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Let’s Get Wild! Creamy Lemon Chicken with Wild Rice

For a lot of people, when you are deciding on a side dish to make with your dinner, the easy fallback is always to go with white rice or a potato. They are great sides to make, no doubt about it, and you don’t have to think much about them to make a baked potato or cook up some white rice. However, once in a while you need to have something different. It can get pretty boring if you eat just plain white rice all of the time. We eat a lot of rice in our house so I actually always have a few different options available that we can use for rice. There is always white rice, but I also have brown rice, jasmine rice, arborio rice for risotto and wild rice. I also try to keep a good selection of beans and other grains like quinoa or couscous around for those days when we really want something different. Now not everyone is a big fan of the wild rice option. Sean would prefer I didn’t make it since he doesn’t really care for it, but Michelle and I both like the flavor and texture it provides to a meal. Technically, wild rice is a combination of four separate grasses and the grain that is harvested from them. There are three species that are grown in North America – Texas wild rice, Northern wild rice, and wild rice – and one species that is grown in China. If you want to learn a little bit more, the Wikipedia entry on wild rice is interesting.

In any case, you can find wild rice pretty readily in most supermarkets. The great thing about is, that like other grains, when it is uncooked it can last almost indefinitely so you can get some to keep in your pantry and always have it available. I find that it goes particularly well with chicken dishes and fish and takes to a sauce really nicely, so this recipe from Delish for creamy lemon chicken with wild rice seemed like a great dinner to cook.

Creamy Lemon Chicken with Wild Rice

6–8 bone-in, skin on chicken thighs

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Extra-virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon butter

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 onion, chopped

1/2 cup dry white wine (such as Sauvignon Blanc) or water

1 chicken stock

2 lemons

1/4 cup heavy cream

1 cup wild rice

1/4 cup chopped parsley

Preheat the oven to 475 degrees. Preheat a large cast iron skillet on high heat. Rinse the chicken and pat dry the chicken thoroughly with paper towels; season the chicken with salt and pepper. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter to the skillet. Cook the chicken skin side down in two batches until the skin is crisp and golden brown, about 5 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a dish skin side up and set it aside.

Reduce the skillet heat to medium-high. Add the garlic, onion, 1 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper and cook for 1 minute. Deglaze the pan with the white wine and chicken stock; scrape the bottom of the pan and bring the mixture to a boil. Add the zest and juice of one lemon, then cut the remaining lemon into wheels and add it to the sauce. Stir in the heavy cream; bring the mixture to a boil and place the chicken in the skillet skin side up in a single layer. Bake the chicken in the oven for 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, cook the wild rice according to the package directions.

Add the cooked wild rice to the skillet to absorb the sauce. Garnish the dish with parsley and serve in the skillet immediately.

The wild rice can take anywhere from about 25 minutes to close to an hour depending on what type you buy, so I started my rice the same time I started the chicken and had both done at about the same time. If you like lemon sauce this one is certainly for you. The lemon really stands out and the sauce goes well with the chicken and the rice. You could make this an almost one pot meal if you put some vegetables in alongside the chicken when you bake it, like peas, asparagus, broccoli (it seems to need something green to me) or any other vegetable you prefer that will take well to baking and the lemon sauce. The dish thickens up nicely when you add the rice into it and it makes for a nice hearty meal during the week that is easy to make. I used chicken thighs because that is what the recipe called for and I always have them on hand in the freezer since they are inexpensive, but you could use any type of chicken pieces that you like best; just adjust your cooking time to be sure it is cooked through all the way or not overcooked (as could easily happen with boneless breasts).

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!

2 Comments

Posted by MikeG on July 11, 2016 in Cooking, Dinner, Poultry, Rice, Uncategorized

Tags: creamy lemon chicken, creamy lemon chicken thighs with wild rice, creamy lemon chicken with wild rice, Delish, Delish creamy lemon chicken, wild rice, wild rice recipe

Decadent, Delightful and Delicious – White Chocolate Raspberry Cupcakes with Raspberry Buttercream

10 Jul

I am not much of a baker myself but I do like to try to make things every now and then beyond the pies that I make. That being said, there are people I know that are much better at baking and do things a lot more extravagant than I can do. It has to be a recipe that really interests me for me to want to venture over to the baking side and make things, but it does happen now and then. That is what happened when I saw this recipe from Williams-Sonoma for white chocolate raspberry cupcakes with a raspberry butter cream. They just looked too good not to try to when I looked over the recipe it looked like something that I could actually make a pretty good go of without trouble. I actually combined this recipe with a recipe I saw for raspberry buttercream because I wanted to have a more predominant color to the frosting.

