The Ricco Kitchen

This is possibly one of the yummiest chicken recipes ever. There’s something about Jimmy Dean sausage…mmm tasty. This is simple. You saute up veggies and sausage, while rice is cooking, then stuff it all in an open chicken breast and bake it. My brother affectionately refers to this chicken as “bangin’.”

Mom loves vegetables. She is also really good at making them delicious. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a fan of veggies, but Mom makes them like candy. This recipe is perfect if you don’t have a lot of time to spend on dinner, and want to make everyone think you did!

This recipe also uses some white wine. Another favorite of Mom’s. You know that saying “I love cooking with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food”…Yeah that’s about my Mom. Great dinner anytime and great as leftovers, too.

You are probably asking yourself, “what is goop?” Goop is my family’s word for a stewy, ragu-like concoction. Basically, the kind of dish that you need bread or biscuits with because you have to dip the juices up. I am the butt of jokes when it comes to goop dishes because I will load my plate up, and still dip in the main dish. I like to call it a self-preservation technique…basically, I just love to eat.
The great thing about goop is you can make it with anything really. For example, we altered this edition by adding our leftover potato leek soup from a couple nights ago. We are a big leftover family. Make enough for a few nights, then you always have something to munch on, or add to the next nights meal somehow!

If there is one meal that my family is known for, it’s chicken cutlets. Dad once made over 200 for my brother’s playoff soccer game in high school. We made chicken cutlets for my graduation party. When we make cutlets, it’s an event. They are great right out of the oil or 3 days later right out of the fridge. If you have the time, make a lot at once and you have snacks/lunches/meal options for a whole week. You can freeze them too.

Today is my Dad’s 55th birthday. I made him a Jack and Jill pound Cake and of course, a delicious, mouthwatering, yummy dinner: Honey Mustard Crusted Chicken Breast on a bed of Apples and Onions. I made a side of spinach sauteed in oil and garlic. This recipe serves four with one chicken breast each.

A great use for some Famous Ricco Chicken Cutlets is a sandwich we fondly call the Number Nine. It’s basically a Chicken Cordon Bleu Sandwich. One of my best friends and I used to get these and skip afternoon class to go watch soccer games from the town deli. They are very simple, and way delicious.