Dottie's Chicken A La King

Dottie was my mom. I lost her before I was grown up and have come to know her through recipes she left behind. She was an amazing cook and as a kid, I ignorantly refused her offers to teach me. Since where we live has turned into Narnia, in honor of our latest snow storm here is one of my favorite comfort foods. It is also the go-to dish I make when bringing a meal to someone in need of a dinner. Oh, and of course I morphed this recipe but in my heart, it's still Mom's.

INGREDIENTS
1 pkg of Wide Egg Noodles
2 cans Cream of Chicken Soup
1/2 can Cream of Celery Soup
12 oz can Evaporated Milk
2 big pinches Kosher Salt
4 cups Cooked Chicken (*I like to use my leftover Panko Chicken)
2 cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1 1/2 cups chopped celery
1 cup Slivered Almonds
1/2 cup Bread Crumbs

STEPS
1. Cook Egg Noodles al dente in large pot. Drain and place in large baking dish at least 11 x 13 in size.
2. Rinse out pot and add soups, milk, salt and celery. Heat through.
3. Chop chicken into cubes and add to pot. (* You can also use a cooked chicken from your grocer's deli)
4. Add cheese and stir frequently til mixed and melted. Pour over noodles in dish.
5. Sprinkle Bread Crumbs over top, then add the Almonds.
6. Bake at 375 for about 30 minutes or til hot.

Spot gives this 3 paws because the sizzling on the stove is a tad worrisome, but does she ever like it when we toss her some chicken as we're chopping! Reheats really well as a leftover and can be split into two pans and frozen up to 6 weeks. Good, fast and filling.

The New Shepherd's Pie

Our fav comfort meal ever! We were first introduced to a version of this hearty casserole the night we came home from the hospital with our newborn son. Elated and exhausted, we were delighted to receive and eat up this lovely gift from a church friend. Ever since then, this has been a regular winter meal in our house. The way I prepare it makes 2 dinners. More work up front gives you a night off later on! Here's the version we currently enjoy almost 18 years later.

INGREDIENTS:
2 # ground beef 85/15 or 1# 85/15 and 1#ground turkey, browned
2 pkg Lipton's Beef & Mushroom dry soup
1 Family size (26+oz) can of Campbell's Vegetable Soup
2 pkg (10+oz) frozen mixed vegetables (like Bird's Eye Steamfresh)
4 heaping TBSP Wondra
3 cups mashed red potatoes
2 eggs
1/3 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
1 TBSP paprika
2/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Big pinch of Kosher Salt

EASY STEPS:
1. Brown meat in large skillet, stir in Wondra and add soups. Spread meat mixture into two medium sized glass casserole dishes. Sprinkle generously with Kosher salt.
2. While browning: Halve enough large red potatoes to fill a 5 quart stock pot, top with water and bring to boil. Lower heat and cook on med high til you can poke the potos and they are soft. Drain. Keep in pot.
3. While potatoing: Zap frozen veggies to thaw - about 2 minutes. Sprinkle evenly over both pans.
4. Mash potatoes with hand masher, adding enough heavy cream to create a slightly wet mixture. Stir in chopped basil, add eggs then paprika. Be sure this mixture is smooth enough to spread on two casseroles. If too thick, add more cream. Finish with cheddar cheese. Spread this mixture over meat.
5. Bake one casserole at 350 until bubbly - about 35 minutes. Cool the other pan then freeze. Be sure and use within 2 months for freshest taste.

Yummy! And since there no onions are involved, Spot wasn't hiding under the bed. This recipe could be morphed many ways. The way I first made it was with instant potatoes, but since I've become more of a cook I like to use real fresh ingredients and add freshness like basil.

Hearty Chicken Pot Pie

A few months ago I was in need of comfort food and went in search of Chix Pot Pie recipes. This is the one I found and tweaked that will comfort any man or woman in your life. I made it so often I started tripling the ingredients (except the pie crust) and freezing. Then all we had to do was thaw and bake when craving comfort or all your veggies mixed in one bite. We serve this with rice.