White Chocolate Raspberry Cupcakes with Raspberry Buttercream

For the cupcakes:

2 cups (10 oz./315 g) all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup (4 oz./125 g) unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 cup (8 oz./250 g) granulated sugar

3 large egg whites, at room temperature

1/2 cup (4 fl. oz./125 ml) milk, at room temperature

2 oz. (60 g) white chocolate, chopped and melted

1 container (6 oz./185 g) fresh raspberries

For the raspberry buttercream:

1 cup fresh raspberries

½ cup butter, softened

2 cups powdered sugar

Chunk of white chocolate, for shaving (optional)

Preheat an oven to 350 degrees. Line 12 standard muffin cups with paper liners.

To make the cupcakes, in a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.Using an electric mixer, beat together the butter and sugar on medium speed until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 3 to 5 minutes. Add the egg whites and beat until they are blended, scraping down the bowl as needed. Add the flour mixture in 3 additions alternately with the milk in 2 additions, starting and ending with the flour mixture. Beat the mixture just until it is combined. Stir in the white chocolate just until it is blended, then gently fold in the raspberries. Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin cups, dividing the batter evenly among the cups.

Bake the cupcakes until they are puffed and light golden and the center springs back slightly when touched, about 25 minutes. Let the cupcakes cool completely on a wire rack, about 30 minutes.

To make the raspberry buttercream, add the raspberries to a food processor. Pulse the raspberries until they become a thick sauce. Push the raspberry puree through a sieve to extract the juice and get rid of the seeds. Set the raspberry sauce aside.

In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream the butter on high for about 2-3 minutes to get a creamy fluffy texture. Add in the powdered sugar and raspberry sauce on low-speed until they are combined. If the frosting is too runny add more powdered sugar. If it is too thick add some milk.

Spoon the buttercream into a pastry bag fitted with a star tip and pipe the buttercream onto the cooled cupcakes. Shave curls from the chunk of white chocolate and sprinkle over the cupcakes if desired or top with a fresh raspberry, if desired.

The cupcakes can be stored on the counter at room temperature for a day or two and in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

I admit it was a bit of work to get the raspberry sauce through a sieve to get all of the seeds out but the hard work is well worth it to give you a smooth raspberry sauce for the frosting. These cupcakes are very tasty, with the raspberry and white chocolate shining through. If you prefer to have cupcakes without a whole raspberry inside, you could certainly take the whole raspberries and make a sauce from them and then pipe it into the center of the cupcakes so you get the raspberry flavor without the whole raspberry in there, but I liked it with the raspberry inside. I think they came out well and tasted better being in the refrigerator where the buttercream firmed up and had a great texture. This makes a great summer dessert as an alternative to making a cake or pie.

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 MikeG on July 10, 2016 in Cakes, Cooking, Dessert, Fruit, Picnic Fare, Snacks, Uncategorized

Tags: cupcake recipe, cupcakes, raspberry butter cream frosting, raspberry buttercream, white chocolate raspberry cupcakes, White Chocolate Raspberry cupcakes with raspberry buttercream, williams-sonoma, Williams-Sonoma white chocolate raspberry cupcakes

You Can Bake a Cherry Pie Very Long John, Just Bake This One

09 Jul

The season for fresh cherries is pretty short so if you like cherries you want to make the most of the time you have them, which is right now. For me cherries are great to just snack on, but there are lots of great things you can do with them as well. They make a great addition to dishes using duck or pork, but naturally everyone thinks of dessert right away when they think of cherries. I am a big pie fan myself, so making cherry pie seems like the natural thing to do. Now the idea of pitting several pounds of cherries does not really appeal to me, as I am sure it doesn’t for a lot of people. However, if you really like cherry pie and want to make some of your own, you can make a good compromise and use some frozen cherries mixed with fresh cherries. The frozen cherries, like most frozen fruit, are packaged and frozen when the cherries are ripe so they have good flavor and the pitting has already been done for you. If you mix this together with some fresh cherries you pit yourself, it makes things a lot easier. If you really want to streamline things, and I did, it is worth investing in a good cherry pitter. I have one from OXO that does a fantastic job instead of doing it myself with a paring knife and ending up with cherry stained hands and cramps in my fingers. Once you have a plan for your cherries, you want to try this cherry pie recipe from Serious Eats. It’s the best cherry pie recipe I have ever tried.

