February: Meals For Two (or more)

Pecan Chicken & Mustard Sauce

Chicken Ingredients:

1/2 C finely chopped pecans
1/2 C bread crumbs
1/4 C butter, melted
8 boneless skinless chicken breasts

Sauce Ingredients:
1/4 C dijon mustard
1/4 C brown sugar
2 2/3 tbls chicken stock
2 tbls soy sauce
1 tbls worcestershire sauce
3/4 C cold butter cut into cubes
1/2 C sliced green onions

Directions:

Stir together the pecans, bread crumbs and 2tbls of the melted butter. Spread the mixture on a large plate. Press the chicken breasts into the mixture to coat on both sides. Heat the remaining butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Place chicken breasts in the pan, and fry on both sides until nicely browned and chicken meat is cooked through about 10 minutes per side.

In a small saucepan, whisk together the dijon mustard, brown sugar, chiken stock, soy suace, and worcestershire sauce until smooth. Bring to a simmer over medium low heat them remove from the burner and whisk in the 3/4 C of butter one piece at a time. Do not return to the heat.

Arrange the chicken breasts on a large serving plate. Pour the sauce over the chicken, and sprinkle with the green onions.

Fish Packets

Ingredients:

4 white fish fillets (tilapia, cod, halibut, etc.)
16 oz frozen mixed veggies
2 tbls chicken or vegetable broth per packet
2 tsp lemon pepper, Mrs. Dash seasoning, bay seasoning or any other seasoning that you prefer if you're adding salt only do one tsp per packet.
aluminum foil

Directions:

Cut your foil into about 12 in apart place fish in foil and split up the veggies between the 4 packets add 2tbls of broth to each packet pour 2tsp of seasoning per packet. Fold the top of the foil together and edges make sure you kind of bend the edges up a little so none of the liquid will spill out. Place in a 450 degree preheated oven for about 20 minutes.

*Alternatives for packets: Mix any of these three things and follow the instructions in the recipe.

Meats: chicken, salmon, shrimp, steak, ground beef, any fish, pork chops, scallops, mahi mahi, tuna fillets, etc.

Veggies: mushrooms, broccoli, aspargus, leeks, parsnips, potatoes, squash, cauliflower, carrots, peas, just about any fresh or frozen veggiesin any variety

Seasonings: bay seasoning, lemon pepper, any Mrs. Dash, any Mckormick seasonings, salt, pepper, cream of anything soups, instant onions soup pakets, etc.

FAMOUS Chocolate Cake

Ingredients:

1/2 C butter
3/4 C cocoa powder
1 C water
1 C sour cream
2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 C flour
2 C sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla

Directions:

In a small saucepan over medium heat add butter, cocoa, and water stir occasionally until melted and smooth. In a small bowl add sour cream and baking soda mix together and let sit. In a large mixing bowl combine flour and sugar. When chocolate mixture is ready add to the flour mixture and whisk together add eggs and vanilla whisk. Add sour cream and stir in with a spoon. Pour into two 8 or 9 in greased pans and Cook 25 to 35 minutes in a 350 degree oven.

Chocolate Frosting

Ingredients:

6 tbls butter softened
Cocoa 1/3 C light chocolate or 1/2 C for medium choco flavor or 3/4 C for darker choco flavor(I do 3/4)
2 2/3 C powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/3 C milk

Directions:
In a mixer smooth butter, add cocoa and powdered sugar. When powdered sugar is mixed in add vanilla and slowly add in milk until you bet the consistency that you want. This will ice 1 cake so you will want to double it to do a layered cake.