X-treme Chicken - Feeding the Flock 23

2-3 chicken leg quarters (preferably thawed but mine were partially frozen)

16 oz. Brussels sprouts (I used frozen that I got at IGA marked down for $1)

3-4 tbsp. XTREMELY hot hot sauce (we got this hot sauce from Palmetto State Armory...it is so HOT)

1-2 tbsp. olive oil

Kosher salt and pepper

This was so easy.  A wing ding of a meal and Tall Cool ☺ne loved it.  Even the  cat loved the chicken (he's a junk food junky and eats everything cuz he thinks he's a dog).

Preheat oven 350º

Rinse chicken and pat dry.  Salt and pepper both sides.  Place on baking sheet.  Spread hot sauce over the chicken generously.  Bake for 1 hour.  Remove from oven and drain off greasy liquid.  Spread Brussel sprouts around the chicken and drizzle them with olive oil and a little pinch of Kosher salt.  Feel free to add more hot sauce to the chicken if you like it XTRA XTREMELY hot. 

Bake another 20-30 minutes and remove from oven.  Place aluminum foil over to keep warm until ready to serve.  It's best if it sits at least 15 minutes after removing from oven to incorporate all of the flavors.  With the olive oil and hot sauce, the Brussel sprouts did not need any other seasoning.

Enjoy.

Check out my X-Ray Vision over at Crackerberries

Jerking the Chicken - Feeding the Flock 23

3-4 lbs. chicken leg quarters or thighs

2-3 2" cinnamon sticks

1¼ tbsp. allspice berries

2 tsp. black peppercorns

2 tsp. whole cloves (or if you are out like I was, use ¾ tsp. ground cloves)

2 tbsp. brown sugar

1¼ tbsp. dried thyme

¼ cup olive oil

Preheat oven to 425º

Use a pepper grinder or a mallet to smash the cinnamon sticks, allspice berries, peppercorns and whole cloves into a fine powder.  Combine with brown sugar, and thyme and mix well.  Add the olive oil and mix to combine.  

Bake in preheated oven for about 45 minutes.  Remove chicken from pan, (feel free to make gravy with drippings if desired).  

Serve with salad and Jalapeño Cheddar Muffins.

Enjoy,

Don't forget to check out the J-devotional.

Enchilada Chicken Dip - Feeding the Flock 23

 Enchilada Chicken Dip

3 tbsp. hot sauce

1 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese

1 cup Colby Jack cheese, shredded

½ cup mayonnaise

1 14 oz. can diced tomatoes with chiles, drained

½ tsp. cumin

2 tsps. chili powder

3 cups cooked chicken, chopped/shredded

tortilla chips or flour tortillas

Preheat oven to 350º

In large bowl, mix cream cheese, hot sauce, ½ of the Colby Jack, mayonnaise, tomatoes, cumin, and chili powder until well combined.  Fold in chicken.

Spoon into greased baking dish.  Bake uncovered about 20 minutes, until slightly bubbling.  Top with remaining cheese and broil until golden brown.  Serve warm with chips and tortillas.

Great for a crowd.

Cheers,

Check out the devotion.

Fig BBQ Chicken

 

3-3½ lbs. chicken legs

2 tsp. salt

2 tsp. paprika

1 tsp. pepper

1-2 tbsp. butter

 

Rinse off chicken legs and let rest on paper towels, pat dry.  Sprinkle with the salt, pepper and paprika. Place spiced pieces of chicken on a rack to dry while preparing the cast iron skillet. 

 

Heat oven to 350º and place cast iron skillet in oven to heat up. When oven is at temperature, remove from oven, (careful it’s hot) and add butter. Swirl around to melt and distribute.

 

Place chicken in cast iron meaty side down, and return to oven.  Cook 30 minutes and flip the chicken legs over.  Return to oven for 15 minutes.  Spoon prepared Fig BBQ/Mustard sauce over chicken and cover.  Cook an additional 15 minutes or just until bubbly.  Serve with favorite sides.

