Mark Bittman's Minimalist Buffalo Wings {The Very Best Buffalo Wings}

So my family is absolutely crazy for chicken wings. We eat them at least once a week. Years ago I tried a Nigel Slater version where he roasts the wings in the oven and this roasting method became my go-to method for chicken wings. The roasted wings are crispy without the mess of frying, and I feel that roasting the chicken helps to bring out the flavor of the chicken, much more than frying would. Roasting wings is a very good method.

However, I stumbled upon Mark Bittman's Minimalist Buffalo Wings recipe this week and wanted to give his broiling method a try. I could write a letter about them. In fact, I think I will.

Dear Mr. Bittman,

I thought I had perfected making chicken wings. My family and I really enjoyed them roasted in the oven with a simple dusting of Lawry's. They flew off the pan and I could never seem to make enough.

Then I tried your method of broiling the chicken wings and my family came unglued. We turned into wild animals, fighting over each wing until they were gone. I'm not kidding, Mark. Have you ever seen one of those documentaries where wild animals fight over their prey? The scene in my kitchen was very much like that. In fact, my children nearly attacked each other over your wings, Mark.

We blame this behavior on "the trifecta of deliciousness": the most incredible buffalo sauce (buttery and garlicky with just the right amount of heat);  the crispiest exterior a buffalo wing has ever had (truly the broiler method is the best), and the juiciest most delicious chicken meat on the inside. I mean when you take a bite and the buffalo sauce hits your lips it is lip smackin' good, then you get the crunch of the outside and bite into that juicy chicken and it is just magic, Mark. A mouth never had it so good!

Your wings are the stuff of dreams. You deserve a medal. We should shout your name from the mountaintops and we just might. Right after I make another batch.

You are our hero, Mark.
The Stirring The Pot Family

Minimalist Buffalo Wings

Adapted from Food52

by Mark Bittman

Serves 4-6, depending

3 pounds of chicken wings

Neutral oil

salt and pepper, to taste

1/3 cup mild hot sauce, like Frank's Red Hot

4 tablespoons melted butter

1 tablespoon sherry vinegar or white vinegar

1 tablespoon minced garlic

blue cheese dressing or ranch, for serving

carrot sticks and/or celery sticks, for serving

Pat the wings dry very well with paper towels (this will help them crisp) and, if the wings are whole, cut them into 3 sections, saving the wing tips for stock. Toss the wings with a little neutral oil to keep them from sticking, salt them lightly, and spread them on a baking sheet, leaving at least an inch of space between each wing.

Heat the broiler with a rack 4 to 6 inches from the flame. (Alternately, heat a charcoal or gas grill; the fire should be moderately hot and the rack 4 to 6 inches from the heat. Leave one side of the grill cooler for indirect cooking.)

Broil in the oven on a sheet pan until the wings are evenly well-browned and crisp, flipping them midway through. This should take 20 to 25 minutes overall, but will depend on the strength of your broiler, so peek often! (If using the grill, put the wings on the cool side of the grill. Cover the grill and cook, checking and turning once or twice, until most of the fat has been rendered and the wings are evenly well-browned and crisp, 15 to 20 minutes.).

While the wings cook, in a large bowl, combine the hot sauce, melted butter, vinegar, garlic, and salt and pepper to taste.

When the wings are browned and crisp, add them to the bowl with the sauce and toss to coat. Return the wings to the pan, leaving excess sauce in the bowl, and broil fora few minutes until sizzling and nicely browned on both sides, flipping once. (Or put the wings on the hot part of the grill and cook, uncovered, turning as necessary.)

Serve hot with the extra sauce on the side, for extra spicy, saucy wings, toss back in the sauce before serving. Blue cheese and/or ranch dressing and celery sticks and/or carrot sticks on the side are a good idea. 

SUPERBOWL THROWDOWN: CHICKEN WINGS

It's time for another Throwdown here at Stirring the Pot. About a week ago, I put up a poll where readers could vote on the next Throwdown and........... chicken wings won out! Never having made chicken wings before, I had a fun time choosing the two competing recipes. I wanted to compare cooking techniques for the wings, so I kept the wing flavor the same. I didn't want to be confused by which flavor I liked best, I wanted to pick the wing that was simply "cooked the best".

