One-Pot Chicken & Biscuits

I have another tasty cast iron skillet dish to share. I made this one-pot (skillet) chicken pot pie for our Valentine’s Day dinner. ❤

This recipe was adapted from epicurious.com, contributed by Sahara Henry-Bohoskey. I loved how the biscuit topping was crumbled and scattered over the top. The filling bubbled over and oozed over the sides of the pan- I was very happy that I placed the skillet on a baking sheet in the oven! Next time I would garnish each serving with fresh herbs to add a pop of color.

The original recipe notes that 1/4 cup of aged cheddar or one teaspoon of dried thyme, parsley, or rosemary could be added to the biscuit topping, if desired.

Yield: 8 servings

For the Biscuit Topping:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp Diamond Crystal or 1/4 tsp Morton kosher salt
• 6 T chilled unsalted butter, cut into pieces
• 1/2 cup plus 2 T heavy cream

For the Filling & To Assemble:

• 1 T vegetable oil (I used canola oil)
• 1 1/4 to 1 lbs skinless, boneless chicken thighs (about 4 or 5)
• 1 tsp Diamond Crystal or 1/2 tsp Morton kosher salt, divided, plus more
• 2 T unsalted butter, divided
• 1 small or 1/2 large yellow onion, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 medium carrot, scrubbed, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 medium (5–8 oz) waxy potato (such as red), cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 2 celery stalks, any leaves coarsely chopped and reserved, cut on a diagonal into 1/2-inch pieces
• 4 large garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper, plus more
• 2 T all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 1 cup chicken stock or water
• 1/2 cup heavy cream, plus more for brushing
• 1/2 cup fresh or frozen peas
• flaky sea salt
• fresh parsley, for garnish, optional

To Make the Biscuit Topping:

1. Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl to combine.
2. Add chilled unsalted butter, cut into pieces, and toss to coat.
3. Work in butter with your fingers or a pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
4. Add heavy cream and stir with a fork until a shaggy dough forms and no dry bits of flour remain.
5. Chill 20 minutes. Do ahead: Dough can be made 2 days ahead. Cover tightly and keep chilled.

To Make the Filling & To Assemble:

1. Place a rack in middle of oven; preheat to 450°. (I set my oven to true convection.)
2. Heat oil in a 10″ cast-iron skillet over medium-high.
3. Pat the chicken with paper towels to dry. Season both sides with salt.
4. Arrange chicken thighs in pan in a single layer and cook, undisturbed, until golden brown underneath, 5–7 minutes. Turn over and cook until almost cooked through, about 4 minutes. (Chicken will finish cooking through in the oven.)
5. Transfer to a cutting board; let cool slightly, then cut into 1-inch pieces. Reserve any accumulated liquid.
6. Reduce heat to medium and melt butter in pan (no need to clean).
7. Add chopped onion, carrot, and salt; stir to coat. Cook, stirring often, until onion is translucent, about 3 minutes.
8. Add chopped potato, celery, garlic, thyme, pepper, and remaining tablespoon of unsalted butter. Cook, stirring, 1 minute.
9. Add flour and stir to coat vegetables. Cook, stirring often, until flour coating is golden and nutty-smelling, about 3 minutes.
10. Add white wine, scraping up any browned bits from bottom of pan. Bring to a boil and cook until wine is reduced by half, about 1 minute.
11. Add chicken stock or water and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low, cover pan, and cook until mixture is thickened a bit, about 4 to 6 minutes.
12. Uncover pan and stir chicken and any accumulated juices, coarsely chopped celery leaves (if using), heavy cream, and peas into filling.
13. Taste and season with more kosher salt if needed.
14. Scatter pieces of dough over filling. Brush with cream and season with pepper and flaky sea salt.
15. Place skillet on a parchment paper-lined rimmed baking sheet to catch any drips and transfer to oven.
16. Bake until biscuits are golden brown and filling is bubbling, 20 to 30 minutes.
17. Let cool slightly before serving. Garnish with parsley, if desired.

Venetian Rice & Peas (Risi e Bisi)

In Venice, this classic dish is traditionally served on April 25th, St. Mark’s Day. This version was adapted from Michela Tasca, owner of Ca’ de Memi Farm and Bed and Breakfast in Piombino Dese, outside of Venice, Italy, via 177MilkStreet.com, contributed by Diane Unger.

The recipe is similar to risotto in its cooking method and because it incorporates arborio rice, but this dish is much more fluid and soupy. It is definitely for pea lovers! Whole peas and puréed peas are mixed into the creamy rice. I loved the vibrant, beautiful color of the finished dish.

