Recipe Inspiration

One of the questions I'm asked, is how I come upinspiration to jazz your dinners up a bit. Just look
with my recipes. The truth is, I get my inspiration forthrough your cookbooks or cupboards, and let your
my recipes from various sources.Restaurant Menus:imagination run wild.CHICKEN ALL'ARRABIATA4
This is one source for my inspiration. How manyboneless skinless chicken breast halves
times have you been into a restaurant, and had a1 egg
dish that was just so good, you had to try making it1 Tbsp water or milk
for yourself at home? I know I have. At least one of1 cup flour
my better recipes was inspired by a dinner I had on1 cup bread crumbs
my first anniversary at a local Italian restaurant. It's a1 cup grated parmesan cheese
simple matter to translate the main ingredients fromsalt and pepper to season
the restaurant dish to your own kitchen. But to get2 Tbsp margarine
the subtle flavors, you'll have to experiment a bit2 cloves of garlic, chopped.
with herbs and spices to get it to taste the same. I1 14 oz. can of tomatoes
often settle for something similar instead of exactly1/4 cup wine (red or white, whatever you prefer)
the same.Contents of the Cupboard/Refrigerator:2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
Some of my best recipes have come from simply1 dash worcestershire sauce
experimenting. I'll start with whatever I've taken out1 tsp. dried oreganoPreaheat your oven to 425
of the freezer to thaw... steak, chicken, or whatever,degrees F.In a shallow bowl, beat together the egg
and then look through the cupboard and refrigeratorand the milk or water.Put the flour on a plate, and
to get some ideas on how to cook the meal. There'scombine the bread crumbs and parmesan cheese on
almost always something around your kitchen thatanother plate. Season the flour with salt and
you can use for a marinade or a sauce. You justpepper.Dredge the chicken in the flour, and then dip it
need to have a good idea of what flavors will go wellinto the egg. Dip the chicken in the bread crumbs and
together. Just use your imagination.Cookbookparmesan, making sure to coat the chicken.Place the
Magazine Recipes:chicken into a baking dish, with 1 Tbsp of the
You've probably seen several recipes in cookbooksmargarine, and bake for 20-25 minutes in the oven,
or magazines that you'd like to try, or have tried. Ior until the chicken is no longer pink in the center.In a
find cookbooks, magazines, and the food section oflarge skillet, melt the butter over med. high heat.
my local newspaper to be an excellent source forWhen the butter has melted, add the chopped garlic,
recipe inspiration. If I find a recipe that I like, I'll eitherand cook until garlic is golden... DO NOT
take the recipe, change some things a bit, and addOVERCOOK!Add the tomatoes, breaking them up
my own touches to make it my own. Or, I may takewith the side of a spoon or spatula.Add the wine, red
various elements from several recipes, and combinepepper flakes, worcestershire sauce, and oregano.
them to create a new recipe. Another possiblity isWhen the mixture comes to a boil, turn the heat
taking a recipe, written for one main ingredient, anddown to medium, and let simmer for 15-20 minutes,
adapting it to use another main ingredient. Take theuntil thickened.When the chicken is done, remove it
recipe below, for example. Pasta all'arrabiata is afrom the oven, and pour the sauce over it. Sprinkle
common Italian recipe, in this case, instead of usingwith some parmesan cheese, if desired, and serve
arrabiata sauce for pasta, I've put it on chicken.Don'timmediately.
settle for the same old meal. It's easy to find