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Cookbook Review: Quick From Scratch Chicken Cookbook

FitSugar — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0700

The latest book from Food & Wine, Quick from Scratch Chicken Cookbook ($25), might be dedicated entirely to chicken, but it is by no means boring. We all know that chicken is a wonderful lean protein, but cooking a boneless, skinless breast can become awfully dull. This cookbook is the antidote to monotonous chicken. With lovely photos accompanying every recipe, it is easy to become inspired flipping through its pages. Many of the recipes seem healthy, but the cookbook doesn't include any nutritional breakdown of the recipes, which is my only criticism of this book. Since chicken is such a versatile protein and can be cooked a variety of ways, the cookbook is organized around all the different cooking techniques making it easy to find recipes to try. Being summertime, I was drawn to the section devoted to grilling. I made the Tandoori chicken, and it was a hit. My girls loved it and it impresses dinner guests repeatedly. The major bonus is it's easy.

Check out the recipe when you read more.

Grilled Chicken Tandoori
Quick From Scratch Chicken Cookbook by Food and Wine

Ingredients

1 chicken (3 to 3 1/2 pounds), cut into 8 pieces
with skin removed
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 1/2 tablespoons water
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
1/2 cup plain yogurt
2 large garlic cloves, chopped
1 tablespoon chopped fresh ginger
1 1/4 teaspoons ground coriander
3/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon cayenne
3 tablespoons cooking oil

Directions

Light the grill. Using a sharp knife, cut shallow incisions in the chicken pieces at about 1/2-inch intervals. In a large, glass dish or stainless-steel pan, combine the lemon juice, water, salt, and turmeric. Add the chicken pieces and turn to coat. Let the chicken pieces marinate for 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the yogurt, garlic, ginger, coriander, cumin, and cayenne. Add to the chicken and lemon mixture; turn to coat. Let marinate for 10 minutes.
Grill the chicken over moderately high heat, basting with oil, for 10 minutes. Turn and cook, basting with the remaining oil, until just done, about 10 minutes longer for the breasts, 12 for the thighs and drumsticks.

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When I make this dish for my family, I omit the cayenne pepper - my daughters' young palates can't tolerate the heat - the end result is still quite tasty. You can also make kabobs with this recipe using four to five chicken breasts. If you're interested, pick up a copy of the cookbook from Amazon.

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Fast & Easy Dinner: Roasted Chicken Legs With Potatoes

partysugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:00:43 -0800

If roasting a whole chicken seems like too much work at the end of a long week, consider this recipe that combines chicken legs with potatoes and kale. It's the perfect one-pot meal.

All you have to do is toss everything into a roasting pan, throw it in the oven, and about an hour later, you'll have a flavorful dinner on the table.

Of course, chicken breasts can be substituted for the legs, but the dish may lose some of its rustic appeal. To get the uncomplicated and savory recipe, read more.

Roasted Chicken Legs With Potatoes
From Food & Wine

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds tender, young kale, stems and inner ribs removed
1 1/2 pounds medium Yukon Gold potatoes, sliced 1/4 inch thick
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground pepper
8 whole chicken legs (about 10 ounces each)
1 teaspoon paprika
Lemon wedges, for serving

Directions

Preheat the oven to 450°. In a very large roasting pan, toss the kale, potatoes and onion with the olive oil. Season with salt and pepper and spread in an even layer.
Set the chicken on a cutting board, skin side down. Slice halfway through the joint between the drumsticks and thighs. Season with salt and pepper, sprinkle with the paprika and set on top of the vegetables.
Cover the pan with foil. Roast the chicken in the upper third of the oven for 20 minutes.
Remove the foil and roast for 30 minutes longer, until the chicken is cooked through and the vegetables are tender.
Transfer the chicken to plates and spoon the vegetables alongside. Serve with lemon wedges.

Serves 8.

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Fast & Easy Dinner: Skillet Chicken Stew

partysugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:00:39 -0800

You don't need all day to make a flavorful and rich chicken stew. This quick-cooking skillet comes together in under an hour. The chicken is coated in flour before being flash-seared. The flour helps thicken the sauce which is a mixture of chicken broth, mushrooms, scallions, and yogurt. Although the recipe says to serve the saucy meat on a bed of cooked rice, feel free to pair it with your favorite stew side, be it mashed potatoes or egg noodles. For the simple yet scrumptious recipe, read more.

Skillet Chicken Stew
From Everyday With Rachael Ray

Ingredients

3 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon sweet smoked paprika, plus more for seasoning
Salt and pepper
4 chicken leg quarters, split at the joint to separate legs
1 tablespoon butter
One 8-ounce package cremini or white mushrooms, halved
1 bunch scallions, white and green parts thinly sliced separately
1 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup plain whole milk yogurt
Cooked rice, for serving

Directions

In a large bowl, combine the flour, paprika and 2 pinches each salt and pepper. Coat the chicken pieces with the seasoned flour, shaking off the excess.
In a large, deep skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the chicken to the pan, skin side down. Cook, turning occasionally with tongs, until the skin is golden, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
Add the mushrooms and scallion whites to the skillet and cook, stirring often, until tender, 3 to 4 minutes.
Stir in the chicken broth, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan, and bring to a boil. Return the chicken pieces to the skillet, cover and simmer over medium-low heat until the juices run clear, 20 to 25 minutes.
Stir the yogurt and scallion greens into the pan sauce; season with salt, pepper and paprika. Stir to coat the chicken with the sauce.
To serve, mound some rice on each of 4 plates and top with the chicken.

Serves 4.