Yield: Serves 4

• 1 medium carrot, peeled and thinly sliced
• 1 large white onion, half thinly sliced and half finely chopped
• 1 medium celery stalk, thinly sliced
• 2 teaspoons fennel seeds
• 1 quart chicken stock or broth
• 2 cups frozen peas, divided (1 cup frozen, 1 cup thawed & at room temperature)
• 2 cups lightly packed fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 4 ounces pancetta, cubed or finely chopped (I used uncured pancetta)
• 4 T salted butter, cut into 1 tablespoon pieces, divided
• 1 cup arborio or vialone nano rice
• coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 ounces (1 cup) finely grated Parmesan cheese, plus more to serve (I used Parmigiano-Reggiano)

1. In a medium pot, combine the carrot, sliced onion (reserve the chopped onion), celery, fennel seeds, stock (or broth), and 2 cups water. Bring to a boil over medium-high, then cover, reduce to medium-low and simmer until the vegetables have softened, 10 to 12 minutes.
2. Remove the pot from the heat. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the solids to a blender, draining as much of the liquid as possible. (It’s okay if some of the fennel seeds remain in the pot.) (I used a Vitamix.)
3. Add 1 cup of the stock to the blender along with the parsley and the still-frozen peas. (The frozen peas cool the mixture so that it remains a brilliant green.) Leave the remaining stock in the pot, covered, so that it remains warm. (I kept the pot over low heat.)
4. Blend the solids, parsley, frozen peas, and cup of stock until the mixture is completely smooth, 1 to 2 minutes; set aside. (You should have about 3 cups of purée.)
5. In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine the reserved chopped onion, pancetta, and 2 tablespoons of butter. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion and pancetta are lightly browned and the pancetta fat is rendered, 6 to 8 minutes. (I used a low, wide, enameled cast iron pot.)
6. Add the rice and stir until the grains are coated with fat, about 1 minute.
7. Stir in 1 cup of warm stock. Cook, stirring, until the liquid is mostly absorbed, about 3 to 5 minutes.
8. Ladle in additional stock to barely cover the rice, about 1 cup at a time, and simmer, stirring often, until the liquid is mostly absorbed, about 5 minutes per addition.
9. Repeat the addition of stock, about 4 or 5 times, until the rice is al dente and most of the liquid has been absorbed. This process should take 25 to 30 minutes.
10. Remove the pan from the heat and let stand uncovered for 5 minutes.
11. Add the thawed, room temperature peas and the reserved purée; stir into heated through, about 1 minute.
12. Add remaining 2 tablespoons of butter; stir until melted.
13. Stir in the Parmesan. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
14. Serve sprinkled with additional grated Parmesan, as desired.

One-Pan Orzo with Spinach & Feta

This is another weeknight dish loaded with spinach. I also incorporated my CSA turnip greens. It features many of the flavors of my favorite Greek dishes, including lemon zest, feta, and fresh herbs. I used parsley from my CSA share as well.

This recipe was adapted from The New York Times, contributed by Melissa Clark. It was very quick and easy to prepare. I used a large, wide enameled cast iron pot. I increased the amount of garlic and modified the cooking method.

Yield: 3 to 4 servings

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 4 large scallions, trimmed and thinly sliced, divided
• 2 to 4 large garlic cloves, minced
• 8 ounces baby spinach leaves (8 cups), coarsely chopped (I used 6oz spinach and 2oz turnip greens)
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 3/4 cups chicken or vegetable stock
• 1 cup orzo
• 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest (from 1 lemon)
• 3/4 cup crumbled feta (3 ounces), plus more for garnish
• 1/2 cup frozen peas, thawed
• 1 cup fresh dill, or use parsley or cilantro, chopped

1. Heat a 10-inch skillet over medium, then melt butter, 30 seconds to 1 minute. (I used a large and wide enameled cast iron pot.)
2. Stir in about three-quarters of the scallions (saving some of the green parts for garnish) and garlic, and cook until softened, stirring frequently, about 1 to 2 minutes.
3. Stir in stock and bring to a simmer.
4. Stir in orzo, lemon zest and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cover and simmer over medium-low heat until orzo is nearly cooked through and most of the liquid is absorbed, 8 to 10 minutes, stirring once or twice.
5. Stir in spinach (and other greens, if using), adding in batches if it doesn’t all fit in the pan at once, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until spinach is wilted, about 2 minutes.
6. Stir in cheese, peas, and dill/parsley/cilantro, cover the pan, and cook for another 1 minute, to finish cooking and warm the peas.
7. To serve, sprinkle with more cheese and the reserved scallions.

Shortcut Chicken & Dumplings

More weeknight comfort food! This dish uses rotisserie chicken meat and store-bought gnocchi as shortcuts to create a close match to traditional chicken and dumplings. It was quick to prepare and very tasty.

The recipe was adapted from The New York Times, contributed by Alexa Weibel. I incorporated my CSA parsley, leeks, carrots, and collard greens. In addition, this soup could easily gobble up many other vegetables such as frozen peas, fennel, squash, parsnips, or mushrooms. We ate it with a green salad. Great.

