Chicken with Basil Cream Sauce

I continue to look for new recipes for herbs from my garden, I'm loving some of the ones I have found. This one uses Basil.

Just like when I make Chicken Parmesan I always pound my meat out so that it is an even thickness, it makes cooking the meat through much easier. I always place my chicken in a zippered bag to keep the mess inside for an easier clean up.
First place the chicken into the milk and then the breadcrumbs (the picture should be reversed).
In melted butter place the chicken in the pan, on medium heat. Cook for 3-5 minutes or until golden brown. While the chicken cooks start the pasta.
Turn and cook the other side.
While the chicken is finishing up cut the basil into thin slices.
When the chicken is finished remove from the pan and add the boullion and bring to a boil this will deglaze the pan and brings all of the flavor into the sauce. Then add the cream, basil, salt, pepper, and the pimentos and mix well. Finally add the Parmesan cheese and stir until melted.
Place the chicken back into the pan and cover with the cream sauce. Serve over the pasta and garnish with fresh basil, you may add a little more of the fresh Parmesan to the top as well.

Chicken with Basil Cream Sauce

2 large skinless chicken breasts
¼ c. milk
¼ c. seasoned dried bread crumbs
3 T. butter
½ t. chicken flavored bouillon
1 c. heavy cream
4 oz jar pimentos, sliced ¼ inch thick
½ c. packed thinly sliced fresh basil leaves
¼ c. grated Parmesan cheese
1/8 t. pepper
Fresh basil sprigs for garnish
Egg noodles

In a large zippered plastic bag place a chicken breast and pound out to ¼ inch thickness, do the same with the other chicken breast. Place the chicken into a pie plate with the milk then dip into the bread crumbs to coat. In a skillet over medium heat melt the butter then cook the chicken 3-5 minutes on both sides, until tender and slightly golden brown. While the chicken cooks start the egg noodles to boil. Arrange chicken on a warming platter to keep warm. In the same skillet, stir in the chicken bouillon and ½ c. water, heat to a medium boil, stirring frequently. Stir in heavy cream; add pimentos, and return to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and add sliced basil, grated Parmesan and pepper. Place chicken on top of noodles and pour cream sauce over the top. Garnish with fresh basil sprigs.

Ricotta Infused Pancakes and Thyme Syrup (Paula Deen)

I quite often have the TV on in the background while I am working in the house or at my computer, a lot of the time the station of preference is the Food Network. One day Paula Deen was on and she had the following recipe. I have tried several of her recipes not loving any but this one caught my ear and when I tried it the recipe caught my heart as well. It was really terrific and also helped my search for recipes using fresh Thyme since I have a plethora in my back yard right now.


Ricotta Infused Pancakes and Thyme Syrup
Recipe courtesy Paula Deen

Ingredients
•2 cups all-purpose flour
•1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
•1 1/2 cups whole ricotta cheese
•1 cup whole milk
•3 large eggs, separated
•1/4 cup sour cream
•1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
•2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
•1 cup chopped pecans
•1 teaspoon salt
•Thyme-Infused Syrup, recipe follows
Directions
Preheat a griddle to 350 degrees F.

In a medium bowl, combine the flour and baking powder.

In a large bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, milk, egg yolks, and sour cream. Whisk until smooth. Stir in the thyme, lemon zest, pecans, and salt. Add the flour mixture, stirring until smooth.

In a large bowl, beat the egg whites with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the egg whites into the ricotta mixture. Ladle about 1/3 cup of the batter for each pancake onto the hot griddle, or in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Cook the pancakes for 2 to 3 minutes, or until tops are covered with bubbles and the edges look dry. Turn, and cook on the other side. Repeat the procedure with remaining batter. Transfer to a serving platter and serve immediately with Thyme-Infused Syrup.


Thyme-Infused Syrup:
•1 cup sugar
•2 cups water, plus 1 teaspoon cold water, for slurry
•20 fresh thyme sprigs
•1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
In a small saucepan, over medium heat, whisk the sugar and water together to combine. Add the thyme sprigs; then reduce the heat, and simmer for 3 minutes. Combine the cornstarch and 1 teaspoon of water in a small bowl until well mixed. Add the cornstarch slurry to the sugar mixture and simmer until thickened to a syrup. Remove from the heat, and strain into a serving bowl. Discard the thyme sprigs.

Yield: 2 cups
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Mushroom Omelet- Basil

I love omelets but wanted to stay away from some of the fats that we often put into them like bacon or sausage etc. I had this recipe tucked away and while sorting through some things on my recipe pile it caught my eye.

Fresh mushrooms, basil, and green onions for the main flavors.