 

Spiralized Sweet Potato and Chicken Parmesan

Chicken Parmesan with Sweet Potato Noodles

12 oz. chicken breast, flattened and cut into equal portions

12 oz. jar prepared pasta sauce

1 egg, beaten

½ cup parmesan cheese

1 sweet potato, spiralized

1 tsp. Italian seasoning

½ tsp. onion powder

Combine parmesan cheese with Italian seasoning and onion powder. Dip chicken cutlets in egg and roll in parmesan cheese. Sauté in copper chef fry pan until golden brown on both sides and internal temperature is 165º.  Steam the sweet potato noodles for 3-5 minutes until al dente. Top with prepared pasta sauce and sprinkle with parmesan cheese.  Add a side of non-fat cottage cheese and you have yourself a nice little pasta free din-din.  One sweet potato equal 114 calories verses one serving of pasta equal 210 calories.  You figure it out.

© Crackerberries 2020

Cast Iron Chicken

Cast Iron Chicken

2 tsp. paprika

2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. pepper

½ tsp. onion powder

½ tsp. garlic salt

2-3 lbs. chicken pieces (legs, leg quarters, whole chicken cut up)

2 tbsp. butter

6 sprigs fresh thyme

KEY WORDS: CAST IRON

Preheat cast iron skillet in 450º oven.  While cast iron skillet is preheating, combine spices.  Cut up chicken (if necessary) and pat dry with paper towels.  Sprinkle spices all over chicken.  Coat well.  Use all spices.  When oven reached temperature, remove skillet – be careful, it’s HOT.  Add the butter to the cast iron and let it melt.  Place the thyme sprigs on one side.  Add the chicken, skin side down.  Place skillet in oven and bake 15 minutes.  Remove from oven (careful…still wicked hot) and flip the chicken over.  Return to oven and bake another 15 minutes.   Internal temperature for leg/thighs should read at least 175º.  Remove from oven and let stand 10 minutes.  Transfer chicken to platter, discard thyme.  Stir juices and spoon over chicken.  

**I stole this recipe from Cooks Country (www.cookscountry.com).  I love it.  I will never cook chicken another way!

© Crackerberries 2019

Anderson Stew

Welcome to the 2018 A-Z Blogging challenge.  This will be my fourth year. Every year I take on the challenge with hopes of disciplining myself to keep writing throughout the year as much, if not more than just through the monthly challenge. (It certainly is a challenge.)  Some years are better than others.  Some I just lose track of time.  This year I have decided to put my favorite hobbies together. A recipe that is tried and true as well as some thoughtful insight.  Please note some of these recipes have been shared before, however they have gone through years of testing and this is the perfected recipe.  I really hope one of my recipes or “Food for Thought” quotes inspires you to do something great.  Enjoy the read and photos, try the recipe, share your thoughts, and have fun with the challenge this month!

ANDERSON STEW

2/3 cup dry cranberry beans

2/3 cup dry black beans

10 oz. beer

1 packet chicken flavored Ramen noodle seasoning

2 cups chicken broth

1 tbsp. butter

1 large onion, diced

3 stalks celery, chopped

4 medium carrots, peeled and sliced

2 smoked sausages

½ lb. hickory smoked grilled chicken

½ cup uncooked rice

1 tsp. Italian seasoning

½ tsp. garlic salt

½ tsp. chili powder

¾ tsp. cumin

Cover beans by an inch with water and bring to a boil.  Boil for five minutes and turn off heat.  Let stand for one hour.  Drain and rinse beans. In large Dutch oven, sauté onions and celery in butter until onions are golden (about 10 minutes).  Pour in beer and add Ramen noodle seasoning; stir until dissolved and well blended. Add chicken broth, carrots, beans, rice, Italian seasoning, garlic salt, chili powder and cumin.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and cook for 1½ hours, stirring frequently. Add sausage and chicken and cook for 1 hour, or to desired thickness. Serve with your favorite biscuit or rolls.  

