Author: Chez Starz

I have a passion for food and travel. I am always looking for delicious recipes to cook and share with my family. This site is simply a way to share family recipes and those I find in cookbooks and online.

Croissant Apple Turnovers

 

This is a recipe that my best friend Dawn found online but she tweaked it to her liking so now I am only going to cite her as the source. My daughter likes it so much that she had me make them for her classroom during a heritage feast; even though they have nothing to do with our heritage. Regardless, they were a hit with all the children.

Ingredients;

  • 2-3 apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
  • 1 can croissants
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 6 oz (1/2 can) lemon Pelligrino soda

Directions;

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9X13 glass baking dish. Unroll croissants and cut each triangle in half making a total of 16 rolls. Place 1 apple slice in each piece of croissant. Place in dish and sprinkle remaining apples around (I coarsely chopped these). Melt butter and mix with sugar and cinnamon, pour over turnovers, then pour Pellegrino soda over turnovers.

Bake 35-45 minutes, it will be golden brown. Check to make sure the bottoms are not gooey.

Serve with ice cream if you wish.

 

 

 

Olga Bread

 

 

As a teenager, many of my friends worked at the fast food Greek restaurant Olga’s. On of my favorite things about this place was their bread. My best friend forwarded me the recipe found on food.com and my daughter absolutely loves it. You can use it as a wrap with meats or vegetables or just eat it plain like her, enjoy.

Ingredients;

1  cup milk
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup margarine ( I used butter)
1  teaspoon salt

2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast (1 pkg.)
1/4 cup warm water

1  teaspoon sugar

4  cups flour, divided
1 egg

  • Directions;
  • Scald milk, remove to large bowl. Add honey, margarine and salt to milk, stir until margarine is melted.
    Set aside to cool until lukewarm. Combine yeast, warm water and sugar, stir until sugar is dissolved. Set aside.
    Add 1 1/2 cups of the flour to lukewarm milk mixture and beat well. Mix in egg and yeast mixture.Add remaining flour, a little at a time, until sticky dough is formed. Turn out on a floured surface, knead about two minutes. Place dough in oiled bowl. Turning once to oil whole surface of dough. Cover with plastic wrap and let stand in warm place until doubled in bulk.
  • Punch down dough; divide into 16 equal pieces. Roll each piece to a thin rough circle about 8-1o inches in diameter.
  • Heat a large dry skillet over medium-high heat; do not use any oil.
    Bake 15 seconds, flip and bake about 10 seconds on other side, until mottled brown spots appear.
    Cool and store in a plastic bag. Makes: 16.

Charlie’s Chicken

One of my best friends, Sharlene, made this dish at her Christmas party this year and my children and I loved it so I copied it down and gave it a try. I haven’t perfected it yet but I will keep trying. Charlie is her father in-law and this is his recipe.

Ingredients;

1/4 cup flour
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 tsp. salt
Dash thyme
3 to 4 lbs chicken tenders
1/4 to 1 cup olive oil and butter combined
4 green onions sliced
1/2 cup mushrooms sliced
2 TB lemon juice
1 tsp. sugar
1/3 cup apple juice

Directions;

Mix flour, 1 tsp. salt, pepper, and thyme in plastic bag, add chicken and shake to coat well. Brown chicken in oil/butter and remove to casserole dish.
Add onions and mushrooms to sauté pan that you used to cook chicken and simmer for 3 minutes, add vegetables to casserole dish. Mix lemon juice, sugar, 1 tsp. salt, and apple juice together and pour over chicken.
Bake at 325 degrees covered with foil for 60 minutes.

Roy Choi’s Stir-Fried Chicken Henhouse Bowl

 

I bought this wonderful cookbook titled Secrets Of The Best Chefs by Adam Roberts. The selling point of the entire book is the inclusion of this delicious recipe by Roy Choi. Ever since the first time I made this a month or so ago I’ve been craving it; it’s time to make it again tonight. But first, lets share it with anyone out in internet land that wants to try it and have their flavor senses thank them. To start, you must make his sweet chili sauce, it is an integral part of the dish and cannot be omitted.

Sweet Chili Sauce

This very spicy, slightly sweet sauce can be used on all types of protein or just plain rice. You can omit some ingredients, as I did, because I was unable to find everything and I needed it a little less spicy for the children, but don’t skip the key ingredients. Key to this sauce is the chili sauce, citrus, herbs, onion, garlic, and ginger.

