Peanut Chicken Thighs in crockpbot

This had the whole house smelling while it was cooking.
We also came across one of the best salsa in a jar from our local Kroger. If you have one in your area or go to their web site to order. It was super good. In addition, no one is paying me to say this. It was called Arriba Medium Fire roasted Garlic and Cilantro Salsa. They have several types and we have tied two now.
We did put this over the celery Root mashed like potatoes. Again, thanks to recipe Zaar for a spicy Thai like dish.

6¼ hours serves 4
We used 5 skinless chicken thighs and one breast we had. Cut in pieces
One jar Cilantro Salsa or any you like.
½ cup creamy or crunchy peanut butter. (We will use crunchy next time.)
2 teaspoons ginger
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 teaspoons lime juice add just before serving.
1-tablespoon brown sugar.
You may want to double the sauce as we felt it could have used a little more.

Celery Root mashed

Celery Root

Nasty looking thing but it tastes so good. My wife is not a fan of mashed potatoes like I am. She has two things she will hardly ever eat and they are fried chicken and mashed potatoes. She said when she was first married and she lived with the in-laws they had that at least three times a week.
We both like celery and we found this recipe a while back and boy was it good. There is a slight celery flavor but not overpowering great substitute for mashed potatoes.
This a two part post as we made this side dish a felt it needed its own separate post. We made spice Thai Chicken Thighs that we put on top.

Celery Root
Peal outer edge to white meat of root. Wash well
Cut in small cubes
Boil or steam until fork tender
Drain well pour into a food processor
Season like mashed potatoes
Garlic (we used roasted)
Salt and pepper to taste
Add milk: or cream or sour cream what every is your preference.
Try not to over process. Should look like mashed potatoes.

Shrimp Corn Soup

1 8 oz pkg. cream cheese
½-cup butter
1 cup chopped green onion tops
1 can cream of shrimp soup
1 can cream of potato soup
1 can whole kernel corn (we might but 2 next time we did not feel it was enough) not drained
1 can cream style corn
2 cups whole milk
1 lb of boiled shrimp peeled and deveined
1 teaspoon seafood seasoning (we used Ol Bay)
Can use crumbled bacon to garnish

In a 5-quart soup pot, slowly melt the cream cheese and butter over low heat
(This took some time as it was the first time for me to do and the cream cheese was awful slow to melt.)
Add green onions and gently simmer for about 10 to 12 minutes
Stir in cans of soup and both of corn simmer for 15 minutes (this will look thick)
Slowly stir in milk to reach desired consistency. We put in ½ cup and then just kept adding and stirring
You soup should look like pancake batter.
Just before you are ready to serve stir in shrimp and seafood seasoning and heat pot to a slight bubbly (don’t go over board.)
This was a good one. We would add maybe some roasted garlic and extra can of corn next time.
We also added a tad of salt and pepper to taste.
In addition, of course with shrimp it was much better the next day as it had time to absorb the shrimp flavor.
We also thought this would be really good in a bread bowl. You must have a good bread to go with this.
We used a good French bread. Was not able to get a good picture we ate it up so fast.

Garlic chicken and broccoli Pasta

1 lb penne pasta
1 ½ cup broccoli
1 ½ to 2 cups cooked chicken
1 Tablespoons butter
2 cloves garlic can add extra (we did)
2 Tablespoons flour
¾ cup chicken broth
3/4 cup milk
2 Tablespoons parsley flakes
Red pepper flakes (to taste)
Salt and pepper to taste
1/3 to ½ cup grated parmesan cheese (can add extra we did)

Cook pasta according to directions
Melt butter and add garlic in medium sauce pan
Cook over med heat for 1 min.
Add flour and cook for another min stirring constantly
Stir in broth and milk and cook stirring until sauce boils and thickens
Add chicken and broccoli and stir
Add parsley, salt, pepper, pepper flakes and cheese
Stir till cheese is melted.
Add pasta and toss till covered.
Serve with extra parmesan on top.


This was very yummy and fairly easy to make we would add more pepper flakes next time or some white pepper to kick it up a little more.
Our taste buds must be getting accustomed to the heat and need to add more.

Chicken Pot Pie

Boy it has been cold around here lately and this is a new recipe we tried and will be making again very soon. I was so surprised at how good this turned out. We will never again use one of the frozen pies again as this was easy and oh so tasty.

