JenOni

dinner

Carribean Chicken Recipe and Using a Cooking Thermometer

The recipe is courtesy of KaTom Food Services and the cooking thermometer was received free of charge, all opinions shared are my own.

New recipes are fun to try especially when I use new ingredients. This recipe uses an herb, spices, jalapeno pepper, green onions. I decided to marinate the chicken thighs overnight. When I simmered the thighs the flavors smelled delicious.

Yield: 4 servings

Prep time: 10 minutes (plus 2-hour marination)

Cook time: 15 minutes

This marinade – which has a little bit of heat blended with just the right amount of sweet, savory, and aromatic spices – is absolutely fabulous for summer meals. Just the thought of this Carribean dish evokes images of tropical beaches, cool ocean breezes, and icy rum-infused cocktails (we’ll save those for another recipe!). Since it isn’t weighed down by heavy ingredients, this island indulgence is guilt-free and easy to prepare.

Ingredients:

  • 4 (4 ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs

For the Marinade:

  • 4 medium green onions, sliced
  • 1-2 jalapeno chilis, seeded and chopped (for additional heat, leave seeds in)
  • 1⁄3 cup lemon juice
  • 1⁄4 cup honey, warmed slightly to soften
  • 2 teaspoons dried thyme
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1⁄4 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1⁄4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • Salt and pepper to taste

The rest of the recipe can be found Carribean Chicken Recipe

thyme, green onions, allspice, nutmeg, jalepeno (seeded and chopped)

lemon juice, honey slightly warmed, and EVOO

Marinated for 24 hours

Medium Heat, Cast Iron Skillet with EVOO
Skinless, Boneless Thighs

Cooking Thermometer

I served the chicken with rice and spinach. The chicken was very moist and full of flavor from the spices. Next, time I will leave in seeds for jalapeno pepper to give it a little heat.

Cooking and Baking by Me: Classic Dinner Rolls

 

Classic Dinner Rolls

2 to 2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 envelope Fleischmann’s® RapidRise Yeast
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons butter OR margarine Directions

COMBINE 3/4 cup flour, undissolved yeast, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Heat milk, water, and butter until very warm (120º to 130ºF). Add to flour mixture. Beat 2 minutes at medium speed of electric mixer, scraping bowl occasionally. Add 1/4 cup flour; beat 2 minutes at high speed. Stir in enough remaining flour to make a soft dough. Knead on lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic, about 8 to 10 minutes. Cover; let rest 10 minutes. *

DIVIDE dough into 12 equal pieces; shape into balls. Place in greased 8-inch round pan. Cover; let rise in warm, draft-free place until doubled in size, about 30 minutes.**
BAKE in preheated 375ºF oven for 20 minutes or until done. Remove from pan; brush with additional melted butter, if desired.  Serve warm.

*For rest period, it is not necessary for the dough to double in size

**For a higher roll, I suggest allowing the rolls to rise longer than 30 minutes(maybe 45-1hr) with a pan of boiled water underneath the pan. Do allow to over-rise.

Recipe: Classic Dinner Rolls

Thanksgiving Holiday – Meal Preparation

The Thanksgiving countdown is on.   I have put together my checklist for preparing my dinner for Thursday’s dinner.   Some of my dishes and desserts from last year’s meal.

Happy Thanksgiving!

ThankssgivingTurkey2015

Weekend Before Thanksgiving

  1. Determine which side dishes, additional meat and desserts.
  2. Make a shopping list (include all food and baking items).
  3. If you are buying paper products to serve dinner, I found the Chinet brand has a platter size plate for a sturdy paper product.   Definitely, choose a brand that is sturdy, leakproof and large enough to hold a full dinner.
  4. I purchase my dinner rolls and store in freezer (this keeps them fresh until Thursday).
  5. Check shelves for spices, seasonings, extracts (also check the expiration dates and toss out if expired), add to shopping list.
  6. Determine what size turkey based on the  number of guests ( I usually buy a frozen turkey.   Just keep in mind you have to allow enough days for a frozen turkey to thaw in the refrigerator.
  7.  I store my frozen turkey in the coldest section of the refrigerator to thaw.  ThanksgivingCornbreadDressing2015
  8. ThanksgivingSweetPotatoMac&Cheese

2 days before Thanksgiving

  1. Add  any missed items to  shopping list(i.e. butter, more eggs, aluminum foil, plastic wrap, etc).
  2. I purchased my vegetables.

Day before Thanksgiving

  1. Bake my desserts ( sweet potato pie is a MUST, my baking hack is to purchase Marie Callender’s deep dish pie crust)  I have rolled my own crust but to save time a good quality frozen pie crusts works well too.
  2. Bake my cornbread for dressing.  Saute onion, celery and pepper.
  3. Prepare my side dishes (including my dressing), refrigerate and bake on Thanksgiving.
  4. Prepare vegetables, store in containers and refrigerate.
  5. Thoroughly rinse,  discard waste, prep, season and slather turkey with oil.   Roast in the oven for the designated number of hours based on pounds.  I like to insert veggies in the cavity of the turkey. (usually a few stalks of celery and a medium onion).    Baste a few times during cooking time.  I try to keep the door shut for most of the baking time so the oven temperature stays consistent.   *I still keep my turkey in the oven for another 30-45 minutes after the thermometer pops out.   I also turn over my turkey to brown on the bottom.   Store in the refrigerator until next day.
  6. *If making fresh cranberry sauce, I prepare the day before so it can chill and the added citrus flavor blends well in the sauce.    Now if you are using canned, a trick I learned from my mom is to mix a can of whole cranberry sauce and a can of jellied cranberry sauce.   Chill in a container and serve at dinner.

