Sunday, February 7, 2010

Classic Chicken Dinners: American chicken recipes




Nancy's Fabulous Fifties BBQ Chicken Legs


Approx. 1 to 1 ½ lbs, chicken legs (and/or thighs)

½ tsp salt

3 cups catsup

1 ½ cups Coke Classic

1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1 small yellow onion, finely diced



Place chicken pieces in a dutch oven. In a bowl, stir in remaining ingredients, until well-blended. Pour over chicken. Cover and cook over medium-low heat, for 1 hour. Reduce heat to lowest setting, and continue to simmer, covered, for 30 minutes more, or until sauce is nice and thick. Serves 4


Broccoli-Cheese Chicken


4 boneless skinless chicken breasts

1 can condensed broccoli-cheese soup

1 ½ cups frozen chopped broccoli, thawed

1/2 cup buttered bread crumbs


Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. In a large skillet, brown chicken in a little oil or melted butter or margarine. Remove chicken. Place in a baking pan. Sprinkle chopped broccoli over chicken and pour soup over broccoli. Top with buttered bread crumbs and bake, uncovered, for 35 to 40 minutes, or until chicken is tender and crumbs are golden brown. Serves 4.


Nancy’s Garlic-Ranch Chicken


4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (can sub. chicken leg quarters)

2 cups sour cream ranch or buttermilk ranch bottled salad dressing

1 clove garlic, finely minced

2 TBLS olive oil


In a large skillet, brown chicken with garlic in oil. Remove garlic and set aside. Drain off fat from skillet. Sprinkle garlic over chicken and generously pour dressing over each breast. Cover and simmer over low heat for 20 to 30 minutes, or until chicken is tender. Serves 4.

.
Nancy’s Chicken Ada Lee


8 to 10 boneless skinless chicken tenders

½ tsp salt

¼ tsp black pepper

2 TBLS vegetable oil

2 TBLS butter or margarine

3 TBLS sweet or yellow onion, finely chopped

Juice from half a lemon

3 TBLS fresh apple cider

3 TBLS fresh parsley, finely chopped

2 tsp honey


Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper. Heat oil and butter together in a large skillet, stirring to blend well.. Cook chicken over high heat, about 5 to 6 minutes per side. Remove to a warm place. Whisk in remaining ingredients, and heat, stirring, for about 15 to 20 seconds. Serve immediately over chicken. Serves 4 to 6.


Great-Aunt Carrie's Chicken Pot Pie



1 small to medium stewing hen

2 bay leaves

½ onion

1 stalk celery, with leaves

2 cups corn, cut fresh from the cob (can sub. a large can of tinned corn, drained)

¼ cup yellow onion, chopped

1 hard-boiled egg, chopped

½ cup pimento, diced

1 cup cooked potato, peeled and diced

1 cup frozen peas, thawed

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

1 cup of chicken gravy (jar or can)

2 ready-made pie crusts (or use your own recipe)



Remove heart and gizzards from hen, and rinse cavity. Place in a large stock pot and cover with water. Add bay leaves, ½ onion, and the celery stalk, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, and simmer, covered, for 2 hours, or until meat is ready to fall off the bones. Skim off fat. Remove chicken to refrigerator to cool. When cooled sufficiently to handle, remove meat from bones, being very careful to avoid retaining any bone in the meat. Set aside

Pre-heat the over to 450 degrees.

Cut up meat into bite-size pieces. In a bowl, combine meat with chopped onion, corn, egg, pimento, peas, potato, salt, pepper and gravy. Cover the bottom of a deep pie dish with one crust. Pour chicken-gravy mixture into the pie dish, and place the second crust on top, fluting the edges. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until crust turns a nice golden brown. Serves 4 to 6.


Nancy's Friday Night Chicken & Biscuit Supper



3 cups cooked leftover chicken, shredded

2 cans or jars of chicken gravy

1 small can peas, drained, or, 1 1/2 cups frozen mixed vegetables, thawed.

