My son loves chicken so I am always trying to find new ways to make it! Here is a new recipe I tried tonight and it got rave reviews from my son and my husband! Hope you all like it too! I served it with a buffalo mozzarella and tomato salad served on top of a bed of watercress.

Baked Chicken with Polenta

4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
8 sun-dried tomatoes packed in olive oil, sliced into thin strips
1/2 tsp Good Seasons Italian seasoning mix
3 TBS. of olive oil from the sun-dried tomatoes jar
1 cup assorted pitted olives, drained
1/2 cup white wine, your favorite one
3 small bay leaves

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Season Chicken with salt and pepper. Heat tomato oil in an oven proof skillet over medium-high heat. Fry chicken in hot oil until browned on both side, about 3 minutes per side. Turn off heat and add tomatoes, Italian seasoning mix, olives, wine and bay leaves. Put in oven and bake uncovered for 10 to 15 minutes.

Polenta

1 Cup Corn Meal
3 cups boiling plus one cup cold water
3/4 tsp. salt
3-4 TBSP. Unsalted Butter
2 TBSP. Parmesan Cheese, grated

Bring 3 cups water to a boil in a large sauce pot. In a bowl, combine remaining 1 Cup cold water, salt and corn meal. Slowly stir into boiling water and cook until thick and bubbly. Turn heat to low and simmer about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. After 15 minutes, turn heat off, stir in butter and parmesan cheese. Serve with chicken.

Mozzarella and Tomato Salad

Using small mozzarella balls and grape tomatoes, slice in half. Add 1 TBSP. italian salad dressing (your favorite brand) 1-2 tsp. balsamic sauce (not vinegar) and salt to taste. Mix together and serve over a bed of watercress. Enjoy!

Skirt Steak with Tomato Rice and Marinated Avocados

I recently received a box of beautiful Mexican Avocados! I couldn't wait to add them to some of my favorite recipes! Here is one of my families favorites with the great addition of these very healthful avocados!

Skirt Steak Tacos with Tomato Rice and Marinated Avocados

Skirt Steak

    * 1 orange, thinly sliced with peel
    * 1/2 onion, thinly sliced
    * 2 Serrano chiles, minced
    * 5 garlic cloves, minced
    * 2-3 pounds skirt steak
    * Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper
    * 10 oz. lager style beer
    * 1/2 cup soy sauce
    * 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
    * 1/4 cup olive oil

In a wide, shallow glass baking dish, put half of the orange slices, half of the onion slices, half the chiles and half of the garlic pieces on the bottom of the dish. Season the steak with salt and pepper and put in the dish on top of the oranges, onions, peppers and garlic. Place the remaining orange and onion slices, chiles and garlic over the steak and pour in the beer, Worcestershire sauce, olive oil and soy sauce. Cover with plastic wrap and marinate for 2 hours or up to overnight in the refrigerator.

Preheat a grill. Remove the meat from the marinade and discard the marinade. Grill the steak to desired doneness, about 4 minutes per side for medium-rare. Serve with rice and marinated avocados.


Tomato Rice

    * 3 medium to large tomatoes, cut in half and seeds removed
    * 2 cups chicken broth, plus more as needed
    * 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
    * 1 large finely diced carrot
    * 2 large garlic clove, minced
    * 2 cups medium-grain rice
    * 2 teaspoons salt
    * 1 bay leaf
    * 1 whole serrano chile, minced
    * 2 Tablespoons chopped cilantro
  

Add the tomatoes and 2 cups of broth to a blender and puree. Strain into a bowl and reserve the liquid. Add enough extra chicken broth to make 4 cups of liquid.In a large saucepan, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the carrots and saute for about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and saute for 1 minute.
Stir in the rice and cook until slightly toasted, about 3 minutes. Add the tomato broth mixture, stir and bring to boil. Add the salt, bay leaf, and the Serrano chile. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer until the rice is tender, about 20 - 25 minutes. Remove the pan from heat. Fluff the rice with a fork, add the cilantro and transfer to a serving bowl.

