Friday, July 2, 2010

Curried Chicken and Chickpea Stew

Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 2-inch pieces
1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 2-inch pieces
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon curry powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 onions, thinly sliced
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 28-oz. can diced tomatoes with juice
2 15-oz. cans chickpeas, rinsed and drained

Preparation
1. Combine chicken, olive oil, curry powder and salt in slow cooker and toss to coat.

2. Sprinkle onions and garlic on top of chicken. Pour tomatoes on top. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.

3. During last hour of cooking, stir in chickpeas. Serve hot.

Broccoli and Feta Frittata

Ingredients
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1/2 onion, finely diced
2 cups chopped broccoli florets
Salt and pepper
7 large eggs
3 ounces feta, crumbled

Preparation
1. In an 8-inch ovenproof nonstick skillet or well-seasoned cast-iron pan, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 4 minutes. Add broccoli, sprinkle with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until just tender, about 6 minutes longer.

2. Preheat broiler to high and set an oven rack 4 inches from heat source. In a medium bowl whisk together eggs; season with additional salt and pepper. Pour eggs over onion-broccoli mixture, stir to combine, then dot surface with feta. Cook, without stirring, until eggs are set on bottom and beginning to set on top, about 5 minutes. Transfer pan to oven and broil until eggs are set and beginning to brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Cut into wedges and serve hot or at room temperature.

Apple Cranberry Sauce

Ingredients
1 pound cranberries, fresh or frozen
1 cup apple cider
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar

Directions
In a saucepan, combine the cranberries, cider, and sugars.
Simmer until the cranberries begin to burst and the sauce thickens, 12 to 15 minutes.

Pasta with Brie, Mushrooms and Arugula

Ingredients
12 ounces penne (3/4 box)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound button mushrooms, quartered
1 small red onion, sliced
1/2 cup dry white wine
kosher salt and black pepper
8 ounces Brie, cut into 1-inch pieces
4 cups baby arugula

Directions
Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta water, drain the pasta, and return it to the pot.
Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms and onion and cook, tossing occasionally, until the mushrooms begin to release their juices, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the wine, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper and cook until the mushrooms begin to brown, 5 to 6 minutes.
Toss the pasta with the Brie and reserved pasta water until the pasta is coated. Stir in the mushroom mixture and arugula.

Romanesco Broccoli and Rigatoni

INGREDIENTS:
Salt and black pepper
1 pound rigatoni pasta
3 tablespoons butter
1 large onion, chopped
2 large cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/2 cup dry white wine 1 cup chicken or vegetable stock
1 head romanesco broccoli or broccolini, cut into florets
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
2 sprigs rosemary, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
2/3 cup grated pecorino-romano cheese (a couple of generous handfuls), plus more to pass around the table
1/2 cup chopped walnuts, toasted

DIRECTIONS:
Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt it, add the pasta and cook until al dente. Drain, reserving a couple of ladlefuls of the pasta cooking water.

While the pasta is working, in a large, heavy saucepan or Dutch oven, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until golden, 6 to 7 minutes. Stir in the wine for 1 minute, then the chicken stock. Add the broccoli, lemon peel, rosemary and crushed red pepper; season with salt and black pepper. Cover and cook for 10 minutes.

In a serving bowl, toss the pasta, reserved pasta cooking water, cooked vegetables, cheese and nuts for a minute. Season with salt and black pepper and serve, passing extra cheese at the table.

Chicken Broccoli Couscous

INGREDIENTS:
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breasts
Salt and pepper
3 cups chicken broth
One 10-ounce box couscous
1 onion, finely chopped
1 head broccoli, broken into small florets
1/2 cup raisins
1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
1/3 cup sliced almonds, toasted

DIRECTIONS:
In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Season the chicken with salt and pepper, add to the pan and cook, turning once, until cooked through, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a work surface, let cool, then shred; reserve the skillet.

Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, bring 2 cups chicken broth and 1 tablespoon olive oil to a boil; season with salt and pepper. Add the couscous, cover and remove from the heat; let stand for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.

In the reserved skillet, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the broccoli and the remaining 1 cup chicken broth and simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in the chicken, raisins, parsley and couscous; season with salt and pepper. Toss with the almonds before serving.

Baked Swiss Chicken

Ingredients

6 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1-1/2 pounds)
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
1/2 cup white wine or chicken broth
6 slices Swiss cheese
1 cup crushed seasoned croutons

Directions

Place chicken in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish. In a bowl, combine the soup and wine or broth; pour over chicken. Top with cheese and sprinkle with croutons. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees F for 35-40 minutes or until chicken juices run clear.