Poultry

Chicken and Dumplings – ultimate comfort food.

July 29, 2021 by Becky Spoon

I love Chicken and Dumplings. I realize that this is not the time of the year; however, the other day I had chicken leftover, just enough for a soup or dumplings. I made the right decision because they hit the spot and made me happy. There’s a lot of truth in the statement “comfort food”. How amazing is it that that very thing we need to survive brings us so much comfort?

Chicken and Dumplings – ultimate comfort food.

I had poached a chicken to use in tacos and I had some left over and the homemade chicken stock. I like to poach a chicken because the chicken remains tender and flavorful. Poaching is boiling that never boils! I just use a soup pot to poach a chicken. This is a great soup pot if you need one: https://amzn.to/3iY7e67. I have just a few pieces of All-Clad and I really love the product. I have a very small saucepan that I’ve used for even frying an egg and “IT DOESN’T STICK”. I love those products that foods don’t sticik.

I have another recipe on the blog Chicken and Dumplings – the Ultimate Comfort Food

The difference in the above Chicken and Dumplings is that the dumpling recipe is different. For the dumplings I’m currently posting, they are made using self-rising flour and I love them. I was surprised! And they held up. you know how dumplings can dissolve? And, this recipe is so fast, yet so delicious!

Something that I do but not required is I add carrots, celery, onions and peas. I sauté the carrots, onions and celery until tender, the I add a little flour to form a roux. Not a lot of flour, but enough to insure you have a thickened sauce . It’s much easier to add more chicken stock if the sauce is too tight than to thicken the sauce after the dumplings are done. The dumplings will thicken the sauce some.

Chicken and Dumplings – ultimate comfort food.

If you’d like a side dish I think Green Beans would be great, fried okra in Texas is a favorite, asparagus, or if you add the carrots and peas, you need nothing more. If you want something with crunch and is acidic, add a nice simple salad with some arugula and a mustardy vinaigrette!

Chicken and Dumplings

I love Chicken and Dumplings. I realize that this is not the time of the year; however, the other day I had chicken leftover, just enough for a soup or dumplings. I made the right decision because they hit the spot and made me happy. There's a lot of truth in the statement "comfort food". How amazing is it that that very thing we need to survive brings us so much comfort?

Print Recipe

CourseMain Course

CuisineAmerican, Southern

Keywordchicken, chicken and dumplings, comfort food, Dumplings, southern chicken and dumplings, southern food

Servings servings

Ingredients

2 tbsp unsaltd butter
1/4 onion, diced
1 carrot diced or thinly sliced
1 rib celery, thinly sliced
1 heaping tbsp all purpose flour
6 cups chicken stock (more if needed)
2 cups chicken, cubed or shredded
1 cup frozen pes
salt and pepper to taste

For the Dumplings

2 cups self rising flour
1/3 cup shortening or butter
3/4 cups buttermilk

Instructions

If you are cooking your chicken, place in 3 quarts of water with 4 tsps kosher salt, 1 medium onion, 2 cloves garlic and about 8 whole peppercorns. Bring these ingredients to a boil, lower the heat and simmer for about 15 minutes to flavor the water. Add the chicken pieces, allow to come back to a boil and immediately adjust the heat to the barest simmer. Allow the chicken to poach until the meat reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees. As the pieces are done, remove from the pot, spoon a little of the broth over to keep moist and allow to cool. When you can handle the chicken shred or dice into bite-size pieces, discarding skin and bones. If you are refrigerating for later, ladle a little more broth and cover with saran wrap.
Strain the broth and set aside for later or refrigerate.

For the Dumplings

Cut the shortening or butter into the flour using a fork, pastry cutter or your hands until well distributed and in small pieces.
Add the milk and mix with a fork until well mixed. Turn out onto a floured surface and knead a few times. Roll out to about 1/8 inch thick and cut into strips about 1.5 inches wide and what ever length you like. I like about 3 or 4 inch long dumplings. Set aside until ready to add to your broth.