2 tsp onion powder

1 package refrigerated biscuit dough


In a large saucepan, thoroughly combine gravy with chicken, peas and onion powder. Cook over low heat, covered, for about 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. While gravy mixture is cooking, prepare biscuits according to package directions. Serve chicken and gravy over baked biscuits. Serves 4

Chicken Around the World: Chicken recipes with an international flavor



June's Chicken Marengo


1 2 ½ to 3 lb. frying chicken, cut up into serving pieces

¼ cup all-purpose flour

1 tsp salt

¼ tsp black pepper (can sub. Italian style Mrs. Dash for S&P)

2 TBLS vegetable oil

1 clove garlic, crushed

1 beef bouillon cube

½ cup hot water

1 cup onions, chopped

1 small can B & B mushrooms

1 15 oz. can tomato sauce



In a large bowl, combine four with salt and pepper (or Mrs. Dash) until well-blended. Dredge chicken in flour. Heat oil in skillet and brown chicken on both sides. Stir in garlic and onions. Meanwhile, add bouillon cube to hot water. Stir into skillet, along with mushrooms. Mix oregano with tomato sauce and pour over chicken. Cover and simmer over low heat for 30 to 40 minutes, or until chicken is tender. Serves 3 to 4.


Asian BBQ Chicken


1 frying hen, cut up into serving pieces, with skin removed

6 oz. sparkling mineral water or club soda (or can sub. diet ginger ale)

2 TBLS teriyaki sauce

2 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp onion powder

¼ tsp red pepper sauce (optional)


In a bowl, combine mineral water with teriyaki sauce, garlic powder, onion powder and red pepper sauce, blending well. Add chicken pieces, cover and refrigerate overnight. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees (if grilling, cook over low heat or low flame). In oven, arrange chicken in a large baking pan. and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes, basting occasionally. Serves 4 to 6.



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Nancy’s Slow Cooker Cherried Chicken with Couscous


1 1 to 1 1 ½ lb package of boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or, if using boned chicken, remove skin and excess fat from chicken, before cooking)

2 Tablespoons olive or vegetable oil

Black pepper or garlic-pepper seasoning, to taste

1 can cherry pie filling

1 tsp salt

1 box plain or mildly flavoured couscous

1 box Green Giant frozen brussell sprouts in butter sauce (optional)



Heat oil in a skillet. Season chicken with black pepper, to taste. Brown chicken on both sides. Remove from skillet. Place chicken in slow cooker. Sprinkle with salt. Pour cherry pie filling over the top, and cook on either, high setting for 5 to 6 hours, or low for 8 to 10 hours. Before removing chicken, cook couscous according to package directions. Prepare brussell sprouts. Serve chicken over hot couscous, with brussell sprouts on the side. Serves 4. *(Chicken can also be made in a covered dutch oven, simmered over very low heat for 30 to 45 min.)


Chicken L’Orange



4 chicken breasts, with skin on

¼ cup flour,

¼ tsp each, salt and pepper

3 Tbls butter or margarine

1 peel from a small orange

½ cup chicken broth or water

3 Tbls orange juice

¼ tsp dry mustard

¼ cup light brown sugar



Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly dust both sides of chicken with flour. Thoroughly grease a shallow casserole dish or small baking pan. Place chicken in dish, skin-side up, and season with equal amounts of salt and pepper. Dot the skin of the chicken with the butter. Bake for 30 minutes.

While chicken is baking, scrape away the white fibery pulp from the inside of the orange rind. Next, slice the rind into long, narrow strips. In a saucepan, combine the rind with the remaining ingredients, and cook, stirring, until the rind is tender and transparent. Pour over chicken, and continue baking for 25 to 30 minutes longer. Serves 4.



Nancy's Easy Chicken Curry


1 package whole chicken, cut into serving pieces

1 can cream of chicken soup

½ tsp curry powder

½ tsp onion powder

dash, salt and pepper

4 to 6 servings, hot cooked rice (plain white or pilaf)–(best if cooked in chicken broth, instead of water, but you can make it any way you want) In a bowl, mix the soup with the seasonings. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Place chicken in a large baking dish and bake for 50 to 55 minutes, or until chicken is tender. While chicken is baking, cook rice. Serve chicken over beds rice. Serves 4.


Chicken-Tortilla Pie



1 Spanish or Bermuda onion, chopped

2 Tbls green chilies, chopped

2 Tbls butter, margarine or bacon fat

¼ cup heavy cream

1 cup diced tomatoes or mild salsa

½ tsp chili powder

2 cups cooked leftover chicken (or turkey), diced

6 to 8 flour or corn tortillias,

¼ cup vegetable oil

1 cup mild cheddar, monterey jack or taco cheese, shredded



In a deep skilled, fry tortillias until crisp. Remove from heat and set aside. Remove oil from pan and wipe dry. Place butter in skillet and saute onion with chilies, until onion is soft. Reduce heat to low. Slowly stir in cream. chicken, chili powder and tomatoes or salsa, until well-blended. Stir in ¼ cup of the cheese, until cheese is melted, and sauce is thickened slightly.