Homemade Cherry Pie

For the Filling:

5 heaping cups pitted cherries from about 2 pounds whole fruit (6 heaping cups), or a mix of frozen cherries and fresh pitted cherries

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice from 1 small lemon

1 cup granulated sugar

3/4 teaspoon kosher salt; for table salt, use half as much by volume or use the same weight

1/3 cup plus 1 teaspoon tapioca starch

Pie dough from your favorite recipe for a double crust or 2 store-bought pie crusts

For the Egg Wash:

1 large egg

1 large egg yolk

1 tablespoon heavy cream

1/8 teaspoon kosher salt

To Serve (optional):

Fresh or store-bough whipped cream

For the filling: Combine the pitted cherries, lemon juice, sugar, salt, and tapioca starch in a large bowl, folding the ingredients with a flexible spatula until they are well combined. Scrape the cherries into the prepared pie shell and top with the remaining dough, using a solid sheet, cutouts, or a lattice-top design. Trim away the excess dough and refrigerate the pie to ensure that the top crust is completely chilled, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, adjust an oven rack to the lower-middle position and pre-heat to 400 degrees.

For the egg wash (if using): Whisk the egg, egg yolk, heavy cream, and salt in a small bowl. Brush the wash over the chilled top crust in a thin, even layer. This will give the crust a glossy, golden sheen, but it is not necessary in any way.

Place the chilled pie on a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet. Bake the pie in the oven until the crust is golden, about 1 hour, then loosely cover the pie with tented foil. Alternatively, an empty baking sheet can be placed on the topmost rack of the oven to serve as a shield. Continue baking the pie until the filling is bubbling even in the very center of the pie, about 15 minutes more. If the crust completely covers filling, bake the pie until the pie reaches an internal temperature of 213 degrees on an instant-read digital thermometer inserted into the pie. The time can vary considerably depending on the thickness and type of pie plate, the amount of top crust, how long the pie was refrigerated, etc.

To serve: Cool the pie until it is no warmer than 85 degrees on an instant-read digital thermometer inserted into the pie, about 3 hours depending on the type of pie plate you use. At higher temperatures, the filling will be runny and thin. Slice the pie into wedges with a sharp knife, pressing firmly against the bottom and sides of the pie plate to ensure the under-crust is completely cut. If you like, serve the pie with whipped cream. Wrapped in foil, the leftovers will keep up to 3 days at room temperature; warm the pie for 10 minutes in a 350 degree oven to revive the crust before serving.

This pie turned out perfectly. In the past when I have made cherry pie, even if I used cornstarch or tapioca, it always seemed to run too much. This one held together perfectly, even with using frozen cherries that I thought for sure would bleed out. The tapioca was just the right amount and chilling the pie for 30 minutes before cooking seemed to help in holding everything together and making the perfect crust. You can mix and match the cherries to suit what you like, using sweet and sour cherries if you like. A couple of things to note that Serious Eats comments on: first, the ratio of fruit to sugar in this recipe helps to boost the tapioca starch so that it gelatinizes well. Second, use a glass pie plate if you can because it helps to crisp the bottom crust well so it cuts nicely and holds up. A final note from me is that I used instant tapioca since I couldn’t find tapioca starch at any local store here. I was worried about how well it would work instead of tapioca starch but all went well for me. This pie is easily one of my favorites.

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 MikeG on July 9, 2016 in Cooking, Dessert, Fruit, Pie, Uncategorized

Tags: bake a cherry pie, cherry pie, cherry pie recipe, fresh cherry pie, Serious Eats, Serious Eats cherry pie

Don’t Take it Off! Skin-On Crispy Chicken Cutlets with Tomato Panzanella

01 Jul

When it comes to cooking chicken, boneless, skinless chicken breasts seem to be what everyone really wants to use. They are the healthier option when it comes to eating chicken and in my family it is Sean’s personal favorite for a meal. The problems I have with boneless chicken breast are one, they are often the most expensive chicken pieces in the store and two, you really need to do a lot to them to add some flavor to them. Don’t get me wrong – I love boneless breasts, but I find the thighs have more flavor to them. When I do use boneless breasts it is very often in chicken salad, a stir-fry or in soup. However, lately I have been going a different route with chicken. I find that I buy a whole chicken and butcher it up myself into pieces. This is often cheaper than buying boneless chicken and only takes a few minutes to do if you have a good boning knife and cleaver. I also buy bone-in breasts when they are on sale and then just take the breast meat off the bone with my boning knife and save the bones in the freezer for when I have enough to make some chicken stock. This gives me everything I want. So when I saw this recipe from Bon Appetit for crispy chicken cutlets with tomato panzanella it sounded great. I could leave the skin on the chicken breasts, Sean gets the white meat he wants and we get great flavor – everyone is happy.

