One thing that really separates good cooks from not-so-good, is the ability to roast a chicken properly. You’d be surprised how many professional chefs and cooks can’t. It’s deceptively easy, but cooking the meat - especially the breast - so it’s tender and juicy while also creating a beautiful, crispy skin requires attention to detail and technique. This is one of my … [Read more...]
Chicken Amatriciana
Pasta Amatriciana is a classic Roman dish with sauce made from tomatoes, onion, carrots, garlic, seasonings, and usually pancetta or guanciale. This version of Amatriciana is made heartier with the addition of chicken thighs and legs. Ingredients: 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil 4 chicken legs, bone-in 4 chicken thighs, bone-in 1 Tbsp kosher Salt 28 ounces … [Read more...]
Easy Chicken Cacciatore
Chicken cacciatore is an easy to make dish that is perfect for a cold winter night. It’s essentially an Italian-style chicken fricassee with tomatoes. This version of chicken cacciatore couldn't be easier to make, but has a deep, rich flavor. I like to serve it with thick pasta or noodles to enjoy with the sauce and I also add some red chili flakes to give it a little kick, but … [Read more...]
Chicken Lettuce Wraps
I’m pretty certain that at PF Chang’s restaurants the chicken lettuce wraps are the most popular menu item. I sure do love ‘em. Well, the recipe for the chain’s wraps is a closely guarded secret, but I think this one comes pretty close. One difference is that I prefer not to include the crispy rice sticks that are used at PF Chang’s as filler, but you could add them … [Read more...]
Border Grill-Style Southwestern Chicken
Many years ago, when I was the restaurant critic for Las Vegas Life magazine, I visited Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger’s Border Grill restaurant at Mandalay Bay to write about it. The most memorable dish was grilled skirt steak with Southwestern flavorings such as cumin, jalapeños, lime juice and such. I’ve made that dish in our kitchen frequently, but recently decided to … [Read more...]
Rosemary Chicken Skewers
Every summer my wife and I grow rosemary in our garden. And, every summer I ask myself, “What am I going to do with all that rosemary?” Well, thick sprigs of rosemary make perfect skewers for grilling foods like meat, chicken, shrimp and such, imparting subtle hints of rosemary along the way. You just strip off some of the rosemary from the sprigs and use the “naked” part of … [Read more...]
Thai Basil & Chili Chicken
This year my wife and I planted Thai chilies and Thai basil in our garden, which are perfect for this dish but you can also find them in Asian food markets. This is a delicious, spicy stir-fry that’s called pad kra pao gai in Thailand. It’s a hugely popular street food there and is typically served with a side of fried egg. This recipe makes two large servings of Thai Basil … [Read more...]
Grilled July 4th Fireworks Chicken
Got plans to fire up the grill on the Fourth of July? One of my favorite grilling recipes is butterflied, marinated, grilled chicken. It's a real crowd-pleaser. This recipe calls for a marinade of lemon, garlic, shallots and herbs. It's really versatile, and you could easily substitute other herbs (such as thyme, tarragon, etc.) for the rosemary suggested here. You could also … [Read more...]
Chinese-style Chicken & Asparagus
Here is a healthy and light springtime stir-fry dish that I really love. It cooks very quickly, so make sure you have everything prepped and ready before you turn on the stove. This recipe is based on one from The Woks of Life. Ingredients: 12 ounces chicken breast (thinly sliced) 1 Tbsp water 1 tsp cornstarch 1 tsp oil (any neutral oil, such as vegetable or … [Read more...]
Jamaican-Style Jerk Chicken
In Jamaica, you'll find folks selling well-spiced grilled chicken at roadside stands all over the island. As with gumbo in Louisiana or cassoulet in France, there are as many different recipes as the people who make it. I have tried a number of different recipes for jerk chicken. Some were incredibly complicated and some were as simple as just rubbing the chicken with … [Read more...]