Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Buca di Beppo's Fabulous Lemon Chicken with Capers


We love this lemon Chicken at Bucca De peppo's and this recipe really does the trick at home. it is sooo yummy! found the recipe online but have made a few changes.


3 large boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut in half lengthwise to create 6 thin filets
pound chicken to tenderize
Salt, to taste
1 cup flour
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup white wine
2 large lemons
1/2 stick unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup heavy cream
A small handful drained capers

Directions

Cut lemons in half and use for fresh lemon juice. Pour the juice through a fine strainer.

Begin to heat the olive oil in a 12-inch saute pan on medium-high heat. While oil is getting hot, lightly season both sides of the chicken breasts with salt. Lightly dust the chicken breasts in the flour. Shake off excess flour. Place chicken in the saute pan skin-side down.

When the chicken is golden brown, turn over and brown the other side as well. It is important to brown both sides to insure the chicken is completely cooked through. When both sides are nice and brown, add white wine and lemon juice. Continue to cook for approximately two to three minutes. The liquid should reduce approximately half.

Once the liquid is reduced, remove the chicken breasts from the pan and turn off heat. Check to make sure the chicken breasts are cooked by turning each piece of chicken over and cutting it halfway through with a knife. There should be no visible pink. If the chicken is not completely cooked through, place in a 400 degree oven for five minutes to complete cooking.

Finish the sauce by placing the softened butter and cream in the pan. Using rubber spatula, work the butter into the sauce as it melts. sometimes I sprinkle a little more flour in the sauce to thicken. Add capers. Pour sauce directly on top of chicken breasts. Garnish with lemon wedges. Makes 4-6 servings.

Monday, July 26, 2010

White Bread

I found this recipe online and the bread turned out great! nice and fluffy. It's
gonna be my new go to recipe for bread. It's someone else's family recipe so I left a little blurb about it:

Grandma VanDoren's White Bread
"What Grandma used to make! Our family's favorite. The recipe was never written down (that I know of) until she shared it with me when she was in her 90's."
...
Ingredients:
3 cups warm water
3 tablespoons active dry yeast
3 teaspoons salt

4 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 cup white sugar
8 cups bread flour

Directions:
1. In a large bowl, combine warm water, yeast, salt, oil, sugar, and 4 cups flour. Mix thoroughly, and let sponge rise until doubled in size.
2. Gradually add about 4 cups flour, kneading until smooth. Place dough in a greased bowl, and turn several times to coat. Cover with a damp cloth. Allow to rise until doubled.
3. Punch down the dough, let it rest a few minutes. Divide dough into three equal parts. Shape into loaves, and place in three 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 inch greased bread pans. Let rise until almost doubled.
4. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 35 to 45 minutes. The loaves may need to be covered for the last few minutes with foil to prevent excess browning.

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Strawberry Cream Cake


Both my daughters request this cake for their birthday. It's super easy and looks like it was so much work. I took a 'from scratch' recipe and simplified it.

yellow cake mix
3 eggs, 1/4 cup oil, water (or whatever the cake mix requests)
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
1 pound fresh strawberries
instant vanilla pudding mix (prepared) - (or store bought pudding works in a crunch)
whipped cream (cool whip)

Bake the cake as directed in 2 greased and floured 9 inch round pans, let cool, cut both cakes in 1/2. Rinse and cut strawberries in slices. add sugar and water to make a light syrup, stir to dissolve sugar. Spread 1st layer of cake with pudding and top with 1/3 of strawberries, repeat layer, top with last cake and whip cream and the rest of the strawberries. All done. whala!

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Breakfast Burritos

This is something I developed - super easy and it is my kid's favorite.

8 flour tortillas - I'm very picky about the brand (guerrero)
2 TB butter
about 8-9 eggs
salt and pepper
1 cup shredded cheese (I use a mixed cheese)
4 strips bacon

cut bacon in half/lengthwise. Fry bacon up. Mix eggs with whisk in a bowl and in a separate fry pan drop butter and when melted,scramble eggs. Salt and pepper to taste. Turn off heat when eggs reach a soft scramble and sprinkle with the cheese. cover so cheese melts while warming tortillas. Warm tortillas on a flat pan surface. (1 at a time)

Assembly:
1 warmed tortilla
scoop eggs and cheese
1 (1/2) slice bacon
wrap into burrito

repeat till all burritos are made

variations:
some times I will cook potatoes alongside the bacon and add it into burritos, also you can use sausage instead of bacon. I just cook sausage first in the frying pan and then add the eggs to scramble it all together,top w/cheese...etc.

Banana Pancakes w/Coconut Syrup

I Found this recipe online and added my own twist..these turned out amazing! Definitely a company recipe

BANANA PANCAKES:
2 c. bisquick pancake mix
1.5 c. milk
2 eggs
2 ripe bananas, chopped

COCONUT SYRUP:
1 c. sugar
1/2 c. water
1 TB corn starch
2 tbsp. butter
1 tsp. coconut extract

FOR PANCAKES: add chopped bananas to bisquick recipe for pancakes

FOR SYRUP: Combine sugar, water, cornstarch and butter and bring to a boil; boil 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in flavoring. Serve over warm pancakes.