I held my first virtual cooking course via Zoom. I’ve started a small community of food enthusiasts like myself to cook along with me for an hour. We talk about food, drink a little, and enjoy each other’s company.
If you missed it, no worries! I am having one every first Saturday of the month. In the first class we made stuffed chicken breast and parmesan sauce. It is an easy and satisfying weeknight dish that you can easily turn elegant with a cutting technique or a simple wrapping of prosciutto.
Here is the recipe from that course. Remember if you make it, tag @jdelawcious on Instagram. If you do I will reshare your creation.
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Stuffed Chicken and Parmesan Sauce
by:
Chef J
0.0 rating
Stuffed Chicken and Parmesan Sauce
Difficulty:Easy
Prep Time:10 mins
Cook Time:15 mins
Serves:2
Freezable:No
Nutrition per portion
Ingredients
2 Butterflied Chicken Breast
1/2 Onion Sliced into Half Moons
1/2 Red Bell Pepper Julienne
1/2 Cup of Sundried Tomatoes or Red Bell Pepper
4 Half Sliced Provolone Cheese
2 Cups of Spinach
1 Tsp of Salt or to taste
1 Tsp of Pepper or taste
1 Tsp of Garlic or taste
1 Tbsp of Olive Oil
2 Tbsp of Butter
2 Tbsp of Flour
2 Cups of Milk
1 Tsp of Salt or to taste
1 Tsp of Pepper or taste
1 Tsp of Garlic or to taste
1/2 cup of Grated Parmesan Cheese
3 Tbsp of chopped Parsley
Method
Preheat oven 425F
Chicken:
Cut chicken breast horizontally to split chicken in half. Do not cut all the way through as you will need to use the inside like a pocket to hold the ingredients. Place the chicken in a ziplock bag and beat with a rolling pin or meat mallet until about 1 inch thick. Focus on the top of the chicken breast to get an even thickness throughout.
Season the inside with salt and pepper. Add the onions, spinach, red bell pepper, and provolone cheese. Close the chicken and used kitchen twine to tie it down. Take a piece of kitchen twine and slide it under the chicken. Slide it mid-way down. Then take both ends of the twine and tie them together.
Secure it and cut the excess twine. Tie again at the top and bottom. The chicken breast should be closed and have three tied knots of kitchen twine to secure it. If you don't have kitchen twine you can use toothpicks. Add salt, pepper, and garlic to the front/back of the chicken. Then sit aside.
Cooking the Chicken Breast:
In a heat-proof medium-sized skillet drizzle a little olive oil into the pan on medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, place the chicken into brown. About 4 minutes on each side. Place skillet in the oven and allow to cook until an internal temp of 165F (about 10 minutes).
Remove from the oven and tent with foil and allow to rest for 10 minutes.
Sauce:
In a medium saucepan add butter. Allow butter to melt and then add flour. Whisk in flour until it smells fragrant (like pie crust). Then add milk 1/3 at a time and whisking until smooth. Once all the milk has been incorporated, remove the pan from the heat. Add the parmesan cheese to the milk sauce and stir. After the cheese mixed in add salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Taste and adjust for seasoning.
Serve:
Place a serving spoon size amount of cheese sauce on the plate. Remove the kitchen twine with kitchen shears. Slice the chicken horizontally and then lift to sit on top of the sauce. Drizzle a little more sauce overtop. Finish the plating with some fresh parsley.
This can be served with pasta, rice, or vegetables.
My husband’s beef stew is a very special meal for me. It was one of the first meals he ever made while we were dating. Jay’s beef stew is very delicious but it takes a really long time.
This time instead of using the slow cooker method, he used the Ninja Foodi. The Ninja Foodi is a high technology multi-function appliance that will help you eliminate most of your other counter-top gadgets. Its capabilities are pressure cooking, slow cooking, air frying, rice cooking, dehydrating, and so much more.
It also sautees and bakes! You can make a cake in the Ninja Foodi, wow! Yesterday, I asked my husband to make his famous stew as our first meal and the results were incredible! You won’t believe how easy this device is to use.
