Divine Chicken Piccata - It's all about the brine....

Chicken Piccata has some of my FAVORITE INGREDIENTS in it.  First off, lemon is my all around ace numero uno fave flavor.  Sarburst, Sourpatch Kids, Sweedish Fish...the lemon ones get reserved till the end so I can save the best for last!  And this savory winner packs a wonderful pucker.

Second, I have always been a sucker for pickled (now we use the word "brined") food.  Relish, pickles, olives, cornishons.  And the list goes on.  When I discovered capers, I just about lost my pickle-lovin' mind.

If you are like me, this will be one of your favorite go-to recipes.  It's not that hard to whip it up on a weeknight.  I like to reserve the seasoned dredging flour for the next time my life calls for pan-fried or fried chicken.  Have a separate one for fish, too.  Make it with the pasta, outlined below, and serve with a salad, or broccoli.  I would suggest peas, but the capers and the peas start to look alike and it doesn't quite have that visual appeal.  Enjoy!!!


Ingredients


• 2 boneless skinless boneless chicken breasts, butterflied, cut in half and flattened a little

• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

• All-purpose flour, for dredging and for sauce thickening.  I like to season my dredging flour with garlic powder, onion powder, a little salt and pepper.

• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter

• 5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

• 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice

• 1/2 cup chicken stock

• 1/4 cup white wine

• 1/4 cup brined capers, removed from brine.  You may rinse them if you choose.  I don't.

• 1/3 cup fresh parsley, chopped (optional)

Serves 4.

Directions

Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Dredge chicken in flour and shake off excess.

In a large skillet over medium high heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter with 3 tablespoons olive oil. When the butter and oil start to sizzle, add 2 pieces of chicken and cook for 3 minutes. When the chicken is browned, flip and cook other side for 3 minutes. Remove and transfer to plate. Melt 2 more tablespoons butter and add another 2 tablespoons olive oil. When butter and oil start to sizzle, add the other 2 pieces of chicken and brown both sides in same manner. Remove pan from heat and add chicken to the plate.

Into the pan add the lemon juice, wine, stock and capers. Return to stove and bring to boil, scraping up brown bits from the pan for extra flavor. Return all the chicken to the pan and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove chicken to platter. Add remaining 2 tablespoons butter to sauce and whisk vigorously. Take 4 Tbs of the pan juice out and put in a small bowl. Add 1 Tbs of AP flour and make into a paste. Add the paste back to the pan sauce and stir till combined. Check the seasoning.  Pour sauce over chicken and garnish with parsley (optional).

Pasta Accompaniment:

1 lb. Low Carb Pasta (like Dreamfields), cooked al dente

½ stick butter

¼ cup white wine

¼ cup fresh basil, rough chopped

1 Tbs. minced garlic

¼ cup shredded parmesan cheese

The juice from a half of a lemon

Kosher salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

Cook the pasta in salty water, drain and add to a skillet. Add all of the remaining ingredients, and serve with the chicken.

Collard Greens: Good to the last drop!

I didn't grow up on collard greens.  I'm not sure I had them until after 20.  But I've made up for lost time.  My sister went to a southern college, so she probably first encountered them there, in Virginia.  She would  tell me stories about the cafeteria ladies and their funny accents (probably hypocryitcal coming from a Bostonian).  They'd say, "Want some grits, baby?"  "Any sweet potatoes, honey".  Yes, I'd venture to say that it's a safe bet that she had her first collard greens there.

It was a northerner named John who introduced me to collard greens.  A sweet young man from Philadelphia.  He taught me how to blend the greens to add texture.  How to cook them slow to extract all the flavor.  How to manage the "pot liquor" (the greens juice) so it turns out rich and flavorful!!!!  Cooking collard greens is not about a recipe, it's a process.  And make sure you have plenty of time!!!! 

