Poultry Essentials Creamy Garlic Chicken Wveggies Recipes

POULTRY ESSENTIALS: PAN GRILLED CHICKEN BREAST

Steps:

• PREP/PREPARE
• Essential Equipment: A cast-iron grill pan works great for this recipe (that is what I am using). If you do not have one you could use a regular cast-iron skillet. If you do not have a regular cast-iron skillet, a regular skillet will work, but do not use a non-stick skillet. A non-stick skillet will not give you the browning that gives this dish its flavor.
• To brine, or not to brine. That is the question: For example, if you are braising the chicken in a slowly-simmering sauce, then brining is not necessary. However, with chicken in a hot skillet, it can make a big, tasty difference. So, if you have a bit of time, place the chicken breast into about a quart of water with 2 tablespoons of salt, and maybe a teaspoon of sugar, and place into the fridge for about 1 or 2 hours, no longer.
• Gather your Ingredients (mise en place).
• Sprinkle a generous amount of salt, and white pepper to both sides of the chicken.
• Place the butter and oil into a skillet over medium-high heat.
• When the butter has melted, add the chicken, and veggies to the hot skillet, and sprinkle the veggies with a bit of salt.
• As the dish cooks, toss the veggies with a pair of tongs, but leave the chicken alone for, about 5 - 6 minutes.
• Flip the chicken and continue to toss the veggies, until they soften, and begin to color, about an addition 5 - 7 minutes.
• Chef's Note: Because the pan is hot, remember to keep those veggies active, so they do not burn.
• Optional Item: To make a quick pan sauce, remove the veggies and chicken from the skillet, and keep warm. Add a bit of chicken stock and wine to deglaze the pan, and then add about two tablespoons of sweet butter, unsalted. Stir until reduced and slightly thickened. Yummy.
• Chef's Note: Do a final tasting for seasoning.
• PLATE/PRESENT
• Serve while still nice and hot, with some crusty bread. Enjoy.
• Keep the faith, and keep cooking.

POULTRY ESSENTIALS CREAMY GARLIC CHICKEN W/VEGGIES

Steps:

• PREP/PREPARE
• Gather your Ingredients (mise en place).
• Cut up the chicken into bite size pieces.
• Add 1 tablespoon of oil to a skillet over medium heat, and then add the chicken.
• Cook until the chicken is cooked though, and no longer pink, about 6 - 8 minutes.
• Chef's Note: While the chicken is cooking, sprinkle with a bit of salt and pepper.
• Remove the chicken from the pan, and reserve.
• Add the remaining tablespoon of butter and oil to the pan.
• When the foaming subsides, add the chopped onion.
• Cook until the onions begin to soften, about 4 - 5 minutes.
• Add the garlic, and cook until fragrant, about 60 seconds.
• Add the mushrooms, and cook until they begin to soften, about 6 - 8 minutes.
• Chef's Tip: If you wish, you can add the mushroom in with the onion, and cook them at the same time. That shaves about 8 minutes off the recipe time.
• In a small bowl, whisk the cream and chicken stock together with the flour, and add to the pan.
• Chef's Note: If you want to make this dish with a few less calories, you could try substituting the cream, with half & half, or even regular milk. You could even try a can of coconut milk.
• Allow to simmer until the sauce begins to thicken, about 3 - 4 minutes.
• Add the chicken to the pan; along with the peas, carrots, and the final spices.
• Allow to simmer until the chicken is warmed through, and the carrots begin to soften, about 7 - 8 minutes.
• Chef's Note: Do a final tasting for proper seasoning.
• PLATE/PRESENT
• Serve over rice with some crusty bread, and possibly a side salad. Enjoy.
• Keep the faith, and keep cooking.

POULTRY ESSENTIALS: CREAMY MUSHROOM CHICKEN THIGHS

Steps:

