Lemon Roasted Chicken with Artichoke Hearts

Image

IMG_0443 Leon chicken skillet large

From the #Quaratine Kitchen.

This recipe is the freshest dish that you will experience during the Spring of 2020.

Using what I had in my pantry,my fridge and my freezer, this main dish came together pretty quickly. The caramelized lemons were the perfect compliment to the the chicken and artichoke hearts.  Feel free to used chicken drumsticks or a combination of chicken drumsticks and thighs. I am sure that this will  become a staple in your weekly menu rotation.

Full Disclosure: I posted this recipe in one the foodie fb groups that I belong to and it got over 200 likes and a few people tried out the recipe and it turned out quite well for them.

I hope this will work for you as well!

Enjoy!

SERVES 4

INGREDIENTS:
2 lemons
4 large chicken thighs, or 8 small chicken thighs, bone-in
Kosher salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, taste
3 teaspoons olive oil, divided
3 sprigs fresh oregano
1 small onion, thinly sliced
1/2 garlic clove, minced
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
One 8-oz jar of articchoke hearts, drained
1/4 cup white wine (Chardonnay)
1/2 cup chicken broth

For Garnish:
Lemon Wedges
1/4 bunch fresh Italian parsley, finely chopped

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350° F .

Very thinly slice 1 lemon; discard any seeds. Cut the remaining lemon into quarters to give 4 wedges.

Season chicken with salt and pepper.

Add 1 teaspoon of olive oil to a large cast iron skillet and heat over medium high heat. Add chicken, skin side down and cook, letting skin render and brown, and pouring off excess fat except for about 1 teaspoon to provide for a thin coating in pan, until chicken is cooked halfway through, about 8 to 15 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside.

Add oregano sprigs, garlic, and red pepper flakes and jarred artichokes. Cook the vegertables and herbs, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 1 to 2 minutes. Add the wine and the chicken broth. Squeeze 1 lemon wedge over and season sauce with salt and pepper, if desired.

Scatter the onions and half of lemon slices over the of bottom of skillet. Add the chicken back to the skillet, skin side up. Scatter the remaining lemon slices over the chicken. Drizzle with 2 teaspoons oil. Place the skillet to the oven. Roast until chicken is cooked through, skin is crisp and golden brown, and lemon slices on bottom of skillet are caramelized and the artichoke hearts have softened, 15 to 20 minutes.

Serve topped with caramelized lemon slices and garnished with lemon wedges and chop parsley, if desired.

Hello Friends!

All photographs and content, excepted where noted, are copyright protected. Please do not use these photos without prior written permission. If you wish to republish this photograph and all other contents, then we kindly ask that you link back to this site. We are eternally grateful and we appreciate your support of this blog.

Thank you so much!

Protected by Copyscape

 

Grilled Mozzarella and Red Peppers Sandwich

Image

mozza2

This sandwich screams FRESHNESS, as it is made with fresh mozzarella, fresh basil pesto and oven roasted red sweet bell peppers drizzled balsamic vinegar. With layers of flavor, it is the perfect sandwich for a Meatless Monday lunch option.

Serves 2

Ingredients:
2 red sweet bell pepper
1 Fresh Mozzarella Cheese Ball
2 slices of Provolone Cheese
4 slices Italian bread
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
Vegetable cooking spray

For the Fresh Basil Pesto:
2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan-Reggiano cheese
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/3 cup pine nuts
3 garlic cloves, minced
salt, more to taste
freshly ground black pepper, more to taste

Directions:

Preheat oven to 500° F .

Place the red bell peppers on a rimmed backing sheet. Lightly coat the peppers with the vegetable spray and place in the heated oven. Allow the peppers to roast for about 15 to 20 minutes. Rotate it at about the 7 minute mark and remove when all sides have charred black. Remove the peppers from the oven and allow them to cool. When the red peppers have cooled to the touch, remove the charred skin by using a clean tea towel. Cut the peppers in half and remove the seeds, then julienne the roasted peppers.

Using a sharp knife, thinly slice six pieces of cheese from the mozzarella ball.

To prepare the pesto spread: Pulse basil and pine nuts in a food processor: Place the basil leaves and pine nuts into the bowl of a food processor and pulse a several times.