Ingredients:

8 bunches fresh collard greens, washed thoroughly, stems and leaf's spine removed
2 bunches fresh kale washed thoroughly, stems and leaf's spine removed
1 bunch mustard or turnip greens, washed thoroughly, stems removed
2 yellow onions, slivered
2 smoked turkey leg or wing (usually there are 2 to a package)
1/2 jar Vlasic mild pepper rings, drained
Water to reach 1/3 of the pot
Salt and Pepper (not too much until you can  really taste the product)
1 Tbs. Minced Garlic
Crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

Get a large stock pot, put the water, the onions the garlic and the turkey in the water, then pile the greens on top.  Add the pepper rings.  Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.  Feel free to cook them overnight on a really low stovetop setting.  Cook until the collard greens and kale are tender, meat falls off the turkey bone and the pot liquor turns a brownish-green.  Salt and pepper to taste.  And don't be embarrassed when you pick up the bowl and drink the liquor.  This liquor is actually good for you!  That's where all the nutrients went!

Guiltlessly Perfect Summer Pasta

A friend of mine was coming over around dinner time and I remembered that she was a vegetarian.  I looked in my pantry and in my freezer to figure out something that both she and I (your resident carnivore) would enjoy.  I happen to love peas.  Not the shriveled, canned variety that tastes closer to Elmer's glue, the petite fresh or frozen kind.  Truth be told, growing up, my sister and I used to fight over peas because I tended to eat them as snacks after school and before dinner, leaving nothing for her. 

This is a wonderfully simple recipe that is as good in the summer as it is in the winter.  It calls for basil.  Did you know you can take your summer basil harvest and freeze it for gloomier days in the fall and winter?  Just stick your basil surplus in a freezer bag, eliminate all the air and put it in the freezer.  Take out what you need, chop it up and put the rest back in the freezer.

I also suggest low carb pasta, such as Dreamfield's.  It takes all the guilt out of this tasty meal. 

Ingredients:
2 Tbs olive oil
2 Tbs butter
1 Tbs minced garlic
4 Tbs chopped fresh or frozen basil
The juice from a half of a fresh lemon
1 lb. petite peas (I like C&W or Bird's Eye frozen)
Salt and pepper to taste
- - - - - - - - -
1/2 lb. spaghetti
- - - - - - - - -
1 cup shaved parmesan cheese

Boil the water for the pasta and add salt so the water tastes like the ocean.  Cook the pasta according to the instructions on the box, al dente.  In a separate pan, saute garlic in the butter and olive oil for a few minutes without color. Turn heat to medium. Add chopped fresh basil. Add warm petite peas, add 1/2 lb of cooked pasta. Add the juice of a half a lemon. Add salt and pepper to taste. Toss to combine it all and serve with fresh grated Parmesan to taste.

Summer Shrimp with White Wine, Lime and Jalapeno

It's hard to beat shrimp in the summer.  I don't know what it is.  Somehow, shrimp just begs to be consumed outside, on the porch, with friends and a light breeze!  Although this is a very light recipe, it has that "stick to your ribs" factor that won't leave you hungry two hours later.  Also, a few points of edification...those numbers in the shrimp department (16/20, 21/25) refer to the average number of shrimp per pound.  The lower the number, the larger the shrimp.  Also, this recipe calls for fresh lime juice.  To get the most from your limes, select limes that have a smooth, shiny skin.  Roll the limes on the counter to tear down the fibers.  Micorwave the limes for 30 seconds.  Careful, the lime juice may be hot when it first comes out of the mirowave.  

Ingredients:

1 lb. Jumbo Shrimp (21/25 or 16/20 ct), peeled and de-veined

- - - - - - - - - -

Marinade:

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

The juice of one fresh lime (see above for maximum juice)

1 Tbs. minced garlic

1/4 cup white wine

1 jalapeno, seeded and minced

3 Tbs. cilantro, chopped

- - - - - - - - - -

1/2 cup shaved parmesan  (more if you are a cheese-head!!!)

- - - - - - - - - - -

1 lb. low carb linguini, like Dreamfields.