THE CONTENDERS
I chose Alton Brown's Buffalo Wings, which are steamed in order to melt away some of the fat in the chicken skin, baked until crisp, and then rolled around in a garlicky buffalo sauce. I compared Alton's recipe with Paula Deen's Uncle Bubba's Wings, which are marinated for 24 hours, deep fried, and served with two dipping sauces (buffalo and sweet asian chili).

Results/Notes on Alton Brown's Wings: Somewhat of a hassle. I don't have a steamer, so I had to use my metal strainer over a pot of boiling/simmering water. After steaming the wings, they are placed in the refrigerator for an hour to "dry out". After the wings have had a chance to dry out, they are baked, being rotated halfway through and coated in sauce. I felt like this was a lot of work for 12 chicken wings. (Pictured below are Alton's wings)Results/Notes on Uncle Bubba's Wings: Marinate 24 hours in a combination of hot sauce, cajun seasoning, cayenne pepper, and garlic powder. When ready to eat, simply fry them for 10 minutes and you are all set. Simple and easy, the way I like things. (Pictured below are Uncle Bubba's wings)
Sounds like I'm already biased, doesn't it? Which wing do you think you would prefer? I thought I had it all figured out before I even tasted one.........
But I was pleasantly surprised! Alton Brown's steamed and baked wings were actually our favorite. It was a unanimous decision between me and my husband.

Why?

Well, Uncle Bubba's wings were easy and quickly deep fried, but they were a little too crunchy. Maybe this was because they were "dry" and not tossed with any sauce. I thought that I would like dunking the wings in sauce, but it turns out that it isn't very easy to do. Both my husband and I agreed that we like our wings to be messy and coated in sauce. Nonetheless, this was still a good wing recipe and had great flavor and color from the marinade.

Alton Brown's wings were a little more labor intensive, but they were dripping with sauce and messy like you would expect a good wing to be. The skin had a nice crispness about it, but wasn't too crunchy. Alton's wings were more reminiscent of the wings we are used to eating.

All in all, this was a fun challenge! Doing research on wings was fun. There are so many ways to prepare and serve them. I'd love to try wings with Sriracha sauce and I've even seen some tossed with peanut butter and jelly. This challenge has just opened up the door to many more possibilities.

Roast Chicken Wings with Lemon and Cracked Pepper

For the past few months I've been completely obsessed with chicken wings.  It's like a never-ending addiction that just won't go away.  Fried chicken wings are delicious, but aren't necessarily great for the waistline so I've taken to roasting them in the oven instead.  I love this simple recipe because the chicken wings get all sticky and caramelized and they are ever so flavorful.  Slightly better for the waistline and every bit as tasty!

Roast Chicken Wings with Lemon and Cracked Pepper

Adapted from Kitchen Diaries

by Nigel Slater

also found on Kitchen Flavours 

12 large chicken wings
1 large, juicy lemon
5 bay leaves
1 heaped tablespoon black peppercorns
2 tablespoons olive oil
salt, to taste

Set the oven at 200C/Gas 6 or 400F.  Put the wings into a roasting dish, halve the lemon and squeeze it over them, then cut up the lemon shells and tuck them, together with the bay leaves, between the chicken pieces.

 

Put the peppercorns in a mortar and bash them so they crack into small pieces. They should still be knubbly, like small pieces of grit rather than finely ground.

 

Mix the peppercorns with the olive oil, then toss with the chicken and lemon. Scatter the salt flakes,without crushing them, over the chicken. Roast for 40-45 minutes, turning once. The chicken should be golden and sticky, the edges blackened here and there. Enough for 2.

 

 

Theme: What's In Your Picnic Basket?

 

Ellie Krieger's Broiled Buffalo Wings

My husband and I have been off work since December 18th.  Same with the kids. We've pretty much spent our Christmas break in pajamas binge watching Netflix and eating. Scratch that. Eating is an understatement. Let's keep it real. I'll just go ahead and say we've spent our break in pajamas binging...period. Back to back episodes meets queso and ice cream sundaes. It's been heaven!

Unfortunately this period of overindulgence has come to an end. School is back in session tomorrow and that means my husband and I are both back to work.  So this morning I had to get dressed in actual clothes, for like the first time in 6 days, and go to the grocery. I knew better than to even attempt wearing my jeans. Nobody needs that pain in their life! So, I much too happily reached for my stretchy yoga pants. Feeling rather confident I slid one leg in, and then another, and grew perplexed as I pulled them over my hips. Did I have the right pants? Were these my teenage daughter's yoga pants?  A quick glance revealed that I did indeed have my beloved "used-to-be-as-comfy-as-pajamas yoga pants" but they were now a little more snug than I'd like. This can only mean one thing.

