Distinctive Dinners: Mother-in-law for Dinner
Luan's Salad | Chicken with Porcini Mushrooms | Garlic Smashed Potatoes | Vickie 's Pecan Pie
Luan's Salad
Recipe Summary
| Complexity: | Easy |
| Serves: | 8 |
| Category: | Salad |
| Meal: | Mother-in-law for Dinner (Distinctive Dinners) |
| 2 | package | lettuce, mixed |
| 1 | whole | onion, red |
| 0.5 | lb | bacon |
| 1.5 | cup | pecans, halved |
| 1 | 15 oz can | oranges, mandarin |
| 0.33 | cup | sugar, granulated |
| 0.5 | tsp | mustard, dried |
| 0.5 | tsp | paprika, sweet |
| 0.5 | tsp | celery salt |
| 2.5 | Tb | honey |
| 2.5 | Tb | vinegar, cider |
| 2 | tsp | lemon, juice of |
| 0.5 | cup | oil, olive |
| |
Fry bacon until crisp and remove from skillet- set aside. Toast pecan halves in bacon grease over low heat, remove and drain on paper towels.
For dressing: Mix sugar, dry mustard, paprika, celery salt, honey, lemon juice, vinegar, and olive oil in a bowl.
Toss two bags of mixed lettuces or two heads of romaine lettuce with bacon pieces, pecans and drained mandarin oranges. Pour dressing over and toss lightly.
Chicken with Porcini Mushrooms
Recipe Summary
| Complexity: | Medium |
| Serves: | 8 |
| Category: | Chicken Entrée |
| Meal: | Mother-in-law for Dinner (Distinctive Dinners) |
| 4 | lb | chicken breasts, boneless, skinless |
| 0.75 | cup | flour, all-purpose |
| 1 | tsp | salt, table |
| 1 | tsp | pepper, fresh ground |
| 11 | Tb | butter, unsalted |
| 1 | cup | wine, Madeira |
| 0.5 | cup | chicken broth |
| 0.5 | tsp | garlic, minced |
| 0.5 | cup | mushrooms, sliced |
| 1 | Tb | lemon, juice of |
| 0.5 | oz | mushrooms, dried porcini |
| |
Cut boneless, skinless chicken breasts into large chunks. Mix together flour, salt, and pepper in large Zip-lock bag and shake chicken pieces in mixture to coat. Melt butter in large skillet and brown chicken on both sides until light brown. Put in large casserole dish. Put dried porcini mushrooms in hot water to reconstitute then drain. Add wine, chicken broth, and garlic to skillet and simmer for a few minutes. Pour over chicken in baking dish. Brown both mushroom types in 3 T butter and add lemon juice. Pour over chicken and wine mixture. Cover and bake 40 to 50 minutes at 350 degrees.
Hint: Dried porcini mushrooms have a very strong, earthy flavor so you will not want to use more than a tablespoon or two.
Garlic Smashed Potatoes
Recipe Summary
| Complexity: | Easy |
| Serves: | 6 |
| Category: | Starch / Pasta |
| Meal: | Mother-in-law for Dinner (Distinctive Dinners) |
| 2 | lb | potatoes, red |
| 1 | whole | garlic, whole head |
| 0.5 | cup | cream, half and half |
| 0.25 | cup | butter, unsalted |
| 0.5 | tsp | salt, table |
| 1 | pinch | pepper, fresh ground |
| |
Cut washed red potatoes into quarters- no need to peel but remove eyes. Cover them with cold water and 1-teaspoon salt in saucepan. Add 2 peeled garlic cloves to the potatoes and water. Boil covered, until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain and return to saucepan. Pour over half and half and melted butter- heat until warm and simmering, being careful not to burn. Mash potato mixture with mixer until smooth and add salt and pepper.
Vickie 's Pecan Pie
Recipe Summary
| Complexity: | Easy |
| Serves: | 8 |
| Category: | Dessert |
| Meal: | Mother-in-law for Dinner (Distinctive Dinners) |
| 0.5 | recipe | Pie Dough |
| 3 | large | egg |
| 0.5 | cup | sugar, granulated |
| 4 | Tb | butter, salted |
| 1 | cup | corn syrup, dark |
| 1 | tsp | vanilla |
| 1.25 | cup | pecans, halved |
| |
Bake the pie crust for 8 minutes at 425 degrees.
Combine eggs, karo syrup, sugar, butter (melted), and vanilla in a bowl, stir in pecans and pour into the partial cooked pie shell. Place in a 325 degree oven for 45-60 minutes, until firm. Allow to cool and serve.
