Tropical Glazed Roast Chicken

TROPICAL GLAZED ROAST CHICKEN

1 Whole Chicken
kosher salt & pepper
16 oz. can*
1 Bartles & Jaymes Tropical Mango Malt Ale
2-3 teaspoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon water
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 cup apricot pineapple jam or plain apricot
1/4 cup cider vinegar
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 teaspoons ground mustard
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon white pepper
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees. Spray can with PURE.

Rinse and pat dry chicken. Tuck wings on the chicken. Puncture large fat deposits at top of thighs and breasts. Pat kosher salt and pepper onto chicken.

Fill can ½ full of Tropical Mango malt ale. Drink the rest. Spray 9 inch baking dish with PURE. Stand chicken over can in 9 inch baking dish.

Set oven shelf to lowest position.

Roast chicken 90 minutes OR until internal temperature is 140 degrees.

While chicken is cooking whisk cornstarch and water together until there are no lumps – set aside. Bring remaining ingredients to a simmer in a medium saucepan until reduced and thickened to about ¾ cup, 6-8 minutes.

Remove chicken from oven and increase heat to 500 degrees.

Slowly whisk cornstarch mix into glaze and simmer 1 minute. Remove from heat.

Place 1 cup water in saute’ pan and place in bottom of oven. Return chicken to oven for 15 minutes more.

Remove chicken and brush with ⅓ of glaze.** Return to oven until glaze is browned and sticky. About 10-15 minutes.

Remove from oven and brush with another ⅓ cup of glaze. Let rest 20 minutes.

Strain drippings and add to remaining glaze over low heat until heated through and use as gravy. I like to serve with mashed potatoes.

Recipe works really well on chicken legs too. If using these, foil tent the pan with the legs and can of ale for first 60 minutes to infuse the flavor.

*I use a green bean can that I put in the dishwasher after each use and reuse for future chickens. I like it better because of the more substantial than a beer can and supports the chicken throughout the cooking time.

**If glaze has become stiff, return to heat for a few minutes to soften.

♥

Mediterranean Chicken Alfredo

Mediterranean Chicken Alfredo
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
6 oz. jar artichoke hearts, drained and rinsed
2 tablespoons Classico sun-dried tomato pesto
4 tablespoons + 2 tablespoons sweet butter
2 tablespoons flour
2 teaspoons minced garlic, jar
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/3 cup grated Mozzarella cheese
1/2 teaspoon white pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon basil leaves
1/2 teaspoon oregano
pasta of your choice

Drain and rinse artichoke hearts, cut into small pieces
Cut chicken into bite sized pieces
Melt 3 tablespoons of butter in skillet over medium heat
Saute’ chicken pieces and garlic until cooked through and tender

While chicken is cooking melt 2 tablespoons of butter in sauce pan
Whisk in flour until smooth and golden
Gradually add whipping cream, bring to a SLOW simmer, stirring frequently
In a mortar and pestle rejuvenate your herbs and add to the sauce pan, whisking in well
Simmer 8-10 minutes until sauce reaches desired thickness and is smooth
Add tomato pesto & Mozzarella cheese and stir until smooth

Drain chicken mixture and add to the sauce mixture.
Pour over prepared pasta, top with Parmesan cheese and serve hot.

On a side note – this is what a dejected face looks like. She wasn’t happy about being relegated outside while I cooked.

♥

Scrumptious Sunday ~ National Rice Month ~ Cranberry Rice Pilaf & Chicken Alfredo Rice Casserole

Scrumptious Sunday hosted by Meredith at Mercedes Rocks

CHICKEN ALFREDO RICE CASSEROLE

1 cup alfredo sauce
scant 1/2 cup milk
1 can diced tomatoes
1 teaspoon minced garlic, jar
2 tablespoons Classico sun-dried tomato pesto
2 1/2 cups cooked rice* (white, brown or wild – your choice)
2 cups chicken, cooked (I like to grill it) and cubed
1/3 cup sun dried tomatoes, chopped
1 bunch green onions, chopped
1/2 teaspoon dried basil, revived
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon butter, melted
3/4 cup italian bread crumbs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl combine milk and alfredo sauce. Blend until smooth.
Add rice, chicken, basil, cheese and tomatoes and stir well.
Transfer to a PURE sprayed baking dish.
Bake covered for 30 minutes.
Mix melted butter and bread crumbs. Sprinkle on top.
Bake another 20 minutes uncovered until crumbs are golden.
Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

*1 cup uncooked rice equals approximately 3 cups cooked rice

TRIVIA TIP: According to Better Homes & Gardens May 2008, the first recipe for chicken and rice casserole appeared in the 1896 Fannie Farmer’s The Boston Cooking School Cookbook.

