Johnna Knows Good Food has the best recipes! They are quick to make and some of them are pretty healthy as well. So my thicksational cooks, here’s a new recipe you may want to try. Enjoy!

1 package Gold ‘n Plump 90/10 Ground Chicken
1 cup Feta Cheese
1 large onion
2 cloves garlic (*finely diced)
Kosher Salt (*to taste)
Pepper (*to taste)
Olive Oil
10-12 Grape Leaves (*I used the bottled grape leaves making it easier to clean)

Carefully remove the grape leaves from the jar and unroll. In a large bowl, run cold water over the leaves to remove the brine. Drain and set aside. In a medium skillet, add in 2 tbsp. olive oil and bring to medium heat.  Add the onions and Gold ‘n Plump ground chicken to the skillet, cook until meat is browning and onions become translucent. Add the garlic to the skillet and season mixture with salt and pepper. Remove from heat and spoon mixture alongside the feta cheese into individual grape leaves. Roll the grape leaves into a cigar shape and fold in ends (*Google has multiple good resources for rolling grape leaves). Bake in the oven at 325 degrees for about 5-10 minutes or until leaves are just about to crisp. Serve.

*Johnna’s tip: I love ground chicken and Gold ‘n Plump’s ground chicken was tender enough to mesh well with my grape leaves. Grape leaves are sensitive and tear easily so it’s important that whatever you put inside not to have a rough abrasive texture. I also decided to think outside the box with my Gold ‘n Plump ground chicken, why not play with grape leaves?? Instead of sticking to the safety net of old spaghetti or chili, pair your ground chicken with grape leaves.

*Johnna’s 2nd tip: I paired with a rice vinegar sauce that literally took me two minutes- 1 part rice vinegar, freshly chopped cilantro, 1 dash of worchestshire sauce and 1 clove (diced) garlic. Serve.

I hope this is not true. I love me some Paula Deen.
A former employee of Paula Deen is suing her and is claiming sexual harassment and stated the N-word was used in the restaurant.

Lisa Jackson, the former general manager of Uncle Bubba’s Oyster House in Savannah, Ga., co-owned by Deen and her brother Earl “Bubba” Hiers, seeks unspecified damages for sexual harassment, infliction of emotional distress, and other charges in the suit.
Jackson, 48, who left her job in August 2010, claimed Hiers watched porn at work, forcibly kissed and spat on her, physically menaced staffers and repeatedly used racial epithets in her 33-page complaint.
But some of the most scandalous accusations in the suit — filed Monday in state court in Savannah, Ga. — are aimed at Deen.
In one alleged incident, Deen dropped the n-word when Jackson, who is white, asked the popular Food Network chef what she wanted the servers to wear to Hiers’ wedding in 2007.
“Well, what I would really like is a bunch of little n*gg*rs to wear long-sleeve white shirts, black shorts and black bow ties,” Deen said, according to the suit. “But we can’t do that because the media would be on me about that.”
Jackson recalled another instance when Hiers stormed into her office while she was in a meeting and said, “I wish I could put all those n*gg*rs [in the kitchen] on a boat to Africa.”
The lawsuit further states that Hiers often called Jackson “almost Jewish” or “my little Jew girl” when citing her ability to save money.
She quit after suffering from panic attacks and chest pains, her attorney, S. Wesley Woolf, said.
“She could no longer take it physically, mentally or emotionally,” Woolf told The Daily. (Source)

Um all I can say is….WHAT THE HELL! I hope this is not true and Ms. Paula fights this. If she just pays the girl off I am might look at her with a side eye!

Garrett Popcorn is offering all customers free shipping until January 31, 2010!

For those who are not familiar with Garrett let me warn you……….IT’S THE BEST POPCORN YOU WILL EVER HAVE!

My favorite is the Chicago Mix (Caramel,Cheese) the popcorn melts in your mouth! You will not be disappointed!

When you place your order use the code THANKS2010T

www.garrettpopcorn.com

It’s Super Bowl time and I don’t know about ya’ll but the fam always wants me to make some finger food for the game. So here’s one that I plan to make that’s REALLY GOOD!

1 (16 oz.) can black beans (drained and rinsed)
1/2 can (16 oz.) pinto beans
2 tomatoes (chopped and seeded)
4 onions (sliced)
1 tbsp. minced garlic
1/4 cup fresh cilantro (chopped)
2 tsp. vegetable oil
2 tbsp. lime juice
1/4 tsp. ground cumin
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Drain excess liquid right before serving and transfer to a serving bowl. Serve.

