Chicken, Chinese Kale and Mushrooms in Black Bean Sauce

My cousin got married last weekend. Afterwards they had a FULL ON Chinese Wedding Banquet - complete with an EIGHT COURSE MEAL!! I won't go into detail because it'll only make you hungry and jealous of me! HAHAHAH!! But one of the dishes was Rock Cod in Black Bean Sauce.

Now, I'm not much of a fish eater, but it was BEST fish I've EVER had! I've only prepared fish for my family once - and fish sticks for the kids doesn't count! I went on a hunt for rock cod - not knowing that it was EXPENSIVE as hell in the local Chinese market...so I decided on Chicken (read: cheap fish substitute).

I was always under the belief that Gai Lan (Chinese Kale) was Chinese BROCCOLI, but you gotta love the Internet with its abundance of information and pictures! I've only found it in my local Chinese market, but in the event you can't find it feel free to use whatever vegetable that you want.

Ingredients:

2 - 3lbs. boneless, skinless chicken leg meat (or thigh meat)
1 container of fresh sliced mushrooms
1/2 onion, sliced
3 - 4 bunches (think handfuls) gai lin, broccoli or bok choy
1-1/2 tablespoon black bean garlic sauce (found in most Asian sections of your local store)
14 ounces chicken broth
3-1/2 tablespoons cornstarch (divided)
4 tablespoons sesame oil (divided)

Marinade:

1/2 teaspoon sugar
2 teaspoons rice wine (NOT TO BE MISTAKEN WITH RICE WINE VINEGAR), dry white wine or sherry
2 teaspoons soy sauce
1-1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon cooking oil

**NOTE: This can EASILY be prepared as a vegetarian dish by substituting the chicken for FIRM tofu and ANY vegetable would go well with this sauce.
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Directions:

Using cooking shears, cut chicken into small strips and place in a bowl. Combine marinade ingredients and pour over the chicken. Mix well and set aside in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.



Prepare vegetables. Rinse gai lin WELL and cut into 2 inch pieces diagonally.




Heat wok and add sesame oil. Stir fry gai lin, mushrooms and onions over high heat for 3-4 minutes until vegetables are 80% cooked. Set aside.




Add remaining sesame oil to the wok. Add chicken and stir fry until the meat is completely cooked. Add black bean garlic sauce and mix well.



Add vegetables and continue to cook for another minute. Slowly pour in 1/2 of the chicken broth. Mix remaining 2 tablespoons of cornstarch into the last 1/2 of chicken broth until completely dissolved. Pour into the wok and mix well. The sauce will thicken as it continues to cook.



Serve with rice and enjoy!

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Fix It and Forget It - Green Chile Chicken (Crockpot meal)

I know, I know...I've been neglecting my duties here for a few months...but moving can do that to you! It also took me a while to get used to my new kitchen (that I absolutely HATE). It's smaller than our last kitchen, the pantry is far from my kitchen area and the stove top damn near comes up to my chest...but hey, at least I got a house out of the deal, right?

So this was an experimental dinner that turned out quite well. I think this would also work well with pork stew meat or boneless pork loins.

Ingredients:

3-4 lbs. chicken drumsticks (or which ever part of the chicken you prefer)
2 cans of condensed cream of chicken soup
1 small can of diced mild green chiles
1/3 cup diced onions
1/8 teaspoon creole seasoning
1/8 teaspoon garlic salt



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Directions:

Rinse chicken and pat dry. Mix soup, green chiles, onions and seasoning in a bowl. It's going to be a little thick, but don't worry about it. DO NOT ADD any other fluid!! Adding more fluid will make the sauce watery after the cooking process. Place half of the chicken on the bottom of the crock pot and spoon a generous amount of the soup mixture on top.



Add the second half of chicken and repeat.



Cook on medium for 6 or low for 8 hours...



Add sides and call it dinner! I served this with rice pilaf and honey glazed carrots. MmmMmmm!!



Fix it and forget it!!

Enjoy!

