Tag: smoked paprika

Chicken and Mushroom Stew

Ingredients:

  • 2 lbs Chicken breast, cubed
  • 1 Sweet onion, diced
  • 4 cloves Garlic, minced
  • 2-3 Russet Potatoes, cubed
  • 8oz Mushrooms, sliced
  • 4 cups Chicken Broth or Stock
  • About 1/8 cup cashews, chopped
  • 1/4 cup Red Wine
  • 1/4 tsp Smoked Paprika
  • 1/8 tsp ground Thyme
  • 1 Tbs fresh Rosemary, roughly chopped
  • 1 tsp dried Parsley
  • 1/4 tsp Salt
  • 1/4 tsp Pepper
  • 1/4 cup AP Flour
  • Olive Oil
  • Heavy Cream

Directions:

Add about 2 Tbs olive oil to a large pot or Dutch Oven over Medium High heat. When the oil is hot, add chicken to pot and season lightly with some salt and pepper, toss to coat and smooth the chicken to cover the bottom of the pot in one even layer. Allow to cook for about 5 minutes, then flip the chicken pieces with tongs. Cook chicken for another 3-4 minutes and remove to a separate bowl with a slotted spoon.

To the pot, add the onion, garlic, and potatoes to whatever liquid is left over from the chicken and coat the vegetables in it. If the pot is dry, add a little more olive oil. Cook roughly 6-8 minutes before adding the sliced Mushrooms. Continue to cook until the mushrooms release the liquid into the pot, return the chicken and any liquid in the bowl back into the pot.

Add the flour, measured salt and pepper, and the herbs and spices listed above. Toss to coat and cook another 3-4 minutes, until the flour looks cooked and everything is nicely coated. Pour the wine into the pot and stir, scraping up anything stuck to the bottom of the pot. Pour over the chicken broth and stir, adding the cashews as you do so.

Bring the stew to a simmer, and reduce the heat low enough to maintain the simmer. Cook the stew for 20 minutes. Add a splash of heavy cream to the stew, and warm through. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed and serve.

Italian Sausage and Peppers

Ingredients

  • 6 sweet or mild Italian sausages
  • 2 red bell peppers, sliced
  • 1 vidalia onion, sliced
  • 6 cloves garlic, finely diced
  • 1/4 to 1/2 cup red wine
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 to 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 2 Tbs Butter
  • 1 Tbs Olive Oil

    • White, cooked rice to serve (or large fresh rolls)

    Directions

    Heat olive oil in large skillet that comes with a lid. Add sausage links. Pour 1/2 cup water into skillet. Cover with lid. When water begins to boil, reduce heat to a simmer and cook 12 minutes. Remove the lid and turn heat up to medium. Brown sausages on all sides, then remove to rest, at least 5 minutes. Slice sausages into rounds after resting. Do not drain skillet.

    Melt butter in skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic. Saute 3 minutes. Add peppers and seasonings. Cook 2 to 3 minutes, then add wine and sausage. Cook until wine reduces and taste for seasoning. Adjust as needed. Serve over hot white rice, or on rolls.

    LarpMom’s Baked Mac n Cheese

    Ingredients:

    3/4 box cavapatti noodles cooked in salted water for 7 minutes
    4 oz cream cheese block, cubed
    8oz velveeta cheese block, cubed
    2 cups shredded mild cheddar cheese
    1 cup shredded parmesan cheese, plus more to dust on top
    4 Tbs butter, plus 3 more Tbs reserved
    1/4 cup ap flour
    2 cups milk
    1 tsp salt
    1/8 tsp onion powder
    1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
    1/4 tsp smoked paprkia
    1/4 to 1/2 tsp black pepper
    1/4 tsp ground dry mustard
    1/8 to 1/4 cup pinot gregio
    1/2 cup bread crumbs

    Directions:

    Preheat oven to 375° F. Add spices to flour and stir to mix. Melt 4 Tbs of butter in large pot, then add flour and whisk until smooth and cooked about 2 minutes.

    Add 2 cups milk slowly, and continue to whisk to avoid clumping. Cook 3 to 5 minutes over medium heat, until thickened. Add cream cheese and velveeta, and stir until melted and smooth. Turn off burner, and 2 cups cheddar and 1 cup of parmesan. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.

    Stir until melted and smooth. Pour wine into sauce and stir until mixed well. Add noodles and fold to coat. Transfer noodles to a 9×13 baking dish and smooth down until even in the dish. In the empty pot you used to cook the noodles, melt remaining butter and add the bread crumbs. Stir until fully moistened with butter and slightly toasted. Remove from heat. Grate more parmesan cheese over the macaroni and cheese, then top with bread crumbs.

    Cover with tin foil or a lid and bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes. Remove foil and bake 10 additional minutes. Remove from oven and cool for 10 minutes, then serve.

    LARPMom’s “Red” Sauce

    This was initially an update on my weeknight red pepper sauce, but it turned into a completely different creature. One I like much better! Because of the flavor and consistency, I serve it over pasta, on pizza, or as an alternative to anything you might usually enjoy with Marinara.

    I hope you love it as much as I do!

    Ingredients:

    • 2 jars roasted red peppers in water, drained
    • 6 cloves garlic
    • 1/4 cup flour
    • 1 cup merlot
    • 1 cup chicken stock
    • 1 cup half and half
    • 1/4 tsp smoked paprkia
    • Salt and pepper to taste
    • 4 Tbs extra virgin olive oil
    • A little sugar, to taste
    • Half a sweet onion, diced
    • Rind of parmesan
    • 1 Bay leaf

    Instructions:

    Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Put garlic, onion and peppers in food processor and blend until smooth. Whisk flour into oil until smooth and slightly golden. Add pepper mix to skillet and whisk. Add wine, stir to combine. Add chicken stock, salt, pepper, half and half, bay leaf, rind and paprika. Combine and bring to a boil, reduce to a low simmer, and cook at least 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

    At this point, I usually add more salt, pepper, paprika and a little sugar until I feel the sauce is balanced.