#65 :: 4-Step Chicken Marengo

This is the first recipe we've made so far that I don't really want to eat again. Jamie and Josh both seemed to like it well enough. I can't really say what I didn't like bout it really....just a little bland, too tomato-y maybe....I really can't put my finger on it. It just wasn't one of my favorites.

Ingredients

• 3 large chicken cutlets, sliced into thin paillards (slice while partially frozen)
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 medium sweet onion, sliced
• 1/2 pound mushrooms, sliced
• 1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and julienned
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1/2 cup white wine
• 1/2 cup beef broth
• 1 (14-ounce) can chopped tomatoes
  
• 1/2 tablespoon butter

Directions

Season the chicken with salt and pepper, to taste, and lightly dredge in flour. In a large saute pan, heat the oil over medium-high heat and add the chicken. Brown on both sides, until nicely golden, about 3 minutes per side. Remove from the pan and set aside on a plate. In the same pan, add more oil, if needed, along with the onion, mushrooms and peppers and saute until softened and fragrant, but not limp, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Stir in the tomato paste and cook a few minutes to cook out the raw flavor. Turn up the heat, and add the wine/wine to deglaze the pan and let it reduce for 2 or 3 minutes. Add the beef broth and tomatoes. Once the mixture begins to bubble, add the browned paillards and any juices from the chicken and reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook until the chicken is warmed through, about 3 minutes. Turn the heat off and stir in the butter. Transfer to a serving platter and serve immediately.

Makes 4 servings

Recipe from Ten Dollar Dinners with Melissa D'arabian on Food Network

Star Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

#53 :: Poblano Stuffed with Chorizo, Shrimp and Rice

This recipe is in our top 3 favorites so far. It was melt in your mouth amazing! From the very second the first ingredients hit the pan, the kitchen smelled wonderful and we couldn't wait for it to finish. Try this recipe for sure!!

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon oil
• 1/2 pound Mexican-style chorizo
• 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
• 1/2 green bell pepper, diced
• 1 jalapeno, minced
• 1 red onion, diced
• 2 tablespoons garlic, minced
• 1 cup short-grain rice
• 1 cup low-sodium chicken stock
• 1/2 cup white wine
• 1/2 cup water
• 4 large, fresh poblano chiles
• 1 pound shrimp, shelled, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 3/4 cup Cheddar, shredded
• 3/4 cup Jack cheese, shredded

Directions

In a medium saucepan, heat oil and chorizo, cook for 3 minutes. Add peppers, jalapeno, onions and garlic. Cook until translucent, then add rice and cook until all the grains of the rice are coated with oil. Add all liquids and stir over high heat for 3 minutes, cover and reduce heat to low. Check rice for doneness after 20 minutes.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Place poblano chiles on baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool. Once cool, cut top 1/4 of chile off and remove ribs and seeds.

When rice is finished cooking, fluff with fork and stir in shrimp. Stuff chiles with 1/6 of the rice mixture. Place all the chiles on baking sheet and place into oven for 10 minutes. Remove from oven, mix cheeses together and cover pepper with cheese. Broil for 3 minutes to melt and brown the cheese.

Makes 6 stuffed peppers

Recipe from Guy's Big Bite on Food Network

Star Rating: 5+ out of 5 stars

#33 :: Chicken w/ White Wine Mushroom Sauce

This entire meal was FABULOUS! AMAZING! One of my favorites so far! Do I say that a lot? Even though this meal took us quite a while to prepare, it was worth it. Definitely worth it!

Directions

For Brine:

Ingredients

nocoupons

• 4 cups water
• 1 lemon, quartered and juiced
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 cup kosher salt
• 4 (6-ounce) boneless chicken breasts with skin
• 4 drops liquid smoke
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 8 sage leaves
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

For White Wine Mushroom Sauce:

nocoupons

• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 sweet onion, chopped
• 8 ounces baby bella mushrooms, sliced
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/2 cup semidry white wine
• 1 1/2 cups chicken stock
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

Special equipment: grill pan

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

In a large bowl mix together water, lemon juice, sugar and salt until dissolved. Add lemon quarters and chicken. Marinate for 30 minutes. Remove from marinade and pat dry. Preheat a grill pan over medium heat. Massage 1 drop of liquid smoke into each chicken breast. Salt and pepper generously then rub 1 tablespoon butter over and under skin of each chicken breast, placing 2 sage leaves underneath the skin. Place on hot grill, skin side down, until skin is golden brown, about 5 minutes. Transfer chicken to a baking sheet and bake until cooked through, about 25 minutes.

Meanwhile for the white wine mushroom sauce: In a large saute pan over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons butter with olive oil. Add onions, mushrooms and cayenne pepper. Saute until onions are translucent and mushrooms are tender, about 8 minutes. Add wine and reduce until it's almost evaporated. Add chicken stock and simmer until reduced by one third. In a small bowl press together remaining butter and flour with fingertips until well blended, then slowly add to the sauce while stirring with a wooden spoon. Simmer until sauce resembles loose gravy, about 5 minutes. Serve warm with the chicken.

Makes 4 servings.

Recipe from Cooking for Real on Food Network.

Star Rating: 5+ out of 5 stars

#12 :: Mushroom Risotto

Since Jamie has his archery league on Tuesday nights, I decided to do a crock pot meal. That way, I can eat my dinner when I want and he can easily heat it back up when he gets home.

The photos don't do it justice. It was very good! But by the time Jamie got home to eat it, it had gotten a bit mushy, so I think this is something probably best when eaten immediately {and not as leftovers}.

Ingredients

2 cups arborio rice

1 cup white wine

4 cups vegetable broth

1 (10.75-ounce) can condensed golden mushroom soup

1 teaspoon minced garlic

6 ounces mushrooms, sliced

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1/2 teaspoon thyme

1/2 cup grated Parmesan

Directions

Stir together all ingredients, except Parmesan, in slow cooker.

Cook on high, stirring every 30 minutes for 2 hours.

Check consistency. Continue to cook, stirring every 10 to 15 minutes for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Be careful not to overcook risotto. (Rice should be al dente, not mushy.)

Stir in Parmesan before serving.

Makes 8 servings.

Receipe from Semi-Homemade with Sandra Lee from Food Network.

Star Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.