Saturday, October 13, 2018

#Easy Chicken and Butternut Squash Hash by @Denise Swanson




This skillet supper is amazingly easy to make. Precubed butternut squash saves chopping time and microwaving the squash with the Brussels saves cooking time.

Ingredients
12 ounces prechopped butternut squash (about 3 cups)
 1 tablespoon water
 2 cups Brussels sprouts, quartered.
 6 center-cut bacon slices, chopped (I use turkey bacon)
1 chicken breast 
1 cup chopped onion
1 Tbsp. minced garlic cloves
 1 teaspoon thyme
3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
 5 tablespoons olive oil, divided
 3/8 teaspoon salt, divided
 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

First seasoned, grill, and shred your chicken breast.














Next place squash and 1 tablespoon water in a large microwavable bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Microwave 2 minutes. Add Brussels sprouts, recover with plastic wrap, and microwave an additional 2-4 minutes or until tender. Transfer squash and Brussels sprouts to a plate lined with paper towels to drain. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add bacon, and cook for about 5 minutes until crisp. Stir often. Add chicken, onion, garlic, thyme, pepper, 1 tablespoon oil, and 1/8 teaspoon salt; cook until onion begins to soften, about 2 minutes. Remove skillet from heat; stir in vinegar. Transfer to a bowl. Wipe skillet clean with paper towel.


Increase heat to high and add remaining 1/4 cup oil to skillet, then add squash mixture. Cook 6-8 minutes, stirring often. Once mixture begins to brown add chicken mixture to squash mixture and stir to combine. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt.





OUT NOW—BOOK #2 DIE ME A RIVER

AMAZON




The chips are down in Scumble River

School psychologist Skye Denison-Boyd had hoped that her maternity leave would be at least a little relaxing, but when she and her husband, Wally, meet with the priest to discuss their newborn twins' christening, an explosion at the nearby bowling alley rocks the rectory. And although the business was closed at the time of the blast, there's a body inside.

As police chief, Wally is inevitably drawn into the investigation, which seems to indicate that foul play is afoot again in Scumble River, and Skye can't help but do a bit of her own sleuthing. But the clues come fast and furious, ranging from an odd new stranger in town to animosity toward the gambling machines that had recently been installed at the bowling alley, and Skye finds herself wondering if this could be the puzzle that stumps her for good.

New York Times bestselling author Denise Swanson has penned another hit for cozy fans with Die Me a River, the latest installment in her beloved Welcome Back to Scumble River mystery series.

***
BOOK #1 IN THE Chef-to-Go SERIES


BARBES & NOBLE

Right when Dani thinks she's hit a dead-end in her career, she unexpectedly inherits an enormous old house in a quaint college town. This gives her the perfect opportunity to pursue her true passion―cooking! So Dani opens Chef-to-Go, preparing delicious, ready-made meals for hungry students attending the nearby university, as well as providing personal chef services and catering events for the local community. To help support her new business, she opens her home to a few students, renting them rooms and becoming almost like a big sister figure in their lives.

But just as Dani is relishing her sweet new life, the friend of one of her boarders is murdered, and Dani becomes one of the primary suspects! She'll have to scramble to clear her name and save her business before the killer reappears―perhaps to silence the new chef forever.

Enjoy the occasional romance?

Take one smoking-hot top chef who thinks food should be a sensual adventure, add a venture capitalist who has struggled with her weight since she was a teenager, and mix well. Is this a recipe that sizzles, or is he just another craving she must resist?

* * *

Deanna Sloan has worked too hard, dieting herself from a chubby teenager to a sleek businesswoman, to give in to her hunger now. Enduring four years as the target of her high school classmates’ cruelty taught her that only three things matter—power, money, and looks.

Leaving her small town behind, shedding the excess pounds, and obtaining a job with a six-figure salary are all steps in the right direction. However, in order to keep on target, she needs to outshine the other twenty venture capitalist associates at her new firm, maintain her weight loss, and be prepared to double-cross anyone who gets in her way. Walk in the park, right?

Wrong! Her first assignment is an investment appraisal of one of Chicago’s top chefs. Nico Thorne has come to her firm for the seed money to open his own restaurant. He is smoking hot and just a glimpse of his navy blue eyes in a photo clouds Deanna’s brain and dampens her panties. Will the flesh-and-blood man make her dissolve into a puddle of mindless lust that will derail her fast track to success?

Like Deanna, Nico’s past drives his present choices. He hates his father for using his mother’s social status to further his career, then abandoning her. As a teenager, Nico’s anger at his father resulted in a hair-trigger temper and a vow never to fall in love. Although Nico may have learned to control his demons, he still avoids women who even hint at wanting anything deeper than a few nights of uncommitted fun.

That is until he sees Deanna. Her cinnamon curls and soft green eyes totally captivate him. As they spend more and more time together, Nico’s determination to keep their relationship casual dissolves and he realizes that she might be his amore mio. But will he be able to convince Deanna that he’s the one for her?

Deanna fights her attraction to Nico, fearful that giving in will mean the loss of both her figure and her job. Can Nico overcome a lifetime of distrust? Can Deanna embrace life—imperfections and all?

Publisher’s warning: This book contains sensual consummated love scenes.

Series description:

First in Denise Swanson’s new Delicious contemporary romance series. All books are complete with no cliffhangers and a guaranteed HEA!


Catch up with me on 
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7 comments:

  1. What a recipe! This is on my list of Autumn food to fix.

    ReplyDelete
  2. That hash has all the things I like in it. Do you think it’d stretch for three?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It probably depends on how hungry they are and what you serve with it. I had homemade bread so that rounded out the meal.

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  3. Pre-cut butternut squash in a cook's godsend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Definitely! Although, I don't think I'll use the frozen next time as it is a little mushy.

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    2. Squash probably has too much water in it for thawing nicely.

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