Chicken Oporto

This is a family staple, and probably my favorite chicken dish to make. It is absolutely to die for and easy to boot!

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup butter
1/2 lb mushrooms, thinly sliced
1/4 cup AP flour
2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
6-8 chicken breast halves
1 1/2 cups heavy or whipping cream
1/2 cup white port wine (I often substitute cooking sherry and it works wonderfully as well)

DIRECTIONS

-In 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat, in hot butter, cook mushrooms five minutes. With slotted spoon, remove to small bowl, set aside.
-On waxed paper or in small flat container (I used a square tupperward container), combine flour, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Use to coat chicken chicken breasts. In same skillet in remaining butter over medium-high heat, cook the chicken breasts until browned on all sides.
-Sitr in cream, port and mushrooms; heat to boiling. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 30-45 minutes or until chicken is fork-tender. The longer you have to simmer, the better it tastes!

New Orleans Pancakes

This recipe comes from a typewritten cookbook I bought for 25 cents at an estate sale. It was written by the Woman's Club of The United States Public Health Service Hospital from New Orleans, Louisiana in 1967 so I figured it would have some great, old school New Orleans-style recipes. And I was right! This is one of my favorites, and I typically have all the ingredients on hand. It makes a pancake that's like a cross between a crepe and a pancake. YUM.

INGREDIENTS

4 Eggs
1 cup cottage cheese or Ricotta
1 cup sour cream
1 Tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 light cup flour

DIRECTIONS

Mix all ingredients and drop by large spoonfuls on griddle like pancakes. Serve with jams, jellies, or butter and syrup.

Spinach Parmesan Balls

These make a great party appetizer, but I really love them as a dinner side. This is a great way to make vegetables palatable, it's inexpensive, uses ingredients you have on hand, and is really very easy!

INGREDIENTS

2 (10 oz) boxes frozen spinach, thawed, drained, squeezed dry
4 T butter, melted
1/2 yellow onion, diced
2 t minced garlic
1/2 t Italian seasoning
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup dry breadcrumbs
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 t black pepper
1 t salt

DIRECTIONS

-Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a baking sheet with nonstick spray
-Stir all ingredients together in large mixing bowl. Form mixture into 1 1/2 inch balls and place one inch apart on baking sheet. (I made larger balls and served two to a plate as a dinner side. They were excellent.)
-Bake 15 minutes, until puffed and slightly brown. Serve warm.