1 tablespoon cornstarch 
1/4 cup water 

Directions: 
Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large saucepan over medium high heat. 
Saute shallot and onion until soft and translucent. 
Stir in butter, lemon juice, ginger garlic paste, 1 teaspoon garam masala, chili powder, cumin and bay leaf. 
Cook, stirring, for 1 minute. 
Add tomato puree and cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. 
Stir in half-and-half and yogurt. 
Reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring frequently. 
Season with salt, pepper and cayenne. 
Remove from heat and set aside. 
Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large heavy skillet over medium heat. 
Cook chicken until lightly browned, about 10 minutes. 
Reduce heat and season with 1 teaspoon garam masala and cayenne. 
Stir in about 1/3 of the sauce and simmer until liquid has reduced and chicken is no longer pink, about 5 minutes. 
Pour the rest of the sauce into the chicken. Mix together cornstarch and water, then stir into the sauce. Cook for 5 to 10 minutes.

Monday, August 10, 2020

Salmon with Creamy Cucumber-Dill Salad

Grilled salmon with a tangy and refreshing cucumber salad over top makes a light and easy weeknight dinner.
Servings: 4




Ingredients

For the Salmon
  • 4 (6-oz) salmon fillets, skin on
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • kosher salt
  • freshly ground black pepper

For the Cucumber-Dill Salad

  • 1 English cucumber (also called hothouse cucumber)
  • 1/3 cup finely sliced red onion, from one small red onion
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sour cream
  • 3 tablespoons mayonnaise, best quality such as Hellmann's or Duke's
  • 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh dill
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar
  • freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Cut the cucumber in half and then slice each half down the middle lengthwise. Use the tip of a teaspoon to scoop out the center seeds. Cut each half into thin slices and place in a colander along with the red onion slices. Toss with salt and let sit in the sink for at least 30 minutes, until the water drains out.

  2. In the meantime, make the dressing: combine the sour cream, mayonnaise,
    white wine vinegar, dill, garlic, sugar and black pepper in a medium bowl and mix well.

  3. When the cucumbers and onions are ready, release any excess water by tapping the colander on the base of the sink, then use a large wad of paper towels to pat the vegetables dry. Add to the dressing and toss well. Cover and chill until ready to serve.


  4. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Clean the grill rack, then brush lightly with oil. Close the lid and let return to temperature. Rub the salmon with olive oil and season generously with kosher salt (about 3/4 teaspoon) and pepper. Place the fillets skin side down and grill until golden brown and slightly charred, 4-5 minutes (resist the urge to peek or flip early; when fillets are nicely seared on the first side, they should release easily). Flip the fillets over and continue grilling until done, 2-3
    minutes. Let cool slightly, remove the skin if desired, and serve with the cold cucumber-dill salad piled over top or alongside.

Pair with

grilled baby potatoes

Thursday, March 28, 2019

Coq au Vin - Rooster with Wine


For best results,  let the finished dish cool and then refrigerate it ’till the next day, skimming any fat from the surface and re-heating the coq au vin very gently.

Photo by Kate Jackson

Ingredients

1/2 cup Harter House thick sliced bacon, cut into 1/4- by 1 1/2-inch strips (optional)
2 or more tablespoons olive oil
3 1/2 to 4 1/2 pounds chicken thighs/legs with skin, thoroughly dried
1/4 cup Cognac or Armagnac
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 bay leaf
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
20 pearl onions, peeled (can use frozen)
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups red wine, preferably Burgundy, Côtes du Rhône, or pinot noir
About 2 cups chicken stock (Homemade is best) or beef stock
1 or 2 garlic cloves, mashed or minced
About 1 tablespoon tomato paste
3/4 pound fresh mushrooms, trimmed, rinsed, and quartered

SIDES
Carrots
Mashed or new potatoes


Directions

To make the coq au vin on your stove top, toss bacon in a heavy-bottomed casserole or pot along with 2 tablespoons oil over medium or medium-high until lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Transfer the  bacon to a plate, leaving the drippings in the pot.

