Greek chicken

When I visited Shelley this summer, we picked out and followed a recipe together. She was four months' pregnant, I believe, and we learned halfway into the recipe that the red wine vinegar's alcohol content (which is tiny, don't worry!) was too much for little Preston. So, after all our work, she didn't get to try it then. Shell, here's your second chance!

I've honestly lost count of how many times I've made this chicken. I first tried the recipe in August 2005, just after receiving Rachael Ray's second 30-minute meals cookbook from a friend of mine. Ray's version varies slightly from the one I now use. It's one of those easy fixes that everyone seems to like, and you can count on it turning out delicious every time. The tang of the lemon and the punch of the garlic linger in my mouth, and the layers of flavor really pop! It's a family favorite: today I made the marinade by request, as we're having company in a few days.

Basically this is a marinade that goes on chopped chicken and on a salad. The main ingredients: extra-virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice and zest, garlic, oregano.

Here's what you do:
1. Gather ingredients.
1 lemon, 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar, 1/2 cup EVOO, 2 tablespoons oregano, and 4 cloves garlic.

2. Combine.
Put the zest and juice of the lemon into a bowl. Whisk in EVOO. Then add oregano and garlic and whisk again.

It's that simple. If you want to use it right away, pour half of the marinade over the chicken (about 1.5 pounds of meat is good) and save the rest for a nice romaine salad---I like to add sliced red onion. Then you just grill up the sauce-covered chicken and transfer them to a platter. Heat up some pitas, mix your salad, and you're set.

What I did today was mix up the marinade only. I covered it and put it in the fridge, along with a ziplock baggie of red onions. When we're ready, we'll be minutes away from dinner. Delish!

Orange Cashew Chicken Stir-Fry

cashew chicken

(recipe from Rachel Ray, www.rachaelrayshow.com)

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
3 1/4 cups chicken stock, divided
1 1/2 cups jasmine rice (we used brown)
salt and pepper
1 16-oz bag of broccoli florets
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts; 6 to 8 ounces ea., cut into bite-size pieces
1 large onion, thinly sliced
3 large garlic cloves, chopped
1 red bell pepper, seeded and sliced
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup hoisin sauce
1 5-oz can sliced water chestnuts
1 cup roasted, unsalted cashews (couldn't find unsalted; regular worked great)


Preparation:

To a sauce pot over medium heat, add 1 turn of veg oil. (about a tablespoon). Once hot, add jasmine rice, a little salt and pepper, and stir to coat in the oil. Add 2 3/4 cups chicken stock, bring up to a bubble then place a lid on the pot and turn heat down to medium. Cook according to package directions, about 18 minutes.

As the stock for the rice is coming up to a simmer, blanch the broccoli. Place a medium skillet filled with one inch of water over high heat with a tight fitting lid. Bring up to a boil, add some salt and broccoli florets then cover and cook for 2 minutes. Drain the broccoli and reserve.

As the broccoli starts working, start the chicken. Place a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat with 2 turns of the pan of vegetable oil, about 2 tablespoons. When the oil ripples, add the chicken, spreading it out in an even layer. Let it completly brown up on one side, you will have to resist the urge to stir it for about 2-3 minutes. Give the skillet a shake, stir, and continue to cook and brown the chicken for 5 minutes. Remove chicken from skillet to a plate and reserve. Return the skillet to the heat, add 1 more turn of the pan of veg. oil, about a tablespoon. Once oil ripples, add onion, garlic, red bell pepper, red pepper flakes, ground coriander and some salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, for 2-3 minutes.

In a small bowl combine the orange juice and hoisin sauce. Add the mixture to the skillet with the veggies along with the sliced water chestnuts and the reserved chicken. Stir to combine and add in the remaining 1/2 cup of chicken stock and the blanched broccoli florets. Cook the veggies and chicken together for about 2 minutes, or until everything is nicely coated and cooked through. Add the cashews and the cilantro or parsley and remove from heat.

Removed the lid from the rice pot and fluff the rice with a fork. Serve orange cashew with a spoonful of rice on top of each portion.

Yields 4 servings.

EASY CHICKEN POT PIE

2 cans cream of potato soup

16 oz can of veg-all

2 cups cooked, diced chicken

1/2 cup milk

1/2 tsp thyme

1/2 tsp black pepper

2,9inch frozen pie crusts,thawed

Combine first six ingredients and spoon into one of the pie crust. Cover with other crust and crimp to seal edges. Slit top. Bake at 375 for 40 minutes. Do not overfill pie because it will overflow. Enjoy!