Sunday, August 17, 2008

Stacked Chicken Enchiladas with Salsa Verde and Cheese

6 servings

Ingredients
2 poblano chiles (8 ounces total)
6 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
12 (5- to 6-inch-diameter) corn tortillas
4 cups salsa verde, divided
2 cups shredded roasted chicken, divided
3/4 cup sour cream, stirred to loosen, divided
6 oz grated Emmenthal, Muenster, or Mexican Chihuahua cheese (about 1 1/2 cups packed)
3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
Pickled red onions

Preparation
Char chiles directly over gas flame or in broiler until blackened all over. Enclose in paper bag; let stand 10 minutes. Peel and seed, then cut into 2x1/2-inch strips.
Preheat oven to 375°F. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in medium skillet over medium heat. Add 1 tortilla to skillet; cook until slightly softened, about 15 seconds per side, turning with tongs. Transfer tortilla to paper towels to drain. Repeat with remaining tortillas, adding oil to skillet as needed.
Spread 1/2 cup salsa over bottom of 8x8x2-inch glass baking dish. Arrange 4 tortillas over salsa, covering bottom of dish completely, overlapping slightly, and extending about 1 1/2 inches up sides of dish. Scatter 1 cup chicken over tortillas, then half of poblano strips. Spoon 1 1/2 cups salsa over, spreading evenly. Spoon 1/4 cup sour cream over in small dollops. Cover with 4 tortillas, overlapping slightly. Layer with remaining 1 cup chicken, remaining poblanos, 1 cup salsa, and 1/4 cup sour cream. Cover with remaining 4 tortillas, then 1 cup salsa, and remaining 1/4 cup sour cream. Sprinkle with cheese.
Bake casserole until bubbling and cheese is lightly browned, about 35 minutes. Cut into 6 pieces; divide among plates. Sprinkle with cilantro. Spoon pickled red onions alongside; serve.

Recipe by Roberto Santibañez
June 2007

White Chocolate–Coated Grapes with Orange Curd

This recipe was originally posted on my blog but due to its HUGE success as baby/wedding showers and other events I decided to post it on this blog. I never make the curd - the grapes are a success all on their own - I have included the recipe for the curd in case you feel adventurous. My mother in law used the recipe and didn't use the oil and it turned out just fine. Even if you just make them for a snack around the house...YUM!

ACTIVE TIME: 35 MIN
TOTAL TIME: 1 HR
SERVES: 4
A fine layer of white chocolate gives both green and red grapes a creamy crunch. The orange curd dipping sauce could not be simpler; it’s hard to imagine a more elegant use of the microwave.
ingredients
CURD
2 cups fresh orange juice
4 large egg yolks
1/4 cup sugar
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch pieces
GRAPES
4 ounces white chocolate, chopped
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 pound green or red grapes, stemmed and chilled
2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar
directions
Make the curd: In a saucepan, boil the orange juice until it’s reduced to 1/3 cup, about 12 minutes. Let cool.
In a microwave-safe bowl, whisk the egg yolks with the sugar. Whisk in the reduced orange juice and stir in the butter. Microwave the mixture on high power for 1 minute, until thickened. Whisk until smooth. Press a piece of plastic wrap directly onto the curd and refrigerate until chilled.
Make the grapes: Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the white chocolate with the oil. Microwave for 1 minute, until the chocolate is just melted; whisk until smooth. Let cool.
Dry the grapes with a towel and set them in a large bowl. Pour in the chocolate, folding to coat. Sift the confectioners’ sugar on top and stir until the grapes separate; transfer to the baking sheet and refrigerate for 10 minutes, until the chocolate sets. Serve the grapes in glasses with the orange curd in ramekins alongside.
WINE These chocolate-coated grapes make a great light dessert that pairs well with an equally light dessert wine, such as one produced with the fragrant Muscat grape variety. Try a Muscat Beaumes de Venise—for instance, the tangerine-scented 2006 Domaine de Fenouillet.