Thanksgiving, 1-2 hours before dinner

  1. Preheat oven at 325-350
  2. Bake side dishes (45mins- 1hr)
  3. Warm vegetables on low.
  4. Heat gravy (low simmer)-another hack purchase my favorite brand.  No fuss with worrying about making perfect gravy.
  5. Thaw dinner rolls and warm in oven for about 5-8 minutes before dinner
  6. Warm the turkey in the oven for about 30 minutes! Baste with the stock.  Slice off legs and wings and assemble on the side of my platter.  Carve the white meat for the center of the platter.   Transfer to a platter and carve and serve on a platter.
  7. Don’t forget the cranberry sauce!
  8. Assembly all the plates, utensils, napkins, side dishes, meats, on a table for buffet style.

ThanksgivingSweetPotato

 

 

Big Chill,   retro and professional kitchen appliance manufacturer  provided a cool infographic for Thanksgiving.   “10 Tips & Tricks for a Harmonious Thanksgiving”  for you to print!

ThanksgivingInfographics

Cooking and Baking By Me: Quick Pizza-Great Meal Idea

CookingandBakingQuickPizza

 

I have a confession to make – I need to put down the CARBS!!!!!!  I am such a lover of any type of bread,  potatoes (any way you can imagine) and oh my cheese grits!!!!! Just pure evil for those who are ab conscious!!

I wish there was a way to just click my heels and the fat around my middle would just melt.   Ok, back to reality!   I am determined to start in my KITCHEN to help the FAT disappear!!!!   I am really PUMPED!!!!

On my weekly trip to the supermarket I decided to be a little creative with selecting a quick meal for myself.   I  decided to use a whole wheat pita(I convinced myself this was better than the white pita) to create a meal that was not half bad.

Honestly, it is a great meal for either lunch or dinner.   Today it hit the spot after my weight training and cardio workout!   I still get my carbohydrate but with a whole wheat pita instead of white flour pizza dough.    I only buy marinara sauce because there is no high fructose corn syrup.

Quick Pizza

1Whole Wheat Pita
1/4 cup of marinara sauce
1/2 tsp of EVOO
1/4 cup of baby spinach
1/4 tsp of garlic (dependent on your preference)
1/4 cup of mozzarella cheese
1 plum tomato, sliced

Preheat broiler.   Saute the spinach in olive oil and add garlic for about 3 minutes.   Add the marinara sauce to whole wheat pita.  Next add the sautéed spinach, top with mozzarella cheese and sliced tomato.   Bake for 3-5 minutes until cheese melts.  (Keep a close eye on it to avoid burning)  Add a dash of parmesan cheese and enjoy!

I am a fan of spinach but feel free to use your favorite green veggies!!!!  This is also a great meal for kids and they can  help out with adding their favorite toppings.

Happy Eating!!!!!

Single Mom Chronicles: Mommy Brain on Overload!

Do you have days when your brain is just fried? When I juggle the daily schedule that includes work, making dinner, packing lunches, homework, work at home, and bedtime (which is usually too late). This is the night when my energetic DD has the most energy and wants to give me the extended version of her day in the life of a 2nd grader. When I hit the front door I only want my Pjs, a little peace and quiet, glass of red wine before our evening starts. Sometimes I go into my room and lock the door as I change out of my work clothes. On some evenings I find myself locking myself in my bathroom to sit for some peace and quiet. Guess what I forget to lock the door and that’s when my DD knocks on the door and all I hear is………. I never got this when I was a kid but I so get it now.    Life in the Mommy Lane. Where do you go for peace and quiet?

Workout Regime Now!

In the past six months, I was intermittently working out and then a complete halt.   Now here is the problem, all the meals out on the weekends. I tried various places and foods in new restaurants in #Philly, Square Peg, Positano(not a favorite), Spazzo’s, Shake Shack, Grand Luxe Cafe, Cheesecake Factory, Jim’s Steaks(not too mention it has been years since I had a cheesesteak, what in the world?), discovered Carraba’s and my love for Blackberry Sangria. Next there is my new libation of choice Elmo Pio’s Pink Moscato and Barefoot California Red.

Last but not least fave desserts.  After walking into an Insomnia Cookie location and inhaling the baking goodness of the best cookies, I am hooked!  Then I decided to visit Brown Betty Dessert Boutique for their sweet potato cupcake with spiced frosting.   Why oh why did I visit Philly Flavors for water ice and discovered their banana ice cream this weekend?   Wow, it all I can say!   I forgot about the Cheesecake Factory’s beyond delicious Hershey’s Chocolate Bar cheesecake!

Now I am feeling the effects of all this extra food. desserts and calories.  Also sitting at work is not helping either.

Today is the  first day of my commitment to a workout regime.

This is my new SaveMyDo head wrap.

phonto (8)

 

I am now ready for a hard core workout regimen…..#Bootcamp this evening! as I chant “my body is a temple” “my body is a temple”

 

Rewind-Holidays: Christmas Dinner Recipes

I am so non-traditional when it comes to Christmas dinner. Last year, we had lobster tails, crabcakes, twice baked potatoes, and steamed asparagus.    For some odd reason, I am in the mood for seafood again.

Last night I found a delectable recipe one of my favorite social network sites, Pinterest!

Source: puffpastry.com via Cocoa on Pinterest

 

Last year I used this recipe for twice baked potatoes:

 

I think I will do crabcakes and steamed asparagus again……..These look yummy too!

 

Sounds yummy hopefully I can pull it off and the kids are another story…..They are not foodies yet; so a PB & J may work who knows…..

Dessert last year was banana pudding, I used Paula Deen’s Not Yo’ Mama’s Banana Pudding without the Chessmen Cookies

photocredit: cocoamommy.com