Spicy Jalapeno Baked Beans

Tonight's menu: Grandmom's Chicken served up with spicy jalapeno baked beans and doctored up green beans. For the green beans I just sauteed up some garlic and red onion in a tablespoon of butter and then plunked in the canned green beans (drained of course). Not too bad considering it's a canned veggie. My wonderful jalapeno baked beans were a masterpiece that came out amazing considering I winged it and didn't really measure anything. Oops.

Spicy Jalapeno Baked Beans

(from Guinea Pig Kitchen!)

Ingredients:
1 can baked beans
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup red onion, chopped
1/3 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon prepared mustard
6 pickled jalapeno slices, diced

A big splash of pickled jalapeno liquid

1 tablespoon spicy seasoning, I used Dinosaur BBQ's dry rub

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a baking dish, combine the beans, brown sugar, onion, ketchup, mustard, jalapenos, jalapeno juice, and spicy seasoning. Mix well.
3. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour, or until sauce is thickened.

A Classic

This was the Mother Unit's favorite dish growing up (and still is?). She always asked her parents for it for her special birthday meal. In our little college apartment I taught Guenevere how to make it and when she studied abroad, she made it for people in Britain. Most importantly, this is the first meal I ever cooked for Mr. Lawyer! Although I just found out at dinner he doesn't remember! Or the first dish he cooked for me (Chicken Parm!).
Normally I don'd mess with tradition and perfection but I had to lighten this up and use what we had on hand. I only used 2 tablespoons of butter and it was fine (1/2 stick Grandpa?! Are you trying to kill me?).   I used leftover cheese from our party and since the Cabot Seriously Sharp was everyone's favorite there wasn't a single piece left for this dish! I used a combination of swiss, smoked cheddar and a handful of shredded four cheese mix. It was pretty good especially when you got a hunk of smoked cheddar but I still prefer the original version.

Grandpa Norm's Chicken with Sherry

(from Grandpa Norm!)

Ingredients:
2 half chicken breasts (I normally cut them into tender sized for easier cooking and serving)
1/2 stick butter (I got away with 2 tablespoons)
1 can green beans (french cut!)
1 can cream of mushroom soup
8 oz cheddar cheese, shredded (and a little extra for good luck!)
1/2 cup sherry
Salt, pepper, garlic powder
Directions:
1. Melt butter in pan. While butter is melting season chicken with salt, pepper and garlic. Pan fry chicken.
2. Drain green beans and put in 8x8 casserole dish. Remove chicken from pan and place on top of green beans. Do not drain the chicken pan.
3. Add soup and cheese to chicken pan, heat until melted.
4. Add sherry to pan and let simmer.
5. Pour sauce over chicken and green beans. Bake for 45 minutes at 325 degrees. Serve with rice or noodles.