Jamaican Jerk Chicken

Jamaican Jerk Chicken

Jerk chicken can be grilled or baked and is a no fuss chicken recipe. Jerk refers to the wet marinade that makes this chicken so flavorful and yummy. You can find pre made jerk dry rub mix in the store but this time I decided to try making my own home made marinade. Scotch bonnet or the habanero chilly , all spice berries, scallions, herbs and pineapple imparts the meat with a  right balance of sweet heat and flavor.The flavors are dominant and awaken your senses.

This is a home made version of the jerk chicken. There is a time honored cooking technique and the  real jerk chicken is cooked over charcoal which gives it a smoky flavor.  I adapted this recipe form the cook book Chicken :60 Simple Recipes for Great Home Cooking. Try this you will surely love it.

Ingredients
Chicken joints- 4
Shallots- 3
Scallions- 2 chopped
Habanero-4-5
(this is less spicy than scotch bonnet
adjust according to taste)
Thyme- 1/2 tsp

Ginger and garlic paste- 1 tsp
All spice berries- 1 tbs
Black pepper- 1/3 tsp
Cinnamon- 1/3 tsp
Nutmeg- a pinch
Pineapple chopped-3 tbs
Dark brown sugar- 1 tbs
Rum - 1 tb(optional)
Salt to taste
Oil- 2 tbs

Clean and pat dry chicken and set aside.
Put the rest of the ingredients into a food processor and blend into a smooth thick paste. Adjust according to taste or the spice level. You can double the recipe and store in refrigerator for one week.
Make deep slashes on the chicken and marinate the chicken with this paste. Refrigerate it over night or for at least three hours.
Place the marinated chicken into a roasting pan and roast in pre heated oven at 400 degree f for 30- 40 minutes.
Serve with rice. I served with Brown rice with coconut and green peas. You can also serve this with some salad for a filling tasty meal. Happy Cooking!

You might also like,
Caribbean Mango Chicken
Chicken Piccata
Korean Chilli Garlic Chicken
Baked Mexican Chicken
Korean Fried Chicken
Honey Bourbon Chicken

For more chicken recipes check 100 Chicken/Meat Recipes

Try this,
Hope you will all enjoy!

Crab Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

Crab Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

If you like mushrooms this is a perfect party appetizer recipe that you should try. You can use large portobello  or medium sized white button mushroom caps to stuff the filling.This is a versatile recipe and you can use vegetarian or non vegetarian filling of your choice. The filling here is a creamy crab meat filling.

Ingredients
Portobello mushroom caps- 4
Crab meat- 1 cup
Cream cheese- 3 tbs
Salt and pepper to taste
Garlic powder- 1/4 tsp
Onion powder- 1/4 tsp
Chopped spring onion- 1 tbs
Chopped parsley- 1 tbs
Chopped mint- 1/2 tsp
Parmesan cheese-3 tbs
Panko bread crumbs- 1/3 cup
Olive oil- 2 tsp

Pre heat oven to 345 degree f. 
Remove the stem and clean the mushroom cap.
In a bowl add crab meat, cream cheese, chopped parsley and mint and the rest of the seasoning and mix well. Spoon the filling into the mushroom cap and spread evenly. Finally sprinkle the bread crumbs on top and drizzle with olive oil.
Place mushrooms on baking tray and bake for twenty minutes or till the mushroom is tender and the filling is golden brown.Serve warm

Try this,
Hope you will all enjoy!

Ranch Dressing

For lunch, I make a salad for my husband and I at least 4 days a week.  Eating salad each day, for us, is more about getting our nutrients and fiber from raw veggies than about being a diet food.  Our salads differs each day depending what's in the fridge.  At the beginning of the week I'll prep a variety of veggies so that I can easily pull together a salad each day.  I also like to add boiled eggs, cooked chicken, avocado or even left over steak for some protein.  When it comes to salad dressing, I like homemade.  My go to dressing is ranch and this easy recipe is my favorite.  I always have these ingredients on hand because I make it about once a week.  Ranch dressing may not be the healthiest salad dressing but it's so good and I believe, everything in moderation.  

Ingredients:  (not pictured) half & half, lemon juice, dill weed, parsley, salt, pepper, mayo, sour cream, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder and onion powder.

So creamy!

Today our salad was packed with so many veggies you can hardly see the lettuce!

I love my OXO salad spinner.  After I wash and spin dry my lettuce, what ever is left I just store in the fridge in the basket/bowl with the lid on for the next day.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup half and half *see below
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 cup mayo
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon dried dill weed
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 tsp freshly ground pepper

Instructions

1. In a bowl mix together half & half and lemon juice.  Let sit 3 minutes.  The half and half will become slightly thickened and curdled like buttermilk.
2. Add the other ingredients and whisk together until well combined.
3. If too thick, add a splash of half & half or milk.
4. Use right away or refrigerate for about two weeks.  

*You can use milk in place of half & half but it won't be as creamy and thick.  You can also use buttermilk, just omit lemon juice.  I like using half & half because it's always in my fridge because it's what I use in my coffee. 

Karah Prasad/ Wheat Flour Halwa

Karah Prasad/ Wheat Flour Halwa

Karah Prasad is served in Gurudwara as prasad for devotees. It is made with whole wheat flour/atta, ghee and sugar. It has a sweet smell and is so yummy. Try this rich and tasty halwa, you will surely love it.

Ingredients
Whole wheat flour/atta- 3/4 cup
Sugar- 1 cup
Ghee- 1/2 cup
Cardamom powder- 1/2 tsp
Water- 2 1/2 cup
Any toasted nuts of your choice

 In a sauce pan bring water and sugar to a boil. Reduce the flame and allow it to simmer.
Heat ghee in a heavy bottom pan and add the wheat flour. Keep stirring and make sure there is no lumps. Cook in low flame for 3-4 minutes or till the raw flavor disappears and flour changes color to light brown. Carefully add the dissolved sugar and water as it has a tendency to splutter. Mix continuously to avoid lumps. Add cardamom powder and toasted nuts.It will thicken quickly and leave the edges of the pan. Stir till ghee separates and it turns glossy.Switch off the flame and allow to cool before serving.

Try this,
Hope you will all enjoy!