Chicken and Broccoli in Black Bean Sauce

Inspired by the movie "Rush Hour 3" (2007)

This movie serves up laughs from beginning to end. One of my favorite scenes is when comedian/actor Chris Tucker playing Det. James Carter is having an Abbott and Costello moment of "who's on first" with an Asian man named "Yu." If you want or need a good laugh, do yourself a favor and check this movie out.

Chicken and Broccoli in Black Bean Sauce is a quick and delicious dish that can be prepared at a “Rush Hour” pace. It’s a flavorful and Asian inspired taste, teamed with American staples like chicken and broccoli. James and Lee in Rush Hour 3 inspired this dish with their quick pace and action from two brothers from a “different mother”

In a mixing bowl, combine chicken and soy sauce. Cover and put in refrigerator.

Cook rice according to package directions, about 20 minutes.

While rice is cooking, boil broccoli until bright in color, but still firm (around 2 minutes). Discard water and set aside.

In a large skillet or wok, heat oil over medium high heat. Add black bean sauce and chicken, stirring constantly, until cooked through and chicken is no longer pink in the center.

Combine water and flour. Add to chicken mixture. Reduce heat to low and let simmer 5 minutes.
Add broccoli and let cook an additional 2 minutes. Serve with rice. Serves 8.

Chocolate and Peanut Butter Brownie Sundae Cupcakes

Inspired by the movie "Any Given Sunday" (1999)

Oliver Stone’s “Any Given Sunday” is an action packed, in-your-face, testosterone filled, high energy football movie. And you don’t have to be a football fan to love it. Coach Tony, played by Al Pacino tells his players:

"On any given Sunday you're gonna win or you're gonna lose. The point is - can you win or lose like a man?"

On that football field, people’s hopes, dreams, fears, and loves are played out. Note –Jamie Foxx plays Willie, a third string Quarterback who finally gets his shot at the big-time. How did he handle it, go check it out and see for yourself!

“Any Given Sunday” can be the best day of your week, with Sunday football and a fabulous dessert like Chocolate and Peanut Butter Brownie Sundae Cupcakes. This movie and dessert guarantee Sunday will be your favorite day!

1 package Pillsbury Fudge or any premium Brownie Mix
1 stick butter, softened
1/3 cup milk
1 egg, room temperature
12 cupcake liners
1/2 cup sour cream
12 maraschino cherries
1 cup Nestle Toll House Morsels – Chocolate and Peanut Butter flavor
1 cup Cool Whip Refrigerated Whipped Topping
Optional: Additional whipped topping and cherries for garnish



Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Place 12 foil cupcake liners on large 12 x 15 cookie sheet OR place 12 paper cupcake liners in muffin tins.

Combine brownie mix, butter, milk and egg.

Spoon 2 tablespoons of the brownie mixture into cupcake cups.

Top each cupcake with 1 teaspoon of sour cream. Add a cherry face down to each cup.

Gently press into sour cream.

Top each cup with 1 tablespoon remaining brownie mixture. Smooth tops. Top each cup with 1 tablespoon Nestles Chocolate and Peanut Butter morsels.

Bake cupcakes for 20 to 22 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Optional: Cool cupcakes, then top with a teaspoon of whipped topping and a cherry.

Makes about 12 cupcakes.

American Apple Pie Tart

Inspired by the movie "American Pie" (1999)

American Pie - What can I say. Horny teenagers have been around since the beginning of time. But, these kids have taken the "comfort food" apple pie to a whole new level.

American Apple Pie Tart is a fun new twist on America’s favorite dessert. The movie “American Pie” inspired this dish because of the crazy and nervy things our beloved teenagers do. This dish is crazy, nervy and loved. Check it out; I hope you can handle it!!

Recipe: American Apple Pie Tart

1 – 21oz can apple pie filling
1 cup cheddar cheese, finely grated
½ stick butter
1/3 cup golden raisins
½ cup caramel dessert topping
1 Tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
1 package Pillsbury Refrigerated Crusty French Loaf
3 Tablespoons sugar
¼ teaspoon cinnamon

Egg Wash:
1 egg yolk
4 – 5 drops water


Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In large bowl, gently mix all ingredients.

