Chicken, Jalapeno and Cheddar Casserole

A few days ago I found this recipe. I just pinned it and made a mental note that I needed to make it very soon. Well I was having another intense, do it now, craving for something with a kick and this recipe popped into my mind. It had just the spicy kick I was craving today. It is for sure one I will make again!

Chicken, Jalapeno and Cheddar Casserole

2 chicken breasts
1/2 red bell pepper
2 jalapeños
1/2 onion
1 garlic clove
1/2 cup grated cheddar
1 tbsp oil
1oz butter
1 1/2tbsp flour
3/4 cup milk
1/4 tsp mustard powder
nutmeg
pepper
salt
red pepper flakes
Preheat your oven to 350F (175C).



Remove the seeds and membranes and chop up jalapenos.
Slice the onion in half-rings.
Slice the bell pepper in rings.
And grate the garlic.
Place the chicken breasts in an oven dish and season them with a generous amount of salt and pepper.
Heat the oil and lightly sauté the vegetables. Except the garlic.
Keep them moving around. As soon as the peppers get pliable, divide them over the chicken.
Put the chicken in the oven and bake at 350F for 20 minutes.

Mix the flour and mustard powder.
Heat the butter.
Add the garlic to the butter and give it a few seconds before adding the flour.
Add the flour, keep stirring and cook for 2 minutes.
Pour in the milk and stir
Season the sauce with 1/4 a tsp salt and pepper.
Add a dash of nutmeg.

Add a teaspoon of red pepper flakes
Melt the cheese into the sauce and check the seasoning.
Remove chicken from oven and pour sauce evenly over it.

Turn the oven up to 475. Put chicken back in oven for 10min or until sauce is bubbly and chicken is tender.

 

Italian-ish Subs

I have never actually had a real Italian sub so when I saw this recipe on Pintrest claiming to be as close to the real thing as possible, I thought I'd give it a whirl. I changed a few things though according to my tastes, here is my version.

Italian Layer Bake

• 1 (8-ounce) container refrigerated crescent rolls
• 8 slices (1/2 pound) deli turkey
• 8 slices (1/2 pound) deli ham
• 12 slices (1/2 pound) deli hard salami(No salami for me)
• 8 slices (1/2 pound) Swiss(cheddar) cheese
• 1 (12-ounce) jar roasted peppers, drained(didn't do these either but only because I didn't have any)
• 4 eggs, beaten

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Unroll crescent roll dough without separating triangles. Separate dough into 2 squares along center cut line.
    
2. Place 1 square of dough into an 8-inch square baking dish; using your fingertips, press dough to fit bottom of dish.
    
3. Layer with half of each of turkey, ham, salami, Swiss cheese, and roasted peppers. Pour half of beaten eggs over peppers and repeat with remaining meat, cheese, and peppers.
    
4. Place remaining square of dough over peppers. Pour remaining beaten eggs over dough and cover lightly with foil.
    
5. Bake 20 minutes, remove foil, and bake an additional 20 to 22 minutes, or until golden and heated through. Let cool 15 to 20 minutes then cut and serve.

Read more at http://www.mrfood.com/Casseroles/Italian-Layer-Bake/ml/1#B56EK7FGfqS71C2A.99

Turnin' up the Heat

They tell me that spicy foods will give your nursing baby gas and make them more fussy. They say I should stop eating them. I can't leave em' alone though. I love the powerful flavor. I like the kick. Lets face it, I'm addicted. So when my friend posted this recipe on FB, I had to try it out. My taste buds wouldn't have it any other way. Go on, give in to the craving within. From one addict to another, trust me, its worth it.

Thai Peanut Pork

2 red bell peppers (sliced in strips)

4-6 boneless pork loin chops

1/4 cup creamy peanut butter

2 tbsp rice vinegar,

1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

2 cloves minced garlic

honey soy sauce mixture: 1/4 cup honey, 1/4 cup soy sauce, 3/4 tsp minced garlic, 1/8 cup ketchup, very small pinch of red pepper flakes, and 1 1/2 tsp oil. 

First, coat slow cooker with cooking spray. Place bell pepper strips and pork chops into the slow cooker. Mix together honey soy mixture, vinegar, red pepper flakes, and garlic in mixing bowl. Pour over the pork chops and make sure it all gets covered evenly. Cover and cook on low one hour, and then on high for 3 1/2 hours. Or until pork is tender. Remove pork and whisk in peanut butter until smooth. Return pork to slow cooker for ten min. Break apart pork. Serve with rice. you can also add chopped peanuts on top.

*Notes: I used chicken instead of pork because that is what I had on hand at the time-it was still delicious. I also added a few fresh strips of yellow onion with the pepper before putting the meat in.