Grow Fatter and Fatter with Me: Cooking with COVID, Part 4 (I Think)

Still more recipes that we've enjoyed during isolation.

Chicken Enchiladas
For some reason, my picky children really like Mexican food, including tacos and burritos. I had my doubts as to what they would think of enchilada sauce, but as long as it's mild, they seem to love any dish I make with it. This recipe is a great use for rotisserie chicken from the grocery store, or leftover cooked chicken from another dish, or do what I do and cook up a couple of chicken breasts quickly in the Instant Pot. (You can also parboil them on the stovetop.)

2-3 chicken breasts (or 3-4 cups cooked chicken, chopped or shredded)
3/4 cup chicken (or vegetable) broth, or water (omit if using pre-cooked chicken)
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 can enchilada sauce, divided
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley (optional)
2-1/2 to 3 cups shredded cheese, divided
10-12 flour tortillas (you can make your own with this recipe, although I haven't tried it yet)

Place the chicken breasts in the instant pop and season well with salt and pepper. Pour broth over. Seal and cook for 14 minutes. Allow natural release for 5-10 minutes, then quick release. Set aside the liquid (save as broth for future recipes) and place the chicken in a large bowl. Shred with two forks or an electric mixer on low.

In a large frypan over medium heat, heat the olive oil and saute the onions until translucent, stirring often. Stir in the chicken and 1/2 cup of enchilada sauce, just enough to coat the chicken. Add sour cream and parsley, stirring until combined, and remove from heat. Stir in 2 to 2-1/2 cups of cheese until melted.

Spray a 9x13" baking dish with nonstick spray and add just enough enchilada sauce to coat. Lay out each tortilla, spread with sauce, top with a generous spoonful of chicken mixture, Roll the tortilla and lay in the baking dish. Repeat until all the chicken is used up. Spread the remaining enchilada sauce over the top. Top with the remaining cheese and sprinkle with parsley. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes, removing the foil for the last 10 minutes, until sauce is bubbling, tortilla edges are slightly crisp, and cheese is melted.


Crock Pot Whole Chicken
I hesitate to include this recipe, because it's really not even a recipe. It's just...directions. Seriously. Take a whole chicken. Take out the giblets, if there are any, and pat it dry. Throw it in the crockpot. Sprinkle it generously with coarse salt, freshly ground black pepper, and Italian seasoning blend. Cover and cook on high for 4-6 hours, then allow to stand for a few minutes before carving. (If you like crispy skin, you can throw it under the broiler for a few minutes before carving.)

That's it. That's the whole entire recipe. If you want to get fancy, make up some chicken gravy mix using the liquid from the chicken in place of water, and make "real" mashed potatoes instead of the kind from a box. Don't know how to make real mashed potatoes? OK, here's another non-recipe: Peel a bunch of potatoes (1 per serving is generous) and cut them into 1" chunks. Throw them in a pot of water and add a teaspoon or so of salt. Bring to a boil and boil for 15 minutes, until they're very tender when you poke them with a fork. Drain the water, throw in a bunch of butter (I use a scant tablespoon per serving) and mash with a potato masher. Stir in enough milk (or half and half, or light cream) to reach desired consistency, then add salt and pepper to taste. If you want to get SUPER fancy, throw in some sour cream. THAT'S IT. That's the whole entire "recipe."

You're welcome.


Chicken and Beef Tacos
This year, Cinco de Mayo fell on a Taco Tuesday, so naturally, we had tacos. I had not quite enough beef for a full 4 servings, and not quite enough chicken - so I made both and let everyone choose. I made my shredded chicken in the Instant Pot, just because it's fast and easy, but you can cook it to shredding texture however you like.

2-3 chicken breasts
1 cup water or chicken broth
1 lb ground beef
2 packets taco seasoning
3/4 cup water
flour or corn tortillas or tortilla chips
chopped tomatoes
shredded lettuce
shredded cheese
guacamole
salsa and/or salsa verde
black olives
sour cream

Place 1 cup of water or broth in Instant Pot. Lay chicken breasts in pot. Seal and pressure cook for 10 minutes. While chicken is cooking, brown the ground beef and drain fat. Add 1 packet of taco seasoning and 3/4 cup water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Allow IP to natural release when chicken is done. Drain liquid, reserving 1/2 cup. Return the breasts to the IP and shred with two forks or an electric mixer on low. Add the 1/2 cup of reserved cooking liquid and the second packet of taco seasoning. Set pot to saute and cook just until warmed through.

