Friday, May 9, 2008

Artichoke Chicken with Roasted Potatoes

From Taste and Tell

6 small red potatoes
3 cups water
2 teaspoon salt
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
4 teaspoons rosemary herb seasoning mix, divided*
4 teaspoons olive oil, divided

*Rosemary Herb Seasoning Mix
2 teaspoon crushed rosemary
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper

Artichoke Topping
2 cups chopped artichoke hearts (about 8 hearts)
6 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley
4 ounces Parmesan cheese, divided
8 teaspoons mayonnaise

Preheat the broiler to high. Meanwhile, cut potatoes into quarters. Place the potatoes, water and salt into a covered, microwave safe dish. Microwave on high for 6-8 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender. Drain and set aside.

Meanwhile, make the artichoke topping. Chop the artichokes and parsley, place in a small bowl. Grate the cheese; set aside 8 teaspoons for later use. Add remaining cheese and mayonnaise to the artichoke mixture and mix well.

Cut each chicken breast in half to make 8 thin portions. Sprinkle both sides of each piece with 2 teaspoons of the seasoning mix.

Add 2 teaspoon of oil to a large oven-safe skillet. (Do not use non-stick cookware.) Heat the oil over medium high heat for 1-3 minutes. Meanwhile, add the remaining 2 teaspoon oil and remaining 2 teaspoons seasoning mix to the potatoes. Stir to coat.

Place the chicken and potatoes, cut side down, into the skillet. Cook 3-4 minutes, or until chicken is golden brown. Turn both the chicken and potatoes over; cook an additional 3-4 minutes until the chicken is golden brown.

Remove potatoes from the skillet; set aside to keep warm. Spread the artichoke topping evenly over the chicken breasts; sprinkle with reserved cheese. Place the skillet as close as possible to the heating element; broil 4-6 minutes or until the topping is golden brown and the chicken registers an internal temperature of 170F. If the topping starts to brown too quickly, adjust it in your oven. Carefully remove the skillet from the broiler.

Serve the chicken with the potatoes

Yield: 4 servings

Monday, May 5, 2008

Oatmeal Waffles or Pancakes

from The Recipe Zaar
10 min | 4 min prep | 10 waffles
2 cups quick oats
1/2 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 cups water
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 beaten egg
1 tablespoon molasses
2 tablespoons corn oil

1. Mix well together.
2. There should be no lumps.
3. Bake in a waffle iron, or like regular pancakes.
4. Variation: add 1/2 cup finely chopped apple

Cinnamon Syrup

From The Recipe Zaar
10 min | 5 min prep | SERVES 6
1 cup sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2/3 cup water
2 tablespoons butter

1. Mix sugar, salt, flour, and cinnamon.
2. Add water and bring to a boil.
3. Boil until thickened.
4. Stir in butter.
5. Serve over pancakes, waffles, or french toast.

Friday, May 2, 2008

No-Knead Bread

Submitted by Melanie Christensen on The Sisters Cafe
Adapted from Jim Lahey, Sullivan Street Bakery
Time: About 1½ hours plus 14 to 20 hours’ rising


3 cups all-purpose or bread flour, more for dusting
¼ teaspoon instant yeast
1¼ teaspoons salt
Cornmeal or wheat bran as needed.


1. In a large bowl combine flour, yeast and salt. Add 1 5/8 cups water, and stir until blended; dough will be shaggy and sticky. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let dough rest at least 12 hours, preferably about 18, at warm room temperature, about 70 degrees.


2. Dough is ready when its surface is dotted with bubbles. Lightly flour a work surface and place dough on it; sprinkle it with a little more flour and fold it over on itself once or twice. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rest about 15 minutes.


3. Using just enough flour to keep dough from sticking to work surface or to your fingers, gently and quickly shape dough into a ball. Generously coat a cotton towel (not terry cloth) with flour, wheat bran or cornmeal; put dough seam side down on towel and dust with more flour, bran or cornmeal. Cover with another cotton towel and let rise for about 2 hours. When it is ready, dough will be more than double in size and will not readily spring back when poked with a finger.


4. At least a half-hour before dough is ready, heat oven to 450 degrees. Put a 6- to 8-quart heavy covered pot (cast iron, enamel, Pyrex or ceramic) in oven as it heats. When dough is ready, carefully remove pot from oven. Slide your hand under towel and turn dough over into pot, seam side up; it may look like a mess, but that is O.K. Shake pan once or twice if dough is unevenly distributed; it will straighten out as it bakes. Cover with lid and bake 30 minutes, then remove lid and bake another 15 to 30 minutes, until loaf is beautifully browned. Cool on a rack.