Skillet Chicken Breast & Potatoes

Very tasty recipe, will make again...with more sauce next time. I used only slightly lesser amounts due to reducing the chicken and potatoes to 1 lb each. Next time, will make 1.5 of the sauce amount as listed in recipe (I have listed the 1.5 times amounts below, not the amounts I used in the video).

Link to original recipe: https://www.eatwell101.com/garlic-butter-chicken-and-potatoes-skillet

Link to my YouTube video of preparation: https://youtu.be/XB4jdmMFcV8

Recipe below contains my modifications.

Ingredients:

marinade-- (amounts are lesser in the video; listed here are the amounts for 1.5 times original recipe, will use going forward)

3/8 c. soy sauce (low sodium or regular)

1 1/2 T. olive oil

1 1/2 T. Sriracha

fresh cracked pepper, to taste

***

1 lb. chicken breast, cut in strips

1 lb. Yukon gold potatoes, cut in small cubes (around 3/4" sq)

1 T. olive oil

3 T. butter, divided

4 garlic cloves, minced

3/4 tsp. fresh thyme, chopped

3/4 tsp. fresh rosemary, chopped

3/4 tsp. fresh oregano, chopped

salt and fresh cracked pepper, to taste

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, stir together marinade ingredients (soy sauce, olive oil, Sriracha, cracked pepper). Add the chicken breast strips and toss together until strips are well coated. Set aside.

2. Bring a medium-large saucepan of salted water to boil, then add the cubed potatoes. Boil for 8 minutes, then drain in a colander.

3. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 T. olive oil and 1 T. of the butter to the pan, swirling to melt and mix. Once butter has melted, carefully add the drained potatoes, then stir to coat in the oil//butter mixture.

4. Cook potatoes for 4 minutes, then stir and cook for additional 5 minutes (or until potatoes are golden and fork-tender). Transfer potatoes to a plate.

5. Reduce skillet heat to medium and add the remaining 2 T. of butter. Once it has melted, place chicken strips in skillet in one layer, reserving the marinade for later.

6. Add the garlic and stir to mix in. Cook the chicken until it is starting to brown, stirring occasionally (was just a couple of minutes for me).

7. Add the reserved marinade to pan and stir to coat. Mix in the fresh herbs, followed by the reserved potatoes. Cook for 1-2 minutes, and adjust seasoning (salt and pepper) if needed. Serve up and enjoy!

Paccheri with Sausage and Porcini

I want this again like now. It's so freaking good! I've made this a few times already over the course of the last few months and loved it every single time. The amounts I have listed below are scaled down for "2 servings" (we always have some left, so I'd argue it's more like at least 2.5, if not 3 servings).

Link to original: https://www.cookingwithnonna.com/italian-cuisine/paccheri-with-porcini-ragu-and-sausage.html

Link to my YouTube video of preparation: https://youtu.be/rLYM7AWj2WE

Recipe below contains my modifications.

Ingredients:

1/2 oz. dried porcini mushrooms, soaked in some hot water for at least 20 min

8 oz. paccheri (preferably imported), cooked and drained

1 1/2 T. extra virgin olive oil

1 1/2 cloves (or one extra large) garlic, sliced very thinly

8 oz. hot (or sweet) Italian sausage (casings removed if links)

1/4 c. dry red wine, such as Merlot

12 oz. passata (or tomato purée)

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 c. (plus some extra for garnish) grated Parmesan-Reggiano

Directions:

1. After porcini have soaked, separate the mushrooms from the soaking liquid, reserving the liquid.

2. In a large skillet over medium heat, add the olive oil to heat. Once heated, add the garlic and cook/sauté for a minute or so, until starting to get golden at edges. 

3. Add the sausage to pan and stir in with garlic, breaking up the sausage into crumbles. Cook, stirring occasionally, until sausage is cooked through (around 5-7 min).

4. Add the wine and cook until alcohol has mostly evaporated (around 2-4 min). Stir in the porcini, along with 2 T. of the reserved soaking liquid. 

5. Stir in the passata, along with 4-6 oz. of water (I used the cooking water from the pasta). Stir in the salt as well, then bring to a simmer. Keep at a simmer (lower heat to med-low if needed--don't boil the sauce!), stirring occasionally, for 15-20 min. (If you have not already cooked your paccheri, you should do so while the sauce is simmering.)

6. Once the sauce finishes simmering, add the cooked paccheri to the pan and stir until noodles are well coated.

7. Remove pan from heat and stir in the Parmesan-Reggiano. Serve up in bowls, top with a bit more of the cheese for garnish, and enjoy!

Pressure Cooker Beef Tips

This is a verrrry tasty dish...pairs very well with mashed potatoes, too, so yeah, another 10/10 :) I actually made this back in June, but have been busy with summer travels and projects, thus just now getting back around to posts (please pardon!) Hoping I can post with better frequency...I have a ton of drafts that need completion!

Link to original recipe: https://www.lecremedelacrumb.com/instant-pot-beef-tips-recipe/

Link to my YouTube video of recipe preparation: https://youtu.be/XCS5Fy8-s0k

Recipe below contains my modifications.

Ingredients:

1 1/3 lb. stew meat, cut in 3/4" cubes

~1 lb. button mushrooms

olive oil

Kosher salt and coarse ground black pepper (to taste)

2 tsp. bottled minced garlic

1 small red onion, halved and sliced

1 can (14 oz.) beef broth

1/2 c. Merlot (or other dry red wine (used Bogle Merlot in video))

3 T. Worcestershire sauce

1 tsp. Italian seasoning

1/4 c. cold water

2 T. cornstarch

Directions:

1. In a cast iron skillet, heat around 1 T. of olive oil over medium to medium-high heat. Add the beef, season with kosher salt and pepper, then cook until meat is just browned all over (do NOT fully cook!). Transfer beef to a plate, then add mushrooms and cook until just starting to brown at edges. Transfer mushrooms to plate with beef.

2. Set your pressure cooker to 'sauté'. Add a bit of olive oil. Once it is heated, add the red onion and minced garlic to the pot. Sauté for a few min, until onion has softened.

3. Add the reserved beef and mushrooms to the pot, followed by the beef broth, Merlot, Worcestershire sauce, and Italian seasoning. Season with kosher salt and pepper, stir to combine.

4. Cancel the 'sauté' function. Place lid and close the pressure cooker (make sure valve is in 'sealing' position). Press the "meat/stew" function, and set time to 30 min.

5. After pressure cooking time has finished, let the pressure naturally release for 10 minutes, then open valve to quickly release the rest. Carefully remove the lid.

6. Set the cooker to "soup" function. In a small cup, whisk together the water and cornstarch to form a slurry. Add the slurry to the pot and stir to combine.

7. Let the mixture cook until it has thickened a bit. Turn off cooker. Serve up with mashed potatoes (or desired side) and enjoy!