Oven Fried Chicken

Today I was in the mood for comfort food. I, like so many others, really enjoy fried foods. But, like  so many others, I HATE the fried food clean up. This recipe gives you the taste of fried chicken without the mess.

Servings: 4
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 40 - 50 minutes

Ingredients:
3 lb Chicken pieces
Seasoned Salt
1/4 c flour
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
1/2 stick melted butter

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees
• Rinse chicken in cold water and pat dry with paper towels
• Generously season chicken with seasoned salt
• In a large bowl mix flour and next 5 ingredients
• Coat chicken in flour mixture
• Pour melted butter into a shallow baking dish, coating bottom
• Place chicken, skin side down, in baking dish
• Bake for 30 minutes then flip chicken and bake for an additional 20 minutes

Normally I would pair this chicken with my 8 cheese baked macaroni & cheese and whole green beans. Today, I decided on a nice, lite garden salad with fresh vegetables from my buddy Keith's garden & my homemade Black Cherry Barbecue Sauce. YUM!

Shrimp & Grits

I HAD NO IDEA that smothered shrimp, chicken andouille sausage, and cheese grits was such an awesome combination! One of my good friends made this recently and I fell in love with the dish. I didn't get his recipe, but my pallet doesn't usually fail me. Here's my take on it.....

Servings: 4
Prep Time: 5 - 10 minutes 
Cook Time: 45 - 50 minutes

Ingredients:
3 tbsp Olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
1 small bell pepper, diced
1 poblano pepper, diced
1 tbsp minced garlic
1 tbsp Emeril's Essence
1/2 tsp white pepper
1 14 oz can of diced tomatoes or 6 fresh plum tomatoes, diced
1 15 oz can of chicken broth
32, 41-50 count shrimp tossed in 1 tbsp of Emeril's Essence
1 lb Chicken Andouille Sausage, cooked and cut in 16, 1 ounce slices

For Grits:

• 4 servings of grits, prepared according to package directions, with1 tsp of garlic powder, 1/2 tsp Paprika, 1 tbsp butter & 1 cup of the cheese of your choice. (I prefer a combination of smoked Gouda & Parmesan for this recipe.)

For Roux:

• 3 tbsp butter
• 1/2 c flour

For Shrimp & Sausage

1. In a Dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat
2. Add onions, bell pepper & poblano pepper. Saute, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes.
3. Stir in garlic and seasonings. 
4. Stir in tomatoes & saute' for about 1 minute
5. Pour in broth and stir
6. While waiting for broth to boil, melt butter in a heavy skillet over medium heat
7. Whisk flour into butter
8. Continuously stir roux until it's the color of peanut butter. DO NOT let roux burn!!!
9. Whisk roux into broth mixture. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and cover with a tight fitting lit.
10. When mixture is reduced by 2/3 add shrimp and sausage. Cook for another 3 - 5 minutes.
11. Serve over grits & enjoy!

Garlic Shrimp & Spinach Quesadillas

                                                                                                 

Servings: 2 - 4
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:
30, 41 - 50 count p/lb raw shrimp
6 oz organic baby spinach
2 cups Chihuahua Cheese
1 tbsp minced garlic
4 tbsp butter (butter can be substituted for cooking spray)
1 tsp Emeril's Essence
2 12inch flour tortillas
Nonstick Cooking Spray

1. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat 
2. Toss shrimp in seasoning and minced garlic
3. Add to pan and saute until shrimp are pink
4. Remove shrimp from skillet leaving butter
5. Add spinach to pan. Stir until wilted.
6. Remove pan from heat
7. Heat a 12 inch griddle or skillet over medium heat
8. Spray with cooking spray
9. Place 1 tortilla in pan
10. Layer 1/2 of tortilla with a 1/2 c cheese, half of spinach, half of shrimp and another 1/2 c cheese
11. When cheese begins to melt fold tortilla, pressing edges together
12. Carefully flip quesadilla once. Cook for an additional 2 minutes.
13. Repeat steps 8 - 12

Serve with the salsa of your choice & sour cream. ENJOY!