CRANBERRY RICE PILAF
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 small bunch green onions, thinly sliced
1 stalk celery, chopped
1 cup sliced and chopped mushrooms
1/4 teaspoon thyme
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 cup craisins
1/2 cup brown rice
1 teaspoon chicken bouillon
1 cup water

Melt butter in a 3 quart saucepan
Saute’ onions and celery until tender.
Add mushrooms, thyme, salt and pepper and cook 2 minutes more.
Add bouillon, water and mix well.
Add rice and heat to boiling. Reduce heat and simmer until rice is tender.
Add crasins and cook 5 minutes more.

Tasty Thursday ~ Chicken Pie

CHICKEN PIE
3 cups cubed or shredded chicken
2 cups hot water
2 teaspoons chicken bouillon
1 can cream of mushroom, celery or chicken soup
2 teaspoons minced garlic, Jar
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup self rising flour
1 teaspoon white pepper
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 cup butter, melted (1 stick)
3/4 cup chopped carrots
1 can Leseur Peas, drained
1 medium onion, chopped

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Spray a 2 quart casserole with PURE.
In a medium saucepan whisk together the broth, salt and soup. Bring to a boil.
Arrange chicken, carrots, peas and onions in the bottom of the casserole.
Pour soup mixture over it.
In a medium bowl combine the flour, pepper, butter and buttermilk until well blended.
Pour over top of chicken mixture. Smooth it out, but DO NOT mix with the chicken mixture.
Bake 45 minutes uncovered until browned and bubbly.

I do the memes: Menu Plan Monday hosted by Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie, Favorite Ingredient Friday hosted by Kathryn at Overwhelmed with Joy, Freezer Food Friday hosted by MJ at mjpuzzlemom, Scrumptious Sunday hosted by Meredith at Mercedes Rocks, Tasty Thursday hosted by Pumpkin Patch, Watchin’ What We Eat hosted by Lorie at Honey I Shrank Myself and Slow Cooking Thursday hosted by Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. Doing them all make great additions to help keeping me on track and finding so new recipes!

Scrumptious Sunday ~ Picnic Edition ~ Fried Chicken

What is a picnic without fried chicken?

12 pieces of chicken
1/2 cup kosher salt
1 1/2 cup flour
2 tablespoons buttermilk powder
2 sticks butter
salt and pepper to taste

In a large bowl combine salt and warm water to cover the chicken pieces.
Soak for 1 hour.
In a large cast iron pan melt one stick of butter.
Drain chicken pieces and pat dry.
In a large Ziploc bag combine the flour and buttermilk powder.
Dredge chicken pieces in the flour mixture, shaking off the excess.
When butter is melted and hot arrange chicken pieces to fit into the pan.
Salt and pepper to taste.
DO NOT turn chicken pieces until you see blood.
Salt and pepper to taste on the second side.
Cook until golden on both sides and you cannot see any blood.

The Revival of a Family Sunday ~ Breakfast through Dinner

We’re changing up the menu plan a bit! The catch to dinner: My recipes, but the teenager has done all the menu planning (which she hated making choices – said it was hard work), shopping, prep work, cooking and clean-up. On the Menu: Toasted French Toast for breakfast and for dinner, Chicken Cordon Bleu, Garlic Smashers, Home Made Carrot Cake she made a gourmet meal that was quickly devoured! We used multi-grain and sourdough for the French toast and it was truly scrumptious.

TOASTED FRENCH TOAST ~ We hate soggy French Toast and this recipe conquers that.
8 slices thick white bread
1 1/4 cup milk
5 egg yolks
1/8 cup flour
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

Toast bread, but not browned.
Preheat griddle and coat with a small amount of butter.
Whisk together the egg yolks, milk, salt, vanilla, butter and cinnamon.
Whisk in flour until smooth.
Pour milk mixture into a baking dish.
Soak bread pieces for a few seconds on each side.
Grill for several minutes on each side until golden brown.
Serve with warm maple syrup.

