cajun chicken salad
Posted: January 30, 2024 Filed under: salads, sandwiches, The Best Of The Best Recipes | Tags: black pepper, chicken, corn, garlic powder, green onions, mayonnaise, onion powder, oregano, paprika, red bell pepper, salt, thyme Leave a comment
Ragin’ Cajun Delicious
Being that I’m a little shy around seafood I haven’t had a lot of close encounters with cajun food. Hats off to étouffée, gumbo, crawfish and the like.
But that’s not really fair because the more I read about cajun dishes, the more I realize I do like many of them. Howdy, red beans and rice, dirty rice, jambalaya. See a common thread here? Starches are my DNA!
After one bite of this cajun chicken salad I was hooked so let’s add this to my “yes” list. In fact it’s more of a must-have and my newest add to the “best of the best” shortlist (category at right). This is a flavorful wildly textured salad that had me enjoying it on crackers, celery ribs, “from a fork,” and of course my very own cajun chicken salad sandwich.
This recipe appeared at San Antonio’s KMOL.com (now WOAI) way back in 2001. The recipe came to me from my Cousin Julie’s kitchen where it was tucked away in her recipe drawer until it caught my eye in 2018 and I snapped a picture to bring it to my kitchen. I’ve written about my Cousin and Fellow Foodie Julie several times here at Betty’s Cook Nook and I could literally taste why she had curated this recipe – it’s remarkably delicious and great for impressing others!
Foodie Tips
❤ Do Not Miss This Tip: Early in the preparation for this dish’s signature spice mix, Joe and I learned it makes a ton of the stuff! I joked that since this came from Central Market Foodie Kathy Gottsacker this must have been how much cajun spice they made to serve an entire CM store of chicken salad lovers each day! If you don’t have a lot of the spices – or don’t want cajun spices leftovers – you can reduce the amounts shown below easily by 75% with enough left over. In retrospect I’m glad we have the extra special spice mixture – just be prepared you won’t be using all of it making this recipe just one time.
❤ Chicken salad is about as versatile as the nacho chip. You can enjoy it with a multitude of sidekicks beyond a sandwich or celery rib including scooped atop your favorite greens or sliced cucumber rounds, inside a pita or lettuce wrap, via a crispy tostada, toasted croissant – even plussed-up with penne pasta for a 2-in-1 salad to remember. #GoTeamCarbs!
❤ One of our favorite ways to roast and char a pepper (bell, poblano, hatch, etc.) is to do so right from the gas range/grill. Roasting elevates the flavor, caramelizes the sugars to concentrate their sweetness, and gives it an extra special touch of smokiness. To do so place your pepper over medium/medium-high flame. Rotate the pepper with tongs as charring is visible. When the pepper is blackened (about 4-5 minutes) remove it and place it in a paper bag for 5-10 mins. Remove it from the bag and the skin should be easy to remove with a knife. Remove the stems and seeds and you’re ready to enjoy your very own smoky roasted pepper!
❤ A shortcut for roasted corn is to buy it already roasted! Trader Joe’s or your local market likely sells frozen roasted corn. You can just pop it in the oven for a few minutes and voilà! If you don’t mind the extra TLC pop your corn on the gas grill using your favorite roasting method (there are so many)!
i. Time
About 30 minutes plus time to chill the salad (if desired)
ii. Ingredients
for the cajun spice mix: (see tip above)
8 tablespoons | paprika
2 tablespoons | cayenne pepper
5 tablespoons | black pepper, freshly cracked
6 tablespoons | garlic powder
3 tablespoons | onion powder
6 tablespoons | salt
2 ½ tablespoons | dried oregano
2 ½ tablespoons | dried thyme
for the chicken salad:
1 | roasted chicken, shredded or diced (about 4 cups)
2 cups | yellow corn, roasted
1 cup | red bell peppers, roasted then chopped
2 teaspoons | cajun spice mix (from above)
¾ cup | mayonnaise (fresh if you can)
1 cup | green onions, cut on bias (a 45-degree angle)