Recipe by Michel Richard
From Easy, Elegant Party Desserts
This recipe originally appeared in April, 2008.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Garlic Fries

Ingredients
4 teaspoons canola oil
3/4 teaspoon salt
3 pounds peeled baking potatoes, cut into 1/4-inch-thick strips
Cooking spray
2 tablespoons butter
8 garlic cloves, minced (about 5 teaspoons)
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Preparation
Preheat oven to 400°.
Combine first 3 ingredients in a large zip-top plastic bag, tossing to coat. Arrange potatoes in a single layer on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Bake at 400° for 50 minutes or until potatoes are tender and golden brown, turning after 20 minutes.

Place butter and garlic in a large nonstick skillet, and cook over low heat 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add potatoes, parsley, and Parmesan cheese to pan; toss to coat. Serve immediately.

Yield
6 servings

Nutritional Information
CALORIES 256(27% from fat); FAT 7.7g (sat 3.3g,mono 2g,poly 2g); IRON 1.9mg; CHOLESTEROL 12mg; CALCIUM 55mg; CARBOHYDRATE 42.3g; SODIUM 386mg; PROTEIN 5.9g; FIBER 3.5g

Elaine Magee , Cooking Light, SEPTEMBER 2007

King Ranch Chicken Casserole

The other day I had lunch at Mr. T's with my friend Jessica. The special of the day was King Ranch Chicken...YUM! I thought I would share the recipe with everyone! By the way, if you haven't eaten at Mr. T's you need to go...and give me call to join you!

Prep: 30 min.; Cook: 1 hr., 19 min.; Cool: 30 min.; Bake: 1 hr.; Stand: 10 min.

1 (4 1/2- to 5-lb. ) whole chicken - I just use the canned chicken...much easier and it tastes the same!
2 celery ribs, cut into 3 pieces each
2 carrots, cut into 3 pieces each
2 1/2 to 3 tsp. salt
2 tablespoons butter
1 medium onion, chopped
1 medium-size green bell pepper, chopped
1 garlic clove, pressed
1 (10 3/4-oz.) can cream of mushroom soup
1 (10 3/4-oz.) can cream of chicken soup
2 (10-oz.) cans diced tomatoes and green chiles, drained
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon Mexican-style chili powder*
3 cups grated sharp Cheddar cheese
12 (6-inch) fajita-size corn tortillas, cut into 1/2-inch strips

1. If applicable, remove giblets from chicken, and reserve for another use. Rinse chicken.
2. Place chicken, celery, carrots, and salt in a large Dutch oven with water to cover. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer 50 minutes to 1 hour or until chicken is done. Remove from heat. Remove chicken from broth; cool 30 minutes. Remove and reserve 3/4 cup cooking liquid. Strain any remaining cooking liquid, and reserve for another use.

3. Preheat oven to 350°. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, and sauté 6 to 7 minutes or until tender. Add bell pepper and garlic, and sauté 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in reserved 3/4 cup cooking liquid, cream of mushroom soup, and next 5 ingredients. Cook, stirring occasionally, 8 minutes.

4. Skin and bone chicken; shred meat into bite-size pieces. Layer half of chicken in a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch baking dish. Top with half of soup mixture and 1 cup Cheddar cheese. Cover with half of corn tortilla strips. Repeat layers once. Top with remaining 1 cup cheese.

5. Bake at 350° for 55 minutes to 1 hour or until bubbly. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

*1 tsp. chili powder and 1/8 tsp. ground red pepper may be substituted for Mexican-style chili powder.

Lightened King Ranch Chicken Casserole: Reduce butter to 1 Tbsp. Substitute reduced-fat cream of mushroom and cream of chicken soup for regular and 2% reduced-fat cheese for regular. Prepare recipe as directed through Step 4. Bake, covered, at 350° for 50 minutes; uncover and bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until bubbly. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Note: For testing purposes only, we used Cracker Barrel 2% Milk Natural Sharp Cheddar Cheese.

Quick-and-Easy King Ranch Chicken Casserole: Substitute 1 (2-lb.) skinned, boned, and shredded deli-roasted chicken for whole chicken, 3 cups coarsely crumbled lime-flavored white corn tortilla chips for corn tortillas, and 3/4 cup chicken broth for cooking liquid. Omit celery, carrots, and salt. Prepare recipe as directed, beginning with Step 3.

Yield: Makes 8 to 10 servings

Southern Living, FEBRUARY 2008