My friend 'Lana, from Georgia, made this fabulous Marsala Chicken Pasta dish for our friend's 40th birthday surprise party. It literally melts in your mouth. The flavor combinations are unreal and blend together in such a unique way. This is a recipe that I don't make often but I regularly crave. I have to make sure that I have mascarpone cheese and cremini mushrooms (and that my local store has them in stock) before I can make this lovely dish, so it's not a "pantry staple" meal but one reserved for special meals, especially when entertaining. When 'Lana made this dish for a crowd, she used the Costco Rotisserie Chicken for ease of multiplying the recipe, which is a great idea to cut down on a step or two in cooking the chicken. Thank you Miss 'Lana - we love this recipe!
1 1/2 pounds boneless chicken breasts, cut into 3 pieces
5 Tablespoons butter, divided
3/4 cup chopped onion
1 pound cremini mushrooms, sliced
2 Tablespoons minced garlic
1 cup dry Marsala wine
1 cup (8 ounces) mascarpone cheese
2 Tablesppons Dijon mustard
2 Tablespoons fresh Italian parsley leaves, plus whole sprigs for garnish
12 ounces dried fettuccine noodles
Instructions:
1. Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a
heavy large skillet over high heat. Add the chicken and cook just until brown,
about 4 minutes per side. Transfer the chicken to a plate and cool slightly.
2. While the chicken cools, melt 2 tablespoons of butter to the same
skillet over medium-high heat, then add the onion and saute until tender, about
2 minutes. Add the mushrooms and garlic and saute until the mushrooms are
tender and the juices evaporate, about 12 minutes. Add the wine and simmer,
until it is reduced by half, about 4 minutes. Stir in the mascarpone and
mustard.
3. Cut the chicken breasts crosswise into 1/3-inch-thick slices.
Return the chicken and any accumulated juices to the skillet. Simmer, uncovered,
over medium-low heat until the chicken is just cooked through and the sauce
thickens slightly, about 2 minutes. Stir in the chopped parsley. Season the
sauce, to taste, with salt and pepper.
4. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the
fettuccine and cook until al dente, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes.
Drain. Toss the fettuccine with 3 tablespoons of butter and season, to taste,
with salt and pepper. Swirl the fettuccine onto serving plates. Spoon the
chicken mixture over top. Garnish with parsley sprigs and serve.
In our effort to eat healthy and clean (cleaner) for the new year, I have set out on the quest to find some extra delicious recipes to make the transition from the gooey, rich recipes we enjoyed during the holiday season.
When I read the description with these Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps and how Melanie would request this recipe for her birthday dinner out of all her other divine recipes, I knew it would be a winner.
The flavors combine to create a fresh, savory "POW" sensation in your mouth with the fresh basil combined with the fish sauce and other seasonings.
We loved it and I urge you to make this right away - it's that good!
3 Tablespoons fresh lime juice plus fresh lime zest (about 3-4 limes)
1 1/2 Tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 pound ground chicken (you could use ground turkey too)
2 teaspoons oil
1 jalapeno stemmed, seeded, and minced
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
3 green onions, finely chopped
12 lettuce leaves, about 1 head, Bibb or Boston
Instructions:
1. Boil rice, water and salt in a saucepan. Cover, reduce heat to low and cook for 20 minutes.
2. Mix the fish sauce, soy sauce, lime juice, brown sugar and cornstarch together in a small bowl and set aside.
3. Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat, add the chicken, jalapeno, and lime zest and cook, breaking up the meat. Cook until the chicken is no longer pink, about five minutes.
4. Whisk the fish sauce to recombine; add it to the skillet and cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until the sauce has thickened, a minute or two. Off the heat, stir in the fresh basil and scallions.
5. To serve, open a lettuce leaf, place a small scoop of rice on the bed of lettuce and top with some of the warm chicken mixture.
I took these dreamy cinnamon rolls to our school's Dessert Auction last year and the unassuming rolls received topped compliments from the family that purchased them. The son of the family reported to my son that the whole family agreed that they were the best they'd ever had. That is what I thought the first time I tried them as well. The secret is in the vanilla pudding and the divine cream cheese frosting.
