Cheesy easy Chicken Breasts

November 21, 2007 | Posted by Lorena as Quick Meal Ideas, Fast Meal Ideas, Cozy Comfort Food Recipes, Recipe at 11:14 am | (1) Comment »

Some kids can be really picky eaters, eating nothing but fried chicken or hotdogs. Try serving this. Delicious, easy, and (with a little food styling) can be elevated to a special meal in case your mother in law suddenly drops by for dinner.
Ingredients

1/2 cup dijon mustard
1/4 cup apple juice
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups fresh soft bread crumbs
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 Tbsp. butter, melted
1/4 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
2 tsp. dried parsley flakes
8 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

What’s next

Prepare a 13×9″ pan with foil, then set the oven to 375 degrees. Mix mustard, apple juice, and garlic. In other pan, mix the crumbs, cheese, parsley, melted butter, salt, pepper, and parsley flakes. Coat chicken in this, then roll in crumbs (use homemade bread crumbs). Stick the bird into the oven, and bake for 20-30 minutes.

Spinach Lasagna

November 9, 2007 | Posted by Lorena as Pasta Please, Cozy Comfort Food Recipes, Vegetable Recipes, Vegetable Recipe, Recipe, Uncategorized at 10:50 am | (4) Comments »

lasagna
Any resolve to stay on a low-carb diet completely melts in front of a plate of lasagna. Forget glycemic index and fitting in a smaller pair of jeans. This meal (like life) is meant to be savored — with second, third or fourth helpings too. (Then fight off the guilt with the comfort that it’s low fat!)

Ingredients

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
2 (10 ounce) packages frozen chopped spinach
1/2 onion, chopped
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 (32 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce
1 1/2 cups water
2 cups non-fat cottage cheese
1 (8 ounce) package part skim mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1 egg
8 ounces lasagna noodles

What’s next:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

In a large pot over medium heat saute spinach, onion, oregano, basil and garlic in the olive oil. Pour in spaghetti sauce and water; simmer 20 minutes.

In a large bowl mix cottage cheese, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, parsley, salt, pepper and egg.

Place a small amount of sauce in the bottom of a lasagna pan. Place 4 uncooked noodles on top of sauce and top with layer of sauce. Add 4 more noodles and layer with 1/2 sauce and 1/2 cheese mixture, noodles and repeat until all is layered, finishing with sauce.

Cover with foil and bake in a preheated oven for 55 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 15 minutes. Let sit 10 minutes before serving.

Irish Cream Coffee

November 5, 2007 | Posted by Lorena as Drinks, Holiday Fun, Spirits & Libations, Cozy Comfort Food Recipes, Uncategorized at 9:11 am | (3) Comments »

Irish Cream Coffee

You’ve got the fireplace going, and holiday cookies fresh from the oven. The only thing missing? Coffee. “Whip” up a big mug of this special Irish treat in minutes.

Creamy Irish Coffee

Ingredients

4 cups of fresh coffee
1 cup of whipping cream.
½ cup of Irish whiskey.
¼ cup of sugar.
2 tablespoons of Sugar.
2 tablespoons of Irish whiskey.

What’s next

In a saucepan, add 4 cups of strong fresh coffee, ½ cup of Irish whiskey and ¼ cup sugar. Heat up, but do not boil.

Whip 1 cup of whipping cream until it is light, then beat in 2 tablespoons of sugar and 2 tablespoons of whiskey. Pour the coffee into coffee mugs and spoon the cream on top. Serve.

I Can Never Say No to Chocolate Pudding Recipe

April 20, 2006 | Posted by Allison as Cozy Comfort Food Recipes, Dessert Recipes at 1:04 pm | Comments »

Chocolate Pudding.jpg And now for the best part of Cuddle Up Comfort Food Thursday, the chocolate. Your taste buds will melt with this chocolate pudding recipe. Enjoy.

Ingredients:

4.5 cups heavy cream
5 oz bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
6 large egg yolks
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1.5 teaspoons vanilla extract
Pinch of salt

Go ahead and preheat your oven to 325 F, or 110 C.

