Month: September 2020

Cashew Chicken Stir Fry with Yellow Squash and Snow Peas

Cashew Chicken Stir Fry with Yellow Squash and Snow Peas

Cashew Chicken Stir Fry with Yellow Squash and Snow Peas is filled with tender chicken and crisp vegetables. This whole dish can be prepared in under an hour, and is a great one dish meal. The Equipment You’ll Need A Cast Iron Skillet- I think 

Chocolate Chunk Cookies with Pecans

Chocolate Chunk Cookies with Pecans

Chocolate Chunk Cookies with Pecans are the most baked dessert in my kitchen. I spent years trying different chocolate chip cookie recipes, but when I tried this one, I knew I’d found my forever chocolate chip cookie recipe. This cookie recipe is a variation of 

Classic Chicken Pot Pies Baked in Mini Cocottes

Classic Chicken Pot Pies Baked in Mini Cocottes

Classic Chicken Pot Pies Baked in Mini Cocottes are one of my family’s very favorite meals. My children, especially, have always enjoyed these individual pies filled with tender chicken, potatoes, peas, and carrots all enveloped in a creamy sauce. I think part of their charm is that everyone gets their very own cute little pie. So, there are no issues with sharing!

The Equipment You’ll Need

  • Lots of time!- This is not equipment, but it is very important to the success of this recipe to have a couple of hours to devote to getting all the components of this pie completed.
  • 6 Mini Cocottes or ramekins- You’ll need 6 to make this recipe. I love my LeCreuset cocottes.
  • A Pastry Cutter- You’ll need this for making the pie dough.
  • A Food Scale- You’ll need this to weigh your flour. It’s very important to the success of your dough to measure your flour correctly.

The Ingredients You’ll Need for Classic Chicken Pot Pies Baked in Mini Cocottes

  • 2 Chicken Breasts- You’ll need them with their skin and bones intact, to keep the chicken moist. I always use Bell and Evans chicken.
  • Chicken Stock- I always use homemade stock. You can find my recipe in the Chicken Soup with Matzo Balls post.
  • The Vegetables- Feel free to leave some of the vegetables out. I usually omit the carrots and onions, because one of my kids likes the pies better that way.

How I Made My Pies

  • Early in the day, I roasted the chicken and made my pie dough. That way, I could make the rest of this recipe in one hour.
  • Making pie dough can be tricky. Just remember, your pies don’t need to be picture perfect. And, the more you make pie dough the better you get at it. Just take your time and try to get all the butter and cream cheese incorporated into the flour. And, then don’t put too much water into the crust. The dough should be ragged and scraggly, so it ends up nice and flaky.
  • Then, I made the filling and filled the cocottes. I rolled out my dough and enlisted one of my teens to crimp my dough.
  • Finally, I baked off my pies. Everyone loved them and I know we’ll be reheating them in the microwave for leftovers.

I hope you’ll try these cozy and comforting Classic Chicken Pot Pies Baked in Mini Cocottes some time soon!

Classic Chicken Pot Pies Baked in Mini Cocottes
Classic Chicken Pot Pies Baked in Mini Cocottes
Classic Chicken Pot Pies Baked in Mini Cocottes

Classic Chicken Pot Pies Baked in Mini Cocottes

Individual chicken pot pies filled with creamy chicken, potatoes, carrots, and peas topped with a pie crust.
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 15 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 6
Calories 425 kcal

Equipment

  • 6 cocetttes or ramekins

Ingredients
  

  • 2 bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts
  • ¼ tsp. kosher salt
  • ¼ tsp. each black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder
  • 1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour (360 g)
  • ¼ tsp. salt
  • 1 cup cold butter, cut in half inch pieces
  • 6 ounces cold cream cheese
  • ½ cup ice water
  • 2 cups peeled potatoes, cut in one inch pieces
  • 1 cup carrots, sliced in half inch pieces
  • 8 tbsp. butter
  • 1 cup diced onion
  • ½ cup all purpose flour
  • 3 cups chicken stock
  • ¼ each black pepper and kosher salt
  • 1 cup frozen peas
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tbsp. cream

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the chicken on a baking sheet and add the salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Drizzle with oil. Bake for 40 minutes or until the chicken is no longer pink inside. Remove the skin and bones and cut the chicken in bite sized pieces.
  • While the chicken cooks, make the pie dough. In a large bowl, mix together the flour and salt. Using a pastry cutter, cut the butter and cream cheese into the flour, until the flour is fully incorporated, and the everything is the size of peas. Pour in the ice water, stirring with a fork, until a scraggly dough is formed. Empty the bowl on to a floured board, and shape the dough into two balls. They will be fairly crumbly. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for thirty minutes.
  • While the dough chills, place the potatoes and carrots in a three quart saucepan, cover with cold water and bring to a boil. Boil for about ten minutes or until the vegetables are tender. Drain and set aside.
  • Also, make the sauce: Melt the butter in a Dutch oven, and cook the onion on low heat for five minutes. Then, stir in the flour. Cook for five minutes. Add the chicken stock, salt, and pepper and cook for two minutes or until a thick sauce forms. Remove from the heat and add the chicken and vegetables.
  • Divide the filling between the ramekins, and place them on a baking sheet.
  • Roll out one ball of dough, and cut circles to fit on the top of your ramekins and hang over it by a little bit. Brush around the top of the ramekin with the egg mixed with the cream. Place the dough on top of the ramekin and brush with the egg. Make a slit on the top and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes or until the tops are golden.

