September 20, 2011

Hungarian Paprika Chicken

Recently, I picked up Eva Longoria's new cookbook. I bought it during the second wave of Borders closing sales for a great price. I love Eva's character on Desperate Housewives and found it ironic that in real life Eva actually loves to cook. 


Her cookbook is beautifully done with pictures of her food jumping off the pages. Most of her book is devoted to Spanish food, but there are many simple dishes too, like ants on a log, a cannellini bean dip, crock-pot ropa vieja, and garlic mashed potatoes.


At this point you must be wondering if I'm getting paid for this post. Ha! Nope. I just like buying and reviewing cookbooks- with you. Who else am I going to share this stuff with? Besides the hubby. But he just wants to eat the dish, not talk about it!

There are still a ton of recipes I want to try from her book. This was one of the first I tried, after reading her description- it's even better after a day or two, and the recipe card was given to her from a friend, written in Hungarian. How cool is that?

I apologize for the crappy pictures- this was taken during the week of no sun early September. And it doesn't actually look all that pretty...but it is really good. I would suggest adding some more spices, maybe some cumin, chili powder, or thyme. It was a little bland when I first tasted it, but with the addition of some spices it's a great warm-you-up meal. 

Source: Eva's Kitchen by Eva Longoria
Serves: 8 to 10

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 yellow onions, chopped
3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-size cubes
3 tablespoons sweet paprika
1 teaspoon kosher salt
4 bell peppers, preferable 1 each. green, red, yellow and orange, cored and chopped
3 tomatoes, chopped
1 pound egg noodles
1 to 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
16 ounces sour cream
¼ cup all-purpose flour, or as needed

In a Dutch oven or other large pot, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring, until softened and translucent, 6 to 8 minutes. Increase the heat to medium-high and add the chicken. Cook until slightly browned, 8 to 10 minutes.

Add the paprika, salt, and pepper and stir to coat the meat. Stir in the peppers and tomatoes. Bring to a simmer. Cover and simmer until the chicken is tender, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes; the vegetables and chicken will have exuded their liquid to create a fragrant, bubbling stew.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add the egg noddles and cook according to package directions. Drain thoroughly, return to the pot or a bowl, and toss with the butter. Put aside and keep warm.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the sour cream and flour until smooth (for a thicker stew, add more flour). Stir this mixture into the simmering stew, one large spoonful at a time. Bring it all just to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes. Serve hot over the buttered noddles.

Have you purchased any cookbooks lately?

What are some of your favorite cookbooks?

September 18, 2011

Weekend Bites + Menu Plan Monday 9/19

Wohooooo, I ended up feeling much better than I thought I would this weekend! Saturday morning I woke up feeling a little sickly, but as the day moved on I gradually improved. So weird. I don't get sick very often and when I do, I'm not sick for very long. Go me!

I laid around on the couch for most of the morning until I had the sudden urge for a pumpkin latte. I headed out to Target and ordered my first pumpkin latte of the season. It's the only form of coffee I'll drink. I hate coffee! With latte in hand I perused the Halloween section. Hubby, you should be very proud. I didn't buy anything. :)

Inspired, I went home and opened up my fall box.


I spent an hour decorating and re-introducing our home to fall scents.

Afterwards, high on my fall kick, I proceeded to the kitchen to make a pumpkin cream cheese loaf. Have you bought any pumpkin yet? I still have three cans from last season.

On Sunday I was feeling even better! Hubby was given the day off (yay!) so we went apple picking!

First we had to get some donuts. You can smell those babies from the parking lot.


Then we headed out to the orchards.


Empire, McIntosh, Jonathan, and Cortland were all available for picking. I whipped out my real camera for you.

Such a pretty day.



So ready for fall!

Afterwards hubby and I made a mad dash to the store to pick up what we need for dinner this week. It's going to be a busy week for me, so this is a tentative menu. Even still, I can't start the week off without some sort of plan. Here goes:

    I had such a great weekend I don't want it to end! What did you do this weekend? Or, what's on your menu plan? 

      September 17, 2011

      The Week Wrap Up 9/12-9/17

      I have had big plans this weekend.

      I was going to bake with as much pumpkin as I could. I was going to declare it fall (considering that it was 40 yesterday morning) and dig out my decor from my fall box. I was going to do some shopping, run errands, make my grocery list and menu plan, shop for said items, and buy things I don't really need from Target.

      Then last night happened. My throat was itchy. It hurt to swallow. I was sneezing four times in a row.
      Must be my first cold of the season.
      I work with small children. It's to be expected.

