Chicken Cordon Bleu

Chicken

  • 8 thin slices ham
  • 8 oz Swiss cheese sliced or shredded
  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts , about 2 pounds
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 cups corn flakes cereal , crushed (or substitute breadcrumbs)
  • 6 Tablespoons butter , melted

Parmesan Cream Sauce

  • 2 TBSP butter
  • 2 TBSP all purpose flour
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 tsp Garlic Powder
  • 1 chicken flavored Bouillon cube, crushed
  • 1 TBSP Dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
  • Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Use a sharp knife to cut each chicken breast in half horizontally to create two chicken breast halves.Place the chicken breast halves between two sheets of plastic wrap and use a meat mallet or rolling pin to pound them into thin and evenly (be careful not to pound so hard that the meat tears.).4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • Top each pieces of chicken with a slice of ham and a ham handful of shredded cheese. Roll tightly, tucking the sides a little, and place on a new piece of plastic wrap.8 thin slices ham,8 oz Swiss cheese
  • Wrap the chicken tightly in the plastic wrap, pinching the excess plastic on the sides to create a tootsie-roll shape and twisting them to create a firm chicken roll. Refrigerate the wrapped chicken bundles for at least 30-minutes or up to one day in advance.
  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Remove chicken from fridge, unwrap and season with salt and pepper. Add cornflakes to a food processor and pulse into fine crumbs. Add crumbs to a shallow dish or pie plate. Melt butter in a separate shallow dish.salt and freshly ground black pepper,3 cups corn flakes cereal,6 Tablespoons butter
  • Dip the chicken bundles in melted butter, and then into the cornflake crumbs, pressing lightly to help the crumbs stick to the chicken. Transfer to a lightly greased baking sheet.
  • Bake on the center oven rack for about 30 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through (160 degrees on a thermometer inserted into the chicken, not the filling.)

Make the sauce-

Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour, and continue to whisk constantly for about 1 – 2 minutes. Slowly pour in the milk, then stir in the garlic powder and chicken boullion, whisking constantly over medium heat until it begins to simmer and thicken – about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the mustard, worcestershire sauce, and parmesan until well combined and the cheese has melted. When the chicken is cooked, remove from oven and serve drizzled with the sauce. Enjoy!!!

Sour Cream & Chicken Enchiladas

Ingredients for the filling:

  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon avo oil

** when you get to the point of cooking chicken, feel free to sub your favorite chicken taco meat recipe, or add some taco seasoning to the chicken when you bake. I will sometimes make shredded chicken tacos meat and use that instead- or cook as this recipe outlined.

Ingredients for the sour cream sauce:

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 6 fresh tomatillos, husked and cut in half or 1 (10-ounce) can tomatillos
  • 2 Serrano chiles, seeded and diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • Dash cayenne
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 2 cups sour cream
  • 1/4 cup chopped cilantro

Ingredients for the enchiladas:

  • 2 tablespoons avo oil
  • 12 white corn tortillas
  • 1/2 medium-sized onion, diced
  • 3 cups (12 ounces) shredded Monterey Jack cheese
  • 1/2 cup chopped cilantro, for serving

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350° F and lightly grease a 9×13 baking dish.
  2. Sprinkle the chicken breasts on each side with the salt and black pepper. Heat the oil in a large cast-iron or ovenproof skillet set on medium heat. When it shimmers, add the chicken and cook on each side for 3 minutes.
  3. Place the chicken in the oven and bake uncovered for 25 minutes or until an inserted thermometer is 165°F. When the chicken is done, remove it from the oven, keeping the oven on since you’ll be using it again.
  4. Allow the chicken to cool, and then shred it with 2 forks. Taste the shredded chicken and add more salt and pepper if desired.
  5. Meanwhile, to make the sauce, in a medium pot melt the butter on medium-low. Add the tomatillos and diced Serrano chiles and while occasionally stirring, cook until soft, about 4-5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
  6. Whisk in the flour, cumin, salt, and cayenne and cook for 1 more minute or until lightly toasted and fragrant. Pour the chicken broth into the pot, and while whisking, cook until the broth has thickened, about 2-3 minutes. Stir in the sour cream and cilantro, then remove from the heat.
  7. Pour the sour cream sauce into a blender and puree until smooth. Taste and adjust seasonings.
  8. To make the enchiladas, In a skillet, heat up the oil on medium-low heat. One at a time, heat up the tortillas in the oil, and then keep them wrapped in a cloth or tortilla warmer until all the tortillas are heated.
  9. Pour 1 cup of the sour cream sauce into the bottom of a 9z13 baking dish.
  10. To assemble the enchiladas, take each warm corn tortilla and place in the middle 1/3 cup of shredded chicken, 1 teaspoon of diced onions, and 1 tablespoon of cheese (I’m not usually this scientific but if you’ve never made them before and desire exact measurements this would be it!).
  11. Roll the tortillas around the filling and place the rolled tortillas seam side down in the baking dish. Cover the enchiladas with the remaining sauce and cheese and bake uncovered for 25 minutes or until the the top is brown and bubbling.
  12. Serve warm topped with chopped cilantro.

