Chicken

,

Tomato Braised Chicken and Mushrooms over Polenta

,
Tomato Braised Chicken and Mushrooms over Polenta

My mind pictured a tender, fall-off-the-bone chicken thigh, seared and then cooked gently in a delicious tomato basil sauce. Crimini mushrooms hold up nicely in liquid, and the addition of fresh spinach is perfect to round out this dish. I’ve been a little apprehensive about posting this recipe because I cheat and use one of my favorite bottled sauces from TJ’s, their Tomato Basil sauce. I know that some people are super anti pre-made sauce, but honestly, it’s budget-friendly ($1.99/bottle), delicious, and makes this meal easy to throw together on a weeknight when time is so important. You can of course, substitute your own favorite homemade tomato sauce, but I am stickin to my guns - I love the TJ’s Tomato Basil. 

,

20 Minute Chicken with Honey-Beer Sauce

,
20 Minute Chicken with Honey-Beer Sauce

I love last minute meals that are not only quick and easy, but on the lighter side. This chicken is so freaking good. It’s simple to make, and the recipe can be used for chicken thighs or breasts :) You can use any cheap domestic beer. I took a consensus from several guy friends to see what beer they thought would work the best with this recipe, and in the end, I chose to go with local brewed Anchor Steam. The sauce is a delicious mixture of whole grain mustard, soy sauce, honey, and beer. It all cooks down and leaves the chicken in an amazing glaze that is the perfect balance of sweet, salty, and tangy. Fresh flat leaf parsley brightens it all up. I devoured this while sitting in my garden immediately after shooting this recipe. It’s hella good, lol. Definitely my favorite new go-to during a busy weeknight. Let’s get cookin :) 

, ,

Paleo Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps

, ,
Paleo Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps

We all love carbs - they’re delicious and magical, and yes; not that great for you. “Everything in moderation” is a great mindset, but is often difficult to actually apply to our daily lifestyles. I often try my hardest to make most of my meals #Paleo, short for the Paleolithic Diet, which basically consists of lean proteins, fruits and vegetables, and healthy fats from nuts, seeds, avocados, olive oil, fish oil and grass-fed meat. It cuts out dairy, grains, processed food & sugar, and starches. I have learned to substitute rice for more veggies, zucchini noodles, or a big salad. I’m not on a strict Paleo diet at all, but try to incorporate it into my meals as much as possible. 
I love lettuce wraps. They’re so easy to make and are so low in carbs that you can indulge without feeling guilty. My version is a twist on the typical lettuce wraps that use hoisin sauce. This recipe is packed with flavor, simple to throw together during the week, and will be a nice mix into your family’s meals. And on top of that, it’s budget friendly! What more could you ask for :) Let’s get cookin :)

, , ,

Asian Chicken Meatballs

, , ,
Asian Chicken Meatballs

I’ve been on this never ending quest for delicious meatballs that aren’t dry. I’ve tried turkey and beef, and never quite get the flavor and consistency I am craving. I think I’m chasing this dreamy little meatball I had while overseas in Hong Kong…it was tender, packed with flavor, and so juicy. The elusive meatball, if you will :) 
These meatballs turned out really great, and satisfied my craving for the slow heat of ginger, balance of sweet and saltiness from a homemade teriyaki sauce, and the tender texture of ground chicken. 

I frequent a variety of supermarkets for different needs. My local Asian markets for most produce and some protein, Safeway and Whole Foods for organics, chicken, and seafood, and TJ’s for when I’m cooking just for myself. I love their small serving sizes. I have never really cooked with ground chicken before, but was delighted to find ground dark meat at my local Asian market, Sunset Super. A pound and a half was an alarming $3.49. I mean, you can’t really beat that. If your local butcher doesn’t have ground chicken readily available, feel free to ask the butcher to grind up 1 ½ lb of chicken breast for you. It’s actually best to always have a butcher grind your meat in front of you. I happened to use dark meat because it was available, but this works with ground chicken breast as well. 

Anyways, these meatballs are super easy to throw together. The secret is a ton of minced ginger and crushed pineapple, which give it the kick it needs, while staying moist! Let’s get cookin :) 

,

The Best Chicken Piccata

,
The Best Chicken Piccata

Happy New Year! I hope you all had a great end of the year. I’m looking forward to sharing some amazing recipes with you this year. Personally, I’ve been working hard to make better diet choices and cultivate healthier habits and it feels great :) 
One of my favorite dishes lately is classic Chicken Piccata. I’ve always thought it was a really difficult dish and have never attempted to make it for myself. Recently I gave it a try and loved how it turned out. I love being able to enjoy this at home without the restaurant price. 

