Suzanne’s Chicken Salad 2016

The basic recipe belonged to my Great Aunt.  I  I used Hellman’s Roasted Garlic Mayonaise instead of plain Mayonaise. I also leave out the egg because I do not care for boiled eggs in my chicken salad. I seasoned the chicken with McCormick’s Garlic and Herb no salt seasoning while it is cooking. I also toasted the almonds in a pan on the stove in a tad of garlic butter. I use prechopped celery when i can and buy my almonds already slivered.  The original recipe called for chopped but I find it is easier to debone if you just shred it with two forks

5 Bone in Skin on Chicken Breast Halves cooked and shredded
1 c chopped celery
2 c seedless red or green grapes (halved)
1 c slivered almonds (toasted)
1 c Hellman’s Roasted Garlic Mayonnaise
1 c sour cream
4 hard cooked eggs, chopped optional

Boil Chicken in lightly salted water 30 minutes let cool and then shred instead of chop.
Combine first 4 ingredients in large bowl. Stir mayonnaise and sour cream together and mix with chicken, add celery, grapes, and almonds, then fold in eggs. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Cook Time: 20 Minutes
Ready In: 35 Minutes
Servings: 8
"Chicken breast cubes, feta cheese, and kalamata olives combine with quinoa in this salad that
is equally good warm or cold."
Ingredients:
2 cups water
2 cubes chicken bouillon
1 clove garlic, smashed
1 cup uncooked quinoa
2 large cooked chicken breasts – cut into bite
size pieces
1 large red onion, diced
1 large green bell pepper, diced
1/2 cup chopped kalamata olives
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/4 cup chopped fresh chives
1/2 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
Directions:
1.     Bring the water, bouillon cubes, and garlic to a boil in a saucepan. Stir in the quinoa, reduce heat to
medium-low, cover, and simmer until the quinoa is tender and the water has been absorbed, 15 to 20 minutes.
Discard the garlic clove and scrape the quinoa into a large bowl.
2.     Gently stir the chicken, onion, bell pepper, olives, feta cheese, parsley, chives, and salt into the quinoa.
Drizzle with the lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, and olive oil. Stir until evenly mixed.
Serve warm or refrigerate and serve cold.

Cacciatore Chicken Breasts

I found this recipe over at Taste of Home.   It is a great place to find recipes.  One drawback is that some recipes you must be a subscriber to the magazine to have full access to.   Posting a copy of recipe below.

Cacciatore Chicken Breasts

SERVINGS: 2

CATEGORY: Lower Fat

METHOD:

TIME: Prep/Total Time: 30 min.
Ingredients:

    * 1/2 medium onion, sliced and separated into rings
    * 1/2 medium green pepper, sliced
    * 1 tablespoon olive oil
    * 2 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (5 ounces each)
    * 3/4 cup canned stewed tomatoes
    * 2 tablespoons white wine or chicken broth
    * 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
    * 1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
    * 1/8 teaspoon pepper

Directions:
In a large skillet, sauté onion and green pepper in oil until crisp-tender. Remove and keep warm. Cook chicken over medium-high heat for 4-5 minutes on each side or until juices run clear. Remove and keep warm.
d the tomatoes, wine or broth, garlic salt, rosemary and pepper to the skillet; cook and stir until heated through. Add onion mixture. Serve over chicken. Yield: 2 servings.

Peanut Butter Rice Krispy Treats

A few years ago at a family gathering over at my cousins house we were asked to bring a dish. I brought a dessert that is so good. Everyone asked for the recipe so here it is.

1 16 oz package of chocolate almond bark

1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter

3 cups rice krispies

8 oz lightly salted or unsalted peanuts

2 large handfuls of small marshmallows

Melt almond bark in microwave for approximately 2 minutes. If not

completely melted, stir and microwave again at 15 to 30 sec intervals

until melted. Stir in peanut butter. Allow mixture to cool enough so

that the marshmallows won’t melt when added. Stir in rice krispies,

peanuts and marshmallows. Drop by tablespoons onto wax paper.

Thai Barbecued Salmon

   The other day I was looking for a different way to make salmon.   We have plenty recipes that I use regularly for salmon.   My husband stumbled across the recipe for Thai Barbecued Salmon.   For the benefit of those who do not subscribe to the magazine I will post the recipe here as well.   It was so easy to make and very tasty.   I am posting the recipe as is but letting you know that I chose to use flat leaf parsley in place of cilantro.  Not really a fan of cilantro.  Other than the minor change I made I would still recommend this recipe and will absolutely without a doubt make it again.   It was not as spicy as I thought it would be.   I am thinking if you want it spicier then you can adjust the amount of Thai chili sauce that it calls for.

