HOMEMADE MEALS MONDAYS: intro to tagine chicken!

tagine = my new toy

I was going to wait to use our new cooking gadgets until we moved into our new house.  But I couldn't wait to use my new fancy tagine given to us by my cousin, Tina, and her family.  So I was thinking of following this tagine recipe, instead decided to just make one up haha.  I really wasn't sure how it would turn up but man, it was good...it was darn good!  I didn't tell the hubs that I made up the recipe until he tried it and he loved it! I'll have to make it again sometime soon...it's perfect for cold winter nights!


Remy's Bad Ass Tagine Chicken Recipe

Ingredients:

ingredients

2 organic chicken breasts and 2 organic chicken thighs cut into 1in. pieces (or just breasts or just thighs)
1 small butternut squash - seeded, peeled and cut into 1in. pieces
1 medium sweet potato - peeled and cut up
1 carrot - peeled and cut up
1 small yellow onion chopped
1 tablespoon of chopped garlic
1 15oz can of organic diced tomatoes
2 teaspoons of garam masala (yes, I am using Indian spice on a Moroccan dish!)
2 tablespoons of olive oil
salt & pepper

my new recipe - tagine chicken

First add the olive into a tagine (or a skillet with cover would be fine too). Saute the garlic and onions until slightly brown.  Add the chicken and stir.  Once chicken is slightly brown, add the sweet potatoes, carrots and a can of diced tomatoes. Then add salt and pepper and cover. Let the dish simmer for about 30 min in low-medium heat.  Then add the the butternut squash and garam masala.  Cover again for another 15 minutes.  Voila!  That's it!  I realized that I am a pretty efficient cook.  I cook mainly during the weeks after a long day at work so I like things easy and very simple but tasty.  This dish is definitely simple and tasty!  I'll have to make again soon as it's a perfect dish for a cold winter night.  Enjoy it and please feel free to leave feedback, would love to hear it! :)

HOMEMADE MONDAY MEALS: thai chicken chile & basil

This is probably one of my favorite dishes to make because it's so simple and very tasty! Also, you can try it with different kinds of meats.  I have made it with chicken, salmon and even tofu!  All came out yummy!!!

THAI CHICKEN CHILE & BASIL

ingredients

2 chicken breasts (cut up)
2 red bell peppers chopped (I prefer yellow, orange, or red as they are sweeter)
1 big handful of fresh basil
2 serrano peppers (seeded and chopped)
2 tablespoons of minced garlic
1 teaspoon red chili paste with garlic (from Asian market) or Siracha would be fine too
1 tablespoon soy sauce (tamari sauce for Paleo or gluten-free peeps)
2 teaspoons of fish sauce
1 tablespoon of coconut oil

So first, mix the chopped serrano peppers and minced garlic with a little bit of salt using the edge of your knife.  (See pic below).  Place coconut oil in a heated pan, dump the pepper/garlic/salt mixture into the pan.  Stir until the garlic turns slightly brown.  Then add the chicken and mix for about 3 minutes. Now add the soy sauce, fish sauce and the red chili and mix until chicken starts to brown.  Then add the chopped red (or yellow or orange peppers).  Cover the pan until chicken and peppers are cooked all the way through.  Lastly, add the basil loosely all over the dish. Let the basil sit until wilted then mix.  Voila!  Done!  Serve with rice or eat by itself.  This dish is soo tasty and yummy!!!  You can even ask my friend Sheri, this one is one of her faves too!

garlic, serrano peppers and salt mixture

mixture in the coconut oil

with the cut up chicken breast

thai chicken chile & basil  (i should really start taking better pictures!)

HOMEMADE MEALS MONDAYS: chicken milanese - Paleo style!

Ok Chicken Milanese is one of my favorite dishes.  I've come up with a healthier version about a year ago that is really yummy.  Today, I tempted to create it - Paleo style!  Yikes!  Paleo style means no cheese, no wheat flour, no breadcrumbs - this should be interesting right?! Yes, interestingly good!!!  It was really good, try it out for yourself!

chicken milanese with topping and spinach salad  - yummy!!!

What you will need:

2 chicken breasts (pounded until breast is about 1/4in thick)
1/4 cup coconut flour (non-Paleo: use wheat flour)
1/2 cup almond meal (non-Paleo: use bread crumbs and add shredded Parmersan cheese)
1 egg
1 tablespoon dried basil
1 tablespoon dried oregano
olive oil
salt & pepper

topping:
olive oil
garlic
small onion
1 1/2 cup grape or sugar plum tomatoes (cut in half)
salt & pepper

First let's make the topping!  Place a tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet.  Add garlic and brown.  Then add the onion and sautee until it starts to turn brown, I believe the term is "carmelizing" it. This step is important in creating this sweetness to your topping.  Then add the chopped tomatoes and mix with the rest of the ingredients and cook for about 3 min. Done and put aside.

Now mix almond meal, basil and oregano in a bowl.  Place aside.  In another bowl, mix coconut flour, salt, and pepper.  Set aside this too.  Then beat a large egg and place in another bowl.  Now it's time to dip your chicken breast in those three bowls!  This is the order in which you should dip the chicken breasts: 1) Dunk the chicken breast in the coconut flour mixture. 2) Then dunk it in the egg mixture until all surface areas are covered in egg. 3) Then roll it around in the almond meal mixture.

Place the chicken breasts on a heated pan with about half a tablespoon of olive oil for every batch.Cook for about 3 minutes on each side. Voila!  You're done.  Serve up the chicken breast with the topping and with some baby spinach and drizzle olive oil and some balsamic vinegar. ENJOY!!!