Anns Italian Chicken Food

THE BEST CHICKEN MARSALA

Steps:

• Set a wire rack inside a rimmed baking sheet. Cut two 12-inch sheets of plastic wrap.
• Cut the chicken breasts in half lengthwise, making 6 roughly equal pieces; they should look like large chicken tenders. Place one sheet of plastic on a clean cutting board. Put a chicken piece in the center of the plastic and top with the other sheet of plastic. Pound the chicken with the flat side of a meat mallet, starting in the center and working your way to the edges, until the chicken is 1/4 inch thick and 6 to 8 inches long. Transfer to the wire rack. Repeat with the remaining chicken pieces. Liberally sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper.
• Mix the flour with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and a generous amount of pepper in a shallow bowl or plate. Dredge the cutlets in the seasoned flour, shaking off any excess. Heat 3 tablespoons of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until very hot, about 1 minute. Sear 3 cutlets until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer the cutlets to a plate. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil to the pan and sear the remaining 3 cutlets until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. It's ok if the chicken is not completely cooked through; it will finish cooking in the sauce.
• Add the mushrooms and 1/2 teaspoon salt to the same pan and cook, stirring and scraping up any browned bits, until the mushrooms are slightly softened and just beginning to release some liquid, 3 to 4 minutes. (The mushrooms will soak up the oil quickly and dry up the pan; that's ok, more liquid will release as they cook longer.) Add the shallots and cook, stirring and scraping up any browned bits, until starting to soften, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the heat. Pour in the wine and 1/2 cup water. Return the pan to high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer until the liquid reduces by a third and starts to thicken, 6 to 7 minutes. Whisk in the butter and continue whisking until it is melted and the sauce has thickened, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Add the cutlets and any accumulated juices to the pan and cook, flipping halfway through, until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce has thickened, about 2 minutes.
• Remove the chicken to a platter and stir the parsley into the sauce. Pour the sauce over the chicken and garnish with more parsley.

THE BEST CHICKEN PARMESAN

Steps:

• Set a wire rack inside a rimmed baking sheet. Line another rimmed baking sheet with foil. Cut two 12-inch sheets of plastic wrap.
• Cut the chicken breasts in half lengthwise, making 4 roughly equal pieces; they should look like large chicken tenders. Place one sheet of plastic on a clean cutting board. Put one chicken piece in the center of the plastic and top with the other sheet of plastic. Pound the chicken with the flat side of a meat mallet, starting in the center and working your way to the edges, until the chicken is 1/4-inch thick. Transfer to the wire rack. Repeat with the remaining chicken, one piece at a time. Liberally sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Put the flour in a pie plate and dredge the chicken 1 piece at a time, turning to coat and packing the flour into the crevices. Shake to remove any excess and return to the rack. Repeat with the remaining chicken.
• Whisk the breadcrumbs, 1/4 cup of the Parmesan, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper in a medium bowl until combined. Whisk the milk and egg in a medium bowl until combined. Dip the dredged chicken into the milk mixture, allowing any excess to drip off. Then pack the seasoned breadcrumbs firmly onto the chicken. Very gently
• shake off any excess and return to the rack. Refrigerate uncovered at least 30 minutes and up to 12 hours.
• Meanwhile, make the sauce. Heat 1/3 cup of the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, oregano and red pepper flakes and cook until very fragrant but not brown, about 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, basil and 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer and cook, uncovered, until the tomatoes are very tender and the liquid has reduced by half, about 30 minutes. Smash the tomatoes with a potato masher until almost smooth; it's ok if it's a little chunky. Season with salt.
• Heat the remaining 1/2 cup oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 cutlets and cook until the coating is golden brown, about 1 minute per side; the chicken will not be cooked through. Transfer to the foil-lined baking sheet in a single layer 3 inches apart. Repeat with the remaining cutlets.
• Arrange an oven rack directly under the broiler and preheat to high. Arrange the chicken in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet, spaced 3 inches apart. Top each cutlet with 2/3 cup of the sauce and spread evenly to coat. Sprinkle each cutlet with 1 tablespoon of the Parmesan and 1/2 cup mozzarella. Broil until the cheese melts and starts to brown in spots, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Cook the spaghetti, stirring occasionally, until al dente. Drain and transfer to the remaining sauce. Gently stir until the sauce coats the pasta. Transfer the spaghetti to a serving dish and top with the chicken. Sprinkle with more Parmesan and serve with torn basil.

