Crockpot Honey Sesame Chicken

Stolen from The Comfort of Cooking

Ingredients:

6-8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs or 4 chicken breasts (about 2 pounds) 

Salt and pepper 

1/2 cup diced onion

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 cup honey 

1/4 cup ketchup

1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce 

2 tablespoons vegetable oil or olive oil 

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes 

4 teaspoons cornstarch

1/3 cup water 

Cooked rice

1/2 tablespoon (or more) sesame seeds

3 scallions, chopped

Directions:

Place chicken in a crock pot and lightly season both sides with salt and pepper.

In a medium bowl, combine onion, garlic, honey, ketchup, soy sauce, oil and red pepper flakes. Pour over chicken. Cook on low for 3-4 hours, or high for 2 hours.

Remove chicken to a cutting board, leaving sauce. Shred chicken into bite-sized pieces; set aside.

In a small bowl, dissolve 4 teaspoons cornstarch in 1/3 cup water; add to crock pot. Stir to combine with sauce. Cover and cook sauce on high for ten more minutes, or until slightly thickened.

Add cooked rice to 4 plates, top with chicken and spoon sauce over top. Sprinkle evenly with sesame seeds and chopped scallions.

Enjoy!

Maple Chipotle Pulled Chicken

I am posting the instructions for this recipe made in the oven but it would also be fantastic if you tossed the chicken in a crockpot for the day, pulled it apart, and then added the sauce. This recipe is also great for freezing or making ahead and reheating :D

Pulled Chicken

1 whole chicken, skinned
Spice rub (I use same combo of spices I use for my pulled pork found here)
1 bottle beer
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

Heat your oven to 300F. Rub your skinned chicken liberally with spice rub and place the in a heavy bottomed pan with a tight fitting lid (a dutch oven is perfect.) Poor the beer and apple cider vinegar in the pot, place the lid on it, and bake for 2-3 hours, until the chicken is fall off the bone. When cooked, remove from liquid and carefully pull apart the chicken, discarding bones and any remaining skin. Be careful, some of the chicken bones are very tiny! Now make the BBQ sauce...

Maple Chipotle Barbeque Sauce

3 tbsp olive oil
3 cloves chopped garlic
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cups plain tomato sauce
1/2 cup maple syrup (I used Jim Beam pancake syrup I found at Sobeys)
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1-2 canned chiplotles (I found 1 enough for us but this recipe would also be tasty with a little more heat.)
1 tsp fancy molasass
1 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp ground dry thyme
1 tsp salt

In a small saucepan, slowly saute onions and garlic in olive oil until they soften and start to caramelize. Add remaining ingredients and simmer slowly for about 20-30 minutes or until reduced by about 1/4 the initial volume, stirring ofhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.giften. When cool, puree in a blender or food processor until smooth.

Now all you have to combine the pulled chicken and the BBQ sauce, pop it back in the 300F oven to warm up a bit (about 30 mintutes or so) and serve!

This tastes great served on buns with Coleslaw and Bourbon Baked Beans.

Crockpot Tamale Pie

3/4 cup cornmeal
1 cup milk
1 beaten egg
1 lb cooked ground turkey
14oz jar salsa
16oz can corn, drained
2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp cumin
Shredded cheddar
Sour cream

Mix everything except cheese and sour cream in a crockpot and cook on low for 4-5 hours. Serve topped with cheese & sour cream.

Easy Beef & Bok Choy Pho

2 star anise
1 cinnamon stick
1" fresh ginger root, sliced
6 cups low-sodium beef stock
3/4lb boneless sirloin steak
1lb dried, flat medium rice noodles
3 cups baby bok choy, thiny sliced
2 tbsp fish sauce

Add ins:

Fresh bean sprouts
Thai basil
Lime wedges
Sriracha

Soak rice noodles in cold water until softened, about 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, wrap star anise, cinnamon stick, and ginger in cheesecloth and tie with kitchen string to make a spice bag. Pour beef stock in a pot, add the spice bag, and simmer over medium heat.

Freeze steak until firm but not frozen, about 20 minutes. Slice across the grain into 1/8" thick slices.

Drain softened rice noodles. Cook noodles and bok choy in a large pot of boiling water for 1 minute, stirring continuously, and then drain.

Increase heat of stock to high and bring to a boil. Remove the spice bag and add fish sauce.

Divide the noodles and boy choy into deep bowls. Top with uncooked slices sirloin and ladle hot broth on top. Serve the soup and allow each person to customize with add-ins.