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SUPER Easy Chicken Tacos

This really is a super easy recipe. I have to give the credit to my mother. One night I planned on baking some chicken breasts and having rice and veggies on the side, but my husband requested TACOS (because he's REALLY BIG on Mexican food - he could eat it everyday and he isn't Mexican)!

I didn't have any ground meat to prepare tacos the way I normally would, and I wasn't quite sure how to season the chicken properly (and easily seeing how this was the last meal of the week and I needed to grocery shop). I had to use items that I already had on hand.

Let's just say that this is a new family favorite and the chicken has now been used for tacos, burritos, tostadas and taco salads!

Ingredients:

4 or 5 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
2 cups of Pace Chunky Picante Sauce (I'm guessing on the amount, I just pour from the bottle til it looks about right!)
2 dozen corn tortillas
Any of your favorite taco condiments


Directions:

Saute chicken until juices run clear.



In a large bowl, shred the chicken.




Add the sauce and mix well!




It's JUST that easy! Picante sauce has the perfect blend of seasoning, onions, cilantro and chiles. If you need it to have more of a kick, simply add your favorite hot sauce!

Enjoy!

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Chicken Chili Stew

I cannot take credit for this recipe, but I WILL say it was well received. My husband decided to try this so-called Slow Carb Diet. He had me trolling all over the Internet looking for recipes and such. Ironically, he was the one who found this recipe and suggested that I give it a try.

I personally think it's odd to have chunk chicken in chili, but that's just me. My husband and oldest son RAVED about it after I finished and said it was better than my usual version. So I thought I'd share!

Ingredients:

3 Whole cubed skinless, boneless chicken breast halves (I used 4 LARGE cans of chunk chicken I was saving to make chicken salad with)
1 medium onion chopped
1 green bell pepper chopped (I also added a red bell pepper too)
2 cloves minced garlic (I used 2 tablespoons of jarred minced garlic)
2 tablespoons olive oil (or whatever you have on hand)
2 - 15oz canned stewed tomatoes (I used 1 LARGE can and 1 regular can of diced tomatoes because I HAD them on hand)
1 - 15oz canned pinto beans (I used 2 cans)
3/4 cup picante sauce (I used a little over 1 cup)
1 1/2 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder

**NOTE: This recipe calls for 1/2 teaspoon of salt, but I omitted it because chili powder already has salt in it. I like to keep our sodium as low as possible without sacrificing taste. But it's up to you...

Directions:

Saute chicken, onions, bell peppers and garlic in a large sauce pan until chicken is fully cooked (in my case, this step didn't take so long since the chicken was already cooked). Add everything else to the pot and simmer for 20 minutes.

EASIEST DISH EVER!! Add some cornbread and a salad and you've got a good meal!

Enjoy!

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Chicken-Spinach-Asiago Quiche

I'm mad at myself for not taking pictures of "the process", but I had company and I was so busy whipping this up and running my mouth that I totally forgot. Anyhoo...I DO have a picture of the final product...and let me say, this was DAMN GOOD!!

I NAILED THIS RECIPE!


Ingredients:

1 Frozen DEEP DISH Pie Crust (these usually come in a 2-pack)
1/2 cup diced onion (I used green onions because that's all I had)
1 boneless chicken breast (cooked and diced - season however you like)
1 - 8oz container of fat free sour cream
1 - 9oz package frozen CHOPPED spinach (thawed and drained WELL)
1/4 teaspoon garlic SALT (not powder - seriously, don't substitute)
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
1 1/2 cup grated asiago cheese
3 eggs (or 3/4 cup of Egg Beaters - which is what I used)
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream


**NOTE: I made a couple of substitutions from the original recipe. It normally calls for 1/2 cup of crumbled, cooked bacon...but I forgot to pick some up, so I skipped it and I'm glad that I did. Instead I added a small can of diced mild green chile - because let's face it...green chile in a quiche is ALWAYS good!!!

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Directions:

Preheat oven to 375. Allow pie crust to thaw for about 20 minutes. Afterwards place the crust in the oven for about 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside.