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Mac Attack! Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

YumSugar — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:00:35 -0700

From classic stovetop shells to leek-and-cheddar penne, I've never met a mac and cheese I don't like. But the recipe I'd been craving most of all was one that, up until recently, only lived in my imagination: buffalo chicken macaroni and cheese.

My fantasy finally became reality one weekend when I put together all the elements I'd dreamed about. Al dente elbows of pasta, coated in creamy, sharp cheese sauce, topped with hot pepper sauce and crispy chicken.

It only occurred to me after sinking my teeth into the first bite that I could improve upon it even more by dotting the top with blue cheese crumbles and diced celery squares. That's why I can't wait to make it again! The epitome of indulgence, after the break.

Monday's Leftovers: Chicken Teriyaki Meatballs

YumSugar — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 09:00:58 -0700

I can't always find ground chicken at the store, so when I do, I stock up on it, and use it in various dishes. Last night, I busted out the wok for a spicy and speedy Thai noodle stir-fry, and tonight I'm using the rest of the ground meat to create a newfangled twist on a familiar favorite: meatballs.

Rather than the typical pork-and-beef mix, I'm taking the meatball to a different level with a mixture of chicken, scallions, and ginger - then tossing in shelled edamame, snow peas, and rice to the mix for a balanced supper. A simple teriyaki sauce ties the whole meal together. Ready for the recipe? Then keep reading.

Monday's Leftovers: Chicken With Onions and Garlic

YumSugar — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:00:01 -0700

As I mentioned before, my favorite way to buy chicken on a budget is to get it whole and cut it up into pieces, so I enjoy a taste of every part, from the wings to the drumsticks to the breasts and thighs.

Yesterday, I simmered the chicken in a cacciatore sauce of tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, and herbs, and tonight I'm using another one to make a straightforward roast that can be shredded into salads, soups, and pastas, or simply enjoyed on its own.

For a roasted chicken recipe that you can count on again and again, keep reading.

Reader Recipe: Black Bean Tortilla Soup

Yum Community — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:50:10 -0800

This story was written by member SweetPeasMom and comes from the Kitchen Goddess group in the YumSugar Community. The soup looks like it would make a wonderful cold-weather dinner. It's quick, simple, and perfect for busy weeknights. Check out her recipe when you read more

The Basics: Roast Chicken

partysugar — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 04:00:28 -0700

Although it may seem complicated, roast chicken is in fact a pretty fast and easy dinner. All you have to do is season the chicken well and throw it in the oven for about an hour. The resulting dish is classic, elegant, comforting, and delicious! It also fills your house with a wonderfully satisfying aroma.

When I make roast chicken, I like to use different herbs and spices. Normally I'll combine them with butter and olive oil and then rub the chicken's skin with the mixture. This technique ensures a seasoned and flavorful skin and moist, juicy interior. To check out my basic recipe that can be adapted to suit your family's needs, read more.

Roast Chicken
Original Recipe

If you have time, take the bird out of the fridge about 25 minutes before you plan on roasting it.

Ingredients

1 whole chicken
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
3 tablespoons fresh herbs, finely chopped (I used parsley, thyme, and basil)
4 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
2 tablespoons olive oil
salt
freshly ground black pepper
1 lemon, sliced in half
1/2 cup celery leaves
1 onion, roughly chopped
1 carrot, chopped into chunks
1 celery stalk, chopped into chunks
1/4 cup chicken broth
1/4 cup white wine

Directions

Preheat the oven to 425°F.
Combine the garlic, herbs, butter, and olive oil in a small bowl. Season well with salt and pepper.
Wash the chicken and dry thoroughly, patting with paper towels.
Season the cavity and outside of the chicken generously with salt and pepper. Stuff the cavity with the lemon, celery leaves, and a few pieces of onion.
Throw the remaining onions, carrots, and celery into a roast pan. This will act as a bed for the chicken.
Rub the entire chicken with the herb butter mixture. Slide your fingers under the skin and stuff some herb butter inside.
Set the chicken on top of the vegetables in the roasting pan. Tuck the wing tips under the body. Pour the chicken broth and white wine into the roasting pan.
Place in the oven and roast until the skin is deep golden brown and crisp, about an hour to an hour and a half. To see if the chicken is done, pierce the chicken in between the leg and thigh with a knife. If the juices run clear, it is cooked. Or remove from the oven when a thermometer reads between 160 and 170 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cover loosely with foil and let sit for 15 minutes before carving.

Serves 4-6.

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Summer of Salads: Asian Chicken Salad

YumSugar — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 16:00:00 -0700

Party and I have consumed countless salads over the last few months, from heirloom tomato panzanella to Niçoise salad and everything in between. But I'd almost forgotten about the American café favorite, Asian chicken salad, until I found myself watching Giada at Home one afternoon, and had yet another "must make this" moment. Her version is topped with sliced, roasted chicken and coated in a not-too-cloying soy dressing. The result is a light, yet hearty salad that I could eat over and over again. See for yourself when you check out the recipe.

'Wich of the Week: Curry Chicken Salad on Flatbread

YumSugar — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 14:00:53 -0700

I love both tuna and chicken salad, but I don't like any sweet stuff encroaching on tuna. Chicken salad, on the other hand, is well-served by fruit and nuts. One of my favorite recipes is this curry-flavored version made with red grapes, green onions, and walnuts, which combine to make an exciting and exotic filling for Middle Eastern-style flatbreads or pita.Better yet, this chicken salad is actually healthy: it's made with nonfat yogurt and lowfat mayonnaise. With so many intense flavors, you won't miss the full-fat mayo. Though I forgot the lettuce the first go-round, I added it the second time I made these, and it provides a nice bit of texture. Check out more photos and get the recipe.