Chicken Quarters -Ella’s Favourite

 

One sure-fire way to make Ella happy and to be sure she will actually eat her supper is to make chicken quarters in my air fryer.  Very simple too.  I use this spice mix for just about any piece of meat that I’m frying.

 

Spice Mix

10 tsp salt                          3 tsp black pepper

4 tsp onion powder           4 tsp garlic powder

2 tsp thyme                       2 tsp rosemary

 

Sprinkle the chicken pieces with the spice mix.  Put in the pre-heated air fryer (350F) for 40 minutes.  Turn half way.  How easy is that?

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Rotisserie Chicken -sort of

Well, that crazy heat didn’t break until this past weekend.  It was so nice to have a couple of days where we could leave the windows open and not feel like we were living in a cave.  Needless to say, our meals last week weren’t worth writing down for you guys.  I thought I’d share a recipe today instead.  This is Ella’s new favourite dish from my air fryer.  Obviously, our big 8-9 lb chickens won’t fit in the air fryer.  So, I need to watch for when the store has those little ‘fryer’ chickens on sale.  This rub makes the chicken taste like those little pre-cooked ones you can buy from the store.  I ‘borrowed’ this picture off the internet because I couldn’t find the picture of my chicken (I know I took it on my phone…) I’ll replace this picture when I make the chicken again.

Rotisserie Chicken

rub:

4 tsp salt                             1 tsp garlic powder

2 tsp paprika                       1 tsp onion powder

1 tsp thyme                         1 tsp pepper

 

Rub all over chicken.  You can do this the night before, but I never have the chicken thawed in time.

Pre-heat the air fryer.  I just hit the ‘pre-heat’ button or you could pre-heat to 350F.  Put the chicken in the air fryer, breast side down.  Cook 350F for 40 min.  Flip the chicken over half way.  Check for doneness.

Obviously, this recipe can be done in the oven too.  Just cook the chicken at 325F for about 25 min a pound.

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Recipes, Finally…

I posted these meals a while ago and I was asked for the recipes.  Things got busy, I kind of forgot so here they are:

The first comes from a dear, old lady at church.  Fern often brings her chicken pot pie for potluck lunches.  It’s always the first to go.

This picture is only a half-batch.

Chicken Pot Pie

leftover chicken and good, hot, fairly thick gravy

2 cup flour                                   1/2 tsp salt

4 tsp bk. powder                          1 Tbsp butter

1 cup milk (almond works too)

Make batter and spoon over very hot chicken and gravy.

Bake 400F for 15 minutes

 

Tomato Sauce 

makes about 9 cups

4 (28 oz) crushed tomatoes

1/4 cup oil                                    3 garlic, crushed

1 cup red wine                              1 Tbsp oregano

1 onion, finely chopped                pinch basil

salt & pepper

Saute onions and garlic in oil.  Add everything else.  Simmer 1 1/2-2 hours to thicken.

I use this sauce for a lot of things, including lasagna.

 

Spaghetti and Meatballs

1 lb ground beef                                 1 small onion, chopped fine

1/2 cup fine breadcrumbs                   1/2 cup milk (almond is fine)

salt & pepper

Saute onions.  Add everything else and make into balls (I make appetizer sized ones).  Drop into spaghetti sauce (above or store-bought) and simmer for 1 hour.

 

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Happy New Year!

How is 2018 starting for you?  Things are fairly quiet around here.  Ella caught her tradition ‘I’ve been to Toronto’ cold and has had a miserable few days.  I really should buy stock in Royale.   We have basically been house-bound since we came home from Toronto and I’m starting to go stir-crazy.  I think today is the worst yet.  It’s 2pm and it’s -20C and -40C /F with the windchill and the wind is blowing like crazy!  I love winter but weeks of -20/-40 get tiring.  I need to get out to get January groceries but I’m certainly not going out in this weather.

I’ve tried a few new recipes lately that I thought I’d share with you.  I’ll share the links, if they stop working let me know.  I’ve got the recipes written in my cookbook too.  The first is a delicious way to use up the last of the turkey, turkey and biscuit casserole.  Found Colin’s new favourite pizza crust, pizza crust.

OK, apparently I’ve lost the link for the next recipe.  We had steak the other day and ended up with some leftover (they were huge).  Pinterest to the rescue again and I found Steak Soup.   It was good with fresh garlic buns.

Steak Soup

serves 6

2 Tbsp oil                               4 cloves garlic, minced                                  1 onion, minced

5 small potatoes, diced       2 large carrots, diced                                     2 cups steak, diced

1 tsp salt                                 1 tsp pepper                                                     1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1/2 cup tomato sauce          4 cups beef broth

Saute onions and garlic.  Add the rest of the veg. for a couple of minutes.  Add everything else.  Boil, then simmer (covered) for an hour.

 

I used some home canned tomato sauce in the soup so I had to find something else to do with the leftover tomato sauce.  Enter home-made ‘condensed tomato soup‘ and chili mac.  I really liked the chili mac recipe because it only made 4 servings, we won’t have to eat leftover pasta for days.

