Yum Peaceful Cooking

Sunday, February 15, 2015

Lemony Grilled Chicken for a Heart Healthy #SundaySupper


Today's Sunday Supper is all about heart healthy dishes. Whether it's a way of life, a new choice, a "sometimes" choice, or you're just trying to maintain that New Year resolution, we have some wonderful options for you.

The dish I've prepared is a Greek dish called Lemonatie Kota sta Karvouna aka Lemony Grilled Chicken using boneless, skinless chicken breasts, marinated and grilled then served with a delightful sauce of your choice. The recommendations are Summer Peach Salsa or Tzatziki. Peaches aren't in season right now and since I drooled over all of the ingredients in Tzatziki, well....that's what my taste buds forced me to use.

Now let me confess a little something about my grilling skills. I'm learning. I know how to start the charcoal but I never really know how many coals to use. This chicken only grilled for about 10 minutes and I really felt guilty using all those coals. Is that typical? A starter full of coals for a 10 - 20 minute grill session?!

And I struggle with exactly when the coals are hot enough. Since Sir Sportsalot wasn't home when I tackled the Weber, I had to leave it up to my own judgement. I'm getting there...but I'm not a confident grill master by any means. Sure I could've used a skillet in the kitchen but it was over 80' outside. I really had no excuse other than my own insecurities. Therefore...I did it. And I didn't burn the chicken. I didn't over cook it. It was tender and juicy and oh so wonderful. Slowly but surely I'm getting there. The grill and I are forming the foundations of a beautiful friendship. I'm actually starting to look forward to my little grilling adventures.

Back to heart healthy. Low fat, low sodium and low cholesterol. I believe this dish covers that. Even with the Tzatziki which is made with Greek yogurt, olive oil and seasonings.

Lemony Grilled Chicken

Recipe from the It's All Greek to Me cookbook
Printable Version

1/4 fresh lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
1/4 olive oil
2 teaspoons dried oregano
5 green onions, thinly sliced, green parts reserved.
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast
1 teaspoon salt or to taste
1/2 teaspoon black pepper or to taste
4 cups loosely packed fresh greens
Tzatziki (recipe to follow)

In a medium bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, oregano and white parts of the green onions. Set aside

Rinse and pat dry the chicken. If the breasts are really thick, I recommend butterflying them. Season with salt and pepper. Place them in a zip lock baggy and pour the lemon juice mixture over them. Seal the bag and place in the fridge for at least one hour or up to over night, turning once.

Get your grill nice and hot. Remove the chicken from the marinade and grill for about 4 - 6 minutes on each side. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Serve over a bed of greens accompanied by Tzatziki spooned over the chicken and garnish with the greens from the onions if desired (I forgot).


Tzatziki

Recipe from the It's All Greek to Me cookbook
Printable Version

1/2 cucumber, peeled
1 teaspoon salt, divided
2 cups Greek yogurt
3 garlic cloves, mashed into a paste
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon minced fresh dill

Grate the cucumber and place in a fine mesh strainer. Toss in 1/2 teaspoon of salt and let set over a bowl for 10 minutes.

Working in small batches, squeeze the cucumber in your hand to get out as much liquid as possible. Place the strained cucumber in a medium bowl.

Add the remaining ingredients in with the cucumber, along with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and mix well.

Place in the fridge to chill for 2 hrs or more. The longer it chills, the more intense the garlic flavor will become.

Store for up to 5 days.

The chicken was extremely tender and juicy! How could it not be after marinating in fresh lemon juice?! I've discovered that I absolutely love Tzatziki! Bursting with flavor, fresh and cool, the ideal accompaniment. This meal was light and satisfying. Perfect for a "pretend" summer day in the middle of winter.

Better for you breakfasts:
Jump start your health with these appetizers and snacks:
Soups that'll win your heart:
Veggies, Sides, & Salads your heart will thank you for:
Healthy is the center of attention in these main courses:
Staying healthy doesn't mean giving up desserts!
We heart wine.
Sunday Supper MovementJoin the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. To get more great Sunday Supper Recipes, visit our website or check out our Pinterest board. Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here: Sunday Supper Movement.
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Sunday, February 8, 2015

Strawberry Love Bombs for a #SundaySupper Valentine


I'm so excited to be teaming up with Sunday Supper and Gallo Family Vineyards to celebrate Valentine's Day.

This year Valentine's Day falls on a Saturday which is kinda fun. It can be an all day event and not limited to just a nice special dinner. Valentine's can start with a lazy morning of brunch in bed along with a glass of sweet wine.


