Prepare A New Recipe

Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.

A New Recipe Is Always Exciting

When I began going to Culinary School and began the cooking classes I was nervous and excited about trying new things. In our Intro To Foods class when we were in the kitchen we would be given beef, chicken, fish or another cut of  meat and had to build a meal around it without recipes. Needless to say you had to really think about what you new about food and the flavors that would compliment each other and how you would present your dish on the plate (presentation and flavor was key). It was always exciting to create a new recipe and then to be able to play around with it to make it better. I still play around with recipes in my kitchen so today I will share one with you.

Follow The Recipe

If your extremely comfortable in your kitchen with mixing flavors and techniques you don’t have to follow the recipe exactly except the order in which ingredients are added. If you are still learning then the first time you are trying something new follow the recipe and then play with it the next time if you would like a different flavor profile. I like to add a Bourbon Glaze to my steaks and I’ve changed it up each time I have made it until I found the flavor profile that my palette enjoys the most.

A Recipe For You To Try

To make the following recipe you will need to have an acquired taste for curry. This is an Indian Chicken Curry dish that my son and I can eat morning, noon and night.

Curry Chicken with Golden Raisins Recipe

5 tablespoons of butter

8 boneless skinless Chicken Breasts (you can substitute thighs if you prefer dark meat), cut into bite size pieces

1 yellow onion diced

3 teaspoons turmeric

1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

2 teaspoons curry powder (you can add more if you like a strong curry flavor)

1 cup long grain rice

2 cups plain greek yogurt

3/4 cup golden raisins

1 cup chicken stock (I make mine from chicken base)

1 tomato chopped

2 tablespoons chopped parsley

2 tablespoons toasted coconut

Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Prepare rice as directed and set aside.

2. Melt butter in a heavy-based pan and saute chicken and diced onions, until onions are translucent.

3.Stir in turmeric, cinnamon, curry, add rice and season with salt and pepper, saute for 3-4 minutes.

4. Add yogurt, golden raisins and chicken stock. Mix well and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 5 minutes. Stir occasionally.

5. Stir in diced tomatoes and parsley. Place in serving dish and sprinkle with toasted coconut.

FYI: To make toasted coconut place shredded coconut on a cookie sheet and place under broiler for 30 seconds to 1 minutes. Just until lightly browned.

One More Recipe

Pineapple Bourbon Glaze

2/3 cup water

8 ounces fresh pineapple juice (can use canned, fresh is better)

1/2 cup honey

1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

2-3 cloves garlic, minced

4 tablespoons fresh squeezed orange juice

3 tablespoons Jack Daniels whiskey (can use a different brand)

1/2 teaspoons ground red pepper

Directions

1. In a heavy-based sauce pan add water, pineapple juice, soy sauce and brown sugar. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.

2. Add remaining ingredients to pan and stir. Let simmer for 45-50 minutes or until glaze has reduced by 1/3 to 1/2. Simmer glazed uncovered on medium-low heat until thickened.

Spoon glaze over your favorite steak. This glaze will work on many of your favorite meats. This glaze with can be stored in the refrigerator for 2 weeks.

Try these new recipes out and enjoy.