Sticky Toffee Pudding

PUDDING

1 cup dates, pitted and chopped

1 cup boiling water

3 tablespoons butter; cold,

unsalted, cubed (plus more for

greasing)

1 teaspoon baking soda

¼ teaspoon fine sea salt

⅓ cup plus 1 teaspoon

Demerara sugar

⅓ cup plus 1 teaspoon dark

brown sugar

2 eggs

¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons flour

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

STICKY TOFFEE TOPPING

5 tablespoons butter

1 cup cream

6 tablespoons dark brown sugar

⅛ teaspoon fine sea salt

‘‘EXTRA’’ SAUCE

3 tablespoons butter

1¼ cup cream, plus more for

serving, if you like

3 tablespoons dark brown sugar

⅛ teaspoon fine sea salt

Step 1

Put the dates in a bowl and cover with the 1 cup boiling

water to soften, at least 5 minutes. Heat the oven to 350

and grease a deep 9-by-13-inch baking dish.

Step 2

Combine the 3 tablespoons butter, baking soda, a pinch

of salt, Demerara sugar, ⅓ cup plus 1 teaspoon dark

brown sugar, eggs, flour and vanilla extract in a food

processor and pulse until just combined. Add the dates

and ½ cup of the water to the mixture; pulse until nearly

smooth (specks of dates should remain visible).

Step 3

Pour the mixture into the baking dish and bake for about

30 minutes, until just firm to the touch. (When the

pudding has finished baking, remove from the oven and

heat the broiler. Put the rack about 4 inches from the

heat source.)

Step 4

Meanwhile, make the topping. Melt 5 tablespoons butter

in a small saucepan over medium heat, then slowly add 1

cup cream and 6 tablespoons dark brown sugar and ⅛

teaspoon salt, whisking continuously until the mixture

bubbles gently and comes together to form a smooth

mixture; turn off heat.

Step 5

In another small saucepan over medium heat, make the

extra sauce. Melt 3 tablespoons butter, then slowly add

1¼ cups cream and 3 tablespoons dark brown sugar and

⅛ teaspoon salt. Repeat the process above.

Step 6

Pour the topping (careful not to use the extra sauce) over

the cooked pudding and place the whole thing in the

broiler until it bubbles and looks sticky, 1 or 2 minutes

(watch it closely). To serve, spoon into bowls and cover

with the extra sauce. If you like, add a dollop of whipped

cream.

Recipe Credit: Simon Hopkins- NYT

Spaghetti alla Bolognese

  • 1lb ground beef
  • 1lb ground pork
  • large can of tomato sauce
  • 2 Tbls tomato paste
  • 2 tbs of butter
  • 3 whole large carrots, finely diced
  • I leek, or large onion, finely diced
  • 1 tsp of red pepper flakes
  • 1 1/5 cup of chicken stock
  • 1 cup of milk or heavy cream
  • dash of red wine.
  • optional- a couple of cloves.
  • Parmesan

In pot, melt butter, throw in onions and carrots, sauté until softened. add in tomato paste. Brown meet in separate pan, pork and beef until browned. drain, and add meat to the pot with veggies/sauce. glaze the meat pan with wine, coffee off for a minute or two. add wine and drippings into the sauce pot. mix well, add salt, black pepper. (optional add a couple of cloves- changes the flavor quite a bit.) throw in red pepper flakes, stock, and tomato sauce. Cook on low for three hours, stirring occasionally.

Add milk or cream. mix through. cook spaghetti, add as much sauce as you want, cover with parmesan

Pollo Ala Crema

2 tablespoons butter
cups chicken breast pounded, cut in strips
onion cut in half lengthwise and sliced
2 cups  mushies, sliced fairly thick
1 tablespoon  paprika (or more if desired)
1 tablespoon + 1tsp chicken base
1 cup  heavy cream (Mexican cream works best)
2⁄3 cup  sour cream

  1. Heat oil in large frying pan. Saute chicken and onion until chicken is no longer pink & onions are translucent.
  2. Add cream, mushrooms, paprika & chicken base.
  3. Bring to a boil and simmer for 5-7 minutes or until chicken is tender.
  4. Remove from heat and stir in sour cream. Mixture will be somewhat thin, but should be a creamy texture like the consistency of a white sauce.
  5. Serve hot with warmed flour tortillas and Spanish Rice.

Optional: I typically add a tablespoon of jarred chipotles in with the chicken, as well as season the chicken with chili powder, cumin, and garlic powder before frying. I will also typically add 1 cup of cheese for the last minute before putting in sour cream, either Monterey or Mexican blend of some sort. Swap out whatever veggies you like.

Carne Asada Street Tacos

Jade’s family favorite.