Marinate shrimp in marinade for 1-2 hours.  Preheat oven to 450 degrees.  Put shrimp in glass dish with marinade and cook for 7-10 minutes (depending on your oven and the size of the shrimp), until JUST pink throughout, turning shrimp after 5 minutes.  Serve over linguini and top with shaved parmesan. Add salt and pepper to taste.  You can also serve this in tortillas with pico de gallo and cotija cheese.

Save the carbs for dessert!

Ok, ok, I admit it! I did try the Atkins diet at one point. As a bacon lover, I thought....what could be bad about this?!?!?!....all the bacon and cheese you can stand. That lasts for all of about 3 days. Then you stare at a cup of rice as if it were a juicy steak. The Atkins diet did, however, teach me about carbs and the glycemic index. One of the products that I discovered while watching my carbs is Dreamfields pasta. It boasts 65% lower glycemic index than regular pasta and is an excellent source of fiber (20% of the RDA, to be exact). Seriously, you, your guests, even your children will probably not notice the difference (especially if your pasta sauce is as good as mine!!!!). It's also a great idea for the diabetic in your life. It comes in spaghetti, penne and other pasta shapes and sizes. To get more information, check out the link.

http://www.dreamfieldsfoods.com/

Give me your tired, your dry, your old......

We all know that sometimes pound cake doesn't turn out as we'd like. In fact, I have been in search of the perfect pound cake for quite some time, and, I'll be honest...I haven't found it.

Believe it or not, you know who also hasn't found it? Le Cordon Bleu. As some of you know, I graduated from Le Cordon Bleu's program in Baking and Patisserie, and I just knew that I would come out of there with an amazing pound cake recipe....Nope. I just wanted to let the record show that I am still looking. Please, if you have found it, please (did I say that twice) let me know!!!!

In the meatime, our less-than-perfect pound cakes fail in many ways. They are dry, they are heavy, they aren't as flavorful as we'd like. Well here's a fix that's sure to be a hit at the breakfast table (yep, the breakfast table).

Pound Cake fixes:

Grilled Pound Cake

Heat griddle or saute pan on medium high heat. A drop of water should do the jig when you sprinkle it onto the pan.

Slather both sides of the pound cake with butter. Cook until browned on each side. Serve alone or with some of your favorite breakfast items.

Pound Cake French Toast

Heat griddle or saute pan on medium high sheat. Beat together two eggs and 2 Tbs milk. Sprinkle with 1/4 tsp cinnamon. Put in a shallow bowl, a Pyrex dish or a deep plate. Slice pound cake 3/4 of an inch thick. Soach each side of the pound cake briefly in the egg mixture.

Add to the pan and cook until brown on both sides. Serve with your favorite syrup and warm butter. Oh, and bacon, of course!

Open face, insert smile...

Spring is my favorite season. I think it has to do with growing up in New England and seeing the earth give back what it took in the fall and winter....the grass, the trees, the flowers. The awakening is truly astounding.

That being said, my favorite FOOD season is summer. I anxiously await its arrival every year. Fresh fruit in the summer is beyond compare. When you eat it, it's like a celebration in your mouth.

My ultimate summer fruit is peaches. Raw, cooked, broiled, cobblered, you name it...I'm game. That's why I was so excited when I discovered the galette. The galette is an open-faced pie that is fresh fruit's delicious companion. It turns summer fruit into an easy, quick and delicious dessert for company, or for the family.

Feel freee to come up with your own combination of fruits. I like this one because blueberries and peaches are such a power couple...tart marries with sublimely sweet. The blackberries add another dimension of texture and tartness that is unrivaled. Frozen (IQF) fruits are an option in the winter.


Ingredients:

1 cup fresh blueberries
1 1/2 cups fresh ripe peaches, sliced in thin segments with the skin on
1/2 cup fresh blackberries
2 tablespoons corn starch
1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
Dash nutmeg
1/2 cup plus 1 teaspoon sugar
1 (9 inch) refrigerated pie dough
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 large egg, lightly beaten

Instructions:

With oven rack in medium position, preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and spray with cooking spray (ideally, if you have two pans that are the same size, double the pan to protect the bottom of the galette from over cooking).

