Apple Chicken

This is not the healthiest meal (turn your head as you add all the butter) but boy is it yummy!  And my kids will actually eat cooked apples...maybe it has something to do with all that butter....hmmm...

Ingredients:

• 4 regular sized apples (chopped into bite-sized pieces)
• 1-2 Tbsp diced onion (your preference)
• chicken (enough to feed your family)
• flour
• 3 Tbsp butter
• 1/4 tsp thyme
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 cup half and half
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 2 Tbsp cornstarch

How To:

• Rinse and roll the chicken in flour to coat.
• Heat 1Tbsp of butter and 2 Tbsp of oil over med heat.  Cook chicken until cooked through adding oil if needed to prevent burning.
• In another pan, melt 2 Tbsp of butter.  Add the onion, apples, and thyme.  I never measure the thyme - I just sprinkle a bunch on.
• Cook until the apples are softened.  I let it go until they are nice and soft (maybe 5 minutes) and they will smell amazing!
• Remove the apples.  In the same pan, warm up the chicken broth and 1/4 cup of half and half until its hot.
• Dissolve the cornstarch in the remaining 1/4 cup half and half.  Add this to the warmed broth/half and half mix.  Cook until the sauce thickens (I let it go while I set the table, stirring often so it doesn't burn).
• Serve the apples on top of the chicken and the sauce on top of that.

Enjoy!

 

Pot Roast

The most important part of the pot roast is the meat - so pick out a good cut of meat to roast!  This turns out juicy and delicious.  Serve with some egg noodles.

Ingredients:

• 1 beef chuck roast
• 2 russet potatoes, quartered
• 2 carrots, cut in 2 inch pieces
• 2 ribs celery, cut in 2 inch pieces
• 1 onion, sliced
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tsp rosemary leaves
• 1/2 tsp thyme
• 1/2 cup beef broth

How To:

• Sprinkle the meat with salt and pepper.
• Add the veggies, bay leaves, thyme, and rosemary to the crock pot.
• Place beef on top.
• Pour the broth over the beef.
• Cook in crock pot for 8-9 hours until the beef is tender.

Enjoy!

One Dish Lemon Chicken with Green Beans and Potatoes

This is a great one-dish meal.  Make it ahead and just throw it in around dinner time!

Ingredients:

• 6 Tbsp olive oil
• 2 lemons (1 sliced, 1 juiced)
• 4 cloves garlic (chopped)
• pinch of salt
• pinch of pepper
• 2 handfuls of green beans
• 6 small red potatoes, quartered
• chicken (we use a breast, drumstick, thigh, and breast tender)

Directions:

• Mix the lemon juice, 5 tablespoons of oil, salt and pepper in a bowl.
• Coat the bottom of a baking dish with 1 tablespoon of oil.
• Arrange the lemon slices on the first layer.
• Add the green beans to the lemon mixture.  Toss, and add as a layer to the baking dish.
• Add the potatoes to the lemon mixture.  Toss, and add around the edges of the dish.
• Add the chicken to the lemon mixture and toss.  Add to the baking dish on top of the green beans.
• Pour any extra lemon mixture on top of the chicken.
• Roast for 50 minutes in 450 degree oven.
• Then take the chicken off and let the potatoes and beans go for another 10 minutes in the oven.

Enjoy!

Ugly Fajitas

Yes - ugly fajitas!  They taste awesome but when they come out of the crock pot - they are ugly looking :-)

Ingredients

• 1 onion (sliced)
• 2 bell peppers (sliced)
• chicken (as much as you want to make - a breast, a thigh and a leg for our family of 4)
• pinch of salt
• 1 1/2 Tbsp cumin
• 1 1/2 Tbsp chili powder
• a lime
• chicken broth (1/4-1/2 cup depending on how saucy you like it)

How to:

• Oil the bottom of a crock pot.
• Put the veggies in next.
• Then the chicken.
• Sprinkle everything with cumin, chili powder, and salt.
• Add the chicken broth.
• Squirt a lime over everything.
• Cook for 8 hours on low.
• When done - shred the chicken and combine with the peppers and onions and sauce and serve with warm tortillas.

Enjoy!

Chicken Pot Pie

There is nothing like chicken pot pie especially the homemade version!