SMASHERS
6-8 small YUKON potatoes, skin on
1 tablespoon sea salt
1 teaspoon white pepper
1 teaspoon paprika
1 stick butter, melted
2 teaspoons minced garlic
olive oil

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees
Scrub potatoes
Boil potatoes until tender
Generously spread olive oil on cookie sheet
Space potatoes a couple of inches apart
With a potato masher, SMASH each potato
Sprinkle with salt, pepper and paprika
Melt butter and mix butter and garlic together
Pour a tablespoon of butter mixture over each potato
Bake 30 minutes or until tops are crispy

CHICKEN CORDON BLEU
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts*
2 tablespoons butter, softened
4 thin slices cooked ham
4 thin slices swiss cheese***
1/2 pound bacon (8 slices)
2 jumbo eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup flour
3/4 cup bread crumbs
1 teaspoon thyme
1 teaspoon minced garlic, jar
1 teaspoon oregano

Flatten chicken breasts.
Spread butter evenly on the tops.
Smooth garlic evenly amongst the 4 breasts.
Sprinkle the thyme evenly between the four breasts.
Top with a slice of ham and then a slice of cheese.
Roll up tightly.
Wrap 2 slices of bacon around each one and secure with toothpicks.
Whisk together the eggs and milk in a shallow bowl. Place flour in another shallow bowl. Combine the bread crumbs, oregano and cheese in a 3rd shallow bowl.
Dip each chicken breast in the egg mixture first, then the flour, then the egg mixture again and the crumb mixture last.
Place on a greased cookie sheet.
Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
Don’t forget to remove the toothpicks before serving.

*For really easy servings, I lay the bacon on the cookie sheet and cut the flattened breasts in half. On top of 1/2 of the bacon strip lay a chicken piece, top as directed and then lay the other chicken breast. Bring the other 1/2 of the bacon slice over the top and bake as directed. NO ROLLING AND NO TOOTHPICKS!

***I also use Muenster or Gruyere if that is what I have on hand.

SCRUMPTIOUS CARROT CAKE with CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
CAKE
2 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 cup packed golden brown sugar
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 cup butter, softened
3 Jumbo eggs
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup golden rum*
3 cups grated carrots
8 ounce can crushed pineapple, drained well
1 cup golden raisins
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Pour rum over raisins and set aside for at least an hour.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease and flour 2-9 inch cake pans.
In a large bowl sift together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and sugars.
In another bowl cream together the butter, brown sugar, vanilla and 1 egg. Add additional eggs and beat until well creamed.
Add dry ingredients gradually until well blended.
Add carrots, pineapple and walnuts until well blended.
Drain raisins and fold in last.
Pour batter into prepared pans.
Bake 1 hour or until toothpick comes out clean.
Cool 10 minutes.
Invert cakes onto rack and cool completely.

*As an option you could soak the raisins in orange juice instead and then substitute 1 teaspoon maple flavoring for the rum.

FROSTING
16 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
juice of 1 lemon
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
3 cups powdered sugar

In a medium bowl beat cream cheese and butter until smooth.
Add lemon juice and vanilla. Beat until blended.
Add powdered sugar gradually until well blended and smooth.
Ice first layer and then add 2nd cake top and ice again including sides of cake.
Refrigerate 1 hour to set icing before serving.

Freezer Food Friday ~ Chicken Pot Pies

hosted by mjpuzzlemom

6 cups shredded chicken (2 rotisserie chickens)*
2 medium onions, chopped
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 celery stalks
1 small bag baby carrots
1 small bag frozen green beans or 1/2 pound fresh, cleaned and cut
2 cups chicken broth
12 oz. evaporated milk
1/3 cup butter
1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon Wondra flour
3/4 teaspoon thyme
1/4 cup cooking sherry
1/8 cup parsley
salt and pepper to taste

Separate chicken from fat and bones and set aside. Heat oil in dutch oven. Saute’ onions and celery until just tender. Transfer to a large mixing bowl and toss with chicken. Mix together chicken broth and milk and microwave until steamy, 2-3 minutes. In a large sauce pan melt butter. When foamy stir in flour, parsley and thyme until golden. Gradually whisk in the hot milk mixture. Bring to a simmer and cook until thick. Turn off heat and stir in sherry, salt and pepper to taste. Stir in chicken mixture and vegetables. Divide into 6-8 small French white Pyrex round baking dishes. Cover with lids and freeze.

When ready to bake, thaw and bring to room temperature. Cover with pie crust** and bake at 400 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. With this recipe you don’t end up with a bottom crust, but just think of how many calories you’re saving.

