DoughSeeDough

a balanced plate with room for dessert

Category Archives: Main Entrees


by Leave a comment

Lemon-Thyme Roasted Chicken and Veggies

This chicken is Mike-approved. He inhaled his entire piece before I got through a quarter of mine. I was surprised at how juicy the chicken turned out. When roasting, I usually try to use bone-in, skin-on chicken to keep the chicken from drying out. But the magical lemon-thyme sauce kept this boneless, skinless chicken breast tender and juicy and not at all dry.

Lemon Thyme Roasted Chicken | doughseedough.net

And the vegetables? They were my favorite part of the meal!

Lemon Thyme Roasted Chicken & Veggies | doughseedough.net

Lemon-Thyme Roasted Chicken and Veggies

for the chicken:
2 boneless, skinless chicken breast
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon thyme, minced
1 lemon, thinly sliced
1/2 lemon, juiced (save other half for veggies)

for the vegetables:
4 medium russet potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1/2 pound green beans
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 lemon, juiced
Olive oil spray

Preheat oven to 450F.

In a shallow dish, combine olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, thyme, and lemon juice. Add chicken, turning to coat.

Lightly spray an oven-safe pan or cast iron skillet with olive oil and arrange lemon slices on the bottom of the pan. Place chicken on top of the lemon slices, pouring any remaining marinade on top.

Spray a separate oven-safe baking dish with olive oil. Add in potatoes, green beans, garlic and lemon juice. Toss to coat.

Bake for chicken and veggies for 30 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and vegetables are tender.


by 3 Comments

Beer Can Crockpot Chicken Sandwiches

Today’s recipe is for a Super Bowl Snacks & Appetizers recipe swap. I was assigned the blog The Barbee Housewife  and started my search for the perfect Super Bowl snack immediately. She has so many dishes that I really, really wanted to make – loaded baked potato dip, chicken bacon ranch taquitos, pizza puffs… but none of those were going to doable for me since they contained dairy. I finally decided I would make her beer can crockpot chicken sandwiches into little sliders and serve them as an appetizer for the game.

These sandwiches are so good and so, so easy. One pot, that’s it. You get a ton of food and the leftovers freeze beautifully. Make these now. If you’re feeling like you want to do a little more cooking, try your hand at making some homemade barbecue sauce!

Beer Can Crockpot Chicken Sandwiches | doughseedough.net

Beer Can Crockpot Chicken Sandwiches 

1 cup beer, any kind you like
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon paprika
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 6 large)
3 – 3 1/2 cups barbecue sauce

for serving:
buns of choice
coleslaw

  1. Pour beer into the slow cooker. Whisk i onion powder, paprika, garlic, salt and pepper. Add in chicken breasts and pour barbecue sauce on top.
  2. Cook on low for 6 – 8 hours, or until chicken is cooked through. Remove chicken from the slow cooker, shred, and return meat to the slow cooker and stir to evenly distribute the sauce.
  3. Serve on buns topped with coleslaw.

 

A big thanks to Sarah at Taste of Home Cooking for hosting! Click on the link below to check out the other delicious swap recipes!


by 3 Comments

My Favorite Barbecue Sauce

I’ve been making the same BBQ sauce for years. Sometimes I’ll add a little twist (bourbon anyone?), but the base recipe remains the same. I love this sauce and you can easily tailor it to your needs. Need a thicker sauce? Cook it for a little longer. Want some more heat? Add in a dash of cayenne. This sauce is good on pretty  much everything – pulled pork, chicken, burgers… I’ve even dipped some soft pretzels into it.

So, next time you need some barbecue sauce, try whipping up your own!

Homemade Barbecue Sauce | doughseedough.net

My Favorite Barbecue Sauce
makes about 1 quart

3 cups ketchup
1 1/2 cups water
3/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/2 cup honey
1 tablepoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon ground mustard
1 1/2 tabespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 1/2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

  1. Whisk all ingredients together in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring mixture to a boil, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 40 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until desired consistency is reached.


by Leave a comment

Thai Tofu and Pineapple Curry

There’s a wonderful restaurant in Madison that serves some seriously awesome curry. I’ve been going to Lao Laan-Xang for years and I always get the same thing – squash curry with tofu. The last time I went, I finally got adventurous and got some pineapple curry. It was just as good as the squash curry, and now I’ve got my eye on another dish I want to try – mango curry.

