BUNKO MENU IDEA

Here is the menu of what we enjoyed at Tammy's last night:

SALAD BAR with lots of yummy stuff that included:
- torn green lettuce  
- ham chunks
- chicken chunks
- steak chunks
- cheese
- tomatoes
-cucumbers
- carrots
- fresh mango
- several crouton and other topping choices
- multiple dressing choices
- whole wheat tortilla's (so you could make a wrap if desired)
There were lots more yummy things but I can't remember what they were!

CHEESE, POTATO, and BROCCOLI SOUP 

CROISSANTS AND ROLLS

FRUIT PIES and BROWNIES served with ice-cream

BUNKO MENU IDEA

I'm working to get Tammy's soup recipes, but in the meantime I wanted to post the menu of the meal we had at BUNKO last week.
I've decided to start posting our BUNKO menu's (even if I don't have the recipes for each item) to hopefully aid others on the internet searching for ideas to feed their dear friends.

MARCH BUNKO MENU

Choice of soups (clam chowder or chicken noodle)
Large bread bowls
Green salad with dressing and toppings

Dessert: Yellow cake with Pudding frosting
Assorted sodas

Table candy: Easter candy mix

"PUMPKIN CHIPOTLE PASTA SAUCE" served by TAMI

INGREDIENTS:

1 TBS unsalted butter
3 TBS minced sweet onion
1 clove garlic, minced
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup pumpkin puree
2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, chopped
1/3 cup low-fat milk
1 tsp ground sage
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground coriander
1 pinch ground cinnamon
1 pinch ground nutmeg

DIRECTIONS:

Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat, and cook and stir the onion and garlic until the onion is translucent, about 3 minutes.
Whisk in the chicken broth, and bring to a boil; whisk in the pumpkin puree, chipolte peppers and their sauce, milk, sage, coriander, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Allow the sauce to come to a simmer, then lower heat and hold at a simmer until serving time.

Makes 4 servings.

NOTE:
Tami said she made the sauce the night before and then reheated and held in her crock-pot.
She served this over bow-tie pasta with fresh cilantro for garnish and added tender shredded chicken as an option.

"OUR BEST BITES" SWEET AND SPICY CUCUMBER SLICES ( Served by RUTH)

Sweet and Spicy Cucumber Slices

INGREDIENTS
1-1/2 lbs cucumber (about 3 medium), peeled, halved lengthwise & thinly sliced
2 tsp kosher salt
1/2 c rice vinegar, seasoned or regular
1/2 c water
3 Tbs sugar*
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
2 Tbs minced red onion
*I’ve even made this with Splenda and they turned out great!

Place cucumber slices in a colander sitting over a bowl, sprinkle with salt and toss well.  Let sit for 1 hour refrigerated.  Toss the cukes a few times while they drain as well.  While cucumber slices are draining, prepare marinade below.
Combine vinegar, water, sugar and red pepper in a small saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cook until reduced to a 1/3 cup (about 10 minutes).  If for some reason you boil for too long, just add a little water until you have 1/3 C. Remove reduction from heat and add onion.  Let mixture cool to room temp.
When cucumbers are done resting, pat them dry with a few paper towels and then combine with the vinegar reduction.  This can be served immediately, but for best results refrigerate until well chilled.

"OUR BEST BITES" HONEY-ORANGE PORK TENDERLOIN (served by RUTH)

Honey-Orange Pork Tenderloin
Recipe lightly adapted from Cooking Light
Ingredients:
1/3 cup orange marmalade
3 tablespoons cider vinegar
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic
1 1/2 teaspoons honey
2 tablespoons vegetable or olive oil
1 1-pound(ish) pork tenderloin
Kosher salt and black pepper
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the marmalade, vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, and honey. Reserve 2 tablespoons and set the sauce aside.
Heat the oil in an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Season the pork tenderloin with salt and pepper. When the oil is hot, add the tenderloin and cook for 1-2 minutes or until a golden brown crust starts to form. Flip the tenderloin over and cook for another 1-2 minutes or until the entire tenderloin is golden brown. Remove from heat. Pour about 1/2 of the sauce over the pork. Place the pan in the oven and cook for 10 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and flip the tenderloin over. Add the remaining sauce (not the reserved 2 tablespoons) and place the pan back into the oven. Cook for another 10 minutes or until a thermometer reads 155 degrees. Remove from oven and allow to stand for 10 minutes. Drizzle with reserved sauce and cut into 1/2″ slices. Serve immediately with a salad or vegetables. 1 1-pound tenderloin serves 4.

