Monday, November 24, 2008

Sherry Mushroom Chicken



2 chicken breasts
2 packages of cremini mushrooms
2 cloves of garlic, chopped
1 shallot, sliced
2 cups cream sherry
1/2 cup light cream
Salt/pepper
Flat leaf parsley, chopped
Shredded parmesan cheese
Olive oil

Season chicken breasts and sautee in a pan 3-4 minutes per side.  Chicken does not need to be cooked through, but should get a little color.  Set aside.

Halve the mushrooms and sautee in 3-4 T olive oil.  Use a hot pan to brown the mushrooms.  After the mushrooms begin to brown, reduce the heat and add in chopped garlic and sliced shallots.  Continue to cook over medium heat until the garlic and shallots begin to soften.  Don't let the garlic burn.  Season with salt and pepper.

Put the chicken into the pan and add in cream sherry and let cook 10-12 minutes over medium heat.

Reduce heat and allow the sherry to stop boiling.  Add in cream and stir thoroughly to incorporate.
Let cook for 7-10 more minutes.

Garnish with chopped flat leaf parsley and parmesan cheese.

Monday, November 3, 2008

Pear and Bleu Cheese Pizza with Honey Drizzle


Ingredients
1 (ball frozen pizza dough (available at your local grocery store in the frozen bread section)
1 (4 ounce) wedge of good quality blue cheese
6 ounces lightly toasted walnuts
1 ripened bartlett pear
4 ounces olive oil
garlic salt
grated parmesan cheese
honey
1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese (more if you'd like)

Directions
1Defrost the pizza dough and follow instructions on package for making a 12" pizza crust. Make sure ball is thoroughly defrosted and has had time to rest (about 1/2 hour in a bowl) as it will make the dough more elastic and easier to form into a pizza crust.
Dust with flour and roll out dough into a circle. Put on a pizza pan and brush whole crust with a layer of olive oil.
Sprinkle dough with Garlic Salt and Parmesan Cheese.
In a preheated oven (400 degrees) put the pizza crust into the oven and let bake for 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, slice pear into thin slices.
Take crust out of the oven after baking for 5 minutes and sprinkle with mozzarella.
Arrange pears and walnuts all over the top of the pizza and crumble the entire wedge of bleu cheese on top of the pear and walnut mixture.
Bake for an additonal 10-14 minutes or until the cheese melts and the crust is browned.
Lightly drizzle honey over the whole pizza and serve.
Garnish with a sprinkle of finely chopped flat leaf parsley (optional).


12***Added flavor: Fry some bacon until crispy and crumble real bacon bits over the top!