Sunday, October 12, 2014

Chicken and Rice

CREAMY CHICKEN AND RICE

I found this recipe on Pinterest.  I was to have someone come for lunch and thought I would try it out.  Unfortunately the lunch plans got cancelled so I made it for a weekend meal.  The recipe was posted Natasha's Kitchen.   It is an easy one-pot meal and goes together really quick.  I've listed the ingredients and steps that I used.  I would make this again.  Yummy.


1/4 cup olive oil
4 tablespoons butter, divided
1/2 large onion, finely diced
About 1 cup shredded carrots
3 large boneless chicken breasts cut into 1 inch pieces.
Salt, pepper and garlic powder to taste
1 cup Chardonnay white wine
4 cups hot reduced sodium chicken broth
2 cups Jasmine rice
1 head garlic
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, more for serving
Parsley (I didn't have any so I just chopped a little cilantro)

Using a Dutch oven, saute the onion and carrots in the olive oil and 2 tablespoons butter until soft. Add the chicken pieces and cook until no longer pink.  Add the wine and turn up to high and cook off the wine.  Pour in the hot chicken broth and rice.  Bring to a boil.  Cut the ends off the head of garlic and place down in the center of the pot.  Place a lid on top and simmer for 20 minutes until rice is tender.  Stir in remaining 2 tablespoons butter and 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese and stir.  You can squeeze the garlic out of the head and add if you like.  Sprinkle the parsley and more cheese on top and serve. 

Saturday, October 4, 2014

S'Mores Cupcakes

I can't believe it has been 3 months since I posted to my blog.  Not much new baking going on in my kitchen.  I recently took a cupcake class and we made these S'Mores Cupcakes.  I took them to work for a breakfast and they went over well.

S'MORES CUPCAKES

Use your favorite recipe for chocolate cake, either from scratch or from a box.  Hollow out the middle of the cupcakes and fill with marshmallow cream.  Here in Texas we have a store named HEB that carries toasted marshmallow cream and I used that.  Make your favorite recipe for buttercream frosting.  Frost the cupcakes.  We learned how to use a piping bag, but my skills are still lacking there so just frosted with a spatula.  Sprinkle the frosting with graham cracker crumbs and put some marshmallows around.  You can toast the marshmallows if you have a torch, but it is hard not to burn them so I just put mini-marshmallows around.  Top with a Teddy Graham or a piece of graham cracker and there you go.