Polly's Blog
Thank you for taking the time to come find my blog. Many people were asking me for recipes on Facebook, so this page was born. Please enjoy! If you have any suggestions for recipes to try or any comments about the food please either leave a comment here or email me at cucinapaulina@gmail.com. Mangia!
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Tequila Orange BBQ Chicken Burritos!! Served with kicked up baked beans and red cabbage slaw
YUMMMMMM! This is an easy use up for extra chicken, or poach up 2 large breasts and shred them.
For the sauce:
2 chile in adobo
2 1/2 cups chicken stock
1 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
2 tablesoppns dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons worchestershire sauce
2 tablespoons dark abmber maple syrup
2 shots tequila
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 orange, zested and juiced
1 lime, zested and juiced
Blend chilies in a food processor with 1/2 cup stock until smooth.
Add chiles to a sauce pot, add remaining ingredients, including citrus zest. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer
for 20-30 minutes until thickened.
Add chicken to pot and cook until heated through.
For the Burritos
4-6 large flour tortillas
Shredded SHARP white cheddar cheese
Kicked up baked beans
1 tablespoon EVOO
4 slices bacon, chopped
1/2 red onion chopped fine
1 28 oz can baked beans, I use Bush's homestyle
1/4 cup steak sauce
2 tsp black pepper
Add EVOO to a large skillet. Drop in bacon and cook until crispy. Add onion. Cook until tender. Add baked beans and steak sauce. Heat until cooked through.
Red Cabbage Slaw
1/2 head red cabbage, shredded
1/2 cup EVOO
1/3 cup cider vinegar
1/2 red onion grated
salt and pepper
Mix and chill. Drain when serving
Char tortillas on a burner, or under the broiler for a few seconds.
Add 1/3 cup chicken, shredded cheese, beans and slaw. Tuck and roll, cut in half to serve.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Lemon Berry "Cheese" Cake
I couldn't remember if I had posted this. It is so simple and elegant. Great to entertain with. Put the berries in the batter after putting the batter in the pans.
1 box white cake mix, prepared according to directions. Add 1 tbsp lemon juice
1 cup blueberries
1 cup raspberries
1 container mascarpone cheese
2 tbsp sugar
1 lemon, zested
1 tbsp flour
powdered sugar
Mix cake batter according to box, however only use the egg whites. Add 1 tbsp lemon juice. Add extra egg white if needed. Divide between 2 9 inch cake pans, greased and floured.
Toss berries with flour. Drop berries evenly into the two cake pans. Bake according to package.
While cake is baking, mix cheese, lemon zest and sugar.
When cake is totally cooled, place 1 layer on a cake stand or plate. Top with cheese mixture. Place second cake on top and press down lightly to spread the cheese mixture to the edges. Dust with powdered sugar.
Mulligatawny and Green Raita
It is well known that I love Indian food, especially Mulligatawny soup. This recipe has such deep flavor, you wont believe how easy it is! Don't add the rice until you serve it, so that the rice doesn't take over the whole dish.
1 tbsp EVOO
4 tbsp butter
4 large cloves garlic, grated
2 medium onions, chopped
1 green apple, peeled and grated
2 inch piece of ginger, peeled and grated
salt and pepper
1 tbsp fround corriander
1 tbsp ground cumin
1 tbsp tumeric
1 tsp dry mustard (heaping tsp)
3 tbsp flour
6 cups chicken stock
4 cups shredded poached chicken breast
1 1/2 cups cooked basmati rice
Heat EVOO in a large heavy soup pot. Melt the butter into the oil.
Add garlic, onion, apple and ginger. Season with salt and pepper.
Cook until the onions are tender and translucent, 7 minutes.
Add the spices and cook, stirring constantly, about 3 minutes.
Add the flour and cook for 1 minute.
Add the stock, simmer for about 20 minutes until thickened.
Add cooked chicken. Cook for another 5 minutes until chicken is hot.
Serve in deep bowls topped with a scoop of rice and the Green Raita
Green Raita
In the bowl of a food processor add
1 cup plain Greek yougurt
1 green apple, peeled and chopped
1/4 cup cilantro leaves
1/4 cup mint leaves
1 lime, juiced
Blend together until smooth.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Chicken sauteed with apples and onions
This will make a great fall meal, but I couldn't wait. I love apples. This would also be fabulous with Granny Smiths and fennel.