I'm not talking about a full fledged brunch. Sometimes it's nice to have a delicate treat that doesn't require utensils. Finger food can make us feel indulgent and decadent. We all deserve to experience that every now and then.

These aren't doughnut holes and they aren't cream puffs. These little gems are deep fried biscuits, that once bitten into expose a delightful filling of cream cheese and strawberries.


When you deep fry biscuit dough, it becomes a wonderful thing indeed. Crispy, crunchy on the outside and delicious and puffy on the inside. The perfect little host for tasty surprises.

Strawberry Love Bombs 

makes 6
Printable Version

Biscuit recipe:
1/3 cup milk
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup shelf rising flour - sifted
1/4 cup shortening

Filling:
3 oz cream cheese, at room temperature
1/3 cup strawberries, finely chopped
about 1 teaspoon sugar

Garnish:
Powdered sugar
1 oz bittersweet chocolate - melted (I add a smidge of shortening to make it thinner and easier to drizzle)

Oil for frying.

Heat oil to 325' F in a deep fryer or tall, thick bottomed pot.

To make the biscuit dough, in a small bowl, combine the milk and baking soda.
In a medium bowl, cut the shortening into the flour until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the milk mixture just combined.
Knead about 3 or 4 times or until dough forms.
On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough to about 1/4 thickness. Using a 3" cooking cutter, cut out 6 circles.

Now for the assembly:
Gently smear a heaping teaspoon of cream cheese in the center of each round. Heap a teaspoon or so of the strawberries in the center. Sprinkle with a pinch or two of sugar. (now wipe your fingers off if they're a little messy so they don't interfere with the next process). Pinch the edges together to form a half moon (you may need a bit of water run along the edges to help this happen) and gently roll into something that resembles a ball, without disturbing the pinched seam.


Repeat until all 6 balls are formed.

Carefully place the balls into the hot oil, but don't over crowd. You may need to do this is batches, depending on how large your fryer or pot is.

Fry for 2 - 3 minutes, until a deep golden brown.

Carefully remove to cooling rack. Dust with powdered sugar and drizzle with melted chocolate.


Let cool slightly before enjoying.

Tips for tubed biscuit dough: If you are biscuit challenged, time restricted or just aren't in the mood to make the dough yourself, you will need to make the following adjustments:

Reduce the heat of the oil to 300' as these take a bit longer to fry and will burn before the inside is fully cooked. The tubed dough puffs up more and you don't want the inside to be doughy.

Split the biscuit rounds in half, and smash them flat until they're about 3" in diameter.


Just to give you an idea of the difference between homemade and tube results: The tubed dough is on the top and the homemade is on the bottom.


I personally prefer the homemade. The crust is slightly crispier and the ratio of fruit, cheese and biscuit is a bit nicer as well.



Now let's pair our brunch with some wine to complete our morning of leisure:



The two I have in mind are Gallo Family Vineyard's Riesling and Sweet Red.

The Riesling has a hint of honeysuckle, peach and citrus.

The Sweet Red is fruity, with a fresh fruit acidity and a soft velvety finish.

Both wines are versatile and pair nicely with an array of dishes. I chose the Riesling for my Strawberry Love Bombs because of it's slightly effervescent charm and citrus notes. The dish isn't as sweet as it looks, which is perfect with this wine.

For more information about Gallo Family Vineyards and the wines they have to offer, visit their website. You will also find the store locator there.  I recommend that you follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for more ideas and updates.

Did you know that GFV also has a blog? Check out their Valentine's Day post that includes the round-up of today's Sunday Supper recipe links.

I hope you enjoy this delightful treat on such an indulgent day. Whether or not you have a significant "other" in your life, make sure you spend Valentine's Day with someone you love, be it a spouse, your children, sibling, or best friend.

Be sure to check out the other Sunday Supper recipes for more inspiration to help make your day special.

Alluring Appetizers and Brunch:
Magnificent Main Dishes:
Dazzling Desserts and Sweets:

Sunday Supper MovementJoin the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. To get more great Sunday Supper Recipes, visit our website or check out our Pinterest board. Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here: Sunday Supper Movement.

Compensation was provided by Gallo Family Vineyards via Sunday Supper, LLC. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author, and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Gallo Family Vineyards.
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Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Crispy Chicken Alfredo Crostini


This is one of those things that's so ridiculously easy and tastes so good!

Minimal ingredients. Minimal time. Maximum yum.