In a large bowl combine all ingredients. MAKE SURE THAT YOU REMOVE ALL WATER FROM THE SPINACH - otherwise you'll end up with a wet quiche and it won't set. Also, drain the little bit of fluid from the chiles too (should you decide to use them).

Pour everything in the pie crust and bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and line the edges with foil (so the crust doesn't burn). Put back in the oven and back for another 40-45 minutes...or until the top is slightly golden. Remove from the oven and place on a wire rack to cool. Allow quiche to sit for at LEAST 20 minutes before you cut into it.

**NOTE: It might be a good idea to bake this on a cookie sheet. It'll make it easier to put in the oven and take out. Also, it'll catch anything that may ooze over the edges (although mine didn't ooze even though it looked like it wanted to).

ENJOY!! I know I did!!

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Caribbean cuisine! Feed your family (and maybe a guest or two) for under $20!

One of my favorite restaurants is Cha Cha Cha located in Silverlake, California. The food is a divine mix of Caribbean and South American cuisine. The jerk pork is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!! My mouth waters as I type this...cuz there's no telling when I'll get to go back. It's on the other sie of town and I've YET to drag my husband there.

I've been itching for plantains, but I had to come up with a meal to wrap around it. I decided on jerk chicken and coconut rice (over red beans and rice - which was a definite runner-up).



5.75lbs of chicken legs @ $6.54 (exactly 20 pieces of chicken)
1 bottle of Italian salad dressing @ $1.54 (you'd be amazed at what you can marinate with this stuff)
1 box of light brown sugar @ $1.58
1 jar of Thyme @ $2.88
7 plantains @ $1.78 (I found these puppies at one of the local Hispanic markets)
1 can of coconut milk @ $.50
1 - 2lb bag of calrose rice @ $1.65
1 jar of crushed red pepper @ $1.98
1 jar of cinnamon sugar @ $1.48

Add that up...it's $19.93! Two key ingredients that weren't on my shopping list are GROUND ALL-SPICE (I generally keep it on hand, but it costs no more than $2.00) and SOY SAUCE (and even though I rarely use it, one simply can't be HALF Chinese and NOT have this in the house!).

With 20 pieces of chicken and nearly 7 cups or more of coconut rice...you can feed quite a few people...or have a gang of left overs. I chose to use chicken legs because it's more cost effective. Maybe next time I'll use an inexpensive cut of pork roast and make shredded jerk pork!

Jerk Chicken Marinade:

1/4 cup Italian dressing (I use this because it contains the various spices and oil required to give it the right flavor)
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon thyme
1 teaspoon all-spice
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper

Mix all of these ingredients in a bowl and pour into a large ziplock freezer bag. Put all of your chicken into the bag and toss the chicken until well coated. I let my chicken marinate for about 6 hours, but you can do it longer if you'd like the flavor to really stick! Stick it in the refrigerator until you're ready to cook it. (I only mentioned this part because sometimes good sense ain't so common if you catch my drift!)



Traditionally you would grill the meat, but for the purpose of this little exercise, we'll bake it! Place chicken in a 2 - 13x9 baking dishes and bake uncovered for about 50 minutes at 350 degrees. When it's done, cover loosely with foil and let it sit for about 15 minutes.

[BEFORE]

[AFTER]


Coconut Rice:



3 cups of uncooked Calrose rice washed and drained
3 cups of water
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk
1 teaspoon of kosher salt

After washing the rice, pour in water, coconut milk and salt. Bring to a rolling boil, cover and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook for 18 minutes. Fluff with a fork.

Fried Plantains:



4-5 medium plantains
1/4 cup butter
cinnamon sugar

In a medium skillet, melt butter and saute plantains for about 4-5 minutes on each side until they're nicely browned. Drain on a paper towel and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.

Dinner is served!



Enjoy!

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Another Chicken Dish! Feed your family for under $16!

When I was growing up, my mother did just about EVERYTHING one COULD do to a chicken...fried, baked, broiled, boiled...you name it, she's tried it. I even went on a SERIOUS chicken strike during high school. I refused to eat ANY kind of chicken and you couldn't PAY me to eat an egg. I was OVER IT!!