• PREP/PREPARE
• For this recipe, you will need an ovenproof skillet that is big enough to hold all the chicken.
• When I was working on this recipe, I tried several variations, so I only cooked 2 chicken thighs at a time (as the photos indicate). However, the ingredient list is proportioned to accommodate 4 thighs.
• On my third attempt at this recipe, I felt the sauce was missing something, so, I decided to add some sautéed shiitake mushrooms to the sauce, and that made all the difference.
• If you want to make the sauce a bit more decadent, you could use cream, in place of the milk; however, I found that whole milk did the job quite nicely.
• If your chicken thighs have large flaps of skin hanging down, then cut them off. They will only sit in the sauce and become soggy. YUK!
• Gather your Ingredients (mise en place).
• Place a rack in the middle position, and preheat the oven to 300f (150c).
• Add the butter and grapeseed oil to a skillet over medium heat.
• Pat the chicken thighs with a paper towel, season with a bit of salt and pepper, and add to the pan, skin-side-down, and cook until the skin is crispy, about 4 - 6 minutes.
• Chef's Tip: If you have a small pan, you might need to sear the chicken thighs in two batches. If you crowd the pan, the chicken will steam, not sear, and you will be left with steamed, pale, tasteless chicken. I HATE it when that happens. When you properly sear the chicken, you will have crispy, flavorful chicken.
• Flip the chicken, and cook for an additional 4 - 6 minutes.
• Remove the chicken, reserve, and then remove all but 2 tablespoons of the grease, then add the mushrooms to the pan; along with the white wine.
• Chef's Note: If you do not wish to use wine, then use 3 tablespoons of chicken stock, and 1 tablespoon of freshly-squeezed lemon juice.
• Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms soften, and release their moisture, and the wine or stock is cooked down, about 5 - 7 minutes.
• Add the garlic, and stir until fragrant, 60 seconds.
• Add the sun-dried tomatoes, and the sun-dried tomato oil, and stir for 2 minutes.
• Combine the remaining ingredients (except the chicken), to the skillet
• Stir to combine the ingredients, while slowly bringing up to a simmer, about 2 - 3 minutes.
• Chef's Note: While the sauce is coming up to the simmer, taste and season with salt and pepper.
• Return the chicken to the pan, skin side up.
• Place, uncovered, in the pre-heated oven, and bake for 25 minutes.
• Raise the heat to 375f (190c), and bake an additional 10 minutes.
• PLATE/PRESENT
• Serve with pasta, rice, mash potatoes, veggies... whatever you choose, and do not forget that yummy sauce. Enjoy.
• Keep the faith, and keep cooking.

POULTRY ESSENTIALS: SPICY GARLIC CHICKEN

Steps:

• 1. PREP/PREPARE
• 2. If you have a skillet that is large enough to hold all the ingredients, you can cook it up a single pan.
• 3. Gather your ingredients (mise en place).
• 4. Cut the chicken into strips or cubes, and sprinkle with a bit of salt and pepper.
• 5. Add the butter to a skillet over medium heat.
• 6. When the butter has melted, toss in the chicken.
• 7. Turn once or twice until cooked, and starting to brown, about 4 - 5 minutes.
• 8. Remove the chicken and reserve.
• 9. Toss in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• 10. Add the red pepper, paprika, and hot sauce, then cook for an additional 30 seconds.
• 11. Add the chicken stock and scrape the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon to blend the fonds in with the sauce.
• 12. Bring up to a simmer. When the sauce begins to reduce, about 2 - 3 minutes, return the chicken to the pan, and toss to coat the chicken with the sauce.
• 13. Do a final tasting for proper seasoning.
• 14. PLATE/PRESENT
• 15. Serve up with a nice side, like mac & cheese, or maybe over some steamed rice. Enjoy.
• 16. Keep the faith, and keep cooking.

POULTRY ESSENTIALS: EASY CHICKEN, TATERS, VEGGIES

Steps:

• PREP/PREPARE
• You will need a full or half, rimmed sheet pan to make this recipe, and some parchment paper will help with cleanup.
• The spices used in this recipe keep things simple, yet flavorful. Feel free to add, any additional spices that suit your fancy.
• If you wish, you can make more of the marinade and reserve some for after the chicken comes out of the oven, then drizzle it over the chicken and veggies before serving. Yummy.
• Chicken Thighs worked best, and so would legs; however, if you choose breasts, be careful and do not overcook them or they will be dry.
• Gather your ingredients (mise en place).
• Whisk the marinade ingredients together in a bowl.
• Add the chicken thighs, toss with the marinade, then cover and place in the fridge for 2 - 3 hours.
• I am using a Ziploc bag for the marinading, however, keeping them in the bowl and covering with a piece of clingwrap would do just fine.
• Place a rack in the upper position and preheat the oven to 380f/195c.
• Remove the chicken from the marinade and sprinkle with a bit of salt and pepper.
• Add the chicken to the parchment-lined sheet pan, then toss the veggies in a bit of oil, salt, and pepper, and add to the pan.
• Place in the preheated oven and bake until the chicken starts turning golden and the veggies are cooked, about 30 - 40 minutes.
• To get the chicken skin even crisper, turn on the broiler function 1 - 2 minutes before the chicken is finished. But keep an eye on it because the broiler can turn golden brown to blackened quicker than you can say: Oops.
• PLATE/PRESENT
• Place a piece of the chicken on a plate; along with a portion of the veggies, then serve while nice and hot. Enjoy.
• Keep the faith, and keep cooking.