How to clean a Chicken Breast

New email from a reader:

  "Dear Chef Mike,

      My wife wants me to cook for her. I have No clue. I want to do something simple. So I want to make Chicken Parmesan. 

     Can you please give me a recipe for it? And any advice or tips to make me seem like I know how to cook. We have only been married 4 months, and I dont want to pop her bubble and show her I cant do something she asks. I'm Italian... I should know how to cook.

     Thanks,

     [Name withheld to keep wife from busting his chops]"

So, we will start out with cleaning the chicken breast. I am going to do the entire post on this, and another on the Chicken Parm, which will include a video.

Lasagna

Well... today was supposed to be Lasagna day. I had gotten an email asking how to make one that stands up when taken out of the pan, yet isn't overcooked or burnt. Unfortunately, my camera decided to pick today to not record sound. So.... instead of letting my reader down, I am going to write about some key points to a good lasagna.

Roux Basics

Hello everyone.

Today, we discuss the Roux. I will explain what it is, how you can use it, and show you how to make it.

My Different Levels of Instructional Difficulty

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So, after reading my 1st post over again... I see I need to add a post about how I class recipes for difficulty. I will now do my best to straighten that out.

Pantry Simple Chili Dip and Nachos

 I saw a commercial for chips... and got in the mood for chips and dip. But I didn't feel like anything pre-done, and I didn't want to go out.

 This dish is simple. Level 2 in my scale of 1-10 for difficulty. What makes it a 2 is that it leaves room to play with ingredients heat levels, and requires temperature control so it doesn't stick to the pan. A good non stick (teflon or ceramic) will make your life easier.

 This can be used as a dip, on nachos, add some garbanzo flour (and 10 minutes to the cooking time) and it thickens for tacos, toss with rice or pasta... it is extremely versatile.


 Ingredients:   1 Tbsp Canola and Olive Oil blend
                        1 Tbsp Coconut Oil


                        1 cup diced frozen (or fresh) onions.
                        1 can no salt added diced tomatoes
                        1 can Chili with beans
                        
                        1/4 can Diet 7up
                        1/4 cup Coconut Rum


                        Cumin
                        Dried Parsley
                        Garlic Powder
                        Fresh Ground Salt and Pepper to taste
                        Hot Sauce of choice (I use 911 sauce)

Cooking at home is for everyone

Well... here we go. 

     This is the 1st step of a journey long in the making. I have wanted to do this for many years. Post videos, write a blog, teach people that cooking is for Everyone. My eventual goal is to be on TV, but that is down the road.
     For now, I am here. My videos will be on Youtube (ChefMikeMichaels), you can get update info from my Twitter Follow @ChefSquared and you are Most welcome here.
     So sit back, watch a few movies, and remember.... cooking at home is for everyone.