Stir together fruit, conrstarch, zest, juice, spices and 1/2 cup sugar in a large bowl until combined.

Unwrap pie dough and roll onto baking sheet. Spoon on fruit into the center, leaving about an inch and a half fruitless border around the edge.

Fold edges of dough over the blueberry mixture, pleating dough. Dot fruit with butter. Lighly brush dough with egg and sprinkle with the remaining sugar.

Bake until the filling is bubbling and the pastry is golden brown, approximately 25 - 30 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes and serve with a pie server. Spoon vanilla ice cream on top and indulge!!!

Remove the guess-work

Rare, Medium or Well Done. I'm a medium rare gal. Can't stand overcooked meat. Cooking chicken used to scare me. (Did I cook it long enough to kill all that nasty Salmonella?) How do you know when it's done? Bread? It smells done, looks done...but is it? Internal temperatures were soooo tedious.

Then I met the OXO Thermometer. I was actually fortunate enough to find it on sale after Christmas when folks were done testing turkeys. There are options for all kinds of "meat"....turkey, chicken, lamb, veal, fish....and there is also a manual setting for things like bread. Or if you just want to be a renegade and take the chicken out of the oven before it's fully cooked. Let's say, for example, the recipe says "when the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 155 degrees, baste it a final time and then put it back in the oven"....BINGO. This is the tool. It even gives you an alarm when it is 10 degrees away from the desired temperature.

You put the probe in the meat and the display sits on the counter or somewhere next to your stove and quietly does its monitoring while you busy yourself with other things. It's pretty easy to use, compact and versatile.

I've included a link so you can check it out. Let me know what you think!!!

http://www.oxo.com/OA_HTML/xxoxo_ibeCCtpOXOPrdDtl.jsp?a=b&item=79452

There's little better than butter

I've been a butter fan my whole life. In fact, I remember eating sticks of butter straight - no chaser- because it tasted so good...in my youth, of course!!!

During my first bout with Culinary School, I was introduced the the concept of "compound butter". That is, infusing butter with flavors to make it even better....if that were at all possible.

A few of my favorites are herbed butter (shown here) and honey butter. I just recently served them with fresh baked challah (a rich egg bread served by the Jewish people during several holidays and often on Fridays). Might I digress for a minute on the challah subject? Honestly, I think challah may well be the best kept secret of the Jewish people. That stuff is AMAZING!!! If you ever get a chance to try it, please DO....trust me, you will thank me. Well...maybe not....just one more thing to love and fantasize about!!!!

Here are a couple of recipes for compound butter. Feel free to come up with some of your own. And do let me know what you came up with!!! I like to serve the Herb Butter on top of a really good steak. Try adding blue cheese or another of your favorite soft cheeses.

Honey Butter

Ingredients

• 1 pound butter
• 1/4 cups honey
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Let the butter sit until it reaches room temperature.

Place butter into the mixing bowl and beat at low speed with the paddle Add the honey, cinnamon, and vanilla extract and beat until well combined, about 3 minutes. Remove butter from bowl and spoon or scrape onto plastic wrap. Roll into a log and refrigerate for 2 hours.

Herb Butter

Ingredients

• 1 pound butter
• Up to 1 cup of fresh herbs, minced (I used thyme, oregano, chives and a little rosemary)
  

Directions

Let the butter sit until it reaches room temperature.

Place butter into the mixing bowl and beat at low speed with the paddle Add the herbs and beat until well combined, about 3 minutes. Remove butter from bowl and spoon or scrape onto plastic wrap. Roll into a log and refrigerate for 2 hours.

This is so not hard - homemade croutons

There are some things in life that seem so difficult, yet when you attempt them, you realize that they are "no brainers".

Take croutons, for example. When I was first introduced to croutons in the 70's, I thought they were pretty darn good. Then the whole adulthood, low carb, "is it worth the calories?" concept came into my consciousness, and I began to pick these cubed hip-extenders out of my salads and kick them out of my life.