Serve in warmed tortillas, in taco shells, or over shredded lettuce with tortilla chips. Garnish as desired.


Leopard Bread
I saw a photo of this bread and I was intrigued. I didn't even care if it tasted terrible, as long as it looked like this photo:

(Spoiler alert: It did not, in fact, taste terrible. It did, it fact, vaguely resemble this photograph.)

I didn't have orange zest; in addition, I don't like orange zest. So I opted for lemon zest instead, just to give the sweet chocolate a tangy contrast. It worked! Also, the recipe makes it look a lot more complicated than it is. If you can make a log from play-doh, you'll manage this just fine.

For the dough:
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 cup warm milk, plus more for brushing on dough
2 teaspoons active dry yeast
2/3 cup sugar
4 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled to room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons orange (or lemon) zest
3 cups bread flour (I only had all-purpose flour, so that's what I used)

For the dark chocolate paste:
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 tablespoon milk

For the light chocolate paste:
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 teaspoon milk

Stir the cornstarch in the warm milk until dissolved. In a large mixing bowl, combine milk mixture, yeast, and 2 Tbsp of the sugar. Gently stir together and let sit for 8-10 minutes, until frothy. Add melted butter, the rest of the sugar, vanilla and zest to yeast mixture. Using the dough hook attachment mix on medium low speed. Slowly spoon in flour on medium speed, and then turn up to medium high until dough has formed. The dough should be very slightly tacky, with a soft and smooth texture. Once formed, let the dough rest for about 10 minutes.

Turn mixer back on to medium high and beat for 6-8 minutes. Remove dough from bowl and place on a lightly floured surface. Divide into two halves. Lightly dust one half with flour, wrap in plastic wrap and place in the fridge. Take the second half and evenly divide it into two halves.

Make the two chocolate pastes in separate bowls, combining cocoa powder and milk. Place one of the remaining halves of dough in each bowl of paste. Work the chocolate into the dough with your hands, kneading to incorporate all the chocolate into each dough. Lightly flour each ball, cover in plastic wrap and set in the fridge. Let all three dough balls chill for about 60-90 minutes.

Remove all three doughs from refrigerator, and divide each into 7 equal pieces. Roll each light brown piece between your hands to form a hotdog shape and set aside. With a rolling pin, roll each dark brown piece into an flat oval a little longer than the light brown pieces. Use a pastry brush to coat the edges of the oval with milk, then fold each piece around a light brown piece and seal, resulting in a cigar shape. With a rolling pin, roll each white piece into an oval a little longer than the "cigars." Wrap each "cigar" in white dough, sealing with milk as before. Roll each cigar with your hands until doubled the length of your loaf pan, then cut in half. When finished you should have 14 thin logs.

Line your loaf pan with parchment paper and stack the logs inside. Cover with a tea towel and rise in a warm place for at least an hour, until doubled. Preheat oven to 375 degrees, then turn down to 350 and bake for 35-45 minutes, until golden brown and sounding hollow when bottom is tapped. If it browns too early, cover top with foil. Cool on cooling rack in pan for 5-8 minutes, then lift out of pan using parchment paper and cool for an additional 10 minutes. Slice and serve.


Pretzel Bread
Let me start this one with a disclaimer: It was a bit of a disaster when I made it. Well, visually it was a disaster. But it tasted fabulous. So I'm still going to call it a success. I think the problem was that I didn't use (because I don't have) a "spider skimmer" to scoop the dough out of the boiling water, and my technique of using two large spoons caused it to fall apart. If you don't have a skimmer, I'd recommend making three or four smaller loaves, or even dinner roll-sized pieces, and reduce the baking time accordingly. That's going to be my strategy when I make this recipe again - and I definitely will, because it was that good.