Crispy Chicken Cutlets with Tomato Panzanella

¼ small onion, thinly sliced

3 tablespoons distilled white vinegar, divided

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

6 tablespoons olive oil, divided

1 cup torn country-style bread, (from about ¼ small loaf)

2 skin-on, bone-in chicken breasts

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 pound cherry tomatoes

Pinch of sugar

¾ cup parsley leaves with tender stems

Combine the sliced onion and 2 tablespoons of the vinegar in a small bowl. Season the onions with salt and pepper and set the bowl aside.

Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the torn bread; season it with salt and pepper. Cook, tossing the bread, until it is golden brown, about 5 to 8 minutes. Transfer the bread to a medium bowl. Wipe out the skillet.

Using a thin, sharp knife, cut the bones and cartilage from the chicken breasts. Save the bones to use for making stock at a later time. Pound the chicken between 2 sheets of plastic wrap until it is about ¼” thick; season the chicken with salt and pepper.

Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in the empty skillet set over medium-high heat. Cook 1 chicken breast, skin side down, until it is golden brown and nearly cooked through, about 4 minutes. Turn the chicken breast and cook it until it is cooked through, about 1 minute more; the second side will not brown. Transfer the chicken breast to a platter. Repeat the process with the remaining chicken cutlet and 1 tablespoon of the vegetable oil (there is no need to wipe out the skillet).

Cut half of the tomatoes in half. Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in the same skillet set over medium-high heat. Add the whole tomatoes; season the tomatoes with salt and pepper. Cook, tossing occasionally, until the tomatoes are lightly blistered and starting to burst, about 5 minutes. Toss in the sugar and the remaining 1 tablespoon of the vinegar. Transfer the tomatoes to the bowl with the croutons. Add the pickled onion with the pickling liquid, the halved tomatoes, parsley, and the remaining 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and toss it all together. Serve the chicken with the panzanella spooned over it.

This is a great weeknight meal that does not take a lot of effort. I did not have cherry tomatoes on hand that day but I did have some whole tomatoes that I cut up to use instead, though I think the cherry tomatoes would make it better. Pickling the raw onions helps to take out a lot of the bite that raw onions often have, but if you are not a fan of raw onion you can always leave it out. You might want to try it with red onion instead. I find red onion more pleasing when it is raw or pickled. The chicken was done nicely and the crispy skin really added to the flavor of the dish. If you are a stickler for boneless chicken and don’t want the skin you can always leave it off and cook it that way, but I think in this recipe it loses something without the skin. I used torn-up bread from my favorite bread recipe since I make that bread all of the time, but any french bread our sourdough or anything like that will do nicely. I served it with some green beans and leftover mashed potatoes, though you don’t need any potatoes at all with this meal.

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 MikeG on July 1, 2016 in Cooking, Dinner, Poultry, Salad, Uncategorized

Tags: bon appetit, Bon Appetit chicken cutlets with tomato panzanella, boneless chicken breast recipe, chicken cutlets with tomato panzanella, crispy chicken cutlets with tomato panzanella, skin-on boneless chicken breasts, tomato panzanella

Anytime is Burger Time! Turkey Burgers with Caramelized Pineapple

30 Jun

I love a good hamburger (and probably even a bad one). Burgers make a quick and easy meal, taste great and we always seem to think about them more in the summertime because it is the perfect time to grill. I like to cook burgers all year-long and since I don’t have an outdoor grill to use I make use of my trusty cast iron skillet, nonstick skillet or cast iron grill pan to get the job done for me. Having the same old traditional hamburger can get a little boring at times so I do like to vary things up now and then. That is why when I saw this recipe from the Tasting Table I knew I wanted to give it a try. The original recipe calls for using ground chicken, but I find ground chicken to be pretty bland. Ground turkey may not sound that much better to some people, but I use it a lot more because it seems to hold up better and takes on other flavors really well so I decided to substitute that into this recipe. Besides, I had just gotten some ground turkey on sale at the grocery store so this was the perfect way to use it.

Turkey Burgers with Caramelized Pineapple

For the Turkey Patties:

1¼ pounds ground turkey

¼ cup crème fraîche or sour cream

1 tablespoon chopped parsley

2 teaspoons chopped chervil

2 teaspoons kosher salt

2 eggs

1 shallot, minced

Freshly ground pepper, to taste

For the Caramelized Pineapple:

2 cups (12 ounces) finely chopped pineapple

1 cup white wine vinegar

2½ tablespoons honey

½ yellow onion, minced

1 cup water

Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

For Assembly:

2 tablespoons olive oil

4 hamburger rolls, toasted

Arugula, for garnish

To make the turkey patties: In a medium bowl, add all the turkey patty ingredients and mix them together until they are incorporated completely. With your hands, form 4 equal-sized patties from the mixture and place the patties on a plate; cover the plate with plastic wrap then chill the patties in the refrigerator for 1 hour. This will help them to firm up and hold together nicely during cooking.