Add the garlic and Parmesan or Romano cheese and pulse several times more. Scrape down the sides of the food processor with a rubber spatula.

While the food processor is running, slowly add the olive oil in a steady small stream. Adding the olive oil slowly, while the processor is running, will help it emulsify and help keep the olive oil from separating. Occasionally stop to scrape down the sides of the food processor. Stir in salt and freshly ground black pepper, add more to taste. cover and set aside.

Set the oven to 450 ° F.

Take 4 slices of Italian bread and spread the pesto on one side.

Lay a slice of provolone ontop of the pesto.

Take one slice and with the pesto side up and layer with the julienned red pepper first.

Use a brush and lightly coat the top of the red pepper with 1/2 teaspoon balsamic vinegar.

Add three slices of Mozzarella cheese ontop of the peppers and close the with another bread slice. The pesto side should be touching the mozzarella. Repeat the process for the second sandwich.

Heat a cast iron skillet on medium high. Melt the butter until it is lightly foaming. Gently place the sandwiches in the melted butter.

Fry the sandwiches for about 2 to 4 minutes on medium heat, as it the bread become golden brown. Using spatula flip the sandwich over until the bread is crispy and golden brown, for another 2 to 3 minutes.

Continue to cook the sandwiches in the oven, by placing the skillet sandwich in the oven for about 5 to 7 minutes. Cook until the cheese is melted and slightly oozing from the bread. Remove from the oven.

Using a spatula, place a sandwich on a plate and serve immediately.

 

 

Cook’s Note:
Basil pesto oxidizes (darkens) when exposed to air, so to store, cover tightly with plastic wrap making sure the plastic is touching the top of the pesto and not allowing the pesto to have contact with air, making a complete seal. The pesto will stay greener longer that way. The pest will keep for about 2 weeks.

Upside Down Blood Orange and Kumquat Pineapple Cake

Image

52825982_2046439425405198_4173822602340466688_n

Brightened up your winter diet with seasonal citrus fruit season, And nothing has more flair than a blood orange. The sweet, sour, tangy and unbelievably bright blood orange is bursting with juicy flavor that is reminiscent of an orange, tangerine and lemon, all they while drenched in its own crimson uniqueness. This cake definitely lets the orange’s ruby flesh shine. We also kumquats. And the hidden surprise of pineapple to the batter. The result is a festive fruit dessert guaranteed to lift even the worst winter doldrums.

Serves 8 to 10

Ingredients:
3 blood oranges, thinly sliced
1 dozen kumquats, thinly sliced
1 cup granulated sugar
½ cup  water
½ teaspoon ground cardamom
½ cup unsalted butter, melted
½ cup of extra virgin olive oil
2 large eggs at room temperature
1 cup crushed pineapple, drained
Zest of one lemon, for garnish

Directions:
Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C).

Liberally spray the cake pan and line the pan with parchment paper.

To make the candied citrus fruits by whisking together the sugar and water in a large sauce pan. Heat on medium heat until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Gently add the sliced oranges and kumquats and simmer on low heat for an additional 3 minutes and then remove from the heat.

Layer the cake pan with the slices covering the entire bottom of the pan and gently pour ½ cup of the remaining syrup over the slices.

To make the cake batter, prepare your wet and dry ingredients. In a large bowl,whisk the dry ingredients, the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and cardamom together until well combined. in a second bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients, the butter, olive oil,eggs and pineapple until combined into a homogeneous mixture, about 2 minutes. Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients only until just combine, do not over mix.

Pour the batter into pan over the citrus fruit. Transfer to oven and bake until cake is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center emerges clean, 40 to 50 minutes. Cool cake in pan 10 minutes, then run a knife along pan’s edges to loosen it; invert onto a platter, remove the parchment paper. Allow the cake to cool completely before serving. Sprinkle with lemon zest, if desired.

 

All photographs and content, excepted where noted, are copyright protected. Please do not use these photos without prior written permission. If you wish to republish this photograph and all other contents, then we kindly ask that you link back to this site. We are eternally grateful and we appreciate your support of this blog.

Thank you so much!

Protected by Copyscape