You guessed it! Someone, probably one of those elves, shrunk my pants! Can you believe that? Goodness gracious. I knew those elves spelled trouble! Next year those elves are getting locked out of my laundry room, but for now I guess I'll have to be more careful of what I eat and actually get up off the couch and do some exercising.

In the meantime I have real cravings to satisfy!  Real cravings for things like these delicious chicken wings, which I'm totally able to enjoy because Ellie Krieger has found a way for them to be calorie-friendly, and also delicious!

This wings are first boiled, which cooks them through, and also makes them quite tender. Next, the wings are broiled on each side until slightly browned and crispy.  Then, the wings are coated with buffalo sauce made from three simple ingredients (hot sauce, chicken broth, and lemon juice) and returned to the oven to broil and become all glazed and delicious. Since the wings are neither breaded or fried, and the buffalo sauce contains no butter, these are as healthy as chicken wings can be. A handful of them, along with some carrots, celery, and dressing of your choice is really the perfect amount to satisfy any craving. We really loved them and found ourselves fighting over the last few.

Broiled Buffalo Wings

Recipe via EllieKrieger.com

Serves 4

2 pounds chicken wings, split at the joint

1/4 cup cayenne pepper sauce, preferably Frank's Red Hot

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

3 tablespoons low-sodium chicken broth

3 large ribs celery, cut into sticks

2 large carrots, cut into sticks

 

Optional: 

Ranch, Blue Cheese, and/or Hot Sauce for dipping

Preheat Broiler.

Place the wings in a large pot and fill the pot with water to cover by about 2 inches. Bring to a boil, then continue to boil for 10 minutes. Drain.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the cayenne pepper sauce, lemon juice, and broth. Reserve.

Transfer the wings to a broiler pan and broil 5 to 6 inches from the flame, until the skin begins to blister and brown, 5 to 6 minutes. Turn the wings over and broil 4 to 5 minutes more.

Transfer the wings to a baking sheet, drizzle with the reserved sauce, and toss well to coat. Place the baking sheet under the broiler for 1 minutes to heat the wings and the sauce together.

Serve with extra hot sauce on the side, celery sticks, and the blue cheese dip.

Serving size: 4 to 5 pieces, 2 tablespoons dip, and 4 to 5 celery and/or carrot sticks

Per serving: Calories 240; Total Fat 12 g (Sat Fat 4 g, Mono Fat 3.6 g, Poly Fat 3 g); Protein 27 g; Carb 4g; Fiber 1 g; Cholesterol 95 mg; Sodium 710 mg

Theme: It's In Your Hands!

Peking-Style Roast Chicken {Summer Slim Down Series #8}

 

Dear Mr. Jacques Pepin,

I wanted to cook a healthy meal that the whole family loves, roast chicken. We all love roast chicken and we also love using the leftover in dishes throughout the week, so I turned to you and your French ways for a good roast chicken recipe. Now, maybe some of this is my fault. I suppose I was walking on the wild side yesterday because I chose your Peking-Syle Chicken.

I chose this particular recipe because we were featuring condiments, sauces, dressings, and all manner of sauces over at I Heart Cooking Clubs. When I saw your recipe for Peking-Style Chicken using soy sauce, honey, Tabasco, and balsamic vinegar I thought, "great, I can kill two birds with one stone."

I started with a really good organic chicken. We can roast any chicken, but a quality organic chicken always tastes a whole lot better.

Then I unpacked my chicken from the wrapping and decided that I wasn't going to take out the wishbone in order to make it easier to carve. I do not like handling raw chicken, Jacques. I always short change this part. I also didn't truss the chicken like you wanted me to because again, I dislike handling raw chicken. I trussed the bird real quick while grimacing and cringing on the inside. I was a vegetarian for 7 years for this reason. I do not dealing like with raw meat.

After washing my hands one hundred millions times and wiping down every hard surface in my kitchen because I loathe raw chicken, I then proceeded to boil the chicken for 3 minutes and then simmer it for 2 minutes. I understand this will help crisp up the chicken skin, which is a desired goal for Peking Chicken.

