All posts by Sharon

Apricot-Lemon Chicken

Start with an apricot fruit spread to concoct a sauce that transforms simply prepared chicken breasts into this elegant dish.

1  teaspoon  curry powder
1/2  teaspoon  salt
1/4  teaspoon  freshly ground black pepper
4  (6-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
Cooking spray
1/3  cup  apricot spread (such as Polaner All Fruit)
2  tablespoons  fresh lemon juice
2  tablespoons  water
2  teaspoons  grated lemon rind

Combine first 3 ingredients in a small bowl; rub mixture over chicken.
Place a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Cook chicken 6 minutes on each side or until done. Remove chicken from pan, and keep warm.
Add apricot spread, lemon juice, and 2 tablespoons water to pan, stirring until smooth. Cook over medium heat 1 minute. Spoon sauce over chicken; sprinkle with lemon rind.

4  Servings

Zucchini Pie

1 cup biscuit mix
½ cup vegetable oil
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
5 eggs
1 teaspoon basil
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon crushed garlic
3 cups zucchini, thinly sliced
Preheat oven to 350º F.
Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl and mix well. Prepare an 8×10 baking dish with non stick spray. Pour ingredients from mixing bowl into prepared baking dish.  Bake for 35 – 45 minutes, or until golden brown.  Test with a tooth pick. When inserted in the middle of the pie it should come out clean when pie is done.
 
Serves: 6
Notes from the Paula Deen Test Kitchen:  We found if you beat the 5 eggs first it will be easier to mix. We also added 1 teaspoon of salt. The pie rises and browns beautifully.

Turkey Leftovers Casserole

1/2 lb mozzarella cheese (I think swiss would also be good)
2 cups elbow macaroni
1 tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 lb mushroom, sliced thickly
1 small onion, thinly sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
4 cups cooked cubed turkey
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
3 cups homemade turkey broth (chicken or vegetarian can be substituted)
1 1/2 cups sour cream (NOT lowfat)
1/2 cup white wine
1 dash freshly grated nutmeg
1 dash salt
1 dash freshly grated black pepper
1 cup fresh breadcrumb
2 tablespoons melted butter
1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
First, grate mozzarella cheese; set aside.
Next, put on a large pot of salted water to boil; when boiling, cook elbow macaroni until almost tender; drain, then return to pot; set aside.
Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350ºF; spray a large casserole dish (I used a deep 13×9 pan) with nonstick spray like Pam and set aside.
In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the 1 tbsp of butter and add oil; saute mushrooms, onion and garlic until mushrooms are tender; drain off any liquid and add to cooked macaroni; stir.  Add cooked turkey cubes to mushroom/pasta mixture; stir.
In a large pot, melt the 1/2 cup butter over medium heat and whisk in the flour; whisk constantly for about one minute or until butter and flour are well combined.  Whisk in turkey stock, sour cream and wine.  Note that lowfat or nonfat sour cream may not be able to stand up to the constant heat without breaking down; that is why fullfat sour cream is recommended.
Over medium heat, whisking constantly, cook mixture until sauce thickens up; add nutmeg, salt and pepper.
Add all but one cup of the sauce to the pasta mixture, and stir well.  Set aside a good handful of the shredded mozzarella, then stir remaining mozzarella into pasta mixture.  Fill prepared casserole dish with pasta mixture, then drizzle reserved cup of sauce over top, then sprinkle with reserved mozzarella cheese.
Combine fresh breadcrumbs and melted butter, then sprinkle over casserole, then top with the parmesan cheese.  Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes; casserole will be quite bubbly.
Serve with a green salad and the wine you used in the sauce.

Turkey-Broccoli Casserole

1 (10 3/4-ounce) can cream of broccoli soup, undiluted
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon poultry seasoning
1/4 teaspoon pepper
3 cups cubed cooked turkey or ham (about 3/4 pound)
1 (17-ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
1 (10-ounce) package frozen broccoli flowerets, thawed
1 (4-ounce) jar sliced pimiento, drained
1 (8 1/2-ounce) package cornbread mix
2/3 cup milk
1 large egg

Stir together first 9 ingredients. Spread into a lightly greased 11- x 7-inch baking dish.

Stir together cornbread mix, 2/3 cup milk, and egg just until moistened. Pour over turkey mixture.

BAKE at 400° for 25 to 30 minutes. Makes 6 to 8 servings.

Sweet Potato Casserole

8     sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
1     egg
1/2   cup butter, divided – 1/4 c for topping
1/4   cup milk, (optional)
1/4   cup sugar
1     teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1     teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4   cup brown sugar
1/4   cup shredded coconut
1/4   cup pecan pieces
Boil potatoes until tender, drain.  Mix potatoes, egg, 1/4 c butter, milk, vanilla, pumpkin pie spice and 1/4 cup sugar.  Pour into 2 quart casserole.  Mix remaining ingredients, crumble on top of the sweet potato mixture.  Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.
8  Servings