Chicken Broth, Chicken Soup...You decide!

Sometimes we just need a gentle reminder of the basics. Making chicken broth is easy and economical and you get a bonus...cooked chicken for salad, tacos, casseroles, enchiladas, etc.

Yield 8 cups of chicken broth and 2 pounds of cooked chicken

Ingredients

4 1/2 to 5 pounds (about 6) chicken breasts, bone-in, skin-on
1 onion, cut into 8 wedges
2 carrots, quartered crosswise
2 celery, quartered crosswise
2 dried bay leaves
4-5 black peppercorns
3 garlic cloves
6 sprigs parsley
3 sprigs fresh thyme or 1/4 teaspoon dried
1 tablespoon of chicken bouillon granules or 1 large Knorr's cube

Do not add in any salt to the water.

Instructions

Place breasts in stock pot and pour water over the breasts to cover by about 1-1/2 to 2 inches.

Add the rest of the ingredients.

Bring to a boil then quickly reduce the heat to low so that the water is only at a bare simmer (do not boil fast it will toughen the chicken).

Simmer partially covered for 10 minutes only (important).

Turn off the heat and allow the chicken to sit in the water for 15-20 minutes (15 minutes for regular-size breasts and 20 minutes for large breasts). If you have a thermometer, the internal temperature of the chicken should be 160 degrees at the meatiest part of the breasts.

Transfer breasts to a rimmed baking sheet in a single layer and let cool.

At this point, you can cook the broth more to concentrate the flavors and serve as chicken soup.

Remove vegetables from pot. Strain broth through a fine mesh sieve lined with a coffee filter or moist paper towels. Measure broth and if you have more than 8 cups, return to pot and reduce on medium heat till you have approximately 8 cups. Cool and refrigerate for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

When chicken is cool enough to handle, remove skin and bones and cube or shred for your desired usage. You should have around 2 pounds of chicken. The cooked chicken can be frozen for ups to 3 months.

NOTE: You can use a whole chicken instead of the breasts, but you will need to increase the cooking time from 15 minutes to 30 minutes and the soak time to 30 minutes. Check the temp in the thigh. It needs to be 160 degrees.

PF Chang's™ Orange Peel Chicken

Description: Lightly coated pieces of chicken with a hint of citrus served with a tangy tomato-based sauce.

Serves 4

Ingredients

Sauce:
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 tablespoons minced garlic
4 green onions, sliced
1 cup tomato sauce
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons chili garlic sauce
1 tablespoon soy sauce
Chicken:
1/2 cup vegetable oil
4 boneless, skinless chicken
breasts
1 egg, beaten
1 cup milk
1 cup flour
peel from 1/4 orange, julienned (into 1/8"-thick strips)
cooked white or brown rice, to serve

Directions

1. Prepare the sauce: In medium saucepan, heat oil; add garlic and onions; do not let the garlic burn; add tomato sauce; bring to boil.
2. Add sugar, chili sauce and soy sauce; bring to boil; simmer 5 to 6 minutes or until sauce thickens; remove from heat.
3. Prepare chicken: In wok or large skillet, heat oil. Meanwhile cut chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces.
4. In medium bowl combine egg and milk; mix well. Place flour in shallow dish.
5. Coat chicken pieces - first in the flour, then the egg wash and back into the flour. Cook in 2 or 3 batches until all chicken is cooked.
6. When chicken is done, remove oil and rinse out wok with water; reheat pan. When hot, add orange peel and chicken; heat through -
about a minute - stirring gently. Add sauce; heat through.
7. Serve with white or brown rice.

TGI Friday's™ Spicy Cajun Chicken Pasta

Description: A creamy Alfredo sauce bathes al dente fettuccine pasta ribbons. All topped off with juicy chicken–sautéed with red bell peppers in a special Cajun butter–finished with Parmesan shavings.

