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Category Archives: Leftovers

A Fitting Feast Anytime – Make Ahead Fried Chicken

18 Aug

Fried chicken is one of those things people love to eat but hate to make. Granted it is not the healthiest way to eat chicken but to me it has to be one of the tastiest. I may not make it very often because of all the oil it uses the big cleanup that typical follows making fried chicken, but if you can make the time to make a big batch of it (provided the weather is cool enough in your kitchen in the summer to do it), it can be great to have for outdoor parties, picnics or as your favorite meal. Fried chicken is one of those things that tastes great anytime you want it, whether it is for dinner that night, cold for lunch the next day, re-heated or even as a late night snack. I have tried a bunch of fried chicken recipes in the past but recently i have found myself returning to this one from Melissa Clark at New York Times Cooking for make ahead fried chicken. It seems to strike the perfect balance of spices, good coating and great taste.

Make Ahead Fried Chicken

FOR THE MARINADE:

1 quart buttermilk

2 torn bay leaves

2 thinly sliced shallots

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 tablespoons hot sauce

1 tablespoon Old Bay Seasoning

1 teaspoon dry mustard powder

2 tablespoons kosher salt

2 teaspoons cracked black pepper

1 tablespoon honey

12 drumsticks or a mix of chicken pieces, about 2½ to 3 pounds of chicken

FOR THE COATING:

4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon cayenne

2 teaspoons kosher salt

1 teaspoon good chile power such as chipotle powder

Corn, grapeseed or vegetable oil, for frying

Make the marinade: Whisk together all the marinade ingredients, except the chicken, and place the marinade in a large bowl or plastic bag. Submerge the chicken in the marinade, cover the bowl or seal the bag, and let the chicken rest in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or, better, overnight.

Make the coating: In a bowl, whisk together the flour, cayenne pepper, salt and chile powder. Place a paper bag inside another paper bag (this is to prevent seepage, use large bags or several small ones) and transfer the flour mixture into it. This is so you can shake the chicken pieces. (You can also just mix the flour in a large bowl and dredge the chicken parts in it, or use a heavy-duty plastic zipper bag for shaking.)

Take a piece of chicken out of the marinade and place it in the bag with the flour mixture. Close the bag and shake it so the chicken is fully coated. (Or, if you are using a bowl, dredge the chicken in the flour mixture.) Remove the chicken piece and place it on a plate or sheet pan. Repeat the process with the remaining chicken pieces, one by one. Let the chicken rest for 30 minutes so it can come to room temperature. Reserve the coating mixture.

In a large Dutch oven or heavy cast iron skillet with a lid, heat the oil until it reaches 350 degrees on an instant-read thermometer or candy thermometer. Just before frying, shake the chicken pieces in the coating mixture once again, one by one.

Fry the chicken for about 6 to 8 minutes in a covered pan, then uncover the pot and flip the chicken with tongs. Continue frying the chicken for about another 6 to 8 minutes, or until the coating is dark golden brown and the juices run clear when the meat is pricked with a fork.

Place chicken on a wire rack set over a paper-towel-lined baking sheet to drain and cool. Serve the chicken within  8 hours, but it’s best to serve within 4 hours.

The recipe indicates that you could leave the chicken at room temperature for 4 hours, and while you probably could I personally don’t feel right about and refrigerate it. I like cold fried chicken anyway so it’s fine with me and you don’t have to worry about any potential bacteria from leaving the food out too long. I made a mix of chicken pieces – wings, legs, thighs and breasts I had cut in half – and found that the timing worked out well, though I did make the chicken in batches and kept the finished pieces on the rack in a sheet pan in a warm 250 degree oven so that they kept warm. I also checked the temperature of the chicken along the way with my instant-read thermometer to make sure the pieces were at 165 degrees just to be safe. Keep a close eye on your oil and the temperature as you go along if you cook in batches to make sure it stays at the right temp so you can get an even crust on the chicken. The chicken was very flavorful and juicy thanks to the marinade and the double coating you put on the chicken really helps to give it a nice crunch. For the marinade I actually do not always use the Old Bay as Michelle finds it a bit overpowering, so I do occasionally leave it out and the chicken still tastes great. I still use other fried chicken recipes, but this is one that always seem to fall back on as a good go to recipe everyone likes. It tastes just as good the next day for lunch as it does the day you cook it.

That’s all I have for today. Check back next time for another recipe. Until then, enjoy the rest of your day and enjoy your meal!