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

In a greased shallow casserole or baking pan, Place a layer of the fried tortillas, then, spread chicken mixture over it. Cover top with remaining tortillas–breaking tortillas up if they don’t fit. Sprinkle top of tortillas with remaining cheese, and bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Serves 4 to 6.


Vintage pudding recipes



Great-Gran's Custard recipe

(This is one of my family's oldest recipes, dating before the Great Depression)


3 eggs, well beaten

3 cups whole milk

1/3 cup granulated sugar

½ tsp salt

¾ tsp vanilla extract


Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl, combine all ingredients until well blended. Bake in a custard dish for 30 to 35 minutes, or until center is firm.


1970's Frozen Pudding Treat


1 package chocolate, butterscotch or pistachio instant pudding

1 ½ cups milk

2 cups Cool Whip

Chocolate syrup (optional)

4 to 6 dollops Cool Whip (optional)


In a bowl prepare pudding with 1 ½ cups milk. Stir in Cool Whip. Pour into individual plastic cups or bowls and freeze for about 4 hours, or until firm. If desired, top with drizzles of chocolate syrup and dollops of Cool Whip. Serves 4 to 6.

Bread Pudding for Two

1 cup fresh baked bread crumbs

2 cups milk

2 eggs. slightly beaten

4 TBLS granulated sugar

¼ tsp ground cinnamon

¼ tsp nutmeg


Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl, soak bread crumbs in milk for 20 minutes Stir in eggs, sugar and spices. Grease a casserole dish with butter or margarine. Pour contents of bowl into dish and bake for 40 to 55 minutes, or until a knife inserted in center comes out clean. Serves 2–or one if you’re really into bread pudding.


Great-gran's Rice Pudding

¼ cup uncooked white rice

4 cups whole milk

¼ tsp salt

1/3 cup granulated sugar

½ tsp vanilla extract

Rind from 1 lemon, grated


Pre-heat oven to lowest setting, about 275 degrees. In a large bowl, mix all ingredients together, until well blended. Pour into a well-buttered baking pan. Stirring occasionally, bake for 2 ½ to 3 hours, or until center is firm.


Gran's Chocolate Scrummy

1 cup flour
¾ cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ cup chopped walnuts
½ cup whole milk
2 tablespoons melted butter or margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup white sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 cup cold water

Pre-heat oven to 350 F degrees

In a mixing bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, salt, cocoa, baking powder, walnuts, milk, butter, and vanilla. Spread evenly into a square greased baking pan.

In a seperate bowl, mix together the brown sugar, white sugar, and cocoa powder and sprinkle over batter in pan. Pour the cold water over the top of the mixure you just sprinkled in the pan, then Bake for 45 minutes. Serve hot or cold, garnished with sweet whipped cream or ice cream, if desired.


June's Banana Pudding


1 cup sugar
3 eggs, beaten
1 dash salt
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 cups whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
3-4 ripe bananas, sliced
Nabisco 'Nilla vanilla wafer cookies


In a large saucepan, mix together sugar and eggs. Stir in salt, cornstarch and milk.Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly; cook until thickened. Remove from heat. Sir in vanilla extract until well blended. Cover and chill for one hour. Before serving, add pudding and Nilla' wafers to the serving bowl, in layers...first, a layer of vanilla wafers, then a layer of pudding, etc., ending with pudding on top. If desired, garnish with dollops of sweet whipped cream.


Saturday, February 6, 2010

Home Cookin': Pot roast & other beef recipes



June’s Pot Roast


1 lb chuck roast

1 to 2 TBLS vegetable oil

1 small yellow onion, sliced

5 to 6 carrots, sliced ½ inch

3 medium to large potatoes, peeled and cubed

2 TBLS Worcestershire sauce


½ TBLS cider vinegar

2 tsp granulated sugar

4 to 5 whole cloves

2 small bay leaves or 1 large

water


In a Dutch oven, brown beef in a little hot vegetable oil. Drain off fat. Add enough water to cover, and remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 1 to 1 ½ hours over very low heat. Serves 4 to 6.


