Chicken with Beer and Cream Cheese Pound Cake

Weekend Routine- Chicken with Beer-

Cream Cheese Pound Cake

I apologize for not posting a blog this past Thursday. I saw a widget that could help categorize my recipes better than what I have now. I cut/pasted as directed and nothing happened. Well, something did happen. My blogs were not posting at all. I had to become my 23 yr. old errand girl for a day in order for him to fix my problem.

This past weekend the temperature was between 65-70F. I was almost ready to pull out the grill and start barbequing outside. A neighbor was even mowing their yard. My Schnoodle, Austin waited patiently for any signs that I was awake Saturday morning. Sunrise is about 6:15 AM. The moment daylight cracks, I felt Austin’s breath practically on my face. Just to be sure that I know it is him he gives me a big slurp on my mouth and nose-Yuck! I squeezed my eyes harder and tried not to groan so that he would think that I was still asleep. No such luck. Apparently dogs know when respirations change and you’re really awake. The howling started. I keep reminding Austin that he is not from the beagle family. It does not matter. His descendents, the wolf has shown through. To make sure that I am hearing his howling, he starts pawing me on my head. Of course he won. I am up, throwing on a jacket in my pajamas and out the door by 6:25 AM.

As I am going down the steps, he sees a mocking bird on an overgrown weed in the vacant lot next door. I don’t notice it at first because I am looking down at the steps trying to work out the stiffness of old age. A quick forward jolt of the leash by Austin sends me hurdling down the wooden steps two at a time. I quickly apologize to “Our Heavenly Father” for what came out of my mouth. Not the “G” word. Think another word for crap followed by “Austin”! He could care less what came from my mouth. He was on a mission to catch a bird or break my legs trying. Now I see another reason why they call it a mocking bird. I could have sworn it laughed at the both of us as it flitted away to another tall weed then onto a nearby tree branch. Austin did not stand a chance. My cat Scooter was solemnly looking out the window at all the events with a look of disgust on her face. I looked at both of them and said (as though they understood English) “I am the one who feeds you”. I then complete my morning exercise of bending down to get the newspaper. I need coffee. Austin now has his site on an easier chase-the cat.

A fellow co-worker (Tabby) requested a pound cake recipe. Here’s to you Tabitha!

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Chicken with Beer

6 slices of thick smoked bacon

3.5 lb. chicken, cut up

2 large onions, thinly sliced

1 cup carrots, thinly sliced

2 garlic cloves

2 sprigs of rosemary

½ tsp. dried thyme

½ tsp. Herbes De Province

Salt and pepper-sprinkle

12 ounces dark beer

2 TBSP. water

3 TBSP. flour

1). In a large dutch oven pot cook bacon until crisp. Remove bacon and set on side. Add chicken pieces to the bacon grease and cook all sides till well-browned. Remove chicken from dutch oven. Add the remaining vegetables and sauté’ until onions become translucent in color. Add beer, cloves, onions, garlic, thyme, rosemary, Herbes De Province. Cook over high heat until chicken mixture starts to bubble, then reduce to low and simmer for 45-50 minutes. Skim off as much fat as you can. Whisk together the water and the flour. Pour gently while stirring into the chicken mixture. Pour sauce over chicken. This dish goes great with yellow rice. Serves 6.

Cream Cheese Pound Cake

1 pound unsalted butter, room temperature

8 ounces Philadelphia Cream Cheese, room temperature

1 pound sugar

6 eggs, room temperature

1 pound flour

2 tsp. vanilla extracts (real- McCormick’s)

Preheat oven to 325F. Cream the butter and cream cheese till light and fluffy-3 minutes. Add sugar and mix an additional 2 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time at one minute intervals. Blend flour into mixture-2 minutes. Add vanilla extract and blend an additional minute.

Pour batter into a greased and floured Bundt or loaf pan. Baker’s spray is great! Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until sides pull away from pan. Rest for 10 minutes, then turn over onto a wire rack and cool completely.

Enjoy! The Frye Girl 2 U Favorite Cookware: Bamboo Cutting Board

Correct Order for the Classic Favorite American Food-Pizza!

