Usually it's just the Family for dinner, but the last couple weeks we have had guests! We celebrated the beautiful Jessica on her birthday, and had our sweet friend Megan join this past week. Here are a few snapshots from the evenings as well as the recipes for Chicken Stew & Orecchiette on a Budget.
Sometimes, when you're friends, you end up dressing alike.
(Shirt - J.Crew)
Meredith's Chicken Stew
It was melt in your mouth dreamy...I actually ate it on Wednesday too and it was even better!
Happy Birthday Jessica!
Chicken Stew by Meredith
Serving Size: 6
4 whole chicken breasts
1 cup flour
Season to taste
3 springs of thyme
2 bay leaves
2 cups white wine
3 cups chicken broth
3 carrots
2 russet potatoes
1 large onion
Optional: white rice and crescent rolls
- Cut your chicken breasts into bite sized pieces. Lightly toss them in some flour with a pinch of salt and pepper. Shaking off the excess flour, brown them in a pot using a bit of Olive oil. You may have to do it in 2 batches to ensure each piece is evenly browned. Then sit the browned chicken aside.
- Dice your onion and add that to the pan, cook until the onions are translucent. Add 1 cup of white wine to the pot to deglaze the pan. As the little brown bits loosen, add the browned chicken back into the pan. Add thyme and bay leaves.
- In a small cup or mug whisk together a 1/4 cup of flour and the remaining cup of white wine. Then add that to the pot.
- Add chicken broth and any additional seasoning that you like (I added salt, pepper, garlic powder, a small dash of cumin and cinnamon). Bring the pot to a boil and then reduce to a simmer with the lid off.
- Cut the carrots and potatoes into bite sized pieces. After simmering for an hour add carrots and potatoes. Id taste test then and potentially re-season. Simmer another hour or until you're ready to eat. The more you simmer the softer and more shredded the chicken becomes.
- We served it over rice with a little crescent roll on the side!
I do what I can to buy a majority of my ingredients from Trader Joe's. They are the best bang for your buck and the product is generlaly pretty high in quality. For vegetables and fruit, I prefer Fairway Market. Their shelves are overflowing with vibrant goodness, it makes me want to buy it all!
No family dinner is complete without a little sing-a-long.
Side salad with Kale, Spring Mix, Radish, Cucumber, and Tomato was the perfect side for this pasta treat. I love Trader Joe's Light Champagne Vinaigrette as a dressing.
Orecchiette on a Budget by Deirdre
Serving Size: 6
12 oz bag Orecchiette pasta
1 jar pasta sauce of your choice (we did a creamy tomato)
4 sweet Italian sausages
2 garlic cloves
1 small white onion
1 bag of frozen peas defrosted
3 handfuls of mushrooms chopped
- Chop the onion into small pieces and the garlic. Add to hot pan with olive oil. Saute until translucent and then add mushrooms. Once mushrooms start to soften add peas and cook. You can't cook these too long, I think they get better the longer they cook. Season with a bit of salt and pepper.
- Boil water for pasta. Put pasta in boiling water for about 12 minutes
- De-case the sausages and chop, cook over medium heat.
- Heat sauce in sauce pan until hot, shouldn't take very long.
- Once the pasta and sausage are cooked, strain the pasta and then combine everything together.
- Serve with a salad on the side for extra veggies
Bon Appetite
d.eileen
That looks mighty delicious! I'm going to have to try these recipes out some point real soon!! Thanks for sharing them!! :)
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