Ham & Broccoli Casserole

I refuse to believe that trading recipes is silly. Tuna fish casserole is at least as real as corporate stock.
~Barbara Grizzuti Harrison

Yes, I've got several pounds of leftover ham. This casserole was very tasty!

The Recipe
Ingredients:
1 1/2 c white rice
1 c cream
2 1/4 c water
1 1/2 c grated cheddar cheese
1 1/2 cup broccoli florets
1 1/2 c cubed ham
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 375
Mix all the ingredients less 1/2 cup cheese in an oven safe dish
Cover with foil and cook for 40 minutes
Remove foil, sprinkle remaining cheese on top
Cook for 15 minutes more

Chicken Kiev and Almond Rice

Chicken Kiev has virtually nothing to do with Kiev.
~Mark R. Vogel

"Can you also do Kiev?" inquires my nephew.

Chris, Chris, Chris...

The Recipes

Chicken Kiev
Ingredients:
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1/2 c butter, softened
1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
1 tsp chives
1 tsp crushed garlic
Salt & pepper
1 c flour
2 eggs, beaten
2 c bread crumbs
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 375
Pound chicken breasts to aprx 1/8" thickness
Spread garlic on each chicken breast, salt and pepper to taste, sprinkle with parsley and chives
Slice butter into 4 portions and put on chicken breasts
Wrap the chicken around the butter, tucking in ends, then roll up tightly
Dip rolled up chicken into beaten eggs, then in flour, then back in eggs, then in bread crumbs
Place in oven safe dish and bake for 40-50 minutes

Almond Rice
Ingredients:
1 c white rice
1 1/2 c water
1 c milk
1/4 tsp almond flavoring
Pinch nutmeg
1 tbsp butter
Salt and pepper to taste
1/4 c toasted almonds
Preparation:
In a large, microwave safe bowl, add rice, water, milk, almond flavor, nutmeg, butter, salt and pepper
Cover bowl
Microwave on High for 9 minutes
Reduce microwave heat to Medium and cook for 18 minutes
Add toasted almonds and stir

Served with a salad of baby lettuce.

Black Beans & Yellow Rice

Better beans and bacon in peace than cakes and ale in fear. ~Aesop

The Recipes

Black Beans

Ingredients:
1 lb black beans
1 ham steak
1/4 butter
1 medium onion finely chopped
1 small jalepeno pepper finely chopped
1 tsp garlic
1/4 tsp white pepper
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
8-10 cilantro leaves
6-8 cups water
7 chicken bouillon cubes
Salt and pepper to taste
Preparation:
Soak the beans overnight
Melt the butter in a large pot
Stir in onion, jalepeno pepper, and garlic
Chop the ham into bite size cubes and add to the pot
Let cook for about 3-5 minutes with frequent stirring
Add beans, water and bouillon cubes and bring to a boil
Add white and cayenne pepper. cilantro leaves
Cover and reduce to a simmer for aprx 1 1/2 hour, until beans are tender

Yellow Rice
Ingredients:
1 cup long grain rice
2 1/4 cups water
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tbsp turmeric
1/2 tsp garlic
1 bay leaf
Preparation:
Mix all the ingredients in a microwave safe bowl
Cook on high for 9 minutes
Cook on medium for 17 minutes
Let sit for 5 minutes
Remove bay leaf

Fried Chicken, Red Beans & Rice

If God grants me longer life, I will see to it that no peasant in my kingdom will lack the means to have a chicken in the pot every Sunday.
~Henri IV of France

I don't usually fry chicken but I came across a recipe over the weekend that is based on Popeyes secret recipe. I'm not a huge fan of most fast foods, but I always liked Popeyes and have not lived near one for over five years. So I decided to give the recipe a try. Please note: the recipe calls for a cut up fryer but I used boneless skinless breasts.

The Recipes

Fried Chicken
Ingredients:
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
6 cups vegetable oil
2/3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 tbsp salt
1 tbsp white pepper
1 tsp cayenne pepper
2 tsp paprika
3 eggs
Preparation:
Heat the vegetable oil in a large frying pan over medium heat
Combine the flour, pepper, salt, and paprika in a shallow dish
Beat the eggs into another shallow dish
Check the oil temp by dropping a pinch of the flour mixture into it - if it sounds and looks like it's frying, the oil is ready
Dip the chicken breasts first into the eggs and then into the flour mixture (coat generously)
Place the chicken into the oil (CAREFUL!) and fry for 20-25 minutes until it is a deep golden brown
Use a slotted spoon to remove the chicken and place it on several sheets of paper towel

Red Beans & Rice
Ingredients:
Lrg can of Progresso Red Beans (19 oz)
1 tsp white pepper
1/4 tsp paprika
4 tbsp butter
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt
3-4 cups cooked white rice
Preparation:
Heat the beans over medium heat in a pot
Add the pepper, paprika, butter, salt, and garlic powder
Use a fork to smoosh the beans against the side of the pot
Let beans come to a boil then reduce to a simmer for 20 minutes, stirring frequently
Remove from heat
Add rice to beans

Buttermilk Biscuits
Ingredients:
1/4 cup butter (soft)
1 tbsp sugar
1 egg
6 tbsp buttermilk
2 tbsp club soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 1/2 cups biscuit mix
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 450 degrees
Mix all the ingredients
Knead until smooth
Turn out dough on floured surface
Pat into 1" thickness
Cut into biscuits (about 2" diameter)
Place on greased cookie sheet
Bake 15 minutes or until golden brown

Serve with cole slaw, salad, or cooked greens

Ratings
**** Chicken is very good, save some red beans and rice for lunch tomorrow
***1/2 had seconds on chicken and biscuits
*** YUM! Chicken!
(dinner guest) **** Everything tastes so good!

My notes: The chicken was really good. I will use this method for frying again. The red beans and rice was okay, but not as good as my regular recipe starting with dry beans. The buttermilk biscuits were ta-asty! I'm thinking of making them for Thanksgiving if they taste as good after being refrigerated for one or two days.