function junction, Author at Function Junction

Chocolate Hazelnut Brownies

Print Chocolate Hazelnut Blondies Course Dessert Cuisine American Servings 9 Calories 352 kcal Ingredients 1 stick butter unsalted 1/2 cup dark brown sugar packed 1/2 cup light brown packed 1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract 1 large egg + 1 large yolk room temp 1 cup + 2 tbs all-purpose flour 3/4 tsp kosher salt 1/4 tsp baking powder 1/2 cup toasted hazelnuts roughly chopped 3.5 oz dark chocolate bar roughly chopped flakey sea salt optional garnish Instructions Heat oven to 350°F Lightly grease an 8x8” square baking pan and line with two strips of opposing, overlapping pieces of parchment paper. Be sure to leave a little overhang as this helps during the removal process. Begin by browning the butter Put the stick of butter in a skillet set over medium heat. As the butter begins to melt, swirl the pan around to help the butter cook evenly. Allow the butter to cook until it begins to smell nutty, and takes on a [...]

Balsamic Dressing

Print Balsamic Dressing Course Sauces Cuisine American Servings 8 Calories 161 kcal Ingredients 4 oz Balsamic vinegar 1 tsp kosher salt 1 tbsp pepper 1 tbsp Thyme 2 tbsp Dijon mustard 2 tbsp garlic minced 2 tbsp pesto 4 oz olive oil Instructions In a dressing bottle or bowl, combine vinegar, salt, pepper, thyme, dijon, garlic, and pesto. Shake or whisk to combine. Once salt has dissolved, add the olive oil and again shake or whisk to combine.

Spring Has Sprung

As spring gives way to summer temperatures and the sun decides to stick around for more than just a moment, my thoughts turn to being outside, nurturing my garden and eavesdropping on the gossip of neighborhood birds. I love the long hours of daylight and try to get as much done in my yard and garden as possible, which doesn’t leave much time for food preparation. One of my favorite go-to meals is a chicken salad. I can make up a big batch and eat on it for almost a week. It is quick, easy, and healthier than a drive-thru hamburger (a weakness, I must admit). Just the other day I wanted to make up [...]

Apricot Pecan Chicken Salad

Print Apricot Pecan Chicken Salad Course Salad Cuisine American Prep Time 30 minutes Servings 8 Calories 180 kcal Ingredients Ingredients: 1 chicken breast tenderized ½ tsp salt ½ tsp ground pepper coarse Aromatics to go in the bag: 1 orange juiced 1/2 lemon zest 1 tbsp fresh parsley chopped coarse 2 sprigs fresh tarragon Salad: ½ cup water 6 apricots dried, cut in quarters ½ cup sweet onion 1 stalk celery cut lengthwise then diced small ½ cup mayonnaise adjust to preference orange zest Fresh Tarragon to taste coarsely chopped (I use three sprigs) Salt to taste about ½ teaspoon ¼ cup pecans toasted then chopped for garnish 12 red seedless grapes cut in quarters (optional) Instructions Bring water to boil in a 2qt saucepan. Dry chicken breast with paper towels and tenderize using a blade tenderizer. Rub chicken with salt and pepper. Place in Stasher Bag with orange juice, lemon zest, chopped parsley, and tarragon. Seal tightly and place in boiling water. Boil for 20 minutes or until cooked through. [...]

Fiesta Taco Seasoning

Print Fiesta Taco Seasoning Cuisine Mexican Prep Time 15 minutes Calories 107 kcal Ingredients 2 tbsp chili powder 1 tbsp cumin 1 tsp paprika 1 tsp salt 1 tsp garlic powder 1/2 tsp onion powder 1/2 tsp black pepper fine 1 tsp oregano ground fine 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp black pepper 1/2 tsp turmeric Instructions Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Transfer to a spice jar and seal tightly. Use seasoning for beef, chicken or pork. Recipe Notes Recipe by Mary C. Merola Function Junction Culinary April 2015

