Vegan Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

Fall is here!  Time for sweaters & boots, hot apple cider, and comfort food at it's best.  I've been making this family favorite every fall for several years now and it is always a big hit.  The recipe has evolved quite a bit from the first time I made this soup and I think it's better than ever now.

Hope you enjoy these classic flavors as much as we do!

1 pkg. Beyond Meat chicken strips

1 TBSP olive oil

salt, pepper, & garlic powder, to taste

6c vegetarian chicken broth

1 - 4oz. pkg. wild rice mix, with seasoning packet

3/4c all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. ground black pepper

1/2c vegan butter

1/4c yellow onion, diced

1/2c carrots, diced

1/2c celery, chopped

1/2c white wine, optional

2c soy creamer

In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat.  Add chicken strips and cook until heated through, seasoning with salt, pepper, and garlic powder, to taste.  Remove to a cutting board and shred.

In a large pot over medium high heat, bring the broth to a boil.  Add rice and seasoning packet included.  Cover and remove from heat.

In a small bowl, combine flour, salt and pepper.  Set aside.

In a medium-large saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter.  Add onions, carrots, and celery, sautéing until slightly tender.  Stir in garlic and cook another minute, until fragrant.

Add white wine, if desired, and reduce heat to low.  

Gradually whisk in the flour mixture.

Pour in the creamer, a little at a time, whisking to maintain a smooth consistency.  Allow to simmer approximately 5 minutes to thicken, stirring occasionally.

Stir creamy mixture into the large pot with broth and rice.  Bring heat to medium and allow soup to heat through; 15-20 min.

 Served with biscuits for dipping - yum!

Vegan Teriyaki Chicken

Last night's dinner of my vegan version of teriyaki chicken, served over rice, and with a side of sautéed green beans was devoured by everyone, even our super picky 2-year old.  

Note:  For the "chicken", I used Beyond Meat which is easily the best chicken substitute available right now, in my opinion.   

1 TBSP cornstarch

1 TBSP water

1/2c white sugar

1/2c soy sauce

1/4c apple cider vinegar

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 tsp. ground ginger

1/4 tsp. black pepper

1 pkg. chicken substitute, chopped into bite-size pieces

1.  Preheat oven to 425*

2.  In a small saucepan over low heat, combine all ingredients except the chicken.  Allow to simmer, stirring frequently, until thickened.

3.  Add chicken to a prepared 8x8 baking dish and baste generously with the sauce.

4.  Bake, uncovered, for 45-50 min., turning and basting with extra sauce every 10 min.

Best Chicken Enchiladas

I've gone through alot of chicken enchilada recipes over the years, most of which involved cream-of canned soups - which I now find gross.  This one is different because there is not a single can of soup involved, nor is there any actual chicken (I'm all about fake meat these days).

I made these a few nights ago and they were practically inhaled by the entire family.

Here's the recipe:

 8 taco-size flour tortillas
2c cooked chicken (I used Gardein)
1/4c onion, chopped
2c Monterrey Jack cheese, shredded
4 TBSP butter
3 TBSP flour
2c chicken broth (I used no-chicken bouillon base with water)
6oz. Greek yogurt
4oz. can diced green chiles, drained

1.  Preheat oven to 350* and spray a 9x13 pan with non-stick cooking spray.

2.  In a skillet over medium high heat, add 1 TBSP butter and saute chicken and onion.

3.  Wrap tortillas in damp paper towel and heat in microwave (about 30-45 seconds).

4.  Combine chicken and onions with 1c cheese.

5.  Add 1/4c mixture to each tortilla, roll up, and place in baking dish.

6.  In medium sauce pan, melt remaining 3 TBSP butter, add flour and stir until thick and pasty.

7.  Add broth and whisk until smooth.

8.  Continue cooking until mixture is thick and bubbly.

9.  Remove from heat and stir in Greek yogurt and green chiles.

10.  Pour sauce over enchiladas and top with remaining cheese.

11.  Bake approximately 20-25 minutes.

12. Switch oven setting to Broil for 3-5 minutes. Watch to make sure the cheese is browning, not burning!

Served with sauteed mixed veggies.