Thai Barbecued Salmon

Simple & Delicious – try a FREE ISSUE today!

SERVINGS: 4

CATEGORY: Low Carb

METHOD:

TIME: Prep/Total Time: 15 min.

Ingredients:

• 2/3 cup barbecue sauce
• 1/3 cup Thai chili sauce
• 1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro
• 4 salmon fillets (1 inch thick and 4 ounces each)

Directions:

In a small bowl, combine the barbecue sauce, chili sauce and cilantro. Set aside 1/4 cup for serving.
    Cook salmon on an indoor grill coated with cooking spray for 4-5 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork, basting frequently with sauce mixture. Serve salmon with reserved sauce. Yield: 4 servings.

wordpress Tags: Thai Barbecued Salmon, Salmon, Recipes, Seafood, Asian

Quinoa Pilaf

A few months ago I posted a recipe for stuffed peppers using orzo.   I had a friend ask if you could substitute Quinoa for the orzo and I said that I did not see why you could not if you can’t eat anything with wheat or gluten in it.  Quinoa is a good alternative. A few weeks ago I made some Quinoa following the basic cooking directions on the box.   I used chicken stock instead of water for flavor.   I not dislike it  I still thought that it lacked something in the flavor department.   While my husband and I were trying to come up with ways to add flavor to the Quinoa he came across this recipe.

I was thinking that this might make a good side dish for Feta Chicken Bake.

Cajun Red Beans and Rice

Cajun red beans and rice

Ingredients

1 lb kielbasa

1 clove garlic, chopped

1 medium onion, chopped

1 green pepper, chopped

2 15-oz. cans red kidney beans

1/2 teaspoon paprika

1/2 teaspoon Cajun seasoning

Preparation

Cut sausage into bite-sized pieces and brown. Add garlic, onions, and pepper and brown. Add beans and seasonings. Barely cover with water and simmer for about 30 minutes. Serve over rice.

Papous Greek Cuisine

Last night my hubby and I were lucky enough to try Papou’s.   The place has been downtown for a number of years.  We just never got around to going there.   I have to say that the food was very good and I will be going  back there.    I has heard good things about the place for a number of years and was very happy to see that it is a Authentic Greek Restaurant not a fast food greek restaurant.   I had the Tikapia Papou’s Style which is baked in a tomato sauce with Feta Cheese.  We picked a good night to go.   It was a slow night and not too busy.  The food was and service was worth the drive to downtown Huntsville.   If you want Authentic Greek Food then this is the place to go.

Braised Sirloin Tips

Braised sirloin tips

Ingredients

2 tablespoons shortening

2 lbs. beef tips cut into 1 inch cubes

1 10-1/2 oz. can beef consomme

1/2 cup burgundy (or cranberry juice)

2 tablespoons soy sauce

1 clove garlic, chopped finely

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1/4 teaspoon onion salt

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1/4 cup water

4 cups cooked rice

Preparation

Melt shortening and brown meat in a large skillet. Stir in consomme, wine, soy sauce, garlic, and onion salt. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour. Blend cornstarch and waterand stir into meat mixture gradually. Cook, stirring constantly until mixture thickens and boils. Continue cooking for about 1 minute. Serve over rice.

Beef Pasta and Mushroom Soup

wordpress Tags: Beef, Pasta, Soup, Mushroom, Cooking, Recipes

Beef Pasta and Mushroom Soup

Prep Time:35 min

Start to Finish:35 min

Makes:6 servings

Ingredients

1 lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef

1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)

6 cups hot water

1 box Hamburger Helper® beef pasta

1/2 teaspoon dried basil leaves, crushed

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

2 medium cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 can (4 oz) Green Giant® mushroom pieces and stems, drained

2 tablespoons dry red wine, if desired

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Directions

1. In 4-quart Dutch oven, cook beef and onion over medium-high heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally,
until beef is brown; drain.

2. Stir in hot water, Sauce Mix, basil, salt, pepper and garlic. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly.

3. Reduce heat. Cover; simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in uncooked Pasta, mushrooms and wine.
Cover; cook 10 minutes longer. Stir in parsley.