December 2005   

 
 
The holidays are here and it's time to
share some special ideas with our friends and family. No need to panic this year as Pilgrim's Pride has introduced a delightful new product line that is juicy, tasty and almost labor free. Pilgrim's Pride's new Eat Well Stay Healthy products are pre-cooked so you can pop them out of the bag and use them in these recipes without having to cook the chicken in advance.
       
  Tomato Jiggers  
  Bella Mushroom Shells  
  Island Delight Chicken Fritters  
  and more...  
With EatWellStayHealthy, meals and entertaining can now be less demanding, allowing more time to enjoy this special season.

These products also have an additional value. They're good for you. Every item is certified by the American Heart Association. Eat Well Stay Healthy comes in five varieties: Grilled Chicken Strips, Grilled Chicken Breast Fillets, Italian Style Grilled Chicken Breast Fillets, Chicken Breast Strips, Key Lime Flavored Chicken Breast Fillets and Hunan Breast Tenders. So whatever cuisine you desire, Pilgrim's Pride Eat Well Stay Healthy products are ready for you.

If you have trouble finding our new line or want to get started right away, you can easily substitute fully cooked chicken products.

Pilgrim's Pride wishes all of you an enjoyable, healthy and good eating holiday with the following menu suggestions.

Tomato Jiggers
Serves: 10
  
Tomato Jiggers This colorful holiday appetizer is as tasty as it is enticing. The red cherry tomatoes dress up a holiday table.
½ package of Pilgrim's Pride Italian Style Grilled Chicken Breast Fillets or pre-cooked chicken fillets
40 cherry tomatoes
2/3 cup low fat cottage cheese
2 tablespoons cilantro leaves
1 lime
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 tablespoon of grated onion
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper

  • Defrost chicken according to package instructions and dice
  • Cut top off each tomato and scoop out the pulp and seeds (save top)
  • Sprinkle inside with salt and invert on a paper towel to drain
  • Thinly slice the bottom of the tomato so it's square and can sit upright
  • Blend the cottage cheese until smooth in a food processor
  • Add juice of 1 lime, green bell pepper, grated onion and cilantro leaves and pulse the food processor a few times until well blended
  • Add chicken to the mixture in the food processor and pulse further until minced
  • Season with salt and pepper to taste
  • Spoon mixture into tomato jiggers and place top back on each tomato
  • Chill before serving
  • Any leftover mixture can be used as a cracker or sandwich spread

Bella Mushroom Shells
Serves: 10
  
This delicate, light and flaky appetizer is sensational. It combines portabella mushrooms and shallots to create an exotic treat. Bella Mushroom Shells
½ package of Pilgrim's Pride Grilled Chicken Breast Fillets, diced
3 packages of Athens Mini Fillo Shells
1 pound of Portabella mushrooms, cleaned and chopped
3 tablespoons olive oil
3 shallots, minced
½ cup parsley leaves
8 ounces of cream cheese, low fat
Freshly ground black pepper
Kosher Salt

  • Defrost chicken according to package instructions and dice
  • In a food processor, add mushrooms and parsley and pulse three times or until mixed
  • Heat oil in sauté pan and add mushroom mixture, shallots and cook until dry
  • In food processor, pulse chicken until minced
  • Add chicken and sauté another three minutes
  • Add cream cheese and mix until melted and well blended
  • Remove from heat and season with salt and pepper to taste
  • Bake fillo shells according to package instructions
  • Fill shells with the hot chicken mixture and garnish with a touch of parsley
  • Serve hot
Island Delight Chicken Fritters
Serves: 12
  
Island Delight Chicken Fritters with Holiday Cabbage Salsa This next appetizer adds the taste of a crisp Caribbean fritter during the holidays without the added calories from frying. It's healthy and savory when served with the cabbage salsa

½ package of Pilgrim's Pride Key Lime Flavored Chicken Breast Fillets
1 lime
1 small onion, grated
1 medium red bell pepper, seeded and large diced
3 tablespoons cilantro leaves
2 jalapeņo red or green peppers, seeded and fine diced
2 cups Panko bread crumbs
½ cup flour
½ cup olive oil
½ teaspoon baking powder
¼ cup water
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper

  • Preheat over to 400°F
  • Defrost chicken according to package instructions and dice
  • Place all ingredients, except flour, baking soda and water, in a food processor and pulse until blended
  • Season with kosher salt and black pepper to taste
  • Place mixture in mixing bowl and add flour and baking soda and stir until blended
  • Add water and stir until blended
  • Place Panko bread crumbs in a shallow pan
  • Spoon 1 tablespoon of the chicken mixture at a time into the bread crumbs and roll until covered
  • Brush each side of fritter lightly with olive oil
  • Place each fritter on a cookie sheet lined with baking parchment paper
  • Bake at 400°for 15 minutes or until golden brown
  • Serve with Holiday Cabbage Salsa
Holiday Cabbage Salsa

1 small head of cabbage finely diced
½ cup onion finely diced
1 red bell pepper finely diced
1 red or green Jalapeño finely diced
½ cup apple cider vinegar
1½ teaspoons Kosher salt
2 teaspoons sugar
Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Mix all of the ingredients together and set aside until ready to serve.

Holiday Chicken Spread
Serves: 12
  
Our EatWellStayHealthy holiday chicken spread will delight your guests with its lemony flavor. This is a delicious alternative to rich spreads and will keep your calorie count low. Holiday Chicken Spread
1 package of Pilgrim's Pride Key Lime Flavored Chicken Breast Fillets
1 medium red bell pepper (large diced)
2 tablespoons grated onion
¼ cup cilantro leaves
8 ounces of cream cheese, low fat, softened
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 lime, juiced
Crackers or celery sticks

  • Defrost chicken according to package instructions and dice
  • In a food processor, pulse chicken, pepper, onions, lime juice and cilantro until well mixed
  • Add cream cheese and mayonnaise and pulse until blended
  • Line a small round bowl with plastic wrap (sized for amount of mixture)
  • Spoon in mixture and press until firm
  • Seal bowl and refrigerate for two hours
  • Remove and invert onto platter, removing plastic. Serve with crackers or celery sticks
  • You can decorate top with colorful vegetable strips
Colonial Flair Turkey Breast
Serves: 12
  
Colonial Flair Turkey Breast Pilgrim's Pride turkey breast baked over winter squash infuses a unique blend of flavors that seal in the moisture making this a rich, delicious holiday entrée.

1 Pilgrim's Pride Turkey Breast (about 6 lbs)
¾ cup Blackstrap Molasses
10 ounce jar Jalapeño jelly
1 cup guava nectar (canned drink)
1 cup red wine
1½ teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons unrefined coconut oil
2 pounds of butternut winter squash, peeled and cut into French fry type strips
1 large red onion, sliced ¼ inch

  • Defrost turkey breast in refrigerator (about 24 hours)
  • Preheat oven to 350°F
  • Rinse and dry breast then season with salt and pepper
  • Place the turkey in a roasting pan over a bed of the butternut squash and red onions
  • Mix molasses, Jalapeño jelly, guava nectar and red wine in sauce pan
  • Bring mixture to a boil and remove from heat
  • Add coconut oil to mixture and blend in well
  • Pour half of the mixture over the turkey and bake at 350°F covered loosely with foil
  • After 30 minutes add ½ cup water to roasting pan and stir to loosen drippings
  • Baste with drippings in pan every 15 minutes
  • After 1 hour uncover and continue cooking at 325°F basting every 15 minutes for 1½ hour or until meat thermometer reads 170°F
  • Remove and serve sliced with baked vegetables and remaining sauce that has been reheated.

Have a favorite recipe?

Send your recipes, questions and suggestions to
recipe@pilgrimspride.com and we'll share selected recipes in future newsletters.

Greta Pilgrim-Owens

www.pilgrimspride.com
110 S. Texas St.
Pittsburg, TX 75686
1-800-824-1159