Skillet Chicken Pot Pie

3 cans cream of chicken soup
3 chicken breasts, cooked and cut into small pieces
2 large or 4 med. potatoes, cut into small chunks
1 1/2 cup cream
2-3 carrots peeled and sliced thin
1 small can English Peas drained
1 large can Crescent Rolls
butter

In a large, oven-proof frying pan mix soup and cream.  Over medium heat bring to a slow boil, stirring constantly.  Add chicken, potatoes, carrots, and peas.  Cover and simmer until potatoes and carrots are tender, stirring frequently.

While cooking, preheat oven to 350 degrees.  After vegetables are cooked tender top mixture with unrolled crescents.  These can overlap if needed.  Bake 10 minutes or until rolls are starting to brown.  Top with butter and continue to cook until butter melts and the crescents are golden brown.  Serves 6-8.

Martha:  I found the recipe for Skillet Chicken Pot Pie in a cookbook and made a few changes.  It called for a 26 oz. can of cream of chicken soup, I used 3 10 oz. cans.  It called for 1 cup of cream, I used 1 1/2 cups.  It called for an onion diced, I omitted this and added the English peas.  It called for biscuits and I used the Crescent which was a wonderful change!  The slight sweetness of the crescents worked perfectly.  I also added the butter during the last few minutes of baking.  This dish has to be the best Chicken Pot Pie I've ever eaten!  Yes it's that good and if you don't believe me you should ask my food testers that were served this dish.

Chicken Florentine

·      

           4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, sliced in half

·         1/4 cup butter

·         3 teaspoons minced garlic

·         1 tablespoon lemon juice

·         1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup

·         1 tablespoon Italian seasoning

·         1/2 cup half-and-half

·         1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

·         1 lb. frozen spinach, thawed & drained

·         4 ounces fresh mushrooms, sliced

·         6 slices precooked bacon, cut into pieces

·         1 cups shredded Italian blend cheese

1.    Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Place the chicken breast halves on a baking sheet; bake 20 to 30 minutes, until no longer pink and juices run clear. Remove from heat, and set aside.

2.    Increase the oven temperature to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

3.    Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stirring constantly, mix in the garlic, lemon juice, cream of mushroom soup, Italian seasoning, half-and-half, and Parmesan cheese.

4.    Arrange the spinach over the bottom of a 9x9 inch baking dish. Cover the spinach with the mushrooms. Pour half the mixture from the saucepan over the mushrooms. Arrange chicken breasts in the dish, and cover with the remaining sauce mixture. Sprinkle with bacon bits, and top with mozzarella cheese.

5.    Bake 20 to 25 minutes in the 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) oven, until bubbly and lightly browned.

Martha:  I found this recipe online after seeing a picture and couldn't wait to give it a try.  It's actually simple and so delicious!  The only changes I made was using Italian blend cheese instead of Mozzarella and I used pre-cooked bacon instead of bacon bits.  I also cut the cheese from 2 cups to 1.  Yes!  I you read that correctly.  This was passed on to 4 of my Food Testers and they gave nothing but high praise for this dish.  It's one I will make often!  One more thing.  I cut the chicken through the thickness making it thinner and it worked perfectly.  And don't salt this dish. Due to the cheese and bacon, it won't need it.

Creamy Chicken Potato Soup

1 pkg Bear Creek Cheddar Potato Soup Mix
2 chicken breasts, cooked, cut into small pieces
1/2 cup half and half
1 stick butter
1 cup cheddar cheese
Cumin (to taste)

In a large pot cook the soup mix according to package directions.  Stir in half & half, butter, and chicken.  Add a little cumin at a time to fit your own taste.  Stir in cheese.  Makes 8-10 servings.

Martha:  I had a package of Bear Creek Cheddar Potato and decided I wanted to try adding some chicken to it.  It was good but needed a little something more so I added the half and half, butter and ended up adding about 1/2 tsp. cumin.  This was a perfect taste preference for me.  And of course I added just a little more cheese to top it off.  The soup turned out creamy and so delicious! Perfect for any day.

