The Three Kings of Epiphany

“So they rode away; and the star stood still,

The only one in the grey of morn;

Yes, it stopped—it stood still of its own free will,

Right over Bethlehem on the hill,

The city of David, where Christ was born.”

~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Copycat Jiffy Cornbread

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Country Casual Cravings: Copycat Jiffy Cornbread! If you’re wondering why anyone would make a homemade version of a boxed mix, read on. Could it be I’m a control freak? Maybe I want a healthier version? Or is it because my adult son says he recalls fond memories of the blue and yellow box from his childhood? Truth be told, I was too lazy to drive into town to buy the store-bought variety. Good thing I keep a well-stocked pantry.

COPYCAT JIFFY CORNBREAD

Ingredients:

2/3 cup flour

1/2 cup organic cornmeal

1/3 cup sugar

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 egg

1/3 cup milk

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 400°. Spray a square pan with non-stick oil. Set aside. In a bowl, combine flour, organic cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, and sea salt. Mix well. Whisk in vegetable oil until smooth. Add egg and milk. Stir only until lumps no longer remain. Do not over-beat. Transfer batter to prepared pan. Bake 15-20 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean. Serve warm.

Butter Chicken

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Country Casual Cravings: Butter Chicken! At first glance, this dish looks surprisingly similar to curry chicken, doesn’t it? Sooo, what is the difference, you wonder. The secret is in the name. It’s made with butter! The tomatoes, coconut milk, and seasonings are cooked slow enough to transform the sauce into a gravy-like consistency with a nice kick of flavor. Also, by slow-cooking the chicken, it becomes fork tender and juicy. Ahhh, now I have your attention. Sounds like a grocery list is in order. Bravo. Your family will thank you.

BUTTER CHICKEN

Ingredients:

2 pounds chicken breasts, skinless and cut into chunks

1/2 sweet onion, chopped

1 jalapeño, seeds removed and diced

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 tablespoon curry powder

2 teaspoons garam masala

1/2 teaspoon turmeric

1 teaspoon chili powder

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

14.5 ounce can coconut milk

6 ounce can tomato paste

Fresh cilantro, for garnish

Dollop of Greek yogurt, for garnish

Instructions:

In a slow cooker, add chicken chunks, chopped onion, diced jalapeño, and garlic powder. Stir to combine. Dot with cubes of butter. In a medium bowl, stir together curry powder, garam masala, turmeric, chili powder, ground ginger, and cayenne pepper. Add coconut milk and tomato paste. Whisk to combine. Pour over chicken mixture. Cover slow cooker; heat contents on LOW for 5 hours. Serve with cooked rice and naan bread. Garnish with cilantro and a dollop of Greek yogurt. Serve immediately.

Avocado Onion Dip

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Country Casual Cravings: Avocado Onion Dip! Nowadays I look for any reason to eat avocados. Once I’ve have my fill of guacamole, I turn to other creative ways to produce a nutritional boost to the menu. Although stuffed avocados can be baked or grilled, sometimes it’s a real treat to prepare them this way. Some might call it a light lunch, simply because it satisfies the appetite as a filling meal.

AVOCADO ONION DIP

Ingredients:

8 ounce Neufchâtel cheese, softened

1/2 cup Greek yogurt

2 tablespoons capers, chopped

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 cup crispy-fried onions, slightly crushed

2-3 ripe avocados, halved and pits removed

1 tablespoon lime juice

1/8 teaspoon sea salt

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

Green onion snips, for garnish

Whole celery seed, for garnish

Instructions:

Using an electric mixer, beat together softened cream cheese, Greek yogurt, chopped capers, and cayenne pepper until blended. Fold in crushed crispy-fried onions until combined. Transfer to a covered bowl. Refrigerate for one hour. Prepare avocado halves. Brush with lime juice; sprinkle with sea salt and garlic powder. When ready to serve, scoop onion dip into each avocado half. Garnish with green onion snips, chopped capers, and a sprinkling of whole celery seed. Serve immediately.

Country Casual Cravings

Going through a kitchen remodel has to be one of the most challenging home improvements ever. Symmetry and balance are important. Changing the layout was not an option since it remains functional as an open-ended galley kitchen including a central corridor. In fact, it all began being a simple goal to modernize the kitchen cabinets from 1970s dark wood to the bright airiness of antique white. As often happens, one thing leads to another. Before long we were updating stainless steel appliances, replacing countertops, leaving the double sink behind in lieu of a large single basin, choosing black matte cabinet pulls with copper accents, and more. One constant remained: the authentic dark hardwood flooring. To this day, it endures as the solid foundation from the time it was installed. Now that the kitchen remodel is complete, is it a state-of-the-art gourmet kitchen, you wonder. Not at all. But it has been designed around my needs, which makes it perfect. And speaking of perfect…Some of my posts have been favored by “Le Cordon Bleu” and the “Food Network” on Twitter (Snapshotsincursive @DornaGail) as well as Ina Garten’s The Barefoot Contessa, on Instagram (gail _dorna). You can even follow me on Pinterest at Gail Dorna. I’d love to connect with you. I also met Chef Michelle Tribble of Hell’s Kitchen reality cooking show. Fun times. Experience different flavors and textures as you eat with your eyes. Catch a glimpse of “What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen: Country Casual Cravings.” This remarkable journey of the palate is unique because it gives me a few moments with you. Thanks very much to all of my guests and followers on http://snapshotsincursive.com for the uplifting support, award nominations, and daily words of encouragement. I couldn’t have come this far without you.