1pkg ready-made pie dough (2 crusts)
1 10 oz pkg. frozen mixed vegetables (rinse an thaw)
1-2 cups cooked chicken (we buy roasted ones from the store and about ½ of the chicken does the trick.)
1 can cream pf potato soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/3 cup milk
¼-cup onion
1-teaspoon Lawry seasoning salt
2 cloves garlic
1-teaspoon celery salt

Line 9 or 10-inch pie plate with crust and set aside
Combine remaining ingredients (I do put all in a saucepan and warm everything up to blend better)
Pour filling in pie plate
Top with 2nd crust. Make slits in top to vent
Place in preheated oven at 375 for 45 to 50 minutes or until golden brown.
This was enough for us two nights and may have been better the second night.

Spinach and tomato pie

This was another winner and worthy to put up on the net a good brunch or for us a weekend breakfast for Sat and Sunday. This is a recipe from the Zaar of course, we did tinker with it a bit to suit our taste. (Hot).
Also can’t wait to try with a real homegrown tomato.

1 pkg. frozen chopped spinach
1 3 oz. pkg. of cream cheese softened
5 eggs slightly beaten
1-cup sharp cheddar cheese grated.
¼ cup chopped green onion
Pinch of salt and pepper (to taste)
2 teaspoons parsley
We added two cloves roasted garlic and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes.
1 tomato
One 9-inch deep-dish pie shell
¼ cup parmesan cheese (we added more)

Drain and squeeze as much water as you can of spinach
Combine all ingredients but tomatoes and parmesan cheese together and pour in pie shell.
Place thinly sliced tomatoes on top and then sprinkle parmesan cheese. (We bet some bacon would be good sprinkled on top and will try it next time).
Bake in preheated oven at 350 for 35 min or until done.

Mexican Chicken Casserole

We did two Mexican casseroles this month but this was our favorite.

1can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cheddar cheese soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can Ro Tel tomatoes
1 can green chilies
1 jalapeño pepper
1 small can corn (drained)
1 can black beans (drained)
One onion (chopped small)
2 gloves of garlic crushed
We added these two spices as the original recipe did not have them listed. Put as much or little as you like.
Chile powder
Cumin
Red pepper flakes (we use a lot but adjust to your taste or leave out.)
4 cups cooked chicken (we used a roasted chicken)
12 corn tortillas
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese or Mexican blend.

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray or grease 13 by 9 baking dish.
2. In a pot stir together all ingredients except the cheese and tortillas stir till mixed good and to your taste with spices.
3. Layer tortillas in bottom of dish pour in mixture, put last layer of tortillas then layer cheese on top.
4. Bake for 30 minutes.
5 add sour cream and cilantro as garnish.

Pasta with Ham, Asparagus and Asiago Cheese

I know everyone out there is tired of turkey right about now so for those who have left over ham here is a very good and quick recipe.
This was good but next time we will add some red pepper flakes we felt it needed a little more kick.
I must say we used a bottle of SPY VALLEY Sauvignon Blanc. 2006.That was just great with this.
We were in the wine store the other day to see if we could find another bottle. (Ms. Does not allow you to buy wine on line and when you do find a good one, it is not guaranteed it will be there the next time you go to get a bottle.) We did find a 2007 that was given a high rating by one of the magazines so we hope it is as good.

1lb bow tie pasta (could use other but the bow ties made a pretty presentation and held the sauce nicely).
1-2 lb thin asparagus
1 ½ dry white wine
1 cup whipping cream
1cup shredded Asiago cheese
1 cup thinly sliced green onion.
2 cloves garlic
Salt and pepper to taste.

Cook pasta in salted boiling water for 10 min.
Add asparagus and boil until crisp-tender stirring occasionally about 3 min longer. Both should be tender but still a little firm. Drain pasta and asparagus in colander.
Will pasta is cooking in large heated skillet add ham and cook just brown stirring frequently about two min.
Add wine boil until reduced by half about 2 min.
Add cream bring to simmer, stir in cheese and 3/4 cup of the green onions.
Add pasta and asparagus and toss with sauce to coat.
Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Garnish with remaining green onions.

Easy Cobbler

Wow I cant believe I have been gone so long. I have been working out of town a lot the last few months and of course when I’m home there is a huge honey do list. I have been making a few of my favorite recipes we already have posted and a few new ones we made that were ok but not that great. I like to put the really good ones here not just the ok ones.
We did come across a great recipe for quick cobblers and just about made one of each kind. Blackberry , cherry, blueberry and strawberry.

We also used fresh fruit when possible blackberries and blueberries and with then another with the pie filling and we could not tell that big of difference.
½ cup butter
1 cup sugar
¾ cup flour (all purpose)
½ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
¾ cup milk
1 (15 oz can pie filling (flavor of your choice) or one cup fresh fruit may need to add more.