Asian Chicken

Marinade:

3 Tablespoons soy sauce

1 Tablespoon sesame oil

1 clove garlic, crushed

1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger

½ teaspoon Chinese Five Spice powder

Stir-fry:

1 lb. chicken, cut into ½-inch strips

2 medium stalks celery, thinly sliced

3 cloves crushed garlic

1 Tablespoon grated fresh ginger

6 oz. fresh shitake mushrooms, sliced into ½-inch strips

1 cup sliced green onions (scallions) - about 6 onions

4 cups sliced cabbage (½-inch strips)

8 oz. bean sprouts (mung beans are good, or any type intended for stir-frying)

1 Tablespoon soy sauce

1 Tablespoon oil (vegetable or light olive oil)

1. Mix together marinade ingredients, add chicken, and mix to coat. Refrigerate 1-2 hrs.

2. Prepare vegetables, and grate ginger and garlic so everything will be ready.

3. Heat large skillet on medium-high heat with vegetable or olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the chicken, and stir-fry until just cooked through, probably 3 to 4 minutes depending upon how thick you cut the chicken. Remove chicken from pan.

4. Add the vegetable oil, then the celery, ginger, and garlic.

Saute for one minute.

5. Add the vegetables in the following order, stir-frying for 1 to 2 minutes after each addition: mushrooms, onions, cabbage, bean sprouts.

6. Add the soy sauce and the chicken. Toss to combine.

7. If you like, use low-carb tortillas or lettuce leaves as wrappers.

Makes 4 servings.

Martha:  This is a healthy recipe that I found online and had to give it a try.  I made 2 changes.  I didn't use the bean sprouts, mainly because I forgot to buy them, and I served this over Japanese Udon Noodles.  So good!!!!

Simple Chicken with Spinach, Artichoke and Rice

1/2 cup Wild Rice Blend
2 (6 oz. each) boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 pkg. TGI Fridays Spinach & Artichoke Cheese Dip
Salt & Pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Make cuts in chicken that go the full width but not completely through allowing the chicken to 'butterfly'.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Cook chicken until juice runs clear.  While chicken is cooking cook rice according to package directions.  When chicken is done top with Spinach & Artichoke Dip.  Cook 10 minutes or until heated and bubbly.  Serve over rice.

Martha:  This is one of the easiest dishes you'll find that is busting with flavor.  The spinach and artichokes give this dish a full flavor that can't be beat.  The cooking time depends on the thickness of your chicken but mine cooked in about 15 minutes.  The cuts speed up the process too.  This is perfect for a quick, after work dish that looks like you spent all evening making.

Chicken & Rice Stuffed Peppers

1/2 onion, chopped
3/4 cup cooked wild rice & brown rice blend
1/2 cooked chicken breast, shredded
1/2 cup spinach
2 Tbsp. cheese
salt & pepper to taste
1 bell pepper, cut in half & cleaned

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  In a non-stick frying pan cook onions for about 5 minutes. add rice, chicken and spinach.  cook for about a minute blending well.  Spoon into bell pepper halves.  Cook 25 minutes.  Sprinkle each half with 1 Tbsp. cheese.  Return to oven until cheese has melted.  Serves 1 - 2

Comments:  This is simply delicious!  And so simple to make!  Plus it's healthy!  I also baked mine in the toaster oven which worked perfectly.   I've tried to come up with additions or changes and so far haven't come up with anything.  It's great as it is.  If you have suggestions, please add in the comments.

Panko Chicken Wrap

1/2 lb. boneless, skinless chicken, cut into strips
1/4 cup Italian dressing, light
salt & pepper to taste
1/2 cup seasoned Panko
Kraft Seasoned Grated Parmesan cheese, to taste

In a bowl mix chicken strips, salt and pepper and dressing.  Cover and refrigerate 3-4 hrs. or over night.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cover a cookie sheet with edges using foil sprayed with non-stick.  In a bowl with a lid combine Panko and Parmesan.  Place chicken in the bowl and shake coating the chicken well. (There should be just enough to cover the chicken with none left over.  If there is sprinkle it over the chicken after placing on the pan.)  Lay chicken out trying to keep each piece from touching.  Bake 5 minutes, turn and bake another 5.

