The Perdue Chicken Cookbook · Chapter 3Preface Why I Chickened Out (2)
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NUGGETS OR TENDERS WITH DIP Fully cooked breaded chicken breast nuggets (14-18 per package)
or Tenders (6-8 per package) Following package directions, warm nuggets or tenders in a conventional oven or, using package tray, heat in a microwave oven. Serve with ketchup or your favorite mustard. For myself, I've been trying some of the more exotic mustards from the supermarket and sometimes I put out several kinds in pretty little dishes that I'd otherwise use for nuts. Instead of a wine or cheese tasting, my guests end up trying different mustards.
When was the last time you baked a pie from scratch?
I'm asking you this question because I'm guessing that you're like many other people who've told me that today they'd never have time to bake a pie from scratch. They might have once, but they don't have the time any more.
In the last few years I've asked this question to dozens and dozens of audiences when giving talks. Almost always, I get the same answer: that people who once had had the time to do a lot of cooking now seldom do. The want to eat well, they enjoy cooking, but they just can't find the time.
If you were to ask me that question, I'd have to answer that I haven't found time to bake a pie from scratch in years either. Frank keeps me so busy that sometimes I think that I'm married to a whirlwind. People joke that he's the only man you'll ever meet who can enter a revolving door in the compartment behind you and come out ahead of you. They also joke that he doesn't get ulcers$but he's a carrier.
Knowing quick recipes has become more important to me than ever, and this section contains a selection of the best. The heating and cooking time may take an hour or so, but your part in the kitchen should be no more than fifteen minutes. In this section, you'll find uncomplicated recipes with few steps, and none of the recipes have more than five ingredients in addition to chicken, salt, pepper and water.
If like me, you also are looking for ways to prepare meals that taste good, look good, give you more satisfaction than microwaving a store bought frozen dinner, but don't require a long time in the kitchen, this section is for you. BAKED ONION CHICKEN Serves 4 Recipes don't get much easier on the cook than this. Anne Nesbit developed it for Perdue Farms. One of her jobs as a Perdue home economist was to translate some of the world's most successful recipes into ones that were both easy to assemble and quick to prepare. "I'm an admirer of simple recipes," says Anne. "My heart was in this work because I believed in it. People want food that looks good and tastes good, but they don't have time to put a lot of work into getting there." I've never met Anne, except over the phone, but from this comment, I know I would like her. The recipe isn't fancy, and it may be old-fashioned, but it's a treasure when you're in a hurry. 1 chicken, cut in serving pieces dehydrated onion soup mix Preheat oven to 350oF. Roll chicken in dry soup mix, using about as much mix as you would salt. Place chicken in a single layer, skin side up, on baking sheet. Bake, uncovered for 55 to 65 minutes until cooked through. BASIC FRIED CHICKENServes 4 This is fried chicken in its simplest form. It's good enough so that the last time I made it, the grandchildren were making off with pieces almost as fast as I could cook them. Frank's daughter Anne Oliviero particularly recommends basic fried chicken served cold the next day for picnics. She and her family love to explore some of the islands off the coast of Maine, where they live, and cold fried chicken is just about always on the menu. 1/3 cup flour 1 teaspoon salt or to taste 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper or to taste 1 chicken cut in serving pieces 1/2 cup vegetable shortening In a large plastic bag combine flour with salt and pepper. Shake chicken in bag with mixture. In a large, deep skillet over medium heat, melt shortening. Cook chicken uncovered, heat for 20 to 30 minutes on each side or until cooked through. OVEN-FRIED CHICKEN, SOUTHWESTERN STYLE Any basic fried chicken recipe may be adapted for oven frying. It is a useful technique when cooking larger quantities of chicken and is less messy than stovetop frying. (Especially if you have a self-cleaning oven.) Simply follow the basic cooking instructions as given in the Southwestern version below. 