Posts Tagged ‘chicken’
Baby Chicken Fingers with Apple
January 4, 2013 | 
Author Over the holidays, I got to cook for Luke for the very first time. So today I am sharing my first ever baby food recipe. And to add to the list of firsts, it was his first taste of chicken! This little man eats everything from tofu and salmon, to kale and beets so I was pretty sure these baby chicken fingers would not be turned down.
Look at that happy carnivorous face! Even though these were made for tiny hands (to mash up and destroy before eating evidently), Kate and I enjoyed a couple ourselves. Shh! Don’t tell Luke. But the recipe made so many that he will be happily eating these for awhile. It’s like I am still feeding him without actually being in Boston.
Baby chicken fingers with apple – Luke tested and Kate approved! P.S. I will be posting more pictures of this adorable munchkin in a few days.
One year ago: Pesto Pasta with Chicken Sausage & Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Two years ago: Homemade Vanilla Extract
BABY CHICKEN FINGERS WITH APPLE
Makes about 4 dozen
Ingredients:
16 oz. ground chicken
2 medium carrots
2 medium apples
1 garlic clove
1 small onion
1 egg yolk, beaten
1/2 cup fresh breadcrumbs
Pinch crushed, dried thyme
Pinch freshly ground black pepper
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
- Peel and grate the carrot, apple, garlic and onion (made easy with a food processor fitted with a shredding disk).
- Place into a mixing bowl, along with the ground chicken.
- Add the beaten egg yolk, breadcrumbs, thyme and black pepper. Mix well.
- Take small balls of the mixture and roll into 48 little “sausages”. About 2 inches by 1/2 inch.
- Place on a pan without them touching and bake for 10 mins on each side. Allow to cool.
- Serve, or store some in the freezer for future use.
Source: Adapted slightly from Homemade Baby Food Recipes.
Posted in Appetizers & Snacks, Chicken, Entree | 
Tags: apples, carrots, chicken, onions | 
4 Comments »
Skinny Creamy Italian Chicken Skillet
To make up for yesterday, I am giving you a skinny chicken pasta dish for dinner tonight. That way you won’t feel guilty about all those cookies you will then eat for dessert! For those of you who did not make an eating-habit resolution (like myself), you still need to make this. It’s always a good time to eat something healthy AND delicious.
I’m at a loss of what else to say, because after two weeks of mental freedom I am back to the grind getting ready to set up more 12 hour experiments while attempting to write up two papers to be published on my research and then my dissertation in time to graduate this spring. Eeeek! Hopefully the food juices will not run completely dry inside of my brain in the meantime.
One year ago: Sweet ‘n’ Spicy Hawaiian Pizza
Two years ago: Spinach Tomato Tortellini
SKINNY CREAMY ITALIAN CHICKEN SKILLET
Serves 4
Ingredients:
CHICKEN
1/2 bottle Lowry’s Garlic Herb Marinade
2 Tbsp pesto
4 small chicken breasts
PASTA AND SAUCE
8 oz. penne pasta
2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
1/4 small onion, minced
Salt & pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup reduced sodium chicken broth
8 oz. tomato sauce
1 cup evaporated skim milk
1 tsp all-purpose flour
4 tsp pesto
Crushed red pepper, to taste (optional)
Directions:
- Combine marinade and pesto in a large Ziplock bag then add chicken breasts and squish to coat. Marinade in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, or up to 8 hours.
- Saute marinated chicken in a large skillet sprayed well with non-stick spray over medium heat for 5-6 minutes a side, or until no longer pink in the center. Remove to a plate then cover loosely with foil to stay warm and set aside. Carefully wipe out skillet with a spatula or wet paper towel. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil then season with salt and add penne. Cook until al dente then drain and set aside.
- Still over medium heat, add oil to the skillet then add onions and season with salt and pepper. Saute for 3-4 minutes, or until tender, then add garlic and saute, stirring constantly, for 30 more seconds. Carefully add chicken broth then let simmer until reduced by half, about 2 minutes. Add tomato sauce and evaporated milk then whisk in flour, pesto and crushed red pepper if using. Simmer until thick and bubbly, about 2-3 minutes. Add cooked and drained pasta then toss to combine. Portion out to plates then top with cooked chicken.
