Slow Cooker Saucy Chicken Over Rice

This Slow Cooker Saucy Chicken Over Rice is one of my favorite go-to recipes, so I was really surprised to find that I hadn’t shared it on my blog yet!

My fiance is a runner, so I tend to make this recipe a few days before the race because it has a nice balance of carbs and protein with no dairy. (Note: every runner is different and has their own preferred menu on the days leading up to a race, this just happens to be one of my fiance’s favorites.)

This recipe from MyRecipes.com is a really simple slow cooker meal that involves about 15 minutes prep in the morning before popping everything into the slow cooker. The result is a yummy, tender, chicken recipe that freezes and reheats great as well! I’ve adapted the recipe slightly, but the general concept is still there. If you’d like to see the original, visit MyRecipes.com.

Ingredients:

  • 4 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs (or 2 lbs thighs and 2 lbs drumsticks)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 small onion, chopped (about 1/3 cup)
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/3 cup dry white wine
  • 2 tablespoons dried Italian seasoning
  • 1 tablespoon dried tarragon
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • 3 cups hot cooked rice

Continue reading Slow Cooker Saucy Chicken Over Rice

Thai Basil Chicken Stir Fry

I have been having a crazy couple of weeks, so despite cooking a bunch of weeknight-friendly meals, I haven’t had much of a chance to write any posts to share those recipes! This one is too tasty to not share right away though.

 

This Thai Basil Chicken Stir Fry from Cooking Light’s latest issue is super simple and really flavorful. I served it with Cashew and Green Onion Rice (because I didn’t have any bulgar on hand) and it was an awesome complement!

 

The whole recipe took about 20 minutes to make (including the rice) so it’s a nice option for busy weeknights. I made a couple of substitutes to the original recipe, so be sure to check out the original to see if it’s more your style.

 

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 2 tablespoons fish sauce
  • 2 tablespoons canola oil
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 poblano chile, thinly sliced
  • 1 lb skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut into bite sized pieces
  • 2 red bell peppers, sliced
  • 1 onion, vertically sliced into thin slices
  • 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, roughly chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

 

Continue reading Thai Basil Chicken Stir Fry

Honey Mustard Roasted Rainbow Carrots

Hooray for spring weather! As the days get warmer, the produce offerings also get better. It’s the perfect time of year to experiment with more veggies!

 

Door-to-Door Organics, a home delivery organic and grocery company,  is a great way to receive seasonal and organic fruits and vegetables. Their produce is USDA Certified Organic and is locally sourced whenever possible. You choose a produce box size (little, small, medium, or large), type (fruits, veggies, or mixed), and delivery frequency. A few days before it will be delivered, you will receive an email with what will be in the box. You can make up to 5 substitutions, which is really a great feature.

 

You can also shop for other groceries and add them to your delivery, including diary, meat, bread, etc. Their Facebook page is also an awesome resource. You can find some recipes, links to some of their helpful blog posts, and get more information about Door-to-Door Organics!

 

I have been using Door-to-Door Organics for a few weeks now (I get the Little Mixed Box box delivered every other week courtesy of a coupon given to me by Door-to-Door Organics) and was so excited to see that my latest delivery had beautiful rainbow baby carrots in it!

 

I love when my food has vibrant colors, so I couldn’t wait to roast these beauties up. My box also came with a red onion, a head of garlic and some fresh Italian parsley, perfect accompaniments to the carrots.

 

This recipe for Honey Mustard Roasted Rainbow Carrots is really simple and takes about 30 minutes, depending on how soft you like your carrots (I like mine to have some crunch to them!)

 

If you want to try Door-to-Door Organics for yourself, they were nice enough to offer a discount for I Can Cook That readers! Use the coupon code ICANCOOKTHAT to receive $10 off!  

 

Ingredients

  • 1 (12 oz) bag rainbow baby carrots
  • 1/2 red onion, chopped (about 1/3 cup)
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon local honey
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh Italian parsley

Continue reading Honey Mustard Roasted Rainbow Carrots

Smoked Sausage with Rigatoni

Whew. I am having a crazy busy month, so unfortunately my cooking is suffering. I can never have too many weeknight meal options (ie. meals that can be on the table in 30 minutes or less) at my disposal, so here’s another quick and easy dinner that comes together quickly- Smoked Sausage with Rigatoni! I tend to usually make chicken or seafood recipes, so I am finally doing a quick beef recipe!

 

This recipe for Smoked Sausage with Rigatoni uses Hillshire Farm’s Beef Smoked Sausage to add some yummy flavor to a quick fire roasted chunky tomato sauce. It’s a great alternative to chicken to snazz up a midweek meal.

