Chicken breast with creamy mustard sauce

I wanted to try out some new chicken dish, so when I came across this recipe I knew we would like it , it's chicken breast cooked in a creamy  mustard sauce and broccoli on the side.

Let's begin by getting these ingredients.

Ingredients
2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast
Salt to taste
2 tspn crushed black pepper
1 tspn chilli flakes for heat
2 tspn Olive oil
2 tspn Butter
1/4 cup white wine  ( used in the sauce) If you don't like wine just omit it.
1/2 cup chicken stock
1 tspn coarse mustard
1/2 tspn  Dijon mustard sauce
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream

1  pack frozen broccoli

                                                 

Ingredients

Preparing mustard sauce

Cooked chicken in Mustard creamy sauce

Cooking chicken

Mustard chicken

Method
1.Wash and clean chicken breast, approx 4 medium sized chicken breast come in a pack .  Using a skillet knife , place your palm lightly on chicken breast in the middle and carefully using the knife divide each chicken breast into  2 halves , continue with the remaining chicken breast and you will have approximately 8  thinner chicken breast .
Sprinkle salt and pepper on both sides of each chicken breast , keep aside for about 10 minutes.

2. Heat  a tspn  each of  butter and oil in a skillet, add the seasoned chicken breast and cook on both sides for approximately 5 minutes each side, till they appear golden brown in colour. Continue till all the chicken breast are done. Remove and keep aside.
For the sauce
3. In the same skillet  put 2 tspn butter ( perfect for getting colour) add 1 tspn.  olive oil if needed and add crushed garlic, sauté for a minute. Next add in 1/4 cup white wine, careful while adding wine as it can flare up so reduce heat. Next add in chilly flakes for some heat and add both mustards in the skillet. Continue cooking ,stir  in heavy cream and add chicken stock and this brings the creamy sauce together.
 4. Add in cooked chicken and cover to cook for about 10 minutes . Plate this dish with 2 chicken breast placed on palate , with some hot creamy sauce on top, yummy :) and on the side add steamed broccoli . Dinner is served.
If you are using frozen broccoli, microwave for  2 to 3  minutes. Heat skillet, add 1 tsp butter, add broccoli  , sauté for a minute's add in 2 tsp  whipping cream,salt to taste , black pepper  to make the broccoli creamy (optional)  or just enjoy steamed broccoli is good too.

Crunchy coated nuts

This week I'm hosting our Diwali party for friends and family  and we thought why not make some crunchy nuts to go along  with cocktails, I came across this recipe and was waiting to give it a try...
You may  use any nuts, depending on your liking . I have used... 
Ingredient's
250 gm unsalted cashews
250 gm unsalted walnuts
100 gm almonds
100 gm pecans
1/4 cup orange juice
2 tablespoon cooking oil
1/4 cup maple syrup
2 tspn salt
2 tspn red chilli powder
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 sticks fresh rosemary chopped finely

                                                 

Ingredients

Mix all the nuts together

Nuts on baking sheet

Bake at 350 degrees  

Crunchy baked nuts

Perfect with cocktails and entertaining guest

Method.
1.Pre heat oven to 350 degrees, Spray oil on to baking sheet or use 1 tablespoon oil to coat the baking sheet .Arrange  nuts on baking sheet. Add oil , maple syrup ,orange juice,brown sugar,salt,red chilli pepper for heat  and finely chopped fresh rosemary leaves. Mix all together nicely and bake in oven for 10 to 15 minutes at 350 degrees . Keep checking.
2.Remove from oven and mix with a spoon  to separate nuts, that may stick together. Check for seasoning , sprinkle on top 1/4 tspn rosemary and check for salt, if less add little more,depending on taste.
3. Enjoy golden brown crispy , coated with sweet and spicy,  flavourful nuts with your favourite drink or cocktail.

Event Awards Announcement

Hi Friends,

The month of December, with all its celebrations, was a busy month for all of us. Yet some of you took out the time and effort to take part in the Herbs and Spice contest and the result is in front of us.There is great collection of interesting recipes for all of us to enjoy. Thanks Julie for giving me this opportunity to co host the event , it was a pleasure and would love to continue  hosting many more events.

The  event round up is given below,so please take your awards and post them on your blog :)

In all there were 5 categories of awards

1. Participation award
2. Top contributor award
3. Healthy dish award
4. Innovative recipe award
5.Best Presentation  award

It was very hard to pin point as every one's dishes were special in their own way. But still as its important to mention the following are the results.

1. Participation award is for all participants. Please paste this award on your blog page as a big thanks for the effort and you deserve it fully.

To All Participants 

2. The most number of dishes were sent by Sandhya  Ramakrishnan of  My cooking journey. She  has sent 16 entries .Congratulations Sandhya and thanks for sharing such wonderful recipes. Please collect your two awards Participation award and Top contributor award for this contest.

Award  given to Sandhya of My cooking journey  http://www.mycookingjourney.com

3. The Healthy dish award goes to Kitchen Queen (http://realhomecookedfood.blogspot.com) for the yummy and healthy Methi Dhebras. Please collect your Healthy dish award and paste it on your blog. Also collect the participation award too.

Award given to Kitchen Queen of realhomecookedfood.blogspot.com

4. Innovative dish award goes to Nandini from  http://www.nandinisfood.com for  her dish of Chicken lollipop that she has made and presented so well. Please collect this award and the participation award too.

Award givent to Nandini from www.nandinisfood.com

5. The  best presentation  award goes to Chandrani of cusine delights  http://cuisinedelights.blogspot.in for the  dish Tangri kebabs she made using the micro wave. Please collect your award for the creative dish and another award for participation.

Award given to Chandrani of cusinedelights.blogspot.in

Thanks,
Viya S

A little bit of Italy in my Cuisine.

The other day we wanted to try out something different for Diner. In my family we love Italian cuisine. And for the very first time I decided to try to make Chicken Marsala, as we all love that dish. The dish is prepared by using boneless chicken breast and cooking them in the Marsala wine , which originates from a coastal town in Italy,by the name Marsala. It is an elegant dish and initially I was definitely hesitant a bit as I have never tried cooking with wine. But now I'm glad I tried it out, and it came out just nice, my family loved the taste , so it's worth the try and do share your experience cooking it too:) Happy cooking!!!

Chicken Marsala

Ingredients:
4-5   boneless chicken breasts
1/2 cup flour for coating
1/2 cup  sliced mushrooms
2 tbsp butter
1/2 cup Marsala wine
1 cup chicken stock
2  tbsp olive oil
2 tsp salt
1 tsp onion powder, 1tsp cayenne pepper,1 tsp garlic powder,1 tsp dried oregano,1 tsp dried thyme.
2 tsp freshly ground black pepper.


1. In a shallow dish combine flour,salt, black pepper,garlic powder,onion powder, cayenne pepper, dried  oregano,dried thyme.
2. Using a meat tenderizer pound (flatten) the  chicken breast to 1/4 inch thin and coat with the seasoned  flour mixture , shaking off any excess.
3.Heat a skillet,add olive oil ,  butter and cook the chicken breasts to a golden brown color on both side for 3 to 4 minutes.Remove and keep on a plate. In the same skillet cook the mushrooms till they sweat and water evaporates,add the Marsala wine,making sure the flame is on low heat. Bring to a boil,scrapping the browned tidbits from the pan,add in stock,allow the sauce to thicken and transfer the chicken breast back  to the pan and cook for another 5 to 10 minutes.
 To give the dish a creamier taste, you could add in 1/4 cup milk or heavy cream in the end.
You could also add boiled vegetables,garlic toast or a salad as they all go great with this dish.