Chicken & Vegetables Over Pasta

Submitted by M. Bernadette Fawver
Serves 4

Ingredients

4 chicken breasts, cubed 1 c. sliced mushrooms
2 tbsp butter 14-16 oz. cubed tomatoes (1 can)
2 tbsp olive oil 2/3 c. dry white wine
1 large onion, finely chopped 4-6 tbsp heavy cream
2 garlic cloves, crushed 2 tsp Italian seasoning
2 bell peppers (red, yellow, or green) cut into 1½” cubes salt & pepper
pasta to serve

Directions

  1. Season the chicken with salt & pepper to taste.  Heat oil and butter in a skillet; fry the chicken until browned all over.  
  2. Remove the chicken from the skillet.  Add the onion & garlic to the skillet & cook gently until just beginning to soften.  
  3. Add the bell peppers to the skillet with the mushrooms & continue to cook for a few minutes longer, stirring occasionally.  Add the Italian seasoning.  
  4. Add the tomatoes & plenty of seasoning to the skillet & then transfer the vegetable mixture to an oven safe casserole.
  5. Place the chicken on the bed of vegetables.  Add the wine to the skillet & bring to a boil.  Pour the wine over the chicken & cover the casserole.  
  6. Cook in a preheated oven at 350°F. for 50 minutes.  When ready to serve, add cream & serve over pasta.

Randilicious Chili

Submitted by randilicious
Serves a lot

Ingredients

1 large onion, finely chopped 4 cloves garlic, minced
1 green bell pepper, finely chopped 1 jalapeno pepper
2 tbsp tomato paste 2 tbsp butter, cut into pieces
¼ c. all-purpose flour 1 tbsp dried oregano, crushed
1 tsp ground cumin 2 tsp crushed red pepper
½ c. chili powder 14.5 oz. diced tomatoes with liquid (1 can)
1 lb lean ground turkey 15.25 oz. kidney beans, drained and rinsed (1 can)
2 tbsp Jack Daniels whiskey salt & ground black pepper to taste

Directions

  1. Brown the ground turkey with ½ the onion, ½ the garlic (2 cloves), & 1 tbsp chili powder.  Set aside.
  2. In a large skillet over medium heat, combine remainder of onion, garlic, & tomato paste. Cover & cook for 5 minutes.
  3. Stir in butter until melted. Stir in flour, oregano, cumin, red pepper, chili powder, tomatoes, beef, & Jack Daniels. Cook uncovered for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  4. Stir in the beans & cook for another 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Salt, pepper, & other spices to taste.
  5. Simmer covered at low heat until serving time.

Guiltless Mushroom Gravy

Submitted by randilicious
Serves 6

Ingredients

3 tbsp canola oil 2 c. mushrooms, sliced thin
1 onion, finely diced (about 1½ c.) 4 cloves garlic, minced
1 c. red wine 4 tbsp whole wheat flour
10 oz. chicken broth (1 can) ½ c. water
salt & pepper to taste

Directions

  1. Ben Seibel Iroquois Gravy Boat by Patrick Q on FlickrCoat bottom of saucepan with canola oil.  Mix in mushrooms & saute.
  2. Add onions, garlic, & red wine.  Mix well until wine boils off.  The onions should cook off until they are tiny.  All that should be left are the mushrooms, tiny bits of onion & garlic, & just a bit of the oil.
  3. Mix in the flour.  Stir well & often until it becomes a paste-like mixture.
  4. Add chicken broth.  Stir often to keep mushrooms from burning onto the surface.  As the broth boils, the gravy should thicken.
  5. Add water to the desired consistency.
  6. Add salt & pepper to taste.

Chef’s Note: I use baby bella mushrooms. I like mine thick, so I only use ½ cup of water in step 5.

Pumpkin Stew

From Taste of Home’s Halloween Food & Fun, 2003
Serves 8-10

Ingredients

2 lbs. beef stew meat, cut into 1″ cubes 3 tbsp vegetable oil, divided
1 c. water 3 large potatoes, peeled & cut into 1″ cubes
4 medium carrots, sliced 1 large green pepper, cut into ½” pieces
4 garlic cloves, minced 1 medium onion, chopped
2 tsp salt ½ tsp pepper
2 tbsp instant beef bouillon granules 14½ oz. diced tomatoes
1 pumpkin (10-12 lbs)

Directions

  1. In a Dutch oven, brown meat in 2 tbsp oil.  Add water, potatoes, carrots, green pepper, garlic, onion, salt & pepper.  Cover & simmer for 2 hours.  Stir in bouillon & tomatoes.  Wash pumpkin; cut a 6-8″ circle around top stem.  Remove top & set aside; discard seeds & loose fibers from inside.
  2. Place pumpkin in a shallow sturdy baking pan.  Spoon stew into pumpkin & replace the top.  Brush outside of pumpkin with remaining oil.  
  3. Bake at 325°F for 2 hours or just until the pumpkin is tender (do not over bake).  Serve stew from pumpkin, scooping out a little pumpkin with each serving.

Francine’s Famous Salad Dressing

Submitted by Tyler Patton

Ingredients

1 egg yolk
1 tsp dijon mustard
2/3 c. canola oil 1/3 c. wine vinegar
garlic, pressed salt & pepper
lemon juice Parmesan cheese
Knorr Aromate seasoning (a dash) Knorr Maggi seasoning (a dash)

Directions

  1. Mix all ingredients & blend into your salad just before serving.