Chicken with Apples

2012

Chicken with Apples

6 skinless chicken breast halves
1 cup sliced yellow onion (more if you choose)
1 Tbsp Extra-Virgin Olive oil
2 Cups sliced granny smith apples (others work too, but I prefer the tart taste of the grannys for this dish)
1 Tbsp Earth Balance dairy/soy free butter spread
1 1/2 cups apple juice
2 Tbsp Honey
1/2-1 Tsp salt

Preheat oven to 350 Degrees F. Place Chicken breasts in a shallow baking pan. In a skillet, saute onions in olive oil until tender. Add apples and saute for 1 more minute. Pour onions and apples over chicken. Melt Butter substitute and pour over chicken and add apple juice, honey, salt, and if you want to add any other vegetables you can. I usually cook some vegetables separately as not to affect the flavor of this dish. Bake in the oven for 30-45 mins or until chicken is cooked through. This dish tastes best when prep work is completed and the dish is allowed to marinate for a while in the fridge before placing in the oven to cook. I usually will steam up some white Jasmine rice or brown rice to go with this dish. Serves 6. Enjoy!

Filed Under: Dinner, Gluten Free, Recipes

Peach sherry chicken

2012

Peach Sherry Chicken

4 Skinless chicken breasts
1 chopped yellow onion
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 Tbsp arrowroot
1/2 cup chili sauce
1/2 cup sherry
1 cup sliced fresh peaches
Sprinkle garlic powder
Sprinkle salt
Sprinkle ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 350 Degrees. Thaw chicken breasts if necessary. Place chicken breasts in a large cassarole dish and sprinkle them with garlic powder, salt and pepper. In a skillet combine the onions, chicken broth, brown sugar, arrowroot, and chili sauce and bring it just to a boil. Pour this and the peaches and sherry over the chicken. Place aluminum foil over the top of the cassarole dish and bake in the oven for 28-30 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. You can make the dish ahead of time and let it marinade in your fridge for a while before cooking to make the flavor even better.I usually pair this with white jasmine rice. Enjoy!

Filed Under: Dinner, Gluten Free, Recipes

Marshmallow fondant

2012

Castle Cake with fondantMy daughter’s Birthday cake.

For the cake I made a two tiered cake of my Chocolate cake recipe that is in many other posts and I covered it -or dirty iced it as they say with any frosting, I have posted a few flavors  in other posts. Then the fondant gets draped over the frosted cake.

Marshmallow Fondant Icing recipe

16 oz bag of Jet-Puffed mini marshmallows
A 2lb bag of C & H powdered sugar
2-5 tbsp water
1/2 cup  or more of white Crisco…or Spectrum ( I prefer) shortening
1 pair of surgical gloves

Melt your entire bag of marshmallows  plus 2 Tbsp water in a large glass bowl every 30 seconds stirring in between until it is completely melted. This usually takes 2 mins or so.  Clean your counter well. Dry it then  cover it with Crisco  put your gloves on and cover your gloves with Crisco well too. Add your food coloring to your bowl of melted marshmallow. Stir it in well then add 3/4 of the bag of powdered sugar. mix it in well too. Then knead the dough-like fondant on the counter adding slowly the rest of the powdered sugar. If it gets too sticky or tears add a little water and continue. if it starts sticking to your hands or counter add a little more Crisco to your hands or your counter. Keep kneading until smooth and well mixed. Consider this your workout for the day.  Then you can store it at this stage wrapped tightly in saran wrap in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. I prefer to get it over with because you will have to regrease your counter… fyi. Roll it out to your desired size and enlist the help of another person to help you drape it over your already dirty iced cake Make sure you had dirty iced your cake with a lot of icing to make sure the fondant will look smoothest. Once draped trim the bottom edges and smooth it out evenly. Add any additional icing decorations … I used decorator icing for mine in a Wilton disposable bag with a few different tips. And the Mermaid centerpiece was purchased online and is made entirely of plastic….I know I totally cheated at the last minute. What can I say … I was tired. lol
Baby Shower Cake
pony cake
DSC_0013
Chocolate cake with fondant

Chocolate cake with fondant

Filed Under: Dessert, Gluten Free, Recipes

Blueberry-lemon tea cakes

2012

Blueberry- Lemon Tea Cakes

1/2 cup Earth’s Balance Dairy-free/Soy-free butter
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 Tbsp lemon zest
1/2 cup lemon juice
2 Tbsp lemon juice
3/4 cup Rice Milk
1 Tsp Vanilla
1/2 cup applesauce or Ener G egg replacer for equivalent of 2 eggs for slighter tea cakes
1/4 Tsp Baking Soda
1/4 Tsp Baking Powder
6 oz fresh organic blueberries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour nine 2 1/2 x 4 inch mini loaf pans. In a small pot cook on medium heat your 1/2 cup lemon juice with 1/2 cup sugar until sugar is dissolved, set aside. Mix all dry ingredients then add your wet ingredients blend well then fold in your berries last. Pour into your prepared pans and bake for 20 mins or so until a toothpick comes out clean. Let completely cool then brush some of your lemon syrup onto the top and or maybe sides of your loaf.  Wrap in wax paper and affix your favorite cardstock emblem. I prefer Clip Art ones in pretty blueberry style. 🙂 Enjoy!!

