Robust Winter Chicken Dish Recipes

ROBUST GARLIC BAKED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Rinse the chicken and pat dry. Zest the lemon. Slice remaining lemon into quarters and place to the side. With hand mixer combine butter, lemon zest, minced garlic and 1/4 cup chopped rosemary.
• Take your hand and slide it between the skin and the meat on the breast, as well as loosening the 'pockets' between the leg and wing joints. Scoop some of the rosemary butter mixture onto your fingers and begin to stuff into the 'pockets' on the breast, leg, wings, etc. (Save approximately 1/4 of the rosemary butter mixture and rub on the inside of the chicken.)
• Season the cavity of the chicken with the salt, pepper and paprika. Add the quartered lemon, rosemary sprigs and sliced garlic to the chicken cavity. Bind the legs with culinary twine and tuck the wings into the leg joints to secure.
• Place the chicken breast up onto the roasting rack and into the oven. Roast for approximately 50 minutes, or until the juices run clear. Remove the 'stuffing', carve and serve.

CHICKEN PICCATA - A DELICIOUS ITALIAN CHICKEN DISH

Steps:

• Thoroughly wash and pat dry chicken.
• Pound chicken flat - 1/2 inch (Cook's Tip: Place the chicken between two wax paper sheets and use gentle strokes when pounding - The meat can tear easily. Pounding the chicken is a very important step if you wish your chicken to be tender.).
• Beat the egg in a bowl large enough to hold chicken.
• In a shallow pie plate, combine flour, Parmesan, paprika, salt and pepper.
• Dip chicken in egg, then in flour mixture until well coated.
• Heat a wide skillet and melt the butter, then add the olive oil. When hot, add the chicken (Do not crowd skillet.). Quickly brown the chicken on both sides, adding more butter and oil as needed (Fry until appearance is golden and chicken is cooked.). Remove chicken to serving platter, keep warm.
• In the drippings, sauté' the onion, shallot, and garlic for about 1 minute. Add the vermouth/sherry/wine and the bouillon; deglaze the skillet - stirring to get all of the brown bits off the bottom of the pan.
• Return the chicken to the skillet. Pour the lemon juice, grated lemon peel, capers and mushrooms over the chicken; gently turn chicken to coat with sauce. Simmer for another 15 minutes.
• For serving: Remove chicken to warm serving platter and top with sauce, parsley and lemon slices. Pair this dish with rice pilaf, a tossed salad and a glass of Chablis or Pinot Blanc, and you have a crowd pleaser!
• Cook's Tip: If desired, you can substitute chicken breasts with veal cutlets or pork loins.