For the dough
2 ¼ tsp yeast
1 cup warm water
2 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons brown sugar
4 tablespoons butter, melted
1 teaspoon sea salt
3 cups flour

For the baking soda bath:
4 quarts water (16 cups)
½ cup baking soda

For the topping:
1-2 tablespoons coarse sea salt
2 tablespoons butter, melted (I forgot to use this and it was fine, so consider it optional)

Combine yeast, water, and brown sugar in a large mixing bowl. Let stand for 5 minutes, until foamy.
Combine melted butter and milk and add to proofed yeast. Beat on low speed with dough hook until just combined. Add salt and flour and mix with dough hook until flour is fully incorporated. Knead in a mixer until the dough forms a slightly tacky, but firm ball, gradually adding additional flour if needed. Dough should be tacky but not too sticky to handle. Place the dough ball in a greased bowl, flipping to coat, and cover with a damp towel. Allow to rise in a warm place for one hour or until doubled.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and bring 4 quarts of water to a boil. When the water is boiling, slowly add the baking soda a little bit at a time to avoid over-foaming. When risen, remove the dough from the bowl and gently press out the air bubbles. Divide the dough in half and form into two round loaves. Drop one of the balls into the boiling baking soda water. Boil for 60-90 seconds on each side, turning it once to guarantee both sides covered. (Use a spider strainer to FULLY support the dough when removing from water.) Drain the excess water from the dough and place it on a greased baking sheet. Immediately sprinkle with salt, and use a knife to cut a small "X" on the top of the bread.

Bake the bread for 22-25 minutes, rotating the baking sheet once. Remove from oven, brush with melted butter, and transfer to a wire rack to cool slightly. Serve warm.


Easy Cinnamon Rolls (from scratch)
So many "easy" cinnamon roll recipes call for refrigerated crescent roll dough, which is not something I have on hand except at Thanksgiving (my husband makes very few requests of the Thanksgiving menu, but Pillsbury crescent rolls is always one). So I was delighted to find this basic recipe that makes the dough from scratch. I decided I wanted these for Mother's Day, so I made them up to the end of the first rise the night before, then threw them in the fridge and let my crew bake them for me in the morning.

For the dough:
2-3/4 cups flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2-1/4 teaspoons (1 packet) yeast
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup water
3 tablespoons butter
1 egg

For the filling:
3 tablespoons butter, softened
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1/4 sugar (white or brown)

For the icing:
1 cup confectioners sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2-3 tablespoons milk (or strong brewed coffee)

Make the dough: Whisk together flour, sugar, salt, and yeast in a large bowl and set aside. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the milk, water, and butter and heat until butter is completely melted and mixture is warm to the touch. Pour into the dry ingredients and add the egg, stirring or using a mixer with dough hooks to form a soft dough. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured board and knead for 3 minutes. Place in a lightly greased bowl, cover loosely, and let rest for about 10 minutes.

Fill the rolls: After the dough has rested, roll it out into a 14×8 inch rectangle. Spread the softened butter on top. Mix together the cinnamon and sugar and sprinkle evenly over the dough. Roll up the dough tightly. Cut into 10-12 even rolls and arrange in a lightly greased 9-inch round cake pan or pie dish. If making the rolls ahead of time, cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight at this point.

Finishing: Tightly cover the rolls with aluminum foil or plastic wrap and allow to rise in a warm place for 60-90 minutes. Uncover and bake at 375 degrees for 25-28 minutes until lightly browned. If the tops brown too quickly, cover loosely with foil. While rolls are cooling, whisk together the confectioners sugar, vanilla, and milk (or coffee). Drizzle or spread icing over rolls and serve warm.

Grow Fatter With Me: Cooking in the Time of COVID-19, Part 2

Once again, I have done enough baking and cooking that it's worth sharing my recipes! We've revisited a few of our favorite main meals that I've already posted, so not much new there, but we've also tried a few treats and miscellaneous recipes. Happy cooking! (But don't forget to walk or otherwise work off those calories!)

Cinnamon Roll Bread
I love a good coffee cake or quick bread, and this one reminds me of my family's beloved snickerdoodles. The sour cream adds a wonderful moistness and just a hint of a tang to cut the sweetness. It's best to mix by hand with a spoon rather than using an electric mixer, to avoid overbeating.

