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Chicken Schnitzel

Chicken Schnitzel

Chicken Schnitzel:  A fresh change from comfort foods.

Chicken Schnitzel

Chicken Schnitzel

We have been having  soups, creamy casseroles, breads and desserts to comfort us in the cold of winter.  I decided we needed something crispy and fried.  Fried food is a rarity at our house, we bake, broil, steam, lightly saute or braise.   I remembered Chicken Schnitzel.

Chicken Schnitzel

Chicken Schnitzel

 It tasted so good, crispy, tender pieces of breasts of chicken with a crispy coating.  It was a nice change.

We look for comfort in foods, in the cold weather we look for comfortable clothes by wearing layers of  tee shirts, sweatshirts, big sweaters, and warm pants.    

 

Related imageThen comes spring and the unveiling!  Will that be a shock to you?  Have you found all your comfort foods around your middle? Are your scales a forbidden place to step?  Does it sound like a  lead into for a low calorie meal?  It wasn’t that at all. Really just changed the flavor of comfort foods to foods cooked in olive oil.  

 

 

Frying Chicken Schnitzel

Frying Chicken Schnitzel

I cut the chicken breasts into thin layers, 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick.  I did not flatten the pieces, as in true schnitzel. I mixed an egg with 1 tablespoon water and prepared a pan of flour, cayenne pepper and   a seasoning blend and black pepper.  I dipped the chicken cutlets in the flour, then into the egg mixture and again into the seasoned flour.  When the oil was hot in the skillet, I added the chicken cutlets to brown under a reduced heat, until crispy on both sides, about 4-6 minutes each sides to 170 F.  This recipe was inspired by Winemonger.com.

Roasted Mixed Vegetables

Roasted Mixed Vegetables

The side dish was roasted mixed vegetables, coated with olive oil, dried Italian Seasonings and black pepper.  The vegetables are those on hand, this time we had potato, zucchini, onion, garlic, carrots, celery, cabbage and cauliflower.  These were roasted at 525 F to tender and somewhat browned, 20-25 minutes.  They were a nice balance with the Chicken Schnitzel.

We still had some sweet, warm, creamy, comfort food:  Creamy Rice Pudding.  This is a favorite recipe adapted from Chef Ron Lock’s Creamy Rice Pudding. I used long grain white rice, 1 cup vanilla soy milk, 1/2 cup Carnation Milk and 1/2 cup water. 

Creamy Rice Pudding

Creamy Rice Pudding

Chicken Schnitzel

Chicken Schnitzel

Julia Ann
Fried crispy chicken cutlets with a thick crust over the tender white chicken breasts.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 27 minutes
Course Entree
Cuisine American
Servings 4 pieces

Ingredients
  

  • 2 boneless chicken breasts
  • 1 egg beaten
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper to taste
  • 1 teaspoon Flavour-Enhancer Spice Blend
  • 1/2 cup Flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon Ground black pepper
  • 4-5 tablespoons olive oil or less if desired

Instructions
 

  • Cut chicken breasts in half, lengthwise or about 1/4 to 1/2 inch to get about 4 cutlets
  • Mix the egg and water.
  • Lightly season the chicken cutlets with cayenne and Flavour-Enhancer Spice Blend.
  • Mix the measured amount of seasonings in the flour.
  • Roll the chicken cutlets in the seasoned flour.
  • Dip in the egg to coat on both sides.
  • Again dip in the seasoned flour, set aside while seasoning the rest of chicken.
  • Heat the olive oil, hot, in a heavy skillet, the oil will sizzle when chicken is added.
  • Place the chicken cutlets in the skillet to brown about 4 minutes.
  • Sprinkle more black pepper is desired.
  • Turn the pieces over to brown the other side for about 4-6 minutes.
  • The temperature of the chicken should be 170 F when done.
  • Lay the crispy chicken cutlets on a meat platter lined with toweling to drain excess oil.

Notes

Julia Ann and cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice®l bring you great recipes for your cooking experience...©2007-2018 Netta Belle’s Choice® The Art of Gourmet Cookery® cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk. Off.” Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office. “Netta Belle’s Choice® The Art of Gourmet Cookery® cookbookinabox® . All rights reserved.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

Julia Ann and cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice®  bring you great recipes for your cooking experience. ©2007-2018 Netta Belle’s Choice® The Art of Gourmet Cookery® cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk. Off.”  Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office. “ Netta Belle’s Choice® The Art of Gourmet Cookery® cookbookinabox®. All rights reserved.

Red Lentils-Sausage Stew

Slow Cooker Red Lentils-Sausage Stew

Happy New Year 2016!

