Inspiring People to Cook Again
Indian Chicken Curry is a recipe I made up after having something similar in Miami. This Indian curry recipe has a bunch of ingredients but they all get tossed into the crock-pot or slow cooker, so it’s super easy to make. The flavors are intoxicating […]
Chicken soup cures everything right? Chicken soup for the cold, the flu, even the soul. In winter, we seek comfort recipes and foods and chicken soup is an all time favorite. But it can also be part of a very healthy diet and your weight […]
Chicken Cacciatore is one of my all time favorite Italian dishes. I love the rich flavor of the sauce served over rice. I also like this dish because it is so versatile. See my cook’s notes for all of the various ways to shake up this dish.
It is also a great dish to make in a crock pot or slow cooker. You can easily brown the chicken and then add your sauce and everything and cook on low for about 5-6 hours or on high for about 3-4 hours.
Ingredients:
Directions:
Sprinkle each side of the chicken parts with salt, pepper and a light dusting of flour.
Heat a large heavy Dutch oven pan or large pot over medium high heat. Brown the chicken a few pieces at a time until they turn the color of a brown paper bag. You aren’t cooking the chicken completely you are just browning it. As each piece is browned place the chicken on a separate plate and continue until all the chicken is browned and removed from the pot. Turn down the heat and in that same pot add the butter, onion, garlic and pancetta.
Cook the onion mixture until brown over medium heat then add the chicken back into the pot. Pour in the white wine and cook for a minute or two then add the tomatoes and the chicken stock.
Season again with salt and pepper. Add the sugar, oregano and basil.
Stir a little, cover the pot and simmer for about 1 hour and 30 minutes over medium low heat. At this time you can add the sliced red pepper, mushrooms, peas, or any other twist you would like to the recipe. Cover again and cook for another. 30 minutes.
Once cooked transfer the chicken to a serving plate and serve with rice.
Cook’s Notes:
I like to vary my recipe from time to time so it isn’t boring. Here are some other things you can add to this recipe. One sliced green pepper, 1 Rosemary Stalk, a few sage leafs, or a cup of frozen peas.
When fall and the holidays are approaching, I am drawn to savory dishes and comfort foods. This one fits the bill! Tarragon Chicken in a leek cream sauce is a rich dish that’s perfect for a cold night. Be sure to serve this […]
Chicken vegetable soup with chicken spinach meatballs, is a great healthy dish for a light dinner or lunch. I like to use ground chicken because it has great flavor and less fat than beef but any ground meat will work. You can also use ground […]
Vegetable soup with Escarole and beans is an easy, healthy vegetarian soup recipe that can be made for a quick dinner or a light lunch.
Any small pasta like orzo, tubatini or shells works great in this dish, but most of the time I like to make it with potatoes. I add a lot of vegetables to this soup and you can buy them all separately, but I like to buy the “Leasa soup mix” in the produce section because it has most of the things I use for a soup or stew in one package.
Ingredients:
• 2-tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 large onion chopped
• 2 leeks whites only sliced (see “cook’s notes” for how to clean leeks)
• 2 small zucchinis cut in half long ways and then sliced
• 4 cloves of chopped garlic
• 2-3 large carrots, peeled and cut into coins
• 1 turnip, peeled and chopped
• 1 parsnip, peeled and chopped
• 2 large potatoes cut into 1 or 2 inch cubes
• 1 head escarole washed and chopped (see “cook’s notes” for how to clean escarole)
• 2 -32oz containers of Chicken or Vegetable Broth
• 1 -15oz can of Cannellini Beans
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• Salt, and pepper
• Sprinkle of pot pepper flakes (optional)
• Grated Parmesan cheese
Directions:
Heat the oil and butter in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add all the vegetables except the zucchini and the escarole and sauté for about 5 to 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and add parsley.
Pour in the chicken broth and turn up the heat until the soup boils. Then turn down the heat and let soup cook on a low simmer for about 15 minutes. Add the zucchini and the escarole and cover the pot for about 5 minutes. The escarole will look like it takes up the whole pot but it will quickly cook down. Remove the cover and add the beans. Cook for another 5 to 10 minutes until the zucchini and potatoes are tender. Remove from stove.
If adding pasta: cook about 1/4 pound of pasta in a separate pot of salted water only until it is al dente. The pasta will cook and expand more when added to the soup so don’t over cook pasta. You can add the cooked pasta to the soup.
I also like to serve this soup with a slice of hard Parmesan cheese in the center or a good sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese.
“Cook’s Notes”
The best way to clean a leek is to slice half of the dark greens and the end off and discard. Then slice the leeks into thin slices and place in a large bowl of water. The leeks will float and the sand and dirt will sink to the bottom. Do not pour out just use your hands or a slotted spoon to remove them from the bowl. See photos for example.
To clean the escarole you should cut it up like any other salad green. Rinse well in a pot of cold water in the sink. The sand will go to the bottom so remove greens with your hands and place in a colander. If you aren’t using all the escarole and want to store it simply place the escarole in a large plastic bag with a paper towel at the bottom. This can be done a day or two in advance to save time. See photos for examples. When dealing with the kitchen I always like to hire Katong Maid Agency to help me deal with the rest of the house.
If you can’t find escarole you can use a bag of spinach in its place. This soup will freeze well. Freeze left over soup in smaller plastic containers or freezer bags and thaw frozen soup in fridge. Heat in a pot or individual bowls in the microwave until warm.
Crock Pot Chicken with Pan Gravy – An Easy Crock Pot Recipe. Chicken recipes come and go but this healthy Chicken Crock Pot Recipe is an easy chicken dish that anyone can make. If you have never cooked a whole chicken in a slow cooker, […]
Your whole family will love this dish. When you serve it, I guarantee it will look like something from a fine restaurant. You don’t have to tell them how easy it was to make. If you need to double or triple the recipe, see my […]