Source: Iowa Girl Eats
Chicken with Mustard Cream Sauce
How many of you woke up to piles of snow yesterday? According to the internet, my hometown Rochester (where I am currently for the holidays) got 9 inches. But when my dad went outside he thought we actually accumulated a foot in our location. And the best part is, this is a town that knows how to deal with snow. Whether it’s 9 inches of 12 it’s a piece of cake. But regardless, it was definitely a great day to cozy up.
For the many of you who will be partaking in resolutions of healthier eating in 2013, make this chicken NOW or be prepared to cheat a little on that resolution. Not only is there heavy cream in the mustard sauce, but brandy as well. It’s pretty much impossible to resist. As such, I served it with chopped broccoli to make up for all the cream.
One year ago: Cranberry and Orange Granola
Two years ago: Chicken Scallopine with Sage and Fontina Cheese
CHICKEN WITH MUSTARD CREAM SAUCE
Serves 4
Ingredients:
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp unsalted butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup brandy (or white wine in preferred)
1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
1 Tbsp grainy mustard
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup reduced sodium chicken broth
Salt and pepper, to taste
Directions:
- Cut the chicken breasts in half lengthwise so that you have four smaller, thinner chicken cutlets. Salt and pepper both sides.
- Heat oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook cutlets on both sides until nice and golden brown and cooked through. Remove chicken from the skillet and keep on a plate.
- Reduce the heat to medium. Add the garlic to the pan and saute it for a minute, stirring to make sure it won’t burn. Next pour in the brandy (or wine if using) being careful if cooking over an open flame. Then just let the booze bubble up and cook until it’s reduced by half.
- Throw in the mustards and stir to combine, then pour in the cream. Stir in chicken broth, adding more if the sauce seems too thick. Taste sauce and adjust whatever you think it needs. Add chicken breasts back to the pan, nestling them into the sauce. Allow sauce to cook for another few minutes, shaking the pan if needed to move things around.
- Serve chicken with a green salad or vegetables, spooning the sauce over the top.
Source: Halved from Tasty Kitchen.
Pasta with Butternut Sauce, Spicy Sausage and Baby Spinach
Other than pumpkin, I think butternut squash may be my favorite type of squash. But for some reason I only think to cook with it during the winter and the same with pumpkin during the fall. To solve this problem, I decided to buy more butternut squash than I needed for this recipe, and saved the remaining peeled and cubed pieces in my freezer. Muwahaha! Now to just remember it is there to use later. That may be the bigger problem because if you saw how stuffed my freezer was year-round, you’d understand. “How long has that homemade ice cream been in here?? And what flavor is it? ::sniff::” Seriously happened. Also discovered frozen boxes of Girl Scout cookies the other day. How do you forget about those? Oh yea, they were blocked by the 10 packages of butter I stocked up on when it went on sale. Serious food blogger problems in my fridge.
But I digress, let’s focus on unfrozen food such as this pasta. The butternut squash is pureed to function as the sauce itself, and what a fantastic idea! It’s complimented very nicely with the spicy sausage and the winter-ific sage. And don’t forget the spinach to finish off this healthy meal. But I decided to curb that a little by serving it with pull apart garlic bread. Mmm garlicky carbs.
And a Happy Birthday shout-out to my big brother!! Happy 33rd!
One year ago: Blizzard Oreo Stuffed Chocolate Cookies
Two years ago: Buttermilk Pancakes
PASTA WITH BUTTERNUT SAUCE, SPICY SAUSAGE AND BABY SPINACH
Serves 5
Ingredients:
1 lb. butternut squash, peeled and diced
10 oz. pasta of your choice
11 oz. (4 links) spicy chicken Italian sausage
1 Tbsp butter
1/4 cup shallots, minced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups baby spinach, roughly chopped
2 Tbsp fresh shaved Parmesan cheese
4 sage leaves, sliced thin
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Directions:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add butternut squash and cook until soft. Remove squash with a slotted spoon and place in a blender or food processor, blend until smooth.