 

Filed Under: Dessert, Recipes

Gingerbread

2012

Homemade Gingerbread

1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup Earth Balance non-dairy/non-soy butter substitute
1/4 cup applesauce
1 cup molasses
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 Tsp baking soda
1 Tsp ground cinnamon
1 Tsp ground ginger
1/2 Tsp ground cloves
1/2 Tsp salt
1 cup hot water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a loaf pan. In a large bowl combine butter substitute and sugar and cream until smooth then add applesauce and blend well. Add the rest of the wet ingredients at this time. In another bowl add all dry ingredients and whisk together. Then add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredient bowl and blend until smooth. pour into loaf pan and bake in the oven for 1 hour. Test by inserting a knife into the center… if it comes out clean its done. Let cool completely then serve.

Filed Under: Dessert, Recipes

Cherry berry pie

2012

Cherry Berry Pie  

Pie crust:
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 Tsp salt
1/2 cup cold Earth’s Balance Non-dairy/soy-free butter substitute
1/2 cup vegetable shortening… I prefer Spectrum brand
6 to 8 Tbsp ice water

Filling:
3/4 cup plus Tsp sugar
1/3 quick-cook tapioca
1 Tbsp cornstarch
1/4 Tsp salt
1 1/4 cup cranberry juice
3 cups of fresh cherries or 16 oz pkg frozen (thawed)
1 1/2 cups fresh raspberries
1 cup cut fresh strawberries

Make pie crust. Whisk flour and salt together in a large bowl. Cut in butter and shortening with a pastry blender or cutter until mixture resembles coarse meal. Sprinkle in Ice water 1 tbsp at a time kneading it in until dough is moist enough to hold together and if you squeeze it no water comes out. Divide it in half.. shape two disks, wrap in saran wrap and place back in the fridge until later.

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Prepare filling. In a large saucepan pour sugar, tapioca, salt, cornstarch. Whisk together then add the juice. Turn burner on and heat to a boil stiring constantly. once boiling you will see it thicken. remove from heat. Add cherries and berries. Stir in until well coated.

Take out your two dough disks. Roll out one and place in a pie pan. Then pour your pie filling into it. Then take your other disk and roll it out and with a pastry cutter cut out strips of dough and place like lattice work one on top of another. Press the edges together. Then with a pastry brush wipe a touch of water accross the top of the pie and shake a tiny amount of sugar over it. Bake in the oven at 400 for 15 mins. Then turn it down to 375 and bake for an additional 45 minutes with a pie cover over the edges. Cool at least 1 hour before slicing. Enjoy!!

Filed Under: Dessert, Recipes

Apple Cinnamon muffins

2012

Apple Cinnamon Muffins

3/4 cup white sugar
2/3 cup Earth Balance non-dairy, non-soy butter substitute
3/4 cups brown sugar
3 Tsp baking powder
2 Tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 cup no sugar added applesauce
3 cups of all-purpose flour
1 cup Rice milk
2 cups finely chopped tart apples

Preheat oven for 375 degrees. Cream the sugars with the butter substitute first. Then add the applesauce and blend well. Then add the baking powder, cinnamon, flour, and the rice milk and mix up well. Lastly, fold in the chopped apples. Scoop evenly into a pre lined cupcake pan. Will make about 20 muffins. Bake for approximately 18-21 mins until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy!!!

Filed Under: Breakfast, Dessert, Recipes

Apple Crumb Pie

2012
 

Apple Crumb Pie

Soft Pie Crust:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 Tsp Salt
1/2 Tsp sugar
1/2 cup of Earth Balance dairy-free soy-free butter substitute
1/2 cup Spectrum Organic Butter flavored Shortening
1/2 cup ice water