I went thru something similar after having my first son...but that was entirely different. I couldn't stand the sight or feel of raw chicken. That took YEARS to get over. I didn't start serving chicken to my family again until maybe 5 years ago. Yall think I'm playin! Ask my husband!

Anyhoo...here's another meal that's easy to make, easy on the pocketbook in our tough economic times and even your KIDS will eat it!

Chicken, Mushrooms and Artichokes in a white cream sauce served with rice pilaf and a salad. The recipe can be found HERE



2lbs. of boneless chicken breast @ $4.99
16 oz. package of whole mushrooms @ $2.98
1 jar of Alfredo sauce @ $2.50
2 boxes of Rice-a-Roni Rice Pilaf @ $1.29 each
1 small container of sour cream @ $1.50
1 bag of salad @ $.98

Add that up... and it's $15.53. I already had artichokes on hand, as well as capers but together they shouldn't run you more than an extra $5.

It's very simple...wash and saute the mushrooms in a little olive oil, then set aside. Do the same with your chicken breasts. Normally I cut up the chicken into small pieces, but this time I chose to leave the meat whole.





In a large pot, empty the Alfredo sauce, add 3/4 jar of water and maybe 2-3 tablespoons of sour cream. Add artichokes (cut up) and maybe 2-3 tablespoons of capers. Season to taste.

ENJOY!!

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Buffalo Chicken Salad...give that green salad a KICK!

I serve salads with just about every meal that I serve. I'll be honest, I don't really care for salads at home (I realize this is mostly a mental thing). Something about store bought, bottled salad dressing completely turns me off (although I WILL admit that Target's Market Pantry Ranch Dressing and their Caesar Dressing ARE THE BOMB!) and I'm almost SURE that restaurants are probably using the same thing coming out of a much larger bottle!! Again...yes, I know...it's all mental! HAHAHA!!!

In my grand attempt to shed the last of this baby weight before my 20 year high school reunion this year, I've been forcing myself to eat salads for lunch...I've tried all sorts of things in my salad just to make it interesting...that can be hard sometimes!

I had some left over chicken breast that I already cooked...and thought if I added some wing sauce to the meat, it would satisfy my current craving for buffalo wings (since we didn't have any more) and possibly make for an interesting lunch salad!




And interestingly enough...this sauce doesn't give me a wicked case of heartburn like every other spicy thing in my house!!

Buffalo Chicken Salad!!!!



Enjoy!! I know I sure did!!!

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Asian Flair! Feed your family for under $22!

All things are possible. With the rising cost of food, the media has reported that companies like McDonald's has been making a KILLING with YOUR hard earned money. So let me ask...do you think eating McDonald's everyday is healthy? I try to resist the urge to give my kids fast food unless I'm rewarding them for something. Let's face it, as much as I enjoy eating out...I'd much rather eat something that I KNOW is healthy and I KNOW it's good for my entire family.

You can easily spend $22 at Mickey Dee's and get some fat and calorie filled junk food...or you can spend that same money on something that's healthy and that tastes great!

Now, I've posted before about my love for Fresh & Easy. Keep in mind the prices I'm posting are the actual prices of the items I've purchased there. These prices might vary from your local markets like Whole Foods, Sprouts, or Trader Joe's.

Teriyaki Chicken Stir Fry, Steamed Rice and Chicken & Veggie Pot Stickers



2 - 16oz bags of Frozen Stir Fry Vegetables @ $1.69 each
1.75lbs of skinless, boneless chicken breast meat @ $5.17
1 bottle of Soy Vay's Veri Veri Teriyaki Sauce - $3.79 (or your favorite Teriyaki sauce)
1 - 2lb bag of calrose rice @ $1.65
1 large bag of chicken and vegetable pot stickers @ $7.49 (I actually got this at my local Korean grocer - I already had this in my freezer)
You can get frozen pot stickers at Trader Joe's for 1/2 the cost!

Add that up...that's $21.48! My entire family ate (minus the baby of course and I have enough left overs for 2 more meals!)