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Posted by on August 18, 2016 in Dinner, Leftovers, Lunch, Picnic Fare, Poultry

 

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A Simple Side Dish for Any Time – Homemade Fried Rice

30 Jul

Most people love getting takeout Chinese food for dinner once in a while. I know we do it about once a month and there are always standard favorites that we like to get with the meal. Egg rolls are always a given and Michelle and Sean love to get wonton soup, but one thing the whole family loves is the fried rice you can get. While I like all of the fried rice I am always partial to pork fried rice myself. There is something about the taste of the rice with the bits of pork that is just perfect for a Chinese food meal. I have made fried rice before at home and while it never quite comes out just like takeout, it gets pretty close. Of course I don’t have a commercial kitchen, stove and overhead vents to do everything they can do, so I have to make do with what I have. When we had some leftover pork from dinner the other night I decided to use a piece and try this fried rice recipe from Sam Sifton at New York Times Cooking. Of course, this recipe doesn’t have any pork in it originally, but it also doesn’t have some of the other vegetables I added to it to make it a well-rounded dish of vegetables and rice.

Homemade Fried Rice

3 tablespoons neutral oil, like canola or grapeseed

1 medium onion, peeled and roughly chopped

1 red bell pepper, stemmed, cored and roughly chopped

2 carrots, peeled and finely minced

1 tablespoon minced garlic, or to taste

1 cup peas (defrost if frozen)

1 tablespoon minced ginger, or to taste

3 to 4 cups cooked white rice, cooled

2 eggs, lightly beaten

¼ cup Shaoxing wine, or water

2 tablespoons soy sauce

1 tablespoon sesame oil

Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

½ cup minced cilantro or scallions

Put 1 tablespoon of the oil in a wok or a large skillet, and turn the heat to high. When the oil begins to shimmer, add the onion, pepper and carrots and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened and beginning to brown, about 5 to 10 minutes. With a slotted spoon, remove the vegetables to a bowl.

Drain the peas if necessary and add them to skillet; cook, shaking the pan, for about a minute, or until the peas are hot. Remove them to the bowl with the other vegetables.

Put the remaining oil in the skillet, followed by  the garlic and ginger. When the mixture is fragrant, about 15 seconds later, add the rice, breaking up any clumps with a spoon as you go along and tossing it with oil. When the rice is well coated, make a well in the center and break the eggs into it. Scramble the eggs, then stir them into the rice.

Return the vegetables to the skillet and stir everything together to integrate it all well. Add the wine or water and cook, stirring, for approximately 1 minute. Add the soy sauce and sesame oil, then taste and add salt and pepper if necessary. Turn off the heat, stir in the cilantro or scallions and serve.

I added some pork into the dish after the vegetables were done and before the rice, cooked to heat it through for 2 or 3 minutes since it was already cooked, and then removed it from the pan and continued the steps. You could just as easily do the same with chicken, beef, shrimp or anything else that you like. I added in some leftover veggies as well like corn and broccoli because it helped to make the side dish one that was then filled with vegetables and rice, meaning I just needed a protein to make the meal. I loved all of the great flavors from the dish with the eggs mixed in and the sesame oil seems to add the perfect touch right at the end to the rice. This is a great way to make use of all of those leftovers you may have in the fridge and just aren’t sure what to do with them. I served this with some steak for a complete meal but really, if you add enough chicken, pork, shrimp or other protein to the rice it can be a one dish dinner all on its own.

That’s all I have for today. Check back next time for another recipe. until then, enjoy the rest of your day and enjoy your meal!

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Posted by on July 30, 2016 in Cooking, Dinner, Leftovers, Lunch, One Pot Meals, Rice, Stir Fry, Vegetables

 

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Grab Your Summer Sunglasses and Make These 28 Sandwiches Slideshow Photos – Bon Appétit

25 Apr

As the temperatures start to get warmer, I know my thoughts begin to drift more and more to summer. That means spending more time outside and less time in a hot kitchen. For me, there is no better option at mealtime then than sandwiches. I love sandwiches and am happy to eat them for lunch or dinner (and even breakfast sometimes). There are all kinds of great combinations that can make for satisfying and fulfilling meals for you and your family in the summer or anytime. Bon Appetit has put together 28 fantastic sandwich ideas for you to bust out when you want something different. Check it out!