For the bread:
2 cups flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg, room temperature, slightly beaten
1 cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/3 cup sour cream (or plain yogurt)

For the topping:
1/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 tablespoons water

For the glaze:
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon milk

Whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar (I do this in a large measuring cup). In a large bowl, combine the egg, milk, vanilla, and sour cream, using a large spoon. Pour the flour mixture into the bowl and stir until combined. Spray two loaf pans with non-stick spray and divide the batter evenly between the pans. In a small bowl, combine the sugar, cinnamon, and water for the topping. Drop by spoonfuls onto the top of the batter and swirl in gently with a knife. Bake at 350 for 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool the bread in the pans on a cooling rack for 15 minutes, then remove from pan and allow to cool completely. While bread is cooling, whisk together the powdered sugar and milk for the glaze. When completely cool, drizzle glaze over the top of both loaves and serve.


Honey-Garlic Chicken Stir-Fry
We have to call this "Sweet Garlic Chicken" in our house, because my daughter is convinced that she doesn't like honey. And yet she loves this recipe. Sometimes what you don't know won't hurt you, right? My kids are not big vegetable eaters, but one likes carrots and one like broccoli (and picky me likes both - and my husband likes everything), so despite the sweetness, I consider it a fairly healthy recipe. In typical stir-fry fashion, you can use whatever vegetables you like and have on hand, including frozen mixed vegetables (just be sure to cook them a little longer).

1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon vegetable oil, divide
1 cup thinly sliced peeled carrots
2 cups broccoli florets
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1" chunks (can also use cooked chicken)
salt and pepper to taste
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup chicken broth (or water)
1/4 cup soy sauce
3 tablespoons honey
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon cold water

Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large fry pan (or wok) over medium-high heat. Add carrots and broccoli and cook until tender (about 4 minutes), stirring occasionally. Remove vegetables from pan and cover to keep warm. Add the remaining teaspoon of oil. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and add to the pan in a single layer (in batches, if needed). Cook 3-4 minutes per side, until browned and cooked through. (If using precooked chicken, leave in pan just long enough to heat through.) Add the garlic and cook 30 seconds longer. Return the vegetables to the pan and cook for 2 more minutes. Whisk together chicken broth, honey, and soy sauce, then pour into pan and cook for 30 seconds. Whisk the cornstarch into the water and add to pan. Bring to a boil and simmer for 1-2 minutes, stirring, until thickened. Serve over white rice.


Chicken Satay
Back in my single days, this was my go-to party recipe. I didn't have a food processor, so I just whisked the heck out of the peanut sauce, and I used a heavy skillet instead of a grill for cooking (other than having to clean it frequently, there was no problem). It's good as a shared appetizer, but it also makes a lovely entree, served with rice and some kind of fresh vegetable. Feel free to adjust the amount of chili paste or sambal in the peanut sauce to suit your preferred level of heat.

Marinade:
1 cup plain yogurt
1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon curry powder
1 1/2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into strips

20 wooden skewers, soaked in water 30 minutes
Vegetable oil, for grilling
Cilantro and lettuce leaves for garnish (optional)
Peanut sauce, recipe below

Combine the yogurt, ginger, garlic, and curry powder in a shallow mixing bowl. Place the chicken strips in the yogurt marinade and gently toss until well coated. Cover and let the chicken marinate in the refrigerator for up to 2 hours.

Thread the chicken pieces onto the soaked skewers, working the skewer in and out of the meat, down the middle of the piece, so that it stays in place during grilling. Place a grill pan over medium heat and brush or spray it with oil to prevent the meat from sticking. Grill the chicken for 3 to 5 minutes on each side, until nicely seared and cooked through. Serve on a platter lined with lettuce leaves and cilantro, accompanied by a small bowl of peanut sauce on the side.

Peanut Sauce:
1 cup smooth peanut butter
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 teaspoons red chili paste, such as sambal
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
2 limes, juiced
1/2 cup hot water
1/4 cup chopped peanuts, for garnish

Combine the peanut butter, soy sauce, red chili paste, brown sugar, and lime juice in a food processor or blender. Puree to combine. While the motor is running, drizzle in the hot water to thin out the sauce, you may not need all of it. Pour the sauce into a nice serving bowl and garnish with the chopped peanuts.


