Posts for December 2009

Wine

Simple Tip: When Chilling Wine, Add Salt and Water

The next time you need a bottle of bubbly to be cold quickly do what I do: add salt and water to the ice bucket.

The next time you need a bottle of bubbly to be cold quickly do what I do: add salt and water to the ice bucket. Simply layer ice with a couple tablespoons of salt and pour in water. The wine will chill in about 15 minutes — more rapidly than it would in the freezer. The addition of water creates a more chilly surface area and the salt speeds the drop in the water's temperature. The result? One cold bottle of wine. Have you ever chilled wine this way?

Source: Flickr User dionhinchcliffe

fast and easy

Braised Chicken with White Wine, Tomatoes, and Peas

Adapted from Everyday Food Braised Chicken with White Wine, Tomatoes, and Peas Ingredients2 cups long-grain white rice 12 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (3 1/2 pounds total) Coarse salt and ground pepper 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 cup dry white wine, such as Sauvignon Blanc 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves, plus sprigs for garnish 1 box (10 ounces) frozen peas 1 pint grape tomatoes, halved 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice Directions In a medium saucepan, cook rice according to package instructions.
Braised Chicken with White Wine, Tomatoes, and Peas

Braised Chicken with White Wine, Tomatoes, and Peas

Fast & Easy Everyday Food Recipe For Braised Chicken With White Wine, Tomatoes, and Peas 2009-12-30 18:03:47

Ingredients

2 cups long-grain white rice
12 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (3 1/2 pounds total)
Coarse salt and ground pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup dry white wine, such as Sauvignon Blanc
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves, plus sprigs for garnish
1 box (10 ounces) frozen peas
1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Directions

  1. In a medium saucepan, cook rice according to package instructions. Spread 3 cups cooked rice on a rimmed baking sheet to cool; refrigerate for Chicken Fried Rice, up to 1 day. Cover remaining rice in pan to keep warm; set aside.
  2. While rice is cooking, season chicken with salt and pepper. In a 5-quart Dutch oven or heavy pot, heat oil over medium-high. Working in batches, cook chicken until browned, 4 to 5 minutes per side; transfer to a plate (reserve pot).
  3. Return chicken and any juices to pot; add wine and thyme. Bring to a boil; reduce to a simmer, and cook, partially covered, until chicken is opaque throughout, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove 4 chicken thighs; refrigerate for chicken fried rice, up to 1 day.
  4. Add peas and tomatoes to pot; cook, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes are softened, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in lemon juice; season with salt and pepper. Serve chicken and vegetables over rice, garnished with thyme sprigs.

Serves 4.

recipes

Chicken Minestrone with Pesto

From Woman's Day Chicken Minestrone with Pesto Ingredients1 can (28 oz) diced tomatoes in juice, undrained 4 cups chicken broth 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut in 1-in.
Chicken Minestrone with Pesto

Chicken Minestrone with Pesto

Woman's Day Slow Cooker Recipe For Chicken Pesto Minestrone Soup

Ingredients

1 can (28 oz) diced tomatoes in juice, undrained
4 cups chicken broth
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut in 1-in. chunks
1 medium baking potato, peeled and diced
1/2 cup each chopped onion, carrot and celery
1/4 tsp pepper
1 can (16 oz) cannellini beans, rinsed
1 medium zucchini (about 6 oz), diced
1 cup frozen cut green beans, thawed
1/3 cup prepared refrigerated basil pesto

Directions

  1. Mix all ingredients except the cannellini beans, zucchini, green beans and basil pesto in a 4-qt or larger slow-cooker.
  2. 2. Cover and cook on low 7 to 9 hours until chicken is cooked through and vegetables are tender.
  3. Stir in cannellini beans, zucchini and green beans. Cover and cook on high 15 minutes, or until zucchini is tender.
  4. Spoon into bowls; top servings with pesto.

Serves 6.

Nutritional information per serving: Calories 289, Fat 9g, Saturated Fat 2g, Cholesterol 76mg, Sodium 827mg, Carbohydrates 27g, Dietary Fiber 6g, Protein 25g

Reader Recipes

Pesto Potato Bread

This story was written by member girlA and comes from The Dairy Free Diva Recipe Exchange group in the YumSugar Community.I've never been very good at making breads, but this was very easy and SO DELICIOUS!

