Thursday, January 21, 2010

Creamy Chicken Marsala with Mashed Potatoes

I got a call today from Sharon begging for the recipe from the dinner I made last weekend “Breaking in the New Kitchen” at my dear friend Lisa’s new house. She bought her first home right on the water in Pacifica, California. The sun sets right in her dining room, it’s so beautiful. We have named her home, “Lisamar”. : )

I stayed the weekend to help her unpack and ended up making dinner on the fly with a houseful of other helpful hardworking fun women.

Here was din din:

Salad:
Butter Lettuce, Asian pear, Crumbled Blue Cheese, Toasted Candied Walnuts tossed in Balsamic Vinegar and Olive oil…. with cracked pepper this is killer…


Entrée:
Creamy Chicken Marsala with Mashed Potatoes
and Zucchini Provencal…

Here ya go Grrl! Thanks again for being such a great Sou Chef!


INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
5 tablespoons butter
12 oz large mushrooms, trimmed and thinly sliced
1 1/2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh basil

2 small cloves of garlic finely minced
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
2 teaspoons all-purpose flour (for the roux)
6 skinless boneless chicken breast halves

4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup dry Marsala wine
1/2 cup heavy cream
&
2 lb Yukon Gold potatoes (preferably large)
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 stick (1/4 cup) butter
1/4 teaspoon white pepper

PREPARATION:
Pound the chicken breasts to a nice even thickness. In a large skillet and the olive and turn on heat up to medium high. Add the onions and garlic, sauté lightly for 3 mins. Turn the heat down to medium and add the chicken. When the chicken is brown on one side flip them and then add the Marsala wine and cover to simmer for 20 mins. Turn down the heat a little and add the basil and heavy cream. To simmer for 5 mins. Take the chicken out of the sauce and set aside on a plate.

In a separate sauce pan melt butter and flour until you have a roux nice and bubbly. Turn up the heat on the cream sauce and add the roux to thicken, about 2 mins. Add the chicken back into the now yummy sauce and serve with mashed potatoes.

For potatoes: Boil them in a large pot of water (no peeling nessasary) for about 20 mins. (until you can pierce them easily with a knife) Drain them and add them back into the pot. Add the rest of the ingrediants and mash with a potato masher (preferred) or whip them coursely with a hand mixer.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Annual NorCal Regional Grilled Cheese Invitational!

Will there be a 3rd?

Hi Gang,

It's almost time for the Annual NorCal Grilled Cheese Invitational in Dolores Park. I would like to one day compete in this blessed event, but would like to scope out the scene this year and learn the tricks from the masters. Would anyone of you crazy kids like to meet up and cheese out with me?

Write me back and let's synchronize our Formage!

http://www.grilledcheeseinvitational.com/norcal

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Bacon Wrapped Chicken Breast Stuffed with Cream Cheese and Fresh Tomatoes

Here is an easy dish that is simple yet impressive to look at when it comes out of the oven. It’s that bacon and tomato colliding together in your mouth with the cheese that makes this dish so….dammed scrumptious.

Let’s face it anything wrapped in bacon is holy.


INGREDIENTS:
4 boneless chicken breast halves, skinned

2 teaspoons of olive oil
1/2 cup fresh cream cheese or a creamy goat cheese

2 fresh tomatoes, thinly sliced
8 slices of bacon

Salt and freshly ground pepper

PREPARATION:
Preheat your oven to 375ºF. In a shallow baking dish, add the olive oil and spread it all over so the dish is coated well.

Put each chicken breast inside a ziplock bag and lay it flat on your cutting board and pound them until they are a nice even flatness (this is easier than plastic wrap and less messy). Discard the bag. Salt and pepper both sides. Spread the cream cheese or goat cheese over one side; add a few slices of fresh tomato. Roll up the chicken breast and take the slice of bacon and wrap around twice (could use 2 slices depending on the size of your breast) and place in the pan with the ends underneath.

Bake for 45 mins. Serve with a nice green salad and you feel like your having a BLT experience. Hope you like it…. It’s simple goodness.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Honey Chipotle Marinated Mushrooms

Here is a great make ahead of time appetizer recipe for picnics or just for taking to a BBQ. They are cold, juicy, spicy and yummy…. Huge hit at any party!

INGREDIENTS:
2 cup olive oil
4 large garlic cloves
3 pounds small mushrooms, stems trimmed
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
1 small can of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
3 tablespoons of honey
2 Medium size Mason Jars
Electric blender needed

PREPARATION:
I buy small white mushrooms for this recipe, but I have made them with large mushrooms and they come out great as long as you have a big enough jar. Fill a large pot full of water to boil and wash and trim any funky stuff off the mushrooms. When water is boiling turn off the heat and add all the mushrooms in and cover to blanch them. In a separate pot place add water to boil for sterilizing the mason jars and lids. When jars are sterilized take them out of the pot and set them aside.

