Creamy Chicken & Spinach Enchiladas

Maggie MealTime is back after a long hiatus! I was in Chicago for about a year, where my kitchen was very small and not well-stocked with the proper cooking utensils. And if I'm being honest, takeout and delivery food in our neighborhood was delicious, easy, and cheap! And don't even get me started on the grocery tax!

But now I'm back in the Madison area and I've got a full kitchen and have been trying out tons of new recipes. Most of them have been hits, so it seems silly not to share! 

My photo below is rather sad and shows one of the enchiladas split in half. Don't judge the flavor potential based on this photo!!! (Can you tell I'm a cilantro lover?!?)

Creamy Chicken & Spinach Enchiladas 

Adapted from Better Homes and Gardens 

3 boneless chicken breast halves (about 14 oz)

2/3 cup of reduced-sodium chicken broth

1/4 teaspoon of ground black pepper

4 cups of torn fresh spinach

2 thinly sliced green onions

1.5 cups of light sour cream

2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon of salt

2 teaspoon of ground cumin

1/2 cup of milk

1 can diced green chile peppers

8-10 small flour or whole wheat tortillas

3/4 cup of shredded Monterey Jack and/or cheddar cheese

Snipped fresh cilantro (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large skillet combine chicken, broth, and black pepper. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, for 12 to 14 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink; drain. Using two forks, shred chicken into bite-size pieces.
2. Meanwhile, place spinach in a steamer basket. Place basket in a saucepan over 1 inch of boiling water. Steam, covered, for 3 to 5 minutes or until tender. Transfer spinach to a sieve; press out excess liquid with the back of a spoon.
3. For filling, in a large bowl combine shredded chicken, cooked spinach, and the sliced green onion.
4. For sauce, in a small bowl combine sour cream, flour, salt, and cumin. Stir in milk and chile peppers. Add more flour if sauce seems too runny. Stir half of the sauce into filling; set the remaining sauce aside.
5. Grease or spray a casserole dish. Divide filling among tortillas; roll up tortillas. Arrange tortillas, seam sides down, in the prepared baking dish. Top with the remaining sauce.
6. Bake, covered, for 20 minutes. Remove and sprinkle with cheese. Bake, uncovered, about 20 minutes more or until heated through. Turn on the broiler if you like a crispier cheese topping.  If desired, garnish with cilantro and serve with salsa and/or additional green onion. (Salsa Verde was great with these!)

Maggie MealTime does Sushi!

I feel ashamed that a. it has taken me this long to make sushi when I love it so, and b. that I lived on a peninsula (Virginia's Eastern Shore/Delmarva) all summer long with fresh seafood and still didn't make it... UNTIL NOW!!!

 dried seaweed sheet.

 spread the rice with wooden spatula.

Add your fillings. I used crabmeat, boiled asparagus, and cream cheese. I also sprinkled the rice with garlic sesame seeds and bamboo roasted black sesame seeds.

 Roll with sushi mat!

 Slice.

 Get some soy sauce and prepared wasabi, and ENJOY!!!


Rice Recipe:
Rinse 2 cups of sushi rice in a bowl until water is clear. Add to medium saucepan of boiling water. Cover and reduce to simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit for 10 minutes. Add rice to large mixing bowl. Add 2 T rice vinegar, 2 T sugar, and 1/2 T salt. Mix and let cool. It should be sticky!!!

For the next steps, use this helpful website: makemysushi.com

Add whatever you want as filling!

Chile-Rubbed Grilled Chicken with Salsa

Another simple and delicious dish. Please excuse the patterned plate, which is what's available in my furnished rental home -- I don't dig patterns because the food should stand alone!!!

 Chile-Rubbed Grilled Chicken with Salsa

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 T extra virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing

2 garlic cloves, finely grated

1 1/2 tsp ancho chile powder (i couldn't find this so I ground up dried anchos)

1 1/2 tsp ground cumin

1 1/2 tsp ground coriander

1 tsp paprika

1/2 tsp chipotle chile powder (also couldn't find this so just skipped it)

4 tsp fresh lime juice, plus wedges for serving

Kosher salt

2 tomatoes, diced

3 tomatillos, husked, rinsed and diced (same old story as above - it's fine to skip!)