Corina's Italian Slow Cooker Chicken

INGREDIENTS:
Four chicken breasts
3 cans Cream of Chicken Soup
1 can Chicken Broth
1 envelope dry Italian Dressing mix (like Good Seasons)
1 8 oz cream cheese

Place chicken breasts in crockpot.
Stir together 4 cans soup and envelope dressing mix.
Pour over chicken in crock pot.

Cover and cook on high for three hours or cook on high for one hour and then turn to low and cook for six hours.
Add cream cheese and cook another hour.
Stir to break up chicken.

Serve over rice.

Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala (served by Susan)

Slow cooker Chicken Tikka Masala


From:  http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/main-courses/slow-cooker-chicken-tikka-masala/ by Rebecca

Ingredients:

FOR THE CHICKEN:
9 whole boneless, skinless chicken thighs
1 TBS ground coriander
1 TBS ground cumin
1 tsp Kosher salt
1 cup yogurt
4 TBS butter
1 whole jalapeno pepper, stem removed, pepper pierced several times with a sharp knife

FOR THE SAUCE:
4 TBS butter
1 whole large onion, peeled and diced
6 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
1 TBS Kosher salt
3 TBS Garam Masala
1 piece fresh ginger, about 2-3 inches, peeled and grated
4 cups crushed tomatoes
1 TBS raw sugar (can substitute white granulated if necessary)
2 tsp cornstarch or clear gel
1-1/2 cups heavy cream

TO SERVE:
Rice
Chopped fresh cilantro

Preparation:

Cut the boneless, skinless chicken thighs into 1 to 1 1/2 inch pieces.  Sprinkle the coriander, cumin, and salt over the chicken, then stir in the yogurt until all the pieces are evenly coated.  Cover lightly and let sit for ten minutes before proceeding.

Melt 1 TBS butter in a large saute pan over medium heat.  Raise the heat to medium high and quickly brown about 1/4 of the chicken. Using 1 TBS butter per batch, repeat until all the chicken is browned. Transfer browned chicken to the slow cooker as it is finished.   Throw the pierced jalapeno in on top of the chicken.

Prepare the sauce. Return the pan to heat and melt the butter over medium high heat. Add the onions, garlic, and kosher salt, then stir. Cook, stirring frequently, until the onions begin to lightly brown around the edges.

Stir in the garam marsala and ginger and cook until fragrant (about 1 minute) before raising the heat to high and adding the crushed tomatoes and raw sugar.  Stir well, scraping the caramelized bits from the bottom of the pan, and bring to a boil.  Pour over the chicken in the slow-cooker.

Cover and cook on low for 5 hours, or until the chicken is very tender.

Use a fork or whisk to stir the cornstarch or cleargel into the heavy cream until smooth.  Pour into the slow-cooker and stir gently until the color is even.  Replace the lid and let cook for 10 minutes or until bubbly around the edges.

Serve over hot rice, topped with a generous amount of chopped cilantro.

NOTES FROM SUSAN:

• Instead of chicken thighs, I used boneless, skinless chicken breasts. I used about 4 lbs (8 half breasts).  This Pioneer Woman recipe shows how to broil the chicken breasts and also how to make the sauce without using a crock pot:  http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/06/chicken-tikka-masala-by-pastor-ryan/
• Because I used the chicken breasts, I only cooked it for about 2 hours in the crock pot rather than five hours.
• Rather than the 1 cup yogurt, I just purchased 2 individual serving cups of the greek yogurt and dumped both in.
• I have used an anaheim pepper in place of the jalapeno pepper but I think the jalapeno is better and gives it a little more "kick"
• Fresh Market sells minced ginger in a jar
• For the 4 cups crushed tomatoes I used 2 large cans of un-seasoned Crush Tomatoes
• I did not use any cornstarch to thicken the cream