Nutrition

Calories: 425kcal
Keyword Chicken, chicken pot pie, pie
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Chipotle Black Bean Tostadas with Cabbage Slaw

Chipotle Black Bean Tostadas with Cabbage Slaw

Chipotle Black Bean Tostadas with Cabbage Slaw is a meatless meal of crispy corn tortillas topped with melted cheese, black beans, cabbage slaw, and a chipotle mayonnaise. These are so delicious and filling, that I promise, you won’t miss the meat! The Equipment You’ll Need 

Steak Fajitas with Corn Salsa and Onions and Peppers

Steak Fajitas with Corn Salsa and Onions and Peppers

Steak Fajitas with Corn Salsa and Onions and Peppers is filled with tender skirt steak, sweet bell peppers, and fresh corn salsa. All that gets folded into soft tortillas along with cheddar cheese, sour cream, and avocado. The Equipment You’ll Need An Instant Read Thermometer- 

Shrimp and Zucchini Flower Tacos

Shrimp and Zucchini Flower Tacos

Shrimp and Zucchini Flower Tacos are full of grilled shrimp, deep fried battered zucchini flowers, tomato, avocado, and queso fresco. The star of these tacos is definitely the zucchini flowers, but the shrimp complement them very well. Here in New York, we can only have zucchini flowers when zucchini are harvested, so this was a special treat for us.

The Equipment You’ll Need

  • A Deep Fry Thermometer- You’ll need this to ensure that your oil is at the perfect temperature.
  • A Grill Pan- I use this to warm up the tortillas and cook the shrimp. You can use any skillet, if you don’t have a grill pan.
  • A Three Quart Saucepan- This is a big enough pot for frying such a small amount of food.

The Ingredients You’ll Need for Shrimp and Zucchini Flower Tacos

  • Zucchini Flowers- Be sure to remove the stamens from the inside of your flower.
  • Vegetable Oil- Be sure to use vegetable oil for your deep frying of the flowers. You could also use canola or peanut oil.
  • Queso Fresco- You can find this with the Mexican cheeses. I keep it in the freezer and break it out for our Tex Mex meals.

How I Made my Tacos

  • First, I grilled my tortillas.
  • Next, I grilled the shrimp.
  • Then, I heated the frying oil. While the oil heated, I made the batter for the flowers.
  • Then, I fried the flowers and drained them on a rack.
  • Finally, I assembled my tacos.

I was so excited when I saw these beautiful zucchini flowers in the market today. I was originally going to make a shrimp and corn taco, but when I saw the flowers I knew I had put them in the taco instead. If you’re a zucchini flower lover, or want to try them, I hope you’ll try these yummy Shrimp and Zucchini Flower Tacos.

shrimp and zucchini flower tacos
Shrimp and Zucchini Flower Tacos
shrimp and zucchini flower tacos

Shrimp and Zucchini Flower Tacos

Grilled Shrimp and fried zucchini flower tacos, topped with avocado, tomato, and queso fresco.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Tex-Mex
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 8 small flour tortillas
  • 1 tbsp. butter
  • 1 pound Gulf shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • tsp. kosher salt
  • ¼ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 clove minced garlic
  • 1 tsp. paprika
  • 1 tbsp. fresh parsley, minced
  • 1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 cups vegetable oil
  • 1 beaten egg
  • cup flour
  • 6 tbsp. buttermilk
  • 8 zucchini flowers, pistons removed
  • 1 sliced avocado
  • 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
  • 1 cup queso fresco

Instructions
 

  • On a grill pan, melt the butter and grill the tortillas on both sides. Remove the tortillas and set aside.
  • Toss the shrimp with the salt, pepper, garlic, paprika, parsley, and extra virgin olive oil. Then grill them on the hot grill pan until they're completely opaque and cooked. Set aside and cover with foil to keep warm.
  • In a three quart saucepan, heat one inch of vegetable oil to 375 degrees using a frying thermometer.
  • In a bowl, place the egg and then stir in the flour. Then, stir in the buttermilk. The batter will be lumpy, and should be the consistency of pancake batter. When the oil is hot, dip each blossom in the batter, and let the excess drip off. Fry the flowers in two batches, for about a minute on each side, until they're golden. Drain on a wire rack.
  • Fill each tortilla with one flower, shrimp, avocado, tomato, and queso fresco.
Keyword shrimp, shrimp taco, squash blossom, taco, zucchini flower
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Butter Pecan Sticky Buns with Bread Machine Dough