iii. What To Do
1. Ahead of time you can prepare the spice mix, roasted chicken, roasted corn and roasted red bell peppers.
2. Place the prepared ingredients in a large bowl and combine.
3. In a small-sized bowl combine the spice mix and the mayonnaise to make this dish’s “special sauce.”
4. Add the mayonnaise-spice mix to the chicken mixture. Add the green onions and gently mix.
5. Chill until you’re ready to enjoy from your chosen serving addition (greens, bread, etc.).
Yield: 6-12+ Servings, depending on size of your appetite and your willingness to share
Betty’s Son
Founder and “Nostalgic Food Blogger” of Betty’s Cook Nook
A scan of the original cajun chicken salad recipe as it came into my possession
11/30/21Presidente Brandy
artichoke spread
Posted: August 30, 2015 Filed under: appetizers, The Best Of The Best Recipes | Tags: artichoke, artichoke hearts, garlic powder, mayonnaise, parmesan cheese, parmigiano-reggiano, pepper, ritz crackers, salt, tabasco sauce Leave a comment
A Hearty Artichoke Dish
Each time I dive into Mom’s cookbooks to select a recipe it usually winds up being a journey in time picking out the chosen one.
- With more than 125 recipes under my belt since 2011 it’s becoming difficult to remember which ones Joe and I have already made.
- With hundreds more recipes to choose from it can be hard to pick the next recipe.
This week I landed on a new strategy – to simply pick the next recipe in order from front to back in Mom’s index card holder or her recipe book. This makes choosing super simple.
As luck would have it the very first recipe chosen under this new form of culinary law and order was this amazing artichoke spread. This recipe quietly sat at the front of Mom’s appetizer section like a wallflower – probably because I had already made this artichoke dip … in the process this spread recipe had been passed over for more than 4 years.
Turns out this spread beats the pants off the dip recipe. Which just goes to show to never underestimate the power of a wallflower.
foodie tips ~
❤ Surely Parmesan Cheese isn’t the same thing as Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese, right!? What you find when you click this link may surprise you!
❤ Whatever you do please don’t use “shaker cheese” for this recipe. Go fresh. I used my hand grater and made a coarse shred that melted into perfection.
❤ Love artichokes? Click here to peruse other artichoke recipes here at Betty’s Cook Nook.
❤ This recipe inspired me to create a new category for connecting you to my favorite Betty’s Cook Nook dishes. Just click on “The Best Of The Best” category link at right!
i. ingredients
2 cans | artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
2 cups | mayonnaise
2 cups | parmesan cheese, grated
to taste | salt and pepper
7 shakes | tabasco brand pepper sauce
to taste | garlic powder
to serve | ritz brand crackers
ii. what to do
0. Preheat oven to 350°F. Whew, that was easy!
1. Drain the artichoke hearts and chop them up. Place the artichokes into a casserole dish. Add the mayo, cheese, salt, pepper, Tabasco sauce, and garlic powder and mix everything together.
2. Bake in your preheated oven for 30 minutes. My spread got warm and bubbly with a little bit of browned cheese on top. #yum!
3. Remove the warm spread from the oven and let it rest a few minutes. If you add more parmesan on top we won’t be surprised. That’s what we did!
Enjoy by topping on Ritz crackers, tortilla chips, Naan bread, tortilla roll-ups … the list is never-ending. It’s that good.
Best served warm. Leftovers refrigerate well and they did not last long!
~ Patrick
Betty’s Son
Founder and “Nostalgic Food Blogger” of Betty’s Cook Nook
Mom’s original recipe gifted to us from our next door neighbor Mary Stephenson. :)
Who is “Mary Stephenson”?
We Kikers lived at 2927 Trailend Drive and Mary was the Mother of the Stephenson family living next door to us.
Mary was a fabulous foodie friend of ours and you’ll see a few recipes from Mary’s kitchen here at Betty’s Cook Nook.
Our two families spent many shared dinners and laughs together so I was happy to find some of Mary’s recipes tucked in Mom’s cookbook since the Stephensons were a magnificent and memorable part of my wonder years.
stroganoff steak sandwiches
Posted: December 16, 2014 Filed under: meats poultry and fish, sandwiches | Tags: beer, butter, flank steak, french bread, garlic powder, horseradish, onion, paprika, pepper, salt, sour cream, vegetable oil Leave a comment
A Christmas Spectacular
(Part II)
This stroganoff steak sandwich recipe is a continuation of the ultimate holiday meal which begins with this tomato bisque recipe, which you’ve gotta check out if you want your holiday meal to be complete. ;)
You’ll also be able to read a little more about how this recipe was selected for Betty’s Cook Nook plus learn about the photographer who took the picture of the 1970s Christmas family below.
foodie tips ~
♥ I was a little bummed when I started this recipe then discovered the meat needed to marinate overnight. Turns out it was well worth the wait. The flavor was delicious. I hope you agree!
