Monday, May 9, 2011

Lemon Chicken (updated)

Ingredients

4 chicken breasts cut into bite size pieces
1-2 T coconut or olive oil
1/4 cup minced onion
3 cloves garlic; minced (cut and let to sit for at least 10 minutes)
1/4 cup white wine/sherry
juice of 2 lemons (can use bottled juice but better flavor with rind added)
rind of 2 lemons
1 t rosemary (crushed)
2 t thyme (crushed)
2 T butter
1 t salt
1 t black pepper
1 t sugar
1 t cornstarch

Sprinkle cut chicken pieces with salt (or salt substitute) & pepper and then saute in hot pan with 1-2 T coconut oil (or olive oil) until golden brown. Take chicken out of pan and put into a large casserole dish with cover until sauce is ready.

Empty pan of drippings and melt butter in pan. Add onion and garlic and saute until golden and soft. Add white wine/sherry, butter, lemon juice, rind, salt, pepper, rosemary, thyme and sugar. Bring to a low boil and simmer for two minutes. During this time put cornstarch in small glass bowl and combine with 2 T cold water until mixed. Add to sauce and allow to simmer and thicken for another minute. Add sauce to chicken in casserole and toss to cover chicken completely in the sauce. Can eat immediately or keep warm in 300 degree oven.

Awesome served over mashed potatoes. Probably be good with pasta as well.
This recipe makes 3 large servings (4 small servings)

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Southwest Quinoa Salad

Needs some tweaking but I want to remember the basics

2 cups pre-cooked quinoa (chilled)
1/2 cup corn kernals
1/2 cup diced tomatoes
1/2 roasted red pepper, diced (broiled until skin burnt, then cooled in closed tupperware and then skin removed)
1/2 cup pinto beans (need to try different bean-didnt really like)
1/4 cup diced onion (one large onion slice, diced)
   
Mix with following blended dressing
  2 T lime juice
  2 T EVOO
  2 T red vinegar
  2 garlic cloves, pressed
  1/4 tsp cumin
  pinch chilli powder
  pinch cayenne pepper

Friday, March 11, 2011

Lemon Chicken

Ingredients
  • 4 chicken breasts cut into bite size pieces
  • 3 T flour
  • olive oil
  • 1/4 cup minced onion
  • 2 cloves garlic; minced
  • 1/4 cup white wine/sherry
  • juice of 2 lemons
  • rind of 2 lemons
  • 1 t rosemary
  • 2 t thyme
  • 2 T butter
  • 1 t salt
  • 1 t black pepper
  • 1 t sugar
Sprinkle chicken pieces with salt & pepper and then cover with flour. Shake off excess flour and then saute in hot pan with 2 T olive oil until golden brown. Take chicken out of pan and put into a large casserole dish until sauce is ready.

Add 1 T olive oil to pan and lower temp to med/low. Add onion and garlic and saute until golden and soft. Deglaze pan with 1/4 cup white wine/sherry. Add butter, lemon juice, rind, salt, pepper, rosemary, thyme and sugar. Simmer for a few minutes and then add to chicken in casserole. Toss to cover chicken in sauce. Can eat immediately or keep warm in 300 degree oven.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Savory Chicken & Rice Casserole

Savory Chicken Marinade

1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
3 T full fat mayo
1-2 T Worcestershire sauce
1 T lemon juice
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. fresh ground black pepper
1 T Poultry Seasoning
1 T garlic puree or garlic powder
1 T sweet paprika, preferably Hungarian paprika
1 tsp. thyme (optional)

Put all ingredients in jar with tight-fitting lid and shake well until all ingredients are combined. (Don't worry if there are some beads of mayo that don't combine; they will dissolve when you're marinating the meat.)

Used leftover marinade (1/3 cup?) on 3-4 chicken breasts and let marinade for a few hours.
-1 can cream of chicken
-1/2 can hot water
-1 tsp onion powder
-3/4 cup uncooked white rice
-2 cups frozen mixed veggies (can of veggies drained)
Mix above in casserole. Add marinated chicken breast and cook at 375 for 50 minutes. Take out of oven and sprinkle cheese on chicken and let melt for 10 minutes.