Red Lentils-Sausage Stew

Red Lentils-Sausage Stew

In the Italian tradition, lentils-sausage stew was our New Year’s food for luck. It seems across the continents good luck is thought to be prosperity,  good health, happiness, success and longevity. We aren’t Italian, we  wanted to try another tradition to celebrate the New Year’s.  It would be interesting to prepare the New Year’s evening menu recipes from around the world which are noted to be Lucky New Year’s Food. 

Here is my suggestion for your 2017 New Year’s Menu celebration.

Italy:  Cotechino con Lenticcjie, pork and lentils
American South: Black-eyes peas, Hoppin’ John, cooked greens
Japan:  Toshikoshi Soba, long buckwheat noodles
Ireland  Buttered Bread Sandwiches
Spain:  12 grapes  referring to Champagne
Berlin:  Berliner Pfannkuchen, jelly doughnuts
Greece: Vasilopita, a New Year’s Cake with a coin hidden in it.                                                                        The person getting the coin will have good luck all year.

Slow Cooker Red Lentils-Sausage Stew

Red Lentils-Sausage Stew

Red Lentils-Sausage Stew

Slow Cookers or Crock-Pot cooking are  great for winter hearty stews, soups or casseroles. Red Lentils-Sausage Stew is a good example of easy meal preparation.  We had a romaine tossed salad, crusty garlic bread, Cinnamon Apple Sauce and Brown Sugar Marble Pound Cake om/crock-for desert. No Champagne, however, we did have some Soft White Wine by Oliver’s Winery.  It was a quiet and satisfying New Year’s Eve. Looking forward to 2016 offerings. 

 

Red Lentils-Sausage Stew

Slow Cooker Red Lentils-Sausage Stew

Julia Ann
A slow cooker makes a hearty stew of red lentils, sausage and vegetables. A winter time comfort food to enjoy with crusty bread.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 20 minutes
Course Entree
Cuisine Italian
Servings 8 cups

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 sausage remove casing and crumble, or crumble whole sausage
  • 1 cup red lentils rinse
  • 1/2 cup onion chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1/2 cup carrots coarsely chopped
  • 1/2 cup celery coarsely chopped
  • 1 medium potato chopped in 1/2 inch cubes
  • 14.5 oz tomatoes and juice
  • 1 cup frozen cut spinach
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 2 cups water
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon oregano
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Layer all the vegetables on the bottom of the slow cooker.
  • Add the crumbled sausage.
  • Pour in the broth and water.
  • Add the seasonings and stir into the broth.
  • Cover, cook on high for 3 hours.

Notes

3 links of bratwursts were used in this recipe; other sausages links or ground sausage could also be used. 
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

Wishing you many blessings during 2016:  healthy lives, friends, safety and joys in abundance.

Netta Belle's Choice cookbookinabox

 

 

Roast Beef Dinner

Roast Beef Dinner for Two

Roast Beef Dinner for Two

Roast Beef Dinner for Two

Having a Roast Beef Dinner is a big event at cookbookinabox’s  house.  Several reasons which many probably may identify . Health is our biggest reason, fat,  cholesterol is higher in red meats.  Expense, it is more expensive to have choice cuts on a regular basis.  Meatless meals is often our choice.  However, there are times when a nice Roast Beef Dinner brings good memories and is comfort food.  

Cast Iron Dutch Oven

Grandmother’s Cast Iron Dutch Oven

We have the cast iron dutch oven that was my husband’s grandmothers.  It had made a long trip through Texas when the family travel by horse and wagon in the early 1900’s. So it is always a treat and fun to use this kettle.  I also like to use this kettle for soups as well.

Beef Bottom Round Roast

Beef Bottom Round Roast

Since there are only 2 of us in the home, I bought a small beef bottom round roast under 2 pounds.  The recipe was adapted from Joy Of Cooking’s, Beef Pot Roast, cooked in a convection oven instead of the stove.

Preparing the beef roast for the oven

After baking the beef roast and removing to a plate to keep warm, I decanted the juices and fat into a fat separator.  I poured off the juices into a measuring cup, and poured about 4 tablespoons fat back into the dutch oven to make the roux for gravy.  I used the juices and added cream to make 2 cups for the liquid to the 4 tablespoons of fat and  4 tablespoons of flour.