1/4 C finely diced red onion

1. Butterfly the chicken: Slice each breast almost in half horizontally. Open and lie flat. 

2. Combine olive oil, garlic, ancho chile powder, cumin, coriander, paprika, chiptole chile powder, 1 tsp lime juice, and 1 1/4 tsp salt in a large bowl. Add chicken and turn to coat. Cover and refrigerate 30 minutes minimum to however long your chicken won't get you sick. 

3. Preheat a grill to medium. Meanwhile, make the salsa. Toss the tomatoes, tomatillos, red onion, and the remaining 3 tsp lime juice in a bowl; season with salt. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. 

4. Brush the grill with olive oil. Grill the chicken, turning once, 4 to 6 minutes per side. Top with the salsa and serve with the lime wedges.

Chicken Biriyani

Apparently this is made for special occasions in India. This recipe was decent, and it's healthy, and I have to post it because it's pretty and unique!

 

 Chicken Biriyani 

Adapted from Reader's Digest Great Recipes for Good Health

Serves 6 to 8

2/3 C jasmine rice

5 cloves garlic

1 cinnamon stick

1 bay leaf

1 small yellow onion, chopped

1 T minced fresh ginger or 1/2 tsp ground ginger

1 T lemon juice

1/2 tsp each ground cumin, coriander, and turmeric

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

1/8 tsp each ground cloves, cardamom, and black pepper

1 C plain low-fat yogurt

3 C cubed cooked chicken

2 C shredded red cabbage

1 small tart green apple, unpeeled, cored and cubed

1. Preheat the oven to 350. Cook the rice according to package directions, but adding 2 garlic cloves, cinnamon stick, and bay leaf. When rice is done, discard the items you added. 

2. Meanwhile, in a blender or food processor, make a past of the onion, ginger, lemon juice, cumin, coriander, turmeric, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, pepper, and remaining garlic. Blend in yogurt. Add the chicken to the paste and stir until coated. 

3. Place the rice in an ungreased shallow 1.5 quart casserole, spoon the chicken mixture on top, cover, and bake for 35 minutes. Toward the end of the baking period, steam the red cabbage for 10 minutes over boiling water until tender, but still crisp. 

4. Cluster the red cabbage and the chopped apple in the center of the biriyani. Serve from the casserole. 

Grilled Oriental Venison or Beef With Dipping Sauce

I grew up eating LOTS of venison. My dad and brothers are hunters, plus accidentally pegging a deer with your vehicle wasn't rare. Consequently, the freezer was always filled with venison.

Now, as a 29 year old, I can easily make do without any venison in my life. But I have always enjoyed this dish (and still do!) because it masks that gamey flavor and makes the meat really tender. Also, it doesn't need to be venison -- you can use good ol' beef!

Grilled Oriental Venison or Beef With Dipping Sauce

2lb sirloin, tenderloin, or round steak

1/2 C plus 1/3 C soy sauce

3/4 C sugar, divided

3 lrg garlic cloves, crushed

2 T sesame seeds

2 green onions, sliced

1 T ginger, chopped

2 tsp cornstarch

3 T vinegar

1 tsp crushed red pepper

Cut beef into skewer-sized pieces. In a large shallow dish, combine 1/2 C soy sauce, 1/4 C sugar, garlic, sesame seeds, green onions, and ginger. Add beef and refrigerate at least 2 hours... I've gone up to 4 days in this marination station! 

When it's closer to game time, make the sauce:

In a small saucepan over medium heat, stir in 1/2 C sugar, 2tsp cornstarch, 1/3 C soy sauce, vinegar, and crushed red pepper. Stir constantly until it thickens a bit. Cool to room temp and divide into small dishes for dipping.

Thread meat onto skewers and grill 3 minutes, flipping once. I've also done this under the broiler when weather has been crappy. 

Enjoy your tender meat! 