To make the wrap I used a flour tortilla, lettuce, broccoli and chopped spring onion.  Add the chicken strips and very lightly drizzle with Olde Cape Cod Toasted Sesame Soy & Ginger or your favorite salad dressing.

Martha:  I've been trying to watch what I eat and hopefully lose a little weight along the way so I've been experimenting with ways to make healthy dishes, mainly using chicken.  Most oven 'fried' chicken uses milk as a dip and then some sort of dry ingredient.  I decided to try the Italian dressing which would give the chicken flavor.  The Panko I knew would crisp up nicely and the little sprinkle of seasoned Parmesan would just add more flavor.  Then I needed a way to eat my new 'fried' chicken strips.  Why not a wrap.  The tortilla shell has 170 calories for 2 so I decided that would be perfect for my new dish.  Then I spotted the Olde Cape Cod dressing which has only 40 calories for 2 Tbsp. and decided that would add a touch of sweet plus blend in perfectly with the other flavors.  This one turned out to be a big hit!  Simply delicious!  I'll make this again.

Chicken Dijon Pasta

1/2 pkg. (6 oz) gluten free pasta
1 1/2 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tsp. minced garlic
1 can (6.5 oz.) sliced mushrooms, drained
1 onion, sliced
1/2 bell pepper, sliced
1/2 tsp. dried oregano leaves
1/2 tsp. dried basil leaves
1/2 tsp. thyme leaves
salt & pepper to taste
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

Cook pasta according to package directions.  In a large skillet heat oil on med. high heat.  Add chicken and garlic.  Cook until lightly browned.  Add mushrooms, onion, pepper, oregano, basil, thyme, salt & pepper.  Saute until tender.  Stir in cream and mustard.  Toss in noodles and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.  Serves 8

Martha:  As you can see, I've really taken a liking to the Dijon mustard!  This dish is original until you get to the cream and mustard which I added.  It didn't have quite enough taste.  Also the Parmesan cheese I used was Kraft's seasoned in a jar.  Delicious dish!!! And again, this would be good done with poultry, I have no doubt.

Chicken Dijonnise #3

4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts (about 1 lb)
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp. black pepper
2 Tbsp. butter
2 Tbsp. chopped green onions
1/3 cup whipping cream
3 Tbsp. chicken broth
3 Tbsp. Dijon mustard

Place each chicken breast half between two pieces of plastic wrap. Using the flat side of a meat mallet, lightly pound chicken to 1/4- to 1/8-inch thickness. Discard plastic wrap. In a shallow dish combine flour and pepper. Coat chicken pieces with flour mixture.  In a 12-inch skillet melt butter over medium heat. Add chicken to skillet. Cook about 6 minutes or until no pink remains in the chicken, turning once. Transfer chicken to a platter, reserving drippings in skillet. Cover to keep warm. 

For sauce, add green onion to the drippings in the skillet. Cook and stir over medium heat for 1 to 2 minutes or until tender. Stir in whipping cream, white wine, and mustard. Cook and stir for 1 to 2 minutes or until smooth and slightly thickened. Spoon sauce over chicken.

Martha:  OH MY GOODNESS!  This is delicious!  I was surfing the internet looking for healthy dishes and ran across this one on a diabetic site.  Wasn't sure I would really like it and almost wished I wouldn't so as not to be tempted to eat more than I was supposed to.  Well, I had to give the rest it away to my food testers to keep myself out of it.  I didn't change a thing in their recipe either.  But... I want to try this with pork chops.  I know that is going to be just as good.  Yes, the food testers loved it just as much as I did.  I did serve it over wild rice blend which completed the meal for me.