On a large cookie sheet, unroll Pillsbury Refrigerated Crusty French loaf. Add filling ingredients to middle of loaf. Start to fold dough sides up over filling, leaving the round opening in the middle of the tart. As you bring dough up to cover tart, tuck in dough, repeat every 4 inches around tart until it is completely closed, leaving a volcano opening on top.

Mix egg yolk and water. Brush onto dough. Combine cinnamon and sugar and sprinkle over tart.

Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven, let cool about 20 minutes.

Optional: Top with vanilla ice cream.

Serves 8.

Peach Cobbler Supreme

Inspired by the movie "Madea's Family Reunion" (2006)

Georgia is the land of delicious peaches and the home of Tyler Perry's Madea. A pistol packin', cigarette smokin', kick your ***, and take no **** kind of woman. Madea goes on the school bus to confront a bully who is terrorizing a young girl she is guardian to. Well, the boy "should have asked somebody" because he made the huge mistake of talking "smack" to Madea. Long story short, he won't make that mistake again.

This recipe for Peach Cobbler Supreme is a dessert right out of the old south, but with a modern flare. Georgia is the home to Madea, our favorite southern bell (and hell raiser) and to delicious peaches. They have come together to bring you a dish you absolutely must taste. Madea’s Family Reunion and Peach Cobbler Supreme are family.

3 cans (15 1.4oz) sliced to peaches in heavy syrup, drained
1/3 stick of butter
1/3 cup white sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup Dekuyper Original Peachtree Schnapps (a peach flavored liqueur)
1/3 teaspoon cinnamon
1 Tablespoon pure vanilla
2 Tablespoons corn starch
1/3 teaspoon lemon zest, grated
Dash of nutmeg
1 package Pillsbury Refrigerated Pie Crust (2 crusts)

Egg Wash:
1 egg yolk
5 drops of water

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In a medium saucepan, combine all ingredients except pie crust and egg yolk. Cook over high heat until peach mixture boils (this will burn off any alcohol content from the liqueur). Reduce heat and simmer about 2 minutes.

Spoon peach mixture into a 9 X 9 inch glass baking dish.

Unfold one crust and lay over mixture. Lay the other pie crust on a lightly floured surface and use your favorite cookie cutter to press out the entire crust (I use a star shaped cookie cutter). Lay the shapes over the top crust. Using a wire whisk, beat the egg wash about a minute. Brush over crusts with a pastry brush.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until golden brown.

Optional - Serve with vanilla ice cream or a light whipped topping.

Blue Cheese Crusted Chicken

Inspired by the movie "The Blues Brothers" (1980)

The movie opens with Jake (John Belushi) being released from jail and his brother Elwood (Dan Aykroyd) is waiting for him in an old beat-up black and white cop car. Right there and then you know – this is going to be a fun ride! Along with Saturday Night Live and Animal House, this movie is John at his best.

This recipe for Blue Cheese Crusted Chicken is a festival for your taste buds! Like the Blues Brothers, what you see when you prepare this festival is what you get. The Blue Brothers never offered any apologies for their colorful and delightful antics and neither does Blue Cheese Crusted Chicken – you will sing its praises!!

Topping:
½ cup Progresso Bread Crumbs (unseasoned/plain)
1/3 cup plus 1 Tablespoon blue cheese crumbles
3 Tablespoons butter, melted
½ teaspoon garlic powder

6 chicken thighs or 4 chicken breast, skinless boneless
1 can Pillsbury Reduced Fat Refrigerated Crescent Dinner Rolls
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 Tablespoon butter, melted
Salt and pepper to taste
Parsley flakes for garnish

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a small mixing bowl, combine breadcrumbs, blue cheese, butter and garlic powder. set aside.

Heat olive oil in a large non stick skillet over medium heat. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper, add to skillet. Cook chicken about 8 minutes per side or until cooked thoroughly. Remove chicken, drain on paper towels. Place chicken on a large baking sheet. Top each piece with 2 tablespoons of the cheese topping, pat down evenly.

Open Pillsbury Crescent Dinner Rolls, pull apart into 8 rolls. Wrap one crescent roll around each piece of chicken, pressing gently to hold. Bake remaining rolls according to package directions.

Bake in 375 degree oven for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and brush each crescent with melted butter and sprinkle with parsley flakes.

Serves 8.