To assemble and complete the dish

Add the butter to a stock or soup pot. Add your diced onions, celery and carrots. Sauté a few minutes until the vegetables begin to soften a little. Add the flour and cook a few minutes. Add the stock, stirring to make sure sure there are no lumps. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a low boil. Add the dumpling strips, separating with a spoon or knife to allow to add more to the simmer broth, When all have been added cover and simmer about 20 minutes until the dumplings are set and cooked through.
Add the chicken and peas and gently stir to combine. The pea will cook in the hot broth, so there is no need to continue cooking. You can turn off or keep warm if you are serving immediately.
Enjoy!

love these double-pork carnitas on homemade corn tortillas.

September 22, 2020 by Becky Spoon

These Double-Pork Carnitas are perfect for your Taco Tuesday! Double Pork, yes! These carnitas have a combination of boneless pork shoulder (Boston Butt) and pork belly. Yes pork belly. If you haven’t tried pork belly you must! I get my pork belly from the specialty meat market at my local HEB. Ask your meat department how you can get it because it is delicious.

I also made homemade tortillas to go with these. Of course you do not have to make homemade, but they sure make a huge difference. They were delicious. I’m still trying to perfect the art of tortilla making, because there is a a process. here’s a video I watched. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzKuWBDDLPg.

If you don’t have a tortilla press, here’s the one I purchased. It just makes it so much easier and you can get a good consistency. This is the press I have: https://amzn.to/32SV8EH.

love these double-pork carnitas on homemade corn tortillas.

I started the carnitas by cutting the pork shoulder into 1 1/2 inch pieces and cutting the pork belly into 1 inch pieces then adding them to a pot with the stock and salt and pepper. Bring this to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 2 hours.

Then I transfer the pork in batches along with some pan juices to a non-stick skillet and cook over high heat until the liquid evaporates and the pork begins to fry in its rendered fat.

I serve these with chopped white onion, lime wedges, dried oregano, cilantro, shredded cabbage and sometimes I serve with green pica de gallo!

Or, with my homemade salsa! I’ll share those recipes when I post them! But, until then these are perfect with chopped onions, cilantro, limes, and your favorite red or green salsa!

Heres my carne asada tacos, since were talking tacos! https://the2spoons.com/simple-favorite-red-chile-marinated-carne-asada-tacos/

Here’s the recipe for the carnitas! Enjoy!

Double-pork Carnitas

Print Recipe

Coursedinner, Lunch, Main Course

CuisineMexican

Keywordcarnitas, double pork, double pork carnitas, pork belly, pork butt, pork shoulder, taco tuesday, tacos

Ingredients

3 Lbs Boneless pork shoulder (Boston butt) cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces
1 Lb Pork belly cut into 1 inch pieces
1 Cup Chicken stock or low sodium broth
1 Tbsp Kosher salt
1 Tsp Freshly ground pepper
warm tortillas, chopped white onion, limes, avocados, chopped cilantro, favorite salsa, chopped cabbage for serving

Instructions

Place pork shoulder, pork belly, stock, salt, and pepper in a large heavy pot; cover and bring to a boil over medium-low. Reduce heat and simmer until pork is tender and shreds easily, about 2 hours. Uncover; cook 10 minutes to reduce liquid (but not completely). Remove from heat.
Transfer half of pork and pan juices to a large skillet, preferably nonstick, and cook over high until liquid evaporates and pork begins to fry in its rendered fat. Fry, stirring occasionally and pressing on pork with spoon to break up, until browned and just beginning to crisp, 10–15 minutes. Most of the pieces should be bite-size with some smaller shredded and super-crisp bits in the mix. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a paper towel–lined baking sheet. Cover with foil to keep warm and moist. Repeat with remaining pork.
Serve carnitas with tortillas, onion, limes, avocado, herbs, and cabbage.
Do Ahead: Pork can be braised (do not fry) 3 days ahead. Cover and chill.

delicious chicken thighs in a creamy mustard sauce.