*I usually make this when my local market has a buy one get one free on the rotisserie chickens.

**Pillsbury pie crust from the dairy section will make 2 pot pies with left over pieces for decorative leaves. Unfold a sheet of puff pastry onto a lightly floured surface. Using a floured rolling pin, roll the dough out gently. Measure the diameter of the pot pie bowls, and cut out dough rounds that are slightly larger in diameter. Repeat until you have made all the necessary tops. Whisk an egg in a small bowl. Lay the dough rounds on top of the pot pies. Brush the dough lightly with the beaten egg. Bake the pies for 20 to 25 minutes, until golden brown. Serve immediately.

CHICKEN FRIED CHICKEN with PEPPERED GRAVY

Chicken Fried Chicken

2 large boneless chicken breasts
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
2-4 tablespoons butter(enough to keep chicken from burning~add as necessary)

Rinse and pat dry the chicken breasts. In a shallow glass pan, pour buttermilk over chicken 1-2 hours prior to cooking. Make sure to coat chicken well and turn at least once during soaking. Drain, but do NOT rinse the buttermilk off.

In a medium sized fry pan melt the butter over medium heat. As butter melts and begins to very slightly sizzle, prepare breasts.

In a small ziploc bag mix together the flour, salt and pepper. One at a time, put each chicken breast in bag and coat well with flour mix and then into sizzling butter. Cook on one side until edges begin to bleed and then turn. About 6 minutes each side depending on plumpness. Keep chicken warm.

Peppered Gravy

3 tablespoons butter
5 tablespoons Wondra flour
1 1/4 cups whole milk
3/4 cup whipping cream
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon Black pepper + (to taste)

Melt butter into bottom of pan you just cooked the chicken in. Scrape up any of the chicken pieces and mix into new butter. Add flour slowly, stirring until absorbed by butter and golden brown. Slowly add first the milk and then the cream. Stir constantly until thickens. If necessary sprinkle in more Wondra until desired thickness is reached. Serve over chicken and mashed potatoes.

Chicken Marsala

1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves – pounded 1/4 inch thick
4 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 small white onion
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 cup Marsala wine
1/4 cup sweet cooking sherry

With a mortar and pestle grind the oregano. Sift together the flour, salt, pepper and oregano. Coat the chicken pieces well.
In a heavy skillet, heat oil and butter. Slice onion into rings and separate. When oil and butter is hot saute’ onions until just carmelized. Set aside and place chicken breasts in skillet and brown on both sides about 6 minutes per side over medium heat. Remove and set aside.
to the skillet, add the wine, lemon juice and sherry. Stir, reduce heat, and cook for about 10 minutes until the sauce is partially reduced and begins to thicken.

Return chicken breasts to the skillet. Spoon sauce over the chicken.

Cover and cook over low heat for about 5-10 minutes or until chicken is done.

Hubby doesn’t care for cooked mushrooms, but you hardly miss them. If you want to add the mushrooms back in, slice 1 cup mushrooms and add at the same time as the wine and sherry.

Super Bowl Hot Wings & Nacho Buffalo Bleu Cheese Dip

It doesn’t matter who you were rooting for, you CAN’T, I repeat CAN’T watch the SUPER BOWL unless you have hot wings and buffalo cheese dip!

Personally I’m so glad the Giants won. What more could you ask for but to have back to back years with boy next door American quarterbacks (brothers no less). These two give the whole sports image icon a super boost. I’d rather have my kids looking up to either Eli or Payton Manning over say Michael Vick. It just oozes, American flag, fireworks, Chevy, hot dogs and apple pie. Oh and mom was there too!

8 oz. cream cheese
1/2 cup bleu cheese dressing **
1/2 cup Frank’s hot sauce
1 can Rotel Original tomatoes & chiles (drained)
1/2 cup bleu cheese crumbles

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Heat cream cheese in mixing bowl in the microwave for 30 seconds to soften it. Whisk in the bleu cheese dressing, hot sauce, tomatoes and bleu cheese crumbles until smooth. Pour into a 9 inch stoneware casserole. Bake 20-30 minutes or until cooked through. Serve immediately with Hot wings. **

**See recipes on side bar

Super Bowl Staples ~*~ HOT WINGS & home made 'BLEU' CHEESE dressing

Hosted by Overwhelmed with JOY.

