SANDRA'S EASY ONE-PAN CHICKEN THIGH and RICE CREOLE BAKE

First, I sear the chicken thighs, then add all the other ingredients,

cover and bake for 50 minutes = absolute perfection with crispy, moist chicken

and heavenly seasoned rice!

Servings: 3-4

Prep: 5 Mins.

Cook  10 Mins.

Bake: 50 Mins.

Rest: 10 Mins.

INGREDIENTS

Spice blend (divided):

2 teaspoons Creole seasoning (I use Tony Chachere's in the green container)

1 teaspoon Lawry's seasoning salt

2 teaspoons garlic powder

2 teaspoons onion powder

2 teaspoons paprika

1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon freshly-ground black pepper

Chicken:

3-4 bone-in skin-on chicken thighs, (mine are from Costco the 3-pack tends to come with 3/4 thighs)

1/2 of above spice blend mixture (reserve other 1/2 for rice, below)

1 teaspoon Mazola oil

Plus, 1 tablespoon Mazola oil for searing

Rice:

1 cup raw Calrose rice (short-grain)

Remaining 1/2 of spice mixture

1 tablespoon Worcestershire

2 tablespoons ketchup

2 cups low-sodium chicken broth

1 teaspoon lemon juice

METHOD

Preheat oven to 400F. Place an ovenproof medium-size stainless steel skillet, with lid, aside.

Add all the spice blend ingredients onto a paper plate, then whisk to combine; set aside.

Place the skillet (see photo) over high heat on stovetop with 2 tablespoons of Mazola oil.

Meanwhile, pat chicken thighs dry with paper towel, including using kitchen shears to cut any excess fat without disturbing skin on under-side.  Place prepared thighs in a medium bowl.  Add half the spice mixture and drizzle with 1 teaspoon Mazola oil, then gently rub spices into both sides to coat evenly.

Place chicken skin-side down using tongs into hot skillet, while sliding back and forth initially when doing so to prevent sticking. Sear for 4 minutes on skin-side down, turn over then do the same on the under-side for 4 more minutes. Remove seared chicken thighs to a paper plate and set aside; drain grease from pan while reserving drippings.

Reduce heat under pan to medium-high and add the raw rice and sauté for 2 minutes. Add the other 1/2 of the reserved spice mixture, ketchup, Worcestershire, and lemon juice; sauté for 30 seconds.

Deglaze pan with chicken stock while scraping bottom with a wooden spoon.  Using tongs, place the seared chicken thighs back into pan atop the rice, skin-side up.  Cover, then bake, undisturbed, for 50 minutes.

Remove pan from oven, leaving covered, and let rest for 10 minutes for chicken juices to redistribute. ~ Enjoy!

MAX’S LOBSTER-SHRIMP-KIELBASA CREOLE with STEAMED RICE

A perfectly seasoned Creole my husband

Max prepares using lobster,

shrimp and smoky kielbasa...

Servings: (6 to 8)

Prep: 10 Mins.

Cook: 30 Mins.

INGREDIENTS

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

½ red onion, diced

1 cup celery, diced

½ yellow bell pepper, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 (15-oz. cans) Italian stewed tomatoes, undrained (cut up tomatoes)

4 cups low-sodium beef broth

½ teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (or more if you like it spicier)

1 teaspoon Creole seasoning

2 bay leaves (remove after cooking)

2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

1 lb. ring of smoked kielbasa sausage

½ lb. cooked lobster tail chunks, thawed (from Costco)

½ lb. cooked shrimp, peeled and deveined

-- 4 cups prepared Basmati steamed rice (i.e., 2 cups raw rice cooked according to pkg. directions)

-- 1 prepared loaf of warm, crust French bread

Garnish option:

4 sprigs of fresh parsley

METHOD

In a dutch oven, melt the butter over medium-high heat and add onion, celery, bell pepper, and garlic; cooking until onions are translucent. 

Stir in stewed tomatoes, beef broth, spices; bring to boil, and then reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes.  