Serves 4

Ingredients

10 oz. cooked fettuccine (cooked al dente)

1 cup Spicy Cajun Pasta Sauce (recipe follows)

1 boneless chicken breast, cooked and sliced in strips

1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese

1 teaspoon chopped parsley

Spicy Cajun Pasta Sauce:

2 oz. olive oil

1 tablespoon fresh chopped garlic

1/2 cup coarsely chopped onion

1/2 cup coarsely chopped green peppers

1/2 cup coarsely chopped red peppers

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 cup chicken stock

1 cup V-8 juice

cornstarch (mix about a table spoon with a couple tablespoons cold water to form a slurry)

salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

1. Prepare sauce: Heat oil in saute pan; add garlic; saute for 30 seconds; add onions and saute for 1 minute; add peppers and continue to saute for another minute. Deglaze with chicken stock and reduce to half. Add V-8 juice and cayenne pepper; bring to boil; simmer 10 minutes.

2. Thicken to consistency with cornstarch; season to taste with salt and pepper.

3. Add cooked pasta to sauce and heat through until hot.

4. Arrange on serving dish and top with chicken breast. Sprinkle with Parmesan and parsley.

Olive Garden™ Chicken Marsala

Description: Lightly coated chicken breasts skillet fried with sauteed mushrooms in a Marsala sauce.

Serves 4 Ingredients 1/4 cup cake flour (Wondra) 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper 1/2 teaspoon oregano 4 tablespoons oil 4 tablespoons butter 4 chicken half breasts - boneless, skinless 1 cup fresh mushrooms, sliced 1/2 cup Marsala wine

Directions 1. In shallow dish, combine flour, salt, pepper and oregano; stir to blend. 2. In heavy skillet, heat oil and butter until butter melts and mixture bubbles lightly. 3. Dredge chicken in seasoned flour; shake off excess; saute in pan 2 minutes for the first side or until lightly browned; as you turn chicken, add mushrooms around the chicken pieces. Cook about 2 more minutes, until lightly browned on the second side; stir mushrooms. Once the second side is lightly browned, add wine around the pieces; cover and simmer for 10 minutes. 4. Transfer to plates and serve.

Grilled Chicken with Corn and Poblano Chile Sauce

Recipe courtesy of Debi Shawcross

Serves 4

Marinade

¾ cup olive oil

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 bunch cilantro

½ bunch Italian parsley

5 green onions, chopped

2 Serrano chiles, chopped, with seeds

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon ground coriander

1 teaspoon kosher salt

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Sauce

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

2 tablespoons finely chopped onion

3 ears fresh corn, husked, and kernels removed from cob

½ cup water

1 cup heavy cream

1 Poblano chile, seeded and diced

1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese

Salt and freshly ground pepper

Marinade

Combine all ingredients in blender and puree until smooth. Transfer marinade to a large zip-lock bag and add chicken breasts. Marinate in the refrigerator 8-24 hours. Remove the chicken from the marinade and grill over medium heat for 6-7 minutes per side, turning often. Transfer grilled chicken to platter and let sit 10 minutes before slicing into ½-inch thick slices.

While the chicken is resting, prepare the sauce: Melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and poblano chile peppers and sauté 3-5 minutes. Add corn kernels and water and simmer 1 minute longer. Add the cream and simmer 1 minute longer. Gradually add the cheese and stir until sauce thickens. Season with salt and pepper.

Ladle the sauce onto the serving plates and place the chicken on top of the sauce.

Crescent-Almond Topped Chicken Casserole

Recipe adapted from of Kittencal . Visit Kittencal for original recipe.

Another favorite chicken casserole that also works well with cooked turkey. You can prepare the soup mixture and refrigerate overnight. Before using, warm in the microwave or on top of the stove until hot, the filling must be hot before topping with the dough, if desired double all ingredients and bake it in a 13 x 9-inch pan.

Servings 4-6

Ingredients:

3-4 tablespoons butter (or as needed)

1 medium onion, chopped

1 celery stalk, diced

2 carrots, sliced

3 garlic cloves, minced (garlic lovers can use more)

1/2 pound fresh sliced mushrooms (or can use as much as desired)

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)

1 (10-3/4 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted

2/3 cup mayonnaise (do not use salad dressing)

1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 to 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

3 cups cooked chopped chicken

1 (8-ounce) can sliced water chestnuts, drained

1/4 cup peas, frozen

salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste

TOPPING:

1 (8-ounce) can refrigerated crescent rolls

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/2 cup slivered almonds

3 tablespoon melted butter

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Grease an 11 x 7-inch baking dish.

