Easy 5-Ingredient Tomato & Basil Blender Soup

Easy 5-Ingredient Tomato & Basil Blender Soup

INGREDIENTS

·         8–10 tomatoes, halved

·         2 medium onions, quartered

·         4 cloves garlic

·         2 Tbsp olive oil

·         ⅓ cup sliced fresh basil

·         salt and pepper, to taste

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INSTRUCTIONS

1.    Place halved tomatoes, quartered onions, and garlic cloves into a large bowl.

2.    Add oil and season well with salt and pepper. Stir well to coat.

3.    Pour the vegetables onto a baking tray and roast at 400 degrees for 30 minutes.

4.    Remove tray from oven let cool for 5 minutes.

5.    Place roasted vegetables in a blender along with sliced basil and blend until smooth.

6.    Add salt and pepper as necessary.

7.    Heat soup on the stove, if necessary.

8.    Serve!

9.    Serving Size: 1 cup 

My version of Popeye’s Chicken Sandwich

My version of

Popeye’s Chicken Sandwich

Ingredients:
For the chicken marinade

• 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon EACH paprika garlic powder, black pepper, salt

For Breading

• 1 cup flour
• ½ cup corn starch
• 1 tablespoon EACH paprika garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper (for spicy)
• 1 teaspoon EACH salt & pepper

Spicy mayo

• ½ cup mayo
• 1 teaspoon hot sauce
• 1 teaspoon paprika or Cajun or taco seasoning
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder

TO ASSEMBLE

• 4 medium-sized brioche buns
• Mayonnaise
• Sliced pickles
• 3-4 cups canola oil for frying
•  

Instructions

To Marinate Chicken

1.          Pound chicken breasts in between two pieces of parchment paper or plastic wrap. Cut each chicken breast in half crosswise to make 2 small pieces of chicken about the same size as the bun. 

2.          In a large bowl, buttermilk, paprika, garlic powder, salt & black pepper. Add the chicken to the mix and place in the fridge to marinate up to 24 hours or use right away. 

To Cook Chicken

1.          Heat oil in a large heavy-duty skillet or pot on medium temperature or until the temperature reaches 350F.

2.          In a medium shallow bowl, whisk the flour, cornstarch, and spices. Drizzle 2-3 tablespoons of the buttermilk batter into the flour mixture and mix it through with a fork.

Working with 1 piece at a time, dredge chicken the flour mixture and press flour on the top chicken to form a thick crust. Transfer chicken to hot oil and fry for 3-5 minutes per side or until the outside is crispy and golden and the internal temperature reaches 165F. 

To Assemble

1.          Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large saucepan and toast buns face down until golden and crisp. Whisk all the ingredients for the mayo in a small bowl and spread a generous layer of mayo on each bun. Top with pickles and chicken. Enjoy hot! 

Chicken and Dumplings

Chicken and Dumplings

(Dumpling batter)

2 ¼ Cup Bisquick

2/3 Cup milk

4 T. Butter

½ Cup diced onion

3 carrots

½ Cup celery

8 Cups chicken broth

1 teaspoon rosemary

1 teaspoon sage

4 Cups shredded/cubed chicken

1 Cup frozen sweet peas

1 Cup Milk (or ½ C milk ½ C half and half or ½ C cream)

1 teaspoon salt

Prep up dumpling batter and set aside.

Add butter to pot and the mirepoix cook gently until the onion is translucent. 

Add the broth, rosemary, sage cover and cook over medium until carrots are al dente.
Add Chicken.

Bring to a boil and whisk in milk/cream/or half and half.

Taste and season (add salt).

Drop in dumplings and sprinkle with 1 T. dried parsley

Cover and cook for 15 minutes.

Remove the lid and cook for 10 to 15 minutes more.

The dumplings will be fully cooked and fluffy inside.

Green Chile Chicken Stew

Green Chile Chicken Stew

PREP TIME20 minutes

COOK TIME20 minutes

TOTAL TIME40 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon neutral oil
• 1/2 yellow onion, peeled and diced
• 3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 large Russet potato, peeled and chopped
• 1/2 cup (8 ounces) diced fire-roasted Hatch green chiles*
• 1 large chicken breast
• 1/2 cup frozen corn kernels
• fresh cilantro, for serving
• fresh lime wedges, optional, for serving

Instructions

In a small 3-quart soup pot, heat the oil over medium-high heat.

Add the onion to the pot, and cook while stirring occasionally until softened and starting to turn golden brown on the edges, about 5 minutes.

Next, stir in the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds.

Add the chicken broth, salt, pepper, chopped potatoes, and green chiles to the pot. Bring the mixture to a simmer.

Add the chicken breast (whole), cover and let cook until it's done, about 15 minutes. Remove the chicken to a cutting board, and use two forks to shred the meat. Add it back to the pot.

Stir in the frozen corn and let everything cook on a gentle simmer for about 5 more minutes.

Divide between two soup bowls, and serve garnished with fresh cilantro and lime wedges.

Notes

*The chiles should already be cleaned, peeled and diced here.  If you're not using fresh chiles, use two 4-ounce cans of fire-roasted diced green chiles.

