Want to come to a Tasting Party???

Well, I have entered 3 recipe contests so far. Fingers crossed. I had a tasting party for the Foster Farms Fresh Chicken Cooking contest, which turned out fantastic! I needed to make a couple recipes I had not made with actual measurements of each ingredient... easier said than done. I cook by eye and taste. However, I have become accustom to knowing approx. how much just by looking at it, I just need to write it down! lol  Will be having another tasting on Sunday, June 24th. The Johnsonville "No Ordinary Burger" contest is due by July 3. These recipes will be something I've not made before, so I need 8 Guinea Pigs!! If you know me and live near me, and want to come taste a couple of original recipes, let me know. Keep in mind it is a tasting, not a full on meal. I will only be making what is required for the contest. Sharing is a must! LOL!! P.S. I'll have some other snacks out.  :)  If you miss out on this tasting don't worry, I will be having a few more before the year is over!! <3<3

Stove Top Grilled Flounder

Flounder is what's up for dinner...oh, and some left over sauteed Shrimp and Scallops from the night before.

Seasoned the Flounder with equal parts Garlic, Onion Powder, Red Pepper Flakes,  Dill Weed, Salt & Pepper. Store the extra in a air tight container and use can use it again for something else.

Serving up the Flounder with cold Shrimp and Scallops that I sauteed last night with some Olive Oil, minced garlic, onion powder, salt & pepper. A big plate of good protein!!... YUM!! 

Vanilla Sesame Chicken Tenders w/ Maple Dipping Sauce

I'm using Foster Farms Chicken Breast Tenders.  *1st bowl in the lower left corner is 1 cup of Flour, 1/8 teaspoon Nutmeg and ground Cloves and 1/4 teaspoon Cinnamon.  *2nd bowl is 2 large eggs (3 small-medium), 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract. If using Pure Vanilla add 1 teaspoon or less. *3rd bowl is 1/2 cup Plain Panko bread crumbs and 1/2 cup Potato Flakes, 2 tablespoons Sesame Seeds, 1/2 teaspoon Garlic, dried Oregano, dried Basil, Red Pepper Flakes, Salt & Pepper.

Start by lightly dusting the Chicken Tenders with the flour. Pat off any excess. Next, submerge in the Egg mixture and finally dredge through the Panko/Potato Flake combination.

Fry coated Chicken Tenders in Vegetable Oil for 2-3 minutes on both sides or until Golden brown.  Remove from oil and place on on paper towels to absorb extra oil.  Prepare Maple Dipping Sauce:  1/2 cup Sour Cream or Crema, 2 1/2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract (1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons Pure Vanilla), 1 tablespoon Maple Syrup, 1/8 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper & Salt.

I chose to serve my Vanilla Sesame Chicken Tenders with my Cherry Coleslaw... Soooo Delicious!!!!!

Chicken w/ Shitake Mushroom Cream Sauce

1/2 pound of Shitake Mushrooms. I clean the dirt off of them with a dry paper towel. Never submerge your mushrooms in water.
 I removed the stems and slice the caps approximately 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick.

I diced two large shallots.

2 tablespoons Olive Oil over Medium-High heat, add the shallots and cook until they are translucent. Then add 1 tablespoon Minced Garlic, 2 teaspoons dried Rosemary, dried Thyme, 1 1/2 teaspoon Salt & Pepper

Add the Shitake Mushrooms, 1/2 cup Chicken Broth, 1 Quart Half N Half, 2 teaspoons Garlic and Onion Powder and 1 teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes.

Simmer on Medium-Low heat until the liquid has reduced by 1/4. Approximately 1 hour.  

While the Sauce is reducing, I seasoned Chicken Legs and Wings with Salt & Pepper and fried them in Vegetable Oil on Medium-High heat until crispy, not necessarily cooked all the way. I finished cooking the Chicken in the Mushroom Sauce. When the Chicken is cooked through, I remove the pieces from the Sauce and take off the skin using a paper towel.
**My thought process on this was that I wanted that "fried flavor" IN the Sauce and the fat from the skin would add even more flavor to the Sauce. However, I never intended to eat the skin, so I took it off. lol!!

I chose my Arugula, Asparagus, Grapefruit Salad to accompany my Chicken in Mushroom Sauce. Awesome combination, great flavors!!

Cherry Coleslaw

I used a 16 oz. bag Coleslaw mix of green and red cabbage and carrots. I quartered approximately 15-20 cherries and added them with a dressing of 1 cup Greek Yogurt, Juice from 1/2 a Lemon, 1 teaspoon Garlic & Onion Powder and 1/2 teaspoon Celery Salt. Salt & Pepper to taste.

Place finished Cherry Coleslaw in the refrigerator for at least one hour to over night. The longer it sits the better the flavors.

Arugula, Asparagus and Grapefruit Salad w/ Blood Orange Balsamic Vinaigrette

Prep 1 bunch of Asparagus by snapping off the woody ends. Then drop into a pot a boiling, salted water. Let cook for 3-5 minutes, depending on how "crisp" you want them.

After cooking to your desired "crispness", place the asparagus in an ice bath to stop the cooking.

Cut into bite size pieces. I chose to cut mine at an angle cuz it looked pretty.

I neglected to take of photo of segmenting the Grapefruit. I used 2 large Grapefruits. I cut  it in half and  cut the Grapefruit from the skin and pith at the edges. I also cut-out the "triangles"/sections of  Grapefruit and removed it with a spoon.  Use the Pulp Of the Grapefruit Only

I added the Asparagus, Grapefruit and 5 oz. of Arugula, as well as torn pieces of Thia Basil (8 leaves) and Mint (8 leaves) into a salad bowl and dressed it with 2 tablespoons Olive Oil and 4 tablespoons Blood Orange Balsamic Vinegar. Salt & Pepper to taste. Serve immediately.
**My friends and I were sooo pleasantly surprised by the taste of this one...... OUTSTANDING!!

Whassupp!!!!

I'm bad, I know. I've been busy with life so I haven't been cooking as much.  However, I have been concentrating on creating original recipes for food contests. I'm interested in seeing if I can make an impression. Plus, the prize money wouldn't hurt, it would help reach the ultimate dream of running my own gig, serving up some kick ass twisted comfort food!!  Fingers crossed!!!