Ingredients;

1 (10-ounce) bottle Mae Ploy sweet chili sauce
2/3 cup loosely packed Thai basil leaves
2/3 cup loosely packed cilantro leaves
1/3 cup freshly squeezed orange juice (1 med orange)
1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice (5 med limes)
1 medium yellow onion, peeled and coarsely chopped
8 medium cloves garlic, peeled and slightly chopped (to get them started, the blender will do the rest)
3 TBS sriracha hot sauce
2 TBS Korean crushed red pepper
2 TBS toasted sesame seeds
2-inch piece of ginger, peeled and coarsely chopped
1 dried Anaheim chili, stemmed and coarsely chopped (optional)
1 Serrano chili, stemmed and coarsely chopped (optional)
4 tsp. kosher salt
4 tsp. Korean chili paste
1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

Add all of the ingredients to a blender. Blend for 1 minute, until you have a smooth puree. Taste to adjust for citrus, heat, and salt. Use immediately or refrigerate in a jar for later use. The sauce will last for about 1 week in the refrigerator.

Henhouse Bowl

Ingredients;

Canola oil
1/2 yellow onion, peeled and thinly sliced
1 cup cooked chicken, diced
1/2 cup cleaned and sliced Chinese broccoli or whole spinach leaves or a combination
2 cups cooked rice
1/2 cup Sweet Chili Sauce, plus more to taste
A big handful of cilantro leaves, plus more for later
A big handful of Thai basil leaves, plus more for later
1 or 2 red fresno chilies, thinly sliced
A few TBS of toasted sesame seeds
A three-finger pinch of fried shallots
2 fried eggs (optional)

Directions:

Set a wok on high heat. Swirl 3 TBS canola oil until it’s hot, add the onions. Lower heat and let the onions cook. When they start to brown, remove to bowl and set aside. Add more oil, add chicken, warm chicken and remove to onion bowl. Add more oil, increase heat, add the greens, stir until wilted, add to onion and chicken bowl. Oil again, add rice, flatten like a pancake. Allow to sit for a bit, lower heat, sizzle a minute, start moving it around. You don’t want a film on the bottom; you want the rice to be in direct contact with the heat. Slowly cook and warm rice without adding color. Add onions, chicken, and greens to wok and stir. Add the chili sauce. Stir and taste. Add cilantro, basil, sesame seeds, and fried shallots and top with the same and a fried egg.

If you want to use fresh chicken and not leftover or a cooked rotisserie marinate for 30 minutes in the refrigerator with;

1/2 cup lime juice
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup toasted sesame oil
1 med Asian pear (grated)
1 tsp. freshly ground pepper

Pat very dry and cook the chicken in the 1st step instead of the 2nd step, before cooking the onions.

Fried Shallots

You want the shallots and oil to come up in temperature together. So add sliced shallots to a pan of cold canola oil. Slowly bring up the heat and cook, until the shallots are deep golden brown.

Brownies

Image

 

 

I have made several different recipes of homemade brownies. Most tasted like cake. I finally found my go to recipe for brownies in Cook’s Country Chocolate Desserts magazine date Feb/2012. These are delicious served warmed with vanilla ice-cream.

 

Ingredients;

  • 5 oz semisweet chocolate, chopped
  • 2 oz unsweetened chocolate, chopped
  • 8 TBS unsalted butter
  • 3 TBS cocoa
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 1/4 cups sugar
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour

Directions;

Preheat oven to 350 degree and adjust oven rack to lower-middle position. Spray 8 inch square baking pan with vegetable oil spray.

In medium heatproof bowl or double boiler, set over simmering water, melt chocolate and butter, stirring occasionally until mixture is smooth. Whisk in cocoa powder. Set aside to cool slightly.

Whisk eggs, sugar, vanilla, and salt in medium bowl. Whisk warm chocolate mixture into egg mixture, then stir in flour with wooden spoon. Pour into prepared baking pan and bake 35-40 minutes. Let cool for 2 hours.

 

 

 

Taco Salad

I’ve tried every diet out there. After I had my children I had 20 lbs to lose after each one. The only diet that worked, with exercise of course, was the Suzanne Somer’s diet. In the process I bought 2 of her books and still make a handful of her recipes. This particular recipe is found in her book, Eat Great, Lose Weight. You can make taco salad or tacos if you want the carbs.

Ingredients;

  • 2 TBS vegetable oil
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 5 garlic cloves, pressed
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1/2 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/2 tsp chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp cayenne
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 can (6 oz) tomato paste
  • 1 head lettuce, chopped
  • 2 tomatoes, chopped
  • 6 oz cheese, grated
  • 6 TBS sour cream
  • 6 green onions, chopped
  • Salsa

Directions;

Heat oil in a large skillet. Add onion and cook until translucent. Add garlic and cook 1 minute longer. Turn up heat to high and add beef. Cook until browned. Drain excess fat. Lower heat and add all spices, water and tomato paste. Bring to a boil, reduce and simmer for 10 minutes. Assemble salad.