Then I slathered my chicken with the Peking mixture of soy sauce, honey, Tabasco, and balsamic vinegar. This is going to be excellent I thought. Everything is looking good. Jacques will not let me down.

I slid that chicken in the oven and at the half hour mark it looked beautiful, with gorgeous color. I basted it with the Peking sauce again and slid it in for another half hour. When I pulled it out I panicked. Why was my chicken looking so burnt, Jacques? Do you know the horror I felt? Nevertheless, I persisted. I guess this chicken is meant to look burnt, so I slather it with the remaining Peking sauce and stick it back in the oven. Now I am fretting and freaking out because I'm counting on you for a wonderful roast chicken. Except, the air smells somewhat acrid in my house - a burning smell like hot burning soy sauce and vinegar. I start totally questioning my choices and I run to the kitchen to cover my chicken with tinfoil so the skin won't get any darker. I know this may prevent the skin from being crisp. I start freaking out about ruining the chicken.

After being in full-blown panic mode for at least 30 minutes, I pull the chicken out and the chicken is dark and burnt looking. It's as dark as my cast iron pan. The bright sunlight is reflecting off the chicken and I cannot get a good picture of my burnt-looking chicken. My husband is laughing at me because I'm taking a picture of a burnt looking chicken and I'm doing it over and over again with a craze. Then I start laughing like a maniac because Jacques, you have me taking pictures of a burnt ass chicken! Why am I taking pics of a burnt looking chicken? My husband watches me move the chicken all over the kitchen trying to get a decent picture and he bellows, "it will look burnt no matter what you do."

Finally, in an effort to defy my husband, I decide to cut the chicken and take a picture of the thigh and leg alongside my baby red potatoes and creamed peas. There I think, it doesn't look so bad now.

The crisis is averted. The skin is definitely crisp and the chicken is just fine, but we definitely prefer a more classic roast chicken and decide that we are not fans of the Peking-Style. 

That said, I will not be walking on the wild side for awhile, Jacques. I thought the chicken would have a dark red lacquered look, but oh no that just wasn't the case, was it Jacques? You've never really stressed me out before, or done me wrong, and the chicken really was ok, so I won't totally quit you, Jacques. However, I will take a break. A warning about the color, Jacques. That's all I ask for.

I still love you though,

Kim of Stirring the Pot

P.S. Here are some links to great roast chicken recipes that I've shared on my blog. Roast chicken is a great way to have a healthy meal and also enjoy some quick healthy leftovers.

The Very Best (and also the fussiest): Julia Child's Roast Chicken

The Second Best (but also my go-to recipe because Julia's is so fussy):  Ina Garten's Engagement Roast Chicken 

The Roast Chicken Smeared With 2 Sticks of Butter (and from the archives): Tyler Florence's Ultimate Roast Chicken 

 

Peking-Style Chicken

Adapted from Essential Pepin

by Jacques Pepin

Serves 4

1 chicken (about 4 pounds)

1-1/2 teaspoons honey

2 tablespoons dark soy sauce

1 teaspoon Tabasco sauce

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

12 ounces small button mushrooms, cleaned

1/2 cup water

Notes: I didn't have mushrooms so I added 2 heads of unpeeled garlic cloves to the bottom of my roasting dish prior to roasting the chicken. In my mind you can't go wrong with roasted garlic as a side.

Preheat the oven to 375F. Bring 10 cups water to a boil in a large pot.

Meanwhile, remove the wishbone from the chicken (I did not do this but will include directions below). Fold the wings of the chicken under the back and truss it with kitchen twine to help maintain the birds compact shape (I did not do this either).

Lower the chicken breast side down into the boiling water. Return the water to a boil over high heat (this will take about 3 minutes). As soon as the water is boiling, reduce the heat to low and simmer the chicken gently for 2 minutes. Drain and place the chicken breast side up on a rack in a roasting pan.

Mix the honey, soy sauce, Tabasco, and vinegar together in a small bow Brush the chicken on all sides with some of the mixture. Roast breast side up for about 30 minutes.

Brush the breast side of the chicken again with the honey mixture, then roast for another 30 minutes. 

Arrange the mushrooms in one layer under the rack in the pan and add the water. Brush the chicken with the remaining honey mixture and roast for 15 minutes longer.

Transfer the chicken to a platter. Pour the accumulated juices and the mushrooms into a saucepan. Let stand for 2 to 3 minutes, then spoon off as much fast from the surface as possible, and reheat if necessary. 