INGREDIENTS:
1 pkg of 2 refrigerator pie crusts at room temp
2 large chicken breasts, cubed or one deli cooked chicken skin and bones removed, cubed
1 cup sliced or shredded fresh carrots
1 cup sliced celery
2 cups frozen peas
2 small sweet onions, diced
1/3 cup butter
2/3 cups flour
Big pinch Kosher salt
1/2 - 1 tsp ground pepper
1 tsp celery seed
3 cups low sodium chicken broth
1 1/4 cups heavy cream
4 sprigs fresh rosemary, pulled off stem
3 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 cup sliced mushrooms

Let's walk through the recipe:
1. In large skillet, sauté onions, garlic and mushrooms in butter
2. In large saucepan, place carrots, celery and peas if using a cooked deli chicken. If using uncooked breasts, add them too. Add enough water just to cover. Bring to boil and cook 13 minutes. Drain and set aside, adding chicken if you didn't yet.
3. When onions etc are soft, whisk in flour and seasonings. Slowly add broth and cream. Add rosemary. Bring to boil, then simmer til thickened. Stir frequently. Set aside.
4. Unfurl one pie crust and fit to bottom and sides of 9" pie plate. Use fork to poke some holes in bottom and sides.
5. Spoon the chicken-veg mixture into bottom of pie crust. Pour the onion-gravy mixture over all. Fit other pie crust to top of pie and seal edges. Pierce crust to let out steam.
6. Bake 350 for 45 minutes or til crust is golden brown. If you need to keep warm, turn off oven and tent pie with foil.

Spot gives 4 paws and sits in hope like a mime at our feet! This recipe makes a generous onion-gravy and if we have extra and I'm not making more than one pie, I freeze it for the next one.

Savory Meatloaf

Cool Fall temps are upon us and it's time to make some comfort food that won't make you break into a sweat when you cook it or eat it.  I am on a Basil kick, so there's a generous amount of that in the mix, plus hidden spinach - always good if you have kids who deny you the opportunity of seeing them eat veggies. The men in my life love this! Note, this can easily become two meals depending on the number at your table. Otherwise, this will truly feed a crowd.

MEATLOAF INGREDIENTS:
2 lbs 85% ground beef or turkey at room temp
2 medium Vadalia (sweet) onions, diced
2 eggs
2 cups Italian bread crumbs
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup ketchup
1 pkg frozen spinach, defrosted and squeezed dry
1/4 cup fresh basil, sliced
1/2 cup fresh Italian (flat) parsley, roughly chopped
Kosher salt to taste
Ground pepper to taste

PREP STEPS:
1. Mix all ingredients except the bread crumbs, when fully combined add the crumbs (use hands)
2. Form the mixture into a brick shape and set it inside a large baking dish 9 x 12 or larger (you will need at least an inch margin around the loaf)
3. Bake at 350 in preheated oven for 1 hour. Tent the dish if loaf top looks too brown. Bake another 30 minutes or til insides are cooked. (I sliced "the brick" in thirds to let the heat in and uncovered it  for this last part)

GRAVY?
While loaf is doing its thing, sauté 3/4 cups sliced mushrooms in extra virgin olive oil and drain. Leave on paper towel to add later. Get that oil off those shrooms!

1. In a large skillet, melt one stick of unsalted butter along with 3 cubes of beef bouillon (or similar product like "Better Than Bouillon"), whisk in 3+TBSP Wondra in order to make consistency of sand and briefly boil for a minute
2. Add 2 cans of Campbell's Beef Consume and, using a can to measure - add  another 1 1/4 cans of beef broth, add the mushrooms and sprinkle of kosher salt
3. Bring to boil, add 1/8 to 1/4 cup heavy cream and simmer for 20 minutes. Keep covered til ready to serve - stir frequently

We served this with mashed potos and it was a big hit! I love all the hidden healthy ingredients.
Spot? Sorry no paws. She mistakenly heard me chopping the onions and skee-daddled, silly hound!

Chicken Daniel (Divan)

Our son spent 10 weeks in Basic Training this summer and just about every letter we received listed the food he was missing (in addition to his family). The number one menu item he wanted to eat as soon as he got home was Chicken Daniel. A simple casserole I do with chicken or turkey leftovers... or when I don't want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Imagine, this is what he wanted FIRST after 10 weeks of tough training! Without further ado, here is my version...