So that’s how I’ve been spending my days, what have you been doing to stay warm?

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Recipes

 

Halloween party at Guides last night.  I made some caramel apples.  Really easy and doesn’t need store-bought caramels.

 

Caramel Apples

makes 12

1 cup butter                                            1 cup corn syrup

2 1/4 cup brown sugar                         1 can condensed milk

2 tsp vanilla

Put everything (except vanilla) in a large pot.  Stir to dissolve the sugar.  Boil without stirring until it measures 248F on a candy thermometer.

Let cool 2 minutes.  Add vanilla.  Dip apples and place on a lined cookie sheet.

I found a really good sticks to use for the apples.  They sell them at the dollar store and call them skewers.  They worked great and were much cheaper than ‘official’ candy apple sticks.

 

 

 

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9 Pound Chicken

What do you do with a 9 pound chicken after you’ve enjoyed it straight from the BBQ?  You search Pinterest and find some new recipes so you aren’t eating ‘just chicken’ for the next two weeks.

I found a recipe called Magic Chicken Pie and it was so good!  I started by finding a recipe for Bisquick since I don’t tend to buy boxed stuff.  Mix up a big batch and keep it in the freezer.  Check out the link too, she’s got lots of recipes.

6 cup flour

1 Tbsp salt

3 Tbsp baking powder

1 cup Crisco

And now for the Magic Pie -it seems really odd, but follow the instructions as written

Melt 4 Tbsp butter in a 9×13 inch pan (350F oven).

Meanwhile mix 2 c Bisquick with 1 1/2 c milk of choice.

Sprinkle 2 cups shredded chicken over the melted butter.  Then 2 cups vegetables (frozen or leftover).  Finally 1 cup shredded cheese.

Pour the batter over the meat/veggies.

Mix 1 can cream of chicken soup with 2 chicken stock cubes and 1 1/2 cups chicken stock.  Stir till smooth and carefully pour over-top of everything in the casserole pan.

Bake 350F for 45-50 min.

Give it a couple of minutes to quit boiling and dig in!

 

Another yummy leftover recipe I found was for Chicken Roll-Ups.

Start by making tortillas

2 cup flour

1/2 tsp salt

3 Tbsp oil

1/2-3/4 cup water

Knead just till smooth.  Cover and let sit 30 min.  Divide into 8 and roll into 8″ circles.  Dry fry for 45 sec a side.

For the Roll-Ups:

2 cups shredded chicken

1/3 cup BBQ sauce

1/2 cup shredded cheese (I use a Monterrey jack/mozzarella combo)

Divide this between the 8 tortillas.  Roll up tight and bake 425F for 6-8 minutes.

Check out the websites and see the other yummy recipes they have.

 

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Honey Garlic Chicken Wings

Mmm, I love chicken wings.  I never order them when we are out though, all the restaurants seem to want to make them hot/spicy -even though they tell me they aren’t.  I really like them crispy deep-fried which is why I’m always disappointed when I make them at home.  That is until I found this way of cooking wings (works with little drumsticks too).  It’s going to seem weird, but just trust me.

4 lbs of wings (I cut them into 2 parts)

2 T baking powder

1/2 t salt

Line rimmed cookie sheets (jelly roll pans) with tinfoil.  Place racks on the sheets and spray with oil (I use Pam).

Put the wings, baking powder and salt in a baggie.  Give it a good shake to coat all the chicken.  Lay the chicken out on the racks.

Bake 250F for 30 min.  Then increase to 400F and bake another 40-50 minutes.  Rotate tray half way.

Honey Garlic Sauce

6 T honey

5 cloves garlic, finely minced

1 t onion powder

1 1/2 T soy sauce

1/4 c water mixed with  1/2 T cornstarch

Put everything in a saucepan (except the water and cornstarch).  Slowly bring to a boil. Add water and cornstarch.  Bring to a boil to thicken.  Pour over chicken and enjoy.

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Chicken Paprikash

I find it hard to feel like making real meals during cropping season.  It seems silly to make a full meal when it’s just Ella and I, especially when you consider how little she usually eats.   I made chicken paprikash the other night and I’m so glad I did.  It was so yummy!

Wish I was a better food photographer.

CHICKEN PAPRIKASH

8 chicken thighs

salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika

oil

2 onions, finely chopped                                     3 garlic, minced

1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes (could use diced but Ella and Colin don’t like tomato chunks)

1 1/2 – 2 cups water

1 c sour cream

Sprinkle chicken thighs with salt, pepper, garlic powder an paprika to taste (both sides).  Saute onions in oil.  Remove onions and brown chicken thighs.  Remove thighs and mix together the remaining ingredients (except sour cream).  Add the onions and thighs back to pan.  Cover and simmer 1 hour.  Remove chicken and stir in sour cream.

** Ella doesn’t like sauce any way, so her pieces don’t get sauced

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Recipes

I love to roast meat.  It’s the easiest way to feed my family.  Usually just throw the meat in the oven and walk away for a few hours.  Who needs ’30 Minute Meals ‘ when you can have a 5 minute one?