Cut the chicken into pieces and serve with the juices and mushrooms.

How To Remove The Wishbone From The Chicken: The wishbone is often removed from chicken, duck, and other birds to make carving easier. To remove the wishbone, place the bird on its back and lift the skin at the neck to expose the flesh. Slide the point of a paring knife along either side of the wishbone, cutting into the flesh (about 1/2 inch deep for a chicken). Then insert your thumb and index finger on either side of the wishbone and pry it out.

How To Truss A Chicken: Trussing a stuffed bird helps keep the stuffing in. Trussing also helps a bird hold its shape, whether it is stuffed or not, so it cooks evenly and looks better on the serving platter. Nevertheless, trussing is usually optional!

To truss a chicken, use fairly thick cotton kitchen twine, so it doesn't cut your fingers. Slide a length of twine under the tail and around the tips of the drumsticks, then cross the twine above the chicken and slide both ends of the twine under the tips of the drumsticks to create a figure 8. Hold the ends of the twine together, which will close the tail opening. Pull the ends of twine around the sides of the bird until they join at the neck end, next to the wings, and tighten the twine, securing it behind the wings or behind the stump of the neck; tie a double knot so the twine doesn't slide off. Remove the twine before serving. 

A Nigel Slater Favorites Roundup

Over at I Heart Cooking Clubs  we have been cooking and celebrating the recipes of Nigel Slater for the past six months.  This is our very last week cooking with Nigel and I always like to end my six month run with a favorites roundup.

I can honestly say spending time in the kitchen with Nigel was a very pleasant adventure.  His recipes were simple, no-fuss, and very family friendly.  Everything we tried was delicious.  However, I ran across a few favorites that I have turned to again and again.  These were the recipes that were repeated in my kitchen over and over and have since become favorites.

 (click on recipe title for link to recipes)

 Roast Chicken Wings

Nigel's Roast Chicken Wings are so unbelievably delicious.  After spending some time in the oven the chicken wings become very crispy, sticky, and coated with flavor.  I actually prefer these wings to the deep fried version.  We have made these wings several times now and each time we change the flavor profile a little. We've tried them plain with salt and pepper, lemon and pepper, with a buffalo dry rub, and with Lawry's seasoning.  Delicious each and every time.

Brown Rice, Carrot and Cashew Pilau

Nigel's Brown Rice, Carrot and Cashew Pilau looks like a really simple dish.  At first glance it might not really get your attention.  I'm here to tell you that it is an incredible rice dish!  I love the chewy texture of the brown rice, the sweetness of the carrots, and the crunch from the cashews.  I've made this rice dish nearly every week since.  It can be served as a side dish, but with a little broccoli or shredded chicken mixed in it is substantial enough for a main dish.

"Needs Must" Fettucine Alfredo

My daughter, who is a total pasta fanatic, loves Fettucine Alfredo.  Lucky for her this is a good thing because she actually needs to gain weight.  I've made different versions of Fettucine Alfredo in the past and they can be tricky and never really seem to turn out well.  This version of Fettucine Alfredo is the easiest I've tried and it's also the best I've tried.  Major Score!  Five simple ingredients and you are all set for an indulgent and comforting pasta dish.  Odds are you have everything you need to make this on hand.  I highly recommend this dish!

Peppers Stuffed with Pork

Stuffed peppers are a real favorite in my house so I may be a bit biased when it comes to them.  Saying that, these Peppers Stuffed with Pork were some of our favorite stuffed peppers ever!  Of course, I should take this time to say that pork is probably our meat of choice so again there may be a bit of bias going on.  These were so addictive and hard to stop eating. They went quickly.  Too quickly.

Chicken Cakes with Lettuce and Mayo

I'm ending my roundup with these Chicken Cakes with Lettuce and Mayo.  There's shredded chicken, bacon, and cheese and it's fried in bacon fat.  Enough said, right?  Pretty much speaks for itself.

Theme: Cheerio Nigel!

Next week we will begin cooking the recipes of Diana Henry.  Diana Henry has written seven cookbooks and writes a column for The Telegraph.  She has a plethora of recipes to chose from and it is going to be a very fun six months.  If you'd like information on joining us, head over to the I Heart Cooking Clubs Welcome page. 