In a blender, add all of the ingredients and blend them on medium high until everything is a nice puree. Stir the mushrooms which should be slightly cooked, strain them and slowly spoon them into each Mason jar until full to the top. Then pour the liquid mixture over the mushrooms in the jar until full. Place the lid and seal the jar closed tightly.

I usually set out a clean dish towel on my counter to set them upside down so the mushrooms all mix well together and get evenly marinated. When they are cool, put them in your refrigerator and wait a couple days before eating. If you keep them refrigerated they are good for about a week.Serve them by straining (keep the liquid for possible meat marinade for BBQing, great on chicken) on a plate with tooth picks. Enjoy!

Thursday, July 9, 2009

If Loving Bacon is Wrong, I Don’t Wanna be Right

If loving bacon is wrong I don't wanna be right
If loving bacon is wrong I don't wanna be right

If being right means being without bacon
I'd rather go through life being mistaken

Your butcher and doctor say it's a shame
It's a downright disgrace
Long as I got bacon by my side
I don't care if they are on my case

Your friends tell you there's no future
In being a bacon fan
If I can't eat you when I want
I'll hide you in my van

If loving bacon is wrong I don't wanna be right
If loving bacon is wrong I don't wanna be right

Am I wrong to fall so deeply in love with you
Knowing I got a pack of sausage their
Depending on me too
And am I wrong to hunger for
the gentleness of your crunch
knowing I got some bacon at home
who's waiting for me at lunch

Your friends tell you there is danger
Frying bacon naked in a pan
If I can't love you when I want
I need to find a bacon man

If loving bacon is wrong I don't wanna be right
If loving bacon is wrong I don't wanna be right

Your friends tell you there's no future
In being a bacon girl
You know I love you bacon
I'd even share you with a squirrel

If loving bacon is wrong I don't wanna be right
If loving bacon is wrong I don't wanna be right

I don't wanna be right
If it means eaten eggs alone at night
I don't wanna be right

If it means eaten lettuce and tomatoes alone on toast
I don't wanna, I love you most
I don't wanna never, never, never be right


Bacon Lyrics, by Miss Tre` Taylor

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Green Thai Curry Marinated Mushrooms

Here is a great make ahead of time appetizer recipe for picnics or just for taking to a BBQ. They are cold, juicy, spicy and yummy…. Huge hit at any party!

INGREDIENTS:
2 cup olive oil
4 large garlic cloves
3 pounds small mushrooms, stems trimmed
1/2 cup chopped fresh Basil
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
1/2 can of coconut milk

2 teaspoons rice vinegar
1 Jalapeño pepper (not seeded)

3 tablespoons of Green Thai Curry
2 tablespoons of brown sugar
2 Medium size Mason Jars
Electric blender needed

PREPARATION:
I buy small white mushrooms for this recipe, but I have made them with large mushrooms and they come out great as long as you have a big enough jar. Fill a large pot full of water to boil and wash and trim any funky stuff off the mushrooms. When water is boiling turn off the heat and add all the mushrooms in and cover to blanch them.

In a separate pot place add water to boil for sterilizing the mason jars and lids. When jars are sterilized take them out of the pot and set them aside.

In a blender, add all of the ingredients and blend them on medium high until everything is a nice puree. Stir the mushrooms which should be slightly cooked, strain them and slowly spoon them into each Mason jar until full to the top. Then pour the liquid mixture over the mushrooms in the jar until full. Place the lid and seal the jar closed tightly.

I usually set out a clean dish towel on my counter to set them upside down so the mushrooms all mix well together and get evenly marinated. When they are cool, put them in your refrigerator and wait a couple days before eating. If you keep them refrigerated they are good for about a week.

Serve them by straining (keep the liquid for possible meat marinade for BBQing, great on chicken) on a plate with tooth picks. Enjoy!

Monday, February 23, 2009

BACONHENGE...



"Baconhenge, located on the Salisbury steak plain, can be used to predict eclipses, solstices, equinoxes, colon polyps and heart attacks." (Ross)
"While Hobbits frolicked in the living room, Diphenge mysteriously formed in the kitchen during a Christmas party at my house last December. It foretold of wine-induced hangovers and a travesty of Christmas lights sprawled across every bit of foliage in the front yard." (Lisa)