1 chicken, cut in serving pieces 1 cup buttermilk 3/4 teaspoon Tabasco, optional Vegetable oil for frying 1/2 cup flour 1/2 cup corn meal 1 teaspoon salt 3/4 teaspoon chili powder 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper Place chicken in a large bowl. Sprinkle with Tabasco. Pour buttermilk over all and allow to marinate for 10 to 15 minutes. Preheat oven to 425oF. Place 1/2 inch of oil in the bottom of a heavy baking pan large enough to hold chicken without crowding. Place pan in oven to heat for 10 minutes. In a plastic bag combine remaining ingredients. Shake chicken in seasoned flour. Remove pieces one at a time and quickly slip into hot oil. Place in oven and bake for 20 minutes. Turn and bake for 10 to 15 minutes longer or until chicken is cooked through. Drain chicken on crumpled paper towels. BASIC ROAST CHICKENServes 4 Sometimes there is nothing else that will fill the bill like roasted chicken. Here's the easiest way to do it. You can brush the surface with melted butter, margarine or oil, but it isn't really necessary. 1 whole chicken 1 teaspoon salt or to taste 1 package (7-1/2-ounces) stuffing mix, prepared as directed on package Sprinkle cavity of chicken with salt. Stuff with favorite prepared stuffing. Or skip stuffing if you're really in a hurry. Place chicken in baking pan (no rack needed). ROASTING CHART
Approximate Additional Cooking
Cooking Time Amount of Time if Stuffed time
at 350F Stuffing if Stuffed Broiler/Fryer 1-1/4 to 2 hours 1-1/2 to 2 cups 15 to 20 minutes (2-1/2 to 4 pounds) Oven Stuffer Roaster 2-1/4 to 2-3/4 hours 3 to 3- 1/2 cups 20 to 25 minutes (5 to 7 pounds) Cornish Game Hen 60 to 75 minutes 1/2 to 3/4 cup 15 to 20 minutes (18-24-ounces)
BIRD OF PARADISEServes 4 The recipe calls for a chicken cut in serving pieces, but naturally you can substitute any parts that you particularly like, such as breasts or thighs. Three breasts or 6 thighs with drumsticks attached would come out to about the same amount as the 1 chicken called for in this recipe. 1 chicken, cut in serving pieces Salt and ground pepper to taste 1 egg, beaten 1/4 cup milk 1 teaspoon salt or to taste 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1/2 cup butter or margarine 1 cup sherry Season chicken with salt and pepper. In a shallow bowl combine egg and milk. Place cheese in a shallow baking pan. Dip chicken in egg mixture; then roll in cheese. In a large, deep skillet, over medium heat, melt butter. Add chicken and brown for 5 to 6 minutes on each side. Add sherry. Cover and cook at medium-low heat for 35 to 45 minutes or until cooked through. CORN CRISPED CHICKENServes 4 I grew up on this recipe. It's not new, but it's good and the preparation time is minimal. If you don't have cornflakes, you can substitute almost any breakfast flakes as long as they don't have raisins in them. (The raisins can scorch in the oven.) For variation, you can add 1 teaspoon dried italian seasonings or 1 teaspoon chili powder or 3/4 teaspoon curry powder to the cornflake crumbs. 1 cup cornflake crumbs 1 teaspoon salt or to taste 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper 1/2 cup evaporated milk, undiluted 1 chicken, cut in serving pieces Preheat oven to 350oF. On a sheet of wax paper combine cornflake crumbs, salt and pepper. Place evaporated milk in a shallow bowl. Dip chicken in milk; then roll in seasoned crumbs. Place chicken, skin side up, in a baking pan. Bake, uncovered for 1 hour, or until cooked through.
CUTLET PAILLARDS WITH BASIL BUTTERServes 4 When I made this recipe, I happened to be in a hurry, and didn't have time to get fresh basil so I used dried basil instead. Frank liked it and had seconds. The name "Paillard," by the way, comes from a European restaurant famous at the end of the 19th Century. 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves or 1 thin sliced boneless roaster breast 1 tablespoon olive or vegetable oil 6 tablespoons butter or margarine 3 tablespoons minced fresh basil, or 1 tablespoon dried 1 small clove garlic, minced 1 teaspoon lemon juice salt and ground pepper to taste lemon slices, for garnish Place chicken between sheets of plastic wrap and pound to 1/2 inch thickness. If using thin sliced boneless Roaster breast, omit placing in plastic wrap and pounding. Brush cutlets lightly with oil, Grill over hot coals 3 to 4 minutes per side, rotating to form crosshatch marks characteristic of paillards, or broil 3 to 4 minutes per side or until cooked through. Place butter, basil, garlic and lemon juice in a small pan and melt on the side of the grill. Spoon butter over paillards and season with salt and pepper. Garnish with lemon slices. EASY OVEN CHICKENServes 4 This recipe has been one of my favorites since college days. The true chicken flavor comes out with just a touch of garlic. 1 chicken, cut in serving pieces 1/4 cup olive or vegetable oil 1 teaspoon salt or to taste 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper 1 small clove garlic, minced Preheat oven to 350oF. In a shallow baking pan arrange chicken in a single layer, skin side up. Pour oil over chicken. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and garlic. Bake, uncovered, for about 1 hour, or until cooked through.