Pot Roast Italiano

3 lb thick beef chuck roast

2 to 3 Tbls olive oil

½ tsp each, salt and pepper

1 8oz can tomato sauce

1 6oz can tomato paste

½ cup yellow onion, finely chopped

¼ cup green bell pepper, very finely chopped

2 tsp dried oregano

¾ tsp salt

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp dried thyme, crushed

½ dried basil

1 package spaghetti

grated parmesan cheese (to taste)


Trim any excess fat from the sides of the roast. Sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a dutch oven, and brown both sides of meat. Drain off oil. Return meat to dutch oven. In a bowl, combine tomato sauce with tomato paste, onion, green pepper and seasonings, blending well. Pour this mixture over the meat.

Simmer meat, covered, over low heat, for 2 ½ to 3 hours, or until sauce thickens–skim off any excess fat before serving. In last half hour of cooking, remove meat and shred it, or cut into bite-sized chunks. Stir meat into sauce. During final stage of cooking, cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and briefly rinse in cold water. Serve sauce over hot, cooked pasta. Sprinkle with grated cheese. Serves 6 to 8 people.


Cape Cod Pot Roast with Baked Potatoes


1 3 to 4 lb. beef chuck roast

3 Tbls vegetable oil

½ tsp salt and pepper

1 cup cranberry-apple juice

2 cups fresh cranberries

2 whole cloves

½ tsp ground cinnamon

2 Tbls granulated sugar

1 Tbls cornstarch

¼ cup water

4 to 6 large baking (jacketed) potatoes


Season roast with salt and pepper. Heat oil in dutch over and brown roast on all sides. Remove meat and drain off oil. Return meat to pan. In a bowl, stir one cup of the cranberries with juice and other ingredients. Pour over roast. Cover roast with a tight-fitting lid and cook slowly, over low heat, for about three and a half hours, or until meat is nice and fork-tender. Add remaining cranberries and continue to cook for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, or until cranberries become tender. Boil the water and stir in the cornstarch until well-blended. Stir into roast liquid to until it thickens. Bake potatoes while roast is in its final stage of cooking. Serve thickened cranberry gravy over meat and potatoes. Serves 4 to 6


Nancy's Northeastern Pot Roast


1 1 ½ to 2 lb chuck roast

½ tsp salt

¼ tsp black pepper

1 ½ Tbls vegetable oil

¼ cup water

4 oz tomato sauce

1 ½ medium yellow onions, sliced

½ clove garlic, minced

1 Tbls. dark brown sugar, or molasses

1 tsp prepared yellow mustard

few drops, lemon juice

3 Tbls tomato catsup

3 Tbls cider vinegar

1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

2 whole cloves


Heat oil in a dutch oven. Rub salt and pepper over meat. Brown all sides of meat in the hot oil. Drain. Return meat to dutch oven. Add water, tomato sauce, onion and garlic. Cover and cook over low heat for one hour. In a bowl, combine remaining ingredients. Pour over meat, and continue cooking for one hour to one longer. Remove cloves before serving. Serves 4.


June's Braised Beef Cubes


1 lb lean beef, cut into 1 ½ inch cubes

2 vegetable or beef bouillon cubes

½ TBLS onion powder

2 TBLS cider vinegar

2 small bay leaves

½ tsp each, salt and pepper

Bottled horseradish sauce (to taste)


Place all ingredients, except horseradish, in a pot with a tight-fitting lid. Add enough water to just cover meat. Simmer, covered, over lowest heat setting for about 1 ½ to 2 hours. (Add more water if needed.) Drain well and top with tiny
dollops of horseradish. Serves 4 to 6.


Savory Rump Roast


3 lb beef rump roast

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 tsp each, salt and pepper

3 Tbls vegetable oil

2 Bermuda or Spanish onions, quartered and sliced

2 Tbls prepared yellow mustard

1 tsp celery seed

½ tsp dried thyme, crushed

½ can, condensed tomato soup

3 Tbls water


In a small bowl, combine salt and pepper with the flour. Dredge meat in flour. Heat oil in a deep skillet, and brown meat on all sides. Remove meat, but do not drain off oil. If not using a non-stick pan, spray bottom of dutch oven with a very light coating of cooking spray–or lightly grease with butter or margarine, to prevent meat from sticking. Place meat in a dutch oven, and brown onions in the oil used for the meat. Remove onions and place in a bowl. Stir in remaining ingredients, until well-blended. Pour this mixture over the meat, and simmer over lowest possible heat, for 2 ½ to 3 hours, or until meat is fork-tender. Serves 4 to 6.