2. Heat the drippings or oil remaining in the pot over medium-high heat. Add the chicken, being careful not to crowd the pieces. (You may need to work in batches). Cook the chicken, turning frequently, until nicely browned on all sides. (If working in batches, return all the chicken to the pot.) Carefully pour the Cognac or Armagnac into the pot and wait until it becomes bubbling hot. If desired—and if you’re brave—ignite the sauce with a match. Let it flame for a minute, gently tilting the pot by its handle and swirling the sauce to burn off the alcohol. To extinguish the flames, simply cover the pan with its lid.

3. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Add the bay leaf and thyme to the pan and then nestle the onions, carrots and potatoes, around the chicken. Cover the pot and let the chicken simmer gently, turning the pieces once, for about 10 minutes.

4. Uncover the pot, sprinkle the flour over everything, and turn the chicken and vegetables so the flour is absorbed by the sauce. Cover and cook, turning once or twice, for 3 to 4 minutes more.

5. Remove the pot from the heat and gradually stir and swirl in the wine and enough stock to almost cover the chicken. Add the bacon, garlic, and tomato paste to the pot, cover, and gently simmer for 25 to 30 minutes. Test the chicken for doneness (there should be no trace of pink and the juices should run clear when the meat is pierced with a knife). Grab some tongs and transfer the chicken pieces to the plate when they’re done.  If the vegetables are not quite tender, continue cooking them in the sauce, then return the chicken to the pot, add the mushrooms, and simmer 4 to 5 minutes. The sauce should be just thick enough to lightly coat the chicken and vegetables. (If the sauce seems too thin, bring it to a boil and cook until the sauce is reduced to the desired consistency. If the sauce is too thick, thin it with spoonfuls of stock.) Taste the sauce and correct the seasoning accordingly. Serve the coq au vin immediately or let it cool, cover, and refrigerate overnight. To reheat, skim any fat that has congealed on the surface of the stew and place the pot of coq au vin over medium-low heat.

NOTE
You can consider incorporating some flavor-making steps that were omitted in the making Julia Child's version of the French classic. back into your coq au vin routine to imbue it with layer after layer of complexity. First, uncork that bottle of red and douse the bird, allowing it to take an overnight bath in the fridge to infuse the meat with a subtle but certain depth of flavor—not to mention a slightly freakish maroon hue. Drain the chicken then pat it dry and continue with the searing, reserving the wine to use during cooking. 
Another easy trick? Sauté those teensy pearl onions in the rendered bacon drippings prior to adding them to the stew for what we think are obvious reasons. Same goes with the mushrooms. And never, ever serve the stew straightaway from the stovetop; rather, let it cool and then refrigerate it ’till the next day, skimming any fat from the surface and heating the coq au vin gently—and we do mean gently—over low heat until warmed through. And you thought you didn’t know how to speak French.


FROM - LeitesCulinaria.com     Adapted from Julia Child's Kitchen
Interesting reading about Julia Child and the History of this recipe.

Notes from cooks
Jackie made mashed potatoes.  She added more mushrooms and pearl onions than the recipe called for, and hungered for even more.  The dish was served with multi-colored baby carrots.  She served an Oregon medium-bodied Pinot Noir with this dish.

Krista served it with egg noodles and a salad, and her guests nearly licked their plates, they loved it so much.

Alice added crunchy French bread for dipping into the extra sauce.

Monday, February 4, 2019

Quick Crispy Chicken Cutlets


This recipe is one of my favorites.  It comes from Home for Dinner with Jamie Deen.  It's an easy recipe, 4-6 servings.   About 1 hour and 30 minutes of prep and cooking.



Quick Crispy Chicken Cutlets


Ingredients
(4) 9-oz boneless, skinless, chicken breasts split OR (8) Chicken Cutlets

Directions


Lay the chicken out on a cutting board. Hold your knife parallel to the cutting board and slice the chicken breasts in half so one breast is now two cutlets. Lay the chicken between two sheets of plastic wrap and pound out with a meat mallet to 1/4-inch thickness. Sprinkle them on both sides with salt and pepper.

Set out three casserole dishes and add the flour to the first. Whisk together the mustard and eggs in the second. Mix together the panko, Parmesan, lemon zest and some salt and pepper in the third.

Dredge each cutlet first through the flour, then in the egg mixture and finally in the panko mixture. Put the chicken pieces on a clean baking sheet and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.

Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet. Once hot, add the cutlets, in batches, and cook for 3 minutes on each side. Remove to paper towels to drain and season again with salt. Put the chicken pieces on a clean baking sheet and place in the warm oven while you cook the second batch.

