Chicken and Broccoli with Dijon Sauce

Here is a new recipe I wanted to try to mix up our chicken and broccoli dishes. This recipe for Chicken and Broccoli Dijon was from Kraft Foods and was really good. It keeps with our goal of eating well this year. We served this over noodles, but you can also serve it over rice. This was really great and a nice change from Asian themed stir-fries.

Ingredients (Serves 4):
3/4 cup Chicken broth
2 tbsp Soy Sauce
2 tbsp Olive oil, divided
4 cups Broccoli florets
2 tsp Garlic, chopped (or cloves)
1 1/2 lbs Boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/4" strips (around 3)
1/4 tsp Kosher salt (adjust to taste)
1/4 tsp Black pepper (adjust to taste)
3 tbsp Dijon mustard

Directions:
1. Mix chicken broth and soy sauce in a container, set aside.
2. Sprinkle the 1/4 tsp kosher salt, 1/4 tsp pepper over the chicken.
3. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a non-stick pan over medium-high heat. Add the broccoli and garlic and cook for around 4 minutes (stirring often). Remove broccoli to a bowl and cover with foil to keep warm.
4. Add the other tbsp of olive oil to the pan and add chicken. Cook for around 5-6 minutes.
5. Add broth mixture to the pan and mix thoroughly as it comes to a boil. Then lower heat to medium-low and add mustard. Mix well and return the broccoli mixture to the pan. Cook for around one minute and serve over rice or noodles.

Enjoy!

Chicken with Lemon Caper Sauce

Here is a new recipe I wanted to try today - based on the Chicken with Lemon-Caper Sauce recipe from Cooking Light. This came out fantastic and will definitely be on a repeat list at our house. We served this with asparagus and couscous - for a perfect dinner.

Ingredients (Serves 4):
1/4 tsp (plus a dash) Kosher salt (adjust to taste)
1/4 tsp (plus a dash) Black pepper (adjust to taste)
1/2 tsp Oregano (dried)
4 (4-ounce) skinned, boned Chicken breasts, cut into two haves lengthwise (no more than 1/2" thick)
1 tbsp & 1 tsp Olive oil
1/2 cup Chicken broth
2 tbsp Lemon juice
2 tbsp Capers, rinsed
1 tbsp Parsley (fresh), chopped

Directions:
1. Sprinkle the 1/4 tsp kosher salt, 1/4 tsp pepper and dried oregano over the chicken.
2. Heat olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. 3. Add chicken and cook 6-7 minutes on each side or until chicken is done. Remove from skillet and keep warm (under foil)
4. Return the pan to the burner and add chicken broth, lemon juice, capers, and a pinch of kosher salt & black pepper to skillet, scraping skillet to loosen browned bits. Cook for around 2 minutes and remove from the heat. Stir in parsley and then spoon sauce over chicken.

Enjoy!

Vietnamese Chicken Wrap

I have been carrying around this recipe for Vietnamese Chicken Sandwiches a long time - and I am very happy that I gave this a whirl. The first time I had a Vietnamese Chicken Sandwich was not in a nice Asian restaurant, but Good Time Charley's in Ann Arbor. I wanted to make it as a wrap and less spicy (for everyone's taste). I loved the way this turned out and will make it again. The work is more prep than anything else, and if you have mandolin slicer - it will be really great.

Ingredients (Makes 4 wraps):
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup rice vinegar
1 cup Matchstick-cut carrots (smaller the better)
2 tsp Peanut or canola oil
1 lbs Chicken breasts (2 or 3), cut into 1/4" diagonal slices
1/4 tsp Black pepper
1 tsp Garlic, chopped (or one clove)
1 tbsp Soy sauce
2 tsp Sesame oil
1 tbsp Hoisin sauce
2 cups thinly sliced English cucumber (1/8" thick)
1 1/2 cups thinly sliced Lettuce
1/4 cup Cilantro leaves

Directions:
1. Combine sugar and vinegar in a small saucepan; cook until sugar dissolves. Add carrot and remove from heat. Let cool.
2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle chicken with pepper. Sauté 3-4 minutes on each side or until done. Let stand 10 minutes.
3. Combine remaining garlic, soy sauce, sesame oil, and hoisin sauce in a bowl; add the cooked chicken and toss.
4. Prepare wraps. Place lettuce and cucumber on the base of the wrap. Add chicken and drizzle with leftover sauce and a small amount of the vinegar-sugar mix. Add carrots (use a slotted spoon), cilantro and hot sauce (such as Sriracha) if desired. Wrap up the contents and cut in half.

Enjoy!