I decided to try making a version of the pineapple curry at home. I absolutely loved it, but my store-bought curry paste is really no competition to LLX’s. Maybe some day I’ll try my hand at making my own curry paste. Maybe.

I’ll stick a little warning in here because I think I nearly killed Mike with the spice level of this dish. The dried red chiles I used in this dish were from our garden and they are hot. I thought that 2 chiles were the perfect amount of spice, but it was a little much for Mike. I know that all chile peppers are different, but if you’re not a fan of heat, use just one chile or none at all.

Thai Tofu and Pineapple Curry | doughseedough.net

Thai Tofu and Pineapple Curry

1 teaspoon canola oil
1 tablespoon minced ginger
3 garlic cloves, minced
4 green onions, thinly sliced, divided
2 dried red chiles, minced (optional)
5 mini bell peppers, sliced
12 ounces extra firm tofu, cubed
2 Roma tomatoes, diced
1 cup pineapple chunks
2 1/2 tablespoons red curry paste
1/2 tablespoon creamy natural peanut butter
1 cup light coconut milk
1/2 lime, juiced

cooked brown rice, for serving
lime wedges, for serving

  1. Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add ginger, garlic, green onions, and chiles and cook , stirring frequently, for about 1 minute or until fragrant. Add bell peppers and tofu and cook for an additional minute.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together curry paste, peanut butter, and coconut milk. Add sauce, tomatoes and pineapple into pot and stir to combine. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer for 10 minutes or until bell peppers are tender. Stir in lime juice.
  3. Serve immediately with brown rice and lime wedges.


by 1 Comment

Baked Fish and Chips

baked fish and chips {dairy free} | doughseedough.net

I don’t know about you, but I love fried food. My dairy-free lifestyle has significantly decreased my fried food consumption, but I still get crazy cravings for it. This baked version of fish and chips (or for my fellow Wisconsinites, a good ol’ fish fry) is delicious and completely satisfied my craving for greasy, fried fish and potatoes.

The best thing was that I didn’t have that heavy, gross feeling I usually get after indulging in fish and chips. Another bonus: I could inspect all the ingredients to make sure they were 100% dairy-free. I mean, it’s not that I don’t trust restaurants, but… OK, I don’t really trust (most) restaurants 😉

baked fish and chips {dairy free} | doughseedough.net

Baked Fish and Chips

for the chips:
1 1/4 pounds russet potatoes (about 3 – 4 medium)
olive oil spray
salt and freshly ground black pepper

for the fish:
olive oil spray
2 1/2 cups crispy rice cereal
salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 egg whites
1 1/2 pounds skinless, boneless perch cut into 2×4-inch pieces

optional:
tartar sauce
malt vinegar
lemon wedges

  1. Arrange oven racks in upper and lower third of oven and preheat to 450°F.
  2. To prepare the chips: Slice potatoes into 1/4-inch thick sticks. Spread potatoes out on in a single layer on a lightly greased baking sheet and spray with olive oil. Place on top rack and bake, flipping fries once or twice, until fries are browned and crisp, about 30 minutes. Remove fries from oven and season with salt and pepper, to taste.
  3. While fries are baking, prepare the fish: Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.  Whisk egg whites and a pinch of salt in a shallow bowl until frothy; set aside. Place cereal in a shallow bowl and crush with fingers. Season cereal with salt and pepper, to taste.
  4. Dip fish pieces into egg whites, then roll in cereal to coat. Place fish on prepared baking sheet, thin side down and mist with olive oil spray.
  5. Place fish onto lower rack and bake until crisp and cooked through, about 12 – 15 minutes. Season fish with salt and pepper, to taste.
  6. Serve fish and chips immediately with tartar sauce, malt vinegar, and lemon wedges.

recipe from Food Network


by Leave a comment

Healthy Orange Sesame Chicken

This dinner might be my new go-to meal when I’m short on time and too tired to think. It was ready in about 40 minutes – and that’s only because brown rice takes forever to cook! If I were to make pasta or prepare the rice ahead of time this would be easily be a 30 minute fridge-to-table meal.
Though this dish has bell peppers as the main veggie, I bet it would be tasty with just about anything you might have on hand. I think next time I’ll try it with some broccoli. If you’re looking for a Chinese takeout version of orange chicken or sesame chicken, look elsewhere. This dish isn’t all that comparable to the sticky, overly sweet, deep fried abomination you find at the restaurant. It’s a light, easy meal that’s packed with good-for-you lean proteins and veggies.
Healthy Orange Sesame Chicken | doughseedough.net