HONEY LEMON CHICKENServes 4 This recipe was originally designed for broiling, but this version requires less attention. 1 chicken, cut in serving pieces 1/2 cup honey 1/4 cup lemon juice 1 teaspoon salt or to taste Preheat oven to 350oF. In a shallow baking pan arrange chicken in a single layer, skin side down. In a small bowl combine honey, lemon juice and salt. Pour half of this sauce over chicken. Bake, covered for 30 minutes. Remove cover; turn chicken. Pour other half of sauce on chicken. Replace cover. Bake another 25 to 30 minutes or until cooked through, removing cover last 10 minutes for browning. HONEY-MUSTARD BAKED BREASTServes 4 Have you ever been concerned about whether the honey you have in your cupboard is fresh or whether it should be thrown out? Not to worry! Honey is itself a natural preservative and samples of honey have been found in the tombs of Ancient Egypt that were still edible. If it's crystallized, it may look bad, but it's still a wholesome food. Just heat it gently until it reliquifies. 1 whole boneless roaster breast salt and ground pepper to taste 4 tablespoons melted butter or margarine 1/2 cup honey 1/4 cup Dijon mustard 1/4 teaspoon curry powder Preheat oven to 350oF. Season breast with salt and pepper. Combine butter, honey, mustard and curry powder. Spoon half of sauce into a shallow baking dish. Add breast and turn to coat well. Bake, uncovered, for about 1 hour or until cooked through. Turn and baste with remaining sauce once during cooking time.
IT'S A DILLY CHICKEN When I read this recipe in the files, I noticed several hand-scrawled notes saying that it was really good, and someone described it as "a dilly of a recipe." Yet from reading the recipe, it didn't sound as special as the notes indicated, especially since the ingredients include canned mushrooms rather than fresh. I was curious enough that I went to the kitchen and made the recipe, expecting that this would be one of the recipes that I wouldn't include in this book. But to my surprise, I discovered that yes, dill seed and canned mushrooms, along with the juice from the mushrooms, really do something terrific for chicken. It's not rich or creamy, but there's an attractive, aromatic flavor that permeates the chicken. 1 chicken, cut in serving pieces 1 teaspoon salt or to taste 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper 1 can (4-ounces) whole small mushrooms (with liquid) 1/2 teaspoon dill seed Preheat oven to 350oF. In a shallow baking pan arrange chicken, skin side up, in a single layer. Add salt, pepper, mushrooms (with liquid from can) and dill. Cover with foil. Bake at for 1 hour or until cooked through.
KIWI GLAZED CORNISH HENSServes 2 Kiwifruit is only sweet and mild when it's fully ripe. A kiwifruit grower told me that kiwifruits are ripe when they're "soft as a baby's bottom." When they're underripe, they taste like something between a lemon and a crabapple. If your kiwifruit is hard when you bring it home, give it a couple of days to ripen on your kitchen counter. 2 fresh Cornish game hens salt and ground pepper to taste 3 tablespoons butter or margarine 1 tablespoon sugar 1 ripe kiwifruit, peeled and mashed Preheat oven to 350oF. Remove giblets. Season hens inside and out with salt and pepper. Tie legs together, fold wings back and arrange in baking pan. In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, melt butter. Brush hens with 2 tablespoons butter, reserving remainder. Put hens in oven, and while they are cooking, prepare kiwi glaze. Add sugar to remaining butter in pan and heat over medium-low until sugar dissolves. Add mashed kiwi and cook one minute. Remove from heat. After 45 minutes of cooking time, brush hens generously with kiwi glaze. Continue baking for 15 to 20 minutes or until juices run clear with no hint of pink when thigh is pierced.
FAMILY FAVORITES In contrast to the preceding recipes, these recipes have more ingredients and require more preparation time, but if you've got the time, they're worth it. If you want to minimize time in the kitchen using these recipes, here are some suggestions. Tips for Saving Time in the Kitchen
_To halve baking time, select boneless chicken breasts. Cooking time is only 15-20 minutes at 350oF. A bone-in breast takes 35-45 minutes.
