1/30-2/5/10

This week, I started planning our meals by asking the rest of the family what they would like.  Nathan wanted something with sauerkraut, Tynan wanted potato soup, Aidan wanted something with pasta, Louis wanted pork chops, and Brendan (Nathan's friend who is here several days a week and eats our leftovers) wanted fried chicken.

For Family Sunday Dinner, I decided to make oven fried chicken using one of my mom's recipes.  Brendan is usually here on Sundays and it was was his request.  Since I'm tyring to make a dessert each Sunday, I found a recipe for Harvest Loaf cake that looked easy and good, as well as quite freezable should they not eat it all.

This recipe for Corn Crisped Chicken sounds easy and workable.  As with so many of my mom's recipes, there's really nothing special or unique about this recipe.  In fact, I'm not sure she ever made it for us.  The recipe card is quite unmarked or worn.  Then again, I know I've had similar dishes that my mom made.  Whether they were this particular recipe or not, who knows.

Corn Crisped Chicken

1)  1 tender young broiler-fryer chicken, cut into serving pieces (I used boneless chicken breast, which I marinated in some leftover buttermilk I had).
2)  Dip pieces in 1/2 c. Pet evaporated milk.
3)  Roll in mixture of:
          1 c. Kellogg's corn flake crumbs
          1 1/2 tsp. salt; 1/4 tsp pepper (because I don't follow directions well, I used seasoned salt, pepper, and garlic powder)
4)  Place chicken in shallow baking pan lined with Reynolds wrap
5)  Bake in 350F oven 1 hour or until tender.

Again, there's nothing special about this recipe.  I made a HUGE batch of it and I'm hoping what I froze holds up well. It was well accepted by the family.

To go with the oven-fried chicken, I made Harvest Loaf Cake.  I'm warning you in advance that I didn't read the recipe card carefully and didn't notice that there is a glaze recipe on the back.  I was unprepared to make it,not having any cream on hand.  I wasn't sure what would substitute well (I'm a competent cook, but not skilled at the chemistry of foodstuffs, if you know what I mean).  I didn't want to make a glaze that would ruin two cakes when drizzled on.  I figured I'd dust the cakes with powdered sugar instead.  Who doesn't love things dusted with powdered sugar anyway?

Harvest Loaf Cake

1 3/4 c. flour (I used white whole wheat)
1 t. soda
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 t, salt
1/2 t. nutmeg
1/4 t. ginger
1/2 t. ground cloves
1/2 c. butter (I used coconut oil)
1 c. sugar
2 eggs
3/4 c. canned pumpkin
3/4 c. choc. chips
3/4 c. chopped walnuts

Grease 9x5 loaf pan.  Combine flour with soda, salt and spices.  Cream butter.  Gradually add sugar.  Blend in eggs, beat well.  At low speed add dry ingredients alternately with pumpkin, beginning and ending with dry.  Stir in chips and 1/4 c. nuts.  Turn into pan, sprinkle with rest of nuts.  Bake 350 for 65-75 minutes.  Cool, drizzle with glaze.  Let stand 6 hours before slicing (I have no idea why one might do so, and I didn't.)

Spice Glaze--combine 1/2 c. sifted confectioners sugar, 1/8 t. nutmeg and cinnamon.  Blend in 1-2T. cream until consistency of a glaze.

There is a handwritten note that says:  "Peg, I usally use 2 smaller pans because does make a Big Loaf.  Kay.

This wasn't a huge hit, but no one turned their noses up at it.  It's rather dark and was rather dry.  Kind of bland.  I don't know if using coconut oil instead of butter made a big difference or not.  I've been told it substitutes well.  It was just kind of bland.  I'll make it again, though.

The big surprise this week, though, was the Kielbasa and Gnocchi.  I've never enjoyed sauerkraut.  My husband swears he hates it.  My mother loved it.  My father not so much.  Nathan loves it and suggested it.  So, I dug out a recipe that looked like there'd be something for everyone in it.  Aidan, Louis, and Tynan all like Kielbasa.  Those three also like dumplings.

Kielbasa and Gnocchi

Onions---2 large
Gnocchi---1 pkg
Sauerkraut---1 pkg
Kielbasa--1 1/2 lb
cr. mushroom soup (you didn't think you'd escape that, did you?)

Saute onions in oleo and then add 1 tsp. paprika.  Boil kielbasa (in cold water to start) for about 20 min. (cut in pieces first).  Boil Gnocchi according to directions.

Layer meat, kraut, gnocchi, cr. mushroom soup, and onions.  Add milk if need more liquid.  Bake or in crock pot until ready to eat.  1 hr?

I won't kid you; I was trepidatious.  Nathan and Brendan loved, loved, loved it.  I enjoyed it quite a bit.  Aidan ate it, and most surprising, Louis ate a bowlful.  Tynan wouldn't have anything to do with it.  I doubt Aidan or Louis will ask for it again.

This wasn't a hugely successful week.  Nothing great.  Nothing fancy.  Nothing I remember from my childhood, but recipes out of the recipe box, nonetheless.  They must have seemed good enough to make it into the box to start with.