Giada's Buffalo Shrimp {A Delicious and Healthier Option!}

For about three weeks now there have been NO CHICKEN WINGS in the markets. Zero. Zilch. Not even in the next town over. Not in a 50 mile radius. I have to wonder, has everyone been hoarding chicken wings for Superbowl weekend? 

What do you do when you can't have the classic chicken wing for Game Day? You make buffalo shrimp! Then you realize you can't find JUMBO tail on shrimp ANYWHERE within a 50 miles radius so you have to make do with small sized shrimp that are masquerading as large, and with the tail off! IT IS WHAT IT IS you say. After all, IT IS WHAT IT IS happens to be our new motto, right?

So, while we wait for jumbo shrimp and chicken wings to make their return to the market, we will make do with little tail off shrimp marinated in hot sauce, minced garlic, lemon zest, olive oil, and salt then sauteed (or grilled) in the pan before being doused in more hot sauce and served with ranch, celery, and carrots. And guess what? We will enjoy it because IT IS DELICIOUS and let's face it, way more figure friendly than chicken wings.

So, Buffalo Shrimp, no matter their size, are delicious in my book and I will definitely be making this recipe again as soon as I can get my hands on some good jumbo sized shrimp. Giada includes a recipe for a Goat Cheese Dip to serve alongside the shrimp, but personally that doesn't sound too appealing to me and I think it's just an extra step you don't need. Ranch is a great alternative, but really I prefer no dip because I simply like to enjoy the taste of the shrimp. I reserve the ranch dip strictly for dipping the veggies in. I will warn you that the shrimp have a healthy amount of hot sauce on them and are quite spicy, so if you are a spice lightweight, then you may need to have a sauce alongside to help cool things down.

Buffalo Shrimp

Adapted from Food Network

By Giada De Laurentiis

Serves 2-4

1 pound jumbo shrimp, tail on (peeled and deveined)

1/4 cup hot sauce, such as Frank's (plus 2 tablespoons for serving)

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon grated lemon zest

4 cloves garlic, smashed and coarsely chopped

1/2 teaspoon salt

Note: This recipe on the Food Network includes goat cheese dipping sauce (click the food network link above to be directed to that recipe). That might be great for some who need to temper the heat. These are somewhat spicy. I prefer to use ranch. Also, I didn't have a grill pan and my shrimp were on the small side so I sauteed mine, but the recipe calls for grilling. I think grilling would be much better. Perhaps on a day when there is nicer weather and I have bigger shrimp.

In a medium bowl, toss the shrimp with the hot sauce, olive oil, lemon zest and garlic. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit at room temperature for 15 minutes.

Preheat a grill or grill panto medium-high heat. Sprinkle the shrimp with the salt and grill for 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until opaque at the center. Remove to a clean bowl and toss with the remaining 2 tablespoons hot sauce. Serve with ranch and veggies.

Stirring the Pot Turns Ten Years Old {and My Top Ten Recipes Ever}!!

My passion for cooking started when I was barely big enough to stand on a stool and help my mom in the kitchen. Thankfully she never lost patience with me. I learned a lot. I fell in love.

Fast forward about 30 years. This picture was my first blog post back on January 6, 2009. We had just moved into our dream house. My daughter was 7 and my son was only 2 years old. I was a young stay at home mom with a passion for cooking and I was ready to go on an adventure. A food blogging adventure. This is the Stirring The Pot kitchen 10 years ago, brand new. It's 10 years later and that kitchen is definitely showing some wear.

The inspiration for Stirring the Pot came from reading food blogs and watching the movie Julie & Julia. Julie & Julia had just hit the movie theatre and it was all the inspiration I needed to choose a cookbook of my own to cook through. At the time I was really into Tyler Florence and had just received his newest cookbook, Stirring the Pot. This was the one. I only had one dilemma. Tyler's cookbook had lots of dishes I knew my family wouldn't eat. My husband and daughter were picky eaters and my son was allergic to all sorts of things. I needed someone who enjoyed food like I did and I knew just the person.

I called my mom and explained what I wanted to do. She agreed to eat whatever I cooked and Stirring The Pot was born. My first blog dish was Tyler's Roasted Tomato Soup with Fresh Basil. I knew nothing about taking pictures (see below), but we enjoyed the soup and I did manage to make over 60 recipes from the book before I got distracted by other chefs and recipes and started branching out. Mom and I were having a wonderful time cooking and eating together. She held to her promise.  She ate everything and always had the best feedback.

