Roasted Pumpkin Chicken Alfredo is one of our favorite fall dinners. I start this chicken spaghetti dish by roasting chicken breasts and pumpkin. Then, I make a rich Alfredo sauce and boil spaghetti and toss in the chicken and pumpkin. We like this Alfredo dish …
Shrimp Po’boys with Celeriac Remoulade are one of our favorite seafood dinners. I start this dish by making a rich and creamy celery root remoulade. Then, I dredge plump Gulf shrimp first in buttermilk and then in flour and cornmeal. Finally, I pile everything into …
Hoisin Chicken and Vegetable Bowls are one of our favorite Chinese-inspired dishes. I start this dish by briefly deep-frying boneless chicken breasts. Then, I stir fry the chicken with hoisin sauce, peanuts, mirin, soy sauce, sugar, and rice vinegar. Finally, I serve the chicken over rice with steamed edamame, stir fried carrots, and pickled cucumbers and radishes. We like this chicken dish for several reasons. First of all, I like that this is a complete meal. I don’t need to make any side dishes. Secondly, I like that I can make this meal ahead of time. Then, I can reheat all the warm items in the microwave. And, lastly, we all love the tasty Chinese-inspired flavors in this dish.
The Equipment I Used
A Dutch Oven- I like to deep fry my chicken in an enameled cast iron Dutch oven. But you can use any large pot.
A Deep Fry Thermometer- Use this to monitor the temperature of your frying oil.
The Ingredients Needed for Hoisin Chicken and Vegetable Bowls
Cornstarch- You’ll need this to thicken the sauce.
Chicken- Use boneless, skinless chicken breasts. I always use Bell and Evans chicken, because I find it to be the most tender.
Mirin- You can find this in the Asian section of your market.
Rice Vinegar- You can find this in the Asian section or the vinegar section of your market.
Hoisin Sauce- You can find this is in the Asian section of your market.
Oil- Fry the chicken in vegetable, canola, or peanut oil. Do not use olive oil.
How I Made my Chicken and Vegetable Bowls
First, I marinated the chicken in egg white and cornstarch. This tenderizes the chicken.
Next, I deep fried the chicken and drained it.
Then, I stir fried the chicken with a hoisin stir fry sauce.
Finally, I served the chicken over rice with stir fried carrots, pickled cucumbers and radishes, and edamame.
If you like Chinese-inspired flavors, you need to try these delicious Hoisin Chicken and Vegetable Bowls.
Hoisin Chicken and Vegetable Bowls
Hoisin Chicken and Vegetable Bowls
Tender fried chicken breast strips enveloped in a sweet hoisin sauce. Served with rice, crisp radishes and cucumbers and stir-fried carrots.
1lb.boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced in half inch strips
3cupsvegetable oil
For the Stir Fry:
2tbsp.vegetable oil (reserved from the deep-frying )
2tbsp. each sugar and rice vinegar, hoisin, and soy sauce
¼cupmirin
¼sliced scallions
1tbsp.sliced garlic
½tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
1tbsp.sliced ginger
1tbsp.minced garlic
2tsp.cornstarch mixed with 4 tsp. water
½cupshelled unsalted peanuts
For the Carrots:
1tsp.olive oil
2cupsthinly sliced carrots
1tsp. eachsoy sauce and sugar
For the Radishes and Cucumbers:
1cupthinly sliced radishes
1cupcucumbers, sliced
¼tsp.kosher salt
1tbsp.rice wine vinegar
1tsp.sugar
For the Garnishes:
¼cupsliced scallions
2cupsshelled and cooked edamame
InstructionsÂ
First, make the rice: In a three-quart saucepan, bring the water to a boil. Add the rice and salt and cover and simmer it for 16 minutes. Remove it from the stove and let it sit covered for 10 minutes or until the chicken is done.
Begin by starting the chicken: Beat together the egg white, cornstarch, and salt. Stir in the chicken, cover and refrigerate.
Also, prepare the cucumbers and radishes: Sprinkle each with a quarter teaspoon of kosher salt and let sit ten minutes. Squeeze each dry. Stir in one tablespoon of rice wine vinegar and one teaspoon of sugar to each vegetable.
Also, cook the carrots: In a skillet, heat the oil and cook the carrots with the soy sauce and sugar, on medium heat, for a few minutes, just until they're crisp tender. Cover to keep them warm.