French Toast Casserole

Inspired by the movie "The Breakfast Club" (1985)

I love this movie. Five very different teenagers spend a day in detention and discover and appreciate each other’s differences. They bond together against the enemy, the school establishment. If you have never seen this movie, or it’s been awhile, do yourself a favor and see it. One of the best teen movies made!

French Toast Casserole is the ultimate in breakfast dishes. “The Breakfast Club” movie and this dish share the rhythm of the early morning, but both can be enjoyed any time of the day!!

Liquid mixture (let sit overnight if time permits):
2 eggs
2 cups milk
1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 ½ Tablespoons pure vanilla extract
1 ½ Tablespoons Sugar

1 large loaf of French bread, cubed
3 Tablespoons butter
½ cup maple syurp
Powdered Sugar for dusting


Prepare liquid mixture:
Mix eggs, milk, cinnamon, vanilla extract and sugar in a large bowl. If time permits, cover and let sit in refrigerator overnight.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.In a well greased 13 X 9” baking dish, place bread, crust side down into dish.

Mix liquid mixture again and slowly drizzle over bread, covering each piece of bread. Dot with butter.

Bake for 30 – 40 minutes or until golden brown and bread is no longer mushy at the bottom. Remove from oven.

Drizzle with maple syrup and dust with powdered sugar. Cut into squares and serve.

Serves 6 to 8.

Pepperoni Pizza Danish with Sautéed Portabella Mushrooms

Inspired by the movie "The Godfather II" (1974)

One of my favorite scenes is when Michael (Al Pacino) lets his older (mentally challenged) brother Fredo know he is responsible for his home being shot-up. He gives Fredo the kiss of death and tells him he wants nothing more to do with him, and as long as their mother is alive he can see her, if he is not at home. With that said Fredo would only live as long as "the mother" did. We all got some crazy relatives, but I’m glad I am not in the Corleone family.




Wow! This Pepperoni Pizza Danish with Sautéed Portabella Mushrooms recipe leans heavily on the Italian side and “The Godfather" himself would kiss MY ring!!

1 Tbs. olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
2 Tbs. red onion

4 large slices of portabella mushrooms
Dash Salt and pepper

1 can Pillsbury Refrigerated Crusty French Loaf bread

4 oz. sour cream

1 – 14 oz. jar pizza sauce, divided

2.5 oz Pepperoni slices (about 15 slices)
1 ½ cups grated Mozzarella cheese

1 egg yolk with 1 tsp. of water
Parsley for garnish

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a sauté pan over low heat, add olive oil, garlic, onions, mushrooms, salt and pepper. Saute' mushrooms about 7 minutes, turning once. Set aside

Gently unroll refrigerated French loaf onto a greased cookie sheet, working lengthwise. Using a pastry brush, add sour cream and ½ pizza sauce to middle of dough, leaving 1 inch at the short ends uncovered for closing. Spread out evenly. Add mushroom mixture, pepperoni and cheese.

To close dough, fold in the 1 inch of dough on the left and right. Pull top dough over 1/3rd of filling and then bottom dough over top dough. Pinch the sides to make sure they are closed.

Cut 6 slits at an angle about 2 inches apart along dough. To make egg wash, whisk egg yolk with water. Using pastry brush, cover entire loaf. Sprinkle loaf with Parsley.

Bake for 20 minutes in a preheated 375 degree oven or until golden brown and remove from oven.

To Serve – After 5 minutes brush remaining pizza sauce on a platter and place pizza Danish on top. Slice with a serrated knife between slits in loaf.

Serves 6 to 8.

Shrimply Fabulous

 

 
Inspired by the movie "Forrest Gump" (1994)

One of my favorite scenes is when Private Benjamin Buford 'Bubba' Blue tells Forrest all the ways you can cook shrimp:
"Anyway, like I was sayin', shrimp is the fruit of the sea. You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, sauté it. Dey's uh, shrimp-kabobs, shrimp creole, shrimp gumbo. Pan fried, deep fried, stir-fried. There's pineapple shrimp, lemon shrimp, coconut shrimp, pepper shrimp, shrimp soup, shrimp stew, shrimp salad, shrimp and potatoes, shrimp burger, shrimp sandwich. That- that's about it."