It's cold outside today. We had 2- 6 inches of snow this morning. School did not close nor was it delayed. I wanted something warm, gooey, salty, crunchy and messy for dinner this evening. I did not want to spend a lot of time making the dough. I settled for a quick trip to Panera Breads and bought Focaccia Bread. Go out and buy pizza dough unless you really want to make your own. Pizza toppings are normally placed upon a pizza in a specific order. The pizza sauce(Any quality Marinara Sauce will do) keeps the pizza dough moist. The cheese provides a bed for the toppings to rest on so they do not dry out or fall off as the slice of pizza is held. Additional cheese is added to keep the toppings moist. Italian spices such as basil, Parmesan cheese or red pepper flakes are added as a garnish. The following list is the traditional order: Pizza Dough Pizza Sauce Cheese Pizza Toppings Cheese Garnish

Valentine's- Linguine & Clam Sauce, Roasted Asparagus, Easy Chocolate Truffle Cake

February 14th is right around the corner. An intimate dinner for two, your sweet heart's favorite chocolate and if you have school age kids-the Valentine's Day exchange. Hallmark and floral shops do a lot of smiling as those orders are being placed$$$$$. This year, I think many of us out here will get the creative juices flowing as our pockets will dictate if this is a true necessary expense.

Can a very nice dinner for 2 be made for less than $20.00? I am not talking fast food chains. Do you have to buy that expensive box of chocolate or go out to "Wally World" aka Walmart and pick up 2 boxes of Valentine Day cards and candy for you kid(s) class? Last year the trip to Wally World cost me around $12.00. I might add, that I buy Valentine Day cards after the 14th just for next year as a cost saver. I just have to remember where I placed them.

Today's posting will give you a nice dinner (which will feed more than 2)-approximately $20.00; an easy chocolate truffle cake recipe-$7.00. An ingredient list will be added so that you can just print and take to the store with you. Make cake in the morning. Enjoy!
PS: For those who want a steak dinner for 2 under $20.00, buy a nice boneless rib-eye ($12.00)-cut into 2 pieces, wrap it with bacon and broil according to my steak recipe; 2 russet potatoes ($1.60), bulk green beans (a big handful will cost less than $2.00) Fisher's 1/2 cup sliced almonds (.97) and generic French bread ($2.00).
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Linguine & Clam Sauce
Roasted Asparagus
Italian Garlic Bread
Chocolate Truffle Cake


Linguine & Clam Sauce

2 TBSP unsalted butter
1 shallot, chopped finely
1 jar capers
1/4 cup milk
3 cans chopped clams, do not drain
1 bottle clam juice
1 jar Bertolli Alfredo Sauce (or Bertolli Marinara sauce if you want a red sauce)
1/2 jar pesto sauce
1 TBSP. all purpose flour
1 lb. Barilla Fettuccine noodles
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese


1)In a spaghetti pot or large pot bring 4-6 quarts. water to boil. Add 1/2 TBSP. salt. Cook Fettuccine noodles according to directions-8-10 minutes.

2)Drain capers, place in a small dish and add milk. Let sit while preparing sauce-10 minutes, then drain.

3)Melt unsalted butter in large saute pan. Add red pepper flakes and shallot. Saute on medium heat until shallot is translucent in color-3 minutes.

4) Sprinkle flour and stir mixture for another minute-reduce heat to low.

5) Whisk Alfredo or Marinara sauce, pesto sauce, clam juice, clams and capers. Simmer until heated through-3-5 minutes. Serve over noodles. Fresh Parmesan cheese can be grated at serving time on top-not the one from the can!
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Roasted Asparagus

1 bunch of fresh asparagus
3 TBSP. olive oil
1 garlic, minced
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
salt & pepper to taste

Preheat Oven 375F

1) Rinse asparagus and snap in half. I prefer to use potato peeler and peel bottoms of asparagus then cut in 1/2 inch pieces.

2) In a large bowl toss asparagus with garlic, Parmesan cheese and olive oil. Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper.

