Salisbury steak with mushroom gravy

We tried this SkinnyTaste recipe, which ingeniously lightens the dish by substituting half of the minced beef with minced turkey. http://www.skinnytaste.com/skinny-salisbury-steak-with-mushroom/ Although the recipe calls for unseasoned breadcrumbs, we added about ½ tsp each freshly minced sage, oregano, and thyme to the meat mixture. To shape the patties, we used an oval ½ cup measuring… Continue reading Salisbury steak with mushroom gravy

Middle eastern-style chicken and chick pea stew. We tried this recipe: http://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/252878/middle-eastern-chicken-chickpea-stew/ We used 4 boneless chicken breasts (equivalent to two packages of Purdue packets, which we got at BJ’s Wholesale Club). After finding the stew too acidic, we added dash of sugar and about ½ tsp chicken beef bouillon (Better Than Bouillon) directly into… Continue reading

Indian-style curried minced turkey with potatoes

We tried this recipe: http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/curried_ground_turkey_with_potatoes/ Our modifications: first, instead of 1 Tbsp garam masala (which imparts a strong cinnamon flavor), we used 1 tsp garam masala and 2 tsp McCormick’s curry powder; second, we used 1 medium-sized Vietnamese red chili pepper; third, we used ½ cup chicken broth in lieu of water; fourth, after cooking… Continue reading Indian-style curried minced turkey with potatoes

Sichuan chicken dumplings

We tried this Andrea Nguyen recipe: http://www.vietworldkitchen.com/blog/2010/10/sichuan-crescent-dumplings-recipe-zhong-jiaozi.html We made the following modifications: first, for the filling, we used minced chicken (dark meat) instead of pork and added 6 oz drained, minced water chestnuts for texture. Second, for the sauce, we used 1 Tbsp neutral vegetable oil (grape seed oil) in lieu of 1 Tbsp chili… Continue reading Sichuan chicken dumplings

Braised chicken thighs and chayote

We had extra chayote and decided to try this one-pan meal: http://www.chowhound.com/recipes/braised-chicken-and-chayote-27664 First, heat a large sauté pan for 15 seconds, then pour in a little oil and spread it so that a sheen of oil covers the floor of the pan. Once the oil starts shimmering, place the chicken, skin-side down, in the pan.… Continue reading Braised chicken thighs and chayote

Ethiopian berbere chicken stew with hard-boiled eggs (doro wat)

We tried this recipe:http://www.daringgourmet.com/2013/08/27/doro-wat-spicy-ethiopian-chicken-stew/ but made a few modifications. First, instead of 7 Tbsp unsalted butter, we used a mix of butter, olive oil, and grapeseed oil (6 Tbsp total, reduced from 7). Second, we used one large red onion and sliced in along the grain. Third, we used 10 skin-on, bone-in drumsticks in lieu… Continue reading Ethiopian berbere chicken stew with hard-boiled eggs (doro wat)

Salvadoran chicken and vegetable soup (sopa de pollo con verduras)

Place a whole chicken (4-5 lb) in a stock pot, then add 2 cups celery (about 3-4 stalks), 1 cup cilantro (about 1 bunch), ½ cup each parsley (about ½ bunch) and spearmint, 1 roughly-cut tomato (about ½ cup), 1 large onion (rough-cut), 2 Tbsp chicken bouillon (here, Better Than Bouillon), and pour in enough… Continue reading Salvadoran chicken and vegetable soup (sopa de pollo con verduras)

Italian bucatini with chicken sausage and bell peppers

We tried this recipe: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/bucatini-with-sausage-and-peppers-56389445 We used spicy chicken sausage instead of sweet turkey. At first, we found the sauce a bit too thin, but we later realized that this is intentional so that the bucatini can soak up the sauce. We also recommend preparing the sauce in a Dutch oven, since the cooked pasta… Continue reading Italian bucatini with chicken sausage and bell peppers