- Add pasta to the boiling water and cook according to package directions for al dente, reserving at least 1 cup of the pasta water before draining.
- Meanwhile, in a large deep non-stick skillet, sauté sausage over medium heat until browned, breaking up with a spoon as it cooks. When cooked through, set aside on a plate.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and melt the butter, sauté the shallots and garlic until soft and golden, about 5 – 6 minutes. Add pureed butternut squash, season with with salt and fresh cracked pepper and add a little of the reserved pasta water (I used about 1 cup) to thin out the sauce to your liking. Add baby spinach and stir in Parmesan cheese and sage.
- Toss in cooked pasta and sausage and mix until well coated.
- Serve with additional Parmesan cheese on the side if desired.
Source: Gina’s Skinny Taste
Posted in Chicken, Entree, Pasta | Tags: butternut squash, chicken, italian sausage, sage, shallot, spinach | 4 Comments »
Arugula Pesto Pasta
Time for November’s Secret Recipe Club! This month I was assigned to K&K Test Kitchen, a blog run by a mother-daughter pair where they document the results from recipes they have collected over the years.
Pesto seems to make everything better. And with the ease at which it can be made, all kinds of variations have popped up. Since I had yet to try pesto made with arugula I decided to try it out, despite the copious amount of regular pesto I have stocked up in my freezer. The peppery bite of the arugula was a great change from traditional pesto and I especially loved the addition of sun-dried tomatoes. I am very glad that there is some leftover from this recipe to use later on.
Check out some more great K&K Kitchen recipes such as Blueberry Quinoa Breakfast Salad, and Tart Cranberry Doughnut Glaze to use up any leftover cranberry from Thanksgiving.
Two years ago: Caramel Apple Pie
ARUGULA PESTO PASTA
Serves 4
Ingredients:
PESTO
4 cups arugula
3 cloves garlic
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
1/2 cup walnut pieces
3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper
PASTA
1/2 pound whole wheat linguini
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/4 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Spray a glass baking dish with a bit of cooking spray or lightly coat with olive oil, set aside.
- To make the pesto, prepare an ice water bath in a large bowl, and bring a large pot of water to a boil. Put the arugula in a large sieve and plunge it into the boiling water. Immediately immerse all the arugula and stir so that it blanches evenly. Blanch for about 15 seconds. Remove (leaving the water boiling), shake off the excess water, then plunge the arugula into the ice water bath and stir again so it cools as fast as possible. Drain well.
- Squeeze the water out of the arugula with your hands until very dry. Roughly chop the arugula and put in a blender. Add the garlic, salt and pepper to taste, and walnuts. Blend for at least 30 seconds. Add the olive oil and blend. Then, add the cheese and pulse to combine. (The pesto will keep several days in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator.)
- Place the chicken in the dish and spread 1 to 2 tablespoons of pesto on top of each chicken breast. Bake for 30 minutes.
- While the chicken is cooking, add the pasta to the boiling water and cook until it is al dente. Drain and reserve 1/2 cup of cooking water. Put the pasta back into the pot, along with 1/2 cup (or more if you prefer) arugula pesto, sun-dried tomatoes, and the cooking water. Stir well to combine. Serve with the cooked and sliced pesto chicken. Reserve the rest of the pesto for dipping bread or as a spread for sandwiches.
Source: K&K Test Kitchen
Posted in Chicken, Dressing Sauces & Condiments, Entree, Pasta | Tags: arugula, chicken, garlic, Parmesan, sun-dried tomatoes, walnuts, whole wheat | 8 Comments »
World Diabetes Day: Cashew Chicken Lettuce Wraps & Giveaway
Today is World Diabetes Day, and Carolyn from All Day I Dream About Food, along with many other bloggers (including myself obviously) are promoting Diabetes awareness by posting diabetes-friendly recipes today. Check out her blog for the chance to win a blue KitchenAid stand mixer (as blue is the color of diabetes awareness), and stay turned here on The Spiffy Cookie for a different giveaway!
