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Portuguese Style Chicken with Saffron and Peppers
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced
  • 2 large sweet red peppers, cored, seeded and cut into strips
  • 3 to 4 garlic cloves, chopped
  • ½ cup orange juice
  • 1/3 cup chicken broth
  • ½ teaspoon saffron threads
  • 1 cup crushed tomatoes
  • Salt
  • Pepper

1/3 cup fresh parsley, chopped

Heat a wide skillet with the butter over high heat. Sprinkle salt and pepper on the chicken breasts and transfer them to the pan and cook over medium heat until lightly golden brown, about 4 minutes. Turn the pieces, reduce the heat and cook on the other side for another 4 minutes or till almost done- do not overcook. Transfer the chicken to a platter and keep aside.

Add the olive oil to the same skillet and cook the onion, peppers and garlic over medium heat, about 3 minutes. Take out of the pan and keep aside. Deglaze the pan with the orange juice and chicken broth and scrape the bottom with a wooden spatula. Add the saffron and crushed tomatoes. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes. Add the pepper and onion mixture back to the pan and cook for a minute. Add the chicken back to the pan and simmer for another 2 to 3 minutes to finish cooking the chicken. Check for seasonings and garnish with parsley.

Modified from New York Times

Kadhai Paneer- Homemade Cheese Sauteed with Peppers

kadhai-paneer I make this dish both with homemade or store bought paneer. Paneer is very much like ricotta in texture and is very easy to make. It simply takes milk, yogurt and some lemon juice. Once the milk comes to a boil, you add some yogurt and lemon juice. Once the curd is separated from the whey, it is strained and used for several dishes. It is also available at Whole Foods. Either one works really well.

In this case, I used the homemade version and cooked it with sliced onions and garlic. The main source of flavor is provided by cumin and ajwain seeds. Ajwain has a very distinct pungent taste and a little goes a long way. In case you are not able to find it, eliminate it from the recipe and only use the cumin seeds.

The rest is easy- I cut up a sweet pepper- either red, yellow or orange. With the help of crushed tomatoes, this dish is quick and super flavorful. This is a great entree to make through the week since it takes a short time to cook and it is also ideal for entertaining. Either way, I think you should try it- your family will love it.
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Sausage and Peppers Bake

Sausage and Peppers Bake1 Who doesn’t like sausage and peppers? I love the combination of the sweet orange peppers with the savory sausages. I always have them on hand- usually a couple of packs in my freezer. They are extremely handy and versatile. Breakfast, lunch and dinner – all three meals can be delicious with chicken sausages.

I wanted to make a one pot meal- my favorite thing to cook. They are easy, quick and delicious. In this case, I added tomatoes and potatoes with the sausage and peppers. I added garlic and fresh thyme with salt and pepper. It is very simple yet extremely flavorful.

I bought a pack of ‘ready to bake baguettes’ from Trader Joes and baked some with this delicious dinner. I made a delicious arugula salad with orange segments. I made a quick dressing with orange juice, sherry vinegar, honey and extra virgin olive oil.

I gave my daughter just the arugula (which she doesn’t like so much but will eat it since she knows there is no way out). I also gave her the sausage and peppers but left out the potatoes and tomatoes- she doesn’t care for them. She loves the freshly baked bread as do my husband and I.

It was a quick and delicious meal- my favorite kind to eat. The sausage and pepper bake was delicious.

  • 1 pack (4 or 5 links) chicken sausage, sliced at a bias (I used a spinach and garlic one)
  • 2 yellow skinned potatoes, cut into 2-inch squares
  • 2 cups grape tomatoes
  • 1 orange pepper, cut into 2-inch squares
  • 3 cloves garlic, smashed
  • 3-4 sprigs of fresh thyme
  • 1 sprig of fresh rosemary
  • 2 tablespoons extra light olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • Pepper

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

In a lined 9 X 13 baking sheet add the sausage, potatoes, tomatoes, pepper, garlic, thyme, rosemary, olive oil, salt and pepper. Mix well with hands and bake for 45 minutes or till the potatoes are browned and cooked. Serve with a baguette and a salad.

Sausage and Peppers Bake

Grilled Chicken with Couscous Salad and Vegetables

Grilled Chicken with Couscous Salad Grilling days are coming to an end. Although last year I continued to grill outside regardless of the weather. The ingredients change- all the peppers, zucchinis and tomatoes don’t taste as good in the fall and winter.

I felt like making something healthy yet substantial. I had chicken breast in the fridge which I pounded thin and put them away in a marinade.

I love making couscous and always buy the whole wheat one from Trader Joes. I decided to make it a little different this time and sauteed some pancetta- a little goes a long way. I then cooked the grain in chicken broth- both ingredients impart tons of flavor. Once the couscous was cooled I tossed tomatoes, basil, garlic and balsamic vinegar and tossed it like a salad. My plan was to serve it on top of the grilled chicken. 

I used similar ingredients to marinate the vegetables and grilled them till they were golden brown and sweet. It was a delicious meal. It was light, healthy yet quite filling. We enjoyed it with a bottle of Malbec Rose.
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Peppers and Onions: A Side Dish Recipe to serve with Grilled Sausages

Peppers and Onions I love sausage and pepper sandwiches. I love the savory sausage with the sweet peppers and onions. Typically green pepper are served with the dish- I prefer sausage and pepper sandwiches made out of the red and orange peppers. I usually start with the sausages and then add either crushed tomatoes or tomato sauce. I then proceed with the onions and peppers- lots of oregano and basil later- a great dish is done! I toast a crusty baguette and rub the insides with a fresh garlic clove. The sausage and peppers are then topped with either a sharp provolone cheese or fresh mozzarella. It’s a great sandwich, especially with a great glass of cabernet.

In the summer, I do a variation of the sandwich. I am in no mood to spend a lot of time in front of the stove. We like to grill as much as possible- especially on the weekends. I always have chicken sausages in the fridge/freezer. This time I bought aged cheddar and spinach ones from Costco- they are delicious! Anyway, I grilled them and slices of a large baguette drizzled with olive oil and rubbed with garlic. I cooked the peppers and onions quickly on the stove with lots of fresh basil and brought it outside. We had all the components of a sausage and pepper sandwich separately- and they all tasted really well together. It was a yummy and simple meal- perfect for a Sunday evening or a weeknight.

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Tomato and Roasted Vegetable Salad

  • 1 orange, red and yellow bell pepper, cored and cut into squares
  • 2 zucchini, cut into one inch diagonal pieces
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin oil
  • Salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
  • 1 pound different varieties of grape tomatoes cut in half
  • 2 tablespoons homemade or store bought pesto
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Place the peppers and zucchini on a cookie sheet.
Add the olive oil with the salt and pepper. Mix well and bake for 30 minutes. In the meantime in a serving bowl, add the tomatoes and the pesto. Add the roasted vegetables to the bowl and mix well. Add salt and pepper.