August 24, 2020 by Becky Spoon

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These Chicken Thighs in a Creamy Mustard Sauce are delicious! This is the Barefoot Contessa’s recipe that I changed a little because of my lack of ingredients she used. Specifically, she used crème fraiche, I have a hard time finding it so I substituted it with equal parts of heavy cream and sour cream. However, if you want more tang rather than fat content from the cream, just use sour cream! Works perfectly! You can actually make crème fraiche. It is whipping cream and buttermilk that you allow to sit on your counter for 8 to 24 hours. Not having time to do that I substituted. Next time I definitely will make this with crème fraiche to check the difference.

This is really an elegant looking dish that is just so simple and fast to make! I used bone in thighs which I think add so much juiciness. Inexpensive, yet delicious, the perfect weeknight dish for your family or for a dinner party.

delicious chicken thighs in a creamy mustard sauce.

This recipe has two types of mustard, Dijon mustard which I love and a good whole grain mustard. Olive oil, sliced onions, white wine, the crème fraiche or the substitute of I mentioned and some fresh parsley make up the ingredients.

I used my carbon steel pan which I love. If you’ve seen it in other post it is the absolute best. Your food just slides around, never sticks! Mine is from QVC Geoffrey Zakarian but this is similar: https://amzn.to/3jadxlu

This is a perfect pan in my opinion, just the best size.

I served this with a simple risotto, which by the way, I made in the Instant Pot! Yes, risotto in the instant pot and it turned out great. It didn’t seem as creamy as the stovetop, but that was really ok or even better for this dish since I had this yummy mustard sauce.

Need another recipe using chicken thighs? Try https://the2spoons.com/roasted-chicken-thighs-and-creamy-white-beans/. This is a delicious recipe!

delicious chicken thighs in a creamy mustard sauce.

Here’s the simple recipe! Enjoy!

Chicken Thighs in a Creamy Mustard Sauce

Print Recipe

Coursedinner, Lunch, Main Course

CuisineAmerican

Keywordchicken, chicken t highs in creamy mustard sauce, chicken thighs, Easy, main course, mustard sauce

Ingredients

8 medium bone-in, skin on chicken thighs
salt and pepper
good olive oil
2 cups halved and thinly sliced yellow onion (2 onions)
2 tbsp dry white wine
8 oz crème fraiche (substitute 4 ounces cream and 4 ounces sour cream if you can't find)
1` tbsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp whole-grain mustard
1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

Instructions

Place the chicken thighs on a cutting board, skin side up, and pat them dry with paper towels. Sprinkle the chicken with 1½ teaspoons salt and ¾ teaspoon pepper. Turn them over and sprinkle them with one more teaspoon of salt.
Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large (11 to 12-inch) cast-iron skillet over medium heat. When the oil is hot, place the chicken in the pan in one layer, skin side down. Cook over medium heat for 15 minutes without moving, until the skin is golden brown. (If the skin gets too dark, turn the heat to medium low.) Turn the chicken pieces with tongs, add the onions to the pan, including under the chicken, and cook over medium heat for 15 minutes, stirring the onions occasionally, until the thighs are cooked to 155 to 160 degrees and the onions are browned. Transfer the chicken (not the onions) to a plate and allow to rest uncovered while you make the sauce. If the onions aren’t browned, cook them for another minute.
Add the wine, crème fraiche, Dijon mustard, whole-grain mustard, and 1 teaspoon salt to the skillet and stir over medium heat for one minute. Return the chicken, skin side up, and the juices to the skillet, sprinkle with parsley, and serve hot. I served with risotto, egg noodles would be great, even mashed potatoes or rice. Bon Appetite!

best summer barbecue chicken on the grill with my #1 go to sauce.

July 4, 2020 by Becky Spoon

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I cooked this barbecue chicken on my gas grill and it turned out delicious. I love chicken cooked this way. There’s just something about summer grilling that screams this dish. It is absolutely so easy. I did brine overnight in salt water because I wanted to make sure it was juicy and the salt will help add some flavor to the chicken. I made my barbecue sauce that gets applied after the chicken has started brown and the skin begins to crisp.