Diabetes has not affected me personally (something to be thankful for next week), but I admire Carolyn for her refusal to give up on her passion of baking and cooking after being diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Instead, she fought on and found new ways to enjoy her passions, to the point where I find myself craving her low carb treats too! Her blog, All Day I Dream About Food, has opened my eyes to how you can make creative, flavorful foods that are still low in carbohydrates and suitable for diabetics, dieters and even the everyday hungry person. Many of her recipes are also gluten-free!
But unfortunately diabetes isn’t just about coming up with friendly foods. Diabetes is an increasing global problem, particularly in developing countries. Although the causes are complex in nature, the rapid increases in overweight, obesity and physical inactivity definitely have an impact. Worse still, the World Health Organization (WHO) projects that diabetes deaths will increase by two thirds between 2008 and 2030. Therefore, in an effort to stimulate effective measures for surveillance, prevention and control of diabetes and its complications, WHO is building awareness by participating in the celebration of World Diabetes Day.
There is good evidence that a healthy diet, regular physical activity, maintaining a normal body weight and avoiding tobacco may help in prevention and/or reducing complications. So eat healthy, get active, and put away those cancer sticks (aka cigarettes and that’s another good reason to quit). For my contribution to spreading awareness through healthy eating, I made these lettuce wraps using Swerve all-natural sweetener instead of brown sugar. proof that healthy eating can still be easy and fun.
Be sure to check out the giveaway for you own Swerve baking kit to try out yourself at the end of this post. Get your swerve on!
One year ago: Chicken Alfredo Biscuit Casserole
CASHEW CHICKEN LETTUCE WRAPS
Makes 6-8 lettuce wraps
Ingredients:
SAUCE
2 Tbsp reduced sodium soy sauce
1 Tbsp rice vinegar
1 Tbsp Swerve granulated sugar (or brown sugar for non-diabetics)
1/4 tsp ground red pepper
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp sesame oil
CHICKEN
2 chicken breasts (about 3/4 lb. total), diced
8 leaves of greenleaf or iceburg lettuce
3 Tbsp olive oil
1 cup onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp reduced sodium soy sauce
1/4 cup cashews, chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
- For the sauce, mix all ingredients making sure to dissolve brown sugar. Set aside.
- Heat canola oil in pan over medium to medium high heat. Add diced chicken and brown (about 4-5 minutes). Remove chicken from oil. Add onions, garlic and soy sauce to pan; brown. When onions and garlic are brown and tender, add stir fry sauce, browned chicken, and cashews. Saute mixture for a few minutes and remove from heat.
- Spoon chicken mixture into individual lettuce leaves. Add your favorite hot sauce, more cashews or basil. Serve with rice.
Source: Adapted slightly from She Wears Many Hats.
Review: Blue Diamond Nut-Thins & Pecan-Crusted Chicken with Roasted Broccoli
With one of my best friends being gluten intolerant, I am always very interested in trying out new gluten-free products. Especially since she tells me how far gluten-free products have come over the years (you should see how excited she gets over bagels). Gone are the days when gluten-free meant boring. One proof of this fact lies with Blue Diamond’s Nut-Thins. They are a crunchy cracker loaded with nutritious nuts and baked to perfection. Flavors include: Plain Almond, Almond Hint of Sea Salt, Almond Smokehouse, Almond Cheddar Cheese, Almond Country Ranch, Almond Pepper Jack Cheese and also Hazelnut, and Pecan.
Although these crackers are great for dips and snacking, I decided to make a meal with them. I had made this recipe before with bread crumbs and ground pecans, so I decided to replace all of the breading with ground up Blue Diamond Pecan Nut-Thins. The result? A perfectly crunchy and flavorful exterior. I really want to try the Almond Cheddar Nut-Thins for a cheesy version! Hopefully I’ll like it better than the unhealthier Cheetos Crusted Chicken haha.