Vanilla Pudding Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting
Rolls:
½ cup warm water
2 tablespoons active dry yeast
2 tablespoons sugar
3 ½ ounce package instant vanilla pudding
½ cup butter, melted
2 eggs
1 teaspoon salt
6+ cups flour
Filling:
1 cup butter, softened to room temperature
2 cups brown sugar
4 teaspoons cinnamon
Frosting:
8 ounces cream cheese
½ cup butter, softened to room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups confectioner’s sugar
2-3 tablespoons milk
Instructions:
1. Combine water, yeast and sugar.
Stir until dissolved. Set aside.
2. In large bowl, take pudding mix and prepare
according to package directions. Add butter, eggs and salt. Mix well. Then add
yeast mixture. Blend.
3. Gradually add flour; knead until smooth. It should be very soft but not sticky. Place in a greased bowl.
Cover and let rise until doubled.
4. Roll out on floured board to 34 X 21
inches in size. Take 1 cup soft butter and spread over surface. In bowl, mix 2
cups brown sugar and 4 teaspoons cinnamon. Sprinkle over the top. Roll up very
tightly. With knife put a notch every 1 1/2 inches. Cut with thread or serrated
knife.
5. Place on lightly greased cookie sheet 1 inch apart. Cover and let rise
until double again.
6. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Remove when they
start to turn golden (don’t overbake).
7. Frost warm rolls with cream cheese
frosting (combine butter and cream cheese and mix well, then add vanilla and
sugar and mix again, then add milk for desired consistency).
Makes about 24
very large rolls.
You will notice that these cinnamon rolls pictured above lack the frosting and that is because one of our "selective eaters" (picky eaters) does not like frosting on his or her rolls.
These have become a staple on my Christmas baking list since they were first introduced to me via my friend Stacy, who put together a cookbook filled with her favorite recipes, most of which included chocolate, as a wedding gift. I cherished that gift and still use the recipes and cookbook today. I love the flavor combination of these bar cookies, that I deem somewhat healthy because of all the oats, coconut and walnuts.
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (I have to substitute extra oats here becuase of the nut allergy in our house)
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups powdered sugar
Frosting:
3 Tab. butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 Tablespoons and 1 1/2 teaspoons milk
Topping:
2 Tablespoons butter
4 (1 ounce) squares semisweet chocolate
Instructions:
1. In a saucepan, melt 1/2 cup (1 cube) butter with 2 squares of the chocolate. Remove from the heat and stir in the white sugar, egg, rolled oats, coconut, chopped nuts and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Press mixture into a greased 9 inch square pan and chill for one hour.
2. Combine the powdered sugar with 3 Tablespoons of hte softened butter, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla and the milk. Mix until it has an icing-like consistency and spread it over the chilled oat mixture. Chill for 30 minutes.
3. Melt the remaining 2 Tablespoons of butter with the remaining 4 squares of chocolate. Spread over the top of the bars. Chill for 4 to 5 hours.
4. To cut through the chocolate topping neatly (unlike my photos), dip knife in hot water and let it melt through the chocolate as you cut the bars into squares.
*These freeze really well and are great to have on hand.
Happy New Year! I believe that 2013 holds great hope for a fresh start and renewal of focus.
Instead of a New Year's Resolution, I like to pick one word to focus on for the upcoming new year. One Little Word, a concept started by scrapbooker Ali Edwards, has hatched a new way of resolution and goal setting in my life. Ali believes that a single word has the power to be a 'ripple in the pond that changes everything'. Last year, my word was lighten. The year before that the word was balance.
This year I am stuck. I need help. I can't decide on the word for 2013!
I have mulled these words around for a few weeks:
focus
hatch
leap
vitality
create
emerge
nurture
abundance
build/grow
joy/play
believe
bliss
Each word resonates with a different part of my life needing attention. I look at these words as my mission and motto for the year. The words I am flirting with most are focus, vitalitity, create, abundance and bliss. I want just one word to emerge as my "pivotal word of the year". I'm looking for clues and input to point me in the right direction.
I researched the definitions of the top words and found a few quotes that represent the words to help narrow my quest.
