Citrus Chicken with Pears

Sometimes I like to put ingredients together and see what happens. I get an idea from somewhere else and change it to be my own. I was watching Rachel Ray and she made a chicken dish with blood oranges and honey. It looked yummy, but I couldn’t find blood oranges. I’ve been playing with the ingredients and this combination came out yummy. I hope you like it and it gives you ideas to make it your own.

Ingredients

Whole Chicken (skinless & cut up)
Small Onion (minced)
2 Garlic cloves
2 Oranges
1 Lemon
2 Pears (peeled and quartered)
Carrots
¼ cup Water
Butter
Honey
Salt & Pepper

Video

Helpful Hints

Heat oven 350 degrees. If using chicken breasts on the bone, place chicken bone side up. Turn chicken during the last 20 minutes of cooking and add extra honey and a little butter. Check to make sure carrots are fork tender and remember to keep basting dish with the citrus juices. 

Try your own variation of this and make it your own. Remember to have fun in the kitchen.

© Nadine Zawacki 2012

Roasted Pumpkin Soup

I bought a fresh pumpkin while out with some friends and wondered what I could make with it. I never made anything with fresh pumpkin before. I decided to try to make pumpkin soup. I looked up some recipes, but since I don’t like to measure when I cook, I just gathered up the most popular ingredients from those recipes. Sounds like fun? It was. This is what I came up with. I hope you enjoy it. 

Ingredients

Pumpkin (roasted with olive oil, salt & pepper)
Roasted garlic cloves - @ 6-8
Fresh garlic cloves – 2
Onions
Chicken stock
Cooked carrots
Cream
Butter
Salt
Pepper
Parmesan cheese (my little addition)

Video

Helpful Hints

Make sure you allow your pumpkin to cool before removing the skin after you roast it. Just use enough chicken stock to cover the pumpkin. If you don’t want to use fresh carrots, then use a can of carrots. If you use canned carrots be sure to rinse the carrots well. 

Use whatever seasonings you like. Experiment.

No matter how you cook it, remember to have fun in the kitchen.

@Nadine Zawacki 2012

Strawberry Shortcake in a Glass

There are so many ways to make strawberry shortcake. I was playing around with the idea and come up with this version. It’s easy to do and I hope you like it.

Ingredients

Pound cake (cubed)
Strawberries (sliced and mixed with a little sugar)
Skor/Toffee bits
Whipping/Heavy Cream
Sugar
Vanilla
Chocolate bar
Red Wine Glass

Video

Helpful Hints

This dessert tastes best when freshly prepared. You can prepare the strawberries and cube the pound cake ahead of time. Some of your guests might enjoy watching the preparation. Mix your whipped cream when ready to serve or if you like you can use Cool-whip or whipping cream in a can. 

Try different combinations and substitutions. Remember to have fun in the kitchen and don’t be afraid to experiment.

© Nadine Zawacki 2012

Split Pea Soup

Whenever I cook a ham, my family knows split pea soup will follow. It’s a great use of the leftover ham bone.  It’s one of my favorite soups and so easy to make.

Ingredients

Split peas
Onions
Garlic cloves
Salt & pepper
Ham bone
Water

Video

Helpful Hints

Add as much or as little onions as you like. I like a lot but you can add much less to the soup. The longer you cook it, the smoother it gets. You can substitute chicken stock for water if you like or try other combinations of seasonings. If you don’t have a crock pot you can always slow cook it on the stove but you’ll need to keep an eye on it and stir often.

Until next time, have fun in the kitchen.

© Nadine Zawacki 2012

Ham

My family loves ham. I usually make one at Thanksgiving along with the turkey. The thing to remember about ham is to pick the right one. When picking out a ham always pick the "butt" cut. It makes the best tasting ham. This is easy to make recipe. Remember a little ham goes a long way.

Ingredients

Ham - butt cut
Spicy mustard
Brown sugar

Video

Helpful Hints

Be generous with the coating and make sure you cover the entire ham. Follow the package time for cooking the ham, which usually is 20-25 minutes per pound at 325 degrees. You can freeze the leftover ham in freezer bags for future use. 

Ham is delicious with eggs for breakfast or cut up in a salad for lunch. Enjoy exploring the different ways you can use your ham.

Always remember to have fun in the kitchen.

© Nadine Zawacki 2012

Potato Salad

My husband is fond of saying that I make the world’s best potato salad. I’m not sure that’s true but I do believe that is what he is used to. I don’t use eggs in my potato salad but I do know that some people do. I believe that you can use a basic recipe and make it your own.

Ingredients:

Russet potatoes

Salt & Pepper

Mayonnaise

Spicy Mustard

Peppers (diced)

Onions (diced)

Video:

Helpful Hints:

Russet potatoes are hearty but if you use a different variety like red potatoes make sure you adjust your cooking time. Red potatoes are softer and it would take less time. Make sure the potatoes are totally cooled before mixing the ingredients together. It’s not necessary to use two different colored peppers – one type is fine. Make sure your peppers are finely chopped. If they are too big then it will be too crunchy.

Until next time, remember to have fun in the kitchen.

© Nadine Zawacki 2012

Easy Oven Bacon

I love bacon. I used to make bacon by frying it in the pan. Now I bake it in the oven. It's quick and easy.  

Ingredients

Bacon
Parchment Paper

Video

Helpful Hints

I make a couple of pounds of bacon ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for use during the week. Bacon is a great addition to many recipes - it's not just for breakfast anymore. Try adding it to salads and casseroles.

If you are on Atkins then just take a few slices, wrap it in a paper towel and microwave it for 30 seconds. It tastes perfect. You might want to cook it just slightly less done so it doesn't dry out.

Until next time - have fun in the kitchen.

© Nadine Zawacki 2012

Easy Hard Boil Eggs

Sometimes the simplest of things seems difficult. Take for instance hard boil eggs. How long do you cook them? I hope this video helps makes hard boil eggs less difficult.

Ingredients:

Eggs
Water

Video: 


Make sure you set your timer for 11 or 12 minutes after your water comes to a full boil. Have your bowl ready with ice water when your timer goes off so that the cooking process will stop.

Cut your egg in half, slice a piece of cheese and top each half and microwave for about minute. It’s very yummy for breakfast.

You can use your hard boil eggs for so many things; egg salad, salads, and deviled eggs to mention a few.

Always remember to be creative and have fun in the kitchen.

© Nadine Zawacki 2012