The beef sausage cooks up in no time. Using the same pan to cook the sausage and to make the sauce gives the sauce a subtle smoky flavor that’s so tasty!

Ingredients:

  • 1 (16 oz) box rigatoni, cooked according to package directions
  • 1 package Hillshire Farms Beef Smoked Sausage, cut into slices
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 small onion, chopped (~1 cup)
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh basil leaves
  • 2 (14.5 oz) cans Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • grated Parmesan cheese, optional

#spon: I’m required to disclose a relationship between our site and Hillshire. This could include Hillshire providing us w/content, product, access or other forms of payment. Continue reading Smoked Sausage with Rigatoni

Swordfish with Macadamia Nut Crust and Papaya Salsa

I can’t say that I know much about Hawaiian food, past that I assume is it fish-heavy and influenced by tropical and Asian/Polynesian flavors (with their favorite canned meat, Spam, sprinkled in, of course). So when I was given the opportunity to review Tommy Bahama‘s FLAVORS of ALOHA: Cooking with Tommy Bahama (paid link), I was really curious to see what the cookbook had in store.

 

 

The cookbook is filled with quite the range of dishes, from appetizers to dessert. Written by Rick Rodgers, the cookbook transports you to Hawaii through 100+ island-inspired recipes including:

  • Tuna Poke with Guacamole and Flatbread
  • Flavorful Ono Oxtail Soup
  • Saimin with Asian Chicken Broth (arguably Hawaii’s state dish)
  • Steamed Sea Bass with Ginger Dipping Sauce
  • Huli Huli Pork Tenderloin and Pineapple with Old-School Teriyaki Marinade
  • Pineapple Crème Brulee
  • Hibiscus Lime Cooler

 

 

The cookbook also contains little facts about Hawaiian culture and history as well as tips for eating, drinking, and “living the life,” FLAVORS OF ALOHA invites aspiring cooks of all abilities to embrace the Tommy Bahama spirit by taking an “island time” approach to cooking for family and friends. Plus the photos are gorgeous!

 

 

I wanted to use this opportunity to work with a seafood I rarely make (although I am absolutely going to have to make the Kona Flan in the near future!) and adapted the cookbook’s recipe for Mahi Mahi with Macadamia Nut Crust and Papaya Salsa to use swordfish instead.

 

Adapted from Flavors of Aloha, Cooking with Tommy Bahama

Ingredients:

Papaya Salsa:

  • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon minced shallots
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh cilantro
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped crystallized ginger
  • 1 teaspoon Sriracha
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 cup diced papaya

Swordfish:

  • 1/2 cup unsalted macadamia nuts
  • 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 4 swordfish steaks, about 6 oz each
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 large egg white
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Continue reading Swordfish with Macadamia Nut Crust and Papaya Salsa

Lime-Teriyaki Salmon Rice Bowls

I posted a recipe for a Salmon Teriyaki Stir Fry a while back and was craving something similar but not the exact same recipe. I found this recipe for an Asian Salmon Bowl with Lime Drizzle on Epicurious and doctored it up to suit my tastes.

This rice bowl is super satisfying and comes together really quickly. Feel free to experiment with different mix ins and toppings!

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup cooked rice, white or brown
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil, divided
  • 1 package (8 ounces) sliced baby bella mushrooms
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 2 large garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
  • 1/3 cup fresh lime juice
  • 1/3 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce (or coconut aminos to make gluten free)
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 4 salmon fillets (4 ounces each)
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 1 package (5 ounces) baby spinach
  • 1 red bell pepper, chopped
  • 2 teaspoons black sesame seeds

Continue reading Lime-Teriyaki Salmon Rice Bowls

Steamed Mussels in Saffron Broth

I am so excited to share this dish for Steamed Mussels in Saffron Broth with you for a few reasons:

  1. I love mussels and am always looking for a new recipe to add to my rotation
  2. This recipe looks fancy pants because it has saffron in it
  3. BUT  it’s really simple to make!

 

 

This is actually yet another recipe sent my way through the Cooking Light Diet plan. (That plan is on a roll. The menus are amazing!)  They suggest serving it with an easy rice noodle mixture but if you’re feeling a little more carb-y, you could serve this with day old bread, over rice, or with pasta.

 

This sauce is amazing.  I actually packaged up the leftover broth to use to make rice the next day. Why yes, I did love it THAT much.