Serve the cutlets with avocado and lemon wedges.










Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Chicken Francese




Chicken Francese, sometimes called chicken French, is one of those rare restaurant dishes that's truly easy to cook at home. If you can make chicken cutlets, you can make this lemony, buttery recipe; the only difference is an easy pan sauce that brightens the whole plate. This version includes lemon slices browned in butter, which are pretty and tasty but entirely optional. Although the name suggests that it's a French or Italian dish ("Francese" means French in Italian), it's actually neither: Like spaghetti and meatballs, it's a mostly Italian-American invention. Serve with something starchy to soak up every drop of the sauce; pasta is traditional.
 
 
 

Ingredients

  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tablespoons whole milk
  • 1 teaspoon salt, plus more for seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, plus more for seasoning
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • cup olive oil
  • cup vegetable oil
  • 4 to 6 large boneless, skinless chicken cutlets (buy the cutlets thinly sliced, or buy regular boneless breasts and slice them in half horizontally to make thin pieces)
  • 3 to 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 lemon, thinly sliced, seeds removed (optional)
  • ½ cup dry white wine
  • Freshly squeezed juice of 1 lemon, more to taste
  • 2 cups chicken stock
  • 3 to 4 tablespoons freshly minced parsley 

Preparation

  1. In a wide, shallow bowl, whisk eggs, milk, salt and pepper until blended. Place the flour in a separate bowl. Line a baking sheet with paper towels.
  2. In a wide skillet, heat olive and vegetable oils over medium heat until shimmering.
  3. Working in batches to avoid crowding the pan, lightly dredge the chicken in flour and shake off any excess. Dip into egg batter, let excess batter drip back into the bowl and place in the skillet. Fry, turning once, until golden brown on both sides, about 4 minutes per side. Adjust the heat as the cutlets cook so they brown slowly and evenly, with a steady bubbling. Transfer to the paper-towel-lined pan and repeat with remaining cutlets.
  4. When all cutlets are browned, remove the pan from the heat and pour off the oil. Wipe out the pan with paper towels. Return the pan to low heat. 
  5. If making the lemon slices (if not, skip to Step 6 below): Melt 3 tablespoons of the butter and then scatter the lemon slices over the bottom of the pan. Cook, stirring gently occasionally, until the lemon slices are golden and browning around the edges, about 3 minutes. Scoop out the lemon slices and set them aside. 
  6. Add 3 tablespoons of butter, the wine and lemon juice and bring to a boil. Boil until the liquid is syrupy, 3 to 4 minutes. Pour in the stock, bring to a boil and cook until thickened into a sauce, about 5 minutes. (It will thicken more when you add the cutlets.) Taste and adjust the seasonings with lemon, salt and pepper; it should be quite lemony and not too salty.
  7. Reduce the heat, tuck the cutlets into the pan and simmer very gently until the sauce is velvety and the chicken pieces are heated through, about 4 minutes. Turn the cutlets over occasionally in the sauce. Place the browned lemon slices on top. Sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve, spooning some of the sauce over each serving.                  

Monday, October 8, 2018

Parmesan Baked Pork Chops




Ingredients

  • 4 boneless pork chops, 1/2" thick
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1/2 c parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 c Italian bread crumbs
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder

Directions

  1. On a plate combine the last 4 ingredients.
  2. Rub the pork chops with olive oil and then dip (coat) each one in the cheese mixture. Press the mixture over the pork chops to make sure they are well covered in it.
  3. Line a pan with tin foil and spray with cooking spray.  
  4. Place the pork chops on the pan and bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes.
This come from Just a Pinch Recipes 

Monday, April 30, 2018

Chicken Parmesan Lasagna


This recipe is lightened up, but has big Italian flavor!
I use ground chicken here, which is hearty, and full of protein.  I also cut the ricotta cheese waaaaaay down. Many recipes call for up to 2 pounds! I used 2 cups in this recipe, and still found it plenty creamy. I also cut calories by only using the Parmesan and Panko on top of the lasagna.

P.S. For the sauce in this recipe feel free to use your favorite store-bought brand, or try making it homemade!