INGREDIENTS:
- Enough turkey or chicken leftovers (already cooked) and cut into bite-sized pieces to layer in a 10x13 baking dish OR 1 grocery-store cooked chicken, meat pulled off the bone and skin removed OR 3 boneless chicken breasts, seasoned and baked and cut into pieces
- 1 pkg frozen broccoli, steamed in microwave for 5 minutes
- 1 jumbo can of Cream of Chicken Soup (or 1 1/2 small ones plus a small Cream of Celery)
- 2+ cups mayonaise
- the juice from 5 squeezed lemons
- 1 large onion, sauteed
- Kosher salt & ground pepper
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Rice

STEPS:
1. Layer the steamed broccoli in the bottom of the large baking dish, followed by the chicken pieces. Be sure everything is covered.

2. In a medium bowl, mix the soup, mayonaise, sauteed onion, lemon juice with salt and pepper. Pour this over everything in the baking dish. Sprinkle with the cheese. Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes, or til top is golden and cheese has melted.

3. While the casserole is baking, make the rice. We like to make our rice with two parts chicken broth to one part rice. Use a larger pot and cook on medium-low for 18 minutes (or so) with a wooden spoon propping up the lid. The rice is done when you see "pock marks" in the texture and the liquid has been absorbed.

Spot gives this 4 paws and for comfort food, so do we. I have even quinteppled this recipe and made it for a church youth gathering of 60. Yum city!

Swedish Meatball-iscious!

Here's the best recipe for Swedish meatballs I've ever seen and morphed into our own. We served it with mashed potatoes and steamed green beans that were drizzled with some unsweetened butter and fresh lemon juice. The meatball gravy is delish! One of the best things about this recipe is that it's a 2-for. You make half the mixture into meatballs and freeze the other half for next time.

I have made it four times in as many weeks with some alterations, too. You can add some warmed, frozen spinach to the mixture and replace bread crumbs with Panko. You can also use entirely ground beef and prepared garlic. Very forgiving (my kind of recipe) and delish every time!

Start 2 hours before you want to serve.

MEATBALLS:
1.5 lb ground beef
1.5 lb ground turkey
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 cup diced onion
6 cloves minced garlic
4 tsp Kosher Salt
3 tsp ground pepper
5 TBSP Wondra
1/2 cup heavy cream
3 tsp Worshestershire Sauce
Up to 3 cups Italian bread crumbs
2 eggs
2 egg whites

In large skillet over medium heat, cook onion and garlic in EVOO until tender (about 6 minutes). Add salt and pepper, whisk in Wondra and beat til smooth.  Stir in cream and Worchestershire Sauce, mix all. Pour contents into large mixing bowl and set aside to cool. (About 12 minutes). When cool, mix eggs together and add meat and eggs to bowl (use hands). Add in enough bread crumbs to make meat mixture firm but not over-breaded. I use at least 2 3/4 cups.

Form half of the meat mixture into 1 1/2" meat balls. Place them on parchment-lined jelly roll pan about an inch apart. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for one hour. Place the remaining meat in a freezer container and freeze up to 6 weeks for another night.

Bake meatballs in preheated oven at 400 for 35 minutes.  Rotate during last ten minutes. Start your side dishes and gravy.

GRAVY:
Use the same large skillet you did for the onions - great seasoning! Whisk together:
4 TBSP unsalted butter
4 tsp Worchestershire Sauce
1 cup heavy cream
3 cups beef broth
salt
pepper

Bring to simmer, add cooked meatballs and let simmer and thicken for 15 minutes. Stir occaisionally so gravy covers meatballs. Serve with your side dishes, smack yer lips and rub yer belly.

4 Paws from Spot once those onions were done cooking! Why didn't I make this one for 2 years??

Roast Beast

This is my "go to" meal when I want to serve something yummy and more than a casserole. I actually thought I had already posted this, so here goes.

MENU
Roast Beef
Mashed Potatoes
Gravy
Veggie Choice

INGRED'S
Roast Beef
1/2 cup Newman's Lite Balsamic salad dressing
Kosher Salt
Ground Pepper
Refrigerator Basil
Red Potatoes
@ 1/2 cup Buttermilk
1 32-oz carton of low sodium beef broth
3 beef bouillon cubes
1 stick unsalted butter
Wondra
Kitchen Bouquet

Either a day ahead of time or at least 3 hours before cooking: salt, pepper and basil your roast. Place it in a Ziploc with the Lite Balsamic and refrigerate. Rotate/shake as you think about it.