Meanwhile, make the caramelized pineapple: In a large skillet set over medium heat, combine the pineapple, white wine vinegar, honey and onion. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook until the vinegar has completely evaporated, about 20 to 25 minutes.

Once the pineapple begins to caramelize, stir in the water. Simmer the mixture until the pineapple thickens to form a compote, another 6 to 8 minutes. Season the pineapple with salt and pepper to taste.

Cook the burgers: In another large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the turkey patties and cook, flipping once, until the patties are golden brown and their internal temperature reads 165 degrees on an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of a patty, about 4 to 5 minutes per side.

5. Assemble the burgers: On each toasted bun bottom, place a turkey patty, then top each with a spoonful of the caramelized pineapple, a handful of arugula and the other bun half and serve.

This is probably one of the best turkey burger recipes I have tried. The turkey was cooked just right and it was moist and flavorful, something I always worry about with turkey burgers. I think the sour cream really helps to add moisture and flavor to the burger. The pineapple is great as well, though I did find that it took me more than 25 minutes to completely get all of the vinegar evaporated in the initial step. I took me more like 30 to 35 minutes, but it was okay with me. The pineapple came out nicely caramelized and was great on the burger. I could see using that type of pineapple for other dishes, like a pulled pork sandwich or even as a side dish for a pork dinner. Sean added a piece of cheddar cheese to his burger to round things off and really enjoyed it. I even I had enough turkey to make a couple of extra burgers that we could have for lunch the next day since I did not make them too large.

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 MikeG on June 30, 2016 in Cooking, Dinner, Fruit, Grilling, Lunch, Poultry, Sandwiches, Turkey, Uncategorized

Tags: caramelized pineapple, chicken burgers, chicken burgers with caramelized pineapple, pineapple, Tasting Table, Tasting Table chicken burgers with caramelized pineapple, turkey burger, turkey burger recipe, turkey burgers with caramalized pineapple

It’s Never Too Hot for Turkey – Herb-Roasted Boneless Turkey Breast

27 Jun

Okay, the last thing you probably think about as you go into June, July and the rest of the summer is turkey. Just the idea of making a turkey is very often enough to make someone start sweating and wondering when the Christmas tree is going up. However, in my home, turkey is always a family favorite. It is one of Michelle’s favorite meals and since she has been traveling quite a bit lately I like to make her a favorite when she does come home. However, finding a whole turkey this time of year is next to impossible and having the desire to heat up the whole house for hours on end is not at the top of my list. That being said, I had ventured out to Fresh Market not that long ago and found a boneless turkey breast half that was just about 2 1/2 pounds, making it ideal for us. I picked it up and then discovered this recipe at Taste of Home for a very simple herb-roasted turkey breast that was perfect for what I wanted to do.

Herb-Roasted Boneless Turkey Breast

6 tablespoons butter, cubed

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1 tablespoon chopped green onion

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram

1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon rubbed sage

1/4 teaspoon salt, optional

1/8 teaspoon pepper

1 boneless skinless turkey breast half (2 pounds)

In a small saucepan set over medium heat, combine the cubed butter, lemon juice, soy sauce, green onion, thyme, marjoram, rubbed sage, salt (if using) and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil then remove the saucepan from the heat and set it aside to cool, about 10 minutes.

Place the boneless turkey breast on a rack in a greased shallow roasting pan. Spoon some of the butter mixture over the top of the turkey breast. Cover the turkey breast with aluminum foil and bake it at 325 degrees, basting along the way every 15 to 20 minutes with the remaining butter mixture, for 1-1/4 to 1-3/4 hours or until the juices run clear and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast reads 170 degrees.

Let the turkey breast stand for 10-15 minutes before slicing.

I did have a couple of slight variations that I added to the original recipe. First, the turkey breast I used did have skin on it and I left it on. I could have removed it easily enough, but who doesn’t like turkey skin? In order to crisp the skin up a little, I removed the foil cover about 15 minutes before the turkey was done and turned the heat up to 375 degrees. The skin crisped and the turkey breast did not dry out. I also roasted some broccoli crowns, a quartered onion and corn on the cob pieces in the pan along with the turkey. They picked up some the good flavor from the herb mixture on the turkey and went well with the meal. The turkey was cooked nicely, sliced perfectly and we were able to have a nice turkey dinner with mashed potatoes and vegetables even though it was 90 degrees outside. If you have a grill you could certainly do a piece this small on the grill as well in a shorter amount of time and not heat up the house at all.

