All posts by dmariebates

Apricot Glazed Chicken

Meat/ Poultry, ,

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If I took a survey about chicken and asked how many times per week do you eat chicken, I would bet it would be at least twice if not more. Having chicken a few times per week means coming up with a number of ways to prepare it. Fried chicken is good but I would not recommend eating it more than once per week. Baked chicken is healthy but can be a little on the boring side.

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We eat a lot of chicken in our family so I try not to repeat the same chicken dish in the same week or couple of weeks. I put baked chicken into my dinner rotation every couple of weeks. The last time I thought about preparing baked chicken I wanted to put a slight twist on baked chicken to keep the dish healthy but packed with more flavor. I decided adding an apricot glaze to the chicken would boost up the flavor and compliment the other seasonings on the chicken.

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Apricot glazed chicken sounds like it could be hard to prepare but really isn’t. The glaze is a simple combination of apricot preserves and butter. If you really what to shake things up, add a little brandy apricot liqueur to the glaze.

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Try making Apricot Glazed Chicken the next time you serve chicken. Yummy will be the main word you all around the dinner table.

Apricot Glazed Chicken

Ingredients:
1 lb chicken drumsticks
1 lb chicken wings
1 medium onion sliced
1 tbsp Adobo seasonings
1 tbsp salt
1 tbsp ground black pepper
½ tsp smoked paprika
½ tsp dried parsley
½ tsp cilantro
2 tbsp butter
½ jar Smucker’s apricot preserves
½ cup of water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt apricot preserves and butter in a microwave safe bowl.

Layer bottom of baking pan with onions. Place chicken on top of onions and season with salt, pepper, Adobo and parsley. Sprinkle with with paprika. Pour preserves and butter mixture over chicken. Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour until golden brown and cooked through.

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Black Forest Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Meat/ Poultry, Uncategorized, , ,

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Every kid at least once during their childhood has eaten a grilled cheese sandwich. Crunchy on the outside and gooey on the inside. Cheddar cheese was usually the center piece of the sandwich and was complemented by tomato soup.

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Remember dipping your sandwich into the soup and letting it soak in the all that tomato goodness? I loved grilled cheese sandwiches back then and I still love them today. Only now I make big kid grilled cheese sandwiches.

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Cheese, of course, remains the center piece of my big kid grilled cheese sandwiches. But, this version uses 3 types of cheese to create the gooey goodness inside. Swiss, Monterey Jack and pepper jack cheese (for the extra kick) combine to make a nice creamy tangy sandwich. To top it off I added black forest ham. Now that is a big kid grilled cheese sandwich!

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Since I decided to make a big kid grilled cheese sandwich I decided to also make a grown up soup to go with it. Leek and potato soup.  A thick and creamy soup to go with a wonderful creamy sandwich. You can check out the recipe for the Leek and Potato Soup at dmariedining.com.

Black Forest Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Ingredients:
¼ lb black forest ham sliced thin
¼ lb Swiss cheese
¼ lb pepper jack cheese
¼ lb Monterey Jack cheese
4 tbsp soft butter
1 French loaf of bread
cooking spray

Spray a griddle with cooking spray and heat over medium heat.

Spread a generous amount of butter on one side of a slice of bread. Place butter side down on the griddle. Layer bread with 3 cheeses and 2 slices of ham. Spread another slice of bread with butter and place over ham with the butter side up. Brown bread then flip to brown the other side. Repeat with other slices of bread. Serve with chips or your favorite soup.

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Leek and Potato Soup

Soups/ Salads / Stews, Vegetables, , ,

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Many, many years ago I had a bad reaction to cream of potato soup. It really was not the soup’s fault because it just happened to be the last thing I ate before I came down with the flu. Enough said.

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So, it took me a long time to try leek and potato soup. Once I mustered up the nerve to try the soup I was pleasantly surprised at the delicious combination of leeks and potatoes. Since my hubby and I are fans of all kinds of soups I thought I would create my own version leek and potato soup.