Ingredients

For the Ground Chicken:
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil (I used extra virgin but use whatever brand/variety you like best)
  • 3 cloves Garlic, minced
  • 2 teaspoons Italian Seasoning
  • 1/4 teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes, optional (but they give a nice kick!)
  • 1 lb. Ground Chicken
  • 1/4 teaspoon Salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon Freshly Ground Black Pepper
For the Panko:
  • 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
  • 1/3 cup Whole Wheat Panko Bread Crumbs
For Lasagna:
  • 12 Lasagna Noodles, boiled according to package
  • 2 1/2 cups Ricotta Cheese (I used whole-milk here, but you may use skim)
  • 1 large egg + 1 egg yolk, at room temperature
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
  • 3 1/2 cups Marinara Sauce, Store-bought or Homemade will work OK
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese, finely grated
Garnish:
  • Fresh Basil and Parsley, chopped

Instructions

For the Ground Chicken:
  1. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-heat. Add the garlic, Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper flakes (if using); saute for 2-3 minutes. Add in ground chicken, salt, and pepper and cook - breaking the meat up with a wooden spoon - until golden brown and cooked all the way through; 6-8 minutes. Transfer the chicken mixture to a clean plate; set aside. Return empty pan to the burner - you will use this again for the panko.
For the Panko:
  1. Heat the olive oil (in the same skillet you used for the chicken) over medium-high heat. Add in the panko bread crumbs and cook, stirring frequently, until crispy and golden. Remove from heat and transfer breadcrumbs to a small bowl; set aside.
For the Lasagna:
  1. Boil 12 lasagna noodles according to package directions. While they're boiling, prepare the ricotta cheese.
For the Ricotta:
  1. In a large bowl, combine the ricotta, egg, egg yolk, salt, pepper, parsley, and basil; set aside.
Assembly:
  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees (F). Spread a 1/4 of marinara sauce on the bottom of a 9x13 pan. Layer with 4 lasagna noodles, 1/3 of the chicken mixture, 1/4 cup of the marinara sauce, and 1/2 cup of the ricotta cheese, and a 1/4 cup of the mozzarella cheese. Repeat this two more times, topping the final layer of noodles with remaining meat, sauce, ricotta, mozzarella, panko bread crumbs, and finally, the Parmesan cheese, in that order. Cover the lasagna tightly with a piece of lightly oiled foil. Bake for 40 minutes, then remove the foil and bake uncovered for 15 more minutes. Allow the lasagna to rest for 10 minutes before cutting and serving. Garnish with fresh parsley and basil.


Creamy Herb Chicken

Quick And Easy Creamy Herb Chicken, filled with so much flavor, ready and on your table in 15 minutes! You won't believe how easy this is!  Perfect served over rice or noodles.





Ingredients
For The Chicken:
  • 4 chicken breasts (pounded 1/2-inch thin)
  • 2 teaspoons each of onion powder and garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon fresh chopped parsley
  • 1/2 teaspoon each of dried thyme and dried rosemary*
  • salt and pepper , to season
For The Sauce:
  • 4 cloves garlic , minced (or 1 tablespoon minced garlic)
  • 1 teaspoon fresh chopped parsley
  • 1/2 teaspoon each of dried thyme and dried rosemary
  • 1 cup milk (or half and half)*
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper , to taste
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon water , until smooth
Instructions
  1. Coat chicken breasts with the onion and garlic powders and herbs. Season generously with salt and pepper.
  2. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil a large pan or skillet over medium-high heat and cook chicken breasts until opaque and no longer pink inside (about 5 minutes each side, depending on thickness). Transfer to a plate; set aside.
  3. To the same pan or skillet, heat another 2 teaspoons of olive oil and sauté garlic, with parsley, thyme and rosemary, for about 1 minute, or until fragrant.
  4. Stir in milk (or cream); season with salt and pepper, to taste.
  5. Bring to a boil; add the cornstarch mixture to the center of the pan, quickly stirring, until sauce has thickened slightly. Reduce heat and simmer gently for a further minute to allow the sauce to thicken more.
  6. Return chicken to the skillet. Sprinkle with extra herbs if desired. Serve immediately.
Recipe Notes
*If you don't like Thyme or Rosemary, substitute these with Basil and Oregano, or use Tarragon.
**For a dairy free option, I find Cashew milk the best in flavor. You can also use almond milk or rice milk.
Yes, heavy cream can be substituted!

This Recipe comes from CafeDelites