3) Place on baking sheet and bake 15 minutes

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French Garlic Bread

1 loaf French bread
1 clove crushed garlic
2 TBSP unsalted butter
2 tsp. pesto sauce
1/2 cup grated Parmesan

1) Heat oven to broil
2) Split bread length-wise
3) Melt butter on low heat in saucepan
4) Saute crushed garlic for 1 minute-add pesto sauce
5) Spread mixture on bread including cheese and place on a disposable aluminum cookie sheet or heavy duty cookie sheet
6) Broil approximately 3-5 minutes
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Easy Chocolate Truffle Cake

Cake:
6 ounces semisweet chocolate
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate
1/2 cup unsalted butter
2 large eggs
1 cup sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup mini chocolate chips

Glaze:

2 ounces semisweet chocolate
2 ounces unsweeted chocolate
1/4 cup unsalted butter

Preheat oven to 375F-with rack in middle.

1) Butter and flour one 9 inch round cake pan. Line it with a circle of parchment or wax paper cut to fit, and grease and flour the paper. This is an important step.

2) In the top of a double boiler, over simmering water, melt the chocolate and butter, except the mini chocolate chips. Let this mixture cool.

3) In a large bowl with electric mixer, beat eggs, sugar, vanilla and salt for 15 minutes. (Yes, 15 minutes).

4) Gently fold in chocolate mixture then;

5) Gently fold in the flour and mini chocolate chips

6) Scrape the mixture into the pan and bake for 20 minutes

Let cake cool cool completely on a rack. Turn it out onto the rack. Line the serving plate you'll be using with four 3 inch strips of wax paper. Please make sure the wax paper extends around the rim of the plate. Place the cake on the serving plate lined with wax paper.

GLAZE:

In the top of a double boiler, over simmering water, melt the chocolates and the butter. Stir frequently until melted. Remove from heat. Cool for 2 minutes then pour glaze on top of cake. Let cake stand for 6 hours and then remove wax paper from under cake. Cut hardened choclate away from wax paper if necessary. This is a dense chocolatey cake. Serve in small slices.
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List:

Produce Section

1 garlic head
1 shallot
1 bunch of asparagus
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1 loaf of bread
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Pasta Section

Barilla Fettuccine or
your favorite noodles

Bertolli Alfredo or
Marinara Sauce
1 jar of Pesto Sauce

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Condiment/dressing
Section

Capers in a jar
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Dairy/Deli Section

8 ounces
Shredded Parmesan
Cheese or Parmesan
sold in rounds

Land O Lakes
Unsalted Butter sticks

"Pint of milk and a
half dozen of eggs
if you don't have
any at home".
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Baking Section

6 ounces Ghirardelli 60%
semisweet chocolate
bar

Bakers unsweetened
chocolate bars

Mini Chocolate Chips

McCormicks Vanilla
small bottle

(buy salt, sugar,red
pepper flakes, olive oil
and all purpose flour if
you do not have
any at home)

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Paper Section

Wax paper or
parchment paper
(I prefer just using
wax paper)
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Alternate Valentine's Day Dinner


If your making the Rib-Eye steaks, buy a thick cut and half it. Place a slice of thick bacon around each piece and secure it with a water soaked skewer. Broil according to Absolutely Perfect Steak recipe. Rinse and cut green beans. In a large bowl, add green beans, garlic and toss with 1 TBSP. of olive oil, Salt and pepper to taste. On medium heat in a sauce pan lightly toast almonds, then add green beans and just enough water to cover bottom of pan. Cover with lid and cook for 8-10 minutes. "I like mine crisp". Baking Potatoes: Scrub and clean potatoes. Dry and rub them with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and poke holes around potatoes. Place in microwave for 10 minutes (high), then wrap in aluminum foil. Let sit for 5 minutes. Serve with soften butter, sour cream and chives. Serve with Garlic Bread recipe and a salad.
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Favorite Cook Ware Gadgets: Cuisinart Nylon Spaghetti Fork with soft gripped handle and MIU Electric Lighted Pepper Mill http://www.amazon.com

Enjoy!

The Frye Girl 2 U