SoCo: Jambalaya

I've been craving jambalaya for weeks (probably because I haven't eaten rice in a while). Anyway, I found a few recipes and combined them to create this one. It cam out delicious. Try it!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

1 large yellow onions, diced

12 ounces andouille sausage, diced

1 large green bell peppers, cored, seeded, and diced

3 medium celery stalks, diced

3 tablespoons of Cajun or creole seasoning

3 medium garlic cloves, finely chopped

1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more as needed

1 (14.5-ounce) can petite diced tomatoes

2 tablespoon tomato paste

2 cups long-grain white rice

1 box (32-ounce) low-sodium chicken stock or broth

2 bay leaves

2 medium scallions, thinly sliced

Instructions:

1. Heat a quarter size amount of the oil in a heavy-bottomed pot or large Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering. Season the chicken with one tablespoon of the cajun or creole seasoning. Place about half of the chicken pieces in the pot and cook, stirring rarely, until browned all over, about 5 to 6 minutes. (If your pot is large enough to cook it all at once without crowding, do so). Remove to a large bowl and brown the remaining chicken in 1 more batch; set aside.

2. Add the butter and melt over medium heat. Add the onions, scrape the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon to release any browned bits, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions just begin to brown, about 6 minutes.

3. Add the sausage and cook until the meat is browned and the onions are very tender, about 10 minutes.

4. Add the bell peppers, celery, garlic, measured salt, and remaining cajun or creole seasoning. Cook, scraping the bottom of the pot occasionally, until the bell peppers have softened, about 10 minutes.

Stir in tomato paste until fragrant. Add the reserved chicken and any accumulated juices and the tomatoes.

5. Add stock or broth, rice, and bay leaves, stir to combine, and bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat. Simmer until all liquid is absorbed. Stir occasionally making sure the rice doesn't stick to the bottom of the pot. Taste the liquid and season with salt if needed; the liquid will give your rice all the flavor it needs. I added cayenne pepper here too. 

6. Remove and discard the bay leaves.  Sprinkle with the scallions and serve.

The Real Chow Baby

If you're picky this is the place for you! Ok that may not be completely true. The Real Chow Baby is a new american stir fry where you choose from an array of meats and vegetables the ingredients in your dish and its made on an open stir fry grill. You can make rice or noodle dishes, soups, salads, or wraps out the ingredients you choose. Add shrimp, salmon, or roti for a little extra.

A couple of weeks ago I took friend who rarely goes out because she is a vegetarian here last week and she thoroughly enjoyed all the options available for her. The food is fresh, the price is great ($8.99 for lunch and $12.99 for dinner), and its fun trying different concoctions. I love making Pad Thai.Come hungry and get small portions so you can try different things!

Tikka Masala

Chicken Tikka Masala

Ingredients

2 tsp paprika
1 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp garam masala
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
2 tbsp butter
1 1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast, cubed
1 medium onion, chopped
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 can diced tomatoes, undrained
1/3 heavy cream
1 tbsp cornstarch
1/2 tsp salt

Directions

1. Melt butter in large nonstick skillet on medium heat. Add chicken, onion and lemon juice; cook and stir 10 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink. Add all of the spices except red pepper; cook and stir 1 minute.

2. Stir in tomatoes until well mixed. Stir cream into cornstarch and salt until smooth. Gradually stir into skillet. Stir in red pepper to taste, if desired. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; stirring frequently, simmer 5 minutes or until slightly thickened.

3. Serve with cooked rice or naan bread, if desired.

Curry Comfort

I absolutely love curry! The aroma that fills the house when its cooked makes me feel so warm inside. Curry is comfort food for me. I make it like some people make spaghetti: all the time. Its a go-to meal when I have no idea what else to make. Its delicious, colorful, and like most simmer dishes, tastes better the next day! Enjoy!

Ingredients

4-5 Chicken Thighs
2 Medium Russet or White Potatoes, cubed
1 Large Red Onion, sliced
1 Large Green Bell Pepper, sliced
1 Large Yellow Bell Pepper, sliced
3-4 Carrots, sliced
3 Tbsp Curry Powder
1 Tsp Cumin
1/2 Tsp Paprika
1/2 Tsp Cayenne or Crushed Red Pepper
Garlic Powder
Onion Powder
Seasoned Salt
Pepper
2 Cups Chicken Stock or Water
2 Cups Basmati or Jasmine Rice

Preparation

1. Season the chicken thighs (just eyeball it) with seasoned salt, garlic powder, onion powder, pepper, and paprika. Pan sear until skin is crisp and golden brown.
2. Add 1 cup of chicken stock and 1 tbsp of curry powder, cover and simmer until chicken is cooked through and fork tender.
3. Add the remaining chicken stock, curry powder, cumin, cayenne pepper, carrots and potatoes. Simmer until veggies are tender.
4. Add peppers and onions. Cook until tender but still colorful.
5. Serve over rice with a side of sauteed cabbage.

Semi Homemade

After a long day sometimes I want a home cooked meal but I don't want to do much work. Semi homemade I the best thing that ever happened to my little kitchen. At this point in my life I only have to feed myself (no husband or children to worry about), so it is extremely easy to cop out and pick a bag of fast food or order in. Eating smarter and healthier is always on mind; I'd rather feel full after dinner rather than guilty. I actually saw this recipe on a commercial and decided to try it.

Just brown a few thin cut pork chops (bone-in or out), saute a whole white onion, pour on a jar of salsa verde (Goya or Herdez), simmer for 30 minutes, and serve over white rice.

