Chicken a la king

I really like easy meals. This is an easy meal. I have been making different versions of Chicken a la king for years. At my house, it is a dish that we all will eat. Now, you can make homemade biscuits or just bake up some biscuits from a can. I have used biscuits either way. My family prefers the homemade biscuits. This dish really is versatile. If you don't like mushrooms, leave them out. If you love mushrooms, add more. If you are vegetarian, leave out the chicken and use vegetable broth. If you are gluten free, well then use gluten free flour. My family likes this dish since it is chicken in a gravy sauce over biscuits.

Chicken a la king
2 tsp olive oil 
1 lb. chicken breast, diced
2 Tbsp butter
1 portabella mushroom, chopped
1 cup onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped fine
1 carrot, diced
2 tsp dried thyme
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
2 Tbsp all purpose flour
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup white wine
1 bay leaf
1/2 cup half and half

4 freshly baked biscuits

Directions:

1. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. 
2. Add the chicken and saute for 2 minutes. 
3. Add the butter to the pan and allow to melt.
4. Add the mushroom, celery, and carrot. Saute for 3 minutes. 
5. Sprinkle the dried thyme, salt, and pepper. Saute for a minute.
6. Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and mix.
7. Add the chicken broth, wine, and bay leaf. Allow to simmer for 5 minutes. 
8. Mix in the half and half. Allow to simmer for 5 minutes.
9. Continue to allow the mixture to thicken until the chicken is cooked through. 
10. Serve the chicken with the thicken sauce over the biscuits.

Recipe by Jen of Sweet Morris.

One year ago................................I made Eggplant Parmesan.
Two years ago..............................I made Ravoli in White Sauce.
Three years ago............................I made American Beauty PB Cake.

Did you already know.......................
-The origin of Chicken a la king is unknown.
-From several different claims, Chicken a la king was created as early as in the 1880s.
-Chicken a la king was very popular in the 1950s.

Biscuits

It has been a crazy summer. We have traveled all the way down to Mississippi and all the way up to Maine. As you can imagine, I haven't been cooking as much as usual. Since we have been in the South, my daughter requests biscuits. She doesn't care if we have them with breakfast or dinner. I've tried different biscuit recipes. This recipe is one of the biscuits we really liked. Do I think they taste like Hardees? We didn't think so but they are good and easy.

Hardees Biscuits copy cat
5 & 1/2 cups self rising flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp baking powder 
1/8 tsp salt
1 cup vegetable shortening, melted and cooled
2 cups buttermilk
1/2 cup water
Butter, for brushing the tops 


Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside. 
3. In a large bowl, combine the 5 cups flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder.
4. Cut in the vegetable oil with a pastry cutter or with your fingers. 
5. Slowly add the buttermilk and the water. 
6. Mix until the dough comes together. 
7. Lightly flour a clean surface. 
8. Roll out the dough and dust top with flour.
9. Knead a couple of times while dusting with flour.
10. Roll the dough to 1 inch thickness. 
11. With an inch cutter or a glass, dust the edge with a little flour.
12. Press the cutter straight down into the dough and gently lift out.
13. Place the biscuits onto the prepared baking sheet.
14. Allow the biscuits to rest for 5 minutes.
15. Bake the biscuits for 12 minutes or until golden brown. 
16. Brush the top of the biscuits with butter and serve warm.

Recipe adapted from Food.com

Two years ago...................................I made Ladybug cupcakes.
Three years ago.................................I made Peanut Butter and Yogurt dip.

Did you already know....................
-In 1960, Wilber Hardee opened his first Hardees. 
-The first store was opened in Greenville, North Carolina.
-Within 5 months, Mr. Hardee had his first franchisee.

Salt and Pepper Biscuits

We had a poll at my house. We had to vote on whether we liked salt or pepper better. The unanimous winner was pepper. I remember my great grandfather loved pepper so I knew where I inherited my love for pepper. I already knew my son loves pepper. I was surprised my husband picked pepper over salt.  I didn't want salt to feel left out so I made some Salt and Pepper Biscuits. If you like pepper, then these biscuits should be made immediately. I will be making these biscuits again.

Salt and Pepper Biscuits
3/4 cup sour cream 
4 Tbsp heavy cream, plus some for topping

1 Tbsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp ground black pepper

2 cups all purpose flour

6 Tbsp chilled unsalted butter

 

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
2. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Set aside. 
3. In a small bowl, whisk together the sour cream and the heavy cream.
4. In a food processor, add the baking powder, salt, sugar, ground pepper, and the flour.
5. Pulse 20 times or until the mixture appears to be the texture of coarse meal with some pea size pieces of butter.
6. Add the sour cream mixture and pulse for 10 times.
7. Transfer the mixture to a lightly dusted surface and knead the dough together quickly.
8. Gently roll the dough to an inch thickness. 
9. Using a cutter/cup, cut out the biscuits. (I made 8 biscuits.)
10. Place the biscuits onto the cookie sheet. 
11. Brush the biscuits with heavy cream.
12. Bake the biscuits for 15 minutes or until the tops and bottoms are golden brown.  