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!

1 Comment

Posted by MikeG on June 27, 2016 in Cooking, Dinner, Herbs, Poultry, Turkey, Uncategorized

Tags: boneless turkey breast, boneless turkey breast recipe, herb-roasted boneless turkey breast, roasted boneless turkey breast, Taste of Home

The Perfect Side Dish – Hasselback Potato Skillet Bake

26 Jun

Side dishes don’t necessarily get a lot of love from people when it comes to the meal, especially during the week when you may be in a bit more of a rush to get a meal on the table for dinner. It’s really easy to just throw a few potatoes in the microwave or use some instant or quick rice and frozen vegetables to complete your meal. I very often use frozen vegetables myself because they are quick, easy and can very often taste just as good as fresh for certain things. When it comes to having some type of starch with a meal though, I want to go beyond the basic baked potato, instant rice or french fries. That is why making this dish can be the perfect compromise. Hasselback potatoes seem all the rage over the last year or so and you can find lots of different recipes and variations on them, but this one I found at Food52 seemed to be the right one for me.

Hasselback Potato Skillet Bake

6 to 8 baby Yukon Gold potatoes (any long and narrow waxy heirloom will work), based on the skillet size you use

8 tablespoons butter, melted

4 garlic cloves, minced

4 tablespoons finely minced herbs (I used parsley and thyme.)

4 tablespoons grated Parmesan (optional)

Salt and pepper, to taste

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Scrub the potatoes thoroughly and remove all the hard bits from the skin since the skins will be left on.

Slice one thin layer off each potato, along the length, then set it aside. This serves as a solid base to rest on while you slice the potatoes. Place a potato flat side-down and use a sharp knife to make slices that are about 1/8-inch apart; slice into the potato but not completely through it — the slices should stay connected at the bottom. (Tip: Place a chopstick on either side of the potato so that you hit the chopstick before slicing all the way through.) Carefully fan out the sliced pieces without breaking them apart. Repeat with each potato.

In a small mixing bowl, combine the melted butter, garlic, and minced herbs. Set the mixture aside.

Using a pastry brush, brush the bottom and the sides of a cast iron skillet and each potato with the garlic-herb butter mixture. Brush the potatoes generously, making sure to get in-between each slice. Reserve 1/3 of the garlic-herb butter for basting. Nestle the potatoes into the skillet. Sprinkle the potatoes with Parmesan cheese, if using, and salt and pepper, to taste.

Bake for 1 hour — basting the potatoes every 15 minutes with the remaining garlic-herb butter — or until the potatoes are tender on the inside and crisp on the outside.

They are very easy to make whenever you might want them. It might take a little practice in cutting through the potatoes to make sure you don’t go all the way through so you can get that nice, fanned look from the potatoes and they cook well on the inside. You get a really great, crisp outside of the potatoes while still having the creamy potato center you like. I have found these can go well with any type of main dish – steak, pork chops, chicken, lamb – and you can pop them in the oven alongside of whatever protein you are making and they will be done at around the same time. If you have any leftovers, slice them all the way through and you can have great potatoes to have with a breakfast of eggs, sausage and bacon or some hash.

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 MikeG on June 26, 2016 in Breakfast, Cooking, Dinner, Potatoes, Side Dishes, Uncategorized, Vegetables

Tags: Food52, Food52 Hasselback potato skillet bake, Hasselback potato recipe, Hasselback potato skillet bake, Hasselback potatoes, potato side dish recipes

This is the Bread Recipe You Have Been Looking For

25 Jun

I have found over the last several months that I really like making bread. I have a good quality bread maker and use it often, but there is also something about making it all yourself from scratch that I get real enjoyment out of. From the time the yeast begins to bloom and you get that great aroma to getting your hands into the dough and kneading away (don’t forget how great of a workout kneading dough for 10 minutes can be for you) to shaping the dough and smelling it baking in the oven to the time you cut into that first piece and see the steam rise from the loaf as you put some soft butter on the warm bread, it can all be quite wonderful. Needless to say I have tried a lot of different bread recipes in this time frame, but the one I always seem to go back to is this one from King Arthur Flour. King Arthur Flour has been a fantastic source for me for inspiration, baking products and recipes and this bread recipe has turned into my favorite. I make this one about every 10 days or so because it gives me two loaves of bread and it is better than anything you can find yourself buying at any grocery store. The best part about it? It is really easy to make yourself.

