Chicken Meat Loaf

from my fav... real simple

2 eggs
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons tomato paste
3 garlic cloves, peeled
1 small yellow onion, quartered
1 small carrot, peeled and cut into large pieces
3 steamed chicken-breast halves pounded to 1/4-inch thich
2 scallions, thinly sliced
1/2 Golden Delicious apple, peeled and grated
1 cup bread crumbs
1/3 cup shelled pistachios
3 tablespoons maple syrup

Heat oven to 400°F. Lightly coat a 9-by-3-inch loaf pan with cooking spray and set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, mustard, oil, salt, pepper, and 1 tablespoon of the tomato paste. In a food processor, chop the garlic, onion, and carrot until finely chopped. Transfer to the bowl. Finely chop 2 chicken-breast halves (about 1/8-inch dice), and cut 1 chicken-breast half into 1/2-inch pieces. Add to the bowl along with the scallions, apple, and bread crumbs. Using your hands, mix to combine well.
Place half the meat-loaf mixture in the pan. Sprinkle on the pistachios in 1 layer. Top with the remaining meat-loaf mixture, pressing gently. Bake for 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, whisk together the maple syrup and remaining tomato paste. Brush the glaze over the meat loaf and return it to the oven for 10 minutes. Remove and let rest, covered with foil, for 10 minutes before serving.


Yield: 4 servings

NUTRITION PER SERVING
CALORIES 490(0% from fat); FAT 17g (sat 3g); CHOLESTEROL 196mg; CALCIUM 132mg; CARBOHYDRATE 41g; SODIUM 1095mg; PROTEIN 43mg; FIBER 4g; IRON 4mg

Nonna's Shrimp

16 colassal frozen shrimp (1/2 lb) (thawed)
4 cloves of garlic minced
1 tbsp olive oil
3/4 c white wine
red pepper flakes to taste
1/4 c heavy cream
2 tbs butter

heat olive oil and garlic on simmer about 5 minutes

add shrimp, wine and pepper flakes (if desired) saute about 2-3 minutes until shrimp is pink.

remove shrimp and add butter, when butter is melted add cream and a pinch of salt

reduced by half

served over rice... we used wild, place shrimp on rice and sauce over top

grandma's easy quiche

no cust quiche

1/2 c biscut baking mix
4 eggs
1 c shredded cheddar cheese
1/3 c onion, finely chopped
1/3 c mushrooms and or green peppers
2 c milk or half and half
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9" pie pad

put all ingredients ino the blender and mis for 30 seconds, pour in to prepared pan.

bake for 5-55 minutes, or until golden brown

let stand 5 minutes before cutting

serves 6 - compliments of madison junior leagued (mad about food)

irish cream

1 c brandy
1/2 c milk
1 tbs chocolate syrup
1 tsp instant coffee
1 pint whipping cream
1 can sweetened condensed milk

blend all ingredients together in a blender. Pour in to decorative bottle and refrigerate. will keep up to 3 weeks

serves: 6

compliments of Madison Junior League cook book (mad about food)

Tortilla Soup

Recipe created by Cristina Ferrare


Try this tortilla soup on with Christine's Chicken Enchiladas recipe—your kids will love it!


Ingredients:

Tortilla Soup


2 Tbsp. corn oil
3 corn tortillas , cut into 1/2-inch strips
2 garlic cloves
1/2 cup onions , chopped
1 jalapeño , seeded and chopped
16 ounce can chopped tomatoes
2 quarts roasted chicken stock (see recipe below)
1 Tbsp. ground cumin
1 avocado
Shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Salt and pepper
Chicken Stock:


Bones from Roasted Chicken
6 peeled and halved carrots
1 bunch fresh parsley
2 large onions with skins, halved
2 Tbsp. kosher salt
To make chicken stock: Place all ingredients in a stockpot along with 8 quarts of water. You can use the bones from Cristina's Roasted Chicken recipe. Simmer until all vegetables are soft (approximately 45 minutes). Strain the vegetables. Cool and refrigerate overnight.

To make the soup: Heat corn oil in a stockpot and sauté 3 corn tortillas, cut into 1/2-inch strips.

In a food processor, chop the garlic, onions and seeded jalapeño.

Add the onion, garlic and jalapeño mixture to the pot and sauté for 10 minutes. Add the can of chopped tomatoes along with 2 quarts of chicken stock. Bring to a boil.

Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Add ground cumin and simmer for 10 more minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

Transfer soup to a blender and puree until smooth. Strain into a clean pot. Garnish with chopped avocado and shredded cheese.

Chicken Enchiladas

Recipe created by Cristina Ferrare


These chicken enchiladas make a great family meal—and they're simple to make!


Ingredients:


16 ounce bottle or can enchilada sauce
6 low-fat or fat-free tortillas
1 jar salsa
2 cans refried beans
1/4 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/4 cup shredded sharp Monterey Jack cheese
1/2 cup low-fat sour cream
1/4 cup kalamata olives , pitted
1 jalapeño , chopped and seeded
Roasted Chicken
Heat oven to 400°.

Pour the can of enchilada sauce into a pie dish. Dip tortillas in the sauce to soften them.

