Proscuitto Wrapped Stuffed Chicken Breast

I have a new favorite frying pan, cast iron.  I know, a cast iron is nothing new but it is to me.  I had one years ago but didn't like the fact that you shouldn't use soap to clean it and I could never get those bits and pieces off of the pan and it never seemed clean.  I wanted to try again so I purchased a Lodge Cast Iron Skillet from Amazon on sale for only $13.39.  I was also looking on how to clean cast iron and came across this chain link looking cleaner.  It's called the Ringer and cost $16.95.  I love it!  It cleans all the bits and pieces and the pan is clean.  I also bought the Lodge oil spray which I spray the pan to season after each cleaning.  I'm now a lover of cast iron for so many reasons.  It can withstand heat high heat which is perfect for foods that needs to be seared, and creates a beautiful browning effect.  It can be used both on the stove top and in the oven.  It's also affordable and will last a lifetime.  It really has become my go to fry pan.
Here is the recipe that inspired this purchase, Prosciutto Wrapped Stuffed Chicken Breasts from Chrissy Teigen's Cookbook, Cravings.

  This girl can cook!!

The chicken is stuffed with goat cheese, cream cheese, garlic, thyme and bacon.  It's wrapped in prosciutto and then baked with cherry tomatoes.  What happens is the cherry tomatoes burst and the goat cheese mixture oozes out in the pan making a delicious sauce to spoon all over the chicken.  It's delicious!!

Garlic Herb Goat Cheese Ingredients:

2 ounces cream cheese at room temperature

2 ounces fresh goat cheese

1 1/2 cloves garlic, finely minced (about 1 1/2 teaspoons)

1/2 tablespoon fresh thyme leave, finely chopped

1/2 tablespoon fresh oregano, finely chopped (I didn't use, not a fan of fresh oregano)

Kosher salt (1/4 teaspoon) and fresh ground pepper (1/8 teaspoon)

In a small food processor or  hand mixer combine the cream cheese. goat cheese, garlic and thyme. Season lightly with salt and pepper. 

The Chicken Ingredients:

2 slices bacon

2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts

kosher salt & fresh ground pepper

4-6 slices prosciutto

2 tablespoons olive oil (I only used about 2 teaspoons)

1 cup cherry tomatoes (I used 2 cups)

fresh thyme sprigs (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 F. 

In a medium cast-iron skillet, cook the bacon over medium heat until crispy, about 8 minutes. Transfer the bacon to paper towels. Pour off excess fat from the skillet, leaving enough to coat the pan. Let the skillet cool.

Place one piece of chicken between the two sheets of plastic wrap, then use a meat mallet to pound the chicken into an even 1/2 inch thickness. Season with salt and pepper (lightly season as the prosciutto is already salty). Repeat with the second piece of the chicken. 

Spread each breast with half of the herb cheese. (This will seem like a lot of cheese but it will ooze out and make a sauce so use it all) Crumble the bacon over the cheese and roll up each chicken breast, starting from the shorter side. Then wrap each roll in prosciutto to cover. Brush each roll with olive oil and season lightly with pepper. 

Place the chicken in the skillet, seam side down, then scatter the tomatoes around the chicken. Throw the thyme sprigs (if using) and bake until the chicken is cooked and some edges of the prosciutto are a little crispy, about 30 - 40 minutes. 

Let the chicken cool for a few minutes, then slice each roll in half and make sure to include the tomatoes & juices on the plate. 

Serves 2 large or 4 smaller portions 

Adapted from Chrissy Teigen’s Cravings: Recipes for All the Food You Want to Eat

This is how I clean my cast iron skillet...only using water I scrub any dried on food with the ringer.  Next, dry with a paper towel.  When your pan is completely dry, simply wipe it down with oil using a paper towel.  Now the pan will be ready to go for next time!