.Food For Thought:  Soup is for the soul what stew is for the appetite.  When we are sick we crave soup to make us feel better.  When we are hungry we need a stew to fill our belly.  There is no wrong way to make a stew. Want it thicker, add ¼-½ cup of instant potatoes

Cheers,

  

Fried Chicken

 Cast Iron Perfect Fried Chicken

3-3½ lbs. chicken legs

1½ tbsp. salt

1½ tbsp. paprika

1 cup bread flour

Crisco

Mix the salt, paprika and four together in shallow dish.  Rinse of chicken legs and set aside. Work the flour all over the chicken leaving no moist spots. Place coated pieces on a rack to dry for 10 minutes.  Flour the chicken pieces a second time working the flour into the chicken.

Heat ¼ inch of Crisco in a cast iron Dutch oven until it sizzles with a drop of water. Make sure you have a cover.

Add meaty pieces first, don’t crowd.  Reduce heat gradually when browning begins. Turn pieces 2-3 times with tongs (do not pierce). When chicken is partially tan, add 1-2 tbsp. water; cover tightly. Browning will continue.

Allow 50-60 minutes of cooking time after chicken is covered, flipping once in the middle of the cooking.  Meat should shrink a little from bone ends. For extra crispness, uncover last 10-12 minutes.

Remove from pan and let stand for 10-15 minutes before serving.

© Crackerberries 2017

Cheater General T'so Chicken

Cheater Chicken Tso

Working and cooking delicious nutritious meals is not as easy as you might think.  Not that nuggets are very nutritious, but we had some leftover from the holidays and I wanted to use them up.  I call this Cheater General T’so’s Chicken.

15-20 breaded chicken nuggets

2 tbsp. dark soy sauce

2 tbsp. dry sherry

¼ cup chicken broth

2-3 tsp. cornstarch

1 tbsp. rice vinegar

1 tbsp. sugar

1 tbsp. minced fresh ginger

2 tbsp. minced garlic

EXTRAS

½ cup chopped red onions

1½ cup fresh broccoli florets

5-10 red hot dried chili peppers

Oil for frying

Cook nuggets in oven at 400º for 25 minutes or until slightly crunchy.

Combine sauce ingredients in a bowl, stir well to dissolve the sugar; set aside.

Add 2 tbsp. oil to electric fry pan; once it is hot, add broccoli and stir fry 1-2 minutes; add red onions and  hot chili peppers and stir fry until aromatic (2-3 minutes).  Add chicken and mix everything well.  Push chicken and veggies up sides of wok creating a well in the center.   Pour in sauce and stir constantly until thickened.  Mix in chicken and veggies and serve immediately with rice.                                

© Crackerberries 2015

Versatile Chicken

Versatile Chicken

1½ lb. chicken leg quarters

1 cup low-fat buttermilk

1½ tsp. Sriracha hot chili sauce

1 tbsp. Italian seasoning

¼ cup flour

½ tbsp. paprika

2 tbsp. butter, melted

Wash chicken and remove fatty skin.  Combine milk, Sriracha sauce, and Italian seasoning with chicken in large zip lock bag. Let soak at room temperature for one hour.

Preheat oven to 350º

Combine flour and paprika and mix well. Remove chicken and discard milk.  Roll chicken in flour mixture. Lay in lightly greased cast iron skillet. Drizzle with melted butter. Cook in hot oven for one hour and until golden brown.

Versatile method: to fry chicken, omit melted butter and fry in vegetable oil.

© Crackerberries 2015

Crock Pot Curry Chicken

Curry Crock Pot Chicken

1 lb. chicken legs/thighs

1/3 cup orange juice

1/8 cup teriyaki sauce

1 tsp. dry mustard

1 tsp curry

½ cup spicy salsa

Wash and remove fatty skin from chicken legs and thighs. Cut in half if desired. Place in bottom of crock pot.  Combine all other ingredients in large measuring cup and mix well. Pour over chicken. Cook on high for four hours and reduce heat to low for 1½ more hours. Serve with rice and vegetable.

© Crackerberries 2015

Chex Mix Chicken

Chex Mix Chicken

It’s not just for cereal!

Preheat oven and lightly greased cast iron skillet to 375º.