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The result received a thumbs up from all of my taste testers including me. Rich and creamy with tasty bits of potato,this soup easily fits into the category of comfort food.

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Topped with sauteed mushrooms and drizzled with melted butter, all I could say was um um good when my spoon hit the bottom of my empty bowl.

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Keeping it simple. Keeping it easy. Keeping it good!

Leek and Potato Soup

Ingredients:
2 – 3 leeks cleaned and sliced (white and light green part)
1 medium onion diced
2 large potatoes peeled and diced
3 cups chicken broth
1 tbsp salt
1 tbsp ground black pepper
1 tbsp parsley chopped
2 tbsp butter melted
1 tsp thyme
1 tsp roasted cumin
½ tsp chives
¼ cup assorted mushrooms
¼ cup heavy cream
¼ cup half and half
1 small hot pepper sliced (remove seeds for less heat)
5 dashes hot sauce
To clean the leek leaves remove the hard bottom then separate the leaves and rinse with cold water.  Saute mushrooms in a 1 tablespoon of butter. Set aside.

Place leeks, onions, potatoes and peppers in a large pot. Add seasonings and broth then stir. Cook over medium heat for 45 minutes until leeks and potatoes are soft and tender. Remove from heat. Add 1 tablespoon of butter, cream and half and half. Puree mixture leaving a few chunks of potato. Stir in hot sauce. Melt remaining tablespoon of butter in the microwave. Place soup in a bowl and top with mushrooms then drizzle with melted butter.

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Sloppy Joe’s

Meat/ Poultry, Uncategorized, ,

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Loose meat sandwiches. That is what sloppy joe’s were called long ago. The origin of sloppy joe’s is not clear and doesn’t really matter. What matters is that sloppy joe’s were a wonderful creation and has not changed much over the years.

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The great thing about sloppy joe’s is that although the basic recipe remains the same, you can experiment with additional flavors and make it your own. I added hot Italian sausage to the recipe and a few other ingredients to give the dish a little heat to go along with the sweetness of the sauce. I even made a crock pot version so my friend Mr. E could try it out.

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Crock pots are a very useful kitchen tool for when you don’t have time to prepare food and watch it cook. I have to admit that I get a little weird about using my crock pot only because I don’t like leaving it plugged in all day without being able to check on it. Yes, it may seem to defeat the purpose of throwing everything in a pot and letting it cook without having to guard it. But, I like to add a little bit of this or that during the cooking process and still feel like I don’t have to watch it every second.

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Sloppy Joe’s are a comfort food that brings back childhood memories. Sloppy Joe night meant you could eat with your hands, let sauce run down your fingers and not get in trouble for being messy. What kid wouldn’t love that?

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Now when I eat sloppy joe’s I still let the sauce run down my fingers and I won’t get in trouble for being messy.

Sloppy Joe’s

Ingredients:
1 lb ground pork or sirloin
1 lb ground hot Italian sausage
½ cup red peppers chopped
½ cup green peppers chopped
1 large onion diced
1 14 oz can crushed tomatoes
2 tbsp tomato paste
2 tbsp packed brown sugar
2 tbsp chili powder
1 tbsp salt
1 tbsp ground black pepper
1 tbsp worcestershire
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp mustard
½ cup ketchup
5 dashes of hot sauce
1 crock pot

Turn crock pot on high.

Place all the ingredients into the crock pot and stir. Let cook for 3 – 4 hours until meat is cooked all the way through. Serve over hamburger or soft kaiser rolls.

If you want to cut down on the cooking time,  try making the sloppy joe’s in a pot on the stove.  Brown the meat and drain then place all of the ingredients into a pot.  Let simmer for 1 hour over medium heat.

 

Pumpkin Spiced Cupcakes

Desserts, , ,

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As I have said in the past, I am by no means a baker unlike my mom who can whip up a pound cake or apple pie in the blink of an eye.