♥ Any recipe where the first ingredient is beer is dyn-o-mite! Add sour cream and you’re taking your tastebuds on a one way trip to Fantasy Island.
♥ I’m a Texan. So in the ingredient ranges noted below, I always round UP.
♥ The bread. At the store I was in a flurry and forgot to pick up some french bread. I used some thin sliced white I had loitering in the pantry and still loved this sandwich. Use your favorite sliced bread and you’ll be AOK. I promise.
♥ I prefer these sandwiches warm. If you follow the original recipe they are likely to be room temperature cool. Either way, you win.
♥ Some people cry over spilled milk. When I later realized I forgot to butter my bread I have to admit a few sniffles were born.
i. ingredients
the marinade:
⅔ cup | beer
⅓ cup | vegetable oil
1 – 2 teaspoons | salt
¼ – ½ teaspoon | garlic powder
¼ – ½ teaspoon | fresh cracked black pepper
all the rest:
2 pounds (1” thick) | flank steak
2 tablespoons | falfurrias brand butter
½ teaspoon | paprika
to taste | salt
2 cups | white onion, sliced
6 slices | buttered french bread, toasted
1 cup | sour cream (I’m crazy for Daisy)
½ – 1 teaspoon | prepared horseradish
ii. what to do
1. Place the steak in a shallow dish. Combine the first 5 ingredients above and pour this marinade over the steak. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
2. The next day … drain the steak and broil it 3 inches from the heat for 6 minutes on each side for medium rare in an electric oven (gas boiling tips here) or until its the desired degree of doneness. Slice across the grain in thin slices and set aside. Keep warm if you can.
3. Combine the butter, paprika and salt in a skillet. Add the onions and cook them until they are transparent then set aside.
4. Combine the sour cream and horseradish in a saucepan. Place over low heat, stirring until warm.
5. Place some onions on the buttered bread, top with a few steak slices then a dollop of your sour cream mixture. You can smear your dollop on top of your sandwich. I left mine a dollop for photo-taking purposes. Add a dash more paprika on top and you’re ready to dive in!
Yield: About 4-6 servings
Here’s a scan of the original recipe! Note the missing Apple Cider recipe (how could they?!). No worries – I have a substitute recipe coming soon.
broccoli mushroom dip
Posted: July 9, 2011 Filed under: appetizers | Tags: broccoli, cayenne pepper, celery, cheddar cheese, cream cheese, garlic cheese roll, garlic powder, liquid smoke, mushroom soup, mushrooms, onion, seasoned salt, tabasco sauce, velveeta, worcestershire sauce Leave a comment
When boasting I was making this dish to one of my coworkers, I was promptly scolded because she could not believe that I would make a dish with canned mushrooms, instead of fresh.
Well, fresh or not, this recipe is H-O-T!
Enjoy it on game day or any day you want a little taste of 70s cooking.
Here’s to you, mom!
i. ingredients
1 – 10-oz. package | frozen chopped broccoli
1 – 6-oz. roll | garlic cheese*
1 – 10-1/2 oz. can | mushroom soup
1 – 7 oz. can | chopped mushrooms, drained
1/2 onion | minced
2-3 stalks | celery, finely chopped
to taste | salt and pepper
1 teaspoon | worcestershire sauce
few drops | tabasco sauce
dash | cayenne pepper
to serve | corn chips (me gusta “scoops”)
* Good luck finding a “roll of garlic cheese” at your local grocery store. I learned Kraft discontinued production of this former staple which upset thousands of folks who used it in a variety of dishes (especially Christmas grits). “Kiss my grits, Kraft!”
After doing some intense online research, I found and ordered my garlic cheese from a Missouri meat company named Oberle Meats. Sure the shipping cost more than the product itself to have it 2-dayed to Dallas, but it was worth it. If you’re in a hurry to make the dip and can’t mail order it, there’s a bonus recipe below for how you can make it at home!