Slow Cooker Vegetable-Topped Rump Roast


2 TBLS all-purpose flour

½ tsp salt

¼ tsp black pepper

2 lbs. boneless beef rump roast, rolled and tied

2 TBLS vegetable oil


12 baby potatoes, peeled

6 carrots, peeled, halved and cut into quarters

1 cup yellow onions, sliced

1 can condensed vegetable-beef soup

¼ cup water

1 bay leaf

½ tsp dried thyme, crumbled


In a bowl, blend together flour, salt and pepper. Coat entire roast with flour mixture. In a large, deep skillet, carefully brown all sides of roast in hot oil. Place vegetables in the bottom of a slow cooker. Set roast on top of vegetables. In another bowl, combine soup with water and seasonings, blending well. Pour over meat. Cover and cook on low for 10 to 12 hours. Discard bay leaf and remove strings from roast before serving. Serves 4 to 6.


Nancy's Green Mountain Dutch Oven Roast


1 3 to 5 lb chuck roast

1 Tbsl prepared horseradish (optional)

1 small yellow onion, peeled, halved, quartered and sliced into thin slivers

1 clove garlic, peeled, and sliced into thin slivers

1 cup cider vinegar–or, for a slightly lighter flavor, champagne vinegar.

3 to 4 Tbls vegetable oil

2 cups strong black coffee

2 cups water

coarsely ground black pepper (can sub. regular black pepper)


Cut slits throughout the roast, and insert alternating slices of onion and garlic. Place beef in a deep baking pan or bowl, and pour vinegar over it. Refrigerate beef overnight. Discard vinegar, and place meat in a dutch oven. In a bowl, stir horseradish (if desired) into black coffee. Sprinkle roast with coarse black pepper. Heat oil in dutch oven and brown meat on all sides. Drain off excess oil. Pour coffee/horseradish mixture over roast. Add two cups water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to lowest setting, and simmer, covered, for 6 hours. If desired, you may add additional seasonings, such as salt and pepper, about 15 or 20 minutes before serving. Serves 4 to 6.


Gran’s Dutch Oven Roast with Baked Apples

1 ½ to 2 lb beef chuck roast

½ tsp each, salt and pepper

3 Tbls vegetable oil

1 cup water

¼ cup molasses

2 bay leaves

1 Tbls Worcestershire sauce

4 carrots, sliced

3 large potatoes, peeled and cubed


1 small yellow onion, sliced

BAKED APPLES:
4 red macintosh apples, cored, with skin left on

4 pats of butter or margarine

2 tsp cinnamon

4 tsp dark brown sugar

seedless raisins (optional)


Heat oil in a dutch oven. Sprinkle both sides of meat with salt and pepper. Brown meat in dutch oven. Drain off fat, and add water, molasses, bay leaves, Worcestershire and onions. Cover and cook for 1 ½ hours, over very low heat. Add carrots and potatoes, re-cover, and continue cooking for 30 to 45 minutes longer, or until vegetables are tender.

While roast is in its final stage of cooking, Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees. Place a tiny pat of butter inside the “hole” of each apple, and sprinkle each “hole’ with equal amounts of cinnamon and brown sugar. If desired, add a few raisins to this. Just before removing roast from dutch oven, bake apples in a greased, shallow casserole, for 10 to 20 minutes, or until skin is slightly browned, basting once during cooking. Serve apples alongside the chuck roast. Serves 4.


Nancy's Flatlander’s Beef Brisket


1 3-5 lb. beef brisket

2 TBLS vegetable oil

1 ½ tsp salt

½ tsp black pepper

1 large Bermuda or Spanish onion, sliced thin

3 to 4 cans Coca-Cola (add more for bigger cuts)


Heat oil in a Dutch oven or stock pot. Sprinkle beef with ½ tsp salt and ¼ tsp pepper, and brown in hot oil. Reduce heat. Pour in enough cola in to cover. Add onions and sprinkle beef with remaining salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Immediately reduce heat to low. Simmer, covered, for 2 to 3 hours, or until meat is tender. Serves 4 to 6.