In a large saucepan melt butter over medium-high heat.

Add in onions, celery, and carrots; saute until softened (about 4 minutes).

Add in garlic, sliced mushrooms, and cayenne pepper; cook stirring until the mushrooms are tender.

Add in condensed soup, sour cream 1/2 to 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese and Parmesan cheese; mix until smooth and combined.

Mix in the cooked chicken and water chestnuts; bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for about 5-6 minutes or until heated through.

Season with salt and pepper (at this point you may refrigerate the mixture until ready to use for the casserole, the mixture must be warmed before topping with the crescent dough).

Add frozen peas at last minute before transferring to baking dish.

For topping; unroll the crescent roll dough and shape into two rectangles then seal all perforations together.

Place the dough rectangles over the hot chicken mixture trimming to fit the baking dish if necessary (the filling mixture must be hot before topping with the crescent dough).

In a small bowl combine 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese with the sliced almonds then sprinkle over the crescent dough.

Drizzle melted butter over the top.

Bake for about 20-25 minutes or until the crescent topping crust is browned.

Succulent and Beautiful BBQ Beer-Can Chicken

Original recipe adapted and modified from Cook's Illustrated
Photos from Cook's Illustrated

We have done a lot of beer-can chickens in our day, but when I saw the techniques that the Cook's Illustrated Test Kitchen used, I was converted. Using these techniques have substantially improved the appearance and flavor of our chickens. Read all the way through the recipe and the additional info before you start. You are gonna be really glad you tried this!

TIPS:

• Bank the coals in the grill on either side of a disposable aluminum pan. The coals will cook the chicken evenly and the pan will catch dripping fat from the chicken.
• Open the top of the can wide open with a church key to allow the greatest amount of steam to escape. The normal hole is far too small.
• Lance the chicken’s skin with a skewer to make holes from which rendering fat can escape.
• Rub the chicken liberally with a spice rub on top of and underneath the skin.
• Coat the chicken with a sweet-tart glaze towards the end of cooking to improve the chicken’s flavor and color. If applied too early, the glaze will burn.
  

Makes 2 chickens, serving 4 to 6

Look for chickens that weigh between 3 and 3 1/2 pounds; if they are significantly larger, you may have trouble fitting the lid on the grill.

Spice Rub

2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar

4 tablespoons Creole seasoning

2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper

Glaze

2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar

2 tablespoons ketchup

2 tablespoons white vinegar

2 tablespoons beer

1 teaspoon hot sauce

Beer and Chicken

2 (12-ounce) cans beer

4 crumbled bay leaves

2 whole chicken (3 to 3 1/2 pounds each), patted dry

4 cups mesquite wood chips

1. For the spice rub: Mix brown sugar, Creole seasoning, and black pepper in bowl.

2. For the glaze: Stir brown sugar, ketchup, vinegar, beer, and hot sauce together in medium bowl. Add 1 tablespoon spice rub.

3. For the rest: Measure out 1 cup beer from each can; take 2 tablespoons from measured beer and add to ketchup glaze. Prepare beer cans as shown in photo 1, and add 2 crumbled bay leaves to each can.

4. Prepare chickens as shown in photos 2 through 4.

5. Soak wood chips in bowl of water to cover for 15 minutes. Light large chimney starter filled with charcoal briquettes (about 90 coals) and burn until charcoal is covered with fine gray ash. Place 13 by 9-inch disposable aluminum roasting pan in center of grill. Pour half of coals into pile on each side of grill, leaving pan in center. Scatter wood chips evenly over coals, set cooking grate in place, cover, and let grill heat up 5 minutes.

