November 13th

Paprika Makes It Perfect

This recipe doesn't have many ingredients, but it has lots of flavor.  I haven't really done too much cooking with paprika, but I will be now after tasting how delicious it made this dish!

Chicken Paprikash (Paprika) with Cucumber Salad

recipe from: Sandy Brubaker

All I can say is wow.  This chicken was so packed full of flavor and was so juicy and tender, I couldn't believe how easy it was to make such a great dish!  The only thing I did differently was that I used chicken breasts because that was what I had in the freezer and I used egg noodles instead of bow-tie noodles.  I'm sure using chicken thighs would make it even moister and juicier!
As for the salad...yum!  I remember my mom eating a salad similar to this when I was a kid and I thought it was absolutely disgusting (even though I probably didn't try it).  However, as an adult now, I am obsessed with this salad.  I love cucumbers and the dressing on it so vinegary (which I also love and refreshing.  I must confess, I made an whole recipe of it and ate the whole thing by myself. 

Ingredients for chicken:

1 frying chicken, cut in pieces (I also use chicken thighs)

1 pound onions

1 tablespoon sweet paprika and 1 tablespoon hot paprika  (You may want to use 
1 ½ sweet and ½ hot)

Water to cover

Chop onions finely and saute in a bit of canola oil.  Add both paprikas. Be careful not to burn.  
I keep a little water nearby to add when the paprika is browned.  

Add the chicken pieces and water to cover and salt to taste.

Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer til the chicken is done.

Serve with buttered bow tie noodles.

This was my grandmother’s recipe and she always served it with cucumber salad.

Cucumber Salad

Use small pickling cucumbers or 1 hot house cucumber peeled and sliced very thin.

Sprinkle with salt and let sit in a colander about 30 minutes.  Squeeze to remove as much 
of the water as possible.

Put in a bowl and add a bit of white or cider vinegar and sour cream.  I don’t have measurements.  
I just add sour cream and stir.  When the sauce becomes bubbly it’s ready.

I add a bit of pepper and salt if needed.

Grades:

Megan - A+ (I really enjoyed this and can't wait to make it again. I also foresee a lot 
of cucumber salad being made for lunches in the near future!

Noelle - A (I didn't attempt to get Noelle to eat the cucumber salad, but I did try 
the chicken (without the onions). I was nervous she was going to say it was too 
spicy, but much to my surprise, she said nothing of the sort and ate it all really quickly. 
As a matter of fact, she asked for more! Proof that I should always have her try things 
because sometimes she surprises me with what she likes!)