Jay used the pressure cooking setting to cook the meal. It was so perfect you would have thought it was pure sorcery. Ninja Foodi has made pressure cooking no longer scary. The home cooks can be completely confident while using it. Inside were well-explained directions on how to use this setting and others. Prior to cooking, we did the pressure test to ensure the device worked.
Ninja Foodi is very transparent about the cooking times and has safety identifiers that communicate to you that you’re using it properly. If you would like to learn more about this device and how it can help you clean the clutter of appliances check it out. This Ninja Foodi post is not sponsored. It is merely a review.
However, if you want them to send me a check let them know! lol
Let’s get into the recipe!
Prep Vegetables:
Jay used an array of vegetables. However, if you’re making this please remove or add whatever veggies you like. He used chopped portabella mushrooms, chopped onions, chopped celery, chopped carrot, green peppers, jalapeno, and frozen spinach. I would suggest keeping the veggies chopped on the bigger side to keep their integrity.
Note:Prep these items first to help with quicker and more efficient cooking.
Prep the Meats:
First, you want to buy a piece of beautiful marbled chuck roast and not so lean lamb. You want to see nice fat lines going through the chuck roast to ensure juiciness. Cut the roast and lamb into 1-inch pieces. Uniform pieces will encourage even cooking.
Seasoning/Browing the Meat:
Secondly, season the meats with salt, and pepper as desired. Massage the seasoning into the meat as seen here. Massaging the seasoning into the meat will allow it to adhere to the meat during the browning process.
If you don’t necessarily trust yourself with the ability to season well, take the guesswork out of it and buy my seasoning. It’s delicious and only a few shakes will do you!
Jay seasoning the meat prior to browning
Ninja Foodi does have a sautee setting, however, a hard sear is required for this recipe so we opted to brown the meat in a cast iron. Cast Iron skillets are wonderful tools to brown meat due to their ability to hold even heat throughout the pan.
12 inch Cast Iron Pan Cooking Chuck Roast Beef
You want to cook the meat cubes on medium-high heat for 2 minutes each side. While the beef and lamb are cooking try not to mess with them so they can develop a deep sear on the meat. Once you’re done, you should have a piece of meat with a nice browned not burned crusty exterior.
Don’t overcrowd the pan. Crowding will encourage steaming and not searing. Cook the meat in batches for good browning. After all the meats are browned, use a tsp of condensed beef broth and red wine to deglaze the pan. Scrap the bits from the bottom of the pan and then add water.
Stir for 2 minutes and pour into a measuring cup then sit aside.
Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooking:
Pour the deglazing liquid into the Ninja Foodi along with the meat and any accumulated juices. Put on the pressure cooker lid on and cook for 20 minutes. Once the 20 minutes is up, release the pressure by turning the valve to vent. The steam will release into the air. Allow all steam to release and then safely remove the lid.
Note: Do not remove pressure cooker lid until all steam has been released. This is the safest way to handle this machine while using this setting. Be patient and wait. The timer will appear once you release the pressure. The timer just counts up as it switches to a warming setting.
Second Pressure Cook:
Add in your vegetables, roasted tomatoes, and tomato sauce. Season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Mix well. Then place the pressure cooker lid back on and cook for an additional five minutes.
After five minutes you will come out with this:
This stew can be served with noodles or rice. It’s your preference. You do whatever makes you feel good.
This dish brought back wonderful memories and it didn’t take all day to do. I give the Ninja Foodi a 10 out 10 I would recommend.
Want me to test more recipes? Leave a comment down below and I will.
Happy Cooking!