Also, continue the Hoisin Chicken: Heat a Dutch Oven or large pot with an inch and a half of the vegetable oil. Heat the oil to 325 degrees. Mix together the stir fry sauce ingredients in a small bowl and set it aside: mirin, soy sauce, sugar, rice vinegar and hoisin. In four batches, fry the chicken just until it turns white. Drain each batch in a colander set over a bowl. In a large skillet, on medium heat, heat two tablespoons of oil from frying the chicken. Add the ginger, scallion, garlic, and red pepper flakes and stir until everything is combined. Add all the chicken to the pan, along with the stir fry sauce. Bring this mixture to a boil. Stir in the cornstarch mixed with water and stir for thirty seconds. Stir in the peanuts.
To serve: Put some rice in four bowls. Top the rice with some chicken and sauce. Also, add the cucumbers, carrots, edamame and radishes. Sprinkle the bowls with the scallions.
Persimmon Scones with Vanilla Glaze are one our favorite fall treats. I start these scones by mixing together a sweet vanilla scone dough. Then, I fold in fresh persimmon chunks. Finally, I glaze the scones with a creamy vanilla glaze. We like these scones for …
Bourbon Barbecue Short Ribs are one of our favorite fall dinners. I start this dinner by braising tender, saucy beef short ribs with a Bourbon Barbecue Sauce. Then, I serve the ribs over creamy grits. We like this dish for several reasons. First of all, …
Pepperoni and Mushroom Pizza Lasagna is one of our favorite fall dinners. I start this lasagna by making a homemade marinara sauce. Then, I layer the sauce with lasagna noodles, ricotta cheese, and mozzarella cheese. Finally, I top the lasagna with mushrooms, pepperoni, and peppers. We like this lasagna for several reasons. First of all, I like that I can make this lasagna early in the day and bake it right before serving. Secondly, I like that I can serve so many people with this lasagna. That makes it great for entertaining. And, lastly, we all love the rich and cheesy layers in this lasagna.
The Equipment I Used
A Baking Dish-You’ll need a 9×11 baking dish to make the lasagna. I like to use ceramic baking pans for my lasagnas.
The Ingredients Needed for Pepperoni and Mushroom Pizza Lasagna
Lasagna noodles- I always use Barilla lasagna noodles.
Tomatoes- You’ll need about 26 ounces of tomato puree to make the marinara sauce. I like to use the boxed Pomi tomatoes because they are less acidic than canned tomatoes.
Tomato Paste- I like to buy the tomato paste in the tube that comes from Italy. Again, it’s much less acidic than canned tomatoes.
Chicken Stock- I always use my homemade chicken stock and store it in the freezer. The recipe is below.
A Cubanelle Pepper- Use this to give your sauce extra flavor.
Ricotta Cheese- If you can find it, I recommend using fresh ricotta cheese.
Mozzarella Cheese- I always use fresh mozzarella cheese.
How I Made my Lasagna
First, I made the sauce. Be sure to cook the onions until they are soft and watch the sauce to make sure it doesn’t burn.
Next, I assembled the lasagna. It’s important to use exactly the amount of sauce called for in each layer. If you use too much sauce your lasagna will be soggy.
Finally, I added the pizza toppings and baked the lasagna.
If you like lasagna and pizza, you need to try this cheesy and delicious Pepperoni and Mushroom Pizza Lasagna.
Pepperoni and Mushroom Pizza Lasagna
Pepperoni and Mushroom Pizza Lasagna
A four layered lasagna, filled with tomato sauce, ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese. Topped with a pizza topping layer of pepperoni, mushrooms, and bell peppers.
26ouncesPomi strained tomatoes or any tomato puree
1cubanelle pepper, with a slit cut in the side
¼tsp.kosher salt, red pepper flakes
6ounces tomato paste
½cupchicken stock
1tsp. eachdried oregano, sugar
1poundlasagna noodles
24ouncesfresh ricotta cheese
1cupchopped fresh basil
1poundwhole milk mozzarella cheese, grated
1egg
2cupsgrated Parmesan cheese
¼cupfresh basil leaves
For the pizza toppings layer:
2tbsp.unsalted butter
1cupchopped bell peppers
8ouncessliced mushrooms
16slicessmall pepperoni slices
InstructionsÂ
Begin by making the marinara sauce: In a large skillet, over medium heat, cook the onion and garlic in the olive oil, until the onion is softened.
Add the strained tomatoes, tomato paste, chicken stock, sugar, oregano, salt, cubanelle pepper and red pepper flakes. Simmer uncovered for thirty minutes. Reserve one cup of sauce for another use.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Cook the noodles according to the package directions for al dente noodles.
In a large bowl, mix together the ricotta, basil and egg.
Next, heat a large skillet on medium heat. Melt the butter and cook the mushrooms and peppers until the mushrooms start to brown.