 

Ingredients:

  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 1 cup chopped onion
  • 1 large garlic clove, minced
  • 1/4 teaspoon saffron threads, crushed
  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 tablespoons whipping cream
  • 1 (8-ounce) bottle clam juice
  • 1/4 cup chicken stock
  • 2 pounds mussels, scrubbed and debearded

Continue reading Steamed Mussels in Saffron Broth

Chicken Satay

I have been meaning to make this recipe forever; seriously, years. I don’t know why it took me this long because it’s a pretty easy recipe, but for some reason I kept putting it off. And boy do I regret that. It’s so tasty! Honestly, what isn’t better with some peanut butter?

 

Chicken Satay is skewered chicken marinated in a peanut sauce that is typically eaten as an appetizer or street food. By adding a side of brown rice, this turns into an easy dinner!

 

This recipe actually has you ground your own peanuts with some other ingredients to make a sauce rather than starting with peanut butter. The result is really tasty!

 

Ingredients:

  • 1/3 cup unsalted dry-roasted peanuts
  • 1 tablespoon toasted cumin seeds
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (~2 limes)
  • 1 tablespoon dark sesame oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1 shallot, peeled
  • 1/3 cup light coconut milk
  • 3 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon grated peeled fresh ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 1 serrano chile, stem removed
  • 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into bite sized pieces
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

 

Continue reading Chicken Satay

Charred Lemon Chicken Piccata

I love Chicken Piccata, it’s a simple recipe that really delivers on flavor. Plus, I usually have the ingredients needed on hand! Cooking Light’s latest issue has a recipe for Chicken Piccata that browns the lemons to intensify the lemon flavor while taking away some of the “bite.”

This recipe would go great with a side of green beans and/or mashed potatoes. You could also add the chicken piccata over some egg noodles or other pasta, like I have with my past recipe for Chicken Piccata with Spaghetti.

Ingredients:

  • 2 small lemons, thinly sliced
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
  • 4 garlic cloves, halved
  • 4 (6-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breasts
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil, divided
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
  • 1 teaspoon grated shallot
  • 1/2 teaspoon grated garlic
  • 1 oregano sprig
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine
  • 1 cup unsalted chicken stock
  • 1 teaspoon all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon capers, rinsed and drained
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley (optional)

 

 

Continue reading Charred Lemon Chicken Piccata

Halibut with Balsamic Cherry Tomatoes

I spent the last two weeks in total holiday mode. With my birthday, Christmas, and getting engaged all in the past couple of weeks, it’s been one big celebratory meal! I’ve done very little cooking and a whole lot of eating, so it’s time to get back into a normal cooking/eating schedule again.

This recipe for Halibut with Balsamic Cherry Tomatoes from Cooking Light is a really simple weeknight meal option. I served it with a simple salad; green beans or asparagus would also work great with this recipe.

I changed the recipe slightly because my supermarket was out of basil; this version uses some oregano leaves to give a pop of flavor.

 

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, divided (I used basil infused olive oil)
  • 2 (6-ounce) halibut fillets, skinned
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 12 oz cherry tomatoes
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon fresh oregano leaves

 

Continue reading Halibut with Balsamic Cherry Tomatoes

Cauliflower with Anchovy Breadcrumbs

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, so I’ve been cooking up a bunch of sides, including this Cauliflower with Anchovy Breadcrumbs, to share with you until my favorite holiday!

This recipe from Cooking Light adds a toasted breadcrumb mixture over cooked cauliflower florets to make a really simple but tasty side dish! I changed the recipe up a bit, using sourdough bread because that’s what I had in my apartment. I also tossed the cauliflower in some olive oil and a touch of salt before adding the breadcrumbs to add some more flavor to the dish.

 

Ingredients:

  • 1 head of cauliflower, cut into bite sized florets
  • 2 ounces torn sourdough bread pieces
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage, plus more for garnish
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3 anchovy fillets, rinsed and drained
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • salt, to taste

Continue reading Cauliflower with Anchovy Breadcrumbs

Spinach-Chive Potato Bites with Kerrygold Cheese and Butter

You can always find the signature gold wrapping with green logo in my fridge. Kerrygold is my go-to butter brand for when butter quality is key. My favorite way to use it though is just on a slice of toasted Rosemary Olive Oil Bread, yum!

The Kerrygold brand is a line of all-natural, grass-fed cheeses and butters crafted at dairy farms throughout Ireland. The hormone-free cheese and butters are available around the world but still come from milk supplied from independent dairy farmers within the Emerald Isle. My relatives in Ireland actually own some dairy farms so this concept is pretty close to my heart.

Needless to say, I was so excited to make a recipe using both Kerrygold Butter and Cheese. Through Cooking Light Bloggers’ Connection, I was sent coupons to buy and use some yummy Kerrygold products. I decided to adapt a recipe from the Kerrygold website.

