Polynesian Chicken

This is a great recipe to try when you want something more Hawaiian like. I suggest trying this recipe more than once, actually it is best to try it using both Russian Dressing at one meal and also try it with just French Dressing. I think it tastes better with French dressing. It's a sweet taste to it, but it leaves the chicken so tender and juicy all at once. I served this dish over rice and added a vegetable as well.

2 pounds boneless chicken breasts
4 ounces fat-free red Russian dressing or French dressing
1/2 cup sugar-free apricot preserves
1 small envelope of onion soup mix

Directions
Preheat the oven at 350 degrees F.
Wash the chicken and cut into 2” pieces, and place the pieces in a small casserole dish. Mix the remaining ingredients and pour 1/2 of the sauce over the chicken. over and bake for 45 minutes. Stir in the remaining sauce and bake uncovered another 20 minutes.

Natchitoches Meat Pies Recipe

Natchitoches Meat Pies Recipe

These tasty cajun meat pies are native to Natchitoches (pronounced NACK-uh-dish), Louisiana and are traditionally served on Christmas Eve. 

For the Filling

2 Tbsp Butter
1/2 lb Ground Beef
1/2 lb Ground Pork
1/2 Cup Onion, finely diced
1/2 Cup Red Bell Pepper, finely diced
1/4 Cup Celery, finely diced
1/2 Cup Green Onions
3 Garlic Cloves, minced
2 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
1 Tbsp Hot Sauce
Salt, black pepper, and Cayenne to taste.
1/2 Cup Beef Stock
1/8 Cup All Purpose Flour

Melt the butter in a large cast iron skillet over medium high heat, when hot add the ground meats, cook until browned and cooked through. Add the onions, celery, bell pepper, and green onions, cook until the vegetables are wilted. Add the garlic, Worcestershire, hot sauce, and seasonings, cook for 2 minutes more. Make a slurry of the stock and flour, add to the pot and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and cook for about 5 minutes stirring constantly. Remove from the heat and adjust the seasonings if necessary. Set aside to cool to room temperature.

For the dough:

4 Cups All Purpose Flour
2 tsp Salt
1 tsp Baking Powder
1/2 Cup Lard
1 Egg
1 Cup Milk

Combine the dry ingredients in the mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, with the speed on low add the lard to the dry ingredients and let the mixer cut it in until the fat is broken up into pea sized pieces. Beat the egg and combine with the milk. Add the wet to the dry with the mixer on low, in a slow steady stream. Mix until the dough just comes together. The key is to not overwork the dough.
Cut the dough in half then roll it out to 1/8 inch thickness on a floured counter. Cut into either the more traditional 5 inch circles or as I did about 3 circles,
Adapted from Market Coffee can.

To assemble and cook:

Place 1 heaping Tablespoon (doubled for the larger size) of the cooled mixture to each circle. With your finger wet the edge with a little water, fold over and crimp with a fork. Set aside on a floured surface until ready to fry.

Heat 4 inches of oil in a dutch oven to 360 degrees. Fry the meat pies in small batches until golden brown on each side.