Chicken & Dumplings

Anyone who reads this blog often knows how much I like to use my slow cooker for meals. It's great to come home from work and smell a wonderful concoction ready to eat. Now, with summer coming upon us, I like to use the slow cooker to keep the temperature cool in the kitchen. There's nothing worse than heating up the oven, which in turn, heats up the kitchen. Today, I want to share my recipe for Chicken & Dumplings for the slow cooker. 

 

SLOW COOKER CHICKEN AND DUMPLINGS

4 chicken breasts, thawed and cubed
2 T. butter
1 - 15 oz. can cream of mushroom soup
1 - 15 oz. can cream of chicken soup
1/2 onion, medium, chopped
3/4 large can chicken broth
2 tubes biscuits

Mix all ingredients, except the biscuits, in slow cooker and cook on Low 10 hours or High 5-6 hours.

Before adding biscuits, put slow cooker on High until boiling at the edges. Cut biscuits into quarters and add to slow cooker, stirring often. Cook on High for another 45 minutes to an hour.

 

 

Chicken Fajitas

Today, I have a very simple and easy to make recipe for Chicken Fajitas. My husband is a beef-eater and usually we have Beef Fajitas, but every once in a while I like a change. I hope you enjoy this one.

We're celebrating Memorial Day today with a family cookout at our house. Be safe this holiday weekend and please remember those who have given their lives for our country. The holiday is really about honoring them.

Carol

CHICKEN FAJITAS

3 T. vegetable oil
6 - 6-oz. skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, thinly sliced
1/2 c. sliced onions
1/2 c. sliced red bell pepper
1/2 c. tomato juice
2 T. taco seasoning mix
1 cup salsa
8 - 1/2-inch thick slices French bread
2 c. shredded Cheddar cheese

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook and stir until lightly browned, about 5 minutes.

Add in the sliced onions and red peppers. Cook and stir for more 5 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.

Stir in the tomato juice and taco seasoning, mixing well. Cook mixture until the juice has thickened and the chicken is well coated with sauce, probably an additional 7 minutes.

Preheat the oven's broiler and set the oven rack about 6-inches from the heat source.

Spread 2 tablespoons of salsa over each slice of French bread. Evenly spoon the chicken mixture on top of the salsa-topped bread. Sprinkle each sandwich with 1/4 c. Cheddar cheese.

Place sandwiches under the preheated broiler and cook for 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted and beginning to brown.

Cappuccino

On most mornings, you will find me with a cup of coffee in my hand. Unless the heat index is over 80 degrees, I enjoy my morning jolt of caffeine from coffee. Unfortunately, I don't have a Starbucks, or even their newest competitor, McDonalds close to me, so I have to prepare my own, or stop by the local convenience store on the way to work for a Cappuccino. Don't get me wrong, the convenience store version is pretty good. I usually get the French Vanilla, but lately I am wanting something new. So, I made my own cappuccino mix that I can either prepare at home, or wait until I get to work and mix up at my desk. Since I am a sucker for a sweet coffee, sometimes I will add a packet of artificial sweetener to the mix. I even do that with the coffee I get at the store.

Carol

Cappuccino Mix

1 c. powdered instant non-dairy creamer
1 c. chocolate flavored drink mix
3/4 c instant coffee
1/2 c sugar
1/2 t. ground cinnamon
1/4 t. ground nutmeg

In a medium size bowl, combine all of the ingredients and mix well. Store in an airtight container.

To use: combine 2 T. of mix with 6 oz. of hot water. Top with whipped cream, if desired.

Cheerios? Seriously?

The Food & Drug Administration is now targeting Cheerios. Can you believe it? The cereal that we all grew up on and one of my favorites. I love the Multi-Grain Cheerios. It seems that the FDA says that if the cereal advertises that they lower cholesterol and helps prevent heart disease that it's a drug. Read more about the story here.

Let's face it, Cheerios can be a healthy way to start the day. Okay, I admit that the frosted Cheerios probably have a little too much sugar coating, but can the FDA say the other flavors are bad for your health?

Carol

Mother's Day

I want to wish everyone a Happy Mother's Day. I hope you mother's don't have to do the cooking today. It's your day and you should take it easy. If you aren't lucky enough to be able to go out to eat and are having the family over, I suggest something easy, like take out or maybe a pizza. That was the plan that my mom and I had. We were going to pop a large pizza in the oven, but my brother had other plans. He is taking us out to eat today.

Unfortunately, my husband has to work today, but he gave me my present last night. He got me a bottle of my favorite red wine, French Lick Red from the French Lick Winery & Coffee Company. I highly recommend it.

Enjoy your day today,

Carol

KFC Coupon Disaster

Did you download a KFC coupon from Oprah's web site this week? Many KFC restaurants are rejecting the coupon. See why here. How could KFC have underestimated the power of Oprah? Now, come on.

Carol

My Kentucky Fried Chicken

Today is Derby Day and as I've mentioned before, I live near Louisville where the Kentucky Derby is run every first Saturday in May. With all the rain we have had, it looks like it's going to be a messy track. Hopefully, today's rain will hold off until after the race and all those pretty dresses and Derby hats won't be ruined.

Last year, I posted recipes for the Mint Julip and a Derby Pie. This year, I chose another Kentucky specialty, Kentucky Friend Chicken. Now, everyone knows that the KFC recipe of 11 special herbs and spices is a secret. It's even locked in a vault at KFC headquarters in Louisville. Many of us have their own version of this delicious chicken and below you will find mine.

Oh, and the horse I am picking to win the Derby is Musketman. That horse drinks one Guiness beer every day and you have to love a horse that likes beer.

Carol

My version of Kentucky Friend Chicken

3 lbs. chicken pieces
2 pkgs Good Seasons Italian salad dressing mix
2 T. flour
2 t. salt
1/4 c. lemon juice
2 T. softened butter or margarine
20 oz. vegetable oil, approximate
1 c. milk
1 1/2 c. pancake mix
1 t. paprika
1/2 t. sage
1/4 t. pepper

Rinse chicken pieces with cold water and pat dry. Set aside. Make a paste with salad dressing mix, flour, salt and lemon juice. Cook the chicken pieces evenly with the paste. Place the pieces in a bowl, cover and refrigerate for several hours.

When ready to start cooking, heat 1/2 inch of vegetable oil in a large skillet. Dip the pieces into the milk and then the pancake mix. Coat well.

Lightly brown the chicken for 4 mnutes on each side. Remove from skillet and place in a single layer in a shallow baking pan. Spoon remaining milk over each piece. Cover the pan with foil and seal well. Bake at 350 degrees for an hour. Before removing from the oven, remove the foil and increase the temperature to 400 degrees. Bake for an additional 10 minutes. This will make the chicken crisp.