      So. How much will I get done?

      Here's what I shared this week with you:






      Here's what I bookmarked: 


      Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Brownies- Recipe Girl


      White Bean, Sun-dried Tomato and Basil Hummus- Budget Gourmet Mom


      Tomato and Mozzarella Salad with Pesto- Food Snots



      Pumpkin Cream Oreo Tarts- Lauren's Latest


      True Bolognese- Not Rachael Ray



      Crockpot Southwestern Corn Soup- Stephanie Cooks


      If I accomplish one thing, it's going to be baking something pumpkin. What are your weekend plans?

      September 15, 2011

      Dijon Honey Chicken Tenders

      I'm a big believer in anything fresh. Fresh ingredients, fresh produce, fresh bread, fresh cookies, fresh air... I've come to tell myself if I've made it at home, that must make it better. No processed ingredients, right? So it's okay if I eat more than the usual 2 cookies I'd allow myself from a processed package. That also means it's okay if I eat more than 2 chicken tenders.


      Growing up, one of my favorite things to eat was chicken nuggets/tenders. Those light, airy chicken nuggets from McDonald's? I hang my head in shame, but yes, I'll confess- I was a Mickey D's chicken nuggeter. Grandma used to take my brother and I for a happy meal once a week. Once a week! Oh the horror.

      I'll tell you though, I had an awesome collection of those plastic Barbie dolls they used to hand out. Do you remember those?


      One of the very first blogs I started reading was The Comfort of Cooking. Georgia, the author, has many beautiful, simple recipes on her blog. Every time she posts I rush over to read what she has to say about her latest creation. These chicken tenders were no exception. They're definitely tastier, better, healthier than anything you can get at a fast food restaurant or out of a red Tyson bag. Very easy to make too- slice chicken breasts into strips, roll them into panko bread crumbs seasoned with salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder. Then you get to make a nice little dipping sauce! Who wouldn't like that?


      Source: The Comfort of Cooking
      Serves 4

      1 cup panko breadcrumbs
      1 tsp. salt
      1/2 tsp. pepper
      1/4 tsp. garlic powder
      1/4 tsp. paprika
      3 tbsp. butter, melted
      heaping 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
      1 Tbsp. honey
      3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, sliced vertically into strips


      Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Prepare a large baking sheet and set aside.

      In a large bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, garlic powder and paprika. Set aside. In a separate bowl, combine melted butter, Dijon mustard and honey; whisk until well combined.

      Place the chicken strips into the mustard-butter mixture, then into the breadcrumbs. Coat evenly. Place onto the baking sheet and bake for 25-30 minutes. Enjoy!

      We've all got one...share your favorite processed/fast food?

      September 13, 2011

      Raspberry Oat Bars

      I've got a new obsession.


      Anything that can be turned into a bar.

      I've pinned all sorts of bar treats lately (which is also a new obsession of mine- pinning. What can I say, I was late to the game). For example, I really want to make these blondies. And these smore's bars. And these brownies. I need helppp.


      But these bars...these bars, I had to make immediately. They had my name written all over them. I didn't think any other "granola" bar could come close to topping my favorite, but these come pretty darn close. I love how simplistic they are. They've got a crunchy, buttery crust and subtle sweetness from the jam. All you need is some butter, oats, brown sugar, and a fruity jam. It's a snack you can enjoy any time of the year.


      I had to stop myself from eating them in two days. Perfection in a bar.

      Source: Beloved Green
      Servings: 15-20 bars

      1 1/4 cups flour ( half whole wheat flour and half white flour)
      3/4 cup brown sugar
      1/2 teaspoon salt
      1 teaspoon cinnamon
      3/4 cup cold butter, cut into pieces
      2 cups oats
      1 cup berry jam of your choice (I used raspberry)

      Start by pre-heating the oven to 375°F.  In a mixing bowl pour in the wheat flour, brown sugar, salt, and cinnamon and do a quick mix.  Cut the butter into thin slices and add into the bowl.  With a mixer on medium, mix until it starts to form a more solid dough.  Pour in the old-fashioned oats and kneed them in until all the oats have found a home in the dough.

      Take 1/3 cup of oats and set them to the side.  Grease a 13x9inch pan.  Place the remainder of the dough into the pan and smash it flat until it is even across the base.  Next layer in the jam.  Finally take the 1/3 cup of oats that were set aside and sprinkle them over top.

      Put the pan in the oven for about 25 minutes until the top of the oats start to turn a golden brown color.  Pull them out and allow them to cool.  Can be stored in a container out on the counter or in the refrigerator.
       
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