I was in the mood for a good stir-fried chicken dish, so I checked out my favorite recipe sites and found a really tasty concoction on GroupRecipes.com. This one was a bit spicier than most of the stir-fry dishes that I have prepared in the past; nevertheless, it was a major hit among my dinner guests. “Spicy Basil Chicken Fried Rice” is simply terrific with its blend of red and green bell peppers, onions, fresh basil, Thai stir-fry sauce, chili paste, jasmine rice, and of course, chicken breasts cut into bite-size pieces. The recipe also suggests adding, as an optional ingredient, dried hot chili peppers (ground or chopped), which I did, because most of the folks who joined me for dinner like plenty of spice. The author of this recipe suggested that a garnish of cool cucumbers and lime wedges be served with this spicy dish, which I thought was a nifty idea, as the two helped to reduce the degree of heat to just the right level (for me, anyway).
The recipe calls for 2 oz. of CurrySimple Thai Stir-fry Sauce, which I’m not familiar with and could not find in my local store. I substituted it with a supermarket brand of Thai stir-fry sauce, which was quite good, but of course, I won’t be able to judge how much better the dish could be until I find some of the CurrySimple sauce. I believe it’s a brand that was developed by the creator of this recipe. I’m sure it’s the one ingredient that is a must for this dish, so I’m anxious to taste the difference the sauce would make in this easy-to-prepare stir-fry. Anyway, regardless of the type of Thai stir-fry sauce that you use, I hope you’ll try this terrific chicken recipe.
Several months ago, I found this great chicken recipe, but it’s only recently that I actually prepared it. “Mom’s Chicken and Dumplings (Chicken Paprika)” is perhaps the best chicken and dumplings recipe I have ever tasted, so I highly recommend it. When you try it, I know that you’ll agree with me. This recipe, which I found on the RecipeZaar.com site, is one of the best definitions of “comfort food” that I have ever experienced.
I should have made this recipe last winter when I found it, because it’s really well suited for that season—a stick-to-your-ribs cold weather dish that warms you up and satisfies your appetite. The dish is perhaps a bit too heavy to serve on a hot summer day, but I’m sure nobody would complain about it being “out of season” once they taste it. Personally, I usually don’t like to do a lot of cooking on the stovetop in the summertime: I much prefer to grill outdoors; however, I must say this recipe is so good that I don’t think I could go all summer without making it at least once. It’s absolutely delicious! I know that when fall arrives (and it always seems as though it’s upon us all too soon), I’ll be making “Mom’s Chicken and Dumplings” quite often.
I was anxious to try this recipe ever since I saw it on AllRecipes.com a few weeks ago. “Coconut Lime Chicken with Grilled Pineapple” is a terrific grilled chicken recipe with a tropical flair. I made it on the Fourth of July weekend for a few friends that I invited for a cookout. Not only did they not mind that I chose to make something that none of them had ever tasted before, but they were actually quite excited about it. In fact, being the good sports that they are, they never seem to mind when I use them as taste testers for something new that I want to try. There’s only been one time when I flopped and we ended up ordering delivery pizza instead, but that was mostly because of a series of kitchen mishaps. I won’t elaborate further other than to mention that the cocktail hour may have been a wee bit too long, which may have affected my cooking skills a tad bit. (See “Food Memories: Slippery, Sloppy, Sticky Chicken.”)
Anyway, for this recipe, boneless skinless chicken breasts are marinated in a wonderful combination of tequila, lime juice, brown sugar, and cayenne pepper. The marinated chicken is then grilled, as are fresh pineapple slices. When the chicken is served, a grilled pineapple slice is place atop the chicken and a tasty sauce of sour cream, coconut milk, cilantro, garlic, and lime juice is spooned over it. Delicious! “Coconut Lime Chicken with Grilled Pineapple” is a great summertime dish, and I recommend that you try it. You won’t be disappointed. My guests loved it!