Pork and Green Bean Stir Fry

Ingredients

1 (about 3/4 pound) pork tenderloin, trimmed of excess fat
Coarse salt
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon cornstarch
3 teaspoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons minced, peeled peeled fresh ginger
1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
1 pound green beans, trimmed and cut crosswise into 2-inch pieces
1 red bell pepper, ribs and seeds removed, cut into thin strips
1/3 cup dry-roasted peanuts, chopped
Cooked white rice, for serving (optional)

Directions

Cut pork diagonally into 1/4-inch thick slices; cut each slice lengthwise in half. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt. In a small bowl, mix soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, and cornstarch; set sauce aside.

Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add half the ginger, pepper flakes, and pork; cook, stirring, until pork is no longer pink, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a plate. Repeat, cooking remaining ginger, pepper flakes, and pork in another teaspoon oil; transfer to plate.

Meanwhile, cook green beans in a medium pot of boiling salted water until crisp-tender, about 4 minutes. Drain; dry with paper towels.

Add remaining teaspoon oil to the skillet. Add beans, bell pepper, and 2 tablespoons water; cook over high heat, stirring often, until peppers are tender, about 2 minutes.

Add peanuts, pork mixture, and reserved sauce. Cook, stirring, until pork is coated, about 1 minute. Serve immediately, over rice, if desired.

Turkey Sloppy Joes

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
4 carrots, coarsely grated (2 cups)
1 medium onion, minced
2 garlic cloves, minced
Coarse salt and ground pepper
3 tablespoons tomato paste
3/4 pound ground turkey (93% lean, dark meat)
1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
2 tablespoons dark-brown sugar
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon chili powder
8 whole-wheat hamburger rolls, split

Directions

In a large saucepan, heat oil over medium; add carrots, onion, and garlic. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 4 to 5 minutes.

Add tomato paste and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add turkey; cook, breaking up meat with a spoon, until no longer pink, 4 to 5 minutes.

Add tomatoes, sugar, vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce. Cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, 12 to 14 minutes. Serve on whole-wheat rolls.

Pulled Pork Pasta

This is a great use for leftover pulled pork... you know... if you have any ;)

1 lb pasta (we used farfalle)
1 tbsp butter
1 large sweet onion, thinly sliced
S&P
2 cups pulled pork
3 cups tomato sauce
1/4 cup BBQ sauce (more if you like, do this to taste)
Grated Parmesan cheese

Melt butter in a large frying pan. Add sliced onions, salt & pepper. Cook on low heat until soft and caramelized.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil and toss in pasta. Cook until al dente.

Add pulled pork, tomato sauce, and BBQ sauce to the caramelized onions. Bring to a simmer stirring well. Toss with cooked pasta and top with grated Parmesan cheese.

Crock Pot Pulled Pork

3-4lbs pork shoulder
1 tsp ground pepper
1/2 tsp smoked sea salt
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
2 tsp smoked paprika
1 bottle beer
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 - 1 cup BBQ sauce (I like the Smokin' Stampede Beer & Chipotle from RCSS)

Mix together pepper, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika. Rub all over pork shoulder and place in the crock pot. Pour in beer and apple cider vinegar. Cook on high for 6-8 hours or until the pork falls apart when pierced with a fork.

Remove pork from crock pot and discard liquid. Pull pork apart with 2 forks until shredded. Put back in the crock pot with BBQ sauce and keep warm until ready to serve.

Mushroom Lasagna

Mushroom Filling
2 lbs mushrooms, chopped (use what you like, I used a mix of buttons and crimini)
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 onion, finely chopped
S &P

Sauce
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup flour
4 cups whole milk
S & P

1pk lasagna sheets (I used the fresh ones)

Parmesan cheese

Saute the chopped mushrooms, onion, garlic and S & P. Cook down and remove as much liquid as possible (you can reserve this and use it in place of some of the milk in the sauce, just add milk to make 4 cups.)

Melt butter over medium heat in a sauce pan. Add flour and whisk well. Allow to bubble a bit so the flour cooks off. Add 4 cups whole milk and S & P. Bring to a low boil and shut off, stirring frequently.

Place a small amount of sauce (about 1/6th) in the bottom of a 9 x 13" pan. Layer other ingredients:

Noodles
1/2 mushrooms
1/3 sauce
handful parm
Noodles
1/2 mushrooms
1/3 sauce
handful parm
Noodles
remaining sauce
handful parm.

Bake at 350 for about 45 minutes or until hot. Let rest at least 15 minutes before you cut or it will run everywhere!