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts. If they are big, use 2 and butterfly them into cutlets.
1 tablespoon EVOO
1 firm apple, I used a braeburn, sliced into 1/4 inch slices (see note)
1 cup apple juice (I use Martinelli all natural)
1 large onion, halved and thinly sliced
1 clove garlic, minced fine
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
sea salt and pepper
2 teaspoons dijon mustard ( I use a very grainy one)
Pound chicken breasts between two sheets of parchment until about 3/4 inch thick. Lightly salt and pepper.
Heat a large saucepan over medium high heat. When hot, add oil.
Saute the chicken until golden, around 3 minutes on each side.
Add remaining ingredients except for mustard. Simmer, covered, until chicken is tender and onions are cooked.
Remove chicken, apple and onion from the pan. Whisk in mustard.
Boil sauce for 5 minutes until thickened. Pour over chicken. I served with brown rice and a tossed salad.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Apricot Stuffed Chicken
This has great flavor, despite being so easy!
1/4 cup chopped onion (pretty fine)
1/4 cup chopped celery
1 tablespoon EVOO
4 fresh apricots, peeled, pitted and chopped OR 1 can apricots rinsed and chopped
1/2 cup Stove Top herb seasoned stuffing mix
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
3 tablespoons apricot jam
2 teaspoons vinegar
In a small saucepan heat the oil. Cook the onion and celery over medium heat for 4-6 minutes. Stir in apricots, stuffing mix and ginger. Set aside to cool.
Butterfly chicken breasts, place between 2 sheets of parchment and pound to 1/8 inch thick.
Spoon the stuffing mix evenly over the 4 chicken breasts. Fold breasts closed, secure with toothpicks.
Mix jam and vinegar together.
Heat grill or grill pan to medium heat. Cook chicken for 20-25 minutes, turning once. In the last five minutes, brush with the jam mixture on both sides.
Remove from grill and remove toothpicks.
I served this with my obsession, mashed cauliflower. Its very simple! remove florets from 1 head of cauliflower, boil for 20 minuted in either salted water or chicken broth. Drain, add 1 half box of Boursin cheese and mash until smooth and creamy.
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Easiest Chicken Paprikash EVER
Instead of cooking for hours, you get all the flavors of traditional Chicken Paprikash in hardly any time. I top this with sour sream and dill. Serve over egg noodles.
*1 tablespoon olive oil
*2 ponds chicken breasts (or thighs if you like dark meat)
*1 medium yellow onion, sliced thin
*2 cloves garlic, chopped fine
*1 28 oz can pureed tomatoes
*2 tablespoons paprika (not smoked! Can be sweet or hot Hungarian style)
*Egg Noodles
*Sour Cream
*Fresh Dill
Heat the oil in a large pot. Season the chicken on all sides with salt and pepper. Brown on all sides in the pot and remove. Drain all but 2 tablespoons drippings. Add onion and garlic. Cook until tender (4-5 minutes). Add tomoatoes, paprika and salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil. Return chicken to the pot and simmer 15-20 minutes until cooked through. Cook egg noodles following directions on the package. Drain, toss with butter and fresh dill. Ladel chicken and sauce on top of chicken, top with sour cream and dill.
Spicy Orange beef
This is really so much easier than takeout, and its healthier and frankly better tasting.
I served this with brown rice (simmered in chicken stock) and steamed snowpeas with sesame seeds. You can up the spice with more chili paste or dial it back.
1 pound flank steak or sirloin, sliced into 1/2 inch strips
1/4 cup fresh orange juice
1/4 cup rice vinegar
2 tablespoons soy sauce (I use low sodium)
1 tablespoon hot, red chili paste (found in the Asian section)
1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon ginger, grated
1/4 cup water
1 teaspoon cornstarch
3 tablespoons vegi oil
2 tablespoons fresh orange zest, grated
1 bunch green onions, sliced. Green and white seperated.
Pepper to taste
Combine ingredients up to water, without steak, in a bow. Add steak, toss and cover. Put in refridgerator for 2-4 hours.
Heat large sautee pan (or wok) on medium high heat.
Drain meat, reserving marinade.
Whisk cornstarch into cold water, add to marinade and whisk.
Cook meat for 1 minute without touching. Stir for an additional 1 minute. Stir in green parts of onions and zest. Stir for 0 seconds.
Add marinade and white parts of onions. Cook until meat is no longer pink. Serve over rice.
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