Recipe adapted from Bon Appetit. 

 

One year ago...................................I made Pastry Cream.

Two years ago.................................I made Mixed Berry Lemonade.

Three years ago...............................I made Peanut Butter Cupcakes.

Did you already know.............................
-Black pepper is native to India.
-Black pepper is a berry from the flowering vine of the pepper plant.
-The pepper fruit is picked when it is half matured then dried to produce black pepper.

Buttermilk Cheddar Biscuits

This weekend my children stayed up late. I mean they stayed up until midnight. They still woke up early. By the time it was dinner time, the kids could not stop laughing. I found it very funny. I'm just glad I served something easy like broccoli cheddar soup with these wonderful biscuits. These are my favorite biscuits. I love cheddar like my husband loves peanut butter. I have made these biscuits several times so I figured I should share it. Since it is October, we have to give everything spooky names.

Even Zombies would eat these biscuits
2 1/2 cups flour plus additional
1 Tbsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp salt
10 Tbsp cold unsalted butter, cubed
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 egg
3/4 cup extra sharp Cheddar, shredded
1 Tbsp milk

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. 
4. Add the butter and mix until the butter is incorporated to the size of peas.
5. In a glass measuring cup, combine the buttermilk with an egg. Beat lightly with a fork to combine.
6. Add the buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture. Mix until just moistened.
7. Combine the cheddar cheese with a little flour to coat.
8. Gently, combine the cheese with the dough. 
9. Mix only until just combined.
10. On a floured surface, scoop out the dough and knead six times.
11. Roll the dough into a rectangle.
12. With a sharp, floured knife, divide the dough into 8 rectangles.
13. Place the rectangles onto the parchment paper.
14. Brush the tops of the biscuits with the milk.
15. Bake for 20 minutes or until the biscuits are cooked through.

Recipe adapted from Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics cookbook.

One year ago..........................I made Swamp Alien Soup.
Two years ago........................I made German Pancakes.
Three years ago......................I made Hamburger with Jack o Latern cheese.

Did you already know...............
-School age children should have between 9 to 11 hours a sleep a night.
-Teenagers should be sleeping between 8.5 to 9.5 hours a sleep a night.
-The Mayo Clinic recommends adults should sleep 7 to 8 hours a night.

Cajun Biscuits

Have you ever been to Louisiana? Maybe you've been to Mardi Gras? Maybe you are heading to Mardi Gras which begins next week? I will admit I've never been to Mardi Gras but it sounds so wild. I have been to New Orleans and walked down Bourbon Street. I enjoy Cajun food so I figured I would make some biscuits with a little heat. I did forget to tell my husband so he was pleasantly surprised.

Cajun Biscuits
2 cups all purpose flour
1 Tbsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder
4 Tbsp unsalted butter
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup milk

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 
3. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, paprika, cayenne pepper, black pepper, and garlic powder.
4. Cut in the butter until it resembles course meal.
5. Mix in the sour cream and milk until just incorporated.
6. Roll out the dough about 1 inch thickness onto a lightly floured surface.
7. Cut out the biscuits into 2 inch circles.
8. Space the biscuits about 2 inches apart onto the baking sheet.
9. Bake the biscuits for 10 minutes or until golden brown.
10. Serve immediately.

Recipe by Jen of Sweet Morris.

One year ago...........................I made Macaroni and Cheese.
Two years ago.........................I made Butterscotch Fondue.

Did you already know..............
-The capital of Louisiana is Baton Rouge.
-In Louisiana, the largest city is New Orleans. 
-Louisiana is divided into parishes and not counties.

The Boss

Yesterday, I told my son to tell his sister to wear a sweater or sweatshirt to school. He said she wouldn't listen to him. So I replied, "Tell her you are the boss." Well, I guess I shouldn't have said that but I wanted her to listen to him. Excited, my son told both of his older sisters that he is the boss and they better listen to him per Mom. My younger daughter was not happy especially when her older sister confirmed that I made the youngest person in the house the boss. My son was more excited about just being boss since he didn't boss his sisters around. So last night, my youngest daughter was complaining that she is never the boss so I told her she could be boss today. She then informed us all that we better listen to her since she will be boss. Then I had to clarify that I was making her the leader. My children told me leader and boss was the same thing. I said it wasn't. I asked them what a leader was and I like my son's definition of a leader. To quote my son, he replied, "A leader guides the team through an adventure." What a great way to look at life. Guess what? My daughter has already reminded us that she is boss today. It will be an adventure.

My children told me these are the best biscuits they've had.

