Star anise, cinnamon, chili, ginger and garlic makes a fragrant broth for cooking chicken or seafood. The smell was spicy, warm and seductive. After the solid ingredients were gone, there was extra broth left over. It was strained and placed it a freezer for a future dish of steamed or braised fish.
Read moreSoups & Stews
Soups are perfect one-dish meals enjoyed throughout the year.
Slow Cook Recipe: Creamy Chicken Stew with Roast Brussel Sprouts
This Chicken Stew version is richer because of the added cream. Adding roast brussel sprouts contrasts well with the creamy texture.
Read moreBraised Red Curry Winter Vegetables and Chicken
The sweet boyfriend brought dinner home on the night I was supposed to make this recipe. “No problem,” I thought. The soup still was made the same night, although we didn’t eat it. I placed two containers of the soup in the freezer, and I packed another one for lunch the next day. One container has already been defrosted for a Friday dinner. The other one remains in the freezer for a lazy day in the near future.
Read moreVegetable Chicken Soup with Fresh Tomatoes and Basil Pesto
This week, being conscious of our expanding diets, I visited the farmers’ market to pick up carrots, leeks, fingerling potatoes, zucchini and basil. The local grocery store yielded a few out of season tomatoes. The taste will probably be pale, but I’ll add a bit of balsamic vinegar to sweeten them back to their sweet destiny. I’ve been consciously avoiding starches and sugar; justifying my consummation of a cornucopia worth of food. Below is a recipe for Veggie Chicken soup. It’s light and tasty until heavy Thursday arrives.
Read moreSlow Cooker: Chicken Stew (a Twist of the Coq au Vin classic)
A Sunday quick meal. In the a.m., brown the chicken and add to a slow cooker. Simmer wine in the same skillet as the chicken and pour into slow cooker. Dump the rest of the ingredients in a slow cooker. Enjoy a warm Fall day of football, museums, visiting friends, coffee shop, working, talking, shopping, laughing and partying. Come back in the p.m. Quickly make a salad. Open a bottle of wine. Remove lid from slow cooker. Serve yourself a hearty stew. Be in bed in the early p.m. Wake up to a good work week tomorrow a.m.
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