_Stir fry chicken can be done in as little as 4 minutes.
_Cook double batches and freeze the extras in serving size packages. On days when time is short, pop a package into the microwave for "fast food."
_Take advantage of your supermarket's time-saving convenience items. If you're in a hurry, don't bother to slice and chop your fresh ingredients. The salad bar has probably done it for you. You can also find time savers such as shredded cheese and frozen chopped onion. (The supermarket industry has watched restaurants and fast food stores take more and more of your food dollars away each year. They're now doing everything they can think of to reverse this trend and make supermarket shopping so attractive, quick, convenient and economical that you'll want to cook at home.)
_Learn to cook chicken in the microwave. A pound of broiler parts that would take 40 minutes in a 350 degree oven takes only 6-10 minutes in the microwave. See Chapter Four, Chicken in the Microwave.
PHOTO: Pot of soup with fresh vegetables surrounding outside - 2
Wherever there are people and chickens, there are chicken soups. Virtually every immigrant group arriving in America brought along favorite chicken soup recipes and often the treasured family soup pot, too.
If you grew up on canned, frozen, and dried soups, you may not realize how easy it is to make truly wonderful soups at home. If so, try it for yourself, perhaps with these American classics. All the soups are based on a key ingredient: rich, homemade chicken stock, made from either whole birds or from parts, in about three hours. Stock takes little tending, just slow easy cooking to bring out all the flavor and wholesome goodness. Why not try making one of these soups now? And then, with the help of your freezer, enjoy the results many times in the coming months. Basic Guide to Chicken Soup
_Older, larger birds, such as the 5-7 pound roasters, make the best soups. An older bird will have developed more of the rich, intense chickeny flavor than the younger, milder-flavored broilers or Cornish hens. I've made soup from broilers and while it wasn't bad, it wasn't as good as it could be.
_Use roaster parts if you want to save time. They cook faster and are excellent when you need only a small amount of broth. The richest flavor, by the way, comes from the muscles that are exercised most, which happen to be the dark meat muscles. All parts will make satisfactory soup, but the legs, thighs and necks provide the fullest flavor.
_For clear, golden broth, do not add liver. It turns stock cloudy. And avoid a greenish cast by using only parsley stems and the white parts of leeks or scallions.
_As the stock cooks down, foam will float to the top. Skim it off, or strain it out through double cheesecloth when the stock is complete. Tie herbs and greens in cheesecloth as a "bouquet garni," so you won't inadvertently remove them during the skimming.
_Always simmer stock over low to medium heat. It's not a good idea to boil the stock for the same reason it's not a good idea to boil coffee; too much of the flavor would boil away into the air. _Leftover vegetables and those past their prime are good pureed in cream soups. When thickening such recipes with egg, prevent curdling by stirring a cup of hot soup first into egg, then back into soup. Also, be careful to keep the soup from boiling once you've added the egg.
_Most soups develop better flavor if you'll store them, covered, in the refrigerator for a day or two. To seal in the flavor while you're storing the soup, don't remove the fat that's on top. When you're ready to serve the soup you can lift the congealed fat off as a sheet. To remove the last particles of fat, place unscented paper towel on the surface. Draw towel to one side and remove.
_When freezing stock, allow 1/2- to 1-inch head room in containers so soup can expand. Freeze some in quart- sized or larger containers for use in soups. Ladle the rest into ice cube trays or muffin cups for adding to vegetables, sauces, or gravies. Freeze and then transfer frozen stock cubes to a plastic bag or freezer container and keep frozen until ready to use.