ANN'S ITALIAN CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven 375°.
• Take a medium bowl beat eggs with 3 tablespoons of milk and set aside.
• In another medium bowl put bread crumbs in the bowl.
• Take a skillet put some oil in the skillet.
• Turn the stove on medium heat.
• Take the chicken and roll it in the egg mixture and then roll it in the bread crumbs.
• Cook chicken on both side till lightly brown.
• When that's done, put in a 9x13-inch baking dish or pan.
• Open the spaghetti sauce and pour it on top of the chicken; sprinkle cheese on top.
• Put it the 375° oven and bake for 15 to 20 minutes.

ITALIAN RICE WITH CHICKEN

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Heat the oil in a large, shallow ovenproof pan, add the chicken and cook for 3-4 mins until golden all over. Remove from pan and set aside.
• Add the onion and peppers, and cook for 3 mins or until lightly golden. Tip in the garlic and fry for a min. Stir in the rice, then the tomatoes, stock and reserved chicken. Turn up the heat and bring to the boil before transferring to the oven to cook, uncovered, for 20 mins. Season to taste and drizzle over the pesto before serving.

RUTH ANN'S FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Trim chicken of excess fat. Put in large bowl, add salt and cover with buttermilk. Chill overnight or for at least 4 hours.
• Drain chicken in a colander.
• Put flour and seasonings (feel free to add other herbs to the mix. Ruth Ann was a purest, but didn't object to a little dried thyme or cayenne on occasion.) in a large paper or plastic bag. Add chicken and shake.
• Choose a skillet at least 12 inches in diameter and 3 inches deep, that can be covered. Add enough oil, or oil and lard, or lard and butter, or oil and butter, to come to a depth of about 1/2 inch. Turn heat to medium-high. Be aware that butter burns faster than oil or lard, but it adds indescribable flavor. High quality lard is hard to find. Crisco may be substituted. If you are using butter, skim any foam as it rises to the top.
• When oil is hot (a pinch of flour will sizzle) raise heat to high. Slowly add chicken pieces (if you add them all at once, tempurature will plummet and chicken will be greasy). Cover skillet and reduce heat to medium high, and cook for 7 minutes. Repeat with remaining chicken until all is fried.
• Uncover skillet, turn chicken and continue to cook, uncovered for another 7 minutes. Turn chicken again and cook for about 5 minutes more, turning as necessary to ensure that both sides are golden rown.
• Remove chicken from skillet and drain on paper towels. Serve hot, warm or at room temperature. Refrigerating makes fried chicken soggy, but if you do have leftovers, soggy fried chicken makes a great addition to a green salad, just remove skin, slice and toss with a simple vinegrette, mandarin orange slices and toasted almonds.

ITALIAN CHICKEN BAKE

Steps:

• Fry the onion and garlic in the oil until softened. Add the oregano, tomatoes and sugar, a little splash of vinegar and some salt and pepper, then simmer for 20 mins until the sauce is really thick. Stir in the chicken and transfer to a baking dish.
• Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Tear over the mozzarella in chunks, then scatter over with the breadcrumbs with a bit more ground pepper. Bake for 20 mins until the chicken is piping hot through and the top is golden and bubbling. eat with mash, jacket potatoes, rice or pasta.

ANNE'S CROCK POT CHICKEN

Steps:

• Wash chicken and pat dry.
• Brush with butter.
• Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Place in crock pot.
• Sprinkle with dry salad mix.
• Cover and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours.
• About 3/4 hour before serving, mix soup, cream cheese, wine, and onion in small saucepan.
• Cook until smooth. Pour over chicken in pot.
• Cover and cook for 30 minutes on low.
• Serve with sauce.

ANN'S CHICKEN

Steps:

• Blend mustard and sour cream thoroughly.
• Brush mixture on chicken.
• Roll in bread crumbs.
• Line 13"x9" pan with non-stick foil.
• Place chicken on foil.
• Bake at 425º 40-45 minutes or till chicken is cooked through.