French-Style Country Bread

For the Starter:

1 cup cool to lukewarm water (90°F to 100°F)

1/2 teaspoon active dry or instant yeast

1 1/4 cups unbleached bread flour or organic bread flour

1/4 cup (1 ounce) white whole wheat flour or whole wheat flour

For the Dough:

all of the starter (above)

1 cup lukewarm water (100°F to 115°F)

3/4 teaspoon active dry or 1/2 teaspoon instant yeast

1 tablespoon sugar

3 3/4 to 4 cups unbleached bread flour or organic bread flour

1 1/2 to 2 1/4 teaspoons salt, to taste

To make the starter: Stir all of the starter ingredients together in a large bowl to make a thick, pudding-like mixture. Cover the starter with plastic wrap and let it rest for at least 2 hours. For the best flavor, let the starter rest longer; overnight (up to 16 hours) is best. If you plan on making the dough in a bread machine, place the sponge ingredients in the bucket of your bread machine and turn the machine on for just a few seconds to mix the ingredients together. Turn the machine off and close the cover, then let the starter rest as directed above.

To make the dough: Stir down the starter with a spoon and add the water, yeast, sugar, 3 1/4 cups of the flour, and the salt. The dough will be a loose, messy mass. Let the dough rest for 12 to 15 minutes, then stir it again; it should become more cohesive and a bit smoother. The dough will handle better once it has had time for the flour to absorb the water while resting and relaxing. By using this method, you’ll tend to add less flour, and have much bigger holes in your finished bread.

Knead the dough, adding more flour as necessary, to make a soft dough, about 10 to 12 minutes.

Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl or plastic container, cover the container with lightly greased plastic wrap, and let the dough rise until it has almost doubled in size (depending on the weather, this could be 1 to 2 hours). If you are going out, or if you prefer, let the dough rise slowly in the refrigerator. If your dough has been refrigerated, allow it to come to room temperature before shaping it. It will warm up and rise at the same time.

Deflate the dough gently, but don’t knock out all the air; this will create those “holes” so important to French bread. For one large loaf, form the dough into a round ball; for two loaves, divide the dough in half and shape into two balls.

Place a semolina or cornmeal-dusted piece of parchment paper onto a baking sheet. Gently place the ball(s) of dough on the baking sheet, seam-side down.

Cover the bread gently with lightly greased plastic wrap and let it rise until it is puffy and about 40% to 50% larger, anywhere from 45 to 90 minutes.

Preheat your oven to 475°F.

Slash or cross-hatch the bread with a sharp knife or lame. Dust the dough with a little flour. Spritz water into the oven with a clean plant mister, and place the bread in the oven. Reduce the heat to 425°F and spritz the oven with water every few minutes for the first 15 minutes of baking.

Bake the bread for about 25 to 30 minutes, or until it’s a rich golden brown, and its interior temperature registers at least 190°F on a digital thermometer. The smaller loaves will bake more quickly, so keep your eyes on them.

Remove the bread from the oven, and cool it on a rack. Store the bread loosely wrapped in paper for a couple of days at room temperature; wrap it in plastic and freeze for longer storage.

If you are normally intimidated by the idea of making a starter or making your own bread, don’t be. This recipe makes things simple for you to do and you come out with bread that you will be proud to call your own. The crust of the bread comes out perfectly (spraying mist in the oven makes a big difference here) and the bread itself has the flavor, smell and look that is divine. The bread is great for sandwiches or to serve with any type of meal, makes great toast and is really great any time you want some. I typically leave one loaf out and freeze the other but I still find they are gone in about two weeks. I purchased a lame (pronounced lahm) from King Arthur so that I could score the bread and I am still learning and working with it, but you can create your own great looks and patterns on the bread with it (just be careful; they use razor blades and are incredibly sharp). You could certainly use your bread machine to do all of the kneading and the rise for you if you wanted to, but I love to do that part myself. It makes me feel like I am really creating something of my own. As I said, I make this recipe a lot and highly recommend 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 MikeG on June 25, 2016 in Breads, Breakfast, Cooking, Dinner, Lunch, Sandwiches, Uncategorized

Tags: bread recipes, country bread, French-style country bread, homemade bread, King Arthur Flour, King Arthur Flour French-style country bread recipe, making bread at home

It Was a Dark and Stormy Banana Bread

24 Jun

I really like banana bread. It not only can make a great dessert item with a little bit of ice cream (go for Ben and Jerry’s Chunky Monkey for the complete banana experience, or make your own homemade banana ice cream), but it also is perfect for a brunch buffet or even just for breakfast on its own. I have tried a few different banana bread recipes and have never been disappointed in any that I have made, so when I saw this one from Joy the Baker I knew it had to be a hit. How could you go wrong by combining two great things – banana bread and a Dark and Stormy? If you have never had a Dark and Stormy, I was introduced to them long ago on a cruise to Bermuda and it’s a great combination of dark rum and ginger beer. this recipe incorporates the concept, though it leaves out the ginger beer and uses ginger instead.