One day, just recently, I let croutons back in. I had just completed training on yeast breads and created some mouth-watering specimens of starch. But as many of you know, homemade bread has no preservatives (other than salt, but the scant amount in the bread doesn't really count). So what's a baker to do when faced with too many loaves of once yummy stale bread????....Duhhhh! MAKE CROUTONS!

Without consulting any of my hundreds of cookbook, I decided to wing it. Here's what I did: Set the oven at 350. Take out a shallow sheet pan (some of you might call it a cookie sheet) and line it with parchment (or wax paper in a pinch). Cut up the bread into cubes. Lightly toss the cubes with a little olive oil. Then toss lightly with your favorite herbs. I like Herbs de Provence. Salt lightly and put in the oven until the croutons are crisp (you, ultimately, decide the crispness). Allow to cool completely and store in an airtight container. Try mixing some of your favorite breads (wheat, pumpernickel, oat). Homemade croutons are an added bonus to any salad, or you may even find yourself eating them plain, uncontrollably. Don't say I didn't warn you!

Easter Leftover Problem Solved - Ham and Lentil Soup

Someone's been hiding this soup from me all my life. I thought lentils were pasty, starchy half-moons of torture. Then I got enlightened. This is a wonderful, flavorful soup that you could serve for an appetizer on a cold evening, or make a meal of it.

Easter is coming, and that usually means ham. Which in turn means leftover ham. Either make this soup after Easter, or wrap and freeze your ham bone until the dead of winter, take it out and use it in this soup. In fact, once you try it, you will be using all sorts of excuses to make this soup...a rainy day, a cloudy day, a partially sunny day when it MIGHT rain. Whenever you make it, you will not be disappointed.

Yield: About 3 1/2 Quarts

1 leftover smoked ham bone or 2 smoked ham hocks
1 pound lentils (about 2 1/2 cups), picked over and rinsed
1 cinnamon stick
1 bay leaf
4 cups chicken broth
8 cups water
A few sprigs of fresh thyme

________
3 onions, chopped coarse
1 cup chopped carrot
1 cup chopped celery
5 cloves of fresh garlic, sliced
1 Tbs. olive oil

In a 6- to 8-quart pot combine the first 7 ingredients. Take the remaining ingredients and saute them over medium heat in a skillet with the olive oil, some salt and pepper until they are slightly tender. Add to the pot. Simmer the soup, covered partially, stirring occasionally, 1 1/2 hours (until lentils are tender and ham begins to fall off the bone). Discard bay leaf and cinnamon stick, as well as the stems from the thyme and remove meat from bone or hocks. Chop meat and stir into soup. Salt to taste.

The best cake I ever ate!

I'm over 40. It's hard for a cake to sneak up on me and become MY FAVORITE CAKE IN LIFE!!!! But this one caught me by surprise.

It's called the Dobos Torte. Traditionally, it's 7 layers of almond sponge cake alternating with 7 layers of French Chocolate Buttercream (oh, there's also rum simple syrup in there to hydrate the sponge layers). On the top is a layer of almond sponge cake covered in caramel and cooled, then cut into sections. The caramel sponge sections are propped up by rosettes of the chocolate buttercream and it is finished with slivered toasted almonds on the side. Yum and double yum. If you are allergic to nuts, I am SO SORRY. But this cake is amazing. If you EVER see it in a (high quality) bakery, you should get a slice. Make sure the buttercream is brought up to room temperature. Cold buttercream is no fun.

Good to the last drop

Have you ever tired to measure honey, or mollases for a recipe and gotten frustrated because you could not get all the product out of the measuring device? Well, if that is you, here is a simple tip to get the most out out of a viscous sweetener:

Use a pan spray such as Pam to coat the spoon (or measuring cup or whatever device you are using) BEFORE you measure. The product will slide right off and you will have the full amount in your recipe and not half on the measuring spoon.

Voila! How 'bout that?

Shrimp, Asparagus and Mushroom Risotto

Risotto is: 1) an incredibly therapeutic experience, 2) a labor of love, 3) NOT an overpriced regular rice dish with some fancy stuff added.