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However, I recently I thought I would stretch my wings and take a baby step towards baking a new dessert. Inspired by the smell of fall, the rustling of leaves and pumpkins everywhere I decided to make pumpkin spiced cupcakes. Yes, I know cupcakes are probably one of the easiest things to bake but I am talking baby steps here.

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So while looking for canned pumpkin at the grocery store (baby steps remember) I ran across pumpkin butter in the preserves aisle.  Don’t let the name fool you. I soon discovered that pumpkin butter does not contain butter at all. Since I was stretching my wings I figured I could try using pumpkin butter instead of canned pumpkin for the cupcakes.

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The results…? Scrumptious cupcakes! I had my hubby test the cupcakes with a hot cup of Dunkin’ Donuts coffee and he was in heaven. I preferred a tall ice cold glass of milk. Whatever you choose to drink with your cupcake I have a feeling you will enjoy it.

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For my fellow beginner bakers, try making my pumpkin spiced cupcakes. It will help build up your baking credentials. For more advanced bakers, making my pumpkin spiced cupcakes may just beef up your credentials even more.

Pumpkin Spiced Cupcakes

Ingredients:
1 box Duncan Hines french vanilla cake mix
3 tbsp Dickinson’s pumpkin butter
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice (optional)
1 can cream cheese icing
¼ cup sliced almonds crushed
Cupcake foil cups

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Prepare cake mix according to box instructions. Add pumpkin butter and pumpkin pie spice to batter and mix until well blended. Spoon into cupcake cups. Bake for 12 – 15 minutes until the center is done. Test by sticking a toothpick in the center of a cupcake and see if it comes out clean.

Spread icing on top of each cupcake and sprinkle with crushed almonds.

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Crock Pot Roast

Meat/ Poultry, Vegetables, , ,

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I am dedicating this blog to Mr. E who is a family friend. Mr. E has been a faithful follower of dmariedining.com and has attempted to make a few recipes. Recently he asked me if I had any crock pot recipes that would make it easier for him to cook. He admitted he sometimes winds up with burnt food.

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First, I have to commend Mr. E for even trying to cook for his new wife. I wish more men would take up the ladle and attempt to cook for the family. Don’t get me wrong. I know there are a lot of great male chefs but usually they cook for a living. I do have a few men in my family who enjoy cooking for the sake of cooking but not many.

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After my conversation with Mr. E I started digging through old recipes and tried to come up with a few good crock pot meals. One of my friends nicknamed “Doll” helped me out by sharing a recipe she makes for special occasions. It is a pot roast simmered in mushroom and onion soup. I took the liberty of tweaking her recipe and added a few things of my own.

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I think this recipe is simple and will certainly put a smile on both Mr. E’s and his lovely wife’s face.

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One pot wonders are the way to go for aspiring chefs and anyone who doesn’t have time to fuss over a meal.

Crock Pot Roast

Ingredients:
1 medium sized pot roast
1 packet onion soup mix
1 10 oz can cream of mushroom soup
1 10 oz packet of frozen peas
2 large red potatoes peeled and cubed
6 carrots peeled and sliced
1 small jalapeno pepper seeded and sliced (keep seeds if you like heat)
1 pint baby portobello mushrooms sliced
1 tbsp parsley chopped
1 tbsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp worcestershire sauce
½ cup water
1 crock pot

Combine mushroom soup, onion soup mix and ½ cup of water in a small sauce pan. Whisk until smooth. Set aside.

Season meat with salt, black pepper, garlic powder and paprika. Place in crock pot. Pour soup mixture over meat and add mushrooms. Cook on high for 3 hours until meat is tender. Add potatoes, parsley, peas and carrots. Cook an additional 45 minutes or until veggies are tender. Serve with a piece of crusty bread to soak up all the wonderful juices.

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Chicken and Waffles with Warm Walnut Syrup

Meat/ Poultry, Uncategorized, , , ,

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Who said you can’t have breakfast at dinner time? Chicken and waffles combines the two foods I love into one delicious meal topped off with a nice sweet treat. On a few desperate nights I have fixed breakfast for dinner but with bacon or sausage. Chicken never crossed my mind as a partner for waffles. The first time I heard of chicken and waffles I thought it was the weirdest combination ever. Now??? I think what took me so long to try this out!