Shrimply Fabulous was inspired by Bubba’s list of ways to cook shrimp. The movie's list is great, but Shrimply Fabulous is in a taste class by itself. The yummy taste of fresh shrimp blending with sweet fresh corn, cream, spices and fresh clams cooked in white wine - its fabulous darling!!

1 lb medium to large shrimp (about 30), cleaned and deveined
2 cups Panko Bread Crumbs (follow package directions using, flour and beaten egg with the Panko)
Dash of salt and black pepper
1/3 teaspoon Old Bay Sea Food Seasoning
1 teaspoon lemon pepper

1/3rd cup vegetable oil

Sauce ingredients:
2 fresh corn ears - rub with 2 teaspoons olive oil and add dashes of salt and black pepper - Roast in a 400 degree oven for 20 minutes. - cut corn off the cob.
½ cup heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup milk
2 Tbs. butter, softened
Dash of salt and lemon pepper

5 fresh clams - clean by soaking in cold water and rubbing the shells clean. Steam clams in 1 cup of white wine until clams open. Remove from heat. - . Clean by removing dark color particles. Mince clams. Set aside.

Season shrimp with lemon pepper, Old Bay Seasoning and dashes of salt and black pepper.
Follow Panko directions and cover each shrimp with flour, then dip in beaten egg and cover with Panko.

Fry shrimp in vegetable oil over medium heat. Cook on each side 2 minutes (shrimp should be lightly golden). Drain on paper towels. Set aside.

In a food processor or blender, add all sauce ingredients except clams. Pulse about 10 seconds, leaving some small pieces.

In a sauce pan, add sauce mixture and clams. Bring to a boil and let simmer 2 minutes.

Serve shrimp over sauce on a plate. Optional: Sprinkle parsley flakes over plate to garnish.

Serves 4 to 6.

Godfather Shrimp

A Shrimp Dish You Can't Refuse



Inspired by the movie "The Godfather" (1972)

One of my favorite scenes is when Michael met with the police chief and a big time thug in an Italian Restaurant. It has been arranged for a gun to be in the restroom. Michael has to excuse himself from the table, get the gun, then return, and blow the two shit balls to hell. Michael says few words, but with the look in his eyes you can read everything he is thinking. Powerful stuff, with this double killing, Michael enters the family business.

The Godfather movie and Godfather Shrimp are both classics. Many dishes are good, but Godfather Shrimp is "a dish you can’t refuse." The Godfather said “try this dish or else,” and that’s a direct quote.

1 pound large shrimp, cleaned and deveined
1 ½ teaspoon lemon pepper
1/3 teaspoon salt
½ cup Progresso Bread Crumbs
1/3 cup vegetable oil

Sauce:
1 can Old El Paso Chopped Green Chiles or other premium can chiles with some heat
1/3rd cup heavy whipping cream
1 Tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon lemon pepper
1 – 5oz can baby clams, drained and rinsed
Parsley for garnish


Season shrimp with lemon pepper and salt. In a large bowl, mix seasoned shrimp and bread crumbs.

Preheat fry pan with vegetable oil. Lightly fry shrimp over medium high heat, about 2 minutes per side. Shrimp should be lightly golden. Place on paper towels to drain. Set aside.

In a medium sauce pan, add all remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil, let simmer 5 minutes.

Serve shrimp over sauce on a platter. Sprinkle with parsley for garnish.
Serves 4 to 5

Debra's 10 Most Wanted

10 Ingredients To Always Have On Hand

1. Olive oil (flavorful and healthy oil and great for sautéing)


2. Lemons
   (adds zest and freshness)


3. Tomatoes
   (fresh or canned) (nothing beats a fresh tomato, but a premium can tomato is the next best thing)


4. Garlic
   (fresh is preferred, for garlic lovers it’s a must and even if you are not a garlic lover it’s a must in some dishes)


5. Onions (a staple for many dishes, no real substitute, I like red onions)


6. Pasta
   (choose your favorite; spaghetti, egg noodles, fettuccini, penne and many more)


7. Heat
   (hot sauces, jalapeño peppers, cayenne pepper add heat)


8. Broth
   (chicken and beef - favors soups and dishes)


9. Fresh and dried herbs (basil, bay leaves, rosemary, thyme, etc., all cooks should experience these favors)


10. Lemon pepper
    (cousin to ground pepper, but with a fresh lemon taste twist)