Chicken Tenders and Cream Gravy

The hubby made dinner last night, and I have to say that he made some very good chicken tenders!


1 lb chicken tenders
1 cup all purpose flour
2 cups panko breadcrumbs
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground allspice
1/2 tsp ground corriander
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
2 eggs

Put flour onto plate, season with salt, pepper, allspice, corriander and cayenne

Put breadcrumbs onto seperate plate

Whisk eggs in small bowl

Dredge the chicken in the seasoned flour, then eggs and finally breadcrumbs

Heat oil in a large skillet and fry chicken for 10 minutes, or until golden brown

Peppered Cream Gravy:

4 tbsp butter
4 tbsp all purpose flour
2 cups milk
2 cups heavy cream
1/8 tsp allspice
pinch of ceyenne
salt and pepper

Add 4 tbsp of butter and the same amount of flour to a pan

When the butter/flour mixture has melted together and cooked for a few minutes to cook out the raw flour taste start adding warm milk and cream a little at a time

When the milk has been added and the sauce is smooth, add in the spices

If the sauce is too thick add in more milk

Season with lots of black pepper

Chicken Tikka Masala

I have made chicken tikka masala many times before, using many different recipes, and while they are usually all very good, they have all been very time consuming and involved a lot of steps. Until I found this recipe, which seemed far too easy to be good, but I have to say that this was not only the easiest chicken tikka I have made, but I would also say it was the best. We will definitely be making this again!


1 1/2 lbs chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch cubes
2 tbsp butter
1 onion, chopped
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 can diced tomatoes
1/3 cup heavy cream
1 tbsp corn starch
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbsp paprika
1 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp garam masala
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper

Melt butter in large skillet, add chicken, onion and lemon juice and cook for 10 minutes.
Add all of the spices and cook for 1 minute. Add the canned tomatoes.
Stir the cream, corn starch and salt together until smooth, slowly add to the chicken.
Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
Served with rice, naan bread and mango chutney.

See other recipes at The Grocery Cart Challenge

Pioneer Pie

I have been meaning to make this pie for a few weeks now, and finally made it last night. The hubby and I both liked it, I think he liked it more than I did though, mainly because I am not that much of a fan of bbq sauce. This is another recipe I got from Kayotic Kitchen


1 lb ground beef
4 bacon slices
1 onion
1 garlic clove
6 tbsp bbq sauce
1 tbsp worcester sauce
1 tbsp ketchup
2 cans heinz baked beans
4 large potatoes
2 carrots
1/4 cup milk
pepper & salt
breadcrumbs
grated cheese

Peel and chop the potatoes and carrots, boil them for 20 minutes, or until tender.

Fry the beef, bacon, onion and garlic until browned, drain fat.

Add the worcester sauce, bbq sauce, ketchup and beans to the meat mixture, and simmer for 15 minutes.

Once the potatoes are done, mash them with milk, salt and pepper.

Transfer the meat mixture to a baking dish, top with the mashed potatoes, sprinkle bread crums and cheese on top and bake at 350 for 30 minutes, or until cheese has melted.

Menu Plan Monday

Monday: Pioneer pie (didn't make it last week)

Tuesday: Chicken tikka masala, jasmine rice and mango chutney

Wednesday: Spanish hamburgers

Thursday: King ranch chicken

Friday: Party chicken, mashed potatoes and peas

See other menu plans over at Organizing Junkie

Cowboy Stew

Another recipe I found over at a year of slow cooking the hubby really loved this, especially with his favourite candy-krisp jalapenos on top.


1 lb ground beef, browned
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 can tomato sauce
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can corn, drained
1 cup frozen peas
2 cans whole potatoes, drained
1 can rotel
1 can Ranch Style beans
1 cup water

Brown beef with the garlic, drain and add to the crock pot.

Open and add all of the canned items to the crock pot.

Add the cup of water and mix all together.

Cook on low for 8 hours.

Creamy Chicken Picasso

I think I am starting to feel bad for the hubby that he will soon have his mother in law visiting for an entire 2 months, so I have been looking for recipes for all his favourite foods. As soon as I saw this chicken recipe from Kayotic Kitchen with all it's onions and bell peppers I knew the hubby would love it.


