My First Recipe Contest

[tyroleancutie]

Alouette and the Culinary Schools of the Art Institutes are having a Recipe Contest this year. I entered with 6 different recipes and two of my recipes are in the semi finals. There are five recipes in the semi-final and the best one will go to Las Vegas for the big competition. I am so excited - this was the first contest I ever entered.

[Robyn1007]

That is so cool! Keep us posted.

[Terri_A]

How exciting! You'll definitely have to keep us posted. Can you share the recipes that you entered?

[tyroleancutie]

Can you share the recipes that you entered?

I can, but they are so easy, you guys will laugh. But they were looking for easy recipes.

One was a Sweet Potato-Ginger Soup and the other one a Stuffed Herbed Chicken.

[HealthyinMN]

Congrats Dani!

[donleyk]

Very cool!

[SheRa]

that's awesome! best of luck!!

[lindrusso]

Way to go! :)

[ErinM]

Dani, that's awesome!

Maybe you'll get to be on one of those Food Network Challenge shows! They always seem to film those in Vegas.

[Peweh]

Tell your sous-chef dog to pack his bags, you're going to Vegas!!

Best Wishes.

[MISSINDI]

Dani, that's awesome! Good luck. :D

[tyroleancutie]

Oh well, no trip to Vegas for me :( But I made 2nd Place with the Stuffed Chicken in the Semi Finals and will get $300 from Alouette. I think I did pretty good for my first Contest :)

[Robyn1007]

Sorry you don't get the trip but the $300 will be nice! You really should post the recipe. (Or did I miss it somehwere?)

[tyroleancutie]

Sure, I can post the recipe. It is really easy though ;)

Stuffed Herbed Chicken
Serves 6

6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, 1/2-pound each
Fresh Spinach Leaves, enough to cover each chicken breast
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes marinated in olive oil, drained and finely chopped
1 package Aloutte Cheese Spread Artichoke and Spinach, room temperature
Salt
Pepper

Preheat oven to 350°F

Put each chicken breast half between two layers of plastic wrap, on a chopping board, and use a meat mallet to pound until 1/4-inch thick

Mix chopped sun-dried Tomatoes with Cheese Spread and set aside. Blanch fresh spinach leaves, drain and set aside.

Lay the chicken breasts flat; season each side with salt and pepper. Spread the cheese-tomatoe mixture on each breast, covering the surface of the breasts. Layer on the spinach leaves. Starting at the shortest end of the chicken breast, roll up as tightly as possible and tuck in the ends to form a neat roll. Secure each breast with 2 toothpicks.

Transfer chicken breasts to a greased baking dish, seam side down. Bake at 350°F for 40-50 minutes, depending on the size of the breast, until the internal temperature is 165°F, the juices run clear, and the chicken is slightly browned.

Allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving.

[lindrusso]

Congrats! That's great! :)

[tyroleancutie]

And here is the recipe for the Soup, which made the 4th place.


Sweet Potato – Ginger Soup
Serves 8

2lbs Sweet Potatoes, peeled and diced
1 oz piece Ginger, peeled and halved
5 cups Vegetable Stock (Plus 1 cup reserve if Soup is too thick after blending)
6 oz Alouette Crème Fraiche (or Light Sour Cream since I only used the Creme Fraiche for the Contest)
Salt & Pepper to taste
Cinnamon to taste
Nutmeg to taste


Simmer Sweet Potatoes and Ginger in Vegetable Broth until Sweet Potatoes are tender. Remove Ginger

Using an immersion blender or traditional blender, puree until very smooth and return to pan (if traditional blender was used)

If soup is too thick, add reserved Vegetable broth and bring back to simmer. Turn of heat, add Crème Fraiche and season with Salt, Pepper, Cinnamon and Nutmeg.

Serve with Bread

[Peweh]

Congratulations! The chicken dish looks like a great quick meal for one of those busy nights, I will have to try it!

[patissac]

Thats still awesome you got that far, Too cool! Congrats!
Your chicken recipe is simple but it sounds really, really good! Sometimes simplicity is best ;)