Dark and Stormy Banana Bread

1/2 cup (1 stick) plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 cup lightly packed muscovado brown sugar (or dark brown sugar)

2 large eggs

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1 tablespoon dark rum

2 ripe bananas, mashed

1/2 tablespoon fresh grated ginger

heaping 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

Place a rack in the upper third of the oven and pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Melt the butter in an 9-inch cast iron skillet over medium-low heat. Melt the butter until the crackling subsides and the butter begins to brown. Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the sugar. Whisk until the butter and sugar are thoroughly combined. The mixture may seem broken as the butter won’t completely absorb into the sugar just yet. Allow the mixture to stand and cool for about 5 minutes.

Whisk in the eggs, one at a time. The mixture will begin to emulsify, be glossy and no longer greasy. Whisk in the vanilla and the dark rum. Add the mashed bananas, fresh ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ground ginger and stir to combine.

Add the flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir the mixture carefully until all of the dry ingredients are incorporated. Use a spatula to scrape down the sides and spread the batter evenly across the skillet.

Place the skillet in the oven and bake for 18-25 minutes until mixture is dry on the top, but still slightly soft in the center. Remove the skillet from the oven and allow the banana bread to cool for 15 minutes. Sprinkle the banana bread with powdered sugar if you’d like and enjoy it warm.

There are a few great things about this recipe. Naturally, the first one is in the flavor. It is awesome banana bread, nice and moist with good banana flavor and the dark rum and ginger really shine through here. Second, this bread is the epitome of easy make and clean up since you do everything in one skillet start to finish. It’s a great use of your cast iron skillet and the bread comes out perfectly in color and has some nice texture to it and there’s no extra bowls to have to clean. Add some ice cream or homemade whipped cream to this and you have something great.

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

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Posted by MikeG on June 24, 2016 in Breads, Breakfast, Brunch, Cakes, Cooking, Dessert, Fruit, Uncategorized

Tags: banana bread, banana bread recipes, dark and stormy, dark and stormy banana bread, Joy the Baker

Checking In with Pan-Seared Chicken Thighs with Potatoes and Chorizo

23 Jun

Chicken thighs are pretty much a staple in our house when it comes to dinners. They have great flavor, are versatile and are almost always on sale somewhere. You can get them as they are or boneless and skinless (though they are very easy to bone and remove the skin and can save you money if you just buy them as is) and can use them in nearly any way. They make a great substitute for the typical boneless chicken breasts that you see, cost less and, in my opinion, taste better. I always have some in the freezer available to use for a dinner and this particular dinner, from Cook’s Country, was the one I chose to make. It is for pan-seared chicken thighs with potatoes and chorizo so you get a great mix of flavors here.

Pan-Seared Chicken Thighs with Potatoes and Chorizo

8 (5- to 7-ounce) bone-in chicken thighs

Salt and Pepper

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling

1 1/2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, unpeeled, cut into 1/2-inch chunks

4 ounces chorizo sausage, halved lengthwise and sliced crosswise

8 ounces (8 cups) baby spinach

Smoked paprika

Adjust an oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 375 degrees. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels and then season the chicken with salt and pepper. Heat the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet set over medium-high heat until the oil is just smoking. Add the chicken pieces, skin side down, and cook until the skin is well-browned, about 7 to 10 minutes. Transfer the chicken, skin side up, to a rimmed baking sheet and roast the chicken until the meat registers 175 degrees on instant-read thermometer inserted into one of the chicken pieces, about 15 to 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, add the potatoes to the now-empty skillet and cook, covered, over medium heat until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add the chorizo and cook, uncovered, until the potatoes are tender, about 5 minutes longer. Add the spinach and cook until the spinach is just wilted and the liquid has evaporated, about 2 minutes. Serve the chicken with the potato mixture, sprinkled with the smoked paprika.

You have plenty of options here if you want to change things up along the way. If you and your family prefer white meat you could always substitute boneless chicken breasts or even bone-in chicken breasts. Just adjust the time accordingly so that the chicken is cooked through and not dry. If you prefer a milder sausage, you could always use Italian sausage or even kielbasa with this dish instead, though I liked the spice the chorizo added to the dish with the potatoes. I served the spinach on the side instead of putting it right into the dish with the potatoes, but you could certainly do either. In the end, you end up with some nice crispy chicken pieces that blend well with the potatoes, chorizo and spinach and you get to make a meal that only takes about 30 minutes to do.

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