In a large saucepan- bring heavy cream to a simmer, remove from heat.

In a large stainless steel bowl- add chocolate & 1 cup of warm cream. Let stand until chocolate is melted. Stir the chocolate mix until smooth, then stir in the remaining cream.

In a separate large bowl- whisk together egg yolks, sugar, vanilla & salt. Gradually whisk in chocolate mixture. Strain the pudding through a fine-mesh strainer and skim off the froth on the top.

Pour the pudding into eight 6-ounce ovenproof ramekins. Place them in a deep baking pan and put the pan in the oven. Add enough hot water to the pan to reach halfway up the sides of the ramekins, then cover the pan with aluminum foil. Bake the puddings for about 50 minutes. When gently shaken, they should look set around the edges but not quite set in a quarter-size area at the center.

Remove the ramekins from the water bath and let cool at room temperature. Refrigerate for several hours, or overnight. Serve chilled and allow yourself to be carried away in comfort and yumminess.

Eat well & Laugh often.

Cuddle Up Comfort Food Thursday Recipes, Crock Pot Lasagna

April 20, 2006 | Posted by Allison as Cozy Comfort Food Recipes, Take It Slow- Crock Pot Recipes at 10:04 am | Comments »

Cook Chef Hat Spoons.gif Today is overcast and rainy which makes it the perfect weather for cuddle-up comfort food, a good book and nuzzling with your pet. Enjoy this delicious recipe for a comfort-the-soul slow cooker / crock pot lasagna.

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground beef
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 large jar spaghetti sauce
8 oz no-boil lasagna noodles
16 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
1 lb. ricotta cheese
1/4 cup milk
1 egg
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
1/4 cup Romano cheese, shredded
S & P, to taste

In a large skillet- brown beef, onion & garlic. Drain.

Add spaghetti sauce into meat mixture & mix together.

In a medium bowl- mix together ricotta cheese, milk & egg.

Beat until smooth & mix in the mozzarella, Parmesan & Romano cheeses.

Get out your slow cooker or crock pot & spray down bottom & sides with non-stick spray.

Place 1/4 of the meat & sauce mix at bottom of crock pot. Put a layer of noodles on top. Put 1/3 of cheese mixture on top, then repeat with sauce, noodles & cheese for another 2 layers.

Top with meat sauce. Cook on low for 4-6 hours or until noodles are tender or until you’re tummy can’t take waiting any longer.

Look out for ‘I Can Never Say No to Chocolate Pudding Recipe’ post coming soon.

Eat well & Laugh often.

Cozy Comfort Chicken Shiitake Rice Casserole Recipe

April 5, 2006 | Posted by Allison as Cozy Comfort Food Recipes, Yummy Can't Say No Chicken Recipes, Southern Food Recipe at 1:01 pm | Comments »

Chicken & Rice Casserole.jpg We know all about shiitakes, so let’s add them to a chicken & rice casserole and taste a slice of divine. Enjoy this terrific recipe, sure to please any crowd. For the picky eaters, just tell them that the shiitakes are browned potatoes and the spinach is green apple candy!

Ingredients:

4 tablespoons butter, divided
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 shallot, chopped
1 pd shiitake mushrooms, stems discarded & caps sliced
2 bunches fresh spinach, washed, stems removed & chopped
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 cups whole milk
8 oz Gruyere cheese, shredded
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
4 cups white rice, cooked & hot
3 cups chicken breast, cooked & shredded

What’s Next:

Go ahead and preheat your oven to 375 F, or 190 C.

In a large skillet- heat 1 tablespoon butter over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook until softened. Stir in garlic & shallots, cook for 2 minutes. Add shiitakes and cook about 8 minutes, or until softened.

Add 1 bunch spinach to the skillet, stirring constantly until spinach begins to wilt. Add remaining spinach and cook for a couple more minutes, or until all spinach has taken on a wilting look.

In another large skillet- melt remaining 3 tablespoons butter over medium-high heat. Add flour and cook for 1 minute, whisking throughout. Slowly whisk in milk and cook for 5 minutes, or until mixture comes to a boil and thickens.

