Monday, March 5, 2012

buttermilk roast chicken

Buttermilk Roast Chicken

Adapted barely from Deb Perelman's Smitten Kitchen, the original version by Nigella Lawson can be found here.
Serves 4 to 6.
Prep time 10 mins, cook time approximately 20 mins.
Begin this recipe at least 1 day ahead.

Note: I made this in a cast iron skillet just because (1) I was too lazy to line a baking dish with parchment and (2) I wanted to use my cast ironware more often. There is really no need to line your baking dish if you're using this recipe as the sugar content is quite low and hardly any drippings result from it to give you a hard time at the sink. As usual, I made my own buttermilk as the boxed stuff had been from the store for weeks - use 1 tablespoon acid (lemon juice or vinegar) to 1 cup whole milk (I take no responsibilities if you use skim and then realize the outcome is short). I roasted 5 pieces after 48 hours and the rest 1 day later without incident.

  • 2 cups buttermilk
  • 5 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons paprika, plus extra for sprinkling (I used smoked)
  • Lots of freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 1/2 to 3 pounds chicken parts (I used 3 thighs and 6 legs)
  • Drizzle of olive oil
  • Flaked or coarse sea salt, to finish
  • 3 teaspoons goose/duck fat (optional)
  • Chopped coriander (optional, parsley or thyme works well too)

In the measuring up of the buttermilk, whisk it with the garlic, salt, sugar, paprika and lots of freshly ground black pepper. Place all the chicken parts in a gallon-sized freezer bag (or lidded container) and pour the buttermilk brine over them. Swish it around so that all parts are covered. Refrigerate for at least 2 but preferably 24 and up to 48 hours (as mentioned earlier, we tried an extra 24 hours without incident).

When ready to roast, preheat oven to 425°F (fan on for convection). Heat up a cast iron skillet on medium high heat. Add in the goose/duck fat if using, drizzle over some olive oil. Remove chicken from buttermilk brine, shake off excess and arrange skin side up on the skillet. Turn off heat. (If using a baking dish, just arrange the chicken in it skin side up.) Drizzle lightly with olive oil, then sprinkle with additional paprika and sea salt to taste. Roast for 20 minutes if using cast iron skillet or 25-30 minutes if using baking dish, until brown and done. Garnish with herbs of choice if using, serve immediately with pan drippings over some potatoes or greens.

stuffed chicken

Panko Crusted Chicken Stuffed with Ricotta, Spinach, Tomatoes, and Basil

I needed to get rid of some leftover ricotta cheese and spinach so I created this recipe. It was SO DELICIOUS! The chicken was really moist and tender while the panko was crunchy and the ricotta mixture was flavorful and creamy. I will be making this dish again and again – my husband and I especially loved it. I highly recommend this recipe.
Panko Crusted Chicken Stuffed with Ricotta, Spinach, Tomatoes, and Basil:
Recipe and photos by For the Love of Cooking.net
 
  • 1 cup of low fat ricotta cheese
  • Small handful of baby spinach, chopped
  • Small handful of grape tomatoes, diced (remove the seeds if possible)
  • 2 tbsp Parmesan cheese, grated
  • 1 tbsp fresh basil, chopped
  • 1 clove of garlic, minced
  • Sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste
  • Dash of oregano
  • 2 chicken breasts
  • Italian seasoned panko crumbs
  • 2 tsp olive oil

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Combine the ricotta, spinach, tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, basil, garlic, sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste. Mix until thoroughly combined.
Rinse the chicken breasts then cut a long horizontal slit along the center of the thin long edge of the chicken breast, nearly through to the other side. Fill the cavity of the chicken breast with the ricotta mixture. Season each side of the chicken with sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste. Carefully dip the chicken breasts in the panko crumbs until both sides are evenly covered. Close the slit together with toothpicks (or if you are like me and realize that you don’t have toothpicks, simply break some kebab sticks in half and use them).

Heat the olive oil in an OVEN PROOF skillet on the stove over medium high heat. Once the pan is hot, place the chicken in the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes or until the chicken is golden brown, flip the chicken over and place the skillet into the oven. Cook for 20 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through. Let the meat rest for 5 minutes before slicing. Enjoy.



Click here for a printable version of this recipe – For the Love of Cooking.net

spaghette squash pasta

Martha Stewart Living, January 2008
  • Prep Time 10 minutes
  • Total Time 65 minutes
  • Yield Serves 4
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Ingredients

  • 1 spaghetti squash (about 4 pounds), halved lengthwise, seeds removed
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing
  • 1 tablespoon packed light-brown sugar
  • Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (about 2 1/2 ounces)
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1/4 cup blanched hazelnuts (1 ounce), toasted and coarsley chopped

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Brush cut sides of squash with oil, and sprinkle with sugar and salt and pepper to taste. Place squash, cut sides down, on a rimmed baking sheet. Roast until tender, about 45 minutes. Let cool slightly on sheet on a wire rack, about 10 minutes.
  2. Scrape squash with a fork to remove flesh in long strands. Place in a large bowl. Add oil, Parmesan, parsley, cilantro, hazelnuts, 1 teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste. Toss, and serve immediately.

korean short ribs





Crock Pot Korean Beef Short Rib Tacos
  • 6 1/2 pounds short ribs (or other ribs)
  • 1 1/2 cups low sodium soy sauce
  • 1 1/3 cups packed brown sugar
  • 10 cloves garlic
  • 2-3 inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled
  • 6 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons dark sesame oil
  • 1-2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
Cucumber Slaw
  • 1 hot house cucumber
  • 4 teaspoons rice vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 2 pinches of salt
  • crushed red pepper flakes to taste
To serve:
  • 6-inch flour tortillas
  • fresh cilantro
  • extra Siracha
In the bowl of a small food processor, pulse the garlic and ginger until finely chopped (you can do this with a knife or on a microplane as well, but it was really fast and easy in my mini food processor).

Add the ribs to the crock pot.  In a medium bowl, whisk together all the ingredients for the cooking liquid.  Pour over the ribs.

Set the crock pot to low and cook about 8 hours. When ready to serve, remove the bones from the ribs, and shred into bite-sized pieces.

Skim the fat off the top of the liquid and add to a small saucepan.  Simmer over medium-low heat until thickened and reduced.  Pour over the shredded meat and serve.

For the cucumber slaw, slice the cucumber as thinly as possible, using a mandoline if you have one.  In a medium bowl, whisk together the vinegar, sugar, salt, and red pepper flakes.  Toss the cucumbers in the mixture and refrigerate until ready to use.

To serve, warm the tortillas and fill with the shredded meat, and top with cucumbers, cilantro, and Siracha to taste.


Korean Beef adapted from My Life as a Mrs. and Confections of a Foodie Bride, originally from What's Cooking Chicago and Blisstree


Cucumber Slaw from My Life as a Mrs, originally from Steamy Kitchen

fruit roll ups

Fruit Roll Ups
From My Edible Advice
2 cups organic strawberries
¼ tsp cinnamon
Blend the fruit until smooth, then spread onto a Teflex sheet or a parchment-lined baking sheet.
If using a dehydrator, dehydrate at 105 degrees F for 8-10 hours or until the fruit is pliable and easy to peel from the sheet.
If using an oven, leave it on at the lowest temperature until the fruit is dry (times will vary depending on the oven).
Cut into strips and store in a glass container in the refrigerator.