FOCUS
Definitions:
the center of interest or activity
adapt to the prevailing level of light and become able to see clearly
concentrate
A point at which rays of light or other radiation converge or from which they appear to diverge
the distinctness or clarity of an image rendered by an optical system
Whenever you want to achieve something, keep your eyes open, concentrate and make sure you know exactly what it is you want. No one can hit their target with their eyes closed. - Paul Coelho
Instead of focusing on how much you can accomplish, focus on how much you can absolutely love what you're doing. - Leo Babuta
That's been one of my mantras - focus and simplicity. Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it's worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains. - Steve Jobs
It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light. - Aristotle Onassis
You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus. - Mark Twain
One reason so few of us achieve what we truly want is that we never direct our focus; we never concentrate our power. Most people dabble their way through life, never deciding to master anything in particular. - Tony Robbins
When you focus on being a blessing, God makes sure that you are always blessed in abundance. - Joel Osteen
Foucs on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it. - Greg Anderson
VITALITY
Definition:
the state of being strong and active
energy
the power of giving continuance of life
vigor
life
seeds
the capacity to live, grow and develop
physical or intellectual vigor
exuberant physical strength or mental vigor
the capacity to develop
in good health
saturating a room with excitement, energy, joy, sustenance (my favorite definition)
Love springs from the inside . It is the immortal surge of passion, excitement, energy, power, strength, prosperity, recognition, respect, desire, determination, enthusiasm, confidence, courage and vitality that nourishes, extends and protects. It possesses an external objective - life. - Ogwo David Emenike
A strong life force can be seen in physical vitality, courage, competent judgment, self-mastery, vigor and the realization of each person's unique talents and purpose in life. To maintain a powerful life force, forget yourself, forget about living and dying and bring your full attention into this moment. - H.E. Davey
Attention is vitality. It connects you with others. It makes you eager. Stay eager. - Susan Sontag
ABUNDANCE
Definitions:
overflowing fullness (abundance of the heart)
plentiful
a very large quantity of something
a positive condition
ample sufficiency
the ability to do what you need to do when you need to do it
The more we discover the magnitude and abundance of God's gifts, the more we will find ourselves. - Mother Teresa
If you are going to think anyway, you might as well think big. -Donald Trump
Keep your best wishes, close to your hear and watch what happens. - Tony DeLiso
A simply abundant world awaits. - Today expect something good to happen to you no matter what occurrred yesterday. Realize the past no longer holds you captive, it can only continue to hurt you if you hold on to it. Let the past go. - Sarah Breathnach, Simple Abundance
When you are grateful, fear disappears and abundance appears. - Tony Robbins
CREATE
Definition:
to do something that defines you
to get inspired when you are working
to bring into existence
to cause something to happen as a result of one's actions
to make; to produce; to originate; to generate; to form
to build, assemble or to produce an idea or object
Be in the now to create and experience the WOW. - Steve Maraboli
You don't get what you expect, you get what you create. - Steve Maraboli
You cannot build a dream on a foundation of sand. To weather the test of storms, it must be cemented in the heart with uncompromising conviction. - T.F. Hodge
Believe in the magic that's in you, it's potential, what it can achieve. But most of all, believe in yourself and create a world where dreams become reality. - Charlene Wilson
Creativitiy is not so much a boundless well, but an all-you-can-eat buffet of elements for your creative endeavor. Eventually you've eaten your fill, and it's time to digest and then make something. But at somepoint, it will be time to return to the restaurant. - Vera Nazarian
BLISS
Definition:
perfect happiness;
utter joy
felicity
blessedness
contentment
Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors for you where there were only walls. - Joseph Campbell
It is only when you have both divine grace and human endeavor that you can experience bliss, just as you can enjoy the breeze of a fan only when you have both a fan and the electrical energy. - Sri Sathya Sai Baba
The person you consider ignorant and insignificant is the one who came from God, that he might learn bliss from grief and knowledge from gloom. - Kahil Gibran
You must enshrine in your hearts the spiritual urge towards light and love, wisdom and bliss. - Sri Sathya Sai Baba
Live with integrity, respect the rights of other people, and follow your own bliss. - Nathaniel Branden
Give up all bad qualities in you, banish the ego and develop the spirit of surrender. You will then experience Bliss. - Sri Sathya Sai Baba
Bliss was the word that I originally wanted to use for this blog. Before the world of internet, the place to express yourself and share your ideas existed mainly in the printed word. I studied journalism in college. I used the word BLISS as the theme of my college magazine project. Bliss consumed 12 months of my college career. It served as an acronym Believing Love Is Something Special. It may come as no surprise that my magazine was about love (ever the hopeless romantic, sigh). I loved that word (and I still do).
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So, what do you think my word for 2013 should be? How can I settle on just one word?
A girl in love with the seasons who wants to cram as much as she can into the 365 days of the year to live a life of bliss. Welcome to What Matters Most Now! I hope you will find inspiration and recipes you love.
