Easy Weeknight Chicken

Hello Everyone!

Printable Recipe Link

Here to share a recipe today. I have a confession to make. Try as I might to plan ahead for dinner, sometimes I just get busy and well...I forget. Next thing I know it's 4:00 in the afternoon and I'm scouring the freezer for something I can get out and defrost quickly. 

This was the scene yesterday afternoon, so I grabbed a package of thinly sliced chicken breasts from the freezer (it works best with thin sliced) and put it in a sink full of very hot water to defrost. I placed a heavy pot on top of the package to keep it submerged. I changed the water and kept it hot to defrost the chicken over the next hour.

Now, when it comes to chicken I know, as many of you do as well, that it's the one thing that is so easy to cook and yet is also the one thing so easy to overcook or dry out and pretty much just ruin. This is unfortunate especially considering the fact that meat is expensive.

I decided to cook the chicken in the gravy on the stove to help keep it moist and tender and to also try my best not to overcook it! This is always my downfall... I am so paranoid about under cooking chicken that I usually end up cooking it too long.

The result was deliciously moist and tender chicken ready in less than 30 minutes. I popped a steam bag of potatoes, broccoli and cauliflower into the microwave as a side dish to keep it simple and voilà: Dinner was served!

I hope you have a chance to try this recipe on a busy weeknight for your and your family!

Enjoy!

What's for Dinner Monday? Baked Breadcrumb Chicken Alfredo

Click here for the printable recipe

Hi Everyone!

After I decided what I was going to make for dinner Saturday night (Saturday night's dinner is always the meal posted Monday) I realized that it was another chicken and pasta dish! We do eat a lot of chicken and pasta. After all, it's diverse, relatively easy and cost effective. It is not, however, the only thing we eat! So, I promise next week to have something other than chicken and pasta!

This pasta dish is a wonderful combination of a creamy pasta with a crunchy breadcrumb topping. I use penne pasta because it just my go to pasta selection at the grocery store. You  can use any short pasta you want however. I've done this with farfalle (bowtie) pasta, and shells as well.

This meal also uses ingredients which should be already in your pantry or can be purchased easily at your local grocery store. 

As always, there is a link at the top of the post for you to print or view easily while preparing. I hope you enjoy this meal! Have a good day, and I'll see you again soon!

What's For Dinner Monday? Pierogies and Sour Cream Gravy with Chicken and Smoked Sausages

Hi Everyone!

Click here for printable recipe

I hope you all had a fabulous weekend. I'm here this morning to share the weekly "What's for Dinner Monday?" recipe with you! Today's recipe "Pierogies and sour cream gravy with Chicken and Smoked Sausage" has a lot of steps in it; but it really isn't that difficult. It uses simple ingredients you should either have on hand in your pantry or easily found at your local grocery store.

The addition of sour cream into the gravy adds a nice tangy flavor that completes the potatoes and cheese inside the pierogies. (Think sour cream and cheese on a baked potato) If sour cream is not your thing...by all means leave it out. Also, many people have preferred ways of making gravy. I gave instructions as to how I make mine; but if you make yours a different way, rock on!

You'll also notice that I've added a link for you to click which will allow you to print the recipe if you desire or just make it easier to follow while you are cooking, rather than reading through it all here with the pictures.

 
I hope you all enjoy this meal with your family! If you make it, I'd love to know what you think of it. Leave me a comment and a link to your website if you have one. Have a great day, and I'll see you again soon!

I'm linking this recipe up at the following linky parties: Be sure to stop by and visit some of the awesome links at each of these sites! Lots of stuff to discover and enjoy!

Marvelous Monday: Linky Party #18
Cook it! Craft it! Share it! 
Weekend Recipe Link up

What's For Dinner Monday: Chicken, Potato and Mushroom Hash

Hi Everyone!

I hope everyone had a great weekend. Ours was busy getting everyone ready for the first day of school. Last night for supper I made this dish originally found in this Food and Wine cookbook. You can go over to Amazon and buy the book, or you can just scroll on down here and get the recipe. Sure, my pictures aren't as pretty; but hey...it's free!
This is a very rustic comfort dish. The egg on top is optional; but I highly recommend it because adds another layer of creaminess to the dish and really rounds out the the flavors. It's also important to let the mushrooms and onion mixture really cook down and brown well. It's an easy dish to put together and requires very few ingredients.

 

Gather up your ingredients:

1. Chicken tenders or Chicken Breasts cut up. I never like to tell people how much to use. Use as much or as little as you want. I didn't use the whole package because I saved about 5 tenders to bake in the oven for the kids.

2. 2 large or 3 medium potatoes peeled and diced small (this is important. If you make them too large, they will take too long to cook)
3. 1 onion diced, 1/2 pound mushrooms chopped into 1/2 to 1" pieces
4. 1/4 cup heavy cream (I actually didn't have any, so I just used regular milk)
5. 1 egg (optional)

Instructions:

1.Put your peeled potatoes on to boil. Once boiling, lower the heat to medium/low and simmer for 5-6 minutes and drain well.

2. Chop your onions and mushrooms. Heat up 2 TBSP of oil over moderately high heat and add the mushroom and onions and cook until well browned about 6 minutes.

3. While that is cooking, chop up your chicken into bite size pieces and season to your preference. I use Salt, Pepper, Garlic Powder and Paprika (because that's what I use on EVERYTHING!!)

4. After the mushrooms and onions have browned, add the chicken and continue cooking and stirring for another 5 minutes or until the chicken is no longer pink.

5. Remove the mixture to drain on a paper towel lined bowl or plate. Wipe out the pan and return to the heat. Then add about 2-3 TBSPs of fresh oil and then add the drained cooked potatoes in one even layer. Cook over moderately high heat (7 if you're using a number dial on your stove) without stirring for 6 minutes. Season to your preference as you go along. Me personally, I season throughout cooking. I think people under season things or season all at the end and then can't figure out why they've under seasoned or over seasoned.

6. After the potatoes have cooked for the 6 minutes, stir them and continue cooking and stirring for another 4 minutes or so. Add the chicken, mushroom and onion mixture back to the pan. Stir in the heavy cream and continue to cook for another 2-3 minutes.

7. Prepare your fried egg for the top if you are choosing that option and enjoy!

Thanks for visiting me today. Have a great day; and I'll see you again soon! If you have a chance, pop on over to the Marvelous Monday linky Party and check out some other great recipes and goodies!