Bottom round beef thinly sliced 2-3lbs 

Dried Guajillo chiles x3 California x2

Limes x5

Onion x2 

Cilantro x2

Garlic 

Apple cider vinegar 

White corn tortillas 

Tomatillos x4 

Avocado x2 

Avocado oil 

Jalepeno x2 

Marinade: 

Toast up your chiles (toss in avocado oil and air fry for 2 min) and then soak for 30 min in hot water. Drain the water and add chiles to food processor with a small onion and jalepeno (charred in air fryer), juice of 2 limes, 6 cloves garlic, salt, pepper, cumin, and half a bunch of cilantro. Place into a Tupperware with your steak and marinate in the fridge for 24h.

Steak: 

The right way is seared on a very hot grill. We sear it in the cast iron which works great. I get my pan super hot and toss in some butter and sear very quickly. These cuts are super thin so be careful not to overcook it. I then dice the steak, season with salt, and the throw it right back into the cast iron with tiny bit of butter after the tortillas are done just to warm it up. The air fryer at 400 for 4 minutes also works great. 

Tortillas: 

Do not toast the tortillas. There should be no crunch. Get your cast iron nice and hot (450 is what I use on my induction cook top) and quickly heat up your tortilla 1-2 at a time. Do not use oil otherwise you will get crunch. We’re looking to heat them up and add a tiny bit of color, but absolutely no crunch. They should be nice and pliable and warm, which is all you want.  Immediately place your tortilla on a plate wrapped in a dish towel as soon as you’re done heating each one up. 2 tortillas per taco 2-3 tacos per person. 

Salsa Verde: 

Toss an onion, jalepeno, and your tomatillos in the oven with some avocado oil and broil on high til nice and charred. Toss into the food processor with fresh garlic, a splash of acv, 1 whole bunch of cilantro (just cut some of the stems off don’t pick it all off), juice of 3-4 limes, 1 avocado, and salt/pepper/honey to taste. This should be nice and fresh and acidic.. and super easy. 

Recipe Credit: Jade Family

Zuppa Tuscana

  • 1lb mild Italian sausage
  • 1 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 70oz chicken broth (5 14 oz cans)
  • 4 slices of bacon
  • a large onion
  • 1 tbs minced garlic
  • six small potatoes- diced
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 bunch of fresh kale- stems removed

Brown the Italian sausage and red pepper flakes in a pot of medium heat. drain and set aside. Cut up the bacon into 1/2 inch pieces, cook in the same pan until crisp. Drain all but a few tbs. stir in onions, and sauté until translucent, add garlic until fragrant.Pour the chicken broth into pan- add back in the bacon. bring to boil over high heat. add potatoes, boil until fork tender, about 20 min. reduce heat to medium and stir in heavy cream and sausage. heat through. mix kale into soup just before serving.

Recipe credit: Mamma Verdorn

Enchilada Sauce- Red

Little bit of oil

4 cloves garlic

1 cup chicken stock

1 can tomato sauce (15 oz)

1 1/2 teaspoon chili powder

1 tsp cumin

1 tablespoon diced chipotle chili’s in Adobada souce 

Dash of white pepper, dash of cayenne

Salt/pepper to taste

Roast garlic, put all other shit in, bring to boil, simmer 10 min

Pino’s style grinder bread

Grinder bread loafs similar to one of our favorite restaurants, Pino’s.

Ingredients

  • 2 Tablespoons Yeast
  • 1/2 cup Warm Water
  • 2 cups Hot Water
  • 3 Tablespoons Sugar
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons Salt
  • 1/3 cup Oil
  • 6 1/2 cups Flour
  • 1 Egg for brushing on bread

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, dissolve your yeast in ½ cup warm water. Make sure that your water is warm (not too cold, not too hot). Let proof for 10 minutes.
  • In a separate mixing bowl, combine hot water, sugar, salt, oil and 3 cups of the flour and mix together. Add the yeast mixture to a bowl.
  • Add the remaining 3 ½ cups of flour, one cup at a time, mixing after each addition. Watch for it to start pulling away from the bowl to know it’s ready. Once all of the flour is added, let sit for 10 minutes.
  • Separate your dough into 3 pieces. On a floured surface roll each piece into a 9×12 rectangle. Roll it up like a jelly roll. Shape into a french bread loaf and smooth out edges.
  • Place the dough on a greased baking pan or a Silpat, seam side down. Using a knife, make 3-4 diagonal cuts about ¼ inch thick in bread. Brush with your beaten egg.
  • Let dough rise uncovered for 30-40 minutes in a warm place.
  • Bake at 375 for 18-22 minutes or until golden brown.

Mac Sauce

Burger sauce popularized at McDonald’s from their employee handbook from the 1980’s. Very similar copy cat recipe.

1/4 cup kraft miracle whip
1/4 cup mayonnaise
2 heaping tablespoons of WISHBONE deluxe FRENCH salad dressing
1/2 Tbls HEINZ sweet relish
2 heaping tsp VLASIC dill pickle relish
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp dried minced onion
1 tsp white vinegar
1 tsp ketchup
1/8 tsp salt

mix well and refrigerate for a couple hours.