Karen's Chicken Masala

We share New Year's Eve with my sister, Karen & her family, and my daughter pointed out that her aunt has made this recipe almost every year, and she likes it SO much, she decided it needs to be an official tradition! Karen simplified an original recipe, making it a lot less time consuming, and still oh, so yummy! We usually triple or quadruple the recipe for our large group, but use less chicken.

2 pounds chicken breasts (about 3-4 chicken breasts)
Salt and freshly ground pepper
2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1/4 cup blanched whole almonds
1 large onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
1 1/2 tablespoons garam masala (if you don’t want to buy this spice blend, google “make your own garam masala” to check out some homemade versions, or try this one)
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
16-ounce can tomato sauce
Pinch of sugar
1 cup heavy cream (or milk)

Optional Garnish: Lots of fresh cilantro

Toast almonds in a toaster oven OR cook in a small amount of oil in a large enameled cast-iron dutch oven or a large pot until fragrant and just starts to split. Remove the almonds and let cool, then grind them in a food processor or blender until fine. 

Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil until shimmering. Add the onion, garlic and ginger and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until tender and golden, about 6-8 minutes. Add the garam masala, and cayenne and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes with their juices, the tomato sauce and the sugar or honey. Season with salt and pepper. Cover partially and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, for about 5-10 minutes. Ladle half the mixture into a food processer or mixer and puree.* Repeat with the other half. Then return to heat. 

While the mixture begins to simmer, cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Throw the chicken into the pot of simmering tomato sauce. Continue simmering/cooking the chicken, partially covered, for an additional 10-20 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce has reduced and thickened just slightly. Add the cream and ground almonds* and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 10 minutes longer. Serve with lots of fresh cilantro over hot, steamed rice and naan bread!

*We simplified even further and just added the almonds in the puree process...tasted great!

Find the original time-consuming recipe complete with "wasteful, overnight marinading" instructions here. Hey, we're busy moms, who like good food, but take shortcuts where warranted, especially where the difference isn't that great!

Mousse Parfait

A favorite at our house, and we often will make this with sugar free jello pudding, and light cream cheese and whipped topping to make it a bit lower fat/sugar for us, and set some aside without the graham crackers for the diabetic. Mmm!

4 oz cream cheese
1 1/2 C milk
1 pkg instant chocolate pudding
4 oz whipped topping (1/2 8 oz tub)
1 pkg graham crackers (16 crackers)

Gradually whip softened cream cheese with milk until smooth. Add pudding powder until smooth. Fold in whipped topping. Roughly break crackers into 1" size pieces. To assemble, place 1/8 cup crackers in parfait dishes, top with 1/2 cup mousse then repeat. Use remaining cracker crumbs to garnish tops as well as chocolate shavings from a candy bar if you wish. The entire dessert can also be made in a 9" square baking dish, making 2-3 layers. Chill until ready to serve. Serves 6.

May use homemade whipped cream...

Whipped cream

1 C COLD heavy cream
Small pinch salt

Mix in a COLD bowl, and halfway through the mixing, add:
1-2 Tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla


Alternative recipe

Dissolve 1/2 C nonfat dry milk, in 1/3 C COLD water, chill well.

Whip to soft peaks. Add 1 Tbsp lemon juice. Whip to peaks again. Beat 2-4 Tbsp sugar in lightly.

Chicken and Dumpling Soup

1 chicken, 3 lbs, cut up (or several whicken breasts)
6 cups water
4 chicken bouillon cubes
6 peppercorns
3 whole cloves
1 can chicken broth
1 can each cream of chicken and cream of mushroom soup
1 cup chopped celery
2 cups chopped carrots
1 onion chopped
2 cups chopped potatoes
1 bayleaf
1 cup frozen peas
1 tsp seasoned salt

Place chicken, water, bouillon, peppercorns and cloves in large kettle, cook until tender. Cool, skim off fat. Cut meat into chunks. Strain broth and add soups, broth, chicken and remaining ingredients. Cover & simmer on low heat until tender. About 30 minutes before serving add the dumplings*.

Dumplings:
2 C flour
1 tsp salt
4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp pepper
1 egg, well beaten
2/3 C milk

Sift dry ingredients together. Add egg melted butter & enough milk to moisten stiff batter. Drop by teaspoons into boiling liquid. Cook covered without "peeking" for 18-20 minutes or until done.

Makes 10-12 servings.

*I have a note on my recipe to try Mom Howlett's Homemade Egg Noodles instead of the dumplings. I think the dumplings just seemed a bit too much.

Cheesy Broccoli Soup

A DELICIOUS recipe from the kitchen of LaNae Callahan* 

2 medium heads of cauliflower cut up small (or broccoli)

1/2 cup butter

1 to 1 1/3 cup chopped onion chopped fine

4 tablespoons flour

4 cups chicken broth

1 quart half & half

1 teaspoon Worchestershire sauce (I usually put in a couple of tablespoons because I think

it really gives it great flavor)

1 teaspoon salt

1 lb. Velveeta cheese (grated or cut up)

Cook cauliflower or broccoli in boiling salted water. Do not overcook. Drain, reserve the liquid. Melt butter in sauce pan. Add onion and cook till soft. Blend in flour and cook for about 1 minute or so to get rid of the raw flour taste. Add chicken broth slowly and then bring to a boil stirring constantly. Add liquid from cauliflower (2 cups) If it doesn't measure out to be two cups then add extra water. Add half & half, worchestershire sauce and salt. Bring to a boil. Add cheese a little at a time so it melts smoothly. Blend in cauliflower or broccoli carefully so not to make it mushy.

(*My cousin Warren Whitford's MIL - served at one of their baby's blessing celebrations)

Semi-Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix

jillee’s family’s favorite semi-homemade hot chocolate mix

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 4 cups powdered milk
• 21.8 oz box Nestle Nesquik (you could substitute the homemade Nesquik, I just haven’t tried it yet.)
• 16 oz instant coffee creamer
• 1 cup powdered sugar (you can adjust this to taste. I like it a little less sweet and this amount is perfect).

Mix all of this together in a big bowl. (Trust me on this one!) Pour into a storage jar or canister. To make a mug of cocoa, fill it with water or milk and heat in the microwave. Add 3-5 heaping tablespoons of mix to the cup and stir well.

Got this recipe from here.