Hi everyone,
To day I have Andrea R. Cooper sharing her favorite recipe with us.
This recipe is really versatile – don’t like almonds? Leave
them off and it tastes fine. Don’t have any red bell pepper? Leave it out. Want
to save time? Use precooked diced chicken and frozen broccoli
Chicken & Broccoli Braid
Curtesy of Pampered Chef – notes/changes are my own
INGREDIENTS
1 cup (250 mL) chopped broccoli florets
2 cups (500 mL) chopped cooked chicken breasts
(see Cook's Tip)
1/2 cup (125 mL) diced red bell pepper
1 cup (250 mL) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 cup (125 mL) mayonnaise
2 tsp (10 mL) Dill Weed
1 garlic clove, pressed
1/4 tsp (1 mL) salt
2 pkg (8 oz or 235 g each) refrigerated crescent
dough (or just 1 if you want less breading)
1 egg white, lightly beaten
2 tbsp (30 mL) slivered almonds
DIRECTIONS
1
Preheat oven to 375°F. Chop chicken and broccoli; place
in
Bowl. Chop bell pepper; add to Bowl. Press garlic over vegetable mixture
2
Shred cheese and add to vegetable mixture; mix gently.
Add mayonnaise, Dill Mix and salt; mix well.
3
Unroll 1 package of crescent dough; do not separate. If you
only want a bottom/pizza type crust, go on to the next step below. If you want
the braid effect – open 2nd can of crescent rolls. Peel off triangle and
arrange larger portion to the bottom of the first flat square at the bottom of
the pan, repeat. You should have a base, and triangle top ‘ends’ hanging over
the back of the pan.
4
Spread filling evenly over middle of dough. To braid, lift
two opposite strips of dough up, twist once, then lay over filling so that ends
meet at the center. Lightly pinch ends together. Continue alternating strips to
form a braid. Tuck ends up to seal at end of braid.
5
Brush egg white over dough. Sprinkle with almonds. Bake
25-28 minutes or until deep golden brown.
Cook and chop 3 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves to
get 2 cups of chopped cooked chicken.
It's best to keep crescent roll dough refrigerated until
ready to use. Once the dough is warm, it becomes soft and sometimes sticky,
making it difficult to work with.
Son of Dragons Book 2 Legends of Oblivion series
Blurb: In a time of false peace, the
dead rise as soldiers for the Warloc’s scheme. For thousands of years he has
stood ready for the final battle. Though the witch and her cursed Elvin have
destroyed his physical body, now with his protégé, he has honed a new way to
wage war.
Shunned by her own people and weary-hearted from
centuries of lost loves, Elvin warrior Mirhana scours the land to silence the
undead. Her heart has turned as cold as the sword she wields, until a prince
seeks her aid.
Never has Prince Landon met a woman like
Mirhana. Both beautiful and deadly, she haunts his dreams. The battle at hand
becomes more enchanting than fighting to remain true to his unseen betrothed.
When a traitor emerges, new alliances are tested
and the only remaining hope is to follow the prophecy and find the ... Son of
Dragons.
Excerpt:
Clean from the
bath, Landon let the air from the open window dry his hair. Dressed only in
trousers, he leaned against the windowsill.
He
thought he smelled the hint of roses and heat on the breeze. Movement from the
street below caught his eye. He leaned out, squinting into the night.
Torches
lined the cobbled street corners. A cloaked figure waited. Then the innkeeper
rushed outside. His hands flew in gestures as the figure nodded.
Then
he pointed to the window where Landon watched. At the same instant, the cloaked
figure followed his finger’s path to Landon. Green eyes that seemed to glow met
his.
Landon
jumped up and cursed when his head hit the bottom of the window. When he looked
back, both figures were gone.
Thinking
the innkeeper would send guards, he waited with his sword in hand and his stare
riveted on the door. No one came. He must be getting paranoid, thinking there
was a ghost or enemy around every corner. His eyelids grew heavy as he waited
for a fight that failed to materialize. Finally, he rolled his shoulders back
to ease out the tension.
Still,
he couldn’t stop thinking about those piercing emerald eyes. They’d belonged to
a woman; he could tell. There was intelligence and cunning in them. Her stare felt as though
she saw through the façade he often wore as prince and to please others, and
into his kajh.
A
woman who was not afraid, but used to being feared. It unnerved him, yet
excited him. His pulse quickened and his loins tightened at the thought of
those eyes filled with passion for him.
Better
get some sleep before the night was gone. Tomorrow, he’d tell Gillespie about
what he saw. He doubted he could explain those captivating green eyes that
continued to haunt him even now.
Legends
of Oblivion series:
The
Garnet Dagger – Book 1 in the Legends of Oblivion
series
Cursed
– Book 1.5 in the Legends of Oblivion
series
Son of Dragons – Book 2 in the Legends of Oblivion
series
Andrea’s Bio: Andrea
has always created characters and stories. But it wasn't until she was in her
late twenties that she wrote novels.
Divorced, and disillusioned by love
songs and stories, until she met her husband and realized, yes love and romance
are exactly like the songs and stories say. She is now a happy wife, and a mom
to three kids (two boys and a girl).
She believes in the power of change
and counting each moment as a blessing. But
most importantly, she believes in love.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AndreaRCooper
Buy
Links:
Son of Dragons Amazon: http://goo.gl/jWX0cO
Son of Dragons iTunes: http://goo.gl/dvOJpu