Source: Grab Your Summer Sunglasses and Make These 28 Sandwiches Slideshow Photos – Bon Appétit

 
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Posted by on April 25, 2016 in Breads, Breakfast, Cooking, Cooking Websites, Dinner, Eggs, Leftovers, Lunch, Picnic Fare, Pork, Poultry, Produce, Sandwiches, Sausage, Seafood, Turkey, Vegetables

 

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How to Use Your Rotisserie Chicken Leftovers – Bon Appétit

01 Mar

Rotisserie chicken can be a great weeknight dinner savior. You can pick them up at nearly deli counter or supermarket today and all you need are a couple of easy side dishes like mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, French fries, some veggies or a salad and you are good to go. But what about leftovers? Sure, there are bound to be leftovers from the chicken and the great things is there are lots of good things to do with all of them besides making yourself some sandwiches or chicken salad. Bon Appetit gives you some guidance on what you can do, right down to using the bones from some great stock. Check it out!

Source: How to Use Your Rotisserie Chicken Leftovers – Bon Appétit

 
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Posted by on March 1, 2016 in Cooking, Cooking Tips, Cooking Websites, Dinner, Leftovers, One Pot Meals, Poultry, Salad, Sandwiches, Soups & Stews

 

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Comfort Food Recipes – Bon Appétit

23 Jan

The first real snowstorm of the season is upon us in my area of New York and most of the East Coast today. That means it is the perfect time to think about comfort food recipes that make you feel warm, cozy and full. Bon Appetit has put together 35 recipes that are some of your favorite comfort foods to get you through the cold weather this weekend and all winter long. Check it out!

Source: Comfort Food Recipes – Bon Appétit

 
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Posted by on January 23, 2016 in Beans, Beef, Breads, Cooking, Cooking Websites, Dessert, Dinner, Lamb, Leftovers, Lunch, One Pot Meals, Pasta, Pork, Potatoes, Poultry, Sauce, Sausage, Seafood, Slow Cooker Meals, Soups & Stews, Vegetables

 

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Easy Weeknight Recipes Recipes – NYT Cooking

15 Sep

For most of us, weeknight dinners can prove to be pretty tricky. Very often after a long day at work or school you may not have the energy to make a meal. Throw all of the after-school activities on top and it can make everything even more challenging. NYT Cooking has put together a bunch of recipes that you can make quickly and easily that make for great weeknight dinners for you and your family. Check it out!

Source: Easy Weeknight Recipes Recipes – NYT Cooking

 
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Posted by on September 15, 2015 in Beans, Beef, Cooking, Cooking Websites, Dinner, Herbs, Lamb, Leftovers, One Pot Meals, Pasta, Pizza, Pork, Potatoes, Poultry, Produce, Rice, Salad, Sandwiches, Sauce, Sausage, Seafood, Side Dishes, Slow Cooker Meals, Soups & Stews, Stir Fry, Vegetables

 

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Summer Sandwich Recipes | SAVEUR

30 Jul

Summer Sandwich Recipes | SAVEUR.

I love sandwiches. I think I could eat them for every meal if I had the chance and in the summer sandwiches are perfect for lunch, dinner, picnics, parties, buffets, hanging out outside or just about any time. They take only a little effort, little to no cooking and you can have a great meal without heating up the house. Saveur has put together over 20 great summertime sandwich recipes so you can have great ideas for the summer on any time during the year. Check it out!

 
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Posted by on July 30, 2015 in Beef, Breads, Cooking, Cooking Websites, Dinner, Leftovers, Lunch, One Pot Meals, Picnic Fare, Pork, Poultry, Produce, Sandwiches, Sausage, Seafood, Side Dishes, Vegetables, Vegetarian

 

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Leftovers That Don’t Taste Like Leftovers – NYT Cooking

22 Apr

Leftovers That Don’t Taste Like Leftovers – NYT Cooking.

We all have leftovers from meals that we make and 9 times out of ten you have a hard time figuring out just what to do with them. Sure you can bring them for lunch but to try and turn them into another piece of a meal or main dish for dinner can be tricky. The New York Times Cooking has tried to help out with that with 65 recipes that make use of leftovers for all kinds of occasions and dishes. You can find some new ways to make use of those items  you don’t know what to do with with just a bit of this inspiration. Check it out!