Chicken Tacos with Cabbage Slaw

Print Shredded Chicken Tacos with Cabbage Slaw Course Main Course Cuisine Mexican Prep Time 20 minutes Cook Time 15 minutes Total Time 35 minutes Servings 12 tacos Calories 135 kcal Ingredients For the slaw 1/2 cup red onion very thinly sliced 2 cups red cabbage thinly sliced 1/4 cup cilantro leaves coarse chopped 1 fresh lime rolled and juiced* 1 tbsp olive oil 1/2 tsp kosher salt For the chicken 1 lb chicken breast boneless skinless (about 2 half breasts) 1 tbsp Fiesta Taco Seasoning See recipe 2 cups water 1/2 lime rolled and juiced* ½ tsp sugar 1/2 cup cilantro stems handful 1 tbsp olive oil 1 onion medium, sliced 2 cloves garlic smashed 12 corn tortillas hard or soft as you prefer Mary’s Guacamole See recipe Fresh cilantro leaves Instructions Combine cabbage, lime juice, olive oil, and salt in a large bowl. Toss and let stand for 10 minutes. Add onion and cilantro, then gently mix prior to serving. Dry chicken with paper towels, removing all moisture. Sprinkle Fiesta Taco Seasoning over chicken breasts and rub in. Add water, [...]

Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo, or the 5th of May, marks the day the Battle of Puebla was won in Mexico back in 1862, when Mexico was fighting France’s attempt to conquer as a means of recovering a debt. Today in the USA, people celebrate the Mexican culture and revel in the music, foods and festivities associated with our neighbors to the south. In my youth, I paid homage to tequila with salt and lime, but as the years stack up the high octane has been replaced with high nutrition…like avocados, for example. Avocados are considered to be a “super food” due to the healthful benefits when added to your meal planning. I love almost every way [...]

Hold the Straw, Please!

One of my favorite things I used to do was to hit a drive through or convenience store for a fountain pop. The satisfaction of sipping an ice-cold beverage through a straw while tooling about my day was a regular treat. But what happens to all those straws once I’ve gotten my refreshing fix? My beverage may have lasted a couple of hours, but that disposable straw will last forever. I know, it sounds melodramatic, but really, just because I toss it in the trash and it’s out of my sight, doesn’t mean it is really gone. I am only one person, but the number of straws I’ve discarded over my lifetime is staggering. Don’t get me [...]

Raspberry-Chocolate Chip Muffins

Print Raspberry-Chocolate Chip Muffins These tender, moist muffins, packed with chocolate chips, feature a bright red heart: fresh raspberries in the center. Course Dessert Cuisine American Prep Time 20 minutes Cook Time 25 minutes Total Time 45 minutes Servings 12 muffins Calories 369 kcal Ingredients Topping 1/2 cup flour King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose 1/4 cup sugar 1/4 tsp cinnamon salt pinch 3 tbsp butter melted 1/4 tsp vanilla extract Batter 1/2 cup butter melted 3/4 cup milk preferably at room temperature 2 eggs large, preferably at room temperature 1 3/4 cups flour King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose 3/4 cup sugar 1 tbsp baking powder 1/2 tsp salt 1 1/3 cups chocolate chips 24 to 36 raspberries fresh or frozen whole Instructions Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly grease (or line with cupcake papers) a 12-cup square or standard muffin pan, or lightly grease a silicone muffin pan. To make the topping: Mix the ingredients together until the mixture is very moist and crumbly. Set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together the melted [...]

Royal Chicken Kabobs

Print Royal Chicken Kabobs Course Main Course Cuisine American Servings 8 Calories 221 kcal Ingredients Marinade 1 cup pineapple juice 3 tbsp brown sugar packed 2 tbsp canola or sesame oil not toasted ¼ cup soy sauce use sweet dark if available ¼ cup Ketchup 4 cloves garlic smashed and minced 2 pieces ginger peeled and grated ¼ tsp salt ¼ tsp white pepper fine ground Meat & Veggies 3 chicken breasts boneless skinless half-breasts, dried, trimmed and pierced* cut into 1 ½ inch cubes 2 green bell peppers cut into 1 ½ inch pieces 3 red bell peppers cut into 1 ½ inch pieces 1 large red onion cut into 1 ½ inch pieces (only use large pieces) 2 cups fresh pineapple cut into 1 ½ inch pieces Instructions Mix the first 9 ingredients together and whisk to create the marinade. Set aside. Dry the chicken with paper towels and trim any fat or connective tissue. *Using a blade tenderizer or sharp fork, pierce the breasts both front and [...]

Author - function junction

Chocolate Hazelnut Brownies

Balsamic Dressing

Spring Has Sprung

Apricot Pecan Chicken Salad

Fiesta Taco Seasoning

Chicken Tacos with Cabbage Slaw

Cinco de Mayo

Hold the Straw, Please!

Raspberry-Chocolate Chip Muffins

Royal Chicken Kabobs

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