Cast Iron Chicken

Cast Iron Chicken

2 tsp. paprika

2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. pepper

½ tsp. onion powder

½ tsp. garlic salt

2-3 lbs. chicken pieces (legs, leg quarters, whole chicken cut up)

2 tbsp. butter

6 sprigs fresh thyme

KEY WORDS: CAST IRON

Preheat cast iron skillet in 450º oven.  While cast iron skillet is preheating, combine spices.  Cut up chicken (if necessary) and pat dry with paper towels.  Sprinkle spices all over chicken.  Coat well.  Use all spices.  When oven reached temperature, remove skillet – be careful, it’s HOT.  Add the butter to the cast iron and let it melt.  Place the thyme sprigs on one side.  Add the chicken, skin side down.  Place skillet in oven and bake 15 minutes.  Remove from oven (careful…still wicked hot) and flip the chicken over.  Return to oven and bake another 15 minutes.   Internal temperature for leg/thighs should read at least 175º.  Remove from oven and let stand 10 minutes.  Transfer chicken to platter, discard thyme.  Stir juices and spoon over chicken.  

**I stole this recipe from Cooks Country (www.cookscountry.com).  I love it.  I will never cook chicken another way!

© Crackerberries 2019

Irish Oatmeal Cookies

Irish Oatmeal Cookies

12 tbsp. unsalted butter

¾ cup natural creamy peanut butter

¾ cup firmly packed brown sugar

½ cup granulated sugar

2 eggs

¾ tsp. baking soda

½ tsp. salt

1 cup all-purpose flour

1½ cups Irish steel cut oatmeal

1 cup raisins

¾ cup coconut

Preheat oven 350º

Cream together butter and peanut butter, then add sugar and mix until light and fluffy.  Beat in eggs until smooth.  Combine oats, flour, baking soda, and salt and then add to creamed mixture.  Beat until thoroughly blended. Fold in raisins and coconut. Drop by rounded spoonful two inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake at 350º for 12 minutes.  Let cool on cookie sheet one minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

Yield 5 dozen cookies.         

© Crackerberries 2019

Crackers 3-Bean Stew

2/3 cups each: Soldier Beans, Yellow Eye Beans, Jacob’s Cattle Beans

2 large cloves garlic

¼ tsp. cayenne pepper

1 tsp. chili powder

½ tbsp.

Italian seasoning

2-3 slices cooked bacon (optional)

1 carrot

1 onion

1½ - 2 cups chopped cooked smoked shoulder

1¼ cup almond milk

Salt and pepper to taste

Place dry beans in crock pot and cover with water … let soak 2 hours.

Drain, rinse and cover with water to about 1-1½ inch above beans. 

Add garlic and other spices.

Cover, cook on high 5 hours.

Turn off and let cool 1-2 hours.

Sauté carrot and onion for 5-10 minutes.

Add remaining ingredients to beans, turn crock pot on low and reheat 1-2 hours.

Serve with dollop of sour cream and crackers and hot sauce if you wish.

© Crackerberries 2019

Barbie's Favorite Chili

BEANS:

2 cups dry beans (red kidney are favorite but I think this time I used soldier)

½ cup sugar

½ ketchup

¼ cup molasses

2 tsp. dry mustard

½ cup chopped onion

¼ lb. salt pork

Salt and pepper.

Soak beans overnight, drain, rinse, and put in crock pot with just enough water to cover.  Add ingredients and cook on high for 3 hours, turn down to low and cook 5-6 more hours.

CHILI

1¼ lb. ground beef

1 pkg. hot sausage links, removed from casing

1 lg. can diced tomatoes (I used roasted red pepper)

1 cup tomato sauce

1 lg. green pepper, diced (didn’t have green pepper so used 5 jalapeno’s from garden)

1 onion, chopped

2 tbsp. minced garlic

2 tbsp. chili powder

1-2 tsp. cayenne pepper

1 tbsp. black pepper

1 tbsp. basil

1 tsp. celery salt

1 tbsp. paprika

Cook burger and sausage and drain off grease. Add onions, garlic and green pepper and cook until aromatic. Add tomatoes, tomato sauce, spices and beans. Simmer on medium heat, stir often, 1-2 hours.

Great chili bowls, taco salads, burrito’s, nachos.