2 lbs. chicken leg quarters, (give or take a few ounces)

½ cup whole wheat flour

2 tbsp. Chex party mix seasoning

• 2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 1½ tsp. seasoned salt
• ¾ tsp. garlic powder
• ½ tsp. onion powder

1 pkt. Onion soup mix

Combine seasoning, flour and soup mix in zip lock bag. Cut chicken into legs and thighs. Shake pieces one or two at a time. Place chicken pieces in hot skillet and return to oven. Cook 375º for one hour.  Let cool slightly before serving.

© Crackerberries 2014

Autumn Chicken

Autumn Chicken

2 chicken legs

2 chicken thighs

1 tbsp. lime juice

2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

½ cup Dijon mustard

½ cup honey

2 slices bacon, halved

4 mushrooms, halved

2 slices Monterey Jack cheese, halved

2 slices Muenster cheese, halved

Combine lime juice, olive oil, Dijon mustard and honey in medium bowl and beat with electric mixer just until frothy.  Remove skin from chicken.  Place in zip lock bag and pour ¾ of the mustard mixture over the chicken.  Let stand for at least two hours.

Preheat oven to 350º. In a cast iron fry pan cook the bacon until crisp; sauté the mushrooms briefly in the last minute or so of cooking bacon.  Remove bacon and mushrooms.  Sear chicken in pan for 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown.

In same pan, brush each seared chicken breast with a little of the reserved honey mustard marinade.  Lay one half of bacon pieces on each piece of chicken, top with two slices of mushrooms and top with the cheeses. 

Bake at 350º for 15-20 minutes until the cheeses are thoroughly melted and starting to bubble. 

© Crackerberries 2014

Chicken A La King

Chicken A’la Potato Dumplings

DUMPLINGs

4 cups mashed potatoes (about 6 medium potatoes or 2 lbs.)

¾ cup all-purpose flour

3 eggs, slightly beaten

¼ cup bread crumbs

1 tsp. garlic salt

Salt and pepper

A’La CHICKEN SAUCE

6 oz. rotisserie chicken, chopped

½ cup chopped onion

2 stalks celery, diced

¾ cup frozen peas

½ chopped green/red bell pepper

1 hard-boiled egg

5 small mushrooms, diced

1 14¾ oz. can cream of mushroom soup

1½ cups chicken broth

Combine mashed potatoes, flour, egg, bread crumbs, garlic salt, salt, and pepper in large bowl. Mix well. Shape into 16 balls. Heat large pot of water to boiling. Gently drop balls into water. Once they float to the top, simmer gently for 3-4 minutes until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

In Dutch oven or other large kettle sauté onions, green and red peppers, celery until tender. Add mushrooms, mushroom soup, peas and chicken broth. Heat until bubbly. Add chicken and egg. Heat thoroughly and serve over dumplings.

(Optional: Sprinkle with bacon bits.)

© Crackerberries 2014

Chicken and Spice

Spiced Chicken

2 lbs. chicken legs, washed

1 tbsp. ground black pepper

1 tsp. curry powder

1½ tsp. onion powder

1½ tsp. garlic pepper

Combine the spices and rub all over chicken legs. Place in Showtime rotisserie basket and cook for 45 minutes. Let cool before serving. This can also be done in the oven in a cast iron fry pan. Spray the pan lightly with cooking oil. Bake at 375º for one hour, turning once half way through cooking time.

© Crackerberries 2014

Zucchini Tso Chicken

Zucchini Tso Chicken

 A new take on an old Chinese favorite for chicken!

1½ lb. chicken thighs

1 tbsp. soy sauce

2 eggs lightly beaten

1-2 tbsp. corn starch

Fresh ground pepper

Combine eggs, soy sauce, pepper and enough corn starch to coat the chicken well. Place in heated cast iron skillet and back 375º for 45 minutes, turning once.

2 tbsp. soy sauce

2 tsp. dry sherry

¼ cup chicken broth

1 tbsp. rice vinegar

1 tbsp. minced ginger

1 tsp. minced garlic

2-3 tbsp. corn starch

3 fresh Chile peppers

½ cup chopped onions

1½ cup broccoli florets

1½ cup chopped zucchini

Oil for deep frying

Combine sauce ingredients in a bowl and stir well before adding corn starch. Set aside.