 
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Posted by on April 22, 2015 in Appetizers, Beef, Cooking, Cooking Websites, Dinner, Leftovers, Lunch, One Pot Meals, Pasta, Pork, Potatoes, Poultry, Produce, Rice, Salad, Sandwiches, Sauce, Sausage, Seafood, Side Dishes, Soups & Stews, Stir Fry, Turkey, Vegetables

 

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39 Delicious Things You Can Make In A Skillet

09 Feb

39 Delicious Things You Can Make In A Skillet.

Skillet cooking is a great way to make use of that cast-iron skillet or stainless steel skillet and make a whole meal right in one pan on many occasions. Buzz Feed has put together 39 great skillet recipes to cover everything that you like and more to make delicious, easy meals. Check it out!

 
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Posted by on February 9, 2015 in Beef, Breakfast, Cooking, Cooking Tips, Cooking Websites, Dinner, Equipment, Leftovers, Lunch, One Pot Meals, Pasta, Pork, Potatoes, Poultry, Rice, Sauce, Sausage, Seafood, Stir Fry, Vegetables

 

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Still Have Leftover Lamb? Here’s One More Option For You – Lamb and White Bean Casserole

14 Jan

Okay, so you have made the leg of lamb that you wanted, then you turned around and made some lamb shawarma with some of the leftovers on one night but you still seem to have a lot of lamb left and you are not sure what to do with it. You still always have shepherd’s pie as an option, but as I said yesterday, I was hoping to find something different to do with some of the land. I came across this recipe at the New You work Times Cooking website for a lamb and white bean casserole and while technically it did not use leftover lamb but uncooked lamb shanks and the meat from them, I decided to try to adapt the recipe so that I could make use of some of the leftovers. Naturally the recipe I made does not take nearly as long to cook as the one you would find from the New York Times, but I think it makes really good use of the leftover lamb and turns out a pretty simple meal in under 30 minutes. I will post the recipe that I used here, but you can always check the link for the original recipe if you want to try that one out.

 

Lamb and White Bean Casserole

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 yellow onion, diced

2 carrots, peeled and diced

2 stalks celery, diced

5 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 pound leftover lamb, cut into 1 inch pieces

1 cup dry white wine

2 cups beef stock

1 cup peeled chopped tomatoes

2 teaspoons dried herbs de Provence

6 cups cooked cannellini beans, rinsed and drained if using canned

3 sprigs fresh thyme

 

 

Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a heavy, ovenproof 5 to 6 quart casserole. Add the onions, carrots, celery and garlic, and sauté the vegetables over medium heat, stirring often, until the vegetables are tender, about 6 to 8 minutes. Increase the heat slightly, and when the vegetables begin to brown, remove them from the pot and take the pot off the heat. Preheat the oven to 350°.

 

Season the all-purpose flour with salt and pepper in a large bowl. Toss the lamb pieces in the flour to coat them well. Heat the remaining olive oil in the casserole pan. Add the lamb pieces, and sear them over medium-high heat, stirring until the meat is browned, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the meat from the pot, and add the wine. Cook, stirring, to deglaze the pot and reduce the wine, about 2 minutes. Stir in the beef stock, chopped tomatoes and herbs de Provence. Taste the sauce, and add more salt and pepper if necessary. Return all of the vegetables to the casserole pan, then add the lamb and the cannellini beans. Place the sprigs of time on top of the dish. Place the casserole in the oven and bake for approximately 20 to 25 minutes, until everything is heated through and the beans on the top begin to brown. Serve at once, or set aside in reheat before serving.

 

You do need to be a little bit careful when you making this because you do not want to overcook the lamb that is already cooked in the first place. I found that cooking the dish in the oven for about 20 minutes heated everything through without making the lamb too tough to eat. You got great flavor from all of the vegetables and the beans were a really nice touch to give some added protein to the dish and it really helps to fill you up. This particular casserole was really nice to have on a cold night and the broth that remains underneath the beans has excellent flavor because of the herbs that you use, and from the lamb and the vegetables themselves. Again, this is a nice use for some leftover lamb if you are looking for something different to try or it can be a great dish to serve starting from scratch, but of course you need to follow the original recipe where the lamb would have to be cooked for a longer period of time to make sure that it is cooked all the way through.

 

That’s all I have for today. Check back next time for another recipe. Until then, enjoy the rest of your day and enjoy your meal!

lambandbeancasserole

 
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Posted by on January 14, 2015 in Beans, Cooking, Dinner, Lamb, Leftovers, One Pot Meals

 

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