In a deep 13×9 baking dish, place a layer of noodles. Top with a quarter of the sauce, and then a quarter of the ricotta, and a quarter of the mozzarella. Repeat this three times. Add a layer of Parmesan cheese. Finally, add the mushrooms, peppers, and pepperoni.
Bake uncovered for thirty minutes. Sprinkle with basil leaves and serve.
4½lbs.chicken breasts and wings with skin and bones
10cupswater
2peeled onions
2peeled carrots
3peeled parsley roots
1tbsp.kosher salt
4stalks celery
1peeled parsnip
2tbsp.garlic cloves
1cupfresh parsley and fresh dill
InstructionsÂ
Put the chicken and the salt in a large, tall pot and cover with ten cups of cold water. Bring to a boil and then simmer for 30 minutes, skimming any scum that forms.
Add all the vegetables and herbs and simmer for two and a half hours. Pour the soup through a strainer to remove everything but the broth.
Burrata Topped Pasta Amatriciana is one our favorite fall dinners. I start this pasta dish by making a fresh tomato sauce filled with pancetta. Then, I mix the sauce with linguini and top it with creamy burrata cheese. We like this dish for several reasons. …
Bourbon Chicken Vegetable Bowls are one of our favorite Chinese-inspired dinners. I start these bowls by deep frying chicken for just about a minute. Then, I stir fry the chicken with bourbon, soy sauces, and brown sugar. Finally, I serve the bourbon chicken on top …
Buttery Shrimp and Parmesan Linguini is one of our favorite seafood dinners. I start this dish by cooking linguini pasta. While the linguini boils, I cook shrimp and garlic in lots of butter. Finally, I toss the shrimp and linguini with red pepper flakes and Parmesan cheese. We like this dish for several reasons. First of all, I like that I can cook this entire dish in just twenty minutes. That makes it perfect for busy days. Secondly, I like that I can make this dish ahead of time. I like to make it early in the day and then heat it up in the microwave. And, lastly, we all love the sweet shrimp and the garlicky, buttery linguini.
The Equipment I Used
A Large Pot- Use a large pot to cook the linguini so that it doesn’t stick together.
The Ingredients Needed for Buttery Shrimp and Parmesan Linguini
Salt- Use salt to flavor your pasta cooking water.
Linguini- I used linguini, but you can use any pasta shape that you like.
Butter- Be sure to use unsalted butter. I always use Kerry Gold Irish Butter. In a dish with just a few ingredients, using a good quality butter makes a big difference.
Shrimp- I really like Gulf shrimp. I buy them frozen. If you can find these, you should try them.
Oil- Use extra virgin olive oil. I really like the California Olive Ranch brand.
Garlic- I like to buy the peeled garlic cloves and store them in the freezer.
Parmesan Cheese- Use Italian imported Parmesan cheese.
How I Made my Shrimp Pasta
First, I boiled the linguini. You want it to be ready when the shrimp is ready.
Next, I made the shrimp. Cook them until they’re pink and opaque.
Finally, I tossed the shrimp and linguini with the butter and spices.
If you like shrimp, you need to try this spicy and delicious Buttery Shrimp and Parmesan Linguini.
Buttery Shrimp and Parmesan Linguini
Buttery Shrimp and Parmesan Linguini
Linguini tossed with shrimp, butter, olive oil, red pepper flakes, and Parmesan cheese.
7tbsp.unsalted butter, softened and cut in seven tablespoon pieces
2tbsp.minced garlic
1poundGulf shrimp, peeled and deveined
5tsp.extra virgin olive oil
½tsp.garlic powder
1tsp.red pepper flakes
â…”cupParmesan cheese
InstructionsÂ
Bring the water to a boil in a large pot. When it reaches a boil add 9 teaspoons of the salt and the linguini. Cook the linguini until it is just al dente. The time for this should be on the pasta box.
While the linguini cooks, heat a large skillet over medium heat with two tablespoons of butter. Add the garlic and shrimp and cook until the shrimp are pink and cooked through.
While the pasta and shrimp cooks: In a large bowl, stir together the butter, oil, garlic powder, red pepper flakes and the last teaspoon of the salt.
Add one tablespoon of the pasta water to the bowl and stir until combined. Drain the pasta well and add it to the bowl along with the shrimp and cheese. Toss everything together until the pasta is completely coated in the butter mixture. Serve right away.
Pumpkin Beer Cheese Dip is one of our favorite fall appetizers. I especially like serving it on Halloween. I start this dip by stirring together pumpkin beer, cheddar cheese, and cream cheese. This creates a rich and creamy fondue-like dip. Then, I serve this warm …