Ingredients:

Potatoes:

  • 15 small yellow, white or red potatoes (about 2 pounds)
  • 1/2 package (3.5 ounces) Kerrygold Dubliner Cheese, shredded, divided
  • 2 tablespoons Kerrygold Garlic and Herb Butter
  • 3 tablespoons milk
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
  • Chopped fresh parsley (optional)

Filling:

  • 1 tablespoon Kerrygold Garlic and Herb Butter
  • 1 cup spinach leaves, finely chopped
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons fresh chives, finely chopped

Continue reading Spinach-Chive Potato Bites with Kerrygold Cheese and Butter

Slow Cooker Oxtail and Short Rib Stew

My slow cooker and I are good friends, although I’m pretty sure the slow cooker is bringing more to the relationship than me. I love coming home to a delicious smelling dinner after work that takes maybe 15 minutes of prep time in the morning on my part.

This recipe for Slow Cooker Oxtail and Short Rib Stew from Cooking Light’s latest issue uses an ingredient I’ve never used before, or honestly even noticed in the supermarket: Oxtail. Oxtail is a gelatin-rich cut, which makes it perfect for hearty stews, especially slow cooked ones. The ribs add a bit more meat to the stew, which also has carrots and potatoes to round out the flavors.

This recipe is originally made in a Dutch oven and cooks for about 2 hours so if you’re not in the mood for a slow cooker version, be sure to check out the original recipe.

Ingredients:

  • 1 tablespoon canola oil
  • 1 pound bone-in short ribs, trimmed
  • 1 pound oxtail
  • 2 cups chopped onion
  • 1/2 cup sliced shallots
  • 6 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 cup dry red wine
  • 3 cups unsalted beef stock
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 4 thyme sprigs
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 pound very small Dutch Potatoes (bite size)
  • 3/4 pound carrots, cut diagonally into 2-inch-thick pieces
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
  • 2 teaspoons fresh oregano leaves
  • 1 tablespoon corn starch dissolved in cold water, if needed

Continue reading Slow Cooker Oxtail and Short Rib Stew

Slow-Baked Chicken Thighs w/ Tomato, Fennel & Lemon

I am a huge fan of quick and easy meals, or “set it and forget it” meals — when I come home after work, I want to eat within 45 minutes of being home! But, on Sundays I have the time to experience the magic that is slow roasting — something beautiful and delicious happens when food cooks at a low temperature for a long period of time.

I originally thought I might change this into a slow cooker recipe so that I could once again, set and forget it. But the recipe called for basting the chicken over a period of time so I thought I should stick to the original method of cooking. (I have never basted anything before; how I managed to avoid this technique for almost three decades is beyond me.)

Past the basting part, this recipe really isn’t very labor-intensive. You do need to give yourself around 2 and a half hours to make it though, so this is definitely a weekend recipe.  This recipe is in the latest issue of Cooking Light. And it’s worth the wait. This is one of the best chicken meals I’ve made in recent memory.

Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons butter, divided
  • 1 cup(~1 larger bulb) fennel bulb, cut into thin slices
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 pounds skinless, boneless chicken thighs
  • 1 (28-ounce) can whole plum tomatoes, drained
  • 6 garlic cloves, smashed and torn into large pieces
  • 2 lemons, sectioned
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
  • 1 (1-ounce) slice whole-wheat bread
  • 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
  • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Continue reading Slow-Baked Chicken Thighs w/ Tomato, Fennel & Lemon

Mushroom and Sausage Ragu with Creamy Polenta

With the weather starting to cool off a bit, I had a hankering for something a little more hearty that I could still prepare on a weeknight. This recipe from Cooking Light incorporates mushrooms and turkey sausage into a tomato sauce to make a filling but lighter meal. The polenta is kicked up a notch with the addition of some cream cheese to add some decadence to the whole dish. I kept this recipe mostly in tact and just messed with some of the amounts for the ingredients. To see the original recipe, click here. Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 8 ounces hot turkey Italian sausage
  • 3/4 cup chopped onion
  • 20 oz sliced baby bella mushrooms
  • 2 large (or 4 small) garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
  • 1 (14.5-ounce) can no-salt-added diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon coconut aminos (or soy sauce if not gluten-free)
  • 2 1/2 cups fat-free, lower-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • 1 cup cornmeal
  • 3 ounces 1/3-less-fat cream cheese
  • 1 tablespoon butter

Continue reading Mushroom and Sausage Ragu with Creamy Polenta

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