Mixed Bean Stew with Cottage Dumplings

Stolen from a friend of a friend

Stew
1 can (15 oz) great northern, cannelloni or navy beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed and drained
2.5 - 3 cups tomato sauce
1 medium red bell pepper, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 tsp dried basil leaves
2 tsp olive oil
¼ tsp pepper

Cottage Dumplings…
1 cup shredded cheese (mozza or cheddar or whatever else you have in the fridge!)
2/3 cup frozen (thawed) or canned (drained) corn
1/2 cup cottage cheese (drain if really runny)
1/3 cup bread crumbs
1/3 cup cornmeal
3 egg whites

For stew, place all ingredients in first recipe in a 3-quart saucepan and bring to a simmer. For dumplings, combine all ingredients in 2nd recipe and shape into 12 balls. Carefully slide balls onto simmering bean mixture (do not drop directly onto stew – place ball in a spoon and place spoon on top of stew mixture and slide ball off using finger or another spoon – this prevents them from “sinking” into the stew). Simmer uncovered 10 minutes. Cover and simmer about 10 minutes longer or until dumplings are firm.

Turkey Lettuce Wraps

This was posted on a message board and it is too yummy not to share!

Ingredients

* 2 tablespoons oil
* 1 to 1 1/2 lbs ground turkey
* 1/2 large onion - chopped
* 4 cloves garlic - minced
* 1 cup water chestnuts - finely chopped
* 1 large head butter lettuce
* 2 carrots
* 5 green onions - chopped

Special Sauce

* 1/4 cup sugar
* 1/4 cup water
* 2 tbsp. hoisin
* 2 tablespoons soy sauce
* 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
* 2 tablespoons ketchup
* 1 tablespoon lemon juice
* 1/8 teaspoon sesame oil
* 1/2 to 2 tsp red chile paste based on how spicy you like things
* 1 tsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp cold water

Stir Fry Sauce

* 2 tablespoons soy sauce
* 2 tablespoons brown sugar
* 2 tablespoons hoisin
* 1/2 teaspoon rice wine vinegar

Directions

Bring 1 tbsp. oil to high heat in a wok or large frying pan. Saute turkey, onions and garlic until browned. Add water chestnuts and saute over high heat for 5 to 6 minutes. Add brown sugar, soy, hoisin, and vinegar for the stir fry sauce. Saute and stir for a few more minutes until combined.

While the turkey is browning, make the special sauce by dissolving the sugar in water in a small pot over medium heat. Add hoisin, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, ketchup, lemon juice, sesame oil, and hot chili sauce to your taste. Bring to a boil, stir in cornstarch mixture to thicken, and turn off heat.

To Serve:

- On a plate place separated lettuce leaves (cut in half if really large), ribboned carrot (use your peeler), and chopped green onion. Place warm turkey in a serving bowl, and special sauce in a separate serving bowl. Everyone makes their own. Lettuce, chicken, carrots, green onion, and then a drizzle of sauce. Wrap and then enjoy.

Delux Turkey Meatloaf

1 lb ground turkey
Olive Oil
200g mushrooms, sliced
2 tsp dried basil
Salt & Pepper
1/2 cup white wine (optional)
1 egg, beaten
1 slice bread
Splash of milk
8 slices of prosciutto
goat cheese

Saute sliced mushrooms in a little bit of olive oil. Add basil, salt, pepper, and white wine. Cook until most of the liquid has evaporated. Cool mushrooms. Soak bread in milk until mushy. Squeeze out bread and break into pieces in a bowl. Add beaten egg, ground turkey, and mushroom mixture. Lay out 4 slices of prosciutto on a baking sheet, you may want to grease it with a bit of olive oil first. Top with turkey mixture, forming a log. Crumble goat cheese on top of turkey mixture. Bring prosciutto slices up around the turkey log. Use remaining slices on top of the log, tucking in the bottom so you have a nice, neat package. Bake at 350F for 45min-1 hour or until internal temp reaches 165F.

Very yummy!

Mushroom Risotto

8 cups canned low-salt chicken broth (or veggie if that's how you roll)
1/2-ounce dried porcini mushrooms
1/4 cup unsalted butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups finely chopped onions
10 ounces white mushrooms, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 cups Arborio rice or short-grain white rice
2/3 cup dry white wine
2/3 cup grated Parmesan
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, optional

Bring the broth to a simmer in a heavy medium saucepan. Add the porcini mushrooms. Set aside until the mushrooms are tender, about 5 minutes. Keep the broth warm over very low heat.