Red Wine Sauce for Lamb
My husband makes a wonderful roast lamb for Easter every year. I don't even know what his recipe was this year, but it was delicious. And there were wonderful leftovers, so I decided to throw together a quick and easy red wine sauce to go with it. I knew the kids wouldn't like it, so I halved the recipe. But the full recipe, below, makes plenty for 4-6 adult servings.

2 tablespoons butter
2 medium shallots, minced (can substitute onion)
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon flour
1 cup chicken stock
1 cup red wine
salt and pepper

In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Saute the shallots and garlic with a punch of salt for 3-4 minutes, until soft. Whisk in the flour and cook for about 1 minute. Add the stock and wine, increase heat, and bring to a rolling boil. Reduce heat slightly and simmer until reduced by half, 10-15 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Strain through a fine mesh strainer and discard the solids (or save to use in making vegetable stock, below). May be made a day ahead and reheated.


Vegetable Stock
I make chicken stock whenever I make a whole chicken (or buy a rotisserie chicken), but vegetable stock is also easy to make from scratch and handy to have on hand. You can make it in an Instant Pot or a crockpot. You can also add salt, but I usually make it without and add it to the stock when I'm using it, if needed.

Fill the instant or crock pot liner with 8-9 cups of water (adjust based on pot size). Add whatever vegetables you have on hand: carrots, celery, onions, shallots. You can save the ends and unused parts (such as celery leaves) in a bag in the freezer when you're cooking other meals, and make the broth when you get enough saved. How much is enough? Eh, a quart-sized bag, more or less. No need to peel, just cut into large chunks. If you have fresh garlic, cut that into large pieces and add, or add garlic powder. Add whatever herbs you like. I often add poultry seasoning, or a mix of thyme, sage, rosemary, basil. Dried is fine, but I often use fresh if I have some that's starting to get a bit wilted. If using an Instant Pot, seal lid and cook on manual for 30 minutes, then allow to natural release. If using a crock pot, cook on high for 5 hours (or on low overnight). In both cases, allow to cool slightly then strain through a fine sieve and store in the refrigerator or freezer.


Resurrection Rolls
These are especially fun at Easter, since the marshmallows melt into the dough, leaving a hollow "cave" that looks like Jesus' empty tomb. But they're also delicious, so you can make them any time. If you happen to have pre-made crescent roll (or dinner roll) dough on hand, go ahead and use it. But if you don't, the recipe includes instructions for the dough, as well.

For the dough (or use refrigerated crescent roll dough):
2-1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast or 2 teaspoons of instant yeast
1/3 cup warm water
3 1/2 cups flour
1-1/2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
3/4 cup milk, warmed
4 tablespoons softened butter

For filling and topping:
5 tablespoons butter, melted
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons cinnamon
8 full-sized marshmallows

To make the dough:
In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast in the warm water. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, and salt. Pour the water and yeast into the flour mixture. Beat in eggs and milk. Add 4 tablespoons of butter and knead until soft and elastic. Cover with a tea towel and let rise for 1 hour or until doubled. Punch dough down and divide into two parts, then roll each part to desired thinness.

To make the rolls:
Line 8 wells of a muffin tin with baking cups or spray generously with non-stick cooking spray. If using refrigerated crescent dough, unroll and separate triangles at perforations. If using homemade dough, cut dough into 3-1/2- or 4-inch diameter circles, using a thin-edged bowl or cup, or by cutting around a cardboard circle with a paring knife. In a small bowl, whisk together the sugar and cinnamon. Dip each marshmallow into melted butter than roll in cinnamon sugar. Place in the center of a piece of dough and fold edges of dough over marshmallow, pinching to seal tightly. (Avoid getting cinnamon sugar on the dough, as it will make it more difficult to seal.) Roll the dough gently between your hands to form a round ball. Place the rolls in the prepared muffin tin. Sprinkle the remaining cinnamon sugar over the rolls. Bake at 350 for 10-14 minutes, until slightly puffed and golden brown. Allow to cool slightly before serving.