It can be a meal in itself or an appetizer. And...it's perfect for your Super Bowl party. How ever you choose to serve it, it's sure to please. I mean, who doesn't like crispy chicken? Who doesn't like Fettuccine Alfredo? And whooooo doesn't like garlic bread?! Cuz basically that's what this recipe is....a combination of those, wrapped into one.

Crispy Chicken Alfredo Crostini 

Makes about 9 depending on the size of the crostini

1 25 oz package of Tyson Fully Cooked Crispy Chicken Strips
2 cups Fettuccine Alfredo (I used a boxed version for convenience)
9 slices of a baguette, sliced on the diagonal
2 Garlic cloves, whole
1/2 cup diced tomatoes, plus more for garnish
1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped, plus more for garnish

Toast bread slices in the broiler, turning once,until golden brown. Rub one side of each piece of toast (aka crostini) with a garlic clove. Set aside.

Heat the chicken as directed on the package.

If using Fettuccine Alfredo from a box, cook according to instructions, If you're using your favorite recipe, you'll need 2 cups of prepared Alfredo sauce and fettuccine, combined.

Let the chicken and Alfredo cool slightly. Just before preparing, toss the diced tomatoes and basil into the pasta dish and stir until just combined.

Top each crostini with Fettuccine Alfredo, chicken and then garnish with diced tomatoes and basil.

That's it. If your household is anything like mine, these babies won't last but a minute.


I was not compensated for this post, however Tyson supplied me with a coupons for their product. All opinions are my own.


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Sunday, January 18, 2015

Smoke House Cheesy Garlic Bread #SundaySupper


How do you define "hometown food"? Is it food from the town you grew up in? From the town you currently live in? Maybe it's from the town that has your heart...you know that saying..'home is where your heart it'.

I had a difficult time deciding what to make for today's Sunday Supper theme. The town where I grew up is out of the way, hidden between a few mountains and from what I remember, wasn't known much for their food. I do remember a great burger joint or two. I also considered where my heart is, and most of my family but I think I've posted several southern dishes which actually represent a culture more than the town in Alabama where my folks live.

So that left me with my current location of nearly 30 yrs....beautiful downtown Burbank. We have an awful lot of restaurants in town. Mostly chains. Some new, some old. Some great and some not so much. But there's one restaurant down by the studios that has been around for decades. Owners have changed a few times as has the menu a bit but the one thing that the Smoke House is famous for is their Cheesy Garlic Bread.

The Smoke House is a great steak house with wonderful prime rib, a fabulous Sunday brunch and a real old time classic feel to it, complete with a bar, lounge and live music. It's been around since the end of WWII and used to be frequented by Hollywood legends such as Bob Hope and Bing Cosby. Dinning there has always been a great way to celebrate a special occasion. Regardless of what you order, several orders of cheesy garlic bread are a must. Plus one to go. The locals even make special trips just to pick up a few orders to take out. Nothing else....just cheesy garlic bread.

One of my dearest friends shared a recipe for their cheesy garlic bread. Funny thing is that the recipe calls for shredded American cheese, but there's a note at the bottom that says: 'or use powdered cheese (ie: the cheese packet from boxed macaroni and cheese)'.

Really?!...hmmm. That little note sure got my attention. Mostly because the cheesy garlic bread from the Smoke House doesn't have melty cheese all over it yet has that cheesy flavor. This must be the "trick".

I decided to try it both ways. One with the shredded American cheese and the other with powdered cheese. I knew in my heart which one was going to be closest to the real thing, but I had to do it anyway.

Btw...if you're looking at this from a "healthy" perspective, I don't feel that one is better than the other since American cheese is processed anyway so it's not like the powdered cheese is replacing the "real thing".

One more thing, you need to plan ahead as the garlic butter needs 3 days to do it's thing.

Smoke House Cheesy Garlic Bread

Printable Version
makes 2 loaves

1/2 cup melted butter
4 teaspoons dried garlic granules*  or 4 cloves of fresh garlic, smashed and diced **
1 loaf of Italian bread
1/4 lb of American cheese, shredded (not sliced) OR 4 tablespoons of powdered cheese (or to taste)

(you can find American cheese in block form at the deli counter of most grocery stores)

 *If using the dried garlic granules: In a small bowl, combine the melted butter with the smashed and diced garlic. Cover and let sit on the counter for 3 days.

**If using fresh garlic: In a small bowl, combine the melted butter with the smashed and diced garlic. Cover and let sit in the fridge for 3 days. (fresh garlic in any kind of oil that is not refrigerated can become the perfect host for botulism) 


Once the 3 days are up, strain out the garlic (the butter might need to be heated up a tad first so the garlic can be removed easily). The garlic aroma and flavor is intense! Suweeeet!!!


