Fav New Recipe - Bourbon Crack Chicken

I didn’t name it this but after one bite I certainly understood the meaning behind the word “crack” in its title, this could become addicting!I discovered this recipe last week on the Spiced Chefs website.  I had never been to or heard of this site before but found it via another Pinterest pinned recipe and started to explore the site (which I really liked by the way and added to my Google Reader feed).  When I saw this recipe I immediately knew this was one I wanted to make right away but since I was missing a few of the ingredients I added them to my grocery list and picked them up over the weekend.I pulled all the ingredients out and set them on the counter for the morning.  He said it took him about 20 minutes to get it prepped and into the the crockpot.  Next time I think I will make the sauce the night before except for adding the corn starch and chicken.  I would then just add the cornstarch, stir, and pour it over the chicken on the way out the door.  It should then just be a quick 5 minutes.When I walked into the house today the smell was soooooo gooooood I knew before taking off my coat that we had a winner on our hands.  The seasonings were perfect.  Normally I have to add either soy sauce or a little seasoning to a homemade Asian dish, even if those ingredients were in the original recipe, but with this one I didn’t need to add anything.Rarely do I want to eat seconds, with this I could have had thirds.  I will definitely be adding this to my meal rotation and probably double the recipe so that we have plenty of leftovers for the next day or the freezer. The recipe made 4 generous servings with the rice (we are using the 3rd and 4th servings for our lunches tomorrow).For those on Weight Watchers I ran the recipe on the WW site and it is 6 points per serving before the rice. Very reasonable for such a filling meal.Here is the recipe taken directly from the Spiced Chefs website so you can enjoy it as well.Bourbon “Crack” Chicken – Crockpot Style “The original recipe comes from Busy Mom’s Cookbook but we turned it into a crockpot version”.Ingredients-2 lbs boneless chicken breasts cut into bite-size pieces2 tablespoon cornstarch2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil (evoo)1 garlic clove crushed1/4 teaspoon ginger3/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes1/4 cup light apple juice1/3 cup light brown sugar2 tablespoons organic ketchup or chili sauce (depending on how hot you like stuff)1 tablespoon cider vinegar1/2 cup water1/3 cup reduced sodium soy sauceWhisk all ingredients into crock pot and add chicken. Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4.Serve over rice with a side of ginger glazed carrots.

Easy Chicken Pie

This recipe was shared on a blog I enjoy visiting called Pink Papavera.  We really enjoyed it and will be trying it again and again.The ingredients are so simple!1 Pound of Chicken Breasts1 Bag of Frozen Mixed Vegetables4 oz. Cream Cheese (cubed)1/4 C Zesty Italian Dressing-Low Fat1/2 C Chicken Broth2 T FlourDouble Pie CrustCut the chicken breasts into bite sized pieces. Then brown the chicken in the low-fat dressing, (Yeah!! No oil!) Add the flour and mix. Now it’s time to stir in the chicken broth and the cubed cream cheese. When the cream cheese is melted, stir in the veggies until it’s all warm and gooey!Now just lay the bottom crust into your pie pan. I like to use a glass pan because it seems to keep the crust from getting soggy. Tuck the crust into the pan and cut slits in the bottom. This will keep your crust from bubbling up. Now pour your gooey-yumminess mixture inside the crust and take a pair of your kitchen scissors and trim the crust to the edges.Put the top crust on, flute the pie edges (flashback to 8th grade home-ec class) then make a fancy design on top to let the steam escape.There you go! So pretty! And, after years of trying homemade pie crusts, I proudly say that Pillsbury can win the blue ribbon on it. That is not for me!Bake at 375 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until your edges are nice and brown and Voila!

Beefed Up Kebobs

1/3 c red wine vinegar1/4 c ketchup2 tbsp olive oil2 tbsp soy sauce1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce1 tsp Dijon mustard1 tsp salt1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper2 cloves garlic (I use the bottled minced garlic & use about a tbsp)1 lb sirloin cubesCombine all marinade ingredients and mix well. Place beef (and chicken) in a shallow non metallic container (I use a 9×13 glass dish) Marinate, covered, in the refrigerator for 2 hours or longer, turning occasionally. Remove meat from pan and put on skewers. I alternate chicken and beef but you could do them on separate skewers if you like. You could also add vegetables to the marinade and alternate them with the meat if you like as well. Grill or cook in the rotisserie till done.

Simple Crock-Pot Roast

Can’t get any simpler that this:1 roast4-6 white potatoes1 pack Lipton Beef and Mushroom mix1 can beef brothCeleryCarrotsAdd all to crock-pot cook on low 5-6 hours and serve.

Amazingly Good Salisbury Steak

So while talking to mom the other night she mentions a new recipe she found that she thought I would like and was super easy to make (which is really why she mentioned it to me, she knows I am a no thrills cook, it must be easy, fast and good or I just don’t make it). 

She found the recipe in her new Kraft Home Cooking magazine and it was for Salisbury Steak, one of my top 5 comfort meals! She went on to tell me that she had made the recipe and it was “amazingly good” and she had extra patties for me to pick up so I could try it. I am never one to say no to a free meal from mom so I stopped by in between the downpour and after visiting for a while (I didn’t just drop by and dash) we were on our way with six of these “amazingly good” patties. I made up some mashed potatoes, gravy along with some veggies and the last (sadly) the homemade applesauce while the patties were cooking in the skillet. They only took about 8 minutes and the aroma was awesome.I cleared my plate in record time (yes I ate two patties, they were small..don’t judge) and mom was right. They were “amazingly good” and I will be making them again soon.!

Here is a link to the recipe:   Salisbury Steak with Mashed Potatoes & Gravy recipe.

1-1/2 lb.  lean ground beef

1pkg.  (6 oz.) STOVE TOP Stuffing Mix for Chicken

1 onion, finely chopped

1 egg

3-1/4 cups  water, divided

1 Tbsp.  oil 1 jar  (12 oz.) beef gravy

MIX first 4 ingredients and 1 cup water. Shape into 6 (3/4-inch-thick) oval patties.

HEAT oil in large skillet on medium-high heat. Add patties; cook 5 min. Turn. Reduce heat to medium; cook 5 min. or until done (160ºF).

Mix gravy with 1/2 cup water; pour over patties. Bring to boil; cover. Simmer on low heat 5 min.

*** Mom substituted the Stove Top Chicken Dressing with Stove Top Savory Dressing and it really gave it flavor. I think that is a change I will keep.

Try it, I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Perfect Winter Dinner -Creamy Ranch Chicken

4- 6 slices bacon4 Chicken Breasts2 tbls Flour2 tbls Dry ranch salad dressing1 1/4 cup milk3 cups dried noodles1 tbls Finely shredded Parmesan cheese Cut bacon into narrow strips, cook until crispDrain bacon discard all but 2 tablespoons drippingsIn same skillet cook chicken in drippings until tender, turning to brown evenlySprinkle flour and salad dressing mix over chicken in skillet, stir wellStir in milk, cook and stir until thickened and bubbly, Cook one minute longerStir in bacon. Serve over noodles, sprinkled with Parmesan.