_Soup may be stored in the refrigerator two or three days or frozen for three to four months. When reheating, make sure to bring the broth to a boil. Soups enriched with eggs are, unfortunately, not good candidates for reheating; they're apt to curdle. BASIC CHICKEN STOCK Makes about 8 cups If you need to, you can make the following substitutions for the roaster: 1 stewing hen or spent fowl (5-7 pounds); 2 fresh young chickens (2-4 pounds); or 6 pounds fresh chicken parts, preferably dark meat portions. (As I mentioned earlier, young chickens will not provide as rich a flavor as the older birds but the taste will still be good.) Cooking times for meat will vary from 3 hours for stewing hens or spent fowl, to 1-1/2 hours for 2 smaller birds to slightly less time for parts. In each case, time from beginning of simmer and return bones to stock for an additional 1/2 hour after you've removed the meat. Chicken stock is delicious served as a simple broth with herbs, shredded or julienne vegetables, slivers of meat, or rice. It also is the base from which countless other soups are made. 1 roaster (5-7 pounds) chicken giblets, except liver 1 large bay leaf 2 whole cloves 1 teaspoon white peppercorns 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh thyme or 1/2 teaspoon dried 4 quarts water or enough to cover chicken generously 1 cup dry white wine, optional 2 medium onions, quartered 2 large carrots, sliced 2 ribs celery, sliced 1 leek, white part only, cleaned and sliced, optional 1 bunch fresh parsley, stems only 1 teaspoon salt or to taste Remove giblets from roaster and discard bird-watcher thermometer, if it has one. Place roaster along with giblets in a large stockpot (8 to 10 quarts) or other large sauce pot. Wrap bay leaf, cloves, peppercorns, and thyme in cheesecloth as bouquet garni; tie closed with string. Add to stockpot along with remaining ingredients. Cover pot and simmer over medium-low heat for 2-1/2 hours or until meat is tender. Carefully skim stock from time to time with a ladle or spoon to remove fat particles and foam. To check roaster for doneness, pull back a leg or cut into meat close to bone; it is cooked when no pink color remains in meat. Remove pieces with a slotted spoon. Cut away meat from bones and return bones to stock; simmer 30 minutes longer. (See Chapter 10: Cooking with Leftovers for uses for the cooked meat.) Strain stock through a fine sieve. If you want, prepare in advance to this point and refrigerate or freeze. Skim off top fat before using. To make a soup, bring as much stock as needed to a simmer. Then follow the soup recipe, adding chicken, vegetables, thickeners, seasonings, and garnishes. CHICKEN-IN-EVERY-POT SOUPServes 4-6 For the best flavor, use fresh vegetables, varying them according to the season. Speaking of fresh vegetables, do you know how to tell a good carrot? Look at the "crown," (that's the stem end). If the crown is turning brown or black or has regrowth visible where the stem was, you've got a carrot that's been around awhile. If the crown and shoulders are a bright orange, you've got a nice, fresh carrot. 1 cup potatoes, cut in 1/2-inch cubes 4 cups chicken broth 1/4 cup dry sherry 1 teaspoon salt or to taste 1/8 teaspoon ground pepper 1 cup onions, halved and thinly sliced 1 cup carrots, in 1/4-inch by 2-inch sticks 1 cup celery, in 1/4-inch by 2-inch sticks 1 cup fresh or frozen green beans, in 2-inch pieces 2 cups cooked chicken, in 1/4-inch by 2-inch julienne strips 1 cup zucchini, in 1/4-inch by 2-inch sticks Place potatoes in a saucepan with enough salted water to cover. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook potatoes 5 minutes; drain, rinse under cold water and set aside. In large saucepan over medium-high heat, bring broth and sherry to a boil. Season with salt and pepper. Add onions, carrots, and celery and simmer 5 minutes. Stir in green beans and chicken and heat soup to boiling. Add zucchini and potatoes and simmer 1 minute longer or until vegetables are as tender as you like them. Variation: Chicken Minestrone Add 1 cup chopped stewed tomatoes in their juice and 2 cups cooked, drained fusilli or other pasta and 1/2-cup cooked kidney beans when adding zucchini and potatoes. Stir in 1/2-cup grated Parmesan cheese just before serving. Other fresh vegetables may be added according to their cooking times. Minestrone happens to be one of Frank's favorites, although he skips the cheese because of its cholesterol. NEW ENGLAND CHICKEN 'N' CORN CHOWDERServes 4-6 Chowders are thick soups which take their name from the large French pot used in soup-making called a "chaudiere." You can use fresh corn in this recipe, but I deliberately suggested frozen corn first because frozen corn can actually taste sweeter and fresher than the fresh corn you buy at the supermarket. Corn loses 50% of its sweetness in just 24 hours at room temperature, and it can take days for corn to get from the fields to the supermarket to your house. In contrast, frozen corn is rushed from the fields to the freezer in just a few hours, and once frozen, it stops losing its sweetness. Strange as it may seem, with corn, frozen can taste fresher than fresh. 1/4 pound bacon or salt pork, diced 1 cup chopped onion 1/2 cup chopped celery 4 cups chicken broth 2 cups peeled potatoes, cut in 1/2-inch cubes 1 package (10 ounces) frozen corn or kernels from 2 ears of corn 1 teaspoon salt or to taste 1/8 teaspoon ground pepper 2 cups cooked, diced chicken 1 cup (1/2-pint) heavy cream Oyster crackers, for garnish In large saucepan over medium-high heat, saute bacon for 3 minutes until its fat has been rendered. Add onions and celery and cook 3 minutes longer. Stir in broth and bring to a boil, whisking constantly. Add potatoes and corn, season with salt and pepper and cook 5 to 10 minutes or until tender. Stir in chicken and cream, simmer 3 minutes and serve with oyster crackers. Variation: Shellfish Chowder Add 1 cup chopped green pepper and 1 cup cooked crab or shrimp to soup when adding chicken.