Traditional Corned Beef & Cabbage


3 lbs point cut corned beef brisket

3 cups water (Can add more if needed)

1 medium green cabbage, cut into eighths

4 large carrots, peeled, cut in half lengthwise, and quartered

4to 5 medium red potatoes, skin-on, or, medium yellow potatoes, peeled.

2 bay leaves

1 ½ tsp celery seed

¼ tsp mustard seed (optional)

In a Dutch oven or stock pot, place meat in water (to cover, add more if needed). Bring to a boil. Reduce heat. Add vegetables and simmer, covered, for 2 to 3 hours. Before Serving, skim off fat and remove bay leaves. Serves 4 .

Friday, February 5, 2010

More Comfort Food: Meatloaf Recipes




Nancy’s Ketchup-Topped Meatloaf


1 ½ lbs ground beef

¼ cup 2% or whole milk

½ cup fine dry bread crumbs

1 packet dry onion soup mix

1 TBLS Worcestershire sauce

1 medium egg

Ketchup


Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, gently combine beef with bread crumbs, milk, soup mix, Worcestershire sauce and egg. Form into a loaf and place in a greased loaf pan. Top with any desired amount of ketchup. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes. Serves 4.



June’s Celery Soup Meatloaf


1 ½ lbs ground beef

1 medium egg

2 to 3 slices white bread, crumbled

1 TBLS onion powder

1 can condensed cream of celery soup, divided



Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl, gently combine meat with egg, bread and onion powder. Spread a thin layer of soup in the bottom of a greased loaf pan. Add a layer of meat mixture (about 1/3) on top. Spread that with another layer of soup and add another layer of meatloaf. Repeat once more layer. Top with remaining soup. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes. Serves 4


June’s Meatloaf w/ Piquant Sauce

1 ½ lbs. ground beef

1 cup white bread, torn into very small pieces

1 cup whole milk

2 medium eggs, beaten

½ TBLS onion powder

1 tsp salt

1/8 tsp black pepper

½ tsp ground sage


Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, soak bread in milk. Add eggs and seasonings, blending well. Gently blend in ground beef, until thoroughly mixed together. Form into loaf and place in a greased loaf pan. Pre-pare sauce as directed below, and spread on top of meatloaf. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes. Serves 4.


*Mom’s Meatloaf Piquant Sauce


3 TBLS brown sugar

¼ cup ketchup

1 tsp dry mustard


In a small bowl, combine all ingredients until well blended. (Also good over grilled or broiled hamburgers.)


Pizza-flavored Meatloaf Pie


1 ½ lbs ground veal

2 tsp onion powder

½ tsp garlic powder

1 cup tomato sauce

1 TBLS oregano

1 tsp salt

1/3 tsp black pepper

2 to 3 green pepper rings

½ small yellow onion, sliced

3 oz mozzarella cheese, shredded


Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees. In a bowl, gently mix together meat, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper. Press meat into the bottom and sides of a greased pie plate. Bake for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, in a separate bowl, mix oregano with tomato sauce. Lay pepper rings on top of meat. Add a layer of sliced onions. Pour sauce over meat and sprinkle top with cheese. Continue baking for 20 to 25 minutes longer.

Chicken Italian Style: Recipes




June's Chicken Cacciatore


1 3 ½ to 4 lb. fryer chicken, cut up into serving pieces

½ cup all-purpose flour

½ vegetable or olive oil

1 clove garlic, minced

1 cup yellow onion, finely chopped

1 green pepper, seeded and finely diced

1 16 oz. can crushed tomatoes

1 small can, tomato paste

1 8 to 10 oz. can sliced mushrooms, drained

2 tsp salt

¼ tsp black pepper

1 tsp oregano

4 to 6 servings hot cooked spaghetti


Wash chicken and pat dry with paper towels. Coat chicken with flour. Heat oil in skillet (if using an electric skillet, like mom did, turn temp. to 360 degrees). Brown chicken on all sides. Add remaining ingredients. Reduce heat to simmer, and cook, covered, for 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes, or until chicken is tender and juices run clear. Serve over spaghetti. Serves 4 to 6.



