⎨Recipes⎬

I love to cook with fresh ingredients such as herbs from my garden, the aroma of herbs delight and inspire me. For 7 years, I've been supporting sustainable agriculture and lifestyle. I use organic and natural ingredients when I can. Cooking is spontaneous, creative, and fascinating. It's all about adding flavor to healthy meals, experimenting in the kitchen, and eating well. I hardly measure seasonings but here I estimated the amount for you to follow. I also compiled Blossom Hideaway's published recipes to keep them organized and easier to find. Enjoy and check back often!     


• More Recipes Below •


*All the recipes are my own unless otherwise noted

♥ Basil infused Chicken Parmesan on a Bed of Spaghetti

Sweet Basil and Large Leaf Italian from the garden

If you love basil then this recipe is for you. It's easy and chicken with fresh basil is delicious!


Ingredients: 
(Serves 2) Use organic whenever possible!

• 2 Large boneless chicken breasts 
• 5-6 leaves Large Leaf Italian or sweet basil 
• Fresh Herbs: 1tbsp oregano, 1 tbsp Italian parsley, 2-3 leaves sage, 2 sprigs thyme
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 
• 1-2 Cloves fresh garlic, minced  
• 1/2 small red onion, chopped  
• 1 tbsp dried basil 
• 1/4 tsp dried parsley  
• 1/4 cup all purpose flour
• 1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese, and about 1/3 cup for garnishing 
• 1 Large egg
• 2 cups cooked spaghetti (any organic brand, otherwise I use Barilla)  
• 1 can 15 ounce organic tomato sauce (I use Trader Joe's but any organic brand will do)  
• Sea salt and fresh ground black pepper for the sauce to taste 
• 1tbsp fresh parsley for garnishing (optional)

Directions:

1. Marinate chicken with following ingredients. Combine chicken breasts, 5-6 fresh basil leaves, 1/4 tsp dried parsley, 1/4 tsp sea salt, and 1/4 tsp fresh ground pepper. Rub fresh basil all over the chicken and make sure to tuck a few underneath. Marinating it covered overnight is best but if you're short on time, a couple of hours is good to infuse the flavor of basil. 

2. Cook spaghetti bringing to a boil with a dash of salt until Al dente then set aside while you prepare sauce. In a medium sauce pan with 1 tbsp olive oil, sauté minced garlic on low until light brown then add chopped red onions, increase heat and cook until tender. Combine the can of tomato sauce in the sauce pan with fresh herbs, 1tbsp dried basil, sea salt, and fresh ground pepper to taste. Cook over medium heat then simmer. Sweeten with 1 tbsp sugar as needed if desired. Set sauce aside but keep warm.

3. To prepare Chicken Parmesan: In a medium plate combine 1/4 cup flour with 1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese. Sprinkle a dash of fresh ground pepper if you want and mix everything well. Beat 1 large egg in a bowl. Drench chicken breasts with fresh basil in the egg then coat thoroughly with flour and parmesan mixture. Fry chicken in a medium pan in 1 tbsp olive oil over medium heat until golden for about 15 minutes on each side.

4. Add cooked spaghetti into tomato sauce mixture combining well. Place spaghetti with chicken on top in a casserole pan or oven proof glass dish, but reserve 1/3 cup sauce to pour over the chicken. Garnish with 1/3 cup shredded parmesan cheese. Bake at 350f in the oven uncovered for about 15 minutes or until chicken is well done and cheese has melted. Garnish with fresh parsley if you'd like!         

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 ♥ Grilled Lemon Thyme Chicken

I love the citrus scent of Lemon Thyme in my garden! 

This is my original recipe, my husband loves it and so does his parents! It's easy to fix but prepare by marinating ahead to give chicken that nice lemon flavor.

Ingredients: 

(Serves 2) Use organic whenever possible!

• 2 boneless chicken breasts
• 4 sprigs of Lemon Thyme 
• 4 round slices of Lemon with peel  
• 2 tsp minced garlic 
• 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil 
• 1/4 tsp chopped dried onions seasoning 
• 1/4 tsp paprika 
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• Dash of fresh ground black pepper

Directions: Marinate chicken with all the ingredients above in a covered tupperware or Ziploc® with zipper for at least 2 days. Grill chicken on low heat until tender for about 45 minutes (flip chicken about 20 minutes on each side) or when meat thermometer reads 165 degrees f and juices run clear. My quick moist Lemon Thyme Chicken recipe is great with potatoes and veggies!    

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From my garden: Basil, Oregano, Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme. I LOVE the aroma of fresh herbs! Herbs are absolutely essential to every food lover and cook.

♥ We had this for dinner last night! Organic Tomato Basil Sauce on a bed of Spaghetti with Turkey Meatballs

❀ Note: Blossom Hideaway's first recipe comfort food is easy to prepare. My husband loves it...This is one of his favorite meals. Of course you can freeze left overs too. I don't usually measure seasonings, I'm a spontaneous cook but here I estimated amount of ingredients. Add as much fresh Basil your heart desires :)

Ingredients:

(Serves 2) Use organic whenever possible!  

• 1 large organic brown egg, beaten  
• 1 can 15 ounce organic tomato sauce (I use Trader Joe's but any organic brand will do)  
• 1/3 cup tomato paste, optional to thicken sauce
• 1/3 cup fresh chopped parsley plus left over for garnishing 
• 1/3 cup diced celery 
• 1/3 cup diced carrots  
• Fresh Italian basil, about 10 leaves to taste 
• Fresh sage, 2-3 leaves 
• 1 tbsp each of fresh herbs: oregano, thyme, and rosemary  
• 1/3 cup shredded parmesan cheese (set aside 2 tbsp parmesan for garnishing)
• 1/3 cup shredded mozzarella cheese  
• 1 tsp onion powder 
• Dash of garlic powder (optional if you're into tons of garlic!) 
• 1/4 tsp dried parsley (optional) 
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil   
• 2-3 cloves fresh garlic, minced
• 1/3 cup red onion, chopped 
• 1/2 of small yellow onion
• Sea salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Cook spaghetti bringing to a boil with a dash of salt until Al dente. Meanwhile prepare turkey meatballs. Using food processor dice celery, carrots, fresh parsley, and yellow onions then combine with ground turkey on a medium bowl. Add beaten egg, salt, ground black pepper, and onion powder mixing thoroughly. Set aside. 

2. In a medium sauce pan with 1 tbsp olive oil, sauté fresh minced garlic over low heat until light brown with chopped red onions, cook for about 3 minutes then combine tomato sauce, fresh basil, sage, fresh herbs, parmesan, mozzarella, salt, and ground black pepper to taste. Add dash of garlic powder and dried parsley to sauce for extra flavor if you want. Cook over medium heat then simmer. 

3. Prepare a pan with 1tbsp olive oil to fry meatballs over medium heat. Pour Dixie Fry®  coating mix on a plate with a dash of ground black pepper. I find this mix not only great for fried chicken or fish but adds better flavor to turkey meatballs. Alternatively, you can use all purpose flour with about 1/4 tsp onion powder, dash of salt and black pepper. Shape meatballs then coat with mix to hold together, fry until brown and fully cooked. Combine spaghetti with tomato basil sauce and simmer, top with turkey meatballs. On a plate garnish with parmesan cheese and fresh parsley. Serve with warm crusty garlic bread and enjoy!