Directions:

Cut the chicken into small strips or chunks. Pour about a cup of the teri sauce over the chicken and allow it to marinate in a bowl for about 10 minutes. Of course the longer it marinates, the more flavorful it'll be...but I like to prepare things as quickly as possible...and it's just not that serious sometimes! Coat a large skillet with cooking spray and saute the chicken until it's no longer pink. Add both bags of stir fry veggies and cover. Let it cook on a medium high flame for about 10 minutes.

While the chicken is cooking, you should have your rice cooking too. The secret to a perfect pot of rice is FOLLOWING THE DIRECTIONS!! Too much water will make your rice mushy. Not enough water will make your rice hard...and who wants crunchy rice? Eww...

Pour the remaining amount of teri sauce over the veggies and mix (as well as you can). I usually add about 1/4 cup of cold water to 2 tablespoons of corn starch to the sauce to thicken it up (because the veggies are frozen and retain lots of water on their own). Who wants soupy teri stir fry? YUCK!



Mix the corn starch and water in a small cup and just pour it in the skillet. Turn up the heat as mix. The sauce will begin to thicken. I know it'll seem like a lot of sauce, but trust me...the sauce over rice is WICKED!!! And I don't really DO soy sauce on white rice. Funny...I'm half Chinese and I don't like soy sauce! That's like being American and not liking ketchup!



I used oyster sauce (that brown goop on my plate) to go with the pot stickers ...which I deep fried (straight from the freezer until they were golden brown). I had a mean craving for oyster sauce last night...must be the Chinese in me!!

Enjoy!

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Chicken Salad the NEW tuna

I know I haven't blogged in a while...I've been consumed with my love of Facebook and I'm in the middle of trying to get myself into nursing school...so please forgive my absence.

I make this sometimes when I can't bring myself to pay the extra for albacore tuna. Ever since I started eating albacore, I haven't looked back and regular chunk tuna...the stinky stuff (as I like to call it). My family had been eating chicken salad sandwiches for 3 days and they all thought they were eating tuna until I told them it was CHICKEN!!

Ingredients:

1 apple (any kind) diced
2 celery stalks (chopped)
3 cans of chunk white chicken meat
2 cups of light mayo
1 tablespoon of dill weed
Salt and Pepper to taste

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Directions:

Pretend like you're making tuna...dice up one apple and chop the celery. I know you must think that the apple is a strange ingredient, but trust me...it gives the salad a nice flavor. Break up the chicken with a fork, add mayo and seasonings...mix well. I use the dill weed to substitute relish...for this dish AND tuna (because I don't particularly care for the little pickle pieces). It gives off the same flavor without the actual pickle pieces (which kinda makes me wanna gag just thinking about it!!) It's THAT easy!!









Enjoy!

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Wicked Buffalo Wings

Just in time for the Super Bowl festivities that are getting ready to take place!! Over the weekend I had some of the BEST buffalo wings I've EVER had...never mind that they were served to us via ROOM SERVICE and we only got 6 wings for $10 (plus 7.75% tax, $2.00 delivery and 18 % gratuity) - that's roughly $2.50 EACH - they were till the best I've ever had.

I came home from my weekend getaway inspired!!

Ingredients:

3lbs. chicken wings (with tips cut off and separated)
1/2 cup of margarine
3/4 cup of your favorite hot sauce (separated) - I used Louisiana Wildly Wicked Wing Sauce
Salt and pepper to taste

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Directions:

Now, some people prefer to deep fry their wings and dip them in flour before doing so...but I like to cook healthy when I can - so I baked my wings. Preheat the oven to 425. Line two cookie sheets with foil and coat foil with cooking spray. In a large bowl combine wings with about 1/4 cup of sauce, salt and pepper...mix well and let sit for about 10 minutes before cooking.



Bake wings for 15 minutes on each side. While the wings are baking, in a large skillet melt 1/2 cup (or one stick) of margarine and pour in the remaining sauce. With a wire whisk, mix well until it starts to thicken. Once the chicken is done cooking, place the wings inside the skillet and toss them to coat evenly. Allow the wings to simmer in the sauce. The longer you allow them to simmer, the spicier they will be. During the last minute or so, drizzle honey over the wings and toss.