Preheat oven to 350. 30 minutes before you want to cook it (and it will take 1.5 hours at least), put roast on counter to sit at room temp. Place beef in roast pan, lower oven temp to 325 and bake for 1 hour. When timer rings, take temp and continue to cook until meat is at 150 for rare or 160 for medium.

When the 1 hour timer rings, bring large pot of water to boil. When water is a rolling boil, add desired amount of red potatoes, halved. Bring to boil and cook til tender, about 20 minutes but check at 15. You don't want soggy potos. It's okay if they are done earlier than the meat, just drain and mash with enough buttermilk to your desired consistency, then cover.

The gravy takes about 15 minutes. Place the cubes of beef bouillon and the stick of butter in a large skillet on medium. Cook til butter is melted. Bring to boil. Whisk in Wondra, 1 TBSP at a time, til butter is absorbed. (About 2-3 TBSP) Boil about 1 minute, then slowly whisk in the beef broth. Add some pepper, some salt, and some Kitchen Bouquet if you'd like the gravy more brown. Bring to boil again for 60 seconds, then simmer until everything else is ready.

We use a version of this gravy with all kinds of menus. If chicken, the cubes and broth are...chicken! Wondra is our gravy friend. You could also add drippings from what you're cooking to the gravy. Just promise you won't use canned gravy anymore.

Leftovers? Try this! Slice chilled Roast Beast on a wooden platter with Tuscan bread, Brie Cheese (or Cream Cheese) and make mini sandwiches. Throw in a sliced cucumber or sprouts. Serve with Tomato Soup.

Spot was not near the kitchen tonight, so NO PAWS. :( She was busy plotting ways to meet the neighbors by pacing underneath a window. Go figure.

Cottage Pie Christine

The recipe I tried tonite was inspired by Jane Leeves on the NATE SHOW yesterday. While I attempted to mostly follow her classic English recipe, I didn't have some ingredients and bought the wrong herbs. Plus, my ADD kicked in and I had to use up those mushrooms. Here's what happened and my boys loved it! Hearty and tasty even if it is a rainy December night. (Where's our snow?!!)


Prep Time: 60 Min.
Cook Times: 40 min.
Makes two pies … two dinners + leftovers?


INGREDIENTS:
2½ lbs. lean ground turkey
2 small red onions, diced
1 cup fresh mushrooms, diced
5-6 cloves garlic, minced
5 stalks celery, halved and chopped
15 baby carrots, chopped (or 3 carrots the old fashioned way)
5 twigs fresh Rosemary, chopped
¼ cup fresh basil, chopped
¼ - ½ cups fresh Thyme, chopped
Sea Salt
Fresh ground pepper from the pepper farm (hello Jim Gaffigan)
½ cup + Worcestershire sauce
1½ - 2 lbs. red potatoes
1 ½ cups beef stock
3-4 TBSP Wondra
1 ½ cups frozen peas
¼ to ½ cup heavy whipping cream
6 TBSP unsalted butter
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
½ cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional)


In large skillet, sauté onions in Extra Virgin Olive Oil til soft over medium heat. Add washed, diced mushrooms and garlic. Stir. Add celery and carrots. Stir. Add more oil as needed, keep the skillet on the dry side.

MULTITASK NOW: While sautéing, boil water in a large pot for the potatoes. When the water is crazy boiling, add washed, halved red potos and boil til soft, about 13 minutes.

Add turkey meat to skillet and brown. Add salt, pepper and fresh herbs. Stir in Worcestershire and mix well. Pour in beef stock and stir, then add Wondra 2 TBSP at a time until mixture is thick. Bring to boil. Simmer and add the peas.

If potos are done early, remove from heat add butter and cover. When mashing, add salt, pepper and heavy cream til a mixture thinner than straight mashed potatoes. Using hand masher, mix well. You want these potos thinner because you will spread them over two pans.

COOKING:
Using two pie or quiche pans, divide meat filling on bottom of both pans. Spread potatoes over meat filling. Top with cheese if desired.

Bake til cheese is melted and top is nearly bubbly and slightly browned at 350, about 40 minutes.


We have a lot of leftovers. That's good, no cooking later! I would add more Thyme, salt and pepper next time.

Spot was hiding so there are no paw ratings this time. She must have been hiding from her sin we have yet to discover...