Stir in parsley, add the kielbasa, and simmer for 5 minutes.

Stir in lobster tail chunks, and shrimp; simmer for 3 minutes.  

To serve, mound steamed rice in center of bowls and ladle Creole around rice, and garnish with a sprig of parsley. Be sure to include French bread slices for sopping up the wonderful broth. ~ Enjoy!

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 Tip: Store leftovers in refrigerator in separate containers, i.e., rice in one, and Creole in another.

MAX’S KING SALMON CREOLE

Max has perfected this dish over the years, 

which he often makes for his crew aboard our 

F/V Chelsey using Alaska Wild White 

or Red King Salmon, Shrimp/Prawns, 

Scallops, or Halibut (or any combination thereof), 

and the spice level and flavors turn out just right 

- every time...(This is one of my Mom’s favorite 

dishes that he makes for her 

during hunting trips to Yakutat, Alaska)...

Servings: (4)
Prep: 5 Mins. |
Cook: 30 Mins.

Posted courtesy of Max via Sandra

INGREDIENTS

1/3 medium red onion, diced
1 stalk of celery, diced
½ red bell pepper, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 (15 oz. can) Italian seasoned stewed tomatoes with juices, broken up (Max does so using a potato masher in a small ceramic bowl)
2 (15 oz. cans) low-sodium beef broth
1 teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
--(or more if you like it spicier as we do)
1/2 tablespoon creole seasoning
2 bay leaves
1 lb. raw, boneless, skinless king salmon fillets, cut into ¾” chunks (2 fillets)

--2 cups steamed rice (i.e., 1 cup raw, and cooked according to pkg. directions)

Garnish: with freshly chopped parsley

METHOD

Begin making rice according to package directions.

In a large dutch oven, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the onion, celery, bell pepper and saute until the onions are translucent. Add the garlic and continue to saute for 30 seconds longer. Stir in the stewed tomatoes, beef broth, spices, and then bring to boil, and then reduce to a simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Check the consistency, and add more beef broth, if needed. Stir in king salmon chunks, and continue cooking just a couple of minutes, just until they turn opaque pink and are cooked through (do not overcook or salmon will become dry and tough).

To serve, place steamed rice equally among four pasta-type bowls, and ladle the King Salmon Creole over the top (or around rice as I did in the photo above), and garnish with freshly parsley. – Enjoy!

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Tip: When storing left-overs in refrigerator, Max does so in separate bowls (rice in one, and King Salmon Creole in another) to prevent rice from losing its integrity.

MAX'S SMOKY KIELBASA CREOLE with STEAMED RICE

This is such a fabulous dish
that Max prepares using kielbasa as he did tonight.

Other nights he'll change it up using halibut, salmon, shrimp/prawns
and/or scallops every few weeks...

(Serves 6)
Prep Time: 10 min
Cook Time: 30 min.

INGREDIENTS

· 1 lb. ring of smoked kielbasa sausage
· 4 tablespoons butter
· ½ medium onion, diced
· 1 cup celery, diced
· ½ red bell pepper, diced
· 2 cloves garlic, minced
· 1 (15-oz. can) Italian stewed tomatoes, undrained (break up tomatoes)
· 2 (15-oz. cans) of beef broth
· 1 teaspoon kosher salt
· 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (or more if you like it spicier)
· 1 teaspoon creole seasoning
· 2 bay leaves (remove after cooking)
· 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (or 2 teaspoons dried)

--- 2 cups prepared steamed rice (i.e., 1 cup raw rice cooked according to pkg. directions)

Garnish option:
· Fresh chopped parsley

METHOD

In a dutch oven, melt the butter over medium-high heat, add onion, celery, bell pepper, and garlic, cooking until tender. Stir in stewed tomatoes, beef broth, spices; bring to boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes (adding water, if needed); stir in parsley, add the kielbasa, and cook for 5 minutes.

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Tip: Refrigerate leftovers in separate containers, i.e., rice in one, and creole in the other.