I served them for dinner with a large salad and everyone LOVED them! I'm glad because I had never made buffalo wings before! HAHAHAHA!!!

If you plan on making more than 3lbs of chicken wings, double the sauce recipe! Good luck...and as usual, ENJOY!!

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Applebee's Oriental Chicken Salad

Ingredients:

Salad -
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup corn flake crumbs
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 boneless, skinless chicken breast half
oil for frying
3 cups chopped romaine lettuce
1 cup red cabbage
1 cup Napa cabbage
1/2 carrot, julienned or shredded
1 green onion, chopped
1 tablespoon sliced almonds
1/3 cup chow mein noodles

Dressing:
3 tablespoons honey
1 1/2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon Grey Poupon Dijon mustard
1/8 teaspoon sesame oil

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Direction:

Prepare dressing ingredients by mixing in a small bowl. Refrigerate while preparing salad. Cut each chicken breast into 5 strips. In one bowl, beat egg with milk. In another bowl, combine flour with corn flake crumbs, salt and pepper. Preheat oil over medium heat. Dip individual chicken pieces in egg mixture and then roll in the flour mixture. Fry chicken until browned, drain and set aside.

Prepare salad by tossing the chopped romaine with the chopped red cabbage, Napa cabbage, and carrots. Sprinkle sliced green onion on top of the lettuce. Sprinkle almonds over the salad, then the chow mein noodles. Cut the chicken into small chunks. Place the chicken onto the salad forming a pile in the middle. Serve with salad dressing on the side.

Enjoy!!

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Egg Rolls Made Easy

Don't know what to do with that left over turkey meat or ham?? I don't believe in letting ANYTHING go to waste. I know the idea of making them sounds like a task, but it really isn't with my simple recipe.

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons cooking oil
1 bag of cole slaw mix (cabbage and carrots)
1 small can of sliced water chestnuts (minced)
2 cups of fresh bean sprouts (optional)
1/2 cup minced green onion
1 cup of Soyaki Sauce or Soy Vay's Veri Veri Teriyaki Sauce (or your favorite teriyaki marinade)
1 cup of finely diced COOKED ham, turkey or chicken
1 lightly scrambled egg
1 package of egg roll/spring roll skins

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Directions:

In a large bowl, combine cole slaw mix, minced water chestnuts, green onion and bean sprouts. Heat oil in a skillet or wok and lightly saute the cole slaw mix, stirring constantly for about 3 minutes. DO NOT OVER COOK THE COLE SLAW...Pour in the teriyaki sauce and mix well. Remove mixture from heat and add your cooked meat. It should look like this:



In a small bowl, lightly scramble the egg. The egg is used to seal the egg roll. There isn't actually ANY eggs found in an egg roll...lol, but whatever!!!



Prepare your work area with wax paper or foil...it can get messy. I wish I had taken better pictures of the rolling process, but my hands were sticky with flour and egg...so I hope I can explain it well enough. Place one egg roll skin in a diamond position - one point up and one point down. Scoop a little over a tablespoon of the cole slaw mix in the center of the skin. Think: BURRITO when rolling it.



You fold 3 times and roll...lift the bottom point over the mix, fold the left side, then the right and roll. Take a teaspoon and wipe a little of the egg along the top flap and roll to seal.





Next, fill your wok, deep fryer or deep skillet will oil. Peanut oil is best, but it's expensive...so canola or vegetable oil is fine. Make sure the oil is REALLY hot (think: FRYING TACO SHELLS). Fry the egg rolls until they are golden brown.



Drain and cool on paper towels. You might want to allow at least 5 minutes to pass before putting one of these bad boys to your lips. They're VERY hot - inside and out! This recipe yields about 15 egg rolls (give or take a few depending on how much filling you use for each one). They look pretty small once you finish rolling them, but after they're cooked they seem to GROW...lol.



Enjoy!

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