Chicken Teriyaki

 

My daughter loves Asian inspired dishes and chicken teriyaki with steamed rice is one of her favorites. There are many teriyaki recipes out there but this one is really yummy and simple. Found on foodnetwork.com by Nigella Lawson.

Ingredients;

  • 2 TBS sake (Japanese Rice Wine)
  • 1/4 cup mirin (sweet Japanese rice wine)
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 2 TBS light brown sugar
  • 2 tsp grated fresh ginger root
  • Splash sesame oil
  • Chicken breast
  • 1 tsp peanut oil
  • Sushi rice

Directions;
Combine the sake, mirin, soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger and sesame oil in a bowl. Slice the chicken into strips and place in the sauce for 15 minutes.

Heat the peanut oil in a sauté pan and add the chicken, sauté until cooked on the outside and then add the remaining teriyaki sauce. Cook thoroughly.

Serve with cooked rice.

Coq Au Vin

Every other Friday my best friend Dawn comes over with her son and I make a new dish. Having a meal with friends makes it so much more fun. This recipe called for adding cognac and then lighting it on fire. That was a blast and now I want to find more dishes that I get to light on fire. This is the one and only Julia Child’s recipe from Mastering the Art of French Cooking.

Ingredients;
3 to 4 oz chunk of lean bacon
2 TBS butter
2 – 3 lb chicken, cut up.
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1/4 cup cognac
3 cups full-bodied red wine
1 to 2 cups chicken or beef stock
1 bay leaf
1/2 TBS tomato paste
2 cloves mashed garlic
1/4 tsp thyme
12 to 24 brown-braised onions
1/2 lb sauteed mushrooms
salt and pepper
3 TB flour
2 TB softened butter

Directions;
Remove the rind of the bacon and cut into lardons. Simmer for 10 minutes, rinse in cold water and dry. Use a 10 inch fireproof casserole dish. Saute the bacon slowly in hot butter (2 TB) until it is lightly brown. Remove to a side dish.

Dry the chicken thoroughly. Brown it in the hot fat. Season the chicken, return bacon, cover and cook for 10 minutes turning the chicken once.
Uncover and pour in the cognac. Averting your face, light the cognac with a match and shake until the flames subside.

Add wine, stock, tomato paste, garlic, and herbs. Bring to simmer, cover and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes. While the chicken is cooking prepare the onions and mushrooms.

Recipes are as follows:

Brown Braised Onions

Ingredients:

18-24 peeled white onions about 1 inch in diameter

1 Tbs butter

1 1/2 Tbs oil

1/2 cup beef stock, wine, or water. (red or white wine is fine)

salt and pepper to taste

A medium herb bouquet: 4 parsley sprigs, 1/2 bay leaf, 1/4 tsp thyme.

When the butter and oil are bubbling in the skillet, add the onion and saute over moderate heat for about 10 minutes. Pour in the liquid, season to taste, add the herbs. Cover and simmer for 40-50 minutes.

Sauteed Mushrooms

Ingredients:

2 Tbs butter

1 Tbs oil

1/2 lb fresh mushrooms

Directions:

Heat the butter and oil and as soon as it starts to foam add the mushrooms. Toss and shake the pan for 4-5 minutes. As soon as they have browned

Returning to Coq Au Vin recipe

Remove the chicken to a side dish.

Simmer the chicken cooking liquid for a minute or two skimming off the fat. Raise heat and boil rapidly, reducing the liquid to about 2 1/4 cups. Season and discard bay leaf. Blend the butter and flour into a paste and beat into hot liquid with a wire whip until thick enough to coat a spoon.

Place chicken, onions, and mushrooms together and baste with sauce.

Fried Chicken

 

I haven’t had much luck with making fried chicken, until this recipe. I found this recipe in the book Secrets of the Best Chefs by Adam Roberts. This is Angelish Wilson’s recipe and I can’t get over how simple it is.

 

Ingredients;
1 to 2 (4 pounds) chickens cut into pieces
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1 to 2 cups all-purpose flour
1 quart vegetable oil

Directions;
3 hours before you want to fry, clean the chicken, pat dry and season with salt and pepper.
Cover and refrigerate. 1 hour before frying remove from fridge and bring to room temperature.
Set up 2 bowls. One of room temperature water and the other of flour. Heat the oil. In large stock pot or dutch oven , pour in the vegetable oil and do not fill it more than halfway. Heat until it reaches 370 degrees. Dip each piece in water than the flour than place in oil. Cook 15 to 20 minutes, turning every so often.