Orange Sesame Chicken

2 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted
2 large oranges, juiced (2/3 cup juice)
3 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon corn starch

1-3 dried red chile peppers, minced
3 large bell peppers

1 large red onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 chicken breasts, sliced into 1/4-inch pieces
2 green onions, thinly sliced

cooked brown rice or whole wheat pasta for serving
  1. Prepare rice or pasta according to package directions. While rice/pasta is cooking, prepare the rest of the meal.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together orange juice, soy sauce, and corn starch. Set aside.
  3. Heat oil over medium-high heat in a large saute pan or wok. Add in chile peppers and bell peppers and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly. Add in onion and garlic and cook for another 30 seconds, stirring constantly.
  4. Add in chicken and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until chicken is cooked through. Pour in orange juice mixture and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and let cook until sauce is thickened.
  5. Serve over prepared rice or pasta. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and green onions before serving.
adapted from Clean Eating Magazine


by Leave a comment

Cheesy Spinach and Chicken Stuffed Shells

Today’s recipe is a dish that I can only dream of eating… Making cheesy freezer meals for Mike is kind of torturous. Mike swears these shells taste awesome. I can assure you that they smell awesome, but I couldn’t try them.

Cheesy Spinach and Chicken Stuffed Shells | doughseedough.net

Cheesy Spinach & Chicken Stuffed Shells

1 – 12 ounce box jumbo shells
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast., diced
1 large onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1-10 ounce box frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dried
8 ounce reduced fat cream cheese
1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
1 1/2 cups shredded Parmesan cheese
2 cups marinara sauce, homemade or store-bought

  1. Cook pasta according to package directions, being careful not to over cook. When pasta is al dente, drain and set aside.
  2. Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large pan over medium high heat. Add chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, stirring occasionally. Once cooked, remove chicken to a separate plate.
  3. Add more oil to pan, if necessary, and add in onions and garlic. Cook, stirring frequently, until onions are translucent. Stir in spinach, cream cheese and almond milk until cream cheese is melted and mixture is creamy. Stir in cooked chicken. Sprinkle in half the Parmesan cheese and stir until evenly distributed.
  4. Spray two 9×13 baking dishes with olive oil. Spread 1/4 cup of sauce into the bottom of each pan. Spoon filling into cooked shells and arrange in baking dishes. When all shells are filled, drizzle remaining sauce onto the top of the shells and sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese.
  5. To serve immediately, preheat oven to 350 and bake for 20-25 minutes. Filling should be hot and bubbly and Parmesan cheese should be melted and lightly browned.
  6. If freezing, prepare as directed using freezer and oven-safe containers. Defrost dish in the refrigerator. Preheat oven to 350 and bake for 35-40 minutes or until filling is hot and bubbly and cheese is melted.


by Leave a comment

Mushroom Barley and Wild Rice Risotto

Mushroom Barley & Wild Rice Risotto | doughseedough.net

This dish is definitely a labor of love. Much like a traditional risotto, you need to spend time at the stove, stirring, adding liquid, stirring… But the results are so worth it –  it’s rich and filling and well, my perfect comfort food. The bonus is that this seriously makes a huge pot of food – enough for lunch leftovers. There are days where I start to despise the leftovers I bring for lunch, but I ate this risotto for a week straight and never got sick of it.

I can’t wait to make it again – maybe this time with another type of mushroom!

Mushroom Barley & Wild Rice Risotto | doughseedough.net

Mushroom Barley and Wild Rice Risotto

6 cups low-sodium beef broth
3 cups water
8 slices bacon, chopped
1/2 onion, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh thyme, minced
6 garlic cloves, minced
1 pound cremini mushrooms, sliced
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups uncooked pearl barley
1/2 cup wild rice
1/3 cup dry red wine
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, re-hydrated and chopped
2 teaspoons low-sodium soy sauce
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 – 10 ounce package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry

  1. Bring stock and water to a simmer in a large saucepan. Cover and keep warm over low heat – do not boil.
  2. Meanwhile, heat a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add bacon and cook until crisp. Remove bacon to a plate and set aside; reserve 2 teaspoons of bacon drippings in pan and discard the rest.
  3. Return the Dutch oven to medium-high heat and add in onion, thyme and garlic. Saute for 3 minutes or until onions are tender. Add in mushrooms and salt and cook for 10 minutes or until browned, stirring occasionally. Stir in tomatoes, soy sauce, pepper, spinach, and cooked bacon. Cook until heated through. Serve immediately.
  4. Stir in barley and wild rice. Cook, stirring frequently, for 1 minute. Add in wine and cook until liquid is absorbed, about 2 – 3  minutes. Reduce heat to medium. Stir in 2 cups of the broth mixture and cook until liquid is absorbed, stirring frequently. Continue with the remaining broth mixture: add in 1 cup at a time, stirring frequently. Make sure liquid is absorbed before adding the next cup.

recipe adapted from Prevention RD


by 1 Comment

Thai Fried Quinoa

I spent all weekend up in Appleton cooking and baking what felt like a million dishes. In reality, I only made a batch of cookies, five entrees and a couple of sides. I dutifully took pictures of most of these dishes and on Sunday afternoon, I set off to Madison for the work week. I arrived in Madison, unpacked, watched the Packer game (sob) and then sat down at my computer to blog. I reached into my camera bag and… no cord. So, no way to upload all the pictures. Bummer.

Instead, I’m giving you a dish that I made a while ago and never got around to blogging – Thai fried quinoa. It’s a tasty twist on fried rice and it’s just as easy to throw together. Give it a try – you won’t be disappointed!

Thai Fried Quinoa | doughseedough.net

Thai Fried Quinoa

1 cup quinoa, rinsed and drained
1 cup light coconut milk
1 cup low sodium vegetable broth
extra virgin olive oil spray
2 green onions, chopped
1 tablespoon minced ginger
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup frozen peas
1 cup drained pineapple tidbits
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
2 eggs, gently whisked
2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
half a lime, juiced
optional toppings: chopped peanuts, lime wedges, cilantro

  1. Place quinoa in a medium pot over high heat. Stir in coconut milk and chicken broth and bring mixture to a boil. Cover the pot and reduce heat to medium-low. Cook until all the liquid has been absorbed and quinoa is tender, about 15 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, heat a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Spray with olive oil and add in green onions, ginger, and garlic. Cook, stirring constantly for one minute. Add in peas, pineapple, and cilantro and cook for one more minute, stirring constantly.
  3. Push ingredients to the side of the wok to clear a space in the middle of the wok. Add in eggs and stir with a spatula until eggs are scrambled. Once eggs are cooked through, combine it with the rest of the ingredients in the wok.
  4. Add in cooked quinoa, soy sauce, and lime juice and stir to combine. Cook, stirring occasionally, for another two minutes to slightly crisp quinoa up. Serve garnished with chopped peanuts, lime wedges, and cilantro, if desired.

recipe slightly adapted from Iowa Girl Eats


by Leave a comment

Lightened Up Lasagna Soup

Soup is great for cold, snowy days. Soup is also good for men who have had their wisdom teeth out. Mike lived off of chocolate ice cream, chocolate pudding, and chocolate protein shakes for a day. Chocolate is good and all, but I’m pretty sure there is a limit to how much chocolate a person can consume. I decided to make some lasagna soup for Mike to try. I knew I could cook the veggies and noodles long enough to make them extra soft and manageable for my wisdom tooth-less husband. For me? I kept my noodles al dente. But I’m not dealing with major jaw pain and all.

LIghtened Up Lasagna Soup {dairy free} | doughseedough.net

Since this soup doesn’t have cheese it’s really not much like lasagna at all. But hey, it was tasty and I didn’t really miss the cheese. But the lack of cheese and the use of a lower-fat turkey sausage versus a pork sausage means fewer fat and calories. Tasty, healthy, and a perfect comfort food.

Lightened Up Lasagna Soup
serves 8

1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
1.25 pounds Italian turkey sausage, casings removed
3 medium onions, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
6 cups low sodium chicken broth
15 ounce can tomato sauce
28 ounce can diced tomatoes
2 bay leaves
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
8 ounces lasagna noodles, broken into 2-inch pieces
1 green bell pepper, diced

  1. Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add turkey break it into bite-sized pieces. Cook until browned and cooked through, 4 – 6 minutes. Drain excess fat from pan.
  2. Add onions and garlic and cook until onions are translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in broth, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, bay leaves, red pepper flakes, oregano, basil, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to a simmer. Let simmer for 15 minutes. Add in broken lasagna noodles and bell pepper and cook until pasta is al dente.
  3. Remove bay leaves before serving.

slightly adapted from the Deen Bros