Parmesan Encrusted Chicken Breasts


4 boneless skinless chicken breasts

½ cup Helman’s Real Mayonnaise

¼ cup grated parmesan cheese

4 TBLS seasoned dry bread crumbs

¾ tsp garlic powder


Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees. In a bowl, combine cheese and garlic powder with mayonnaise. Spread over chicken breasts. Sprinkle with bread crumbs. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Serves 4.



Slow Cooker Chicken & Spaghetti


4 small boneless, skinless split chicken breasts

2 TBLS vegetable oil

salt and pepper

1 small can tomato paste

1 small (8 oz.) can tomato sauce

¼ cup chicken broth or water

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 tsp oregano

1 tsp granulated sugar

1 cup part-skim mozzarella, shredded

4 to 6 servings spaghetti, cooked

parmesan cheese, grated (optional)


In a large fry pan or electric skillet (set at 350 degrees), brown chicken in oil. Drain off fat. Sprinkle chicken liberally with salt and pepper. Transfer chicken to a medium to large size slow cooker. In a bowl, combine tomato paste, sauce, broth, garlic, oregano and sugar, until well blended. Pour over chicken. Cover and cook on low heat for 8 to 9 hours. Remove chicken and keep warm. Turn cooker to high and stir in mozzarella cheese. Re-cover slow cooker and continue heating until cheese melts. Place chicken over hot cooked pasta, spoon sauce over chicken and sprinkle with parmesan cheese, if desired. Serves 4.

Chicketti


3 cups cooked leftover chicken, coarsely cut up

1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup

1 can diced tomatoes, with juice

½ cup green pepper, seeded and diced

½ cup yellow onion, diced

2 TBLS butter or margarine

½ tsp each, salt and pepper

½ tsp garlic powder

4 to 6 servings spaghetti, cooked


Cook pasta according to package directions. Melt butter in a large skillet. Add peppers and onions and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook over medium heat, until peppers and onions are soft, but not browned. Stir in soup, chicken, tomatoes and garlic powder. Bring to a boil, stirring once. Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, for 20 minutes. Toss with cooked spaghetti and serve. Serves 4 to 6.


Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Pizza, anyone? Pizza recipes





European Style Pizza


1 pre-made pizza crust

1 1/2 cups crushed tomatoes

1 TBLS olive oil

1 cup mozzarella cheese


Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. Place crust on pizza pan and drizzle olive oil over it. Evenly pour crushed tomatoes over crust, then sprinkle with cheese. Bake for 15 to 25 minutes, or until cheese is melted and crust is crispy. Serves 2 to 4.





Nancy’s Sausage Pizza


1 package link type pork breakfast sausage, sliced 1/2 inch thick

1 fresh or frozen pre-made pizza crust

1 jar pizza sauce

1 TBLS olive oil

1 tsp dried basil

1 tsp garlic powder

1 ½ cups part-skim mozzarella cheese


Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. Place pizza crust on a baking sheet or pizza pan. drizzle with olive oil. Evenly spoon on pizza sauce, and sprinkle with basil and garlic powder. Layer sausage on top and sprinkle with cheese. Bake for 15 to 25 minutes, or until cheese is melted and crust is done baking. Serves 2 to 4.


Nancy’s “West Troy” Pizza

SAUCE:

28 oz can, crushed tomatoes

3oz can tomato paste

2 Tbls Romano cheese

2 Tbls parmesan cheese

1 ½ tsp dried oregano

1TBLS garlic powder, or, 3 tsp fresh garlic, minced

2 tsp black pepper

3 tsp granulated sugar

2 ½ tsp dried basil


In a bowl, whisk all ingredients together. Refridgerate for at least one hour before using.


Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees.


2 cups shreaded mozzerella

2 ½ cups Polish kilbasa sausage, sliced ½ inch

2 to 3 Tbls olive oil

½ tsp black pepper

¼ tsp salt

1 cup sweet or yellow onion, sliced thin

Ready-made pizza crust


Place pizza shell on a pizza pan or large baking sheet. In a skillet, season onions with salt and pepper, and cook in the olive oil, until soft. Drain and set aside. Remove sauce from fridge. Spoon evenly over the pizza shell. Top with onions and sliced Polish sausage. Sprinkle with shredded mozzarella. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until cheese just barely starts to brown and meat is cooked. Serves 4 to 6.