Risotto is made with the Arborio rice grain. It is an Italian short-grain rice. It is named after the town of Arborio in the Po Valley in Italy, where it is grown. Cooked, the rounded grains are firm, creamy, and chewy, due to the higher starch content. It is hearty and down right yummy when you do it right.

Unlike our traditional long-grain rices, it must be attended to, nurtured, if you will. Stay near and stir often. You incorporate liquid little by little until you have achieved the consistency/firmness you are looking for in the rice. Continue to taste your rice until it's done. It won't be soft, like Uncle Ben's. Look for more of an "al dente" firmness. Not crunchy, but a bit on the firm side. If you taste a little, and go back for another spoonful, it's probably done.

For this dish, make sure you have the ice water ready to "shock" the asparagus. It's a way to quickly stop the cooking process so that when you add it back to the final dish, the asparagus won't be mushy. Also, I'm not a mushroom fan (they are on my short list of things I don't care for), but they add a really nice heartiness to this dish. It's not overwhelmingly "mushroomy".

Makes 4 main-course servings

Ingredients:

6 cups chicken broth
1 cup water
1 pound thin to medium asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices, leaving tips 1 1/2 inches long
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter
3/4 pound fresh mushrooms, stems discarded and caps cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
1 pound jumbo shrimp (21-25 ct)
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 1/2 cups Arborio rice (10 ounces)
1 cup dry white wine
2 ounces Parmigiano-Reggiano (1 cup)

Instructions:

Bring broth and water to a boil in a 4-quart pot. Add asparagus and cook, uncovered, until crisp-tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer asparagus with a slotted spoon to a large bowl of ice and cold water to stop cooking, then drain and pat dry. Keep broth at a bare simmer, covered.

Heat 1 Tbs. oil with 1 tablespoon butter in a 4-quart heavy saucepan/skillet over moderately high heat until foam subsides, then sauté mushrooms, stirring occasionally, until browned, about 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, then transfer to a bowl.

Heat 1 Tbs. oil saucepan/skillet over moderately high heat, then sauté shrimp (adding salt and pepper to season) until they are just pink on each side. Do not overcook. Transfer to a bowl with the mushrooms.

Cook onion in 2 tablespoons butter in saucepan over moderate heat, stirring, until softened, about 3 minutes. Add rice and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add wine and cook, stirring, until absorbed, about 1 minute.

Ladle in 1 cup simmering broth and cook at a strong simmer, stirring, until absorbed, about 2 minutes. Continue simmering and adding broth, about 1/2 cup at a time, stirring frequently and letting each addition be absorbed before adding next, until rice is just tender and looks creamy, 18 to 20 minutes. (If there is leftover broth for thinning, save it for thinning, if necessary.)

Remove from heat and stir in 1/2 cup cheese, remaining tablespoon butter, and salt and pepper to taste. Gently stir in asparagus, shrimp and mushrooms, then cover pan and let stand 1 minute. If desired, thin risotto with some of remaining broth. Serve immediately with remaining cheese on the side.

Do let me know if you try this one, and how it came out.

The best darn chicken you ever ate!!!

Like most of you, I've had a lot of chicken in my day. It's pretty hard for a chicken dish to impress me. So here's one for the record books. The skin is crispy from cooking it twice. And if you want the leftovers crispy, just re-crisp them in the skillet with some olive oil. Even the kids will enjoy it. Next time you have some chicken parts laying around just waiting for something new to happen to them, make this! All those watching their waistline, DON'T SKIP the SKIN!!!! IT IS AMAZING!!! Also, don't skimp the fresh herbs. They are really worth it!



STOVETOP ROASTED CHICKEN WITH LEMON-HERB SAUCE


INGREDIENTS

Chicken
3 1/2 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken parts (breasts, thighs, and drumsticks, or a mix, with breasts cut in half)
Table salt and ground black pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 1/2 cups chicken broth

Sauce
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 medium shallot (or onion) , minced (about 3 tablespoons)
1 teaspoon unbleached all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 1/2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley leaves
1 1/2 tablespoons minced fresh chives
1/4 cup white wine
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
Table salt and ground black pepper

INSTRUCTIONS
1. FOR THE CHICKEN: Pat chicken dry and season with salt and pepper. Heat 2 teaspoons oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add chicken pieces skin-side down and cook without moving until golden brown, 5 to 8 minutes.

