Pan Roasted Corn

During the warm summer months I am always trying to find new ways to make corn.  A few years ago I discovered this delicious fresh corn salad and a new way to make creamed corn.  Both dishes have been crowd favorites at family gatherings and potlucks. After seeing a post on Pinterest that instructed how to roast frozen corn in the oven, I decided to start experimenting.

The final product was beyond tasty!  It was sweet, caramelized, and just a tiny bit spicy.  My family loved it, and I think it will be my new summer corn dish.  I can't say enough how much I loved it.  Honestly, I probably would have eaten most of it by myself if my family hadn't been around. Next time you need to make a side dish make this one.  ENJOY!

Pan Roasted Corn

Recipe Source: Jenn 

1 tbl. olive oil

1 tbl. butter

3-4 ears of fresh corn, kernels removed from the ears

1/2 cup chopped red onion

1/4 tsp. salt

a sprinkle of cayenne pepper (this is all about your taste here)

pepper to taste

chopped fresh parsley

In a non-stick pan, heat the olive oil and butter over medium heat.  Add the corn, red onion, garlic, salt, cayenne, and pepper. Allow the liquid to cook out of the mixture, then turn the heat down to medium-low.  Keep on eye on it, because once the liquid cooks out, the corn will burn easily.  Continue cooking until the corn begins to caramelize.  Add the fresh parsley and serve.

Chicken and Dumplings

On a cold day there is nothing more comforting to me than a bowl of warm soup.  I love making it, I love eating it, and I love the leftovers.  This year I decided to try chicken and dumplings rather than my traditional chicken noodle soup.  I have always avoided dumplings because I thought they were hard to make.  I was wrong, they were easy peasy to make!  As a result,  I instantly fell in love with the tender dumplings, flavorful chicken, and thick broth.

On top of easy to make, this recipe is super inexpensive; especially if you make your own chicken broth.  This meal has become one of my quick go to meals because it can be made in about 30 minutes.  I did cut down the portions of the dumpling recipe because I always ended up with too many dumplings, but you can easily increase them if you want a higher dumpling:chicken:broth ration.  ENJOY!

Chicken and Dumplings
Recipe Source: Eat At Home

about 2-3 cups cooked chicken
6-7 cups chicken broth
1 cup flour
1 Tbs. butter
1/4 tsp. baking powder
pinch of salt
about 1/2 cup of milk, (it may take a bit more or less)

In a large pot, bring the chicken broth to a simmer.

While the broth is coming to a simmer, combine the flour, baking powder and salt.  Cut the butter into the flour mixture until it is well incorporated.  You can use a fork, your hands, or a mixer for this step.

When the butter is well incorporated, stir in the milk.  Mix with a fork until the ingredients form a ball.

On a heavily floured work surface, shape the dough into a disc.  Roll it out about 1/8 in thick.  Using a pizza cutter, cut the dough into squares about 2x2.  If they aren't perfect it is no biggie :)  At this point the dumplings can be frozen or stored in the refrigerator.  Flour a piece of waxed paper and place the dumplings on the wax paper.  Freeze them in a single layer then transfer to a baggie or store them in the refrigerator on the wax paper.

When the broth is at a simmer, drop the chicken in and raise the heat to boiling.  When the broth is at a full boil, drop the dumplings in.  Don't worry about the extra flour on them because this will help to thicken the broth.  Allow the dumplings to cook 12-15 minutes or until they are cooked through and don't taste like raw flour when you bite into them.

Valentine's Dinner Idea

My friend Shandra sent me a great dinner idea for Valentine's day.  She said that she loves to make the pre-packaged filet mignon steaks that are wrapped in bacon, served with garlic green beans and pasta or baby red potatoes.  The cost of the steaks are about $5.50 and depending on which sides you want to serve, the total cost for a nice dinner could easily be under $10.00!

Thanks Shandra!