Marinated Avocados
Ingredients

2 large avocados, sliced
Juice of 1/2 lime
1 - 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt

Sprinkle avocados with lime juice, salt and olive oil. Set aside.

Steak Tacos:

6-8 Six inch Flour Tortillas
4 oz. Queso Fresco cheese, crumbled
Skirt Steak
Tomato Rice
Marinated Avocado

Heat flour tortillas in a heavy skillet until warm, fill with grilled, sliced skirt steak, top with tomato rice, queso cheese and marinated avocado

  Love the Farmer's Market! So many beautiful colors and delicious flavors!

My new favorite drink! At least for this week!

My sister introduced me to the Manhattan. I loved it right off. Of course, when it comes to alcoholic beverages, I am not hard to please! This is my version of an old standard, I hope you like it.

Fill a glass to the rim with crushed ice.
ADD:
3 oz. of  Canadian Club
1 1/4 oz. Sweet Vermouth
1 oz. grenadine
2 Cherries for garnish
Stir and enjoy!

My son's Pillows of Happiness! Potato Gnocchi

 Source: http://img.foodnetwork.com/FOOD/2008/05/24/TU0511_Potato-Gnocchi-with-Peas-Prosciutto-and-Ricotta_med.jpg     Recipe courtesy of Tyler Florence Food Network

This potato gnocchi dish is one of my son's favorite dinners. After he came back from his lacrosse camp today, I asked what he would like for dinner! His request, potato gnocchi! After playing 6 games in 102 degree temperatures, how could I refuse him!

My Tribute to Aunt Elva's Macaroni and Cheese!

As I mentioned before, I loved my Aunt Elva's Macaroni and Cheese. This is my interpretation of her recipe. This is so simple, but it is soooo good! It is one of the most requested recipes I make. At one party, a member of the band that was playing, asked who made the Macaroni and Cheese. He said it was the best he ever had!!! I was so thrilled! I hope you try it and I really hope you like it!!!

Ingredients:

10 oz. elbow macaroni pasta
14 oz. of really good sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
4 oz. of melted butter
3 cups of whole milk

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2.  Butter a 9 x 13 inch casserole dish.
3.  Cook pasta in salted boiling water for 6 minutes and drain.
4.  Mix cooked pasta, salt, pepper, and cheddar cheese together.
5.  Put macaroni mixture in the casserole dish.
6.  Pour melted butter over the top of the macaroni.
7.  Slowly pour the milk in one corner of the casserole.
8.  Bake for 55- 60 minutes.

Enjoy!

My Grandma's Tomatoes

Ever since I was little, every holiday or family reunion, my grandmother would make her wonderful tomato casserole. It was one of the dishes everyone expected to be there along with my Aunt Elva's macaroni and cheese, and my Mother's mocha chocolate cake.
Every time I make my Grandma's tomatoes, I remember so many things about her. Her laugh, her perfume
(she always smelled so good), the way she talked to my Grandfather, Fatty (this was his nickname, but he was always thin. I heard he was chubby when he was young, hence the nickname, but I never knew him that way!) It is now my Dad who makes the tomatoes for all the holidays. They are too good to only have them at holidays, so I make them all the time. They are especially delicious as left overs! I hope you try these for yourself and start a new tradition for your family!