6. Place chickens (on cans) on center of grate, using drumsticks to stabilize them. Cover and grill until skin is well browned and very crisp, 40 to 60 minutes. Brush with ketchup glaze and grill, covered, until thigh meat registers 170 degrees on instant-read thermometer, about 20 minutes longer. Wearing oven mitts or using wad of paper towels, transfer chickens (still on cans) from grill to cutting board and let rest for 10 minutes. Hold base of can with oven mitt or wad of paper towels, insert tongs into neck cavity of chicken, and pull chicken off can. Carve and serve.

Flavor That's More Than Skin Deep

From its crisp, spiced skin to moist meat, beer-can chicken is flavored through and through. Here's how to get the ultimate beer-can chicken experience from your grill.

1. Use a church key can opener to punch holes in the top of the can; this will allow the maximum amount of steam to escape.

2. Loosen the skin on the breasts and thighs of the chicken by sliding your fingers between the skin and the meat.

3. Massage the spice mixture on the skin, under the skin, and inside the cavity.

4. Using a skewer, poke the skin all over to render as much fat as possible.

Spicy Buffalo Chicken Pizza

Recipe courtesy of Kittencal

I would suggest to start with about 2 tablespoons of hot sauce and add in more to taste, I use Frank’s Red Hot Wing Sauce you may use your own favorite, I would also highly recommend using grilled chicken breasts I find that it really adds to the flavor, use a good quality bottled or homemade ranch or blue cheese dressing for this, I have made this both with bottled and homemade dressing the homemade is much better…

if desired you may marinate the cooked chicken cubes in the hot sauce overnight and mix in the melted butter just before using for the pizza…you will love this and your family and friends will love you for making it!

Servings 6

Ingredients:

3 chicken breasts, cooked and cubed (can use one more if your chicken breasts are very small)

2 tablespoons melted butter

1 (2-ounce) bottle hot sauce (I use Frank’s Red Hot Wing Sauce)

1 (8-ounce) bottle ranch or blue cheese salad dressing (I strongly suggest to use homemade)

1 (16-inch) prepared pizza crust (pre-baked for about 8 minutes)

3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, or to taste

8 slices bacon, cooked and diced

chopped green onion

Instructions:

In a bowl toss the chicken cubes with hot sauce and melted butter; mix well to combine.

Spread the ranch dressing or blue cheese dressing on top of the pre-baked pizza crust (you do not have to use the whole bottle) then top with the chicken mixture.

Top with the mozzarella cheese then sprinkle with the chopped bacon.

Bake in a preheated 425 degree F oven (bottom oven rack) for about 8-10 minutes or until cheese is bubbly.

Grilled Spinach And Feta Turkey Burgers

Recipe courtesy of Kittencal

These are at their best when cooked on the outdoor grill but they are great oven-broiled also, plan ahead there is a 4 hour chilling time to blend the flavors the longer the better!

Notes from our test kitchen; for best flavor and texture it is recommended to use half white and dark meat, don’t omit the shredded carrot that’s the secret ingredient to keep the burgers moist and juicy

Yield 8 burgers

Ingredients

2 pounds ground turkey (if possible use a mixture of white and dark meat)

1 small onion, finely chopped

4 ounces crumbled feta cheese

1/2 cup finely grated carrot (do not squeeze out the moisture from the shredded carrot)

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and hand-squeezed dry (for a less stronger spinach flavor cook firstly according to package directions, rinse under cold water then hand-squeeze dry)

3 large garlic cloves, minced

1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

1/2 cup dry breadcrumbs

seasoned salt (to be sprinkled on the patties while grilling)

Instructions

In a large bowl using clean hands mix all ingredients (except the seasoned salt) together gently until just combined.

Shape into 8 patties.

Place the patties onto a plate/s.

Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4 hours or up to 24 hours (the longer the better!)

