Tuesday, September 3, 2013

My Kitchen Today

 Cooked four lbs of chicken breast in the crock pot.  Read from this link.  Didn't add anything to the crock pot besides just the boneless chicken breast..   Next time I think i'll add at least salt...maybe Adobo seasoning. Then I used the Kitchen aid to shred.  I had just cut each breast in half, plopped it in, and turned it on to speed 1 for maybe a minute.   The paddle shredded it a little too much for the casserole I made which would have been better with chunks.  But in general, can't believe how great it worked.  It will be perfect for when I make the slow cooker BBQ chicken.  Will save a lot of time...as opposed to shredding with two forks like I usually do.  There was a nice amount of chicken stock, so I saved it for a gravy for Thursday's meal...Hot Turkey Sandwiches.  I'm freezing two portions (tried to guess about a pound each).  Not sure which of these recipes I'll try.
I kept one portion unfrozen to use for this:
 I sometimes like finely shredded chicken salad, so it worked out well.  It will make Jeff and I happy tomorrow to have this for lunch.

Immediately used another portion for this:
I was looking for something to do with a head of cauliflower.  I discovered the whole family liked cauliflower when I made it with a scalloped recipe, that I of course can't locate to make again. Searched on Pinterest and found this, Cheesy Chicken and Orzo Cauliflower Bake.
Negatives:
 I thought it was just okay, but the kids didn't like it.  I think the texture was way too mushy.  Couple of alterations that would have made -keep the chicken in chunks (as a for mentioned, and try using the orzo (I substituted rice).  Also I cut the cauliflower into too small of pieces.
The flavor was good although I needed to add salt... I didn't have a bay leaf and that definitely would have added to it. Also, I used dried nutmeg and thyme when it called for fresh...but not very likely that I would buy fresh nutmeg.  I actually didn't even know it existed.  I actually don't even know what it is in it's true form...pretty certain it's not a nut;)
It also was a LOT of steps.  Took a while to make.
Positives:
Jeff loved it and I was able to make it lactose free.
It made a ton, so it will make for good left-overs and I froze a portion.
Seems really healthy.
And really cheap.

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