J. Delawcious
This recipe is printable down below. Share with friends and me on Instagram @jdelawcious
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One Hour Beef Stew
by:
J. DELAWCIOUS
3.0 rating based on 6 ratings
Ninja Foodi Easy Beef Stew
Difficulty:Easy
Prep Time:15 mins
Cook Time:45 mins
Serves:6
Freezable:Yes
Nutrition per portion
Ingredients
2 Pounds of Beef Chuck
2 Pounds of Lamb
1 Large Chopped Onion
2 Chopped Green Peppers
1 Chopped Carrot
1 Pint of Sliced Portabella Mushrooms
1 Sliced Jalapeno
2 Stalks of Chopped Celery
2 Tbsp of Garlic Paste
1 Tsp of Salt
1 tsp of Black Pepper
1 Tsp of Garlic Powder
1 Can of Fire Roasted Tomatoes
1 Small Carton or Can of Tomato Puree
1/2 Cup of Red Wine
1/2 Cup of Water
1 Tsp of Condensed Beef Broth (Better than Bouillon)
2 Tbsp of Canola Oil
Method
Prep vegetables by chopping largely and sit aside. Cut the beef and lamb into one-inch cubes. Season meats with salt and pepper as desired then sit aside. In a large skillet add canola oil on medium-high heat. Once you see a small puff of smoke line beef and lamb cubes in the skillet with space. Back heat down to medium to control heat retained once it is up to temp. Cook the meat in batches 2 minutes each side. Place meat into a bowl and set aside.
Add the garlic paste to the hot skillet and then stir until fragrant. Then pour the red wine in and scrap the skillet with a wooden spatula. Scrap all the bits off the bottom until it feels smooth. Add the condensed beef broth and water. Stir for two minutes and then sit aside.
Place the meats and the accumulated juices into the Ninja Foodi pot. Pour the deglazed liquid on top and stir gently to incorporate. Then place the pressure cooker lid on top of the Ninja Foodi to lock in place. Once the lid is locked, switch the valve to seal.
On the display panel, select the HI pressure setting. Change the time to 15 minutes and press start. The Ninja Foodi will show cycling lights on the display to show the machine is coming up to pressure. During this process, you will see some steam escape but not to worry it is how the machine works. Once the machine is up to pressure the time will begin.
After the Ninja Foodi is done pressure cooking, you will use an oven mitten and switch the valve to vent. Then the steam will release. Once it is done releasing you can remove the pressure cooker lid. When you open the lid the meat will be perfectly tender. Add your chopped vegetables, fire-roasted tomatoes, tomato puree, and seasonings (salt and pepper).
Then mix well. Place the pressure cooker lid back on the pressure cooking setting for five more minutes on HI. While your meat and veggies are pressure cooking you can make any rice or noodles to accompany your stew. You can also eat this plain and it will be just as delicious.
After the five minutes of cooking time simply repeat the same steps by turning the valve to vent, releasing the steam completely and then removing the pressure cooker lid.
Broccoli chicken cheddar rice bake is one of those effortless and tasty meals that will make any family happy dinner a smash hit. With a few store-bought ingredients and seasonings it will make for a quick dinner option.
On a Sunday evening, this was exactly what I was looking for while trying to prepare for my work week. This recipe from start to finish took about 30 mins and will not let you down. Let’s get started!
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Broccoli Chicken Cheddar Rice Bake
by:
J. DELAWCIOUS
0.0 rating
Chicken
Difficulty:Easy
Serves:6
Nutrition per portion
Ingredients
4 Cubed Chicken Breast
1 Sliced Half Onion
2 Cups Of Broccoli Florets
1 Cup of Milk
1 Can of Cheddar Sauce (Campbells)
1 Can of Fiesta Cheese Sauce (Campbells)
1 Cup of Cheddar Cheese
2 Cups of Rice
4 Cups of Broth
1 Tbsp of Butter
1 Cup of Panko Bread Crumbs
2 Chopped Green Onions
1 Tsp of Canola Oil
2 Tsp of Complete Seasoning
2 Tsp of Pepper or taste
1 Tsp of Season Salt or taste
2 Tsp of Garlic Powder
1 Tbsp of Olive
Method
Preheat oven to 350F
Prep:
In a large bowl, add the cubed chicken, onions, season salt, garlic powder, and complete seasoning. Mix the seasonings and chicken well. Set the chicken aside in the fridge for 15 minutes.
Cheddar Sauce:
In a medium bowl pour both cans of cheddar sauce and milk. Whisk the ingredients until well combined. Then set aside.
Topping:
In a medium bowl add panko bread crumbs, scallions, 1 tsp of garlic powder, and melted butter. Mix well and set aside.
Cook:
In a large saucepan add chicken broth and rice. Cook rice as instructed and then let stand for 10 minutes.