Making the roux for gravy

Roast Beef Dinner

Roast Beef Dinner

Julia Ann
A special Sunday Dinner Roast Beef, tender, juicy to be enjoyed with mashed potatoes and gravy.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 3 hours
Course Entree
Cuisine American
Servings 4 -6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 2 pound beef bottom round roast
  • 2 tablespoons oil
  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 1/2 cup onions finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup carrots finely sliced
  • 1 1/2 cups beef stock or bouillon
  • 1 teaspoon seasoning blend
  • 1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
  • GRAVY
  • 4 tablespoons fat
  • 4 tablespoons flour
  • 1 1/2 cups meat juices
  • cream to make 2 cups liquid

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 325 F.
  • Trim off fat, make cuts into the side of the meat to prevent curling
  • Flour all sides of the roast.
  • Heat the oil in the Dutch oven.
  • Brown the roast on all sides.
  • Add the onions, carrots, and broth to the roast.
  • Cook about 5 minutes.
  • Bake in the preheated oven 2 hours or until meat is tender, to 155 F to 165 F for medium well.
  • Remove meat from pan to a dish; cover to keep warm
  • GRAVY
  • Strain off the vegetables.
  • Decant the juices and fat into a fat separator.
  • Pour off the juices, on top, to a measuring cup, add cream to make 2 cups liquid
  • Pour 4 tablespoon fat and juices to the Dutch oven, stir to loosen the bits and pieces of the meat.
  • With a whisk, add the flour, stirring until blended.
  • Gradually add the 2 cups of the liquid, stirring with the whisk to smooth.
  • Simmer the gravy up to 10 minutes to thicken.
  • Taste and correct seasonings as needed.
  • Add 1/2 teaspoon thyme.
  • Serve over the meat and potatoes.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Roast Beef Dinner for Two

Roast Beef Dinner for Two

The Roast Beef Dinner menu

Marinated Vegetable Salad
Mixer Whole Wheat Bread
Roast Beef and Beef Gravy
Mashed Russet Potatoes
Steamed Asparagus
American Persimmon Cake

 

Visit these links:      Simply Recipes – Roast Beef;            allrecipes – All American Roast Beef

 

Netta Belle's Choice cookbookinaboxJulia Ann and  cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice® bring you great recipes for your cooking experience.  ©2007-2018 Netta Belle’s Choice® The Art of Gourmet Cookery®  cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk. Off.” Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office. “ Netta Belle’s Choice® The Art of Gourmet Cookery® cookbookinabox®. All rights reserved.
            

Baked Pork Chops

 

Baked Pork Chops in Sauce and Vegetables

Baked Pork Chops in Sauce and Vegetables

Now summer is over, grilling outdoors begins to wane as the temperature changes. I began to look for a new recipe for  pork chops.  Having many cookbooks, I decided I would try a recipe that I have not tried from The New Your Times Menu Cook Book by Craig Claiborne, 1966.  The recipe for Country Pork Chops became my Baked Pork Chops. 

Baked Pork Chops

Browned Pork Chops and Vegetables

Browned Pork Chops and Vegetables

I really did not adapt it so much. A pork seasoning dry rub was used to marinate the pork chops before browning. I used Dijon mustard in place of prepared mustard and beef bouillon in place of the beef stock.  My other changes were using a thinner pork chop, not the 1 inch thick and only 2 instead of 6 and preparing a smaller amount of the sauce. The sauce recipe would be enough for 6 chops.  Actually thought the sauce would be good over other meats and less expensive cuts such as pork or steak cutlets. 

Sauce Ingredients

Sauce Ingredients

Once again using my old reliable cast iron skillet for the browning and making the sauce..

Cooking the Sauce

Cooking the Sauce

Baked Pork Chops in Sauce

Baked Pork Chops in Sauce

Baked Pork Chops

Julia Ann
Pork chops topped with a mild tomato sauce and chopped vegetables to make an interesting change of pace from summer time grilling.
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Prep Time 35 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 40 minutes
Course Entree
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 4 center cut pork chops
  • 1 teaspoon pork seasoning dry rub or salt and pepper
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 cup carrots finely diced
  • 1/4 cup celery finely diced
  • 1/2 cup onion finely diced
  • 1/2 cup beef bouillon or stock
  • 1/2 cup tomato sauce
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • Chopped parsley

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 F.
  • Trim excess fat off pork chops.
  • Heat the olive oil in large skillet.
  • Season pork chops on both sides with pork seasoning dry rub or salt and pepper.
  • Brown on both sides about 10-15 minutes.
  • Put the carrots, celery and onions in a shallow two quart casserole.
  • Arrange the browned pork chops on top.
  • Pour out any excess fat from the skillet.
  • Add the bouillon or stock, tomato sauce, mustard and Worcestershire sauce to skillet.
  • Whisk together to blend.
  • Pour mixture over the pork chops; cover.
  • Bake for 50 minutes.
  • Remove cover and bake 15 minutes longer.
  • Sprinkle with chopped parsley.