Melt the butter in a heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add olive oil. Add the onions and saute until tender, about 8 minutes. Add the white mushrooms and garlic. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the porcini mushrooms to a cutting board. Finely chop the mushrooms and add to the saucepan. Saute until the mushrooms are tender and the juices evaporate, about 5 minutes. Stir in the rice and let it toast for a few minutes. Add the wine; cook until the liquid is absorbed, stirring often, about 2 minutes. Add 1 cup of hot broth; simmer over medium-low heat until the liquid is absorbed, stirring often, about 3 minutes. Continue to cook until the rice is just tender and the mixture is creamy, adding more broth by cupfuls and stirring often, about 28 minutes (the rice will absorb 6 to 8 cups of broth). Stir in the peas. Mix in the Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Parmesan Chicken

1 whole chicken
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 tsp dry mustard
1 tsp Whorchestershire
1 tsp garlic powder
1 cup dry bread crumbs
1 cup parmesan cheese
3 tsp dried parsley
pinch of salt

Cut up chicken in peices (breast, back, etc). Mix together melted butter, dry mustard, whorechestershire, and garlic powder in a bowl. In another bowl, mix together bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, and parsley. Dunck chicken pieces in butter mixture, then in parmesan mixture. Bake on a cookie sheet or slotted roaster (so grease drips through) at 350 for about 1 hour on until done.

Eggplant Gratin

I have always avoided eggplant because, well, I sort of think it tastes like a big yucky sponge. Rob seems to really love it though so I thought I would try this variation of an Ina Garten recipe... because the cheese should make the eggplant edible right? Yes! This dish is so tasty... I served it with pasta tossed with marinara sauce. So yummy! This dish would also be really yummy with zuchinni in the place of eggplant.

Ingredients:

* Good olive oil, for frying
* 1.5 pounds eggplant, unpeeled, sliced 1/2-inch thick
* 3/4 cup ricotta cheese
* 2 large eggs
* 1/4 cup milk
* 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan
* Kosher salt
* Freshly ground black pepper
* 1 cup marinara sauce

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Heat about 1/8-inch of olive oil in a very large frying pan over medium heat. When the oil is almost smoking, add several slices of eggplant and cook, turning once, until they are evenly browned on both sides and cooked through, about 5 minutes. Be careful, it splatters! Transfer the cooked eggplant slices to paper towels to drain. Add more oil, heat, and add more eggplant until all the slices are cooked.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix together the ricotta, eggs, milk, 1/2 cup of the Parmesan, 1/8 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper.

In a 9 x 13" baking dish, place a layer of eggplant slices, then sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan, salt and pepper and marinara sauce. Next, add a second layer of eggplant, more salt and pepper, the ricotta mixture, and finally the remaining Parmesan.

Bake for 35 to 45 minutes or until the custard sets and the top is browned. Serve warm.

Wine Lover's Beef Stew

Another message board steal that is easy and perfect for a cold winter day. I like to serve it with biscuits :)

1-1/2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1 inch cubes
1 teaspoon salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper, divided
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons butter
1-1/2 teaspoons vegetable oil
1/2 onion, chopped
1/2 can (14 ounces)whole peeled tomatoes
1-1/2 cups water
1 cube beef bouillon
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
1/8 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 cup red wine
3 carrots, chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
3 potatoes, cubed
1 cup pearl onions

Season the stew meat with some of the salt and pepper and coat with flour. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, Saute the beef and onions in the butter and oil until browned on the outside. Transfer the beef and onions to a stockpot and stir in the tomatoes, water and bouillon cubes. Season with garlic, parsley, thyme and remaining salt and pepper. Stir in the red wine.

Cover and simmer for 1 1/2 hours before adding carrots, celery potatoes and pearl onions. Continue to simmer until potatoes are tender, about 1 hour.

Saucy Shrimp and Creamy Polenta

Creamy Polenta

4 cups water
2 teaspoons salt
1 1/4 cups yellow cornmeal
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
1/2 cup whole milk
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Bring the water to a boil in a heavy large saucepan. Add 2 teaspoons of salt. Gradually whisk in the cornmeal. Reduce the heat to low and cook until the mixture thickens and the cornmeal is tender, stirring often, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat. Add the cheese, milk, butter, and pepper, and stir until the butter and cheese melt.


Saucy Shrimp

1 tbsp olive oil
3 slices Canadian bacon, chopped finely
1 medium onion, halved and thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes in juice
1 pound large (31 to 35) peeled and deveined frozen shrimp, thawed

Heat olive oil in a skillet. Add bacon, onion, and garlic; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is tender and browned, 8 to 10 minutes. To skillet, add tomatoes (with their juice) and bring to a boil. Add shrimp; cook, stirring, until opaque throughout, 2 to 4 minutes.

Serve shrimp & sauce on top of a puddle of hot polenta with fresh pepper & parmesan as garnish. Enjoy!