Sunday, May 22, 2011

Roasted Mediterranean Chicken

Ingredients

cooking spray
8 small red potatoes, halved
1 (16 ounce) jar four cheese Alfredo sauce
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut into large chunks
4 Roma (plum) tomatoes, quartered
4 cloves garlic, peeled
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
12 pitted kalamata olives, cut in half
Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
Place potatoes into a microwave-safe bowl, and cook in microwave oven on High setting for 2 minutes; turn potatoes over (watch for steam) and cook 2 more minutes on High. Set potatoes aside.
Mix together the Alfredo sauce, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, black pepper, and garlic in a bowl. Place the chicken pieces into the prepared baking dish, and generously brush chicken with about 1 cup of the mixture. Arrange the potatoes, tomatoes, and garlic cloves around the chicken. Brush the vegetables with the remaining sauce mixture. Sprinkle the chicken and vegetables with rosemary and olives.
Bake in the preheated oven until the chicken is cooked through and the potatoes are tender, about 25 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the chicken should read at least 160 degrees F (70 degrees C

Prep Time:25 Min Cook Time:30 Min Ready In:55 Min

SERVES 6

Chinese Roasted Chicken


Ingredients

1 (4 pound) fresh or thawed whole roasting chicken
2 tablespoons Kikkoman Lite Soy Sauce
2 teaspoons dry sherry
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1 large clove garlic, pressed
1/2 teaspoon fennel seed, crushed
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon sugar
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
Directions

Remove and discard giblets and neck from chicken. Rinse chicken under cold running water; drain well and pat dry with paper towels. Pierce chicken thoroughly with fork. Place chicken, breast side up, in shallow, foil-lined roasting pan.
Combine lite soy sauce, sherry, oil, garlic, fennel, ginger, sugar and cloves. Brush cavity and skin thoroughly with sauce mixture.
Roast in 325 degrees F. oven 1 hour and 45 minutes, or until meat thermometer inserted into thigh registers 180, brushing chicken occasionally with remaining sauce mixture during last 40 minutes of roasting time.
Remove chicken from oven and let stand 10 minutes before carving.

SERVES 4

Beer Roasted Lime Chicken


Ingredients

1 (4 pound) whole chicken
1 tablespoon salt, or to taste
1 tablespoon ground black pepper, or to taste
1 lime, halved
1/2 (12 fluid ounce) can beer
1 cup water
Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Season the chicken inside and out with salt and pepper. Squeeze the juice from the lime over the whole chicken, then place the halves into the cavity of the chicken. Set the half full beer can in the center of a roasting pan or baking dish, and place the chicken over it in an upright position with the beer inserted into the cavity. Pour water into the bottom of the pan. Cover the chicken with aluminum foil, and place roasting pan and all into the oven.
Roast the chicken for about 1 1/2 hours in the preheated oven, removing foil during the last 20 minutes. Baste occasionally with the drippings. When finished, the internal temperature of the chicken should be 180 degrees F (80 degrees C) when taken in the meatiest part of the thigh. Let the chicken rest for about 10 minutes before serving.

Prep Time:15 Min Cook Time:2 Hrs Ready In:2 Hrs 15 Min

SERVES 6

Strawberry Balsamic Chicken


Ingredients

4 (8 ounce) containers strawberry yogurt
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 tablespoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon kosher salt
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon lemon juice
4 large strawberries
2 teaspoons minced fresh parsley
1 teaspoon minced fresh mint leaves
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar (optional)
Directions

In a medium bowl, stir together the yogurt, 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar, sugar, pepper, cinnamon and salt. Place chicken breast halves in a shallow baking dish, and pour the sauce over them. Refrigerate for 1 hour, turning chicken over half way through.
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Scrape the marinade off of the chicken breasts, and place them into the hot oil. Quickly brown the chicken on both sides, then reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and cook until chicken is no longer pink and juices run clear, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat, and let rest for 3 minutes.
While the chicken is cooking, transfer the marinade to a saucepan. Bring to a low simmer over medium heat. Remove stems from strawberries, and slice thinly so they will fan nicely. Set aside.
Slice chicken breasts on the diagonal into 1/2 inch thick slices. Place on serving plates, and sprinkle with lemon juice. Spoon about 2 tablespoons of the marinade over each chicken breast, and fan one sliced strawberry over the top. Garnish with a sprinkle of fresh mint and parsley. If you really love balsamic vinegar, finish the dish off with an artful drizzle.

Prep Time:1 Hr Cook Time:20 Min Ready In:1 Hr 20 Min

Serves 4