Blue Diamond products can be found at any Whole Foods or natural foods section in your local grocery store, and online at www.bluediamond.com.
Wondering what those purple lumps are in the background? You will find out soon!
One year ago: Homemade Pumpkin Puree
PECAN-CRUSTED CHICKEN WITH ROASTED BROCCOLI
Serves 2
Ingredients:
CHICKEN
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pounded about 1/2-inch thin
1/4 cup ground Blue Diamond Pecan Nut-Thins
1/8 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1 egg white
2 Tbsp gluten-free all-purpose flour
BROCCOLI
2 cups chopped broccoli florets
2 tsp olive oil
2 Tbsp chopped yellow onion
1 clove garlic, minced
Salt and pepper
Directions:
- Heat oven to 375 degrees.
- In a small roasting pan, drizzle olive oil over chopped broccoli florets. Toss with onion, garlic, salt and pepper. Set aside.
- In one small bowl, combine cracker crumbs with salt and pepper. In a second bowl, whisk egg white until just foamy. In a third bowl, place flour.
- Dredge chicken breasts in flour, dip in egg white and then press both sides into breadcrumb mixture to coat. Place on a small baking sheet coated with vegetable oil cooking spray.
- Cook the chicken and broccoli for 20 minutes or until edges are golden brown, turning both the chicken and broccoli once halfway through the cooking time.
Source: Adapted slightly from SELF Magazine.
Disclosure: I received samples of Blue Diamond Nut-Thins from Ocra Communications. I was not compensated for this post. Thoughts and opinions are my own.
Posted in Chicken, Entree, Reviews, Side Dish | Tags: broccoli, chicken, gluten free, pecans | 4 Comments »
Chicken in Basil Cream Sauce
I have a confession to make. There are recipes sitting my my drafts that have been patiently waiting for their moment in the spot light since August, from when I stayed in Knoxville for a month. Since August people! I thought I wasn’t going to have much time to cook or bake while I was there, so I had guest posters lined up once a week. Only to realize it wasn’t really necessary at all. And with the coming of fall I’ve gotten into the groove of baking and cooking fallish things. I really am trying to cook less in order to get all those saved recipes out the door, but a girl’s gotta eat!
But today I am bringing one out of the vault because it really does deserve some love. My dad and step-mom thought it was so good, that they said it was like eating at a fancy restaurant. It’s always fun when a fairly simple recipe tastes amazing. Of course now I want to remake this, especially since my basil plant is still going strong with the revival of 80 degree weather here. Wasn’t I just wearing boots a week ago?
One year ago: Oatmeal Cookie Pancakes
CHICKEN IN BASIL CREAM SAUCE
Serves 4
Ingredients:
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup dried Italian bread crumbs
4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, pounded thin
3 Tbsp unsalted butter
1 clove garlic (1/2 tsp minced)
1/2 cup reduced sodium chicken broth
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
1/8 tsp black pepper
Directions:
- Place milk and bread crumbs in separate, shallow bowls.
- In skillet, heat butter to medium heat. Dip chicken in milk, then coat with crumbs. Cook chicken in butter, on both sides, until juices run clear (about 10 minutes). Remove and keep warm.
- Add the garlic to the pan and cook for 30 seconds over medium heat. Add the chicken broth to the skillet. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, and stir to loosen browned bits from pan. Stir in cream and sun-dried tomatoes; boil and stir for 1 minute. Reduce heat.
- Add Parmesan cheese, basil and pepper. Stir sauce and cook until heated through. Remember that for a thicker sauce all you have to do is cook it longer. I like my sauce on the thick side so I cooked it for a while (3-5 minutes).
- Serve chicken with sauce poured over the top.
Source: The Girl Who Ate Everything
Stovetop Cajun Chicken Mac and Cheese
One cajun mac and cheese has been seen on here already, and despite being incredibly similar to the one today I had to post it as well because it was good enough to not care. Besides, this one is made with chicken instead of sausage!