Grill over medium-high heat for about 15-20 minutes seasoning the burgers on both sides with the seasoned salt while grilling

Asian Chicken Skewers with Hot and Sour Mango Dip

Yield: 4 servings

1 ½ pounds chicken tenderloins

Marinade:
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 TBLS ground cumin
2 tsps chili powder
2 tsps paprika
2 tsps brown sugar
¼ cup chopped cilantro
1 ½ tsp kosher salt
1 cup lite coconut milk

Hot and Sour Mango Dip:
1 tsp olive oil
4 scallions, minced
1 tsp minced jalapeno pepper
1 can (11.3 oz) mango nectar
1 TBLS brown sugar
¼ tsp allspice
1 TBLS lime juice
½ tsp kosher salt
2 TBLS chopped cilantro
3 TBLS chopped mint

Instructions

In large bowl, combine minced garlic, cumin, chili powder, paprika, 2 teaspoons brown sugar, ¼ cup chopped cilantro, 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt and lite coconut milk. Stir well to blend. Add chicken tenderloins, toss to coat, and marinate in refrigerator for 2 hours or overnight.

Prepare gas or charcoal grill.

In medium saucepan over medium-high heat, warm olive oil. Add scallions and jalapeno; sauté until barely translucent, about 2 minutes. Add mango nectar, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, allspice, lime juice and ½ teaspoon kosher salt; bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-high and simmer sauce about 20 minutes, until thickened and reduced by half. Cool; stir in 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro and mint. Set aside.

Thread one piece of chicken tenderloin onto a wooden skewer that has been soaked in water. Repeat until all pieces are threaded. Place on grill and cook about 3 – 4 minutes per side, turning once, until cooked through. Serve skewered chicken with Hot and Sour Mango Dip.

Parmesan-Crusted Chicken Cutlets

Recipe courtesy of Cooks Illustrated

I love the fact that Cooks Illustrated tests all recipes to find out the very best way to achieve good results. They always have informative "how to" pics.

Serves 4.

The chicken breasts will be easier to slice into cutlets if you freeze them for 15 minutes until firm but not fully frozen. To slice in half, place one hand on top of the breast to secure it, hold a chef's knife parallel to the cutting board, and slice through the middle of the breast horizontally. Note that 1/2 ounce of Parmesan is grated on the smallest holes of a box grater (or Microplane rasp grater); the remaining 6 ounces are shredded on the largest holes of the box grater (see photos below). We like the flavor that authentic Parmigiano-Reggiano lends to this recipe. Less-expensive DiGiorno Parmesan cheese can also be used, but the resulting cheese crust will be slightly saltier and chewier. Serve this chicken with a simple salad. Although the portion size (1 cutlet per person) might seem small, these cutlets are rather rich due to the cheese content. To make 8 cutlets, double the ingredients and cook the chicken in 4 batches, transferring the cooked cutlets to a warm oven and wiping out the skillet after each batch.

Ingredients

2	boneless, skinless chicken breasts (8 ounces each), tenderloins removed, breasts trimmed of excess fat and halved horizontally
	Table salt and ground black pepper
1/4	cup unbleached all-purpose flour plus 1 tablespoon
1/2	ounce grated Parmesan cheese (about 1/4 cup), see note above
3	large egg whites
2	tablespoons minced fresh chives (optional)
6	ounces shredded Parmesan cheese (about 2 cups) see note above
4	teaspoons olive oil
1	lemon , cut into wedges

Instructions

1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 200 degrees. Place chicken between sheets of plastic wrap and pound to even 1/4-inch thickness. Pat dry with paper towels and season both sides with salt and pepper.

2. Set wire rack on rimmed baking sheet. Whisk together 1/4 cup flour and grated Parmesan cheese in pie plate. In medium bowl, whisk egg whites and chives (if using) together until slightly foamy. In second pie plate, combine 2 cups shredded Parmesan and remaining tablespoon flour.

3. Using tongs and working with 1 cutlet at a time, coat chicken in flour mixture, shaking off excess. Transfer chicken to egg-white mixture; coat evenly and let excess run off. Coat chicken with shredded Parmesan mixture, pressing gently so that cheese adheres. Place on wire rack.

4. Heat 2 teaspoons oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Place 2 cutlets in skillet and reduce heat to medium. Cook until cheese is pale golden brown, about 3 minutes. While chicken is cooking, use thin nonstick spatula to gently separate any cheesy edges that have melted together. Carefully flip cutlets and continue to cook until cheese is pale golden brown on second side and meat is no longer pink in center, about 3 minutes. Transfer chicken to wire rack set in rimmed baking sheet and keep warm in oven. Wipe out skillet with paper towel and return to medium heat. Add remaining 2 teaspoons oil and cook remaining 2 cutlets. Serve immediately with lemon wedges.

