Welcome to a new part of my blog I’m calling Quiltlady Cooking. It’s mostly for those of us who like to cook but don’t LOVE it. My idea of the perfect type of cooking is the kind where you can through a bunch of ingredients together go away and quilt and come back to a yummy meal. Needless to say I have quite a few of these recipes. You might too and it would be fun to share them.
My first recipe is a modification of a recipe my friend Maurice made for me back in 2003 when I needed surgery. I will never forget the day I opened my front door to find him standing on my porch covered in spices and tomatoes holding this dish. It is my definition of comfort food.
WARNING: for the squeamish among you…there will be pictures of raw chicken…I’m just saying that because raw chicken had a bad effect on me when I was pregnant. Very bad if you must know.
There will be a printable version of the recipe to download so I’m just going to channel Pioneer Woman and show you how to cook it.
First measure your rice into a heat proof bowl and cover with HOT water and let soak.
Next take your chicken breast and cut them in half, they’ll cook faster that way.
Next measure out all the spices and just dump them on the chicken. Make sure to rub the spices all over the chicken.
Next, heat the oil in a large dutch oven and place the chicken pieces in. Brown them lightly on both sides, this usually takes me about 2 minutes per side.
The next step is to puree the purple onion with some garlic, a food processor works well for this but a blender will get the job done.
Then I add my can of diced tomatoes and puree some more.
When the chicken is browned remove it from the pan and set aside.
Drain the rice and add it to the pan you just took the chicken out of. Stir the rice around until it becomes golden.
Now add the pureed tomatoes and onion and stir. Cook until liquid is absorbed, about 2 to 3 minutes.
While this is cooking I chop my cherry tomatoes.
I add these to the rice.
Then I throw in my frozen peas and stir.
Now place the chicken on top of the rice.
Pour in the chicken broth and bring to a boil.
Once it’s boiling put the lid on and stick it in the oven for 45 mintues and GO QUILT.
Well you might want to clean this up first.
For a down loadable pdf of the click here.
YUM! And I was just thinking "what shall we have for dinner?" I will enjoy this feature.
Posted by: Deanna | 04/29/2010 at 06:38 AM
Thanks! I will be making this for dinner tonight.
Posted by: Charmaine Taylor | 04/29/2010 at 08:00 AM
Erin:
Now I have one more reason to check your blog everyday. Thanks for the recipe. It sounds delicious and easy.
Linda
Posted by: LINDA | 04/29/2010 at 08:13 AM
This sound yummy. Thanks for the directions.
Posted by: Sandra | 04/29/2010 at 09:28 AM
Looks good! Hey, did you see Rachel Ray's trick to slicing cherry tomatoes? Set a plastic container lid (like a sour cream container) down on the counter, top up, fill it with the tomatoes, then put another lid on top of tomatoes, bottom up, then run your knife between the 2 lids and presto, all tomatoes are cut in half.
Posted by: ladybelle | 04/29/2010 at 09:58 AM
As a proud Cuban American I say BRAVO! You did an EXCELLENT job of recreating the recipe. Arroz (you must roll the RR's when you pronouce it) Con Pollo is one of my all time favorites and the most requested by my non Cuban friends. I only have a few ingredietns to suggest to make it a bit more authentic - garlic in the onion tomato puree mix (personal taste) and saffron when you add the rice to the pot (authentic color). Plus, I bet you didn't realize you now also have the recipe for Paella! All you need to do is add a few pieces of sausage, shrimp, and/or scallops to the chicken and now you have authentic Spanish Paella! Okay - got to go because I'm drooling to much to keep typing.
LOVE your blog!
Best stitches,
Mercy in Miami
Posted by: Mercy | 04/29/2010 at 10:04 AM
Great5 recipe, can't wait to try it
Elaine
Posted by: Elaine Willis | 04/29/2010 at 03:10 PM
This made me smile! Thanks. The pictures are fantastic!
Posted by: Debbie | 04/29/2010 at 07:52 PM
Makes me want to take a day off from Jenny Craig! How many points?
Posted by: Amy Austin | 04/29/2010 at 08:07 PM
Very kind of you to share that - looks great an d is now printed off ready to shop for ingredients! Congratulations on a wonderful blog :)
Posted by: Hilda | 04/29/2010 at 08:17 PM
This was AWESOME!! I am also Cuban, and most of our meals are traditional Cuban dishes. This one is right on!! My only adjustment would be half a can of beer or 1 cup of wine. Quilting and Cooking a perfect match!!
XXOO!!
Posted by: Damaris | 04/30/2010 at 07:39 AM
Erin,
That looks great! One question-can brown rice be substituted for the white rice?
Posted by: Eileen Keane | 05/01/2010 at 09:51 AM
Sounds Yummy. I agree, the perfect recipe is one you can leave to cook by itself while you go do more sewing!!
Posted by: Raewyn B | 05/01/2010 at 11:52 AM
Tried this last night and loved it! I was able to get back to my quilting while it cooked...perfect evening! The kids loved it too and were piling on seconds of the rice! I think next time I'll try the sausage and shrimp for the paella mentioned by another of your blog readers. Now I have two great recipes, thanks!
Posted by: Michelle Curtis | 05/03/2010 at 10:20 AM
Thanks
Im going to try the sausage and shrinp as well
My kids LOVE the rice
glad you liked it
Posted by: erinrussek | 05/03/2010 at 10:40 AM