Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Mock Chicken Cacciatore - an easy recipe!



The protagonist in FINAL SENTENCE, the first in A Cookbook Nook Mystery series (coming out next week!), loves eating, loves food, and loves watching TV cooking shows. The chef of the café (part of the Cookbook Nook) advises her to watch the cooking shows to get tips. I’ve done that. I’ll turn something on and think, gee, I can make that. It took all of about 30 minutes and was a few steps. What could be so hard? Granted, most of the shows have the preparation done ahead of time, and the show doesn’t include the cooking time, it sort of flashes forward.

Anyway, I walk on a treadmill when I’m watching TV. [I’m sitting the rest of the day. I’ve got to get my exercise someho.] And I saw a show with a female chef. She was making a super simple dish. Sort of a mock chicken cacciatore. Honestly, I can’t remember which show. I can’t even remember which chef. (Bad me. I think my mind is in overdrive right now with writing book 3 of the series and PR stuff to launch this book…if only I had two heads so I could wear both hats comfortably.)

This recipe was quick! And easy. With only a few steps and a few ingredients, I memorized it and then tweaked it to suit my tastes.  If anyone knows which chef this was, please let me know so I can credit her with a "link" or tweet.

Enjoy and savor the flavors.  [PS  This kept well in glassware for a number of days.]


Mock Chicken Cacciatore

Ingredients:

6 Chicken breasts – thin ones so they’ll roll well (or thick and you’ll have to pound)
Veggies (I used 3 zucchini)
Mozzarella cheese (6 thin slices)
Fresh herbs (chopped fine) (about 6 teaspoons)
1 jar of pasta sauce (your favorite)
1 cup (8 ounces) light or regular sour cream (I used light)
Parmessan cheese, grated

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Slow cooking!

Set foil on a roasting pan.  Set out the chicken breasts on the foil.  Top with Mozzarella cheese, zucchini, and herbs.


Roll up each breast and skewer with two toothpicks to hold the breast together.


Seal the foil. Put the roasting pan in the oven. Cook chicken for 30 to 40 minutes.

In about 30 minutes, empty a jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce into a saucepan. Heat through on medium, for about 4-5 minutes.  Add the light sour cream (or regular sour cream, if you desire) to the sauce. Stir. Heat through about another 2-3 minutes.





Remove the chicken from the oven. Set a chicken piece on each plate. 


Remove the toothpicks. The chicken will hold together. Top with sauce and Parmessan cheese. Adorn with fresh herbs.


Voilá. How easy is that?? 


By the way, I’m having two contests right now. One is a launch contest. I’m giving away a $50 bookstore gift certificate plus some books on my website. Follow this link.

The other is a June Mystery Scramble contest on Facebook with three other authors: Krista Davis, Janet Bolin & Maggie Sefton. Do you like puzzles? Scrambles? You could win a $25 bookstore gift certificate or books from the authors! Go to my Facebook page or any of the authors' pages,  and click on the Scramble link!

And TODAY I'm giving away a few fun things to those who leave comments.  A copy of your choice of a Cheese Shop Mystery (written by my "other persona" Avery) plus some swag.

Do you watch TV cooking shows?




* * * * * * *

The first book in A Cookbook Nook Mystery series is coming
July 2nd!! It's set in the fictional coastal town of Crystal Cove, California and features Jenna Hart, a "recovering" ad exec who returns home to help her aunt open a culinary bookshop and cafe.

FINAL SENTENCE
You can pre-order the book HERE.

You can learn more about Daryl by clicking this LINK. "Like" my page on Facebook and "follow" me on TwitterAnd if you haven't done so, sign up for the mailing list so you can learn about upcoming events, releases, and contests!













24 comments:

  1. Mmmm, that does look good and simple. Filing that one away in one of my two heads, daryl:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Two heads are better than one. Great line to a fun jazz song, too.

      LOL

      Daryl / Avery (totally understanding the two heads. Now where did I put my hats?)

      Delete
  2. I love food shows - currently watching Next Food Network Star. Also enjoy Chopped and Cupcake Wars. Thanks for the recipe - sounds great.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kuzlin, I love all these shows, too. Thanks for chiming in.

      Daryl / Avery

      Delete
  3. I love Chicken "Catch", only thing I would add would be a few mushrooms!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I will watch any cooking / food show. Looking forward to your book!

    ReplyDelete
  5. My problem with cooking shows is I end up in the kitchen eating!
    Add some vodka to that and you'll have Chicken a la Vodka.
    I'm with Raquel-toss in some mushrooms.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Libby, a dash of vodka. Nice. You add it before the sour cream, I imagine??

      Thanks,

      Daryl

      Delete
    2. Before, after, during-Give it 3-5 minutes for the obvious vodka smell to disappear. Try a 1/4 cup to start and then taste.

      Delete
  6. I like watching cooking shows but don't usually make any recipes from them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sandy, I know what you mean. They go so fast. Or they look too complicated. But fun to watch.

      Daryl

      Delete
  7. Like a few shows, might not watch any of them any more.
    Your give away sounds great.
    CABWNANA1@bellsouth.net

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Charlotte, might not watch because...takes too much time, get too addicted, get too hungry? Have so many more MYSTERIES to watch on TV nowadays??? LOL

      Daryl

      Delete
  8. Yes, I watch a lot of the shows on the Food Network channel. However, I try to watch them after I have eaten and not so much before I go to bed. They always make me hungry watching them make scrumptious looking dishes.
    Thanks for the recipe-i am always looking for EASY to do recipes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joye, I know what you mean. After you've eaten is best. My husband watches them while riding a stationary bike. He always comes off that bike hungry. :)

      Daryl

      Delete
  9. Fast, easy recipes are very welcome, Daryl/Avery, especially in the summer (our kitchen is not air conditioned)! Thanks for sharing this and I'm excited for you and the launch of a brand new series with The Cookbook Nook mysteries...the countdown is on!

    ~ Cleo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Cleo. I'm very excited about it. I love Jenna's new world!!
      Daryl

      Delete
  10. I like watching Chopped from time to time. Some of the ingredient combinations are so bizarre! I wonder how in the world the chefs could make a recipe work, and usually they do!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Diana, Chopped is fun. I like Iron Chef for those exotic ingredients, too. What a challenge.

      Daryl

      Delete
  11. Can't wait to read your new series. It sounds like so much fun!

    ~Krista

    ReplyDelete
  12. This looked so easy and delicious that I raced out to get chicken breasts and then forgot to comment!

    Another winner!

    Thanks.

    ReplyDelete