Stovetop mac and cheese is my favorite kind because it is always extra creamy compared to the baked versions I have had. I once even made one so creamy it should’ve been illegal. But I do appreciate the crunchy tops they tend to get after being baked. I suppose a little trip under a broiler with a crumb topping would give me the best of both worlds, but that little idea will be saved for another day because it did not occur to me until just now while writing this post.
One year ago: Pumpkin Biscoff Cream Cheese Bread
STOVETOP CAJUN CHICKEN MAC AND CHEESE
Serves 4
Ingredients:
8 oz. dry penne or macaroni pasta
1 cup shredded or chopped cooked chicken
2-1/2 tsp Cajun seasoning
1-1/2 Tbsp unsalted butter
1 green bell pepper, small diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1-1/2 Tbsp flour
2 cups milk
8 oz. freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese
2 oz. freshly shredded monterey jack cheese
1/2 tsp dry mustard
Directions:
- Cook the pasta in boiling salted water according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
- Toss the cooked chicken with 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning. Set aside.
- Melt the butter in a large sauce pot over medium high heat. Add the green bell pepper and garlic and saute briefly—about two minutes. Add the flour and stir constantly until it starts to turn a dark golden color. This will take about three minutes or so.
- When the roux starts to turn brown, add the milk and keep stirring. Cook, while stirring, for about five minutes or until the sauce starts to get thick. Add the cheeses and mix to melt.
- Add the remaining teaspoon and a half of Cajun seasoning, as well as the dry mustard, to the cheese sauce and mix well. Then, add the chicken and cooked noodles. Toss to coat and serve.
Source: Adapted slightly from Eat, Live, Run
Posted in Chicken, Entree, Pasta | Tags: Cajun seasoning, cheddar, chicken, green peppers, milk, monterey jack | 5 Comments »
Chicken Gnocchi Soup
Oh fall, how I love you (even though spring is my favorite) and all the heart warming food you bring – football feasts, seasonal flavors, pre-hibernation worthy foods, and of course soups! Whenever it first starts to get cold, especially on a cold rainy day, I always crave tomato basil soup and a gooey grilled cheese. If only I had a fireplace to go with it (instead I have a fireplace scented candle and a fireplace dvd). But thankfully, I have more curiosity into the world of soups than to just stick with tomato all the time.
The first soup of this fall season is this chicken gnocchi soup. It is supposed to be a copy cat recipe of the soup at Olive Garden, although I cannot say how close it resembles because I’ve never had theirs. I haven’t been to an Olive Garden in a long time because of my habit to eat at local restaurants more often than chains. But either way, if this soup is at all like theirs then it might be my favorite on their menu.
I served it with toasted whole wheat pita wedges that had been buttered and sprinkled with garlic powder inside. Mmmm.
One year ago: Apple Butter Granola
CHICKEN GNOCCHI SOUP
Serves 6-8
Ingredients:
1 medium onion, diced
1/2 cup celery, sliced (about 2 stalks)
2 garlic cloves, minced
4 Tbsp butter (I used Melt buttery spread)
4 Tbsp olive oil
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 quart half and half (I used evaporated milk)
1 cup chicken breasts, diced and cooked
1 cup carrots, shredded (about 1-1/2 large)
16 oz. package whole wheat gnocchi
14 oz. can reduced sodium chicken broth
1 cup fresh spinach, coarsely chopped
1/2 tsp dried thyme
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
- In a large stockpot, saute the onion, celery and garlic in the butter and olive oil. When the onion is clear, add the flour and form a roux. Stir and cook a minute. Add the half and half and bring to a simmer. Add the chicken and carrots to the stockpot and allow to thicken, stirring often.
- Meanwhile in another pan, cook the gnocchi according to package directions. When the soup gets thicker, add the chicken broth, gnocchi, spinach and seasonings. Cover and heat through.
Source: Adapted slightly from Pass the Sushi.
Posted in Chicken, Entree, Soup Stew Chili | Tags: carrots, celery, chicken, evaporated milk, gnocchi, onions, spinach, whole wheat | 7 Comments »