This story was written by member girlA and comes from The Dairy Free Diva Recipe Exchange group in the YumSugar Community.I've never been very good at making breads, but this was very easy and SO DELICIOUS! I love potatoes and I love pesto, so it was a no-brainer — I had to make it and it smelled divine as it baked. And please note, this recipe makes 2 of these large loaves, not just one!

To get her recipe, keep reading.

celebrity chefs

The Year's Favorite Female Chef

With her sensual style and approachable recipes, it's no surprise that you voted Giada de Laurentiis as your preferred female chef of 2009.

With her sensual style and approachable recipes, it's no surprise that you voted Giada de Laurentiis as your preferred female chef of 2009. She edged out other popular personality Ina Garten, taking 31 percent of the votes.

Considering that Giada at Home is one of the few Food Network shows we look forward to watching, Giada de Laurentiis has also earned a place in our hearts as the year's favored female chef. We've featured many of her reliable recipes — pesto, clams casino, brie and chocolate panini — here on YumSugar, we thoroughly enjoyed her demonstration at Aspen last June, and we look forward to experimenting with more of her dishes in 2010. Cheers to Giada!

Reader Recipes

Pesto Potato Bread

1,000 Vegan Recipes Cookbook Pesto Potato Bread Ingredients1 C plain soy milk 1 C leftover mashed potatoes 3 Tbs pesto (I used Classico brand) 1 Tbs olive oil 1 1/2 tsp salt 1 tsp sugar 1 pkg active dry yeast (2 1/4 tsp) 1/4 C warm water 4 C all-purpose flour (or you can use bread flour), or more if needed Directions In a large saucepan, heat the soy milk until hot but not boiling.

Pesto Potato Bread

Ingredients

1 C plain soy milk
1 C leftover mashed potatoes
3 Tbs pesto (I used Classico brand)
1 Tbs olive oil
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
1 pkg active dry yeast (2 1/4 tsp)
1/4 C warm water
4 C all-purpose flour (or you can use bread flour), or more if needed

Directions

  1. In a large saucepan, heat the soy milk until hot but not boiling. Stir in potatoes, pesto, oil, salt and sugar, stirring until well mixed. Transfer to a large bowl and set aside to cool to room temperature.
  2. In a small bowl, combine the yeast and water, stirring to dissolve the yeast. Let the mixture stand for 10 mins then stir it into the potato mixture. Add about 1/2 of the flour, stirring to combine. Work in the remaining flour to form a soft dough, then transfer to a lightly floured surface. Add up to 1/2 C of additional flour, if needed.
  3. Knead the dough until it is smooth and elastic, about 8 mins (I did for about 5 mins), using additional flour as needed to keep the dough from sticking.
  4. Place the dough in a large bowl (use a pretty large bowl) lightly oiled, turning the dough to coat with oil. Cover w/ plastic wrap or a clean dish towel and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour. Test dough by poking it with your finger. It is ready if the indentation from your finger remains.
    Lightly oil a large baking sheet and set it aside. Punch down the dough and turn it out into a lightly floured surface. Knead the dough for 5 mins. Divide the dough in half (use a sharp knife), shape into two round loaves and place them on the prepared baking sheet. Cover again with clean plastic wrap or dish towel and let rise for another 45-60 mins.
  5. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Uncover dough and use a sharp knife to cut 1 diagonal slash in the top of each loaf. Bake until golden brown, about 25-30 mins. (I think they came out perfect at about 22-23 mins, but every oven is different). The bread is done if it sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom. (I didn't do this — seemed a bit too much to do to a piping hot loaf of bread). Cool on a wire rack for 30 mins before slicing. (I waited about 15-20 mins and it was so yummy warm)!

I know it seems like a lot of work, but it's actually very easy and so worth it! I'm making several loaves to give to neighbors for Christmas. Great with soup, stews or just for snacking! Enjoy!

TV

Anne Burrell Talks Terrible Cooks and the Year Ahead

If you've ever wondered what the world's most unappetizing dishes look like, here's your chance to find out.

If you've ever wondered what the world's most unappetizing dishes look like, here's your chance to find out. On Jan. 3, Food Network is exploring the opposite end of the culinary spectrum with Worst Cooks in America, a new reality TV series showcasing some of the nation's biggest kitchen failures.

I spoke with Food Network chef Anne Burrell — who, along with Beau MacMillan, is one of the show's hosts — about the new series, the biggest fail of a dish she's ever had, and her year ahead. More, after the jump.