 

Tomato Pot Roast -feeds 6

4 lb beef roast -we prefer blade

salt/pepper/garlic powder to taste

1 onion, sliced

2 carrots, sliced

2 celery stalks, sliced

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 28 oz can diced tomatoes

1 t thyme

1-2 T cornstarch (optional)

Sprinkle the roast with the salt, pepper, and garlic powder.  In a skillet, brown roast (about 3 min a side).  Put roast in your casserole.  In skillet add onions and other vegetables and saute.  Add in tomatoes and thyme.  Carefully pour over roast.

Put on lid and simmer 325 F for 3 hours.  You could add potatoes for the last 30 minutes, but we don’t like them that way.  Instead I tossed some in the oven to bake for the last 90 minutes.  I also dissolve the cornstarch with a bit of water and add for the last few minutes because I like a thicker ‘sauce’.

Here’s another favourite.  I like to make this when we have leftover steak or chicken.

Steak Pizza

pizza dough –this is our favourite

cooked steak or chicken -amount depends on size of pizza

BBQ sauce -we like Diana’s chicken and rib sauce

shredded mozzarella

Can’t get easier than that??  Roll out your pizza dough the way you like -individual or one big pizza.  Cover with BBQ sauce.  Thinly slice/shred the meat.  Sprinkle with cheese.  If I had the time to caramelize some onions, they would be good on here too but I always seem to think of them too late.

Bake 350F for 30 min.

One last recipe.  I’m not sure where this originated but it’s all over the internet so I thought I’d share my version too.

KFC Inspired Chicken

chicken thighs -mine was a package of 12

2 c flour                                             3 1/2 t paprika

1 t salt                                                1 t pepper

1 t sage                                              1 t oregano

1 t tarragon                                     1 t parsley

1/2 t thyme                                     1 t chives (dried)

1/2 t garlic powder                      1/2 t onion powder

1/4 t celery seed

Combine all the dry ingredients in a plastic bag.  Add chicken a couple at a time and shake to cover.  You could dip the chicken in beaten egg first, but I found the coating stuck just as well to the plain skin (and I was being lazy that day).  Put in a roasting pan, skin side up.  You could use a wire rack in the pan to help with the fat.

Roast 350F for 1 hour

This chicken didn’t taste ‘exactly’ like KFC.  I don’t think you ever can recreate commercial recipes.  BUT this sure made some tasty chicken and you can be sure we’ll be making this recipe again and again.

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Some More Recipes

I don’t know if you all noticed?  I created a recipe index page to make it easier to find individual recipes instead of searching through all the ‘chicken’ recipes, for example.  The tab is at the top of the blog.  Now I just have to remember to link all the new recipes there  🙂

When I make a roast chicken, our leftovers usually become chicken casserole, chicken a la king, or rarely, chicken croquettes.  This week I was thinking of something different so I searched the web for a chicken enchilada recipe.  I’m always disappointed with recipes that say ‘take jar of enchilada sauce’ (or ‘unwrap x caramels’ for “caramel sauce”).  I found a few, but none that really suit our tastes (NOT hot).  So here’s my version:

Chicken Enchiladas –serves 4

make tortillas

sauce: 1 onion, diced            2 garlic, minced

              1 14 oz can pureed (crushed) tomatoes

              1 T chili powder        1 t sugar (takes away any tartness from tomatoes)

              1/2 c chicken broth

 3 c cooked chicken, small pieces/shredded

  1 c shredded Monterrey jack cheese

  1 c shredded mozzarella cheese

Mix sauce ingredients and cook over medium heat for a few minutes just to blend all the ingredients.

Mix 1/4 c sauce, plus 1/8 cup of each cheese with the chicken.

Spoon some chicken filling on each tortilla and roll up tight.  Put seam side down in a greased 9×12 pan.  Pour sauce over top and sprinkle with the remaining cheese.  Bake 350F for 10 minutes or until cheese is melted and chicken is hot.

You can make this ahead (don’t pour on sauce yet).  Cover and refrigerate until supper.  The pour on sauce and cheese and bake.  If it’s cold from the fridge it will take longer.  You could even make this a freezer meal -baggie all the components separately and then all together in a bigger bag, assemble on a later day.

What to do when you’ve got some sour cream that needs used up and a fridge full of banty eggs?  Make snickerdoodle cake!

Start by making the batter for my Brown Sugar Pound Cake:

1 c butter                      6 eggs

2 c br. sugar               1 c wt. sugar

2 2/3 c flour              2 t vanilla

1 c sour cream (I use fat free)        1/4 t bk soda

Cream butter then beat in each egg, one at a time.  Dissolve the bk. soda in the sour cream.  Alternate with the dry ingredients.

Combine 1/2 c white sugar and 1 tsp cinnamon.

Grease your bundt pan and sprinkle with the sugar mix.  Pour in half the batter.  Sprinkle with the rest of the sugar mix and pour in the rest of the batter.

Bake 275F for 20 min, then 325F for 50 min, until done.

The beauty of this cake is that once it comes out of the pan it is done.  No need for icing.

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