, , ,

Sweet Potato Chicken Hash

, , ,
Sweet Potato Chicken Hash

The holidays are my favorite time of the year. Despite cold weather and much needed rain, some of my favorite fruits and vegetables are in season, and it’s an overall cozy time :) I love sweet potatoes. They’re sweet, of course, packed with Vitamin A, and are really versatile. They can be used in both sweet and savory dishes, and are actually really easy to deal with in the kitchen. 
I’d like to share a few of my favorite sweet potato recipes with you all this winter. I usually have a stash in the pantry year round; I love to cook them in the microwave for the quickest Sweet Potato Mash you’ll ever have. I’ll be sharing that recipe soon!

For today’s recipe, I am sharing a yummy dish that can be eaten at any time of the day: a sweet potato hash, bulked up by tender chicken thighs and seasoned to perfection. You can, of course, top it all off with an egg, as any dish always gets better with the addition of runny yolk. This dish is the perfect comfort food, made healthier. The sweet potatoes become slightly crisp on the outside, filled with steamy sweetness, and the chicken is the perfect partner. Fresh parsley brings brightness and a pan-fried egg melds it all together into the most delicious and satisfying meal. Now let’s get cookin! :)

, , ,

Chicken, Kale & Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

, , ,
Chicken, Kale & Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

I admit, I skipped the #quinoa craze a few years ago. I thought it would be very similar to couscous, which I don’t have the taste for. Over the years I have of course, come to love quinoa, and its adaptability. So what is quinoa (keen-wah)? Well, officially, it’s a seed. However, it can be prepared just like whole grains such as rice or barley. It tastes great on its own, but is delicious when tossed in salads, stir-fries, or even to coat protein. It provides all 9 essential amino-acids, making it a complete protein. It’s also gluten-free and cholesterol free.

Cooking quinoa is super simple. Just remember that it’s a two-to-one ratio, just like rice. For every cup of quinoa, you will need 2 cups of water or broth. This will yield 3 cups of cooked quinoa. Rinse raw quinoa in cold water, and then bring the 1 cup of quinoa and 2 cups of water to a full, rolling boil. Once it reaches a boil, turn the heat down to a gentle simmer. Cover and let it cook for 15-20 minutes, depending on the package instructions. Once your timer is up, fluff with a fork. Simple!

,

Glorious One-Pan Chicken and Artichokes

,
Glorious One-Pan Chicken and Artichokes

One night I was craving artichoke hearts, and decided to mess around with incorporating them in a chicken dish for dinner. Marinated artichoke hearts are light, tender, and punchy. They add a beautifully complex flavor to any dish because they have been marinated in a flavorful oil infused with tons of spices. I love them on salads and in pasta, and thought that their tangy flavor would be delicious in a Mediterranean inspired meal. 

, ,

Perfect Roasted Chicken

, ,
Perfect Roasted Chicken

I’ve been thinking about recipes for Father’s Day… and everything that comes to mind when you think about celebrating Dad is meat. Grilled meat, marinaded meat, burgers, ribs…chicken. Roasted chicken is mouthwatering. Crispy, salty skin, moist and tender meat that literally falls off the bone. 

I think that people generally associate roasted chicken with long cook times, dry meat, and overall tediousness. Or, you’ve tried roasting chicken and end up with soggy skin. My two-step process for perfect roasted chicken is fail-proof and guarantees crisp skin and delicious chicken. I’ve shared this recipe on the blog before, but I figured that I would feature it again since it was one of my very first recipes. 

So give it a try, treat dad or your family to a comforting meal that can be served with any side dish, can top a salad, be added to pasta, or be packed for lunch the next day. It’s easier than you think :) 

,

Cilantro-Lime Jalapeño Chicken Salad

,
Cilantro-Lime Jalapeño Chicken Salad

Chicken Salad is a classic that can be flipped in many ways - it’s so versatile! My twist on the traditional chicken salad is surprisingly refreshing - with a zesty bite from fresh lime juice and cilantro, and a kick from a dash of cumin. 

I usually take a shortcut and shred up some Costco rotisserie chicken. It’s quick, easy, and half the work is already done for you! However, this time around, I decided to start from scratch and cook the chicken myself, starting the layering of flavors from the beginning. This recipe will show you how to poach chicken, dress it up, and serve it for your friends and family. I even included two different serving methods. Halve and season a fresh, ripe avocado and spoon mounds of the creamy chicken salad on top, or split open a few King’s Hawaiian Rolls for easy individual servings. Of course, you can serve these on any variety of great breads - I suggest a nice French or Italian bread :)

Sounds hard, but is actually pretty simple and quick. You’ll love these great flavors! Let’s cook :)