HEARTY LANCASTER CHICKEN, VEGETABLE AND DUMPLING SOUP Serves 4 This is a famous Pennsylvania summer soup made with extra vegetables for hearty winter eating. You can substitute noodles for the dumplings, or add crackers, pretzels $ and some people have told me that even popcorn works. I'm skeptical about the popcorn, but if you're feeling adventurous, give it a try. 6 cups chicken broth 2 cups cooked, diced chicken 1 teaspoon salt or to taste 1/8 teaspoon ground pepper 1/2 cup parboiled potatoes, cut in 1/2-inch cubes 1/2 cup parboiled carrots, cut in 1/2-inch pieces 1/2 cup shredded green cabbage 1 cup thinly-sliced leek, white and tender green parts only, or 1 medium onion, thinly sliced 1 package (10-ounces) frozen corn kernels from 2 ears of corn Knepp In large saucepan over high heat, bring broth to a boil. Add other ingredients and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 3 minutes while making dumplings. Knepp (Little Dumplings) 1 egg 3/4 cup flour 1/3 cup water 1/4 teaspoon salt or to taste 1/8 teaspoon baking powder Pinch ground nutmeg 1 teaspoon minced, fresh parsley, optional garnish In small bowl, beat egg; stir in flour, water, salt, baking powder, and nutmeg. Drop batter by half teaspoons into the simmering soup. When dumplings rise to top, stir in parsley and serve. Variation: Chicken Spinach Straciatella Omit dumplings. Clean and stem 1/2 pound fresh spinach; stack and cut into 1/2-inch strips. Whisk together 2 eggs with 1/2-cup grated Parmesan cheese. Stir in spinach with chicken, then heat soup just to boiling. Immediately pour in the egg mixture in a thin stream, while stirring. The goal is to end up with thread-like strands of cooked egg. Cook until soup simmers again; stir gently just before serving.
STEW FROM BAVARIAServes 4 If you like mild sauerkraut, instead of just draining it, as the recipe suggests, rinse it in a colander or strainer. 1 roaster boneless breast, cut into bite-size pieces salt and ground pepper to taste 2 tablespoons butter or margarine 1 medium onion, thinly sliced 1 pound sauerkraut, drained 1 can (16 ounces) whole berry cranberry sauce 1 large apple, peeled, cored and sliced 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional) Season breast pieces with salt and pepper. In a flame proof casserole or Dutch oven over medium heat, melt butter. Add chicken and onions. Saute until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. In a bowl combine sauerkraut, cranberry sauce and apples. Spoon over chicken and onions and toss gently. Cover and simmer over medium-low heat for 20 minutes. Sprinkle with walnuts just before serving.
MAIN DISH RECIPES RECIPES WITH CHICKEN BREASTS Unlike women, chickens have only one breast. A single serving would usually be a breast half. The recipes that follow will refer to "breasts" and "breast halves." A cutlet is a breast half (or thigh) that is both skinless and boneless and sometimes has been pounded to flatten. A scaloppine is a cutlet sliced almost in half lengthwise and then opened, like the wings of a butterfly or a thin slice from a large roaster breast. To save time, look for chicken scaloppine which have already been made for you: the Perdue thin-sliced Oven Stuffer Roaster Breasts are ready-made scaloppine.