4 chicken breasts
2 onions
3 bell peppers
2 garlic cloves
14oz can diced tomatoes
1 tbsp Italian seasoning
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup cream
2 tbsp oil
1 tbsp butter
pinch nutmeg
pepper
salt
Grated cheese

Season the chicken with salt and pepper, and lightly brown the chicken in a pan with the oil and butter. Once browned place chicken in a baking dish.
Slice the onions and add to the pan, cook until softened and then place on top of chicken.
Cut the peppers into rings and add to the pan for a few minutes, then add to the baking dish.
Add the garlic to then pan, and cook for a minute or so before adding the diced tomatoes and water. Add the Italian seasoning, and a pinch of nutmeg.
Pour in the cream, season with salt and pepper and let simmer for 5 minutes, then pour all over the chicken and vegetables.
Cover the baking dish with foil and bake at 400 for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, remove foil, top with grated cheese and bake uncovered for another 15 minutes.

We served ours ontop of jasmine rice, which was perfect for soaking up all that sauce.

American Chop Suey

I have never tried American chop suey/macaroni and beef/goulash before, but the hubby grew up eating it, and while this version didn't taste quite like his mom's, he still liked it. I got this recipe form a year of slow cooking


1 lb ground beef
5 bacon slices, chopped
1 large onion, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 can water
3 garlic cloves, chopped
1 jar pasta sauce
1 (16-ounce) package pasta

Cook beef, onion and bacon together in skillet, once the beef has browned, drain and put into slow cooker. Add everything else to the meat mixture, except for the pasta and cook for 6 - 8 hours on low.

Menu Plan Monday

Monday: American chop suey

Tuesday: Creamy chicken picasso, jasmine rice and green beans

Wednesday: Cowboy stew and parker house rolls

Thursday: We have the final inspection on the house and then a walk through with the builder, so we will grab dinner on the way home

Friday: Pioneer pie

See other menu plans over at Organizing Junkie

Menu Plan Monday

With only a few weeks before we move to the new house (closing is October 26th) I am trying to use up as much of the fridge and freezer contents as possible, I really don't want to have to move it all the way to League City!

Monday: Madras chicken curry and jasmine rice

Tuesday: BLT's with avocado and tomato soup

Wednesday: Going down to the new house, will grab dinner on the way home. Probably masala wok for paneer tika masala and garlic naan

Thursday: Bacon wrapped cream cheese and jalapeno stuffed chicken, baked potatoes and cauliflower-cheddar bake

Friday: Breakfast - bacon, sausage, eggs, fried tomatoes and mushrooms

See other menu plans over at Organizing Junkie

Spanish Hamburgers

This is one of the hubby's recipes, and something he makes when he is in charge of dinner! he usually makes these on hamburger buns, but wanted to try pita bread this time, and I actually much preferred them this way. He likes his with mayo and mustard and I like mine with sliced tomato.


1 lb ground beef
1 onion, finely chopped
1/2 red bell pepper, finely chopped
1/2 can tomato paste
1/4 cup ketchup
1 tbsp mustard
1 tsp worcester sauce
1/4 tsp italian seasoning
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp allspice
1/4 tsp coriander
1/4 tsp cayenne

Put beef, onion and bell pepper in pan, cook until beef has browned and vegetables are softened, drain well.

Add the tomato paste to the meat mixture along with the ketchup, mustard, worcester sauce and all the spices.

Turn the heat down to low and cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring frequently.

Serve on hamburger buns or pita bread with mustard, mayo and sliced tomatoes.

See other recipes at The Grocery Cart Challenge

Menu Plan Monday

Monday: Spanish hamburgers, corn on the cob and roasted asparagus

Tuesday: Breakfast for dinner - french toast, sausage, eggs, fried mushrooms and tomatoes

Wednesday: Orange chicken and jasmine rice

Thursday: Roast chicken, tomato topped baked mac and cheese and roasted asparagus

Friday: Going down to the new house, will probably eat at cafe adobe on the way home

See other menu plans over at Organizing Junkie