Along the way, I met so many people who were just as passionate about food. This has been, without a doubt, the best part of this journey. I love and appreciate all of my foodie friends. I really enjoy talking about food and life with you!

I was lucky enough to join in with a bunch of sweet ladies and form a cooking group called I Heart Cooking Clubs where we would choose one chef and focus on cooking their recipes for a six month period. Now it's 10 years later and my great friend Deb and I are still going strong. Together with a group of wonderful friends we've managed to cook the food of 19 chefs!


I've also had the chance to meet a few celebrity chefs. I was able to catch Tyler Florence at a book signing and have him sign my copy of Stirring The Pot. I was also able to meet Giada De Laurentiis at a book signing. However, the best celebrity experience was meeting Bobby Flay.

He came to town and did a live cooking show. He was working on making an apple dessert and took questions from the audience as he did so. I managed to get in line and be the last one to speak. I confessed my crush, told him he was gorgeous, and then he gave me a hug and handed me the dessert. My own dessert made by Bobby Flay himself. I still remember how ecstatic I was.

I never imagined starting a food blog would be one of the best things I could do for myself. This is my 892nd post! I've cooked over 900 recipes! I was able to share them with my mom and my family and I have it all recorded! I've made the most wonderful like-minded friends, I've met celebrities, I've participated in many cook along groups and food challenges, done guest posts, wrote cookbook reviews, received cookbooks, cookware, and ingredients for free, I've had big kitchen failures, and I've learned so much. Most of all I was able to realize my goals and then some, and that is such a great feeling! I would encourage anyone with a passion to start small. The sky really is the limit and you have no idea where your journey will take you.

Now let's get to the good part...THE RECIPES!

These are the best of the best. The consistent crowd pleasers. The tried and true. The ones I turn to again and again. My approach was to remove any emotion or bias towards the food and focus solely on which recipes were written perfectly and produced the best results each and every time. I'm so happy with this list. I didn't plan it, but there is a mix of everything: breakfast, soup, pasta, main courses, and even a dessert! There may be a lot of chicken in this roundup, but it's not because it's our favorite. It's simply because the recipes are outstanding and have proven to be tried and true. These are gems. Consistently delicious recipes that turn out perfectly each and every time and that, my friends, is what it's all about. The search for go-to recipes that stand the test of time!

Madhur Jaffrey's Delicious Chicken Bits
 These Delicious Chicken Bits are hands down the #1 recipe that is requested in my house. My family refers to this dish as Indian Chicken and I have made it at least 50 times since making it the first time in 2012. The chicken marinates in a mixture of black pepper, turmeric, cayenne pepper, cumin, thyme, garlic powder, paprika, salt and oil and then it gets a quick sear and finishes cooking in the oven for 8 minutes. It is easy, quick, and the chicken bits are little flavor bombs. Jaffrey says to serve the chicken bits on their own as an appetizer, but we enjoy them over rice with a green veggie on the side. If I had to pick only one top favorite recipe on Stirring The Pot for all 10 years, it would hands down be this one. If you are a meat eater, you simply MUST MAKE this recipe!

Jamie Oliver's Farfalle with a Smoked Bacon and Pea Sauce

 I first made Jamie Oliver's Farfalle with a Smoked Bacon and Pea Sauce back in 2011 for my pasta-loving daughter. It was an instant hit and has been a dish that has been requested over and over. I have taken the liberty to adapt the recipe a touch over the years. I like to make it a little more luscious by adding a touch more cream, Parmesan, and about 4 ounces of  Mascarpone. This makes the final dish very creamy and flavorful. This is definitely a family-friendly dish and I love how quick and easy it is. My daughter has literally grown up eating this one. So hard to believe she will turn 18 soon and graduate from high school.

Tyler Florence's Big Fat Chocolate Chip Cookies

 This one is from way back in the archives, 2009, to be exact. I made these cookies just a few months into blogging and I have made them ever since. If I were to pick one baking recipe to share with the world, it would be these cookies. Oh my goodness, they are so good! If you've never made these then run to the store and grab the ingredients right now. Buy the best chocolate you can get your hands on. Tyler's recipe uses dark chocolate. Use whichever chocolate is your favorite. I use semi-sweet chocolate and I prefer making these cookies with Ghiradelli sold in the block and cut into big chunks. This recipe makes 8 giant cookies. They will be the best cookies you ever had. You will be SO proud of them. They will disappear before you know it. They will be your go-to recipe for everything: potlucks, birthdays, bake sales, gatherings, etc. Just make them!