Chopped tomato to top the omelet.

2-3 eggs

Blend the eggs with basil, salt and pepper.

In butter (so much for the fat!) saute the mushrooms and garlic until tender.

In a hot skillet add the eggs, stir gently until they start to become set.

Add the mushrooms and the green onion.

Top with the cheese. Fold one edge over to top of the other.

Slide onto a plate.
Top with chopped tomato and basil.

Mushroom Omelets

2-3 c. sliced Crimini mushrooms

3 T. sliced green onions

1-2 cloves garlic, minced

4-6 eggs, slightly mixed (the first time I used three, I will only use two per omelet now)

1T. fresh basil, chopped (1 t. dried)

1 T. olive oil or butter

1/2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese

1 medium Roma tomato, chopped

(Makes two)

Zucchini Cake-Neighbor treat

With all of our projects going on we didn't plant nearly as much in our garden as we normally do. One of the things that we didn't get in the ground were my favorite zucchini plants. My good neighbor has been aware of this and has been sharing from her plants, since we all know how prolific they are. She does a better job monitoring the size than I do but one got away and she offered it to me to make bread or anything that I wanted to make. Because my stove was parked in the garage on a temporary basis I had to turn down the offer. The next day she showed up at our door with this yummy cake in her hand. It was too pretty not to post it. (I'm having a hard time keeping my hands off of the treats that have been presented to me the last few days, but I WILL BE STRONG!)

Chocolate Zucchini Cake

Cream together:

1/2 c. shortening

1/2 c. oil

1 3/4 c. sugar

2 eggs

1 t. vanilla

1/2 c. buttermilk

add:

2 1/2 c. flour

4 T. cocoa

1 t. baking soda

1 t. cinnamon

2 c. grated zucchini

Pour into a greased 9x13 cake pan. Sprinkle with 1 c. chocolate chips and 1/2 c. chopped nuts. Bake at 350 for 40-50 minutes, until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

New "Bountiful Basket" Challege--Mexican

Another week of Bountiful Baskets, this time it was full of "Mexican" goodies. The tortillas which I forgot to take pictures of are so wonderful, they come in three sizes. Then there are these chile's and tomatillos that made me excited to start cooking.

First I began by pulling the husks off of the tomatillos, the inside is quite sticky once the husks are removed. Tomatillos are not apart of the tomato family even though you may hear that often.

After removing the husks I cut them up to place them into my food processor to make a delicious green sauce.
While I am working on the tomatillos I have the Anaheim chile's under a broiler in the oven.
The chile's will turn black and the skin starts to blister.
Remove them and place them in a plastic bag for a few minutes to let the skin soften and become easy to peel. While the Anaheim's sit cut the Jalapenos and remove the seeds, I ALWAYS USE GLOVES TO DO THIS. After removing the skin from the Anaheim Chile's cut them the Jalapenos and the Tomatillos into chunks and place in the food processor.
Process until they become an even texture.

Place into a bowl and serve with chips or use as a sauce for enchiladas.

While all of this is going on I also saute' a yellow onion to a slight brown color.

I always have cooked, cubed, chicken in my freezer for quick use. So I place the chicken some grated Cheddar and Monterrey Jack cheese and the onions on the fabulous tortillas and roll.

I cheated by using some canned green sauce to the bottom of the pan and place the enchiladas on top to keep them from sticking. Top with the fresh green sauce more of the grated cheese and bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly.
Top with sour cream and avocado's and more of the green sauce as needed.

Yum.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

This summer has been full of projects in the home-long over due projects and one thing leads to another. One of the projects being new counter top and flooring in my kitchen. As a result I have not been doing a lot of cooking or creating. Along with trying to lose and maintain weight loss I have not been making many "treats" lately. While I was in the basement sorting through piles of paper and organizing recipes Rebecca was busy making chocolate chip cookies. What a simple treat after a long process. Thanks Reb!

Rebecca's Chocolate Chip Cookies

1/2 c. granulated sugar

1/2 brown sugar, packed

1/3 c. margarine or butter, softened

1/3 c. shortening

1 egg

1 t. vanilla

1 1/3 c. all purpose flour

1/2 t. baking soda

1/2 t. salt

1/2 c. chopped nuts (optional)

1 pkg. chocolate chips

Heat oven to 375. Mix sugars, margarine, shortening, egg and vanilla. Stir in remaining ingredients.

With a small ice cream scoop place on cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake 8-10 minutes or until light brown. Cool slightly before removing from cookie sheet. About 3 dozen.

Sometimes a glass of milk and a warm chocolate chip cookie is all you need to relax for just a few minutes