Chicken and Rice - Arroz con Pollo

Ingredients:

Chicken

I used chicken breasts with ribs attached but you can easily used boneless chicken breast or a whole chicken cut up 

Tomatoes or 1 can of tomato sauce

Garlic as many as you like 

Onion

Green Pepper

Celery

Freshly Cracked Pepper

Directions:

Chop all your vegetables

Chopped Onion, Tomatoes, Green Pepper and Garlic

add to stock pot with chicken add enough water to cover chicken

and vegetables season with pepper

Simmer until chicken is done 

 take out chicken and cool

 strain chicken broth and set aside

Heat Oil in a stock pot I use my Le Creuset dutch oven

add garlic and saute I always season with fresh pepper

Add the rice and gently brown so it has a nice warm color

 The rice, onions and garlic are nicely browned 

Time to add tomatoes if you don't have fresh tomatoes

you can use a can of tomato sauce

Add either fresh or dried parsley or cilantro

Add green peppers

Add chicken broth give a good stir and cook rice

When rice is almost done I place the chicken that I cooked earlier

on top of rice mixture and give a little stir.

 And I finish cooking the rice.

I usually add a little more freshly chopped tomatoes

at the end for some texture and color

as most of the tomatoes have already cooked down into the broth. 

You could also finish this dish in the oven and maybe add a little cheddar cheese for something a little different. with some chopped green onions..

Brinks Red Potato Salad

Ingredients:
Red Potatoes
Green Bell Pepper
Red Onion
Bacon
Mayo
Directions:
Wash and Boil Potatoes until tender. While potatoes are cooking dice pepper and onion and fry bacon. When potatoes are done rinse under cold water. When cooled cut into bit size pieces combine green pepper, onion and mayo until all combined then add bacon that has been crumbled. Season with freshly cracked black pepper and garnish with chives or what ever you have on hand. 
This is a very tasty potato salad and very simple to make with just a few ingredients. 
Enjoy!

Cherry Tomatoes Caprese Style

This is such an quick and simple salad to prepare. 
Ingredients:
Cherry Tomatoes
Fresh Mozzarella Cheese
Basil
Directions:
Wash tomatoes, cut mozzarella into bite size pieces and chiffonade the basil. Drizzle with olive oil and add some fresh cracked pepper and you have such a wonder fresh tasting salad.
I used a garlic infused olive oil that is locally produced.

Chiffonade is a cooking technique in which herbs or leafy green vegetables ( such as spinach and basil) are cut into long, thin strips. Chiffonade (pronounced chef-fon-nahd)


1. Rise and throughly dry leaves
2. Stack leaves
3. Roll Leaves into tight bundle
4. Cut into thin slices which will make pretty ribbons
5. Use chiffonade for a garnish or to add flavor to a dish

Ganache Chocolate Cup Cakes

Ingredients:
1 pint whipping cream
1 bag bittersweet chocolate chips
1 bag bittersweet chocolate chips


Directions:
Add the chocolate chips and whipping cream together in a glass bowl. Place over simmering water to make a double boiler. Gently stir until chocolate is melted and cream and chips are combined. 
Chocolate Cupcakes with Ganache
I used Duncan Hines Decadent Cake Mix and I was not disappointed it was so delicious and moist worth the extra cost of just regular chocolate cake mix. Then I dipped my cooled cupcakes in the melted ganache. 
The Ganache is so pretty and shiny very festive and elegant looking.


This ganache recipe makes quite a bit. You might want to make just half the recipe.