Chicken Al Fresco Food

OVEN-ROASTED CHICKEN AL PASTOR TACOS

Steps:

• For the chicken al pastor: Put the orange juice, vinegar, chile powder, honey, cumin, oregano, garlic, chipotles, onion and 1 teaspoon salt in a blender. Pulse several times until chunky. Add the oil and pulse to make a smooth marinade. Pour the marinade into a large resealable plastic bag and add the chicken. Marinate in the refrigerator at least 2 hours and up to 8 hours.
• Remove all but the bottom oven rack and preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Cut the top off the pineapple and reserve. Cut off the peel from the pineapple. Cut a 1-inch slice off the top of the peeled pineapple, chop and reserve for garnish. Slice the remaining pineapple in half. Put the bottom of the pineapple on a rimmed baking sheet and insert a long skewer, pointy side up.
• Drain the chicken from the marinade and pat dry. Season with salt and drizzle with a little vegetable oil.
• Thread the chicken on top of the pineapple, then top with the top half of the pineapple. Transfer to the bottom oven rack and roast until the chicken is tender and caramelized on the edges and the internal temperature measures 165 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer, about 1 1/2 hours. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and let rest 15 minutes.
• For the spicy cabbage slaw: While the chicken roasts, make the slaw. Whisk together the orange juice, lime juice, honey and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Stir in the jalapenos and brine. Whisk in the oil in a slow stream to make a smooth dressing. Add the cabbage, cilantro and red onion and toss well. Refrigerate until the chicken is done.
• For the tacos: Heat the taco shells according to the package directions.
• Put the reserved pineapple top on the chicken and pineapple stack, pushing it through the skewer. This will allow you to hold the stack steady while you cut the chicken and pineapple.
• Use a sharp knife to make thin vertical slices.
• Serve the sliced chicken and slaw in the taco shells with toppings of your choice. Finish with a squeeze of lime.

CHICKEN PENNE AL FRESCO

Steps:

• Spray a mw safe lidded casserole. Add garlic and tomatoes. Cover; microwave on HIGH 4-5 minutes or until tomatoes begin to burst, stirring after 2 minutes. Crush tomatoes with fork and add uncooked pasta, broth, wine, salt and black pepper.
• Return baker to microwave; cover and microwave on HIGH 16-18 minutes or until pasta is tender, stirring after 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, grate cheese and coarsely chop basil, reserve about 1/4th for later.
• Carefully remove baker from microwave and remove lid, lifting away from you. Add remaining basil, cheese and chicken to baker; mix well.
• Garnish with reserved basil, additional Parmesan cheese and black pepper, if desired.
• Tips: An additional 3/4 cup chicken broth can be substituted for the wine, if desired.
• Any tube-shaped pasta requiring 9-11 minutes cook time, such as penne or rigatoni, can be substituted for the mezze penne pasta.
• To grill chicken in the Grill Pan, season 2 chicken breasts, about 6 oz each, with salt and black pepper. Heat Grill Pan over medium-high heat 5 minutes. Spray pan with oil. Cook chicken 4-6 minutes or until grill marks appear. Turn chicken over; cook 4-6 minutes or until center of chicken is no longer pink and Pocket Thermometer registers 170°F.

CHICKEN AL FRESCO

Steps:

• In large saucepan, combine water, milk and butter. Bring just to a boil.
• Stir in pasta, contents of seasoning packet, chicken, tomatoes, onions and basil. Return to a boil, reduce heat to medium.
• Boil, uncovered, stirring frequently 6 to 8 minutes. Sauce will be thin, but will thicken upon standing.
• Sprinkle white cheese on top of each serving.

GRILLED CHICKEN TOSTADAS AL CARBON WITH GRILLED TOMATILLOS AND QUESO FRESCO

Steps:

• Combine the lime juice, garlic and chipotle chile in a medium nonreactive bowl; season with salt. Add the chicken, toss well to coat, and refrigerate 2 hours. Remove the chicken from the marinade; thread onto 4 (12-inch) skewers lightly misted with cooking spray.
• Preheat the grill to medium. Mist the tortillas with cooking spray. Add the tortillas to the grill; cook, turning once, until lightly toasted, about 1 to 2 minutes per tortilla.
• Meanwhile, add the chicken and the whole tomatillos to the grill; cook, turning often, until tomatillos are charred and chicken is cooked through, 4 to 6 minutes. Remove the skewers from the chicken.
• Coarsely chop the tomatillos and toss with oil and salt to taste. Place toasted tortillas on plates; generously top with romaine, tomatillos, chicken, and queso fresco. Serve with onion, cilantro sprigs, and a lime wedge if desired.

GRILLED CHICKEN PENNE AL FRESCO

Steps:

• Spray deep microwaveable baker with olive oil. Slice garlic into baker. Add tomatoes. Cover; microwave on high 4-5 minutes or until tomatoes begin to burst, stirring after 2 minutes. Crush tomatoes with a spoon or spatula. Add pasta, broth,wine, salt and black pepper.
• Return baker to microwave; cover and microwave on high 16-18 minutes or until pasta is tender, stirring after 10 minutes. Meanwhile, coarsely chop basil. Reserve 2 tbsp for garnish. Grate cheese.
• Garefully remove baker from microwave and remove lid, lifting away from you. Add remaining basil, cheese and chicken to baker; mix well. Garnish with reserved 2 tbsp basil, additional Parmesan cheese and black pepper if desired.