To prepare the chicken for the grill, using poultry scissors, or a very sharp knife, I remove the back bone by first laying it flat, then cut down the middle on the breast side making two portionshttps://youtu.be/pZqqGnwWiaw. Here’s a quick video on how to half a chicken.

If you don’t have scissors, they are a must in my kitchen. Here’s a great pair! https://amzn.to/2NYwdac. These are great!

best barbecue chicken on the grill

You can use your favorite barbecue sauce or make the sauce in my recipe. It is from Franklin BBQ book by Aaron Franklin. It’s my favorite sauce, and it is so easy. Done in minutes, you never bring it to a boil, just heat through just to let the flavors combine. You most likely have all of the ingredients in your pantry or refrigerator already. If you don’t have Aaron’s cookbook, it is a must! It actually will teach you how to make the best BBQ. His restaurants are in Austin, Texas. Of course, he makes wonderful BBQ! Here’s the link for his book: https://amzn.to/31GxfQt.

If you can’t get his sauces in your area, it is well worth an order. All of them are wonderful sauces and I keep them in my pantry! Except this time I was out, so I made the original. Here’s the link for his sauces! https://amzn.to/2AsTePx

best summer barbecue chicken on the grill

Before I add the new recipe for this chicken, here’s another summer recipe for you: https://the2spoons.com/tender-grilled-chipotle-glazed-ribeye-steak/

Yum, makes me want to grill steaks! Nothing better!

Ok, here’s this delicious chicken recipe! Enjoy!

Barbecue Chicken

Print Recipe

Coursedinner, Lunch, Main Course

CuisineAmerican

Keywordbarbecue chicken, barbecue sauce, bbq, bbq chicken, bbq sauce, chicken, Franklin BBQ Sauce recipe, grilling, summer, summer grilling

Ingredients

For the Barbecue Sauce

1 3/4 cups ketchup
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons water
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon white vinegar
1/4 cup plus 1 1/2 teaspoon brown sugar
2 tbsp plus 1 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp chile powder
1 tbsp ground cumin
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp coarse black pepper

For the Dish

1 whole chicken that has been halved.
salt water for brining over night
a neutral oil like vegetable or canola for brushing
salt and pepper
prepared bbq sauce

Instructions

For the Barbecue Sauce

Combine all of the ingredients in a saucepan and warm gently over medium heat, stirring occasionally. There is no need to bring the mixture to a boil, as the idea is just to warm it enough to melt and integrate the ingredients. Once you have done that, remove from the heat and let cool. Transfer to a jar, bottle, squeeze bottle, or however you want to store it. Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.

For the Chicken

You don't have to brine but I do like to because it makes a juicier chicken and the salt water adds salt to the inside of the chicken. Place the halved chicken (instructions in the post on how to half a chicken) into the brine just enough to cover in a plastic container or bag and place in the refrigerator over night.
When ready to grill, prepare your gas grill or charcoal grill. Remove the chicken from the brine and pat dry. When dry, coat the chicken with a neutral oil like vegetable or canola and salt and pepper the chicken.
If you are using a gas grill, place the chicken skin side up on the side that there is no direct heat. I don't place on direct heat to prevent it from charring too fast. If using a charcoal grill, move the charcoals to one side and place the chicken on the opposite side.
When the chicken starts to brown, I start to add barbecue sauce to top and bottom. Continue to cook, brushing with bbq sauce every 15 minutes until the internal temperature reads 165-170 degrees. Hope you enjoy!

the best 3 ingredient fried chicken.

June 23, 2020 by Becky Spoon

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I have tried so many recipes for fried chicken and I always come back to this basic 3 ingredient recipe! Flour, salt and pepper. That is it. Oh, you do need a paper sack to toss it all in. Well, that’s what I use, but if you don’t have one…toss in a big plastic bag or place the flour in a dish and just toss it around to evenly coat.