The recipes will also specify whether to use a chicken breast or a roaster breast. You can interchange them, but the results will be different. A roaster has a more intense flavor and is juicier. It's also bigger, and requires longer cooking. BAKED BREASTS WITH CHEESEServes 4 When the Perdue Oven Stuffer Roasters and Roaster Parts first came out, Frank used to have recipe cards put in each one because it was a new product and most people didn't know how they should be cooked. The practice was discontinued once Roasters became well-known. The woman in charge of distributing recipes told me that sometimes the recipes on the cards became family favorites, and when a person lost one of the family favorite cards, he or she would actually take the trouble to write to Frank for a replacement. I asked how often this happens and learned that over the years, Frank has received thousands of letters requesting replacement cards. This is one of the recipes that people have asked for over and over again. 3 tablespoons butter or margarine, divided 1 roaster boneless breast salt and ground pepper to taste 2 scallions, thinly sliced 1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley 1 and 1/2 teaspoons fresh thyme or 1/2 teaspoon dried 1/2 cup chicken broth 3 tablespoons dry white wine 3/4 cup grated Swiss cheese 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese 2 tablespoons bread crumbs Preheat oven to 375oF. Lightly butter a shallow baking dish. Place chicken in baking dish and sprinkle with salt, pepper, scallions, parsley, and thyme. In a measuring cup combine broth and wine and pour over chicken. Cover and bake 20 minutes. In a small bowl combine cheeses and bread crumbs. Remove chicken from oven and sprinkle with cheese mixture. Dot with remaining butter and place under broiler until cheese is melted and golden. BERLINER SCHNITZEL BREASTServes 4 You'll notice that the "hard-cooked" egg in this recipe isn't called "hard-boiled." The reason is that the egg producers tell me that it's better never to boil an egg, but rather to cook it until it's hard in water that's just below boiling. If you cook your eggs in boiling water, they'll end up with an unattractive greenish color where the yolk meets the white. At lower temperatures, the yolk will be more tender and won't discolor. 1 roaster boneless breast or a package of thin sliced boneless roaster breast. 2 eggs 3/4 teaspoon salt or to taste Ground pepper to taste 1/3 cup flour 1 cup dry breadcrumbs vegetable oil 6 tablespoons butter or margarine 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 3 tablespoons capers, drained 1 hard-cooked egg, finely chopped 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley Separate fillets from breast halves and then cut breast halves in half, lengthwise. Place breast pieces between sheets of plastic wrap. Pound chicken to a 1/4-inch thickness to form scaloppine. If using thin sliced breast skip this step. In a shallow bowl beat eggs with salt and pepper. Place flour and bread crumbs on sheets of wax paper. Dredge chicken in flour then dip in egg and coat with breadcrumbs. Heat 1/4-inch oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and saute for 3 to 4 minutes per side or until cooked through. Remove to serving platter. Pour oil from skillet and wipe clean. Add butter to skillet and melt over medium heat. Add lemon juice and capers carefully to avoid spatters; pour over schnitzels. In a small bowl toss together hard- cooked egg and parsley and sprinkle over top. Serve with buttered noodles. BONELESS BREAST PARMESANServes 4 To get the best flavor from the tomatoes, make sure your supermarket doesn't store them on the chilling shelf and don't refrigerate them when you bring them home. Store them at room temperature and use them soon after you buy them. 1 roaster boneless breast or thin sliced boneless roaster breast 1 1/4 teaspoons salt, divided Ground pepper to taste 2 eggs, beaten 3/4 cup plain bread crumbs 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1/3 cup flour 1 pound fresh ripe tomatoes, chopped 1 small clove garlic, minced 3/4 cup olive oil, divided 2 tablespoons minced fresh basil or 2 teaspoons dried Separate fillets from breast halves and then cut breast halves in half, lengthwise. Place breast pieces between sheets of plastic wrap and pound to 1/4" thickness to form scaloppine. If using thin sliced breast, skip the previous step. In a shallow bowl beat eggs with 3/4 teaspoon salt and pepper. Place flour on a sheet of wax paper. On another sheet of wax paper combine bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese. Dredge cutlets in flour, dip in egg and roll in bread crumb mixture. Refrigerate while making sauce. In a small serving bowl combine tomatoes, garlic, 1/4 cup olive oil, basil and salt and pepper. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat remaining oil. Add chicken and saute for 3 to 4 minutes per side or until cooked through. Transfer to a warmed serving dish. Pass sauce separately. BREAST COQ AU VIN Serves 4 The famous food writer, Malcolm R. Herbert, tells a story that I've always loved about coq au vin (chicken in wine). According to Herbert, a lady lavished praise on Alexander Dumaine, one of France's outstanding chefs, for his version of chicken in wine.