Friday, December 28, 2012

Water Chestnut Dip

Does everyone already have this dip from your mom? I am just copying and pasting, so I'm adding it.


1 C sour cream
1 C Mayo
2 tsp beef boullion
½ tsp worchestershire sauce
¼ tsp garlic powder
2 T green onion
1 can water chestnuts chopped

Hamburger Hot Pot

I don't know if this qualifies to be on here, but my kids love it, it's pretty basic meat and potatoes.

1 1/2 lb ground beef
6 med. Potoes, peeled and sliced
¼ tsp garlic powder
3 med onions sliced
1 tsp salt
1 can mushroom soup
¼ tsp pepper
½ cup water
(I add a layer of carrots and sometimes some mushrooms)

Brown ground beef and add seasonings to the meat. Stir together soup and the liquid you are using. In crock pot layer 1/2 potatoes, 1/2 carrots, 1/2 onions, all of the beef, potatoes, carrots, onions, then liquid.

I usually add milk instead of water and a little sour cream. I also sprinkle on paprika and seasoning salt. Cook on high for 2-3 hours or on low 6ish maybe. My crock pot cooks really hot, so yours might take longer.

Artichoke chicken with capers

4 chicken breasts
1/3 -1/2 cup half and half
Seasoned flour
2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp minced garlic
1 tbsp butter
1 or more tbsp of capers
1 can quartered artichoke hearts, drained
1/2 cup chicken broth + 1/4 cup white grape juice
Salt and pepper

1. Pound chicken until very flattened. Dredge in milk and coat with seasoned flour.
2. Heat olive oil in saucepan. Add garlic and cook till tender. Add chicken and sauté in hot oil on one side until browner. Turn chicken and sauté for two minutes.
3. Add capers, artichoke hearts, chicken broth, and salt and pepper to taste.
4. Cook ingredients until mixture is reduced half, then cover until chicken is no longer pink in the middle. (add half and half to make yummier)
5. Serve over pasta with freshly steamed vegetables.

This recipe originally called for wine, my mom made the adjustment with the white grape juice and chicken broth. I like it saucier than this recipe, so I sometimes double the sauce ingredients.

Apple syrup (we use with aebleskivers)

1 cup sugar
2 tbsp cornstarch
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 pint apple juice
Splash of lemon
1/2 cup butter

Combine all ingredients then heat over medium heat until desired thickness. Serve warm.

Aebleskivers (Recipe I use)

2 eggs separated
2 cup low fat buttermilk
2 cups flour
2 tbsp sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp grd. Cardamom
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup butter, melted

Beat the 2 egg whites in bowl until stiff, but not dry. Combine 2 egg yolks, buttermilk, flour, sugar, baking powder, soda, salt, cardamom, vanilla, and melted butter in bowl and mix until smooth. Fold in egg whites.

Pour about 3/4 tsp oil into each round of an aebelskiver pan and heat over low heat. Add heaping tbsp of batter. When bubbly around edges, turn each round upside down with chopsticks, a fork, or a skewer. Continue cooking, turning frequently, until golden and cooked through, about 5 minutes. Remove and drain on paper towels. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

(I have never used cardamom, I have sprinkled some cinnamon or nutmeg in to replace it, don't know if it makes a difference)

Monday, December 3, 2012

Sweet Garlic Chicken

Here's yet another way to dress up your chicken, brought to you by Kelli (found on pinterest, linked to here).

I would say use the following amount for every two chicken breasts. It says four, but I say two:

3 T olive oil
4 garlic cloves minced
4 T brown sugar
sprinkle of salt and pepper

Heat the olive oil, add the garlic, cook for 30 seconds, remove from heat, add the brown sugar.
Rub the concoction on the chicken breast. Cook in the oven at 450 for 20-30 mins.

I suggest cutting your chicken breasts in two, or pounding them down or something. I just don't like giant thick breasts because they don't get coated in the flavor, you know?

This is super easy for nights you just decide last minute what you're having. I served mine with baked potatoes (and probably some other colorful veggie would be good too...like fresh green beans...but I didn't have anything like that so give me a break).
Both my kids loved it. Of course - it's covered in brown sugar!