Broiled Molasses Chicken Breasts With Sauteed Swiss Chard Food

MOLASSES CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Brush one side of each chicken breast with a light coat of molasses.
• Sprinkle both sides of breast with lemon pepper and seasoned salt.
• Grill, molasses side up, on medium temperature for 4-5 minutes.
• Turn (do not pierce breast) gently and continue to grill to desired doneness.
• I prefer to remove the breasts when they are still soft to touch at the thickest part.

BALSAMIC CHICKEN WITH CORN AND SWISS CHARD

Steps:

• Preheat a grill to medium and lightly brush the grill grates with olive oil. Whisk the vinegar, olive oil, ketchup and mustard in a small bowl. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and brush all over with the vinegar mixture. Grill until marked and cooked through, 8 to 9 minutes per side; transfer to a plate.
• Meanwhile, heat a cast-iron skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat on the stove or place directly on the grill grates. Add the bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and crisp, about 5 minutes.
• Add the corn kernels and Swiss chard stems to the skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the corn is tender and lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Add the butter, scallions and chard leaves. Cook until the chard is just wilted, about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Slice the chicken and serve with the corn mixture.

CHICKEN "PICCATA" WITH CHARD OR BEET GREENS

Steps:

• Cut each chicken breast into 2 equal pieces (if they are - 12 ounces or more, cut them into 3 pieces). Place two sheets of plastic wrap (1 large sheet if you have extra-wide wrap) on your work surface, overlapping slightly, to make 1 wide sheet, and brush lightly with olive oil. Place a piece of chicken in the middle of plastic sheet and brush lightly with oil. Cover the chicken with another wide layer of plastic wrap. Working from the center to the outside, pound chicken breast with the flat side of a meat tenderizer until about 1/4 inch thick. Don't pound too hard or you'll tear the meat. If that happens it won't be the end of the world, you'll just have a few pieces to cook.) Repeat with the remaining chicken breast pieces.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add salt to taste and blanch greens for 1 to 2 minutes. Using a skimmer or a slotted spoon, transfer greens to a bowl of cold water, then drain and squeeze out excess water. Alternatively, steam greens for 2 to 3 minutes, until wilted. Chop medium-fine and set aside.
• Season pounded chicken breasts with salt and pepper on one side only. Dredge lightly in the flour and tap the breasts to remove excess.
• Turn oven on low and get out a platter or a sheet pan. Heat a wide, heavy skillet over high heat and add oil. When oil is hot, place one or two pieces of chicken in the pan - however many will fit without crowding. Cook for 1 1/2 minutes, until bottom is browned in spots. Turn over and brown on other side, about 1 1/2 minutes. (Do not overcook or chicken will be dry.) Transfer to platter or sheet pan and keep warm in the oven. Repeat with rest of chicken, if any.
• If there is more than a tablespoon of fat in the pan, pour some of it off into a jar or bowl. To deglaze the pan, add wine and lemon juice to pan and scrape. Whisk in softened butter and capers, and stir until sauce is velvety. Pour over chicken. Sprinkle on parsley.
• Transfer greens to pan and heat through, stirring. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Arrange on plates with the chicken on top or on the side.

BRAISED CHICKEN WITH POMEGRANATE MOLASSES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Coat a large saute pan with olive oil. Toss in 2 of the garlic cloves and a pinch of crushed red pepper. Bring the pan to medium-high heat. When the garlic is golden and very aromatic, remove it and discard--it has fulfilled its garlic destiny.
• Season the chicken thighs with salt and place them skin side down in the pan. Don't crowd the pan or the thighs will steam instead of brown--you may have to work in batches here, no worries. Brown the chicken thighs really well on both sides, 10 to 12 minutes total.
• Transfer the chicken to a rimmed baking sheet and roast for 10 to 12 minutes or until cooked through.
• Ditch the oil from the pan and add 2 garlic cloves, 1/2 cup of the pomegranate molasses along with 1/2 cup of the chicken stock, scraping the mixture from the bottom of the pan. Add the thyme. Bring the mixture to a boil and let it evaporate by half--it should be slightly thick and syrupy. Season with salt.
• Return the chicken to the pan, along with the juices from the sheet pan, scraping up any bits. Reduce the heat to medium, and cook in the sauce for 3 to 5 minutes on each side, or until the sauce thickens and it clings to the chicken in a yummy embrace.
• While the chicken roasts, add the remaining molasses, stock, and garlic to the pan along with the thyme bundle and a pinch of crushed red pepper. Taste and season with salt if needed. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer (BTB, RTS). Cook until the liquid is thick and syrupy. Discard the garlic cloves and thyme bundle.
• Remove the chicken from the oven, transfer to a serving dish, drizzle with the sauce, and sprinkle with the pomegranate seeds and chives before serving.

ROASTED FREE-RANGE CHICKEN WITH SWISS CHARD AND MARROW GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Toss the bread cubes with the butter and place them on a baking sheet. Bake until lightly toasted, about 6 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside.
• Turn oven up to 450 degrees. Place the bacon in a medium saute pan over medium heat. Cook, stirring, until bacon is almost done, pouring off most of the fat as it is released. Add the chicken livers and cook, stirring constantly until browned, about 2 minutes. Drain and toss with the bread cubes. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Carefully slip your hand between the chicken breasts and chicken skin to form a pocket. Place truffle slices between the breasts and skin. Fill the chicken cavity with the liver mixture. With a trussing needle and twine, sew the cavity closed. Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper. Place in a roasting pan. Roast the chicken until juices run clear when pricked in the thickest part of the leg, about 1 hour and 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the gratin: Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the Swiss chard stems and cook for 5 minutes. Add the chicken broth and simmer slowly until tender, about 25 minutes.
• If using marrow bones, while chard is cooking, fill a medium saucepan with salted water. Bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and add the marrow bones. Simmer for 6 minutes. Drain. Extract the marrow from the bones and cut across into 1/4-inch slices.
• Season chard with salt and pepper. Place half of the chard in the bottom of a medium-size gratin dish. Place the marrow, if using, evenly over the chard. Top with remaining chard. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
• Broil until top is browned, about 3 minutes. Serve immediately with chicken and stuffing.

BROILED CHICKEN BREASTS WITH LEMON AND ROSEMARY

Steps:

• Cut back bone from chicken breasts if desired.
• Sprinkle meaty side evenly with rosemary, lemon/herb seasoning, pepper, seasoned salt, and garlic powder.
• Sprinkle with lemon juice, and rub with olive oil.
• Place in a plastic bag, and let marinate, refrigerated, for at least 8 hours.
• Remove from refrigerator about 1 hour before cooking.
• In a small saucepan, combine lemon juice, wine, rosemary, tarragon, chives, parsley, and garlic.
• Bring to a boil over medium heat, and reduce by about half.
• Add corn starch mixture, bring to a boil, and cook until thickened.
• Remove from heat, and add butter, 1 Tsp at a time, blending thoroughly after each addition, and let cool.
• Prepare charcoal (preferred) or gas grill for medium-low heat.
• Place chicken on grill, meaty side up.
• Brush with sauce, and cook for about 1/2 hour, basting several times, and turning once.
• Stir up coals or increase heat to medium.
• Baste again, and turn chicken, meaty side down.
• Continue cooking until chicken is just slightly charred.
• Remove from grill, and brush with any remaining sauce, Serve immediately or chill before serving.