Baking Powder Biscuits
2 cups all purpose flour
3 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp fine sea salt
1/4 cup shortening
1/4 cup butter
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
3/4 cup buttermilk

1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 
2. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
3. In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder,  baking soda, and salt. Cut in the shortening and butter into the flour until it resembles coarse crumbs. ( I use my fingers with my daughters help but you can use a pastry blender or forks.)
4. Mix in the cheese. 
5. With a spoon, stir in the buttermilk until the mixture leaves the sides of the bowl and there is a soft, moist dough. (Add more milk if needed.)
6. On a floured surface, roll out the dough to about 1/2 inch thickness. 
7. With a floured 2 inch round cutter (or top edge of a glass), cut out the dough pieces and place on the baking sheet.
8. Bake for 8 to 12 minutes or until light golden brown. 
9. Serve warm.

Recipe adapted from Pillsbury The Complete Book of Baking cookbook.
One year ago................I made Petite Pavlovas.

Did you already know..........
-According to Psychology Today, leaders are made.
-It also says extraverts tend to make better leaders.
-There are many different leadership styles and ways for one to improve on being a leader.

Double Cheddar Biscuits

We love biscuits! My Dad would make biscuits for breakfast and serve it with gravy or syrup. My Dad is from the South and My Mom is from the North. My breakfast was like the best of both worlds. I didn't want gravy but maple syrup.

I would not recommend these biscuits for breakfast but supper/dinner. They have double the amount of cheddar. My children had at least two biscuits each. I served these with soup. The biscuits are hardy so if you have never made biscuits before then I recommend trying these biscuits.

Double Cheddar Biscuits
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 cup (2 oz.) shredded extra sharp white cheddar cheese
1/2 cup (2 oz.) shredded sharp orange cheddar cheese
3 Tbsp cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 cup heavy cream
1/8 to 1/4 cup buttermilk

Directions:

1. The rack needs to be in the center of the oven.
2. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
3. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
4. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, and cayenne.
5. Add the shredded cheeses and incorporate well.
6. Add the cold butter by rubbing the butter into the flour mixture with your fingers until the mixture resembles oatmeal.
7. Stir in the heavy cream and mix.
8. Add a little of the buttermilk at a time and stir. The dough should be chunky and a little dry but not too dry if so add a little more buttermilk but you do not want sticky dough.
9. Onto a lightly floured surface, turn the dough and begin to knead to form a cohesive dough.
10. Roll the dough out to a 1/2 inch thickness. 
11. Dip a fork into flour and evenly prick holes over the dough.
12. Take a round 2 1/2 inch biscuit cutter, cookie cutter, or glass and cut out the circle biscuits. Re-roll the left over dough and repeat cutting out additional biscuits.
13. Place the biscuits onto the parchment paper spaced about 3 inches apart.
14. Bake the biscuits for 16 minutes or until browned.
15. Allow the biscuits to cool slightly before serving.

Recipe adapted from Better Homes and Gardens.

Did you already know............
-In America, biscuit is referred to a soft bread.
-In England, biscuit is a hard cookie or cracker.
-Biscuits have been around before Roman times.

Cheddar Bay Biscuits

I live in Maine. We have local lobster restaurants everywhere. There are restaurants right on the water where the lobster boats will dock to deliver lobster and other local seafood. We do not have Red Lobster restaurants in Maine. The closes Red Lobster is in New York. The closes Red Lobster's Cheddar Bay Biscuits are at least five hours away. I don't think I'll convince my husband to head to New York for biscuits. Honey, dear, lets go for a ride today? A long ride? For some biscuits? Did I convince you? If not, I don't think he'll go for it. If you do not feel like driving so far for their delicious biscuits, try making this recipe.

When I was a teenager (a few years ago?), my sister took me to a local lobster house for my birthday dinner.The restaurant did serve good rolls.My sister doesn't eat lobster but she is sweet and took me anyways. She hasn't taken me since. I have some suggestions for you if you are eating lobster. If you are eating lobster, your companion should sit next to you. It is safer. You are the one wearing the lobster bib but the other person isn't safe from getting sprayed. Another suggest is if you are on a date, don't order lobster. It is not an attractive item to eat.

 Cheddar Bay Biscuits
2 1/2 cups Bisquick
4 Tbsp cold butter
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
3/4 cup buttermilk
1 tsp garlic powder

Butter Glaze
3 Tbsp butter
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp dried parsley

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. 
2. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
3. In a bowl, cut the cold butter into the Bisquick with a pastry cutter. Don't over mix. The butter should be about the size of a pea.
4. Add the cheddar cheese, buttermilk, and garlic powder.
5. Mix with a spoon until combined. Don't over mix.
6. Drop the dough by spoonful onto the cookie sheet.
7. In a microwave safe bowl, microwave the butter until melted.
8. Stir in the garlic powder and parsley into the butter.
9. Brush the tops of the biscuits and set aside.
10. Bake about 13 minutes or until golden brown.
11. Brush the tops of the biscuits again with the butter glaze.
12. Sprinkle the top with additional parsley.

Recipe adapted from The Girl Who Ate Everything.

Did you already know.............
-Red Lobster is known for their Cheddar Bay biscuits and serve about 1.1 million of the biscuits every day.
-New England cheddar cheese traditionally is white in color because it doesn't contain color additives.
-Cabot's naturally aged cheddar has no lactose.