Notes

Recipe taken from Craig Claiborne, Country Pork Chops, The New York Times Menu Cook Book1966.
Julia Ann and cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice® bring you great recipes for your cooking experience. ©2007-2018 Netta Belle’s Choice® The Art of Gourmet Cookery® cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk. Off.” Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office. “Netta Belle’s Choice® The Art of Gourmet Cookery® cookbookinabox® All rights reserved.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

Baked Pork Chop Dinner

Here is a suggestion for your dinner of Baked Pork Chops:  baked potatoes with butter and sour cream, country prepared green beans from the pressure cooker seasoned with onion and Ciabatta Bread.

Baked Pork Chop Dinner

Baked Pork Chop Dinner

Summer Time Cole Slaw and American Apple Pie would round out this country Baked Pork Chop Dinner.

Some other Pork Chop recipes you might like to try:

Annie’s Eats – Parmesan-Crusted Pork Chops

Simply Recipes –  Brined Pork Chops

Netta Belle's Choice cookbookinaboxJulia Ann and cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice® bring you great recipes  for your cooking experience. ©2007-2018 Netta Belle’s Choice® The Art of Gourmet Cookery® cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk. Off.” Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office. ” Netta Belle’s Choice® The Art of Gourmet Cookery® cookbookinabox® All rights reserved.

 

Salmon Shells in Lemon Cream Sauce

Salmon Shells in Lemon Cream Sauce Dinner

Salmon Shells in Lemon Cream Sauce Dinner

This recipe is very similar to a previous recipe posted as Salmon Shells in Lemon Sauce.  The difference is in the stuffing of the pasta shells.  Instead of using the canned salmon, I microwave-steamed the salmon filet, 12 ounces with the skin on.  I removed the skin and fat from the cooked salmon and use a loosely packed 1 cup measure.

Salmon filled pasta shells on a bed of bok choy

Salmon filled pasta shells on a bed of bok choy

Salmon Shells in Lemon Cream Sauce

Julia Ann
Flaky steamed salmon fill large pasta shells, bakes on diced bok choy and covered with a creamy lemon sauce and plenty of shredded cheddar cheese for a delicious meal, add the salad.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Entree
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 10 large pasta shells
  • 12 ounces of steamed salmon or 2- 4 inch x 2 inch frozen salmon steaks 1 cup of cooked flaked salmon
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
  • 1 teaspoon grated garlic clove
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/4 cup of steamed finely diced celery
  • 1/4 cup finely crushed saltines
  • 1 beaten egg
  • --------------------------------------------------------------------
  • CREAMY LEMON SAUCE
  • 4 tablespoon butter
  • 4 tablespoon all-purpose unbleached flour
  • 1 cup 99% fat free chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup cream or 1/2 cup undiluted evaporated milk
  • 3 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
  • 1 cup shredded mild cheddar cheese

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven 350 F.
  • Grease 9 x 9 oven proof casserole dish
  • Cook 10 large pasta shells according to instructions on package.
  • Rinse in cold water and set aside.
  • Steam the salmon with lemon juice and water in the microwave 3 minutes, until just flaky.
  • Drain and remove the skin and fat from the salmon, discard.
  • Measure the flaked salmon, use a loosely packed 1 cup.
  • Put the salmon in large bowl.
  • Add the ginger, garlic, salt, celery, saltines and beaten egg.
  • Blend without shredding the salmon.
  • Stuff into the large pasta shells, set aside.
  • Put 1 cup of diced bok choy on the bottom of the greased casserole.
  • Place the filled pasta shells on top.
  • Set aside while making the lemon sauce.
  • --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  • CREAMY LEMON SAUCE
  • Melt butter in one-quart sauce pan.
  • Blend in the flour with a whisk until a smooth paste.
  • Gradually add the chicken broth, whisk until smooth.
  • Stir in the cream or undiluted evaporated milk.
  • Stir constantly until the sauce is smooth and thicken.
  • Remove from heat.
  • Blend in the lemon juice and nutmeg.
  • Pour sauce over the stuffed salmon shells.
  • Sprinkle shredded cheese on top.
  • Bake 350 F for 30 minutes, or until browned and bubbly.
  • Let rest 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Julia Ann and cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice® bring you great recipes for your cooking experience. ©2007-2018 Netta Belle’s Choice® cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk.Off.” Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office.”nettabelleschoice.com and cookbookinabox.com.All rights reserved.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

Salmon Shells in Lemon Cream Sauce

One-dish meal: Salmon Shells in Lemon Cream Sauce

Salmon Shell with Lemon Cream Sauce

Salmon Shell with Lemon Cream Sauce dinner

 

Orange Coconut Walnut Bowl

Orange Coconut Walnut Bowl

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Julia Ann and cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice® , bring you great recipes for your cooking experience. ©2007-2018 Netta Belle’s Choice® cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S.  Pat.  & Trdmk. Off.”Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property.”nettabelle’schoice.com and cookbookinabox.com. All reihts reserved.