Heat oil in Wok and add broccoli, zucchini, onions and peppers. Stir fry 3-5 minutes. Carefully add chicken from oven to WOK.  Pour in sauce and stir constantly until thickened. Mix with chicken and veggies. Serve over white rice.

© Crackerberries 2014

Fig and Chicken Bake

Baked Fig & Basil Chicken

1¾ lb skinless chicken leg pieces

¼ cup fresh basil leaves

1½ tbsp lemon juice

3 cloves garlic

1 tsp fresh grated ginger

4½ tbsp brown sugar, divided

Kosher salt

2 tbsp cider vinegar

6-8 Kodata figs

Wash chicken and place in lightly greased baking dish.  Sprinkle with kosher salt.

Combine basil, garlic, lemon juice, ginger and 2½ tbsp brown sugar in food processor and blend until smooth.  Pour over chicken.

Combine remaining brown sugar, cider vinegar and 4-5 figs in processor and blend until smooth.  Pour over chicken.

Cut up remaining figs and spread around chicken.

Bake 375° one hour and 15 minutes.  Cool slightly before serving.

© Crackerberries 2013

Italian Pesto Chicken

Italian Pesto Chicken

1¼ lb boneless, skinless chicken breast

5 oz Jimmy Dean Italian bulk sausage

¾ cup smoked almond pesto (recipe below)

1 cup Italian style bread crumbs

2 slices provolone cheese

1 egg, beaten

Salt and pepper

Sauté sausage until no longer pink, drain grease and set aside to cool.

Pound the chicken breast to 1/8 of inch thickness.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper on both sides.  Spread pesto over chicken, layer one slice of cheese on each breast.  Roll chicken breast tightly, secure with toothpick if needed.  Cut each breast in half.  Dip in egg mixture, then in bread crumbs.  Place in lightly greased baking dish and cook at 350° 35-45 minutes. 

Smoked Almond Pesto

4 cups fresh basil leaves

4 cloves garlic

½ cup smoked almonds            

1 cup extra virgin olive oil

¼ tsp ground pepper

½ tsp kosher salt

Blend above ingredients in food processor until smooth.  Stir in 1¼ cup parmesan cheese.  Makes 2 cups and can be stored in refrigerator in tightly sealed container for up to two weeks.

© Crackerberries 2013

Fried Chicken Spicy Slaw

Fried Chicken on a Bun

 



Slaw and Sauce

2 garlic clove, finely grated

1/2 cup Miracle Whip

1 tablespoon Texas Pete hot pepper sauce

1/2 small onion, thinly sliced

2 Chile peppers, thinly sliced

4 cups thinly sliced cabbage

1/2 cup Mustard Pickles slices, plus 1/4 cup pickle juice

Chicken

1½ cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1 cup buttermilk

2 chicken legs and thigh pieces, skinned and de-boned

Vegetable oil (for frying)

4 crusty/bulky rolls

Unsalted butter, room temperature

Spicy Mayo Cole Slaw

Mix garlic, Miracle Whip, and hot pepper sauce in a small bowl; cover and chill. Toss onion, jalapeño, cabbage, pickles, and pickle juice in a large bowl to combine; cover and chill.

Fried Chicken and Assembly

Combine flour, pepper, and 1/2 teaspoons salt in a shallow bowl. Pour buttermilk into another shallow bowl. Work with 1 piece at a time, dredge chicken in flour mixture, shaking off excess. Dip in buttermilk, allowing excess to drip back into bowl. Dredge again in flour mixture, shaking off excess. Place on wire rack until ready to cook.  This prevents pieces sticking together.

Pour oil into a large cast iron skillet to a depth of 1/2-inch and heat until hot (approximately 350°).

Fry chicken until golden brown and cooked through, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a wire rack, season with salt if desired.

Spread cut sides of rolls with butter. Cook rolls buttered side down on hot grill until browned and crisp, about 2-3 minutes. Spread with spicy mayo. Build sandwiches with rolls, chicken, and cabbage slaw.

I borrowed this recipe from Bon Appetit Magazine and made a few changes to accommodate what I cook with.  If you want to see the real recipe click here ☺

© Crackerberries 2013