Two Ways to Cut the Parmesan An ideal crust requires cheeses of two different textures. A base layer of finely grated Parmesan cut on the smallest holes of a box or Microplane grater (left) is paired with an exterior layer of coarsely shredded Parmesan cut on the largest holes of a box grater (right).

Grated

Shredded

When Parmesan-Crusted Chicken Goes Bad

Gummy: Baked chicken has a pale, damp, and gummy cheese coating.

Patchy: A spotty, uneven crust is the result of using the wrong "glue."

Dark and Bitter: A dark brown crust looks appealing but tastes bitter and burnt.

Roast Lemon Chicken

Here is a recipe and "how to" pics from Cook's Illustrated that I thought was worth repeating. Sometimes we just have to get back to basics.

Roast Lemon Chicken

Serves 3 to 4

Avoid using nonstick or aluminum roasting pans in this recipe. The former can cause the chicken to brown too quickly, while the latter may react with the lemon juice, producing off-flavors.

1 whole chicken(3 1/2- to 4-pounds), backbone removed and butterflied (see related Step-By-Step)
3 tablespoons grated lemon zest plus 1/3 cup juice from 3 lemons
1 teaspoon sugar
Salt and pepper
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 cup plus 1 tablespoon water
1 teaspoon cornstarch
3 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley

1. SEASON Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 475 degrees. Pat chicken dry with paper towels. Combine lemon zest, sugar, and 1 teaspoon salt in small bowl. Following photo 2 (of step-by-step), rub 2 tablespoons zest mixture under skin of chicken. Season chicken with salt and pepper and transfer to roasting pan. (Seasoned chicken can be refrigerated for 2 hours)

2. ROAST Whisk broth, 1 cup water, lemon juice, and remaining zest mixture in 4-cup liquid measuring cup, then pour into roasting pan. (Liquid should just reach skin of thighs. If it does not, add enough water to reach skin of thighs.) Roast until skin is golden brown and thigh meat registers 170 to 175 degrees, 40 to 45 minutes. Transfer to cutting board and let rest 20 minutes.

3. MAKE SAUCE Pour liquid from pan, along with any accumulated chicken juices, into saucepan (you should have about 1 1/2 cups). Skim fat, then cook over medium-high until reduced to 1 cup, about 5 minutes. Whisk cornstarch with remaining water in small bowl until no lumps remain, then whisk into saucepan. Simmer until sauce is slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Off heat, whisk in butter and parley and season with salt and pepper. Carve chicken and serve, passing sauce at table.

Step by Step

Butterflying the chicken may be unfamiliar, but this surprisingly simple process makes it easier to flavor the chicken with lemon—and it speeds roasting, too.

1. Use kitchen shears to cut out the backbone. Flip the bird over and press to flatten the breastbone.

2. Carefully loosen the skin, then rub zest mixture into the breast, thigh, and leg meat.

3. Roast the flattened chicken in the lemony sauce so that its flavor can permeate the meat.

NOTE: Wish you had lemon zest on hand all the time? Well, it will soon be available at SourthernFlavorZone.com. The site is not up and running yet, but we are working hard on it. Check back with us.

Red Rice with Chicken

This hearty, well-seasoned dish is budget friendly as well as delicious.

Makes about 6 servings

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 ½ pounds chicken pieces of your choosing

¾ to 1 teaspoon Cajun Seasoning (to taste)

3 large red bell peppers, seeded, cut in strips

1 large onion, cut in strips

8 large garlic cloves, chopped

1 tablespoon dried oregano leaves

1 tablespoon paprika

1 ½ cups long-grain white rice

2 cups (or a little more) chicken broth

2/3 cup cream of tomato soup

1 ½ cups frozen small peas, thawed

1/4 cup parsely, chopped

Heat the oil in a large heavy pot over medium-high heat. Season the chicken with Cajun Seasoning. The 15-minute pre-cook: add the chicken, and cook for 10 minutes, then add bell peppers, onion, garlic and oregano to the pot. Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes. Mix in the paprika and rice and stir to coat. Add the chicken broth and tomato sauce. Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce heat to medium-low.