If you have the time try the following recipe for your own salsa:


1 1/2 lb tomatillos
1/2 cup chopped white onion
1/2 cup cilantro leaves
1 Tbsp fresh lime juice
1/4 teaspoon sugar
2 Jalapeño peppers OR 2 serrano peppers
Salt to taste

*courtesy of Simply Recipes

You can oven roast, pan roast, boil, or fry the tomatillos. Authentic salsa would then be mixed with mortal and pestle but you can just toss all the ingredients in a blender or food processor and enjoy. 

No Takeout or Delivery

 

Everyone loves Chinese food but we don't always have or want to spend the money for takeout. So here's a couple of recipes to have on hand to satisfy your craving: a crispy, savory sweet chicken and a fried rice with green and yellow squash instead of peas and carrots. **The chicken prep is a little labor intensive but so worth the delicious outcome.

Sweet and Sour Sesame Chicken

Ingredients

The chicken coating:

3-4 boneless skinless chicken thighs

salt + pepper

1 cup cornstarch

2 eggs, beaten

1/4 cup oil

The sauce:

1/4 cup white sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

4 tbsp ketchup

1/2 cup distilled white vinegar (you may need more)

1 tbsp soy sauce

1 tbsp teriyaki sauce

2 tsp honey

1 tsp of minced garlic

Sprinkle of sesame seeds

Prep

1. Start by preheating your oven to 325 degrees. 

2. Rinse your chicken breasts in water and then cut into cubes. 

3. Season with salt and pepper to taste. 

4. Dip chicken into the cornstarch to coat then dip into the eggs.  

5. Heat your 1/4 cup oil in a large skillet and cook your chicken until browned but not cooked through. 

6. Place the chicken in a 9 x 13 greased baking dish. 

7. Mix all of your sweet and sour sauce ingredients in a bowl with a whisk and then pour evenly over the chicken.

8. Bake for one hour and during the baking process you will need to turn the chicken every 15 minutes.  

Adapted from Life as a Lofthouse

Fried Rice

Ingredients

1 cup of cooked jasmine rice

2 eggs

1/2 a yellow squash (chopped)

1/2 a zucchini (chopped)

1 small onion (chopped)

2 tbsp minced garlic

3 tbsp sesame oil

Soy sauce to taste

Green onion for garnish

Prep

1. On medium high heat, heat the oil in a large skillet or wok.  

2. Add the squash, onion and garlic. Stir fry until tender. 

3. Push the mixture off to one side, then pour your eggs on the other side of skillet and stir fry until scrambled.

4. Add the rice and soy sauce and blend all together well. Stir fry until thoroughly heated.

Vegetable Stuffing

Sorry if you came across this post looking for a tasty holiday treat. Honestly, I don't like stuffing at all, I just liked the play on words. Anyway, as you are aware I am not from the "old country", but I love comfort food as much as the next girl. Every country, region, city, town, village, family has their own comfort foods. I bought a huge head of cabbage from HMart the other week and I wanted a different way to prepare it other than the usual steaming. So I decided on stuffed cabbage. Its a eastern European favorite that is made differently in different regions. You can stuffed it with lamb, beef, or pork and bake it in broth or a tomato sauce. Here's a recipe for the Polish version:

 Polish Stuffed Cabbage

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Ingredients:

1 whole head cabbage, about 4 pounds
1 large onion, chopped
2 tablespoons butter
1 pound ground beef
1/2 pound ground pork
1 1/2 cups cooked rice
1 teaspoon finely chopped garlic
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup beef stock
Sour cream for garnish (optional)

Preparation:

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Remove core from cabbage. Place whole head in a large pot filled with boiling, salted water. Cover and cook 3 minutes, or until softened enough to pull off individual leaves. You will need about 18 leaves.

When leaves are cool enough to handle, use a paring knife to cut away the thick center stem from each leaf, without cutting all the way through.

Chop the remaining cabbage and place it in the bottom of a casserole dish or Dutch oven.

Saute the chopped onion in butter in a large frying pan until tender, and let it cool.

Mix cooled onions with beef, pork, rice, garlic, salt and black pepper until well combined. Don't overmix or the meat will become tough.

Place about 1/2 cup of meat on each cabbage leaf. Roll away from you to encase the meat. Flip the right side of the leaf to the middle, then flip the left side. You will have something that looks like an envelope. Once again, roll away from you to create a neat little roll.

Place the cabbage rolls on top of the chopped cabbage in the casserole dish or Dutch oven, seasoning each layer with salt and pepper. Pour beef stock over rolls, cover and place in oven. Bake for 1 hour or until cabbage is tender and meat is cooked.

Serve with pan juices and a drizzle of sour cream, or mix the pan juices with sour cream and ladle it over the cabbage rolls.

Cabbage rolls freeze well before or after cooking, and can be made in a slow cooker (see your manufacturer's instructions).

Southern Staple

This recipe is definitely worth the re-blog! Yesterday I made a red beans and rice recipe I found on Pinterest. I followed everything to the letter except I only used 5 cups of water and was not disappointed. Perfect recipe, so tasty, and the only change for next time is doubling the recipe! Thanks Little Magnolia Kitchen! Enjoy!

Crock Pot Red Beans and Rice

Ingredients

1 pound red beans
7 cups water
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
3 celery stalks, chopped
3 garlic cloves, chopped or minced
2 cans Campbell's chicken broth
1-1/2 pounds sausage (I used Richards)
2 tablespoons Creole Seasoning (I use Tony's)
Hot cooked rice

Prep

1. Sort your beans taking out the halves or pieces and check for small rocks or pebbles.
2. Rinse the beans thoroughly and pour into crock pot.
3. Add water and chicken broth to beans.
4. Add your chopped vegetables.
5. Slice the sausage into bite size pieces.
6. Add the sausage and the Creole Seasoning to the other ingredients in the crock pot
7. Cook for 7-8 hours on High Setting.