4.19.2014

Easter Cake Balls


These are super easy to make and look cute for Easter.

Boxed cake mix + frosting = the dough, then all you do is dip them in almond bark! Here's the recipe I followed.


melted almond bark


sprinkles



Happy Easter from The Second Breakfast!

4.15.2014

Chicken à la King


I made chicken a la king this weekend and took pictures. While not the earth's most photogenic food, this dish is seriously delicious. It is pretty simple to make, too. 

Check it out, here are a few of the ingredients I used:

not pictured but also used: skim milk, chicken broth and frozen peas


bow tie pasta

Saute about one package of mushrooms in a few tablespoons of butter. This sauce is another roux, so after the mushrooms are cooked, add equal parts flour and stir. In this case, I used about four tablespoons of butter and then added four tablespoons of flour. The roux cooks for a little while, stirring constantly, and then it's time to add the liquid. I used 1 cup chicken broth and 1/2 cup skim milk. It took about 10-15 minutes for the sauce to reach the consistency I wanted.


Meanwhile, pan fry the chicken in a tiny bit of oil. Sprinkle on some spices.



Chicken a la king can include rice, bread or pasta. Inexplicably, I chose to have two carbs: both pasta and bread. It was good, but next time I might try using homemade bread without adding any pasta.


This time, I used store bought biscuit dough to form crowns. Roll each biscuit out into a rectangle, then cut triangle shapes into one side. Wrap the dough around the bottom side of a cupcake pan and hope for the best! Follow directions from the package for cook time/temp. Mine broke apart at the seam in the oven, which sometimes happens. 




Once the pasta is done, combine everything.  Add the frozen peas, mushrooms, pimentos and chicken to the pot already containing the sauce.I shredded the chicken this time, but chopping it has also worked well.  Heat through, add the biscuits on top and serve.



Thanks for reading!

3.23.2014

Gumbo

Chicken and sausage gumbo
Here's how I made gumbo for Mardi gras this year:

Start with the "Holy Trinity" of vegetables: onion, pepper and celery.

After sauteing for several minutes, they should look translucent like this.

Remove the vegetables and add chopped andouille sausage.

Brown the sausage and then remove them from the pan.


Chicken goes in next- cook on medium high heat and turn the breasts frequently.

I sprinkled some Cajun seasoning on the chicken before cooking it, so it ended up with a little bit of crust on the outside.

Cooking the roux: after the chicken is removed from the pan, add a few tablespoons of flour to the pan drippings. If you want to be really authentic about it, cook the roux for thirty minutes. I only cooked mine for fifteen because I think any longer than than and it starts to smell and taste a little burnt.

Next, add three cups of chicken broth and bring to a boil.

Add the sausage, chicken and vegetables back to the pot.

Reduce heat and let this simmer for at least half an hour.

Finally, add seasonings like parsley, cajun spices and salt/pepper.

Meanwhile, prepare some brown rice. I use a rice cooker because after making rice in a pan on the stove for years, I discovered that rice cookers make nearly perfect rice every time. They are miracle appliances.

Finished product: chicken and sausage gumbo
From start to finish, it takes about three hours to make gumbo. It is definitely a labor of love but is so flavorful and delicious you've got to try it at least once. Thanks for reading and happy cooking!

TSB

2.27.2014

Walnut and Parsley Encrusted Salmon


I made this delicious salmon recipe from allrecipes for dinner the other night. It was easy to make and took only about thirty minutes from start to finish. I've actually made this with frozen salmon before and it was also very good! Here are a few pictures of the process.

I substituted walnuts for the pecans this time, but have used both and they are equally tasty.


Fresh salmon
Applying the honey mustard glaze


Walnut, parsley and panko crumb mixture on top

Ready for the oven
Done!
Add a side of asparagus
Delicious dinner in thirty minutes!


2.04.2014

Valentine Terrarium



I made this terrarium over the weekend. It is made of rocks, activated charcoal, potting soil, succulent plants and a lil' Valentine dog.