Smothered Chicken and Rice

 I shop at Whole Foods, so my ingredient sizes may be different from the brands you use. 

Ingredients

20 oz pkg frozen brown rice, defrosted 

Cooking spray 

Flour mixture:

1 cup flour

1 tablespoon salt 

½ teaspoons black pepper

1 tablespoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 teaspoon dried thyme

Chicken 

½ cup unsalted butter

6 chicken thighs

For the sauce 

2-10.5 os cans of cream of mushroom soup (10.5 oz each)

1 1/2 cups milk

4 oz can sliced mushrooms, drained 

1 teaspoon garlic powder

½ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon black pepper 

Directions 

Prepare the rice.

Spray a 13 in x 9 in baking dish with cooking spray and spread the rice in the bottom of the dish.

Combine the flour breading mixture in a plastic bag, add the chicken, and shake until the thighs are well coated.

Heat a large skillet, and add the butter. When melted, add the chicken and cook over low heat until very brown, about 15 minutes on each side.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Place chicken on top of the rice.

In a mixing bowl, combine the sauce ingredients and pour over the chicken and rice. Cover the dish with foil.

Bake at 5 p.m., then remove the foil.

Bake 20 minutes. Remove the dish from the oven and let it rest 5 minutes before serving.

Celebrate The Year Of The Horse-Happy Chinese New Year 2

 HoneyWalnutShrimp

This dish originated in Hong Kong and found its way to American Chinese restaurants.

1 cup walnuts

1 lb. shrimp, peeled and deveined

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

2 large eggs, beaten

1 cup cornstarch

Vegetable oil for frying

Saice

1/4 cup Japanese mayonnaise

2 Tbsp. honey divided 

2 Tbsp. heavy cream

Cooked white rice, for serving

Dried 94 fresh chives for garnish 

Directions 

In a dry large skillet, place the walnuts in a single layer and toast on both sides. Pour into a bowl and add the 1tablespoon of honey. Stir well.

Pat shrimp dry with paper towels and season lightly with salt and pepper. Place eggs in a shallow bowl and cornstarch in another shallow bowl. Dip shrimp in eggs, then in cornstarch.

In the same large skillet over medium heat, heat emoigj oil to cover the bottom of the skillet.

Add shrimp in batches and fry until golden, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and place in the bowl with the walnuts.

In a medium bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, remaining honey, and heavy cream. Toss shrimp and walnuts in the sauce. Top with chives. Serve over rice.

Ramon Broth Stir- fried Green Beans

Ingredients:

Sauce

- ¼ cup ramen broth, bottled or made from a noodle package

- 1 tablespoon soy sauce

- 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce

- 1 tablespoon cornstarch

- 1 tablespoon sesame oil

- 1 lb green beans. Cut into thirds

Peanut oil

Instructions:

In a small bowl, whisk together the ramen broth, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, and cornstarch until smooth.

Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over high heat.

Add the mixed vegetables and stir-fry until they are crisp-tender

Pour the sauce over the stir-fry and cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce has thickened.

Serve with rice.

Celebrate The Year Of The Horse-Happy Chinese New Year

 Chinrse Sea Bass

2 servings

Ingredients

2- 6-ounce wild-caught Chilean sea bass filets

1 tablespoon hoisin sauce

1 teaspoon soy sauce 

1 teaspoon honey

1 teaspoon light brown sugar packed

¼ teaspoon grated garlic 

1/2 teaspoon rice wine vinegar

Instructions

You can also cook the fish in the oven or in the air fryer. See directions below.

Position the top oven rack about 6 inches under the broiler.

Preheat the broiler on high.

Pat the Chilean sea bass filets dry with a paper towel and place them on a sheet tray.

Whisk together the hoisin, soy, honey, brown sugar, garlic powder, and vinegar in a small bowl.

Brush the glaze all over the filets.

Broil for 7-9 minutes, keeping a close eye on it so they don’t burn.

The fish is ready when an internal temperature reaches 140-145°F. If your fish is browning too quickly, you can reduce the oven temperature to 350°F and bake the fish until it reaches the desired internal temperature. Aie-fru at 390 degrees F for 12 minutes.

Chinese Stir-Fried Vegetables 

Ingredients

2 servings

15 oz can of bean sprouts, rinsed

1 can sliced water chestnuts, rinsed 

1 can of bamboo shoots, rinsed

1 cup Chinese long green beans

1/2 cup carrots, julienned

1 teaspoon ginger, chopped

1 teaspoon garlic, chopped

1 teaspoon soy sauce

1teaspoon sesame oil

Directions

Heat the wok, and add sesame oil.

Then, add vegetables followed by ginger and garlic, over medium heat for 1 minute.

Add Chicken stock and soy sauce, and cook until vegetables are tender.

Serve with rice.

Sausage and Peppers Pizza

 Ingredients

1 lb pizza dough

Ingredients

1 small green bell pepper, coarsely chopped

1 small red bell pepper, coarsely chopped

1 small sweet onion, coarsely chopped

3 links mild Italian sausage (about 1 lb)

2 tablespoons canola oil, divided

3/4 cup pizza sauce

2 cups shredded (or fresh) mozzarella cheese

1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese 

Direct

Remove dough from refrigerator and let stand one hour (do not remove from bag until stand time is completed).

Preheat oven to 405°F.

Chop peppers and onions.

Remove sausage casing: cut almost in half lengthwise (butterfly); turn sausage over and peel casing away.

Preheat large sauté pan on medium-high 2–3 minutes. Place 1 tablespoon of oil in a pan, then add the sausage; brown 5–6 minutes, stirring to crumble the sausage, or until no pink remains. Let stand 2–3 minutes to cool.

Prepare crust. For a thick crust: flour hands lightly and pat dough evenly into a lightly greased or nonstick 16" pizza pan. For a thin crust: turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and roll to the desired thickness. Place on a lightly greased or nonstick 16" pizza pan.

Top with pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, peppers, onions, and sausage. Brush the outer edge of the crust with the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake 18–25 minutes (depending on the thickness of the pizza) or until crust is golden, cheese is melted, and the toppings are thoroughly heated. Let stand 5 minutes before slicing.