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 4 to 5 cups 1/2-inch ribbons of collard greens or kale, ribs removed (optional)
• 2 medium carrots or 8 ounces butternut squash, peeled and chopped into 1/2-inch pieces (about 1 cup)
• 1 medium leek, trimmed, white and pale green portion halved lengthwise and thinly sliced (about 1 cup) (can substitute 1 large shallot, if desired)
• 2 medium celery stalks, peeled and sliced 1/2-inch thick (about 2/3 cup)
• additional vegetables such as frozen peas, or diced parsnips, fennel, or mushrooms, optional
• 3 to 6 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh rosemary
• 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
• 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning (optional)(I omitted it)
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 5 cups chicken stock
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 (16 to 18-ounce) package fresh or shelf-stable store-bought gnocchi (I used Trader Joe’s 17.6-ounce gnocchi)
• 1/2 store-bought rotisserie chicken, skin and bones discarded, meat torn into bite-size pieces (about 2 to 3 cups shredded meat)
• fresh tarragon, parsley or dill, for garnish

1. In a large pot, melt the butter over medium. (I used a large enameled cast iron Dutch oven.)
2. Add the carrots, leek, celery, garlic, rosemary, thyme and poultry seasoning, if using. Incorporate any additional vegetables at this time as well; I added sliced collard greens. Season generously with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are slightly softened, about 5 minutes.
3. Sprinkle with the flour, then cook, stirring, 2 minutes. (This cooks the flour to soften its raw flavor.)
4. Gradually stir in the stock and cream, and bring to a boil over medium-high to high heat.
5. Once the mixture boils, stir in the gnocchi, reduce the heat to medium-low and cook until gnocchi and vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes.
6. Stir in the chicken in the last couple of minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
7. Divide among bowls and top with fresh tarragon or parsley and more black pepper, if desired.

Skillet Shepherd’s Pie

My son and I made this dish together for our St. Patrick’s Day dinner. We’ve been keeping ourselves busy while we’re stuck at home! He is a big fan of mashed potatoes, so he made the topping himself. I loved the ridged pattern on the finished crust.

Although the recipe is streamlined to be made in one skillet, it was still a little bit time-consuming. (Thankfully, we had plenty of time!) The plus side is that it can be prepared with ingredients that are readily available in your pantry and freezer. It definitely created less dishes too. 🙂

This recipe was adapted from America’s Test Kitchen via The Associated Press. It was originally published in their book, Cook it in Cast Iron. I used a combination of Dutch yellow baby potatoes and red potatoes instead of russet potatoes, ground turkey instead of ground beef, increased the amount of garlic, and modified the method. Great comfort food.

Yield: Serves 6

• 2 pounds potatoes, Dutch yellow baby potatoes (unpeeled), red potatoes (unpeeled), or russets (peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces)
• coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1/2 cup milk (I used 1%)
• 1 large egg
• 6 T unsalted butter, divided (4 T melted)
• 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
• 1 large yellow onion, chopped
• 1 1/2 pounds of ground turkey or 93% lean ground beef
• 2 T tomato paste
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tsp fresh thyme or ½ teaspoon dried thyme
• 2 T all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups chicken stock
• 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 cup frozen peas

1. Cover potatoes with water in large saucepan. Add 1 tablespoon salt, bring to simmer over medium-high heat, and cook until potatoes are tender, 15 to 20 minutes for unpeeled baby potatoes or 8 to 10 minutes for peeled and cut russet potatoes.
2. Drain potatoes and return them to saucepan. If using unpeeled baby potatoes, remove the peels at this point.
3. Using a potato ricer, process all of the potatoes. (Alternatively the potatoes can be mashed until smooth.)
4. In a measuring cup, whisk milk and egg together. Stir into potatoes along with 4 tablespoons of melted butter, 1 teaspoon coarse salt, and 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; cover and set aside.
5. Heat a 10-inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat for 3 minutes.
6. Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter in skillet.
7. Add carrots, onion, and 3/4 teaspoon salt and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
8. Add ground meat and cook, breaking up meat with wooden spoon, until no longer pink, 8 to 10 minutes.
9. Stir in tomato paste, garlic, and thyme and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
10. Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute.
11. Slowly stir in stock and Worcestershire, scraping up any browned bits and smoothing out any lumps.
12. Bring to simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until mixture has thickened slightly, about 10 minutes.
13. Off the heat, stir in peas and season with salt and pepper, to taste.
14. Adjust oven rack 5 inches from broiler element and heat broiler.
15. Dollop the mashed potatoes over the top of the filling. Smooth topping with a knife or the back of a spoon, then use the tines of a fork to make ridges on the surface.
16. Place the skillet in the oven and broil until topping is golden brown and crusty, 5 to 10 minutes.
17. Let the casserole cool for 10 minutes before serving.