Tasty Kitchen's Easy Peasy Chicken Legs

 Yes, I'm sharing chicken legs on my Top Ten Recipes Ever list, BUT these are SO GOOD. This is a recipe to put in your back pocket when you're looking for something easy and delicious that will please your family. This recipe is a home cook's best-kept secret. Put it in your back pocket. I try to buy quality chicken legs, organic, if possible. You'll need 2-3 for each person you're serving. Drizzle them with oil and dust them with a hefty dose of Lawry's seasoning and salt and pepper and roast at 400F for about an hour or so (depends on size and quantity). Prepare for your house to smell absolutely amazing! The chicken is crispy on the outside, extremely flavorful, and the interior is fall-off-the-bone tender. These Easy Peasy Chicken Legs pair well with just about anything, are very budget-friendly, and people will go on and on about them.

Rick Bayless' Quick-Fried Shrimp with Sweet Toasty Garlic

 I love shrimp and if you've been following me for any time at all then you know I've shared a lot of shrimp recipes. They have all been delicious, but this one is THE BEST. What makes Bayless' Quick-Fried Shrimp with Sweet Toasty Garlic so much better than the rest? Well, the answer is simple. It's his Mojo de Ajo, a garlic oil that is made by chopping two entire heads of garlic and slow cooking it in oil for around 30 minutes before adding chiles for heat and a touch of lime zest for brightness. These shrimp are completely irresistible! The first time I made them I accidentally ate all of them straight from the pan. This is the best recipe I've found if you love the classic pairing of shrimp and garlic. Just be sure to cook the garlic low and slow!

Yotam Ottolenghi's Hummus Kawarma with Lemon Sauce

 If you love hummus then this is YOUR RECIPE. I knew Ottolenghi's hummus would be delicious, but I had no idea how perfect this recipe was going to be. The creamiest hummus cooked from scratch topped with crispy bits of ground lamb, garbanzo beans, buttered and toasted pine nuts, and the most refreshing and tangy lemon sauce. Wow...this is the stuff of dreams. The hummus to end all hummus. I could eat it every day for the rest of my life.

Jacques Pepin's Egg and Onion Gratin

 Cooking with Jacques Pepin was so inspiring and I learned so many new ways to prepare food. Prior to making this Egg and Onion Gratin, I had never thought of making a gratin out of hard-boiled eggs, but this dish blew my mind. Hard-boiled eggs and sauteed onions topped with a Gruyere cheese bechamel sauce. It's a departure from the regular old breakfast and it's so delightful served on toast. I knew it was one of my top favorite recipes ever as soon as I took the first bite!

Jacques Pepin's Onion Soup Lyonnaise-Style

 This recipe is perfection. Completely perfection. Pepin's Onion Soup Lyonnaise-Style. First of all, Pepin is a genius and if anyone knows French Onion Soup it's him. Second of all, it has not just one layer of bread and cheese, but two. Third of all, this is a restaurant-quality dish and people will literally sing your praises.

Nigel Slater's Roast Chicken Wings
 We love chicken wings and this recipe was game-changing for us! Prior to trying this recipe, I had no idea that roasting wings resulted in superior results. I'm convinced the roasting enhances the flavor of the chicken itself while also lending a perfectly crispy exterior. When I first made Slater's recipe I made his Lemon and Cracked Pepper version, but now we follow his recipe and change up the flavors all the time. My husband and kids think roast chicken wings at home are far better than the fried wings you eat at any restaurant. I have made these and taken them to potlucks and parties and I can never seem to make enough. They fly off the plate in minutes.

Ina Garten's Engagement Roast Chicken
  Odds are you've heard of Ina Garten's Engagement Roast Chicken over the years and I'm here to tell you that it's for good reason.  I've made a number of roast chickens over the years and this one is by far the VERY BEST. If you're going to make a roast chicken, this should be the one. A perfectly crispy golden brown chicken that is juicy and tender and topped with flavorful onion gravy. I recommend this to all of my friends when they ask me for recipe ideas. Ina knows chicken and this recipe cannot be beaten. This recipe should be in every home cook's arsenal!

 Thank you to everyone who has been a part of my journey! I'm looking forward to the next 10 years!

*This post is dedicated to my mom, the best taste-tester there ever was. Thank you, mom!