Monday, November 28, 2011

Roast Chicken with Easy Stuffing

Roast Young Chicken
Prepared November 28, 2011. Every cook should know how to  roast a chicken. Here's one way that works beautifully.
1 3-1/2 to 4 lb young chicken
1 pkg Stove Top™ Chicken Flavor dressing, prepared according to package directions
1 T general purpose dry rub
vegetable oil
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (218 C). Prepare the chicken by rinsing under cold water, removing visible fat, and drying with paper towels inside and out. Season the cavity with dry rub liberally and fill with dressing, setting aside any extra. Truss the drumsticks with cotton twine and close the cavity with twine and skewers. Tuck the wings under. Prick the skin all over the fat on the breast, wings, and thighs with a sharp skewer. Rub vegetable oil over the skin and season liberally with dry rub. Set the bird on a V-rack in shallow dark roasting pan and place in the middle of preheated oven. Roast undisturbed for 1 hour. Check temperature of thickest part of thigh with a thermometer. When temperature reaches 165 degrees F (74 C) remove from oven and tent loosely with aluminum foil. Let rest 15 minutes and carve into serving pieces. Deglaze roasting pan with a little wine or stock and serve, after defatting, on the side. O-T-C salad makes a nice side dish.

Pork Chops Grilled and Braised with Onions, Apples, and Cabbage

Prepared August 30, 2007. Adapted from Emeril Lagasse, foodnetwork.com.
4 1-inch thick rib or loin pork chops, bone in
general purpose breader or seasoned flour
3 c yellow onions, thinly sliced through poles
2 medium cooking apples, peeled, cored, and sliced thick
2/3 lb cabbage, finely shredded
1 c apple cider
1 T cider vinegar
1 c chicken stock
6 pepper corns
2 bay leaves
1/2 T ground cumin
1/2 T paprika
chili powder
kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
3 T vegetable oil, divided
Trim fat from chops, dust with chili powder and bread lightly. Add 1 T oil to a heavy oven-proof 12-inch skillet, heat over medium high, and grill chops until nicely browned on both sides but not cooked through. Remove to a plate. Heat 2 T oil, and cook onions and apples until lightly colored. Add the cabbage and fry a few more minutes. Add the liquids, raise the heat, and deglaze the pan. Return the chops to the pan and cover with the cooked vegetables, and add the seasonings.  Cover tightly and oven roast 1-1/2 hours at 325 degrees F, turning once half way through the cooking. Serve over steamed rice. Serves 4.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Rice Kugel

Recorded November, 2011. Adapted from The Settlement Cook Book, 1965 edition. Can be used in a Kosher meal. A Family Favorite.
1 c long-grain rice
4 c water
1 t salt
4 eggs
1/4 c sugar
1/2 t ground cinnamon
scant cup golden raisins
1/4 c butter or schmaltz, melted (for dairy or meat meals)
Bring the water and salt to a boil in a two-quart saucepan, stir in the rice, and boil slowly for 30 minutes. Drain the rice and spread on a plate to cool. Beat the eggs in a large bowl. Stir in the rice and the other ingredients, and transfer to a well-greased 1-1/2 quart covered baking dish. Bake covered at 325 F for 60 minutes, or until nicely browned and bubbling. Serve warm. Store in refrigerator tightly covered. Rewarm before serving leftovers

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Toasted Oatmeal with Roasted Nuts and Dried Fruit

Prepared November 3, 2011. Toasting the grain before cooking deepens the flavor and gives a toothsome texture to the dish. Adding dry fruit and roasted nuts boosts nutrition, fiber, and buttery flavor.
1 T butter or olive oil
1 c old-fashioned rolled oats
1/2 t salt
2 c hot water
2 T brown sugar
2 T light cream, milk, or vegan substitute
1/4 c ground roasted walnuts or almonds
1/3 c dried fruit such as raisins, figs, prunes  cherries, apples, blueberries, cranberries
In a 2-quart saucepan over medium-high, melt the butter. Stir in the oatmeal and salt. Toast for about 2 minutes with stirring until light brown in color. Stir in the water, sugar, and nuts. Simmer uncovered with occasional stirring about 12 minutes until thickened. When 5 minutes remain, stir in the dried fruit and continue cooking. Stir in the dairy, cover, and let stand 15 minutes to let the flavors mature. Serves 2 to 3 generously.