This is the fried chicken I grew up eating. Mom and Granny made it just like this. I brine because they brined. They knew that brining would just make the juiciest, most tender chicken ever. It would usually be a Saturday night that Mom and Granny would cut up a whole chicken or two and soak overnight in salted water to fry on Sunday. They would use Crisco in a cast iron dutch oven to fry the chicken. Never greasy, just the best chicken ever. I think the cast iron dutch oven is the best thing to fry chicken in. Mine is very, very old, but if you don’t have one, this is a great place to start. https://amzn.to/3fPoffO.

the best 3 ingredient fried chicken.

One of my favorite memories was actually going to see Granny. We lived in Grand Prairie, Texas and Granny lived about an hour and a half away. There were 7 of us. There were no McDonalds or other fast food restaurants and even if there were, they probably couldn’t have afforded to take all of us out to eat anyway. Mom would fry this beautiful chicken, make some potato salad, pack up a loaf of bread and we would stop at a road side park on the way and have lunch. Beautiful memories.

Mom is incredible. She is now 91. Just a side note, we grew up in the 50’s and 60’s. Mom fed a family of 7 on $25.00 a week and had a balanced meal on the table every night, plus breakfast and lunch everyday.

I too made potato salad with this fried chicken. Here’s the recipe: https://the2spoons.com/delicious-2-step-potato-salad/. There is nothing better than fried chicken and potato salad.

Here you go with this so simple recipe! My recipe is for 4 pieces of chicken, two thighs and two legs because that’s what we like, but just adjust for the amount you use. Bon Appetite!

3 ingredient fried chicken

Print Recipe

CourseMain Course

CuisineAmerican

Keyword3 ingredient, chicken, comfort food, fried chicken, main course, southern food

Servings servings

Ingredients

2 chicken legs, skin on, bone in
2 chicken thighs, skin on, bone in
1 cup all purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
vegetable oil for frying

Instructions

Place your chicken pieces in a bowl after lightly salting each piece. Add enough water to just cover. Seal with a lid or clear wrap. Refrigerate overnight or at least for 4 hours.
Place the flour in a paper sack. Add your salt and pepper. I always taste a little to see if there's enough salt, but remember you brined your chicken in salt water so you don't want to over do it.
Add enough oil to come up about 1/3 to the sides of your pan. Heat on medium high until a pinch of flour begins to sizzle or the end of a wooden spoon placed in the hot oil sizzles, about 335 to 350 degrees. You do not want to cook your chicken in oil that is too hot because it will brown too quick and be raw in the middle.
While your oil is heating, remove the chicken from the water one piece at a time, allowing access water to fall off and add to the flour. Shake, shake, shake and turn until completely coated. Place on a sheet pan until all is coated.
When your oil is ready, add the chicken to the oil skin side down. Cook until the chicken is brown and crispy on that side, then turn. If your heat is too high, lower to medium high and add a lid and let it sit ajar. Cook, checking after about 10 minutes to see if the bottom has browned. When the bottom is brown, turn again, remove the lid and cook turning until the internal temperature reaches 165-170, raising the heat if needed. At this time you want to be close by, watching and turning as the chicken continues to brown on each side.
When done, drain on a wire rack and allow to rest for at least 10 to 15 minutes. If I am frying a large amount I will keep warm in my oven on the warm setting. Enjoy!!

best easy cheesy chicken spaghetti.

March 16, 2020 by Becky Spoon

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Yum. This easy cheesy chicken spaghetti is delicious.! Not only is this casserole delicious but it will feed six and if you do have leftovers this dish is even better the next day.

During these times that we are trying to eat from our pantry’s, make meals stretch and feed the family dishes everyone will love, this dish checks all of those boxes along with the economical box. If you are feeding a crowd, double, triple, how many times over it works wonderfully. This is actually a great recipe to feed a crowd.

Every item in this recipe can actually be from your pantry expect for the fresh ingredients like onions and peppers, and of course the cheese. I used fresh mushrooms and chicken that I had leftover, but you could use jarred mushrooms and canned chicken! I did top it with a mixture of cheddar cheese and Italian bread crumbs but you could leave the bread crumbs out all together.