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One of my secrets to making thick tasty waffles is to add a little sour cream to the batter and don’t over mix. A few lumps here and there are no big deal. Besides the lumps will disappear when they hit the griddle.

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Warm. Walnut. Syrup. What more can I say? Sweet, gooey syrup warmed up and mixed with nuts gives the waffles a savory taste.

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Fried chicken. What else can I say? I have not meant anyone who does not like fried chicken. Granted, I sometimes get tired of eating chicken but serve it with waffles and Bam! I love it all over again.  I know the ingredients look like a lot of work but trust me they are not.  However, to make it a little easier on yourself use frozen waffles or use waffle mix.  Otherwise, go with the flow and you will have a nice new dinner idea.

Chicken and Waffles with Warm Walnut Syrup

Ingredients:
4 thin chicken breasts (pound with a rolling pin to flatten out)
2 eggs lightly beaten
1 cup flour
2 cups vegetable oil
½ cup buttermilk
½ tbsp cayenne pepper or hot sauce
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp poultry seasoning
2 tbsp butter
½ cup walnuts
½ cup syrup

Waffles Ingredients:
1 ½ cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 ½ cups buttermilk
2 eggs beaten
½ tsp salt
6 tbsp melted butter
waffle iron
cooking spray

Preheat oven to warm for chicken.

Chicken
In a medium bowl mix flour and seasonings and set aside. In another bowl mix cayenne pepper, buttermilk and egg in a bowl.

Sprinkle chicken with a little salt and pepper. Dredge chicken in flour then egg mixture then again in flour. Lay chicken out on a piece of wax paper.

Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium high heat. Place chicken in hot oil and brown for 3 – 5 minutes on each side. Make sure chicken is cooked all the way through. Place chicken in the oven to keep warm while fixing waffles and walnut syrup.

Waffles
Place dry ingredients in a bowl and add buttermilk. Stir then add eggs and melted butter. Mix well. Makes 4 large waffles.

Syrup
Melt 3 tbsp butter in a non-stick pan. Add walnuts and let warm up. Place walnuts in a small bowl and add syrup. Stir then drizzle over waffles.

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Chicken and Pasta with Lemon Cream Sauce

Meat/ Poultry, Pasta and Grains, ,

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I am not a huge pasta fan like my family but I am slowly coming around to putting it close to the top of my list. Especially after I came up with a chicken and pasta dish that is slightly creamy with a hint of lemon.

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Usually when I make pasta it is as a side dish unless we are having spaghetti. When I pulled together the chicken and pasta with lemon cream sauce I wanted to create a meal rather than a side dish. I love making one pot meals whenever I can. This one only takes a couple of pots so … that is close enough.

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As my culinary skills continue to grow I have discovered that things I thought were difficult to prepare are relatively easy. The idea of making cream sauce was somewhat intimidating to me until I figured out the sauce really makes itself. With the right seasonings and a little patience you can create a savory sauce that will elevate your meal.

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Chicken and Pasta with Lemon Cream Sauce

Ingredients:
1 box rotini pasta
3 small broccoli crowns sliced
1 lb precooked chicken breast cubed
10 oz pkg mushrooms sliced
3 cloves garlic chopped
½ cup parmesan cheese
1 tbsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 tbsp basil
½ tsp nutmeg
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp butter
1 cup heavy cream
½ cup half and half
zest and juice from 2 lemons
1 cup arugula
large bowl of ice water

Bring 4 quarts water with a pinch of salt to a boil. Add broccoli to boiling water for 3 to 4 minutes. Remove and place in ice bath to stop the cooking process for 5 minutes then drain. Bring water back to a boil and cook pasta according to package. Drain pasta and place in a large bowl. Add broccoli, seasonings and parmesan cheese then set aside.