(Source: Johnna Knows Good Food)

2 tbsp. olive oil
3 tbsp. garlic (minced)
1 package chicken thighs
1 package frozen spinach
2 1/2 balsamic vinegar
1/3 cup chicken broth
1 cup chopped tomatoes with juice
2 tbsp. parsley

In a skillet, heat the oil. Add in the garlic and cook 2-3 minutes; add in the chicken and cook until done on each side (*should be browning); remove the chicken and set aside. Cook spinach according to package directions and add to the pan; stir in the pan and remove from pan; set aside. Lower the heat and add in the vinegar and chicken broth; stir being sure to scrap all ingredients from the bottom of the pan into the mixture. Add in the tomatoes and bring to a slight boil; cook for 5 minutes. On a plate, stack on the spinach, then the chicken and top with the tomato/vinegar mixture plus the parsley. Enjoy! (Source)

 

THIS IS JUST WRONG! NOTHING HEALTHY OR RIGHT ABOUT THIS MEAL. THE PERSON WHO MADE THIS ARTERY BLOCKER SHOULD BE SUED! THICKETTES THIS IS A KRISY KREME BACON CHEESEBURGER! APPARENTLY THIS LARD WAS SERVED FOR LUNCH ONE DAY AT THE GOOGLE NYC CAFETERIA.

NOW I LOVE ME SOME CHEESEBURGERS AND KRISPY KREMES AND OCCASIONALLY I WILL EAT THEM BUT I DAMN SURE WILL NOT EAT THEM TOGETHER! UGH!

(Photo Source: Flickr)

I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU THICKETTES BUT KRYS NICOLE IS THICKSATIONAL IN THE KITCHEN! LOL! HERE’S A DISH THAT IS VERY DELICIOUS AND ONLY TAKES 30 MINS TO MAKE. A THICKSATIONAL THANKS TO JOHNNA FROM JOHNNA KNOWS GOOD FOOD FOR THE RECIPE. ENJOY THICKETTES!

8 oz. elbow macaroni
16 oz. heavy cream
8 oz. shredded sharp cheddar cheese
4 oz. cream cheese
6 oz. fresh grated Parmesan cheese
4 oz Gruyere cheese (shredded)
1 lb. lobster meat (chopped)
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
3 garlic cloves (minced)
garlic powder (to taste)
onion powder (to taste; just a sprinkle)
1 medium onion (chopped)
1 tbsp. olive oil
salt (to taste)
pepper (to taste)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a pot bring salted water to a boil and add elbow macaroni and cook until al dente (about 10 minutes). Drain the pasta and in the same pot, add cream, wait until the cream warms up, and then add half of the Parmesan cheese, cream cheese, Gruyere cheese and stir in until melted and thoroughly combined. In another pan heat the olive oil and saute garlic and onion. Add in chopped lobster meat and cook until the lobster is opaque. Add the lobster, garlic and onions to the pasta and cheese mixture. Sprinkle in the salt, pepper, garlic powder and onion powder to taste. Add all ingredients to a greased baking dish and cover with breadcrumbs and remaining Parmesan cheese. Bake until breadcrumbs and cheese are golden brown (about 8-10 minutes). Serve.

*Johnna’s tip, tip: Now after thinking about it, some chopped up broccoli might add a nice flair to this dish as well…;-)…

Why do people assume when you eat healthy you are on a diet?

I have never had a vegetarian dish before so I decided to go to a vegetarian restaurant this weekend. I was looking at the menu confused as if it was in another language when the host approached me and asked if I had any questions. I quickly explained to her that I was not familiar with vegetarian dishes and if she could give me any recommendations. She suggested a dish and as I was paying for my order, she asked “How long have you been on a diet?”

Now my first reaction was to snatch that wig off her head and go off but instead my first reply was “Why do you think I am on a diet?” Now, I could continue and tell you her response but all it would do is make me upset all over again and make me go back to the restaurant to give her a piece of my mind ALL OVER AGAIN! So instead, I will say this just because a Thick Girl eats something healthy doesn’t mean she is trying to loose weight. Eating healthy is what you are supposed to do whether you are a size 2 or a size 20! If I am eating a salad, it’s because I want a salad not because I am on a diet!

Please leave your comments Thickettes I know I am not the only one who can relate to this stupidity.

 

For those you might go to the club tonight here’s a drink that will put you in the right mood!

Kamikaze

1 part Vodka

1part triple sec

1/2 part lime juice (the fresher the better!)

1/2 part lemon juice (the fresher the better)

Ice

Dry White Wine (chilled)

A half slice of lime

In a tumbler, shake together the vodka, triple sec, lime juice, lemon juice and ice until chilled. Strain ingredients into a glass and top with the wine. Serve the lime hanging on the rim of the glass, Enjoy and drink responsibly!

For my little thickettes who cant drink and better not even think about drinking until they are 21! )

Pine-Apple Punch

April 30, 2008