September 1, 2016

Apple Chicken Patties

Posted by HI Cookery under 09 September | Tags: , , , , , , |
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Apple Chicken Patties

Apple Chicken Patties

September: National Chicken Month

September-November: National Apple Months

Have a hearty breakfast (or snack) before going to school (or work) by cooking up some apple chicken patties. These tasty treats can be made the night before then heated up in the microwave for a quick bite before heading out for another busy day.

The combination of sweet apples and ground chicken are complemented with the herbs and spices for a doubly delicious dish for National Chicken and National Apple months.

Recipe

(Adapted from Emeril Lagasse on the Food Network)

Ingredients

  • 1 large apple (sweet or tart)
  • 1 pound ground chicken
  • 1-2 cloves garlic
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon dried sage
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 1 teaspoon dried marjoram
  • cooking oil

Directions

Peel, core and finely dice the apple. Mix in a large bowl with the ground chicken. Mince the garlic and add to the ground chicken mixture.

Apple Chicken Patties

Sprinkle salt and pepper to taste. Add the dried herbs (thyme, sage, rosemary and marjoram) and mix well. Shape into 2-inch patties. Place on waxed or parchment paper on a flat tray. Cover and refrigerate for an hour to firm up the patty mixture.

Apple Chicken Patties

Heat a little oil in a non-stick skillet. Remove the patties from the refrigerator and fry on one side until brown. Add a little more oil, if necessary, flip and brown the other side, making sure the patties are cooked through. Transfer the patties on paper towels to absorb excess grease. Yield: Approximately one dozen.

Apple Chicken Patties

Notes

  • Lean ground meat makes the patties a little dry. Mixing ground chicken with a little ground pork may make them more moist.
  • Search our blog for more recipes containing apples and chicken in observance of National Apple and Chicken months.
 

September 1, 2016

Apple Cheddar Bacon Mini Pies

Posted by HI Cookery under 09 September | Tags: , , , , |
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Apple Cheddar Bacon Mini Pies

Apple Cheddar Bacon Mini Pies

September-November: National Apple Months

Apple pie is a popular apple dish to make during the National Apple Months from September to November. Instead of a sweet apple pie, try a savory one instead: apple cheddar bacon mini pies. They are like a small yet hearty quiche full of flavor from apples and applewood smoked bacon.

Islander brought this dish instead of a dessert to the culinary book club meeting at the local library this month, following the apple ingredient theme. Most members brought the typical, sweet apple dishes so they very much welcomed Islander’s contribution to balance out the buffet.

Try something different than the traditional apple pie and make a savory apple cheddar bacon mini pie during National Apple Months.

Recipe

(Adapted from Betty Crocker)

Ingredients

  • 1 package (1 pound) applewood-smoked or regular bacon, cooked, cooled and crumbled
  • 1 apple, peeled and diced (equivalent to one cup)
  • ½ cup sweet or white onion, chopped
  • 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 2-3 tablespoons fresh sage, finely chopped
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup Bisquick mix
  • ½ cup milk
  • 2 eggs

Directions

Cook the bacon (fry or bake), drain the grease, let cool and crumble into pieces. Peel and dice the apple.

Apple Cheddar Bacon Mini Pies

Chop the onions. Place in a large bowl with the cheddar cheese. Chop the sage and add to the bowl. Sprinkle the salt and mix well.

Apple Cheddar Bacon Mini Pies

In a separate bowl, stir the Bisquick mix with milk. Beat the eggs into the Bisquick mix until the batter is smooth. Mist a standard-size muffin pan with cooking spray.

Apple Cheddar Bacon Mini Pies

Place a scant tablespoon of the batter into each of the 12-15 compartments. Divide the apple-cheddar-bacon mixture and scoop into each compartment (about ¼ cup or 4 tablespoons). Top with remaining batter. Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool in the pan for five minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool slightly. Serve warm.

Apple Cheddar Bacon Mini Pies

Notes

  • As a shortcut, use two packages (3 ounces each) of pre-cooked real bacon bits and pieces.
  • Search our blog for other recipes containing apples as an ingredient.
 

August 29, 2016

Chicken Chop Suey

Posted by HI Cookery under 08 August | Tags: , , , |
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Chicken Chop Suey

Chicken Chop Suey

August 29: Chop Suey Day

When Islander was a baby, she and her Mommy and Daddy lived temporarily in a tiny apartment above a strip mall in Aiea, Oahu, Hawaii, while waiting to move into a military base family housing unit in Pearl Harbor. Their apartment was above Waimalu Chop Suey House.

Decades later this iconic Chinese restaurant still remains in its busy location. But its crispy gau gee (dumpling) is more famous than its namesake chop suey. Whenever we go back to visit Islander’s family on Oahu, Waimalu Chop Suey is one of the places where we like to eat—for both nostalgia and the food.

Chop suey, which translates to “mixed vegetables” or “assorted pieces”, has as many origin stories as recipe versions. But the common ingredients include mung bean sprouts and a soy sauce-based gravy. Meat and eggs can be added in this easy vegetable stir-fry dish, if available and if desired. Chop suey can be eaten with rice or noodles for a simple, savory and satisfying meal.

Check out our chicken chop suey recipe version below for Chop Suey Day!

Recipe

Ingredients

  • ½ pound chicken breasts, boneless and skinless
  • 4 tablespoons soy sauce, divided use
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon ginger, fresh grated
  • ½ cup onion, sliced
  • 1 carrot, grated or julienned
  • 1 stalk celery, chopped
  • 1 ½ cups bean sprouts
  • 1 cup cabbage, chopped
  • 1 cup chicken stock
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Chop the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Set aside. In a medium bowl, make the marinade for the chicken by mixing together two tablespoons of soy sauce with the sugar, garlic and ginger. Toss the chicken in this marinade, cover and chill for at least 30 minutes.

chickenchopsueysteps1

Meanwhile, prepare the other vegetables (or use a chop suey vegetable mix—canned or bagged—see Notes).

chickenchopsueysteps2

In a large wok or skillet, heat a little oil. Sauté the marinated chicken pieces until brown and the liquid has been reduced. Transfer to a plate and keep warm. In the same skillet, add a little more oil. Sauté the onions until soft. Add the carrot, celery, bean sprouts and cabbage.

chickenchopsueysteps3

Make a well in the middle of the vegetables and pour the chicken stock. Return the chicken to the pan and mix well. In a small cup, mix the remaining two tablespoons of soy sauce with cornstarch to make a slurry. Stir into the wok/skillet until thickened. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Dish out onto a platter.

chickenchopsueysteps4

Notes

  • Serve chicken chop suey hot with rice or over noodles. Or sprinkle won ton strips over it as a garnish and serve as a side dish.
  • Chop suey vegetables are available in a can (La Choy brand)! Take a cooking shortcut with a less tinny taste and use fresh mixed vegetables in a bag (Taro Brand).
  • Watch a YouTube video of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical, Flower Drum Song, entitled “Chop Suey”.
 

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