Marjoram-Rubbed Pork & Grilled Potato Salad

My first homemade meal highlighting marjoram. It was good.... but I think I'd go with fresh oregano next time. The potato salad was pretty amazing, as is! 

This recipe is made to grill, but of course it was pouring rain the night I made it. No fear -- it turned out great using a grill pan for the pork and a cast iron skillet for the potatoes! 

Potatoes, before adding feta and olives. 

Marjoram-Rubbed Pork & Grilled Potato Salad

(from Eating Well Serves Two by Jim Romanoff)

Serves 2

2 garlic cloves

2 T extra-virgin olive oil

2 T minced fresh marjoram or oregano

1/4 tsp salt, or to taste

1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper

2 boneless pork loin chops (8 oz), trimmed of fat

3 T red wine vinegar

6 small red potatoes, halved

1 small red bell pepper, cut into 2 inch chunks

1 small red onion, cut into 1.5 inch chunks

1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese

6 green olives, pitted and chopped

1. Preheat grill to high.

2. Combine garlic, oil, marjoram (or oregano), salt, and pepper in a medium bowl. Rub some of the mixture onto both sides of pork. Transfer the rest of the mixture to a large bowl and whisk in vinegar until combined. Add potatoes, bell pepper, and onion to the medium bowl. Toss to coat. 

3. Oil the grill rack (use a paper towel with oil on it in a tongs). Reduce heat to medium and grill the potatoes, turning often, until tender, 15 to 20 minutes. (Note: Because I didn't grill mine, I boiled them until halfway tender before throwing them in the cast iron.) Thread the onion and pepper chunks onto two 10-inch skewers. Grill, turning often, until charred in spots and tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Grill the pork, turning once, 6 to 8 minutes total. 

4. Add the grilled veggies to the bowl with the reserved dressing, along with feta and olives. Toss to coat. Serve with the pork.

Thai Chicken Pizza

I had my parents over for dinner for the first time ever! Photos below... I also made a Thai Curry soup, but forgot to take a picture. :(

Thai Chicken Pizza 

Step One: sauce, cheese, and red peppers. Bake.

 Step Two: Add grilled chicken

 Step Three: Add veggies and peanuts

 Asian salad: with broccoli, carrot, cucumber, tomatoes, 

red cabbage, sesame sticks, & sesame dressing

Dessert: Whip one cup heavy whipping cream w/ 2 tablespoons powdered sugar. 

Layer with fruit and melted chocolate.

Thai Chicken Pizza

Serves 4

• 1 pizza crust
• 1/2 cup duck sauce or plum sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 package (2 cups) shredded provolone or Monterey Jack cheese
• 1/2 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 rounded tablespoonful peanut butter
• 2 teaspoons hot sauce
• 2 teaspoons grill seasoning (recommended: Montreal Steak Seasoning)
• 4 chicken breast cutlets, 1/2 pound
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar or cider vinegar
• 1/4 seedless cucumber, peeled and cut into matchsticks
• 4 scallions, chopped
• 1 cup bean spouts, a couple of handfuls (sub shredded red cabbage if you want)
• 1 carrot shredded
• Palm full cilantro leaves, chopped
• 1/4 cup chopped peanuts, 2 ounces

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Put pizza crust on pizza pan or cookie sheet. Top with duck or plum sauce - spread it around like you would pizza sauce. Sprinkle the pizza with some crushed red pepper flakes then top with cheese and peppers. Bake until golden and bubbly, about 12-15 minutes.

Combine vegetable oil, soy sauce and peanut butter with hot sauce and grill seasoning. Use the microwave to loosen up peanut butter if it is too cold to blend into sauce, 10 seconds ought to do it. Add chicken and coat evenly with mixture. Let stand 10 minutes then grill chicken cutlets on grill pan on med-high heat -- 2 to 3 minutes on each side, until firm. Slice chicken into very thin strips. 

While chicken cooks, mix honey and vinegar and add the cucumber. Turn to coat evenly.

Top the hot, cooked pizza with chicken, scallions, sprouts and cilantro. Drain cucumbers and scatter over the pizza. Garnish pizza with peanuts, cut into 8 wedges and serve.