1. Melt butter in baking dish
2. Mix sugar, flour, salt, and baking powder
3. Add milk and mix well
4. Pour batter into melted butter …… do not stir!
5. Pour pie filling into batter(drop by spoonful and put several in middle and divide the rest into the corners and sides… do not stir!).
6. Bake at 350 for 50 minutes to 1 hour or until golden brown.
Serve with cool whip, whip cream, ice cream or just plain. Ummmmmm good.

New Best Friend,Tabasco

I had a Dr’s appt. this morning so I’m home tonight and thought I would do another post. No one is paying me for this but just wanted to let every one know about our new best friend. We got a free sample of this and thought it was good so we bough a bottle. As those who read my blog know we like spicy and hot stuff. My wife has ruined me. She can eat something hot and say its not and when I dive in I get burned. However, over the years my taste buds have become immune or adjusted to the heat. I still cannot eat as much as she can but it’s much better than when we were first married. This is hot but it is great over a hamburger and hot dog

Radish Spread

As my wife and I were walking threw the grocery store she is looking at things and how they would look as a painting. This is what happened to the radishes. I had no idea on what to do with them other than eat in a salad but I found this recipe on the Zaar. We were going to my jam session and this is what I brought.



My wifes painting


Radish Spread Recipe 40 min 20 min prep

SERVES 6 , 2 cups

8 ounces cream cheese (softened)
1/2 cup butter or margarine (softened)
1/2 teaspoon celery salt
1/8 teaspoon paprika
1/8 teaspoon red cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 cup finely chopped red radish
1/4 cup finely chopped green onion
we added a couple of dashes of Tabasco Chipotle Sauce
Mix all ingredients together.
Chill.
Serve on rye rounds or crackers.

I would like to thank Deanna of Deannas Corner for the reminder of this dish I had a good bit growing up as a child and have not fixed in very long time, the bird in a nest. Her site has how to fix this so please visit.

Two Potato Moussaka

Well we survived the hurricane but now we are soaking wet. We have had a little over 7 inches since Monday. The wife and I did go out to eat at the Thai House for our anniversary. I must say we were a little disappointed as we both got something different. Mine was supposed to be mild and hers hot. They tasted the same and no way near hot or we have burnt out taste buds. The dish we cooked back in Jan. Thai Shrimp Soup was a lot tastier, especially for the price.

This is a dish we fixed that we thought was pretty good and makes a good bit so if you have more than 4 people to feed. Again thanks to Recipe Zaar.




Two Potato Moussaka Recipe
by KelBel
55 min 25 min prep
SERVES 8
1 lb red potatoes
1 lb yam or sweet potato
1 lb ground beef
1 (14 1/2 ounce) can Italian-style stewed tomatoes
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cumin
2 cups milk
1/4 cup flour
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
salt and pepper
1 egg yolk
3 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees.
Cook red skinned potatoes in microwave for 5-7 minutes.
Cook sweet potato in microwave for 7-9 minutes.
In medium skillet, brown beef for 5 minutes.
Add tomatoes, cinnamon, and cumin; Simmer 3 minutes.
Combine milk, flour, butter, and nutmeg in small saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly.
Bring to boil and simmer for 1 minute.
Season with salt and pepper.
Remove from heat and whisk in egg yolk.
Thinly slice potatoes.
Place half of potatoes and sweet potatoes on bottom of 2 quart casserole.
Layer meat mixture, then remaining potatoes and yams.
Pour sauce on top.
Sprinkle with parmesan.
Bake for 30 minutes

We added onion and garlic to the ground beef (1 small onion and about 2 cloves garlic)

Bad bad babies Dead roll of paper towels

This is Will’s other half, he is out of town this week but will be back Friday and we have a long weekend coming up so we hope to be doing some cooking. The 25 was our 13 anniversary and he was gone so I hope we can whip up something good or go out to eat. Hint hint. We went to a restaurant a month or so ago Mediterranean Fish and Grill. Will had a chicken meat pie to die for. We have looked for a recipe but cannot seem to find one near it. I would like to go back, get another one, and see if we can figure what it is made of.
Mean while the babies have been bad. We know who is leading the young ones astray.

The roll of Paper towels did not survive the attack

Couldn't be them they are so innocent looking.

The guilty one

I got the I heart your blog award.

Thanks to Dannas Corner, she has helped me learn a new trick. How to add the Cook it Blog it folder and gave me an award of I heat your blog. I have to choose 7 people to pass the award on to so that will have to wait until tomorrow I am afraid. I have my monthly jam tonight and have to get ready. We made a new dish that I will put up tomorrow. Meanwhile this is a watermelon we cut the other day.