Butter Pecan Sticky Buns with Bread Machine Dough

Butter Pecan Sticky Buns with Bread Machine Dough are filled with cinnamon and butter and are topped with a sweet pecan glaze. Two things are unique about these buns. First of all, the dough is made in the bread machine. And, secondly, these sticky buns 

Chicken Schnitzel and Tomato Salad

Chicken Schnitzel and Tomato Salad

Chicken Schnitzel and Tomato Salad is a big main course salad full of fried chicken schnitzel, tomatoes, cucumbers, red pepper, red onion, feta cheese, and a lemon vinaigrette. Everyone loves this salad because it is so full of crispy chicken, crunchy vegetables, and a bright 

Baked Chocolate Doughnuts Glazed with Chocolate

Baked Chocolate Doughnuts Glazed with Chocolate

Baked Chocolate Doughnuts Glazed with Chocolate are cakey chocolate doughnuts that are baked in the oven and then topped with a thick chocolate glaze and colored sprinkles. I decorated these for a back to school celebration, but I like to customize the decorations for different holidays and occasions. For Halloween, I’ll probably do orange sprinkles.

The Equipment You’ll Need

  • Doughnut Pans- I used the three inch wide doughnut pans, but you could use any size you want.
  • An Electric Mixer with a paddle attachment- I think that’s the easiest way to mix these, but you could use a wooden spoon, and beat vigorously.
  • A Food Scale- I think it’s very important to weigh your flour and sugar. If you don’t, it can really ruin your baking.

The Ingredients You’ll Need for Baked Chocolate Doughnuts Glazed with Chocolate

  • Unsweetened Chocolate- You’ll need unsweetened chocolate bars for this recipe.
  • Buttermilk- This recipe uses buttermilk; it helps tenderize the batter.
  • Corn Syrup- This makes the glaze very satiny.

How I Made my Doughnuts

  • First, I took the time to soften my butter and let my eggs come to room temperature.
  • Next, I took care to really grease my doughnut tins very well.
  • Then, I mixed together all the ingredients. I made sure to measure everything very carefully. I weighed the flour and sugar.
  • Next, I used a small pitcher to pour the batter into each ring.
  • While the doughnuts baked I made the glaze.
  • Finally, I baked the doughnuts and let them cool in the pan for just five minutes. If you wait longer, they will be hard to remove.
  • Lastly, I spooned on the glaze and sprinkled on the sprinkles.

Needless to say, we really loved these Baked Chocolate Doughnuts Glazed with Chocolate. One of the things I love about these doughnuts is that they are baked, and not fried. Baking is so much easier than frying. And, there is no greasy taste or feel with these baked doughnuts. So, if you’re looking for a good, and easy baked doughnut to make, please try these!

Baked Chocolate Doughnuts Glazed with Chocolate
Baked Chocolate Doughnuts Glazed with Chocolate
Baked Chocolate Doughnuts Glazed with Chocolate

Baked Chocolate Doughnuts with Glazed with Chocolate

Chocolate doughnut that are baked in the oven and then topped with a satiny chocolate glaze and sprinkles.
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 24 doughnuts

Equipment

  • three inch doughnut pans

Ingredients
  

  • 6 tbsp. unsalted butter, softened
  • cups granulated sugar (250g)
  • 1 egg, at room temperature
  • 1 egg white, at room temperature
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled
  • cups all purpose flour (186g)
  • tsp. baking soda
  • ¼ tsp. salt
  • 6 tbsp. buttermilk

For Chocolate Glaze:

  • 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate
  • 4 tbsp. butter
  • cups sifted powdered sugar
  • 3 tbsp. light corn syrup
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 1 cup colored sprinkles

Instructions
 

For the Baked Chocolate Doughnuts:

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  • Spray enough doughnut pans to make 24 three inch doughnuts with baking spray.
  • With an electric mixer, beat together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
  • Add the eggs and vanilla, and beat until combined.
  • Add the chocolate, and mix to combine.
  • Sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt, into a small bowl.
  • Add half the flour to the sugar/eggs/chocolate and mix. Then add the buttermilk, and mix. And, then add the rest of the flour, and mix.
  • Add ⅔ cup of boiling water, and mix.
  • Using a measuring cup, fill up the doughnut tins. Bake ten minutes, or until the doughnuts bounce back when pressed. Cool for five minutes on a wire rack and then unmold and glaze. Then sprinkle with sprinkles.

For Chocolate Glaze:

  • In a three quart saucepan melt the chocolate and butter on low heat. Remove the pot from the heat.
  • Stir in the sugar. Then stir in the corn syrup and vanilla.
  • Add more syrup, if necessary, to make a satiny glaze.
  • Spoon the glaze on the doughnuts, and then shake on the sprinkles.
Keyword chocolate doughnuts, doughnuts
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Chicken Soup with Matzo Balls and Noodles

Chicken Soup with Matzo Balls and Noodles

Chicken Soup with Matzo Balls and Noodles is a hearty bowl of chicken stock, noodles, chicken, and carrots and celery. Once you’ve made this soup base, you can keep it in the freezer and use it for all recipes that call for chicken stock. After