2. Using tongs, flip chicken pieces skin-side up. Reduce heat to medium-low, add 3/4 cup broth to skillet, cover, and cook until instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of chicken registers 155 degrees for breasts and 170 degrees for legs and thighs, 10 to 16 minutes (smaller pieces may cook faster than larger pieces). Transfer chicken to plate, skin-side up.

3. Pour off liquid from skillet into 2-cup measuring cup and reserve. Using tongs, wipe skillet with paper towels. Add remaining teaspoon oil to skillet and heat over medium-high heat until oil is shimmering. Return chicken pieces skin-side down and cook undisturbed until skin is deep golden brown and crisp and it reaches 160 degrees for breasts and 175 degrees for legs and thighs, 4 to 7 minutes. Transfer to serving platter and tent loosely with foil. Using spoon, skim fat from reserved cooking liquid and add enough broth to measure 3/4 cup.

4. FOR THE SAUCE: Heat oil in now-empty skillet over low heat. Add shallot and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, about 1 minute. Add flour and cook, stirring constantly, 30 seconds. Increase heat to medium-high, add reserved cooking liquid, and bring to simmer, scraping skillet bottom with wooden spoon to loosen browned bits. Simmer rapidly until reduced to 1/2 cup, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in any accumulated juices from resting chicken; return to simmer and cook 30 seconds. Off heat, whisk in lemon juice, parsley, chives, and butter; season with salt and pepper. Pour sauce around chicken and serve immediately.

A carnivore's grain

I have to admit, I was never a big "super grain" eater. Rice...OK. Wild rice...alright. Quinoa...Huh? Cous Cous...no way! Growing up a carnivore, I just didn't "get it".

About a month ago, I was over a friend's house and she and her family are vegetarians. Now, I'm in this food mode where I will try JUST ABOUT anything, and she was making this grain medley from Trader Joe's. It's called Harvest Grains and it has Israeli cous cous, mini garbanzo beans, quinoa and orzo. It was so hearty and wonderful that I rushed to the store to buy some for myself. It's great as a side, or for you vegetarians, it could be the "whole enchilada", since quinoa is a whole protein (an array of essential fatty acids, gluten free and 12-18% protein). Also for the vegetarians, the instructions call for it to be cooked in water or chicken broth. I used veggie stock and it had a wonderful, earthy flavor.

Tonight I combo-ed it with steak, steamed broccoli, sauteed summer squash and a salad. There are leftovers, so who knows what it will be pared with tomorrow. I have not had the kids taste it yet, so that remains to be seen, but the adults in your life will surely enjoy it as a new "side" alternative.

Mimosa Milange

I have to admit that ever since I was "legal", I have truly adored a good ole Mimosa. ESPECIALLY if it was derived from fresh squeezed OJ (aka "liquid gold"). Kinda like how you only take out the "good dishes" for Thanksgiving and Christmas, I only indulged in Mimosas for special brunch occasions (or business class trans-continental flights).

I'm in a new place now on lots of different levels. First, I believe that life is too short to relegate Mimosas to special occasions, and I have begun to experiment with the hallowed orange juice/champagne combination. I have discovered a wonderful paring in the exotic/tropical fruit juices of mango, passion fruit and guava. I think my favorite right now is the passion fruit.

Take your favorite champagne, prosecco (Italy's version) or sparkling wine (from the red, white and blue USA), and add a tropical juice to it. I like a 50/50 ratio, but you decide on your own best mix. This is truly ideally served in a champagne glass. The way the glass is structured, the bubbles head straight for the nostrils. Other glasses will do, but there's something about a champagne flute that shouts "special".

When you do discover this new wonderful combo for yourself, raise a glass for me. Bottoms up!