Add oil to a large skillet and place cubed chicken inside. Cook chicken for about 3-5 minutes. Then remove from the skillet and set aside.
Bake:
Add rice, broccoli, and chicken to a large baking dish. Mix until well combined. Then add cheese sauce until the mixture is well coated. Top the casserole with the shredded cheddar cheese. Lastly, wrap with foil and cook in the oven 20 minutes.
After 20 minutes remove from oven and top the casserole with the panko bread crumb topping. Put back in the oven for 15 minutes uncovered. Once the 15 minutes is up, allow standing for 10 minutes to cool. Then serve.
This recipe is fun and family friendly! Give it a try and don’t forget to tag me on instagram @jdelawcious to see your creations.
If you’re looking for an even easier pizza recipe check this one out shrimp pizza recipe.
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HOMEMADE PIZZA
by:
J. DELAWCIOUS
0.0 rating
HOMEMADE PIZZA MADE EASY
Difficulty:Easy
Prep Time:45 mins
Cook Time:15 mins
Serves:4
Freezable:Yes
Nutrition per portion
Ingredients
1 TBSP OF OLIVE OIL
2 TBSP OF MINCED ONION
2 TBSP OF MINCED GARLIC
1 CAN OF TOMATO PASTE
1 CUP OF CHICKEN BROTH
1 TSP OF SALT
1 TBSP OF SUGAR
1 TBSP OF ITALIAN SEASONING
1 PACKAGE OF PIZZA DOUGH
1/2 CUP OF CHEESE
1/2 CUP OF SLICED ONIONS
1/2 CUP OF SHRIMP
Method
Preheat the oven to 500 F or highest temp it can go for 35 or 40 minutes.
On medium heat In a small saucepan place 1 tbsp of olive in with minced onions. Saute until onions in oil for about 1 minute. Then add garlic, crushed red pepper and salt. Continue to stir until the garlic becomes fragrant. Add tomato paste and cook the raw taste out of it for 5-7 minutes by stirring. This will help with tartness.
Using a whisk, pour the cup of chicken broth in slowly. Whisk the broth in slow to create the desired thickness of the sauce. You may not use all of it depending on your personal taste. Once you have your desired thickness, add the sugar and italian seasoning then stir to incorporate.
Half cover with small lid and allow the sauce to simmer on low. I let mine cook for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes taste and adjust for flavor. If you find that the sauce is too thick add more chicken broth to thin it out until desired likness. Allow to cool for 15 minutes.
In a large cast iron pan 12 inches. Place a tsp of oil at the bottom and rub all sides. Remove and access oil with a paper towel. Pull the dough into the shape of the pan. Make sure the dough covers all sides. Once it does, allow the dough to stay covered with a towel until ready to bake about 30 minutes.
After 30 minutes, the crust will be room temp and slightly bigger. Start to layer your desired toppings. Because the cast iron isn't the same temp of the oven, I would suggest you start to cook the pizza on the stove over medium low heat for 10 minutes. Then place it in the over for 15 minutes but check after 10 as everyone's oven is different.
If your pizza is done, allow to cool for 10 minutes. Remove from the cast iron pan and enjoy.
My mom and I came up with this really cool recipe for egg roll wrapper ravioli. Who has the time to roll out dough and make it perfectly thin? We don’t! This is EASY NO KNEAD RAVIOLI! Egg roll wrappers are super easy to use and versatile. Did you know they have fewer calories than pasta? It is basically guilt free! 3 Small egg roll wrappers are 16 calories?!?!?! Are you convinced yet? Let’s do this!! Continue Reading “Super Easy Ravioli Using Egg Roll Wrappers”
Salisbury steak is one of my favorite meals but it can be a little heavy on the waist line. So it got me to thinking, how can I make this recipe lighter? Easy! Use ground chicken and make a lighter gravy. This is a delicious and filling meal. I paired this Chicken Salisbury Steak with cauliflower rice and green beans. This recipe is so easy and fast to put together. You will have something yummy on the table in less than 30 minutes. Enough chat, let’s get cooking! Continue Reading “Chicken Salisbury Steak”