My daughter has also been keeping herself busy, of course. After cleaning out our refrigerator as part of a Home & Careers homework assignment, she handcrafted a festive St. Patrick’s Day bow tie for our cat, Franklin. He modeled it on his Instagram page!

To see more of her amazing photos, check out franklin.the.fluff on Instagram. Super cute. ❤

Fried Rice with Kimchi, Bacon & Cabbage

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! I am planning on serving shepherd’s pie tonight, but, for those of you serving corned beef and cabbage, this quick dish will put any leftover cabbage to good use. 🙂

This recipe was adapted from The New York Times, contributed by Melissa Clark. We ate it drizzled with sriracha and additional soy sauce. I also served the leftovers with scrambled eggs instead of fried.

Yield: Serves 4 to 6

• 5 tablespoons neutral oil, such as grapeseed or sunflower, plus more as needed (I used canola oil)
• 3 slices thick-cut bacon, in 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 small bunch scallions, whites and greens separated, sliced
• 4 cups shredded cabbage (from about 1/2 small head)
• coarse salt
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 6 cups cooked rice, white or brown, preferably day-old
• 2 ½ tablespoons fish sauce, plus more as needed
• ½ tablespoon soy sauce, plus more as needed for serving
• ½ cup kimchi, drained and chopped, plus more for serving
• ½ cup green peas (thawed, if frozen)
• fried eggs or scrambled eggs, for serving, optional
• toasted sesame oil, for drizzling, optional
• sriracha or other hot sauce, for serving, optional

1. One day ahead, cook 2 cups of rice in 4 cups of water or stock. Once cool, store in the refrigerator overnight. (I used brown Basmati rice.)
2. In a large nonstick skillet or wok over medium-high, heat 2 tablespoons oil until almost smoking. (I used a large 14-inch stainless steel skillet but a nonstick would have been preferable.)
3. Stir in bacon, and cook, stirring constantly, until bacon is golden, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a heatproof bowl, leaving as much oil in the skillet as you can.
4. Add scallion whites to the pan. Cook until soft, stirring frequently, 1 to 2 minutes. If the pan looks dry, drizzle in a little more oil, then stir in cabbage and a pinch of salt. Cook, continuing to stir frequently, until cabbage is soft, 2 to 4 minutes.
5. Stir in garlic, and cook until fragrant, another 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to the bowl with the bacon.
6. Add remaining 3 tablespoons oil to skillet and raise heat to high.
7. Add rice, and a large pinch of salt, then toss thoroughly to coat with oil. Spread out rice in an even layer along the bottom (and sides if in a wok), and drizzle fish sauce and soy sauce over. Let rice sit until sizzling stops and it starts to crackle and crisp, 1 to 4 minutes. Toss, taste, and add more fish sauce or soy sauce if necessary.
8. Fold in bacon mixture, kimchi and peas, then transfer to plates.
9. Top with scallion greens, more kimchi to taste, and fried eggs, if using. (I served it with one fried egg per person.)
10. Drizzle everything with toasted sesame oil and soy sauce, as desired, and serve immediately with hot sauce on the side.

Cream of Fresh Pea Soup

I have one more green soup to share. This bright green soup screams “springtime” to me but it can be a wonderful summertime soup because it is also delicious served chilled. It is a classic soup in my house- I have made it for years using both fresh or frozen peas.

The fresh herbs provide the bright flavor in the finished soup. I have always incorporated fresh dill but I can imagine that it would also be delicious with basil or a combination of fresh herbs.

This recipe is adapted from Mollie Katzen’s The Enchanted Broccoli Forest. Fast, healthy, and delicious.

Yield: 5 to 6 servings

• 1 T unsalted butter
• 1 large yellow onion, minced
• 1/2 tsp coarse salt
• 1 1/2 cups vegetable or chicken stock, or water
• 4 cups peas, fresh (about 20 oz) or frozen
• 1 cup milk (low-fat or soy okay)
• freshly ground black pepper
• 3 T minced fresh dill, mint, basil, tarragon, parsley, and/or chives

1. Melt the butter in a soup pot or Dutch oven. Add onion and salt, and cook over medium heat until the onion is soft, 8 to 10 minutes.
2. Add the stock/water and bring to a boil. Lower the heat, cover, and simmer for about 10 minutes.
3. Add the peas, cover again, and remove from the heat. Let stand for 5 minutes, or until the peas are tender.
4. Purée the soup with the milk using an immersion blender, food processor, or blender, then return the purée to the pot.
5. Reheat the soup very gently. Add the minced fresh herbs just prior to serving.

Note: This soup also tastes wonderful served at room temperature or chilled.