Chicken Patties (a savory strudel alike)

Posted by - Dixya @ Food, Pleasure, and Health



I can't believe Christmas went by so quickly and New Years is only a couple days away- WHAAAT.. I am still in denial and don't want to stop eating more cookies in the name of holidays! 

But at the same time I am excited to welcome 2013, a new year, new beginnings. Hope it will be another year full of happiness, success and good health. Lots of wishes from me to you and your family ♥

On any other day I probably would not have promoted this recipe - buttery, flaky chicken patties but c'mon its New Years - it deserves special attention; it comes just once a year - 365 days. 52 weeks. All I am trying to say warn you is - don't get too hooked because this buttery, flaky pastry sheets stuffed with flavorful chicken pieces are pretty hard to stop after your first bite. Even though every bite is so worth the calories, I usually save it for the special moments like these, a New Years gift from me to you!

...I love how these chicken patties take me back to middle school; times where I securely held on to my mother's hand and walked swiftly towards a small bakery after school that displayed colorful pastries, old-fashioned glazed doughnuts, different cookies, and patties. I occasionally craved for cream rolls but chicken patties & I were BFFs.

Still today, when I take a bite of this, I go back to a time where life's biggest concerns were chicken patties, more play time, and less homework!  So simple, so naive... 

Its like eating soft, buttery sheets with a spicy chicken surprise waiting inside but feel free to add other fillings of your choice: potatoes, mix veggies, paneer or whatever tickles your fancy! 

All you need are puff pastry shells, filling of your choice, and ten minutes of patience! I eyeballed all the ingredients, so please adjust it to your liking all you want.

Chicken Patties

Ingredients

*puff pastry shells, thawed

boneless chicken tenderloins (may use chicken breast too)

milk

chicken tandoori masala

Miracle whip

hot sauce

salt & pepper

*note- i used puff pastry sheets but i highly recommend using shells.

Directions

- In a sauce pan, boil milk and add chicken with tandoori masala until chicken is cooked.

-Shred the chicken and place it in a bowl

-Mix in with more tandoori masala, hot sauce, miracle whip, salt and adjust the taste as needed

The main goal is to make sure the chicken is not too dry and adding Miracle whip/mayonnaise helped keep it moist.

-In a preheated oven @ 400F, place pastry shells/sheets for 10 minutes or so until it turns slightly yellow/brown and top pops up

-Place the fillings and put it back in the oven for additional few minutes until its evenly golden

Serve it hot and this recipe stores well in the freezer. Simply reheat it in a toaster oven and enjoy :)

See you all next year!

Apple Strudel from Rhonda's Saucy Adventures

Posted by - Rhonda

Apple filling adapted from Paula Dean, Pastry Puff Directions from puffpastry.com

I have always been afraid to make strudel, so I am glad this months challenge got me out of my comfort  zone.  I LOVE this recipe and will definitely make it again.

Apple Strudel:
1 egg
1 tbsp  water
1/4 cup golden raisins
17.3-ounce package Pepperidge Farm® Puff Pastry Sheets (1 sheet), thawed
1 Fuji apple
2 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, halved, and thinly sliced
1/2 lemon, juiced
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, plus more for sprinkling
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1 Tablespoon flour
1/2 cup vanilla wafers
 1/4 cup chopped pecans
  Glaze:
2 cups confectioners' sugar
3 1/2 tablespoons milk
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Combine the raisins, apples, flour, lemon juice, lemon zest, cinnamon, brown sugar, cookie crumbs, and pecans, in a 3 qt pan. Cook on low for 15 minutes, stir occasionally. 1.Remove pastry puff from the box, unfold the pastry sheet on the work surface. Roll the pastry sheet into a 16 x 12-inch rectangle. With the short side facing you, spoon the apple mixture onto the bottom half of the pastry sheet to within 1 inch of the edge. Roll up like a jelly roll. Place seam-side down onto a baking sheet. Tuck the ends under to seal. Brush the pastry with the egg mixture. Cut several slits in the top of the pastry. 2.Bake for 35 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown. Let the pastry cool on the baking sheet on a wire rack for 20 minutes. Sprinkle with the confectioners' sugar, if desired. 3.Drizzle Caramel Ice cream sauce if desired. For the Glaze: Mix ingredients thoroughly. *Cook's Note: If too thick add a little bit of milk. If too thin add a little bit of confectioners' sugar.

December Challenge: Strudel

Posted by - Rena

Happy December! Hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season so far.

This month's challenge is to make strudel. You can make whatever kind you like. Strudel is typically a layered pastry with a sweet filling inside but you can go the savory route if you prefer. Since everyone is busy with the holidays, strudel seems perfect. The possibilities are endless for fillings so go crazy!

I wish you all a wonderful holiday and I'll see you next year! 

photo from MarthaStewart.com