Remove skillet from heat & whisk in Gruyere until smooth. Now whisk in the salt & pepper. Add spinach mix, rice & chicken. Transfer mixture to a 13 x 9 casserole dish and bake for 45 minutes covered with aluminum foil.

Enjoy this quite frankly, delicious dish and let it help you get through the rest of the week in tasty comfort.

Eat well & Laugh often.

Sweet Southern Potato Casserole Recipe

April 5, 2006 | Posted by Allison as Cozy Comfort Food Recipes, Southern Food Recipe at 9:00 am | Comments »

Sweet Potato Casserole.bmp I thought we’d delve into the world of casseroles this Wednesday. I’m ready for some comfort food to get me through the rest of the week, what about you? Try on this southern favorite sweet potato casserole recipe and you’ll be relaxing in sweet comfort by the end of the day. Enjoy and make sure to check out the history & facts of this delicious veggie.

Ingredients:

3 cups sweet potatoes, boiled & mashed
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup whole milk
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup pecans, chopped
1/3 cup butter, melted

What’s Next:

Go ahead and preheat your oven to 350 F, or 175 C.

In a large bowl- mix together the sweet potatoes, eggs, milk, white sugar, vanilla extract & butter. Scoop into your favorite baking dish. Set aside.

In a medium bowl- mix together brown sugar, flour & chopped pecans. Spread on top of sweet potato mash.

Drizzle butter over topping spread and you’re ready to bake your casserole for 30 minutes. The heavenly scent of a sweet potato casserole cooking in an oven will make all your family come out of their crevices and wonder what’s for dinner.

Eat well & Laugh often.

Emogene Knows Best Fried Okra Recipe

April 4, 2006 | Posted by Allison as Cozy Comfort Food Recipes, Southern Food Recipe at 12:51 pm | Comments »

Fried Okra.jpg Now that we have okra on the brain, get out those iron skillets if you have them. It’s time for comfort, it’s time for soul- it’s time for comfort soul fried food. Try on my grandmother’s never-fail fried okra recipe- you may wish you hadn’t, it’s that good!

Ingredients:

4 cups fresh okra, cut into dime-size pieces (never let me catch you using that frozen kind)
1/2 cup cornmeal
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup cooking oil, it’s not healthy in the least bit, but bacon grease is perfect for the occasion if you’ve got it

What’s Next:

In your large skillet, preferably iron skillet- heat oil (or grease) on medium-high.

In a medium bowl- toss together okra, cornmeal, salt & pepper. You want each piece of okra to have a nice, thin covering of cornmeal.

Place okra in hot oil. Cook until well-browned, stir frequently.

Enjoy this wonderful family recipe & eat some for me!

Eat well & Laugh often.

Kiefer Sutherland Shepherd’s Pie Recipe

March 15, 2006 | Posted by Allison as Cozy Comfort Food Recipes at 11:00 am | Comments »

As you’ve been waiting on sharp pins & dull needles for the Kiefer Sutherland Shepherd’s Pie Recipe, you may now breathe easy for here it is! In answer to my question, “What are you going to do with these celebrities?” we now have the answer- eat them or at least name a shepherd’s pie recipe after them. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

2 cups cook ground beef (can substitute for anything ground- veal, turkey, chicken)
1 tablespoon finely chopped onion
2 cups gravy (make a roast the night before and reap more benefits with this recipe)
S & P
2 cups mashed potatoes (don’t let me catch you using instant)
1/8 teaspoon paprika
1 tablespoon butter

What’s Next:

Go ahead and preheat your oven to 400 F, or 200 C.

In a large bowl- combine meat, gravy & chopped onion. Season with S & P to taste.

Line the bottom of a baking dish with a layer of half of the mashed potatoes. Add meat mixture then cover with remaining potatoes.

Dot mashed potato covering with butter. Sprinkle with S & P and paprika.

Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes or until potato topping is browned and the pie is heated thoroughly. Take pride in you celebrific dish and relax, the hard part’s over.

Eat well & Laugh often.