Braised Chicken in a Mushroom Garlic Sauce

OK y'all! I am back to report another AH-mazing one pot meal!!! Don't you just love NOT cleaning a million dishes after dinner?? I know I do! 

Many of y'all know I LOVE to braise my meat..and I had a lot of DM's last night on the gram about braising. Here is the deal.. if you take just the few extra minutes to sear your meat ...the flavor is TEN times better!! So I almost always do it this way. It also leaves a very tender and moist  ( Lauren if you are reading this I'm sorry I know you hate that word :))-) end product. 

So what exactly is braising?..

Allow me to explain.

Braised Meat: Braising is a simple cooking method that involves browning ( or searing) meat in oil, then cooking it in a small amount of liquid in a tightly covered pan ( like a dutch oven) either on the stove top or in the oven. This process helps develop flavor and turn tougher meat cuts -fork tender. 

So there you have it! This is why I love to cook my chicken thighs, roasts, short ribs, pork cuts..and so forth with this particular method!

Onto the recipe!!!!

Ingredients:

4 skin on chicken thighs- bone in

1 package of mushrooms

1 package of zoodles ( optional )

12 cloves of garlic 

olive oil

butter

2 cups of chicken stock

salt and pepper

red pepper flakes

McCormicks chicken and fish seasoning 

2 large tablespoons of almond flour ( or regular flour)

Procedure:

In your dutch oven - heat some olive oil over high heat ( but low enough that it hasn't reached smoke point). season your chicken and then lay the chicken skin side down in the hot oil for five minutes. Do this for each side.. then set aside on a plate. 

Pour out the oil and add 2 table spoons of butter. Once the butter is melted, add in the mushrooms, zoodles and garlic. Cook these down for a few minutes. Then add your chicken stock and almond flour. Stir and break up the flour. *Remember this acts as a thickening agent to the stock*.. its going to leave you with a nice creamy sauce to go atop your chicken once everything is finished!!!!. Next place the chicken back on top of the veggies and place the lid over your dutch oven. cook for 30 minutes on medium heat and then check it halfway through. 

Once it is finished you can pour into a bowl and top with parmesan cheese!!!

Enjoy!

Happy New Year!!! & Sweet Potato Skillet

Happy New Year Friends!!!!!

Another year has come and gone and since I have gotten older it seems like the years fly by faster and faster....

Something I really try and do is enjoy the small things and thank God in the quiet moments. It may not sound like much but I feel like it truly grounds me and keeps my positive and grateful attitude. I am praying for a WONDERFUL 2019 and cannot wait to see how God works in my life. 

What are your goals and resolutions?? 

I try and mostly set specific goals that way I am constantly working towards something.. 

I feel if I set a resolution and I break it then I fail and I don't want to continue any longer.. so I strive for Goals! 

Here are some of mine:

*Be Consistent in Prayer and Bible Study

* Consistent alone time with B

* Drink more H20!!!

* Exercise 3 times a week

* Get on the floor more with my kids and PLAY

*Invite a couple over for dinner and bless them with a good meal and conversation!

*Join a life group 

* Fall in love with life.. be grateful, thankful, appreciative, look to God for EVERYTHING!

Okay so now that we are in 2019 I have so many fun ideas for this little blog!! I say this so much but I don't feel like I will ever say it enough! Thank you for reading :) Thank you for encouraging me.. Thank you for lifting me up!!!! 

One of our "family goals"- (we do personal and family goals) is to eat cleaner..
I already feel like I try and tweak so many meals I find in order to fulfill a healthy diet but friends.. I'm gonna try harder! I know so many of you are in a weightloss rut or for whatever reason just NEED to eat cleaner for your body ..so I am dedicated to trying to find the healthiest meals for us!!!! This sweet potato skillet is FULL of vitamins and healthy fats, lean proteins, healthy veggies.. it's so great! This meal can easily be done in a cast iron skillet OR be made into a sheet pan meal if you do not own a dutch oven. I would avoid the crockpot or IP for this one though.

Sweet Potato Skillet:

1 sweet potato chunked

1 purple onion diced

1 shallot diced

1 zuchinni chunked

1 yellow squash chunked

1 red bell pepper chunked

2 cups spinach

1/2 cup cilantro

olive oil

salt and pepper

cumin/cayenne

1 vocado 

shredded monterrey jack cheese

Procedure:

Over medium high heat throw in your onion and shallot and cook them down until soft. Next add your ground turkey and sprinkle some seasonings over the turkey meat.. cook until brown and crumbly. Next add your sweet potato, zucchini, squash, and bell pepper.  Stir and pop the lid on top of your dutch oven ( if using a cast iron skillet pop any lid over the top or simply just wait until all veggies are soft) leave the lid on for about 15 minutes ( continuously check your veggies.. they are done when they are FORK TENDER) once veggies are finished add in the spinach and cilantro and a little extra olive oil for some good fat. Stir the mixture together and allow the spinach and cilantro to wilt. Pour into a bowl and top with fresh avocado and some monterrey jack cheese!!!!! 

**SHEET PAN VERSION**

(Prep your veggies as stated above)

Over a foil lined baking sheet sprinkle some coconut spray so your veggies don't stick.. add your sweet potato, red bell pepper, zucchini and squash. pop in the oven at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes or until the sweet potato is cooked. 

in a pan you will need to add your onion and shallot to some olive oil.. then add your turkey and seasonings. Cook until brown and crumbly..then add in the spinach and cilantro. 

Once the veggies in the oven are done you can combine everything in a large bowl and toss well...add in some extra seasonings if you need. Top with avocado and the M.J cheese :)