Bacon Wrapped Jalapenos

There are so many versions of this recipe, all of which are pretty tasty. The great thing about the stuffing is that it can be whatever you like. Today I decided to use a combination of broccoli, onion, red peppers and Parmesan to make these poppers POP!





Servings: 4 or 2 pieces per person
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:
4 Jalapenos, halved with seeds removed
2 Tbsp Mayo
2 Tbsp Sour Cream
1 Tbsp diced onion
1 Tbsp diced red pepper
2 Tbsp diced broccoli
1/4 C grated Parmesan
1 tsp minced garlic
2 Tbsp bread crumbs
1/2 tsp black pepper
4 slices of Pork Bacon cut in half
8 toothpicks


Preheat conventional oven to 400 degrees
In a small bowl mix mayo, sour cream, onion, peppers, broccoli, Parmesan, garlic, bread crumbs & black pepper
Spoon mixture into jalapenos
Wrap jalapeno with bacon and secure with a toothpick
Place on a shallow baking/cookie sheet with 1/2 inch sides
Bake for 25 - 30 minutes.
Serve immediately

*This recipe can be doubled as needed.

Hummus

Every now and then we discover a treat that is tasty & healthy.

Makes: 1 1/2 cup
Prep Time: 10 minutes


Ingredients:
1 can of garbanzo beans
1/4 c diced red peppers
2 tsp Tahini
2 tsp minced garlic
1/4 c grated Parmesan (optional)
juice of  a half lemon
salt & pepper to taste

• Drain beans reserving 1/4 cup of juice
• Place all ingredients in a blender/food processor 
• Blend/process until smooth
• Serve with a veggie platter and pita bread

Scallop Fritters

These wonderful little apps were inspired by my friends Monday dinner nights, where the theme was Under the Sea.

Servings: 12 or 2 fritters per person
Prep Time: 40 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:
1 1/2 c Flour
1 1/2 c Corn Meal
1 Tbsp Baking Powder
1/2 c Grated Romano and or Parmesan Cheese
1 tsp Black Pepper
1 tsp Salt
1 tsp Paprika
1/2 c Green Onion, chopped
1/2 c Red Pepper, chopped
2 large eggs
1 cup milk
1 lb scallops coarsely chopped
1 tsp Lemongrass
Vegetable oil

• In a large bowl whisk 1st 7 ingredients
• Stir in onions and peppers, set mixture aside
• Add eggs to a small bowl. Whisk in lemongrass and fish sauce
• Add eggs & milk to flour mixture
• Stir in Scallops, cover and refrigerate for a 1/2 hour
• Preheat oil in a large skillet with 4 inch sides or deep fryer
• Drop tablespoons of fritter mixture into hot oil and fry for about 6 minutes or until fritters are golden brown
• With a slotted spoon place fritters on a plate with paper towels
• Serve with a garlicky aioli and lemon wedges

Pizza Dumplings

These little dumplings make great appetizers. There is no wrong filling choice. You can use sausage, ground meats, diced chicken, steak or pork, seafood or make them vegetarian.

Makes: 20 dumplings
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes 

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup pizza sauce
1/3 cup grated Romano or Parmesan
2 tsp oregano
1 1/2 tbsp fresh basil, minced
1 cup prepared, ground chicken sausage, room temperature
10 oz fresh mozzarella cut into 20 identical pieces
1/2 cup mascarpone
20 won ton wraps
1 bowl of water, room temperature
Wax Paper
Olive Oil

• Preheat conventional oven to 400 degrees
• Butter a large cookie sheet with 1/2 inch sides
• In a medium bowl mix pizza sauce with Romano, oregano & basil. Set aside.
• Place a won ton on waxed paper
• Place 1 piece mozzarella, 1 tsp mascarpone, 2 tsp sausage, 1 tbsp pizza sauce

• Brush sides of won ton with water
• Press opposite corners of won ton together
• Twist top of won ton with wet fingers

• Place on cookie sheet
• Repeat steps 4 through 9
• Brush each with olive oil
• Bake for 12 minutes

ENJOY!