Ellum Kappa/ Kappa Biriyani

Ellum Kappa/ Kappa Biriyani

Ellum Kappa is a yummy combo of meat and tapioca. It is commonly found in tattukadas or Kerala fast food joints.It is also known as kappa biryani or asiad.This is a humble common man's food. Ellum kappa or meat with bone is a one pot meal and simple to make. Ellum Kappa is served in Christian families of central Kerala to guest on wedding eve.Today you can easily find this is road side restaurants  and even in  star hotels .

Ingredients

Beef - 1 Kg

Shallots- 1 cup

Crushed ginger and garlic- 2 tbs
Green chilly - 3-4
Chilly powder-2 tsp
Turmeric powder- 1/2 tsp
Coriander powder 1 tsp
Pepper powder-1/2 tsp
Tomato- 2
Garam masala- 1/2 tsp
Meat Masala- 1 tsp
Coconut oil
Salt to taste

To make Tapioca

Tapioca-  1 kg
Shredded coconut- 3/4 cup (optional)
Turmeric- 1/2 tsp
Cumin- 1/2 tsp
Garlic-2 pods
shallot- 1
Green Chilly- 4-5
Curry leaves- 2 springs
Mustard seeds- 1/2 tsp
Sliced shallots- 2-3
Coconut oil- 2 tsp

 

Clean and cut  beef into small pieces. Marinate with crushed ginger, garlic, pepper powder,turmeric powder and salt. Set this aside for half an hour.
Heat oil in a pan and saute onions till golden brown. Sir fry chopped tomatoes till it is soft.Add the marinated meat and fry the meat till it changes color to brown.Add chilly powder, coriander powder and rest of the spice powder and mix well. Add one cup of water, cover and cook in medium flame (or pressure cook) till the meat is cooked and gravy reduces and coats the meat. Set this aside.

In the meantime you can cook the tapioca. Remove the skin and chop into small pieces. Put into a large vessel and pour water to the same level as tapioca. Bring this to a boil and then stain out the water. Again put back the tapioca pieces in stove with a fresh batch of water .Add enough salt and cook till it is soft and can be easily mashed. (if there is excess water drain it out). You can just add turmeric, crushed chilly and curry leaves if you prefer or make a paste fine paste of coconut, cumin, turmeric. Crush chilly, garlic and curry leaves and mix to the paste. Blend this well with the cooked tapioca and cook for two to three minutes till the raw flavor disappears.Add the cooked meat and mix with the tapioca.Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds and saute sliced shallots till golden brown.Garnish on top and serve.

Try this,
Hope you will all enjoy!

Beetroot Pickle

Beetroot Pickle

Beetroot pickle is a delicious condiment. I tried pickled beets in salads. Beetroot has its own depth of flavor and this pickle with its spicy, tart and sweet taste makes it a perfect accompaniment with rice, parthas. I found this as an interesting combo with biryani too.If you like beets try this recipe, you will surely love it.


 Ingredients
Beetroot- 3 medium sized
Ginger- 2 inch thick piece
Garlic- 6-8 cloves
Green Chilly- 3-4(optional)
Curry leaves a few
Mustard- 1/2 tsp
Chilly powder-3 tsp
(adjust according to your taste)
Fenugreek powder- 1/2 tsp
Asofetida-1/3 tsp
Salt as needed
Jaggery- one small piece
(or sugar- 2 tsp)
Vinegar-1/4 cup
Gingerly oil-  1/2 cup

Cut beetroot into small cubes into small pieces.
Heat half of the oil in a pan and add mustard seeds. When they splutter add sliced ginger,garlic,curry leaves and green chilly and saute till the raw flavor disappears.Add beetroot and salt and stir fry till the beets become soft and the raw earthy flavor of the beets disappears.
In a separate pan add the rest of the oil. When hot add the spice powders and cook in a low flame. Add this to the beet.Mix powdered jaggery and vinegar.Allow to cool and transfer into air tight jar.

Try this
Hope you will all enjoy!