Ate with crescent rolls. Awesome and savory!

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Bliss Candle Scents

Scent Name - Candle Scent Description

Amber Romance -duplicate of VS
Aphrodisiac- Sensual blend of essential oil fragrances
Banana- just like the real thing
Baby Powder- just like the real thing
Basil Sage Mint- Very herbal and clean scent
Black Cherry -Dark and full bodied Cherry
Blueberry -Blueberry with a touch of vanilla and cinnamon
Breathe Deep- Relaxing, clean citrus blended with floral and piney
Caramel- just like the real thing
Cedar Wood- Like the inside of a hope chest
Cinnamon Red Hots- just like the real thing
Citroberry Berry -version of Citronella
Cucumber Melon -duplicate of BBW
Honeydew- just like the real thing
Country Berry Hotcakes- Buttery hotcakes layered with mixed berries
Cupid- Sweet, rich, cherry almond, coconutty scent.
Fresh Linen- floral blossoms scattered through blades of green grass
Goddess- exotic musky floral with a hint of citrus
Harvest- warm spices in apple cider
Honeysuckle -just like the real thing
Hot Apple Pie- just like the real thing
Jingleberry- Mulberry and cranberry with a splash of orange and vanilla
Lemon Bundt Cake- just like the real thing
Juniper Breeze Type- duplicate of BBW
Love Spell -duplicate of VS
McIntosh Apple- Crisp, red and juicy!
Mango Papaya- Fruit fusion with mango and papaya
Orchid- just like the real thing
Patchouli- just like the real thing
Peppercorn -masculine dark, spicy, warm and sultry
Peace of Mind -Soothing blend of chamomile and lemongrass
Pineapple Cilantro -Sweet fruit with a touch of fresh green cilantro
Pink Sugar Type -Duplicate of Aquolina's Pink Sugar
Pumpkin Pie- just like the real thing
Rain Fresh- green-floral fragrance
Raspberries & Cream- just like the real thing
Spiced Cranberry- just like the real thing
Spiced Pear- Duplicate of Pier 1 fragrance
Strawberry Jam- just like the real thing
Sun Ripened Raspberries- duplicate of BBW
Sugar Cookie- Smells like you have been baking Christmas cookies-yummy
Sweet Dreams -soothing citrus blend that is peaceful and calming
Tidal Wave- Clean, salty ocean type
Wildberry Zinger Tea- Overflowing with berry scents
Ylang Ylang -sweet floral scent similar to Jasmine. Very relaxing.

Chipotle a la Alissa

4 chicken breast tenders cooked & shredded (sauteed in olive oil, sprinkled with S&P & accent seasoning & then microwaved for 1 minute)
2-4 oz cream cheese
4 oz shredded colby jack cheese
1 small tomato diced
2 small diced slices of onion
sprinkle of roasted garlic powder
2-4 oz sweet corn kernals

microwave 4 minutes in 1 minute increments and mix between heatings.

Put blend inside flour tortilla with prepared rice.

Very good :)

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Carmelized Onion and Goat Cheese Pizza

Tried this last night and it was a winner all around .. mmm...

Prepared pizza crust (I used Boboli)
1 1/2 cups carmelized onions (2 large onions sliced)
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
4 oz crumbled goat cheese

Make carmelized onions by cutting ends off of onions, remove skins, cut onion in half and then slice. Put cut onoins into saute pan over medium heat in 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Stir in teaspoon of sugar or honey and cook for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally until onions are translucent and turning golden brown.

Make balsamic vinegar reduction by heating in a small saucepan until simmer and steaming. Stir often and let simmer until vinegar is reduced by 1/3. (about 10 minutes)

Distribute the carmelized onions evenly across the dough. Push into dough if a premade crust is not used. Sprinkle goat cheese over the top and then drizzle the balsamic reduction over the top.

Bake for 15 minutes (or whatever is directed for crust) at 450. Let sit for 5 minutes before you cut.

Very sweet and savory!!

Inspired from post on East Village Kitchen. http://eastvillagekitchen.com/2009/02/01/caramelized-onion-and-goat-cheese-pizza-recipe/