What’s the SUPER BOWL without HOT WINGS and home made BLEU CHEESE dressing for dipping along with a good beer and few dozen other appetizers? Now I try to watch our fats and prepare balanced meals on a day to day basis, but let’s get real here people, this is the SUPER BOWL ~ it’s like Christmas or Thanksgiving. Do you even think twice on those days before you pop, well let’s be honest you’ll pop ANYTHING that looks good into your mouth on those days? Of course not, so why think about it today? Plus here’s the bonus, they’re technically baked so there good for you, right?

HOT WINGS

2-3 dozen+ chicken wings ~ We prefer drumettes (with a little meat on them) to actual wings, but it’s your choice. Today I used what was in the freezer for picture sake, but next week it’ll be drumettes for sure!
2 cups Flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
hidden valley ranch dressing mix (DRY) OR Good Seasons Italian dressing mix (DRY)
2 sticks butter+
Frank’s Hot Sauce
PURE

I also prefer to use an old cast iron frying pan (our is at least 3rd generation, dating back to hubby’s grandfather that we know for sure). I still believe this gives you the most even browning.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Wash and dry the chicken pieces.
Mix together the flour and seasonings in a plastic ziploc bag. Using a ziploc bag makes it easy to throw away the whole mess after dredging all the chicken pieces and it helps you coat every possible spot of the chicken pieces.
Add chicken a few pieces at a time and coat them well. Set chicken pieces aside.
While you’re doing this, have the butter melting in the pan. Start with 1 stick and add as necessary, but make sure you don’t run out dry.
Once all the chicken has been dredged start frying. After you have the pan full pepper the pieces again. Don’t turn the chicken until you can see blood. You only need to turn the chicken one time. Brown evenly and then set aside on paper towels until all pieces have been fried.
As the last batch is frying melt the other stick of butter in a 4 cup measure cup. To that add 1 cup of Frank’s hot sauce per stick of butter. Whisk them together well.
Spray a cookie sheet with PURE.
Dip each piece of chicken into the hot sauce mixture and put on cookie sheet.
After you’re all done and if you have hot sauce & butter mixture left, pour a little over the top of each wing.
Bake for 30 minutes.
Serve hot with my homemade Bleu cheese dressing and celery sticks if you’d like.

Home made “BLEU” CHEESE DRESSING

1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup large curd cottage cheese
1 cup mayonnaise
4 ounces bleu cheese crumbles (sometimes I use Gorgonzola for a bit of change or when I accidentally pick up the wrong container at the grocery store and we like it just as well)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
I put it all in my food processor and pulse until it’s well mixed. Chill for 24-48 hours before serving.

CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE FOR MOUTH WATERING VIEW.

~~Sweet & Sour Carmelized Chicken~~

I couldn’t decide which one, so I did 2 this week.
Favorite Ingredient Friday hosted by Overwhelmed with Joy.

This is such an easy and quick meal to make, but it looks & tastes like you worked all afternoon.

Ingredients:
4 boneless chicken breasts
1 medium onion, chopped
1 cup chicken broth
3 Tablespoons of flour
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice (bottle works if that’s what you have)
2 tablespoons rice wine balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
olive oil
1 egg
1 teaspoon cornstarch

Between 2 sheets of wax paper flatten chicken breasts if they are too thick. If they are too thick they will take longer to cook. If you prefer scallopini style you’ll need to decrease cooking time slightly.

Whisk together the egg and cornstarch. Soak chicken breasts in mixture for an hour before cooking. This mixture seals in the moistness and keeps the chicken juicy throughout.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a oven proof fry pan (or you will need to transfer to a baking dish) coat he bottom of the pan with olive oil. When the oil is hot, brown both sides of the chicken breasts including all the sides. Add onions about midway and brown them too. You want all the little browned bits on the bottom of the pan.

When breasts are browned, put the pan in the oven for 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to 300 degrees. In the mean time, whisk together the hot water, bullion, flour, lemon juice, vinegar, salt and pepper. Pour liquid mixture over the chicken and cover tightly with foil.

Return it to the oven for additional 10 minutes (5 minutes if doing a scallopini thickness, 15 if they are really thick. Sauce will be thick. During this last ten minutes I steamed the broccoli and turned the left over mashed potatoes from the pot roast into twice baked potato bowls.

I have used breast tenders in a pinch and they work well, but they cook faster so keep an eye on them.

Category: POULTRY

Chicken Marsala