On a cutting board, gently spread refried beans on one side of each tortilla. Add enough diced Roasted Chicken to cover the beans. Sprinkle with cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses. Add olives, chopped jalapeño and salsa (optional).

Roll up the tortillas and place seam-side down in a 9" x 13" baking dish.

Blend the sour cream into the remaining enchilada sauce in the pie dish. Pour over enchiladas and sprinkle remaining cheese.

Cover and bake for 25-30 minutes until hot and bubbly.

Pesto with Farfalle Pasta with Roasted Chicken

Recipe created by Cristina Ferrare


Try this delicious pasta dish from Cristina Ferrare. It's the perfect solution for when you have leftover chicken.


Ingredients:

Pesto:


4 cups fresh basil leaves
4 cups Italian parsley springs
4 large cloves garlic
1 1/2 cups olive oil
1/4 tsp. salt
Roasted Chicken Salad:


1 cup diced Roasted Chicken
1 cucumber , peeled, seeded and diced
2 cups mixed greens
1/4 cup roasted pine nuts
1/2 lemon , juiced
Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup sliced black olives
1/2 pound farfalle pasta
Handful pomegranate seeds
To prepare the pesto: Chop basil, parsley and garlic in a food processor. Slowly add olive oil and keep chopping. Add salt.

To prepare the chicken mixture and final dish: Place Roasted Chicken, cucumber, pine nuts, 1 Tbsp. of pesto and olives in a bowl and mix together. Cook pasta until al dente. Add 2 tablespoons of pesto to the pasta and mix well. Top off with 2 cups of mixed greens and the juice of 1/2 a lemon. Add the chicken mixture to pasta and toss. Garnish with Parmesan cheese and pomegranate seeds

Chicken Pot Pie with Cornbread Crust

Recipe created by Cristina Ferrare


This is a feel-good meal! It's traditional without a catch but very satisfying—not to mention easy and fast.


Ingredients:

Filling:


1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 Tbsp. unsalted butter
1 medium Onion , chopped
1/4 cup flour
2 cups chicken stock
2 cups chopped Roasted Chicken
1/2 cup frozen sweet petite peas
1 potato , diced and boiled
1 1/2 cup chopped, cooked carrots
1/2 tsp. salt
Cracked pepper
Dash of Tabasco® sauce
Crust:


3/4 cup white or yellow cornmeal
3/4 cup flour
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1 1/2 Tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 cup milk
1 large egg
2 Tbsp. canola oil
To make filling: Preheat the oven to 400°. Spray a 2-quart casserole with cooking spray. In a large sauce pan, heat olive oil and unsalted butter together. Add onion and sauté until tender, about 4 or 5 minutes. Add in flour until blended. Slowly stir in 2 cups of heated chicken stock, whisking well. Cook mixture over medium heat until thickened and bubbly, about 4 minutes. Stir in chicken, peas, potato, carrots, salt, pepper and Tabasco®. Pour into a 2-quart casserole dish coated with cooking spray and cook until heated and thickened. Spread evently into an ovenproof dish.

To make crust: In a bowl, stir cornmeal, flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. Stir milk, egg and canola oil until well combined. Stir wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Spoon the batter evenly on the filling. Bake until the top is golden brown, about 22 to 25 minutes.

Roasted Chicken

Recipe created by Cristina Ferrare


This classic roasted chicken is great on its own and in countless other recipes. This recipe calls for two chickens so that you have leftovers!


Ingredients:

Roasted Chicken:


2 chickens , 4 1/2 to 5 pounds each
6 lemons
A poultry mix of fresh herbs: Rosemary, sage, thyme, parsley and oregano work well
Marinade for one chicken:


1 cup Dijon mustard
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup juice from fresh lemon (don't discard lemon rinds)
To make marinade: Place all ingredients in a nonreactive bowl. Whisk with a wire whisk until ingredients are incorporated well—the marinade should have a smooth and creamy consistency.

To make roasted chicken: Preheat oven to 425°.

Clean chickens well and pat dry. Place each chicken in its own baking dish.

Stuff cavities with lemon rinds and fresh herbs. A poultry mix is fine, usually consisting of rosemary, sage, thyme, parsley and oregano.

Pour marinade over chicken. Add cracked pepper and remaining herbs to the top of each chicken.

Place an oven thermometer in each chicken and cover with aluminum foil. Place on the lower rack of the oven. Bake for 1 1/2 hours, then remove the aluminum foil. Baste with a basting bulb. Keep basting often, ever 15 minutes until the thermometer reads 180°.

Amanda's Clalm Dip

soon to be sister in law's special dip...

3 cans of snow's clams (drain half the juice from each can)
1 1/2 stick of butter
onions (1/2 onion)
red and orange peppers (1/2 of each pepper)
5 cloves of garlic chopped
saute all of the above until onions are translucent
add:
1/4 tsp basil (fresh)
1/4 tsp oregano (dried)
pinch of nutmeg
take off stove,
add bread crumbs until you like thickness
Parmesan cheese and mozzarella

optional: sausage, bacon bits

bake at 425 for about 8 minutes, if still not quite right broil for 2 minutes until cheese is melted.

serve with crostini

optional: sausage, bacon bits