My boys loved this growing up. When my youngest son moved from home and shared a place with friends, I’d make a huge recipe of this and send it home with him! This makes a great dish to serve a crowd, and it is a perfect make ahead dish that you can freeze before baking!

easy cheesy chicken spaghetti.

So the main ingredients in this dish, other than the spices, oil and a little butter are spaghetti, bell peppers (I used red and green), onions, cooked chicken, mushrooms, pimiento, and of course cream of mushroom soup. Some recipes call for cream of mushroom soup and cream of chicken soup. You can add both if you like. I’ve seen recipes that add a can of rotel tomatoes instead of the pimiento.

As you can see most of the ingredients are common ingredients most of us always have on hand. I ALWAYS have cream of mushroom soup so I buy them in 6’s like you get a Sams club or online at amazon for a 4 pack. Here’s a link for the amazon 4-pack: https://amzn.to/2Wi5dbg.

easy cheesy chicken spaghetti.

Keeping the “cooking from the pantry” theme going, you can open a can of green beans to serve with this and that would be a great addition. Here’s my simple recipe for canned green beans: https://the2spoons.com/taste-like-fresh-easy-green-beans-with-pork/.

My Mom would have probably thrown in a green salad and bread because she always served complete meals that covered the food wheel and she would include dessert!

Here’s the easy recipe! Hope you enjoy!

Chicken Spaghetti

Print Recipe

Coursedinner, Main Course

CuisineAmerican

Keywordcheesy, chicken, chicken spaghetti, dinner, Easy, main course, spaghetti

Servings servings

Ingredients

12 oz spaghetti
2-3 cups cooked chicken
2 cups grated cheddar cheese (I use a combination of mild and sharp)
2-3 oz Velveeta cheese, cubed ( Optional, but I really like it in the dish)
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
6-8 large mushrooms, sliced
1/2 onion, diced
1/2 red bell pepper, diced
1/2 green pepper, diced
2 tbsp butter
1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
1 4 oz jar pimentos, drained
1 can sliced ripe olives, optional
2 cups chicken broth
1 tsp Lawry's seasoned salt
1/8-1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup additional grated cheddar cheese for the top

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Dice the chicken from a chicken you have cooked or a rotisserie chicken. I cooked mine in the instant pot. I placed the chicken in the pot, adding water up about 3/4 to the top of the chicken. I added 2 bay leaves, a stalk of celery, 2 carrots, 1/2 onion and a little salt. I set the Instant Pot for 30 minutes and allowed it to release on it's on. I then remove the chicken and strain the broth, discarding the vegetables. When cool, you can dice or tear the chicken into pieces. You will probably have more chicken than you need left, so use it for another recipe.
If you have a rotisserie chicken it will work, you'll just need some chicken broth in your pantry.
Cook your spaghetti according to packaged instructions.
While your pasta is cooking heat the butter and oil in a large pot. Add your onions and peppers and cook until the onions are translucent. Add the mushrooms and cook until the water has evaporated from the mushrooms and they are starting to brown. Don't salt your mushrooms until they begin to brown because the salt will just release the water. When they start to brown add the seasoning salt and pepper. Now add the cream of mushroom soup, and your chicken broth. Cook and stir until your soup has completely heated through and all is combined. At this point I turn off the heat, allow the sauce to cool a little, then add the pimentos and olives.
When the spaghetti is cooked, drain and add it to a container large enough you can toss all the ingredients in. I usually add a touch of oil so the pasta won't stick. Add the chicken and toss. Then add the sauce that has cooled and has all the remaining ingredients in it, along with the cup of cheese. I combine again the pasta, chicken the sauce and cheese. You're going to add cheese to the top so you want the cheese combined throughout your dish. Now that it's all combined, dot with the Velveeta cubes and top with the remaining cheese.
Place mixture into a prepared casserole dish. Cover and cook for 30 minutes until bubbly, then remove the foil or cover and add your cheese. Cook an additional 15 minutes or until your cheese has melted. Enjoy!