Dieter's Pizza



1 oz (2 thin slices) fresh bread. toasted

1 cup roasted red peppers

2 1oz slices. part-skim mozzarella

½ tsp garlic powder

½ tsp oregano


Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees. Lay roasted peppers on bread slices. Top with cheese and sprinkle with garlic powder and oregano. Bake until cheese melts, about 5 to 7 minutes. One serving (can be doubled or more for two or for hors d’oueves.)


Nancy’s Pizza Bianca w/Broccoli & Smoked Salmon

2 tablespoons butter or olive oil

1 small yellow onion, diced

2 clove garlic, minced

1/4 cup heavy cream

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 1/2 cups ricotta cheese

2 tespoons dried orgeano

1 cup smoked salmon, finely chopped

1 cup frozen chopped broccolli, thawed

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups part-skim mozzerella cheese, shredded

1 Tablespoon parsley, finely chopped

2 small to medium sized pizza crusts

Pre-heat oven to to 400 degrees, Fahrenheit

In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion and saute until soft and transparent, about five minutes--do not allow onion to brown! Add garlic, and continue to saute for one minute. Slowly stir in the cream, reduce heat slightly to medium-low, and continue to cook, stirring, until cream thickens, and sauce is slightly reduced--about 3 to 5 minutes. Remove sauce from heat, season with salt and pepper to suit your own taste.

Prepare crust. Spread an even layer of sauce on crust, leaving an untouched border of 1/4 to 1/2 inch on the edges. In a bowl, stir together ricotta cheese, salmon and orgegano. Spread the ricotta mixure in an even layer over the sauce. Layer brocolli evenly over ricotta mixture. Sprinkle an even layer of Mozzerella cheese over broccolli.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes--check progress occasionally, or until cheese is melted and crust is lightly browned. Serves 8 to 12.


BBQ Chicken Pizza


1 medium sweet or yellow onion, halved and sliced

1 TBLS butter or margarine

18 oz. fully cooked shredded BBQ chicken (can shred a homemade BBQ or store made BBQ flavor rotisserie chicken, or use a ready made brand, such as Lloyd’s)


1 bottle your favorite BBQ sauce

1 fully cooked fresh or frozen (thawed) regular or wheat pizza crust

1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded


Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. In a large skillet, grill onions in butter, until soft and slightly browned. Meanwhile, prepare chicken according to package directions (stovetop or microwave). Lay pizza crust on a baking sheet or pizza pan. Smoothly spread BBQ sauce over crust. Next, cover top of pizza, all but about 1 inch of the edge, with BBQ chicken.. Sprinkle cheese over top and bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Serves 2 to 4.


Nancy’s Smothered Onion Pizza


1 pre-made pizza crust

2 sweet Vidalia onions, halved and sliced

1/2 tsp each, salt & pepper


2 TBLS olive oil

1 jar pizza sauce

1 tsp garlic powder

½ tsp black pepper

1 1/2 cups Monterey Jack cheese, shredded


Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. In a large skillet or on a griddle, season onions with salt and pepper, and grill onions until soft and slightly browned. Place pizza crust on a baking sheet. Evenly spread pizza sauce over it, leaving some space along the edge for a crust. Sprinkle garlic powder and black pepper over sauce. Smother sauce with all the onions, and cover with cheese.. Bake for 15 to 25 minutes, or until cheese melts and crust is browned. Serves 2 to 4.


Nancy’s Little Taste of New England Pizzas


2 English muffins, split and lightly toasted

½ cup apple butter (can sub. apple jelly)

½ cup small curd cottage cheese

dash, salt

1 ½ TBLS walnuts, very finely chopped (optional)

½ cup Cabot mild cheddar cheese, shredded


Heat broiler. Place muffins on baking sheet. Spread each half with the apple butter. Top with dollops of cottage cheese, and sprinkle with a tiny amount of salt. If desired, sprinkle with walnuts. Sprinkle each half with equal amounts of cheddar cheese. Broil for 3 to 5 minutes, or until cheese melts. Serves 2.




June’s English Muffin Pizza



4 Thomas’ English muffins, split

1 cup pizza sauce

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teapoon dried oregano or Italian seasoning blend

1 slice part-skim mozzarella, broken into small pieces


Heat broiler. Place muffins on baking sheet. Spoon equal amounts of sauce on muffins. Sprinkle garlic powder over sauce and top with cheese, and a sprikle with oregano or Italian seasoning. Bake for 5 to 7 minutes, or until cheese melts. Serves 1 or 2.