Apple Cider-Glazed Salmon

• Level: Easy
• Total: 25 min
• Active: 25 min
• Yield: 4 servings

• Ingredients

  2 tablespoons unsalted butter

  1 tablespoon canola oil

  Four 4- to 6-ounce salmon fillets, skin removed, at room temperature

  Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper

  1 cup apple cider

  2 teaspoons minced shallots

  2 tablespoons honey

  1 tablespoon whole-grain mustard

  1/4 cup creme fraiche

  Apple cider vinegar, as needed

  2 tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon

  2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint

  2 tablespoons chopped chives

  1/2 small jalapeño, thinly sliced

• Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Fit a baking sheet with a wire rack.
  2. In a medium saute pan, heat the butter and canola oil over medium heat. Season the salmon with salt and pepper on both sides and cook on one side until light golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Flip the fillets, then add the apple cider and shallots and raise the heat to medium high to bring the liquid to a simmer. Cook the fish another 2 minutes, then gently remove the fillets to the rack and transfer to the oven. Bake 8 to 10 minutes for medium rare.
  3. Meanwhile, continue simmering the pan sauce over medium-low heat, whisking often, until slightly reduced, about 2 minutes. Whisk in the honey and mustard and continue to simmer until slightly reduced, 2 to 4 minutes more. Whisk in the creme fraiche and simmer, whisking often, until the sauce is thick and glossy and coats the back of a spoon, 3 to 5 minutes more. Taste and adjust the seasoning, adding apple cider vinegar as desired.
  4. Transfer the salmon to serving plates and spoon the sauce over the fish. Garnish with the tarragon, mint, chives and jalapeños.

Chicken & Pastry

Chicken & Pastry

INGREDIENTS

1 ½	cups (7 1/2 ounces) all-purpose flour
2	teaspoons baking powder
	Salt and pepper
½	cup milk
2	tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
2	pounds bone-in chicken thighs, trimmed
4	cups chicken broth
1	cup water
1	onion, peeled and halved through root end
1	celery rib, halved crosswise INSTRUCTIONS SERVES 4 TO 6 Headnote Keep the root ends of the onion halves intact so the petals don’t separate during cooking and the onion is easy to remove from the pot. Description Text 1. Combine flour, baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in large bowl. Combine milk and melted butter in second bowl (butter may form clumps). Using rubber spatula, stir milk mixture into flour mixture until just incorporated. Turn dough out onto lightly floured counter and knead until no flour streaks remain, about 1 minute. Return dough to large bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and set aside. 2. Pat chicken dry with paper towels and season with pepper. Melt remaining 1 tablespoon butter in Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add chicken, skin side down, and cook until golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Flip chicken and continue to cook until golden brown on second side, 3 to 5 minutes longer. 3. Add broth and water, scraping up any browned bits. Nestle onion and celery into pot and bring to boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 25 minutes. 4. Meanwhile, roll dough into 12-inch square, about 1/8 inch thick. Using pizza cutter or knife, cut dough lengthwise into 1-inch-wide strips, then cut diagonally into 1-inch-wide strips to form diamonds (pieces around edges will not be diamonds; this is OK). 5. Remove pot from heat. Transfer chicken to plate and let cool slightly. Discard onion and celery. Return broth to boil over medium-high heat and add pastry. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until pastry is tender and puffed, about 15 minutes. While pastry cooks, shred chicken into bite-size pieces, discarding skin and bones. 6. Stir chicken into stew and cook, uncovered, until warmed through and stew has thickened slightly, 2 to 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve.

Easy Cheeseburger Soup

Easy Cheeseburger Soup

• 1 pound ground beef, browned and drained of excess fat
• ¾ cup onion, diced
• ¾ cup carrots, shredded
• ¾ cup celery, diced
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
• 4 tablespoons butter, divided
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 4 cups peeled and diced potatoes
• ¼ cup flour
• 2 cups of Velveeta processed cheese cubed or 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1½ cups milk
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon pepper

Instructions

1. In a large Dutch oven, melt 1 Tbsp butter.
2. Add onion, carrot and celery and sauté until tender. Add basil and parsley and sauté for 30 seconds.
3. Add the chicken broth and potatoes; cover and bring to a boil.
4. Reduce heat and simmer for 10-12 minutes or until the potatoes are fork tender.
5. Meanwhile, in a small skillet, melt the remaining butter and add the flour.
6. Cook for 3 minutes or until a bubbly paste forms.
7. Add to the soup and bring back to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes.
8. Reduce heat to low and stir in the cheeses, milk, salt and pepper. Stir until cheese melts.
9. Top with extra shredded cheese before serving.

Tammy Wynette’s Banana Pudding

Serves: 6

Ingredients:
‎1 box Nilla wafers (12 oz box)
2 ½ cups sugar
6 cups whole milk
6 sliced bananas
1 cup self-rising flour
6 eggs, separated
1 teaspoon real vanilla

Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350°

Crumble enough wafers to cover the bottom of a 9″ x 13″ glass dish and set aside remaining wafers to use for decoration after it’s done.

Combine all dry ingredients (except for ½ cup of sugar to use later for meringue) in a large pot.

Then, in a different bowl, combine all wet ingredients (to include the 6 egg yolks only and set aside egg whites for meringue).

Slowly add wet into dry mixture and stir until completely dissolved and cook over low heat until thickened to pudding consistency. The trick is to stir continuously and not to get too hot so you don’t burn the pudding. Once ready, remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.

Place sliced bananas over wafers and pour mixture over them.

In a separate bowl, beat the 6 egg whites and slowly add in the remaining ½ cup sugar until a stiff meringue forms and then pour over pudding.

Put in the oven for 8-10minutes or until golden brown on top.