Liberally brush the garlic butter over the bread. Sprinkle either the shredded American cheese or the powdered cheese all over. I actually found powdered cheese in a jar in the spice section of my grocery store.


Btw, grating American cheese is kinda weird. It mostly felt like I was just pushing the cheese through the grater. But man, it really does melt nicely. 


The cheese sprinkles where a lot let messy but not as pretty. 


Place the loaves in a hot broiler for a minute or two. Keep a close eye on it at all times as once it gets going it goes from done to burnt in a matter of seconds. 


Then let it cool for a second. Slice and serve.

When all is said and done, the powdered cheese version is spot on...Smoke House Cheesy Garlic Bread! If you've moved from the area and miss this local Burbank treat, here's your fix.

Me? I have a thing for melty. I think the real star in this recipe actually, is the method used to make the garlic butter. It's a lot easier and better than the methods I've been using or trying over the years. How you choose to cheese your garlic bread is totally up to you.

Don't forget to check out the other Sunday Supper Hometown Foods recipes!

Breakfast
Drinks
Appetizers and Snacks
Main Dishes
Side Dishes
Desserts
Sunday Supper MovementJoin the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. To get more great Sunday Supper Recipes, visit our website or check out our Pinterest board. Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here: Sunday Supper Movement.
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Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Sour Cream Biscuits



These are the most simple and delicious little nuggets of biscuits around. Three ingredients mixed today and....booyah! Buttery, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.  Great with breakfast, lunch, dinner, soup, salad, or just little snacks.


Cuz you can't help snacking on one each time you walk through the kitchen. They just pop into your mouth so easily you could almost swear they jumped in on their own.

So why haven't I told you about them before? Well, I dunno. I mean, I didn't realize until recently that I hadn't.

You see, it all started with my recent trip to Bama where I spent the holidays with my family. We celebrated my birthday, the new year, and had just good family fun.

Of course we ate tons of great food. What would New Years Day be without some good traditional southern grub.



Even though we had some really cold winter nights, we fired up the grill and made some amazing 1/2 lb stuffed burgers! Wrap your teeth around that beauty!


Btw, do you know how cold it gets there?! I know, I know...compared to most other regions of the country, it's not that bad. But this SoCal gal's blood is used to warmer climes. I mean....winter here means that it's below 75' most of the time. Or just some of time. And it rarely get's below 40, let alone freezing. My family was amazed that if the temps are going to be below freezing, we actually get a frost warning.


For the first time in my life, I experienced single digit temps. Crazy stuff I tell ya!


Anyway, it was while I was in Bama that I realized I had never shared  these yummy little crunchy-and-soft at the same time biscuits with you. My sister made them to go with dinner one night and that's when it hit me.


Even my daughter was surprised. When I told her I was making them today, she asked why. I had to confess my wrong doing out loud and this was her response:

"You've never put them on your blog?! Oh wow!! You need to do that...They're sooooo good!! People need to know about them"

Now that I'm back home, experiencing a much warmer type of winter, I can make a wrong right and let the whole world know what they've been missing.

Sour Cream Biscuits

Makes 24 mini biscuits
Printable Version

1 cup self rising flour
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup butter, softened

Preheat oven to 375' F


Spray the mini muffin pans with non-stick cooking spray.

Mix all ingredients until well combined.

Divide the dough into the muffin pans.


Bake for about 25 minutes or until golden brown on top.

And that's it. They're ready to be consumed. They slip out of those little tins so easily and right into your mouth.


I hope you give them a try and enjoy them as much as we do. And please try to forgive me for not giving you the opportunity to try them sooner.

One last thing...Happy New Year!


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Sunday, December 21, 2014

Butternut and Leek Soup with Red Lentils


Sometimes, when you can't decided between two options, combining them is the best idea ever.

I really love Julia Child's Leek and Potato soup. I really love Butternut Squash Soup. I was in the mood for both and just couldn't decide what to do. Although I was leaning a bit more towards the leek soup, the butternut squash really needed to be used soon.

Using Julia's recipe as a guide, and her often simple, basic seasoning technique that allows the main ingredient's flavor to shine like a star rather than the supporting spices and herbs, It's surprising how a bit salt and pepper is the only seasoning this recipe needs. Trust me, hold back on the urge to add the garlic or cumin, or whatever your go-to favorites are. Try it in it's true form first and remember that you can add other seasonings later if you choose.