Ingredients Pot Pie:

• chicken (put in as much as you want - I like a to use a thigh, drumstick and breast)
• 2 cups chicken broth (home made version)
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 onion (chopped)
• 3 carrots (chopped)
• 2 celery stalks (chopped)
• 3 Tbsp butter
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 tsp thyme
• 1 Tbsp sherry (optional)
• 1 corn on the cob (cut the corn off)

How To:

• Add the chicken to the broth and cook in a stock pot over medium heat.  Cover and simmer until the chicken is done (about 10-15 minutes)
• Take the chicken off the bone and shred it.
• Heat the oil and cook the carrots, onion, and celery for about 5 minutes.  Season with salt and pepper.
• Remove the veggies and add to the chicken. 
• In the same stockpot, melt the butter.  Once melted, add the flour and cook for 1 minute.
• Add the chicken broth, milk and thyme and bring to a simmer.  Simmer while sauce thickens (a minute or two).
• Add the sauce to the chicken and veggies and add the corn.  Add the sherry if you want (it makes it a little bit sweeter but is not necessary - it is still yummy without!)
• Please in a baking dish and cover with crust.
• Cook in a 400 degree oven for 30 minutes.

Easiest Pot Pie Crust ever! 

Yes - easiest - most pot pie crusts have you use a pastry cutter to mix the butter and flour.  This one, you just mix and it's easy to roll out - finally!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 2 Tbsp butter (melted)
• pinch of salt
• 1/3 cup milk

How to:

• Mix all ingredients. 
• Roll out and use for the crust!

Enjoy!

Shephards Pie

Everybody needs a recipe for shepherd's pie.  I like this one because it has cheese....yum!

Ingredients:

• 3-4 russet potatoes
• 1/2 Tbsp butter
• little bit of milk
• 2-3 carrots chopped (and any other veggies - sometimes I add corn)
• 1 Tbsp oil
• 1 onion chopped
• 1 pound ground beef
• 2 Tbsp flour
• 1 Tbsp ketchup
• 3/4 cup beef broth
• cheese to sprinkle on top

How to:

• Chop the potatoes and add to a pot of water.  Bring to a boil and cook for 15 minutes (to make mashed potatoes).
• Heat oil in a frying pan.  Add onion and carrots and cook until soft.  Add ground beef and cook until browned. 
• Pour off excess fat and add in the flour. 
• Cook for 1 minute.
• Add ketchup and beef broth.
• Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer for 5 minutes.
• When the potatoes are done, mash the potatoes with the butter and some milk.
• Spread the ground beef mixture in a baking dish, top with the mashed potatoes, and sprinkle with cheese.
• Bake in 375 degree oven for 20 minutes or until warmed and potatoes are browned.

Onion Smothered Chicken

This is a delicious stove-top meal complete with veggies.  I usually pair it with some rice or mashed potatoes and a dinner roll.

Ingredients:

• In one bowl mix:
• 3 Tbsp red wine vinegar
• 2 tsp sugar
• 1/4 tsp sage
• sprinkle of salt

Other ingredients:

• chicken (leg, thigh, breast, breast tender for our family)
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 2 onions (sliced)
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 Tbsp flour
• 2 tsp sugar
• 3 Tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1/4 tsp sage
• 1 carrot (cut in strips)
• 1 red bell pepper (cut in strips)

How to:

• Add the chicken to the bowl of vinegar, sugar, and sage.  Let it sit for 15 minutes.  Broil or grill the chicken.  Alternative - you can cook the chicken in the marinade- just cook at 400 degrees for 40 minutes or until cooked through.  Put it in a dish with a lid so the chicken cooks in the liquid and take the lid off for the last 10 minutes so that some of it evaporates.  I recommend doubling the amount of red wine vinegar if you cook it in the liquid.
• In a frying pan, heat the oil. 
• Add the onions and 2 tsp sugar. 
• Cook for 5 minutes until brown. 
• Add the broth and cool until most of the liquid has evaporated (5 minutes). 
• Add the flour, carrot, bell pepper, 3 tablespoon red wine vinegar, 1/4 tsp sage, and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. 
• Cook for about 10 minutes until the onions are caramelized. 

Enjoy!