Try cooking with cola
Many people enjoy drinking cola but not as many have tried cooking with it. Cola brings a different twist to recipes without overpowering the food. If calories are an issue, you can try using diet cola in recipes that are not cooked a long time at high temperatures, as that can make diet colas turn bitter.
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Cola Chicken
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 4-ounce boneless skinless chicken breast halves
1 12-ounce can cola
1 cup ketchup
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
4-1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
3 tablespoons cold water
In a skillet, sauté onion in oil until tender. Add chicken; brown on all sides. Carefully add cola, ketchup, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Cover and simmer for 25-30 minutes or until chicken juices run clear. Remove the chicken and keep warm. Combine the cornstarch and cold water until smooth; add to the skillet. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Return chicken to pan; heat through. Makes 4 servings.
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Cola Pot Roast
1 14.5-ounce can stewed tomatoes
1 cup cola-flavored carbonated beverage
1 packet dry spaghetti sauce mix
1 cup chopped onion
3/4 cup chopped celery
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
3 pounds beef chuck roast
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
In a large bowl, break up tomatoes in their juice. Stir in cola, spaghetti sauce mix, onion, celery, salt, and garlic salt. Stir until spaghetti sauce mix is dissolved.
In a Dutch oven, over medium high heat, brown meat in oil about 10 minutes on each side. Drain off all fat. Pour tomato mixture over meat. Cover, and reduce heat to low. Simmer slowly for about 2 1/2 hours, or until meat is tender. Makes 6 servings.
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This makes a very moist low-fat cake. Because it is tender, it is important to allow the cake to cool completely before trying to cut it.
Diet Cola Cake
1 18- to 19-ounce box chocolate cake mix, unprepared
1 12-ounce can diet cola
Preheat oven according to package directions. Spray a 9x12-inch cake pan with nonstick cooking spray. Mix the dry cake mix with the diet soda. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake according to package instructions. Cool completely. Makes 12 servings.
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Pantry Pointers
For best results when cooking with cola, start with room-temperature cola.
For a flavorful baked ham, baste with cola before putting in the oven and every 30 minutes during cooking.
The Practical Pantry ©2007 Tammy P. Olson
http://www.practicalpantry.com
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