Buffalo Chicken Bites

Out of all the appetizers I set out on Super Bowl Sunday, this was probably the most popular.  Nothing fancy or complicated; just good, spicy Game Day food: 

1/2 c. all-purpose flour

1/4 tsp. paprika

1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

1/4 tsp. salt

1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts

oil for frying

1 bottle spicy Buffalo wing sauce (we like Frank's)

1.  In a small bowl mix together the flour, paprika, cayenne pepper, and salt.

2.  Place chicken in a large bowl and sprinkle flour mixture over them.  Then toss until they are evenly coated.

3.  Cover bowl and refrigerate for 60 to 90 minutes.

4.  Heat oil in a deep skillet to 375*  The oil should be just enough to cover or almost cover chicken.

5.  Fry coated chicken in hot oil for 10 to 15 minutes, or until browned.  Remove chicken and place on paper towels.

6.  Place chicken on foil covered (for easy clean-up) baking sheet.

7.  Baste with Buffalo sauce.

8.  Bake approximately 15 min., turning and basting again halfway.

 Serve with celery sticks and bleu cheese dressing. 

Old Bay Chicken and Shrimp Pasta

We have one kid who absolutely loves shrimp and would probably eat it every day of his life if I had it readily available all the time.  Then, we have another kid who says he hates seafood of any kind (never mind the fact that he practically inhales my sushi made with smoked salmon and crab - somehow

that's different in his mind).

So, the shrimp lover has been pestering me daily requesting I serve shrimp in the very near future.  Tonight is his lucky night.  Tonight, we are having shrimp but, in the interest of keeping complaints to a
minimum, we are also having chicken.  :)

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut in 1/2-inch strips

4 teaspoons OLD BAY® Seasoning, divided
1 TBSP butter
1/2 lb. shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 c. heavy cream
8 oz. penne pasta, cooked and drained
3 green onions, sliced
Parmesan cheese, taste
red pepper flakes, to taste

1.  Coat chicken with 2 tsp. Old Bay Seasoning.
Melt butter in large non-stick skillet over medium heat.
Add chicken; cook 3 minutes per side, or until done.

2.  Coat shrimp with Old Bay Seasoning, to taste.
 Remove chicken from skillet; add shrimp.
Cook and stir 3 to 4 minutes or until shrimp turn pink
and add chicken back to skillet.

3.  Mix remaining Old Bay with cream.
Add cream mixture, cooked pasta and green onion to skillet.
Bring to a boil. Lower heat; simmer 5 minutes or until sauce thickens
and pasta is heated through.

4.  Top with parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes
and serve immediately.

We love this seasoning!
(I forgot to get a photo of the food before we starting eating!) 

Chicken and Waffles

My kids had never heard of chicken and waffles together before so, when I told them this was what we were having for dinner, they looked a little concerned.  My husband had a different reaction.  He will try anything I make and seemed intrigued, as was I, by the flavor combination.

I wasn't sure if I should serve something on the side or if the chicken and waffles were sufficient.  So I did some searching online and this is what I found out:

Chicken and waffles can be served breakfast style with bacon or grits but you can also serve it more like a dinner with greens.  I decided to serve it for dinner with maple syrup poured over the top and bacon on the side and that turned out to be a good choice for us because everyone cleaned their plates!

I used Emeril's recipe for the chicken, using boneless breasts and adding extra spices. Then, I cheated a little by using a waffle mix (we like Krusteaz). Poured the maple syrup over the top just before serving and the combination of sweet and spicy was amazing!

Easy Barbeque Chicken Sandwiches

Tonight's menu consists of barbeque chicken sandwiches,
grilled potato salad, and fried pickles with a side
of spicy ranch dipping sauce.

These sandwiches are so easy it's almost embarrassing.

All you need is a slow cooker and these five ingredients:

6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

12oz. bottle barbeque sauce (We like Stubb's Original)

1/2c. Italian dressing

1/4c. brown sugar, packed

2 TBSP Worchestershire sauce

1.  Arrange the chicken in a slow cooker.

2.  In a small bowl, combine remaining ingredients

and pour over chicken.

3.  Cover and cook on Low for 6-8 hours.

4.  Using two forks, shred chicken breasts.

5.  Pile onto toasted Kaiser rolls and serve.

(I like to add a little butter and garlic salt

to the rolls prior to toasting.)

I've tried other barbeque chicken recipes
but hubby says he likes this one the best!