Ingredients:

About two pounds of homemade stewed tomatoes made with sauteed onions and celery
       OR  
2   14.5 oz. cans of stewed tomatoes, heated up so a little bit of the liquid evaporates.
1    TBS. Sugar
1/2  C chopped onion
1/2  C chopped celery
1/4  lb. plus 2 TBS butter
1   1 lb. loaf regular sliced white bread cut into 1/2 inch cubes (or about 16 slices)
5  oz. extra sharp yellow cheddar cheese, grated
1   4 1/2 jar of whole button mushrooms
Salt and pepper to taste

1.  Lightly grease a 2.3 liter casserole dish
2.  Place tomatoes in the baking dish and sprinkle with the sugar and salt and pepper ( I use about 1/4 to 1/2 tsp. of salt and
     pepper). Cut any large pieces of tomato into smaller pieces.
3.  Saute the onions and celery in the 2 TBS. of butter until translucent (about 8 - 10 minutes on med. low)  Do not brown.
4.  Add the onions and celery to the cubed bread and add salt and pepper to taste (I usually use about 1/2 tsp. of each) Mix lightly.
5.  Melt the 1/4 lb. of butter and add it to the bread cube mixture, mix together.
6.  Put the bread cube mixture on top of the tomatoes evenly.
7.  Put the grated cheddar cheese evenly on top of the bread cube mixture.
8.  Add the mushrooms evenly over the grated cheese.
9. Bake in a preheated 325 degree oven for 50 minutes. At about 35 minutes you may want to put a lid or foil on the casserole so
    the cheese doesn't brown.

ENJOY!!!

My son wanted doughnuts!

Recipe courtesy of Alton Brown on the Food Network. Click on the picture for the recipe!

These are the delicious doughnuts my son made today with his friends! I love it, when he wants something, he will just make it on his own even yeast doughnuts! The only thing my son would do different is add a little more sugar (add 1/4 to 1/2 cup more)to the dough.

Asian Inspired Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Recipe courtesy of Annette Gladys

Asian Inspired Chicken Lettuce Wraps

I love the idea of lettuce wraps without the mess of the sauce dripping down the back of your hands while you eat. I also love little bites that you can just pick up and eat without having a plate. That way you can keep your drink in one hand and have the other free to nibble on all the food at the party, plus you don’t have to sit down to use a knife and fork to eat anything! How wonderful is that!

Ingredients:

1 pound ground chicken
2 TBS. Vegetable Oil
6 oz. Shitake Mushrooms, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 inch fresh peeled ginger, grated
6 oz. canned water chestnuts, chopped
3-4 tsp. Chili Garlic Sauce (I used Lee Kum Kee), add even more if you like things more spicy!
5 tsp. Thai Style Chili Sauce (I use Kikkoman)
3 TBS. Rice Vinegar
3 tsp. sesame oil
1 tsp. Cream Sherry
2 TBS. Oyster Sauce
3 TBS. Hoisin Sauce (I use Koon Chun-it is a little bit sweeter than some other ones)
4 oz. Bean Sprouts, roughly chopped - about 1/2 - 3/4 inches long
Juice of 1/2 - 1 lime
30-36 belgium endive leaves
4-5 oz. cream cheese at room temperature, optional

Garnish:
Lime zest from 2 limes
1 green onion chopped finely, green part only

1.  Add oil to hot skillet on medium heat.
2.  Add the ground chicken and brown.
3.  Add the shitake mushrooms, garlic and ginger to the browned chicken and cook for about 4-5 minutes until
the mushrooms are soft.
4.  Add the the water chestnuts, chili garlic sauce, thai style chili sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, cream sherry,
oyster sauce and the hoisin sauce to the pan. Stir to combine and cook for about 4 minutes until the
flavors combine.
5.  Add the bean sprouts and lime juice, cooking for about 2 -3 more minutes. Turn off heat.
6.  Take cream cheese and place about 1 tsp. of cream cheese in each endive leaf from base to top. Spread
evenly or pipe on each leaf from a pastry bag.
7.  Place about 2 tsp. meat mixture on just the top half (the larger part) of each leaf. (The cream cheese will
show at the base of the leaf.)
8.  Garnish each one with some of the green onion and lime zest.

Place on a platter and enjoy!

Here I am as one of the 16 Finalists in the Philadelphia Cream Cheese/Paula Deen talent competition in Savannah!

My son's favorite: Arugula Salad with Parmesan cheese curls!