Crumb topping;
3/4 cup all purpose flour
1 cup each packed light brown sugar and refined white sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2cup cold Earths Balance dairy-free soy-free butter substitute
Filling:
7 med-lg Honeycrisp apples (about 3 1/4 lb)
1 Tsp lemon juice
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3 Tbsp all purpose flour
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 ground nutmeg
Make pie crust. Put flour, salt and sugar into a large mixing bowl. Add in the butter substitute and shortening. Using a pastry blender cut in the butter and shortening and water. Mix quickly as it needs to stay cold. You may want to refrigerate every so often if you are struggling. lay out two pieces of saran wrap onto your counter. After kneading your dough into a nice shaped disk shape. Place onto saran wrap in disk shapes. Fold the saran around trying to maintain that disk shape then place back in the refrigerator for 10 mins to get cold again. Place out your pastry mat if you choose or use a clean counter and sprinkle some flour onto your surface. Take your dough disk  out and roll it out with a rolling pin into a minimum  9 1/2-10 inch diameter circle or roll it out completely and you can trim the edges off once it is in the pie plate. This is tricky which is why I invested in a pastry mat that is premarked. Once rolled out carefully pick up your large circle and drape it evenly over your 9 inch pie plate. Take the extra 1/2-1 inch dough around the top and fold it over crimping the edges as you go using your thumb and fore finger. Try to crimp evenly so it looks pretty when you are done. This is tricky so don’t beat yourself up if it doesn’t look perfect… it will taste the same either way. If you are making two pies you can tear the large ball in half and it will make exactly enough for two 9 inch pies, just refrigerate one disk while working on rolling out the other so it stays as hard and cold as possible.
Preheat oven 425–   Peel, halve, and core apples, cut into 1/8 in slices. Place in a lg bowl. Add lemon juice and toss to coat. Mix remaining ingredients and sprinkle over apples and toss to coat. Make crumb topping by mixing flour, brown sugar and granulated white sugar and the cinnamon in a bowl. Add in butter substitute using a clean pastry cutter until mixture  forms moist, coarse crumbs that clump together. Now layer apples in pie shell, mounting them higher in center. Place crumble on the top.. Place pie on foil lined baking sheet to catch any spillover. Place foil around edges of your pie or use a pie shield and place pie on bottom rack. Bake for 15 mins at 425 then reduce heat to 350 then bake an additional 45 mins or until a knife meets only some resistance when center of pie is pierced.  Serves 6-8.
Filed Under: Dessert, Recipes

Blueberry muffins

2012
Blueberry Muffins

1/2 cup Earth Balance non-dairy, non-soy butter substitute
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup no sugar added applesauce
1 Tsp Vanilla
2 Tsp Baking Powder
1/2 Tsp Salt
2 1/2 cups fresh preferably organic blueberries
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup Rice Milk
1 Tsp white sugar for dusting the tops

Preheat oven at 375 degrees. Cream butter substitute and sugar in a large bowl. Next add the applesauce and blend well. Then add the vanilla, baking powder, salt and blend well. Then add the flour and mix well. Fold in the pre-washed fresh blueberries. Using a cupcake/muffin scooper scoop even mounds into pre-lined cupcake/muffin pan. This recipe will fill approximately 15 cupcake/muffin liners. Sprinkle the tops of the muffins with the Tsp of sugar, you wont use all of it. Bake in oven at 375 degrees for 20-25 mins. Check with a toothpick when done. The toothpick will come out clean when they are ready. Let cool completely before serving. Enjoy!!!

Filed Under: Breakfast, Dessert, Recipes

Roasted coriander chicken

2012

Roasted Coriander Spiced Chicken

3 Tbsp all-purpose flour (use glueten-free if needed)
4 Tsp ground roasted coriander
1/2 Tsp Thyme
1/2 Tsp Sea Salt
1/2 Tsp Black pepper ground
1 1/2 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs (I will also use chicken breast tenders for less fat)
4 thick slices of Applewood Smoked bacon
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 lg yellow onion, cut into 1 inch chunks or smaller
1 cup chicken broth
1 large sweet potato ( about 1 pound, so you may need two) Peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes
1 container of white button mushrooms
2 medium zucchini cut into 1 inch half moon slices
1/2 cup orange juice

Using a pie pan mix flour, thyme, coriander, salt and pepper then set aside. Prep vegetables first- this make everything must easier. Cook bacon in separate skillet on medium high heat (don’t forget your spatter cover!) And turn on your fan if you don’t want your whole house to smell like bacon. Once cooked place onto paper towels and dab the excess oil off and cut into 1 inch pieces. Set bacon aside for now. Take about 1 Tbsp of the extra bacon oil from the skillet and place into a new large dutch oven, cast iron skillet or large saucepan at least a 5 qt. Add 1 Tbsp of the olive oil and coat the bottom of your new cooking pan. Coat your chicken in your flour mixture and fry up in your pan or pot on medium  heat browning each side  about 2 mins a side, no more. try not to let it stick to the bottom- although it can be challenging sometimes depending on your pot choice. Add some of the chicken broth if you need to prevent it from burning towards the end of the batch. I would add your onions and mushrooms next cooking 4 mins or until soft – (use your pot’s lid). Add your extra flour mixture to your chicken broth that is left whisk it then add to the pot. Add in your sweet potatoes and your orange juice and you may need to now turn your heat up to medium high again to get it back to a small boil. cook for 10-15 mins- until the sweet potatoes are starting to feel tender. Take the lid off after 5 mins and add you zucchini and bacon and turn down heat to low cooking another 5 mins or so until your zucchini is tender. Serves 6

Filed Under: Dinner, Gluten Free, Recipes
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