Butternut and Leek Soup with Red Lentils

Printable Version

1 lb potatoes, peeled and cut into 2" cubes
2 leeks, including tender greens, sliced and rinsed
1 carrot, peeled and sliced
1 celery stalk, sliced
1 cup diced butternut squash
2 quarts of water plus more as needed
1/4 cup red lentils, uncooked
1 tablespoon salt
White pepper to taste
Garnish:
3 tablespoons of butter
Croutons
Chives or parsley

In a large put simmer the vegetables, water and salt, partially covered with a lid for about 30 minutes. Add the lentils and continue simmering, partially covered for another 20 - 30 minutes or until the vegetables are tender. Add warm water as needed to keep the vegetables under water.

Remove from heat. Using an immersion blender (or in batches in a blender) puree until smooth and creamy. Adjust the seasoning with salt and white pepper if needed.

Off heat and just before serving, stir in the butter, a spoonful at a time until melted and garnish with croutons and chives or parsley


The lentils were added to thicken the soup (instead of rice) and also for their nutritional value. The butter is added at the end to add a bit of depth and richness. It is of course optional. You can add cream instead if you'd like. Croutons are just so much fun in creamy soups.


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Thursday, December 4, 2014

Chamomile and Pink Peppercorn Shortbread Cookies #Drop


Chamomile and pink peppercorn is quite the herbie combo for a dessert. And it totally works. These slightly sweet shortbread cookies have a sophisticated flair to them. They almost demand that you sit back with a cup of hot tea and enjoy a few moments of leisure.

Why does pink peppercorn work so well here? It' because it's not a true peppercorn (it's a berry). Although it does contain a bit of pepper flavor, it also has a citrus note to it. Pink peppercorn is actually related to cashews (if you have a nut allergy, you may want to proceed with caution).

I found out about these delightful cookies on a new app called Drop which is extremely fun and quite honestly, rather ingenious. In a nutshell, it's an interactive kitchen scale that uses an app which is downloaded onto your iPad .


I recently had the opportunity to give this little gem a try and see what it's all about. After a quick company background and overview by the CEO, a group of us gathered around the kitchen and started playing. Cookies, muffins, both savory and sweet were made that evening. All were easy. All were tasty and all were deliciously fun!


The scale connects to your iPad via wifi. You select one of the many recipes from the app and do as it tells you. For example, "place a large bowl on the scale", which it then promptly adjusts back to zero. "Add a cup of flour". Rather than having to measure the flour, you pour it in and the app tells you when you've reached 1 cup (based on weight rather than volume). Brilliant!


Drop will basically hold your hand as it walks you through the recipe, step by step. It includes videos and photos of what your progress should look like. It goes as far as including a timer, which you can program to alert your cellphone when your dish is done baking!


I love it! There's something a bit liberating about baking without doing the measuring. The only thing that really needs to be measured are small quantities such as teaspoons. I mean, the weight of a teaspoon of baking soda is almost non-existent, right? Totally understandable.

Oh, I almost forgot another fun little "plus". Baking can be messy. (no, it doesn't clean up after you) and who wants to touch their iPad screen with gooey fingers? No need with Drop! As you're going through the recipe steps, if you need to hit next....just press the front of the scale itself. Bingo! Much easier to clean the scale than the screen.

If you want to use the scale on it's own (without one of the recipes on the app), you can do so, but it will need to be communicating with your iPad.

So, I brought my cute little smart kitchen scale home, borrowed my friends iPad (ya....now I need an iPad. Seriously!) and started playing. And that's where these Chamomile and Pink Peppercorn Shortbread Cookies came in....

Chamomile and Pink Peppercorn Shortbread Cookies

Recipe from Drop

1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/4 sugar
1 cup flour
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 teaspoon chamomile tea (dry, from the tea bag)
1 teaspoon ground pink peppercorn
Sugar to sprinkle on cookies

In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar. Set aside

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, chamomile and pink peppercorn.


Add to the creamed butter and sugar. Mix until dough forms. In this case, it's a dry dough....not like...say, your typical sugar cookie dough by any means. I tested the readiness by placing it in my hand and squeezing it to see if it would hold together.


Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 340' F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

On a lightly floured surface roll the dough out to about 1/8th inch. If the edges split, just press them back together.

Cut into desired shape (I used a knife and made simple rectangles).

Using a spatula, carefully transfer the cookies to the prepared baking sheet.


Sprinkle with sugar. Bake for about 8 minutes, or until the edges are a light golden color.


So light and delicate in both flavor and form. Fun to make and a delight to eat.

With the holidays coming up, Drop would make the perfect gift for the new baker or even the experienced baker who has everything!
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