Simmer until the chicken and rice are tender and the liquids are absorbed, about 20-25 minutes. Add more broth if the mixture becomes dry during the cooking time. Stir in the peas and parsley and add more Creole Seasoning if desired. Cook until the peas are heated through, about 3 minutes. Serve

NOTE: Since red bell pepper are $1.50 each in my local supermarket, I substitute green bell pepper.

If you choose skinless, boneless chicken pieces, cube them and reduce the pre-cook time from a total of 15 minutes to 5 minutes.

Enchiladas de Mole Poblano

Serves: 8

1 Cup Canola Oil
24 Each Corn Tortillas
6 Cups Chicken, cooked and shredded
3 Cups Mole Sauce (recipe in Sauce section)
1 Cup Sour Cream
2 Cups Monterey Jack Cheese, shredded
1 Each Red Onion, sliced

1. Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Dip tortillas in oil one at a time briefly frying until soft. Blot with paper towels.
2. In a separate skillet, warm chicken with mole sauce.
3. To assemble enchiladas, place 2 tablespoons chicken-mole mixture in center of each tortilla, roll into a log.
4. To serve, place three enchiladas side by side in center of plate. Pour mole sauce generously over enchiladas; top with sour cream, cheese and red onion.

NOTE: Of course homemade mole is the best, but it is a time consuming project to say the least, and some of the ingredients are hard to find. If you can't find prepared mole sauce in your local supermarket, you can order it on FoodieAffair.Com. This site is still under construction, but it is promised to be up and running soon.

Virgin Bourbon Chicken

Serves 4

2 Pounds Chicken Breast Halves, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 Tablespoon Creole Seasoning
3 Tablespoons Cornstarch, for coating
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
1 Clove Garlic, crushed
3 Each Green Onions, Whites Only, sliced diagonally
1/2 Teaspoon Ginger
1 Teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
1/2 Cup Apple Juice
2/3 Cup Light Brown Sugar
4 Tablespoons Ketchup
2 Tablespoons Cider Vinegar
1 Cup Water
1/2 Cup Soy Sauce
1 1/2 Cups White Rice, cooked
Green Onions, Green Only for Garnish, sliced diagonally in 1" pieces

1. Season chicken with Creole seasoning and then coat with cornstarch.
2. Heat oil in a large skillet.
3. Add chicken pieces and cook until lightly browned, remove and set aside.
4. Add remaining ingredients except rice, heating over medium heat until well mixed and dissolved.
5. Add chicken and bring to a hard boil.
6. Reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes.
7. Serve over hot rice.
8. Garnish with green onions.

NOTE: It sure wouldn't hurt to exchange the cider vinegar for bourbon to make this an "experienced" sauce.

Super Easy Chicken Alfredo

Serves 4

1-1 1/2 pounds Chicken Breast, skinless, boneless
2 Tablespoons Creole Seasoning
2 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
3 Tablespoons Garlic, crushed
1/4 Cups White Wine
3 Cups Heavy Cream
3/4 C Pecorino Cheese, grated
1 teaspoon Sea Salt
1 teaspoon Black Pepper
1 Pound Fettuccine
1/4 Cup Scallions, sliced

1. Preheat oven to 400F.
2. Season chicken breasts with Creole seasoning and bake until 165F internal temperature is reached, about 20 minutes.
   
3. Cool breasts and slice on bias and set aside.
4. In saute pan over medium heat, add 2 Tablespoons olive oil and garlic. Lightly caramelize garlic. Then add chicken slices and wine to deglaze pan.
5. Add heavy cream and simmer until desired consistency. Then add 1/2 cup cheese, salt, pepper, and pasta.
6. Garnish with scallions and remaining 1/4 cup cheese.

Options: You can add spinach or peas or pork sausage.

RESOURCES: Four cheese white sauce mix will soon be available at FoodieAffair.com