Now that you have your garlic cheese…
ii. what to do
1. Cook the broccoli according to the directions on the package *and drain*. I forgot to drain the broccoli, so my dip was a little soup-y.
2. Transfer the broccoli into a chafing dish and add the remaining ingredients. Stir until blended and thoroughly heated.
3. Serve with corn dips (I prefer Frito’s brand “Scoops” corn chips)!
Serves 6-8 folks.
Buon appetito!
BONUS VINTAGE RECIPE ~ GARLIC CHEESE ROLL
Can’t find a 6-ounce garlic cheese roll? You’re not alone! It’s been discontinued by Kraft and now very difficult to find (per above). Here’s how you can make your own and it tastes great!
Recipe may be reduced as needed.
i. ingredients
1 ½ pounds | sharp cheddar cheese, grated
½ pound | velveeta
3 ounces | cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon | lawry’s seasoned salt
½ teaspoon | garlic powder
1-2 drops | liquid smoke (optional)
ii. what to do
1. Warm all of the ingredients in a medium-sized pot (or double boiler) over low heat until everything is melted and well combined.
2. Transfer the cheese mixture into a container and let it cool/set. You can also place the cheese mixture in the fridge, if you’re in a hurry.
3. Divide the garlic cheese into 4 rolls (about 6-ounces each) and wrap with saran wrap. You can store these garlic cheese rolls in the fridge or freeze them for later use.
Let the good times roll!
calabacita
Posted: May 1, 2011 Filed under: casseroles and one-dish meals | Tags: calabacita, chicken, cilantro, corn, cumin, EVOO, garlic powder, green chilies, onion, squash, zucchini Leave a commentThis special recipe is dedicated to our dear family friend Bristol ~
thanks to her, mom’s recipes live on; the greatest treat I’ve ever received.
~ ♥ ~
My mom’s great friend “Bristol” said “calabacita” was one of mom’s absolute favorite recipes because she loved its spicy taste. Now I know where I get my love of spicy food!
I didn’t even know how to spell calaba-HUH?, but thanks to Google, I do now. Calabacita means “little squash” in Spanish and is often made of a variety of summer squashes with thin, edible skins, including zucchini, yellow crookneck, Mexican straight-neck and sunburst squashes (per the research I did online). We’ll see what mom used!
I remember something squashy as a kid, but not sure of the name. I think mom “dumbed” the name calabacita down to “squash” for me since my tiny tongue was too young to pronounce “ca-la-ba-ci-ta.” Although I do remember the young ability to say “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang!”
5/14/11 UPDATE ~ I received mom’s cookbook this very week and scoured both the cookbook and the little recipe card file… and no calabacita recipe! All I can figure is that mom probably had the recipe in her head and didn’t need to write it down. But that doesn’t mean she didn’t share it with her friends! I’m on the hunt for the recipe, so in the meantime, enjoy the recipe below from the other Betty (Crocker)… the ingredients look similar to what I remember eating… except I don’t remember mom using chicken… but she did use both yellow crookneck squash and green zucchini.
i. ingredients
1 tablespoon | extra-virgin olive oil
1-1/2 lb | uncooked chicken breast tenders (not breaded)
8 to 10 small to medium | zucchini (2 1/2 lb), peeled, thinly sliced (8 cups)
1 medium | white onion, chopped (about 1/2 cup)
1 can (15.25 oz) | Green Giant® whole kernel corn, undrained
1 can (14.5 oz) | diced tomatoes with green pepper and onion, undrained
1 can (4.5 oz) | Old El Paso® chopped green chiles, undrained
1-1/2 teaspoons | garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon | ground cumin
to taste | salt and pepper, if desired
1/2 cup | chopped fresh cilantro
ii. what to do
1. In a 5- to 6-quart saucepan or Dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat. Add the chicken; cover and cook 4 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until no longer pink in the center.
2. Stir in remaining ingredients except cilantro. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until zucchini is tender.
3. Stir in cilantro; cook 3 minutes longer, stirring occasionally.
Foodie Tips ~
♥ While I don’t remember mom serving calabacita over white rice, consider it (from me to you).
♥ Making instant rice? Why not substitute water with chicken or beef broth?
Enjoy!
Betty’s Son
Founder and “Nostalgic Food Blogger” of Betty’s Cook Nook
Betty's Cook Nook 