Add olive oil, butter and mushrooms to a sauce pan over medium high heat and saute until lightly browned. Add garlic and be careful not to let garlic burn. Add heavy cream lemon zest and lemon juice. Stir and let cook for 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium then add chicken and mushrooms. Cook for another 5 minutes until sauce thickens slightly stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and pour over pasta. Toss pasta until coated with sauce. Add arugula and continue tossing. Arugula will wilt slightly from the heat. Sprinkle with a little more parmesan cheese and serve immediately.

 

Slow Cooked Pork

Meat/ Poultry

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Slow and steady wins the race when fixing slow cooked pork. I know most of my recipes are designed to be quick and easy but this one is just easy.

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After you season the meat and stick it in the oven you can go about your business and not fuss over what to do next. Once the pork is fork tender and pulls apart easily the dish is almost complete.

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Pork, apples and pears. I have always thought the combination of these three foods was a match made in heaven. Add some fennel and it is out of this world. The apples, pears and fennel can be served warm with the pork or as a cool side salad. Depending on which one you choose the seasonings used with the fruit will be a little different. I like making the warm version in the fall and winter and the cool version during hotter weather. Pork? I can eat it any way any time of the year.

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In this case, I will let you be the judge. Try making both the warm and cool version and see which one you like best. You may just be surprised.  Another great way to serve the pork is in chili.  I have a wonderful recipe for Chili with Slow Cooked Pork at dmariedining.com.

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Slow Cooked Pork

Ingredients:
1 small pork shoulder
1 large onion sliced
1 large green pepper sliced
1 tbsp thyme
1 tbsp salt
1 tbsp black pepper
1 tbsp Adobo seasoning
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp basil
1 tsp parsley

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Layer onions and green peppers in the bottom of a roasting pan. Sprinkle with a little salt. Sprinkle pork with seasonings and place on top of onions and peppers. Pour 1 cup of water into pan. Cover with foil and cook for 3 hours until pork is fork tender and easily pulls apart.

Roasted Butternut Squash and Sweet Potatoes

Vegetables,

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Roasting has become one of my favorite things to do when cooking. Roasting brings out the natural sweetness and flavor of vegetables. Especially, butternut squash and sweet potatoes.

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Most people I know tend to boil sweet potatoes then mash them up with some butter and cinnamon. Boiling only drains the flavor and nutrients out of the sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes are called “sweet” for a reason. If you boil them, they will lose some of that sweetness in the water. Butternut squash also loses something when you boil it. Usually, I only boil butternut squash when I want to make it into a soup. Then, I can use the broth created from boiling the squash and retain all the nutrients and flavor for an amazing tasting soup.

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In the past, I have roasted sweet potatoes and I have roasted butternut squash. However, until recently I had never considered combining the two. Once I mixed the two veggies together I was pleasantly surprised at how well they complimented each other. Each veggie has its own unique taste and a different type of sweetness. When combined, the butternut squash and sweet potatoes play off of each other and make your taste buds pop.

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The hardest thing about roasting vegetables is deciding what seasonings to add to enhance the natural flavors. Butternut squash and sweet potatoes call out for cinnamon and nutmeg. Besides those two seasonings it is best to keep it simple so that you don’t overwhelm the dish.

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So, the next time you want to add color to a nice meal consider roasting butternut squash and sweet potatoes together. This is one dish even veggie haters will like.

Roasted Butternut Squash and Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients:
1 lb butternut squash cubed
1 lb sweet potatoes cubed
½ cup shelled walnuts (optional)
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground black pepper
1 small hot pepper sliced (optional)
¼ tsp nutmeg
¼ cup brown sugar
½ stick melted butter
cooking spray

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil. Coat with cooking spray. Toss all the ingredients together in a large bowl until squash and potatoes are well coated with butter, brown sugar and seasonings. Spread mixture onto the baking sheet for 30-35 minutes until golden brown and tender. Transfer to a serving dish.

Serves 4-6