Chicken And Seafood Trio In A Basket

FRIED CHICKEN IN A BASKET

Steps:

• Make the marinade by combining the buttermilk, sour cream, Dijon mustard, salt and freshly ground black pepper in a large bowl. Mix well with a whisk. Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper and place in the marinade. Stir everything together so the chicken is coated evenly, cover, and set aside in the fridge to marinate for 12 hours.
• Fill a heavy-based pot (such a deep cast iron skillet) with canola oil and set over medium-high heat. Using a thermometer, heat the oil until 375 degrees F. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Prepare the coating by adding the all-purpose flour, salt, paprika, mustard powder, and garlic powder together in a large bowl. Mix with a whisk. Take the chicken pieces out of the marinade and dredge lightly in the seasoned flour, 1 at a time. Set the coated pieces on a wire rack over a tray as you work.
• Add the chicken, 3 to 4 pieces at a time, to the hot oil, skin-side down. Cook until golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Increase the heat on the oil if you need to as the chicken will bring the temperature of the oil down. Remove the chicken from the pot with a wire strainer and set over a clean rack over a tray. Season with salt while still hot. Continue to cook in batches, allowing the oil to heat up again before adding the chicken to the pot each time.
• Place the chicken into the oven and cook for another 8 to 10 minutes until cooked through. Allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes before serving. Pile high in a basket for a fun presentation.

PICNIC CHICKEN IN A BASKET

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. In a medium mixing bowl combine the flour, sesame seeds, thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, poppy seeds, salt and pepper. Dip the chicken drumettes in the flour mixture and shake off any excess. Next, dip the chicken in the beaten egg and then coat each piece thoroughly in the flour mixture again.
• Meanwhile, melt the butter and the olive oil in a large skillet. Brown the chicken thoroughly, about 3 minutes per side, over medium heat. Put the chicken on a rimmed baking sheet and bake 20 minutes.
• In the meantime, to prepare the bread basket, cut a large top in the bread round. Scoop out the inside of the loaf, leaving about ¾ inch of bread all the way around the edge.
• For the Herb and Seeds Butter Sauce, melt the butter in a small saucepan and add the remaining sauce ingredients. With a pastry brush, spread the sauce over the entire inside of the loaf and inside of the top. Place the loaf and top on a cookie sheet.
• At this time the chicken should have cooked for the 20 minutes. Remove chicken from the oven and brush the drumettes with BBQ sauce and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until done. Also put the bread in the oven at the same time and bake uncovered for 15 minute. Remove both cookie sheets from the oven and put the chicken in the bread round and put the bread top on. Wrap the bread basket in several layers of heavy duty foil, surrounded by several layers of newspaper. It will remain very warm for several hours this way. Enjoy your tailgate or picnic party!

CHICKEN IN THE BASKET

Steps:

• For chicken, combine flour and spices.
• Dip chicken into egg whites and then coat with flour mixture.
• Brown in melted butter/margarine.
• Prepare basket by cutting off top of bread and scooping out the inside, leaving a shell big enough to hold the chicken.
• Keep top of bread but discard inside or use for something else.
• Mix all sauce ingredients together.
• Coat the inside of the bread with all the sauce.
• Place the chicken pieces inside the bread.
• Place the top of bread back on.
• Cover with foil.
• Place on cookie sheet and bake at 325 for about 1 hour.
• Cut into wedges to serve.

CHICKEN IN A BASKET

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425°F.
• Wash & pat dry chicken.
• Mix cheese, salt and pepper.
• Dip chicken in margarine.
• Coat chicken with cheese mixture.
• Place chicken skin side down in greased baking pan.
• Pour remaining margarine over chicken.
• Bake uncovered for 30 minutes.
• Turn chicken; bake additional 20 minutes or until done.
• Serve hot or cool.

FAJITAS IN A GRILL BASKET

Steps:

• Prepare a grill for medium-high heat.
• Place a grill basket on a baking sheet. Mix together the cumin, oregano, smoked paprika, cayenne and 2 teaspoons salt in a small bowl. Add the steak to a large bowl and drizzle with 1 tablespoon oil. Sprinkle a third of the spice blend on the steak and toss until coated. Transfer the steak to one side of the grill basket. Repeat the process first with the peppers and onion, placing them in the middle of the grill basket, and then with the chicken, arranging it on the remaining empty side of the grill basket; try to keep the rows mostly separate (they can overlap slightly). Close and secure the grill basket.
• Put the grill basket on the grill and let cook, flipping once, until everything starts to brown and caramelize, and an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the chicken registers 165 degrees F, 4 to 6 minutes per side. Remove from the grill, place on a clean baking sheet and open the basket, letting it rest for 5 to 10 minutes. Meanwhile, grill the tortillas until they start to char slightly, about 30 seconds per side.
• Divide the meats and vegetables among the tortillas. Serve with desired toppings.

CHICKEN'S EGG EASTER BASKET

Steps:

• Dip cupcake into the icing; let excess drip back into bowl. Place cupcake on a rack over paper towels to catch any drips. Top with a small mound coconut grass. Place malted milk eggs on top.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line two 12-cup cupcake tins with paper liners. (To avoid cupcakes sticking if they overflow slightly, lightly spray the tops of the pans.) Put tins on a baking sheet. Set aside.
• Process sugar and butter in a food processor until very creamy, scraping sides as needed, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the eggs and yolks, one at a time, pulsing after each addition. Add the milk, water, and vanilla and process to blend.
• Whisk both flours, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Add the dry ingredients, in 3 batches to the wet, pulsing, and then scraping batter off the sides of the processor as needed after each addition. Process until the batter is very smooth, about 2 minutes.
• Evenly pour the batter into the prepared cups, filling them 3/4 of the way full. Bake until the cakes are just firm and spring back when gently pressed, and the tops are golden, 18 to 25 minutes. Cool slightly in tin, and turn out of tin when cool enough to handle. Cool cupcakes completely on a rack before frosting.
• Put the sugar in an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. With the mixer on the lowest speed, slowly add the water, the corn syrup and vanilla extract. When the sugar is sufficiently moistened (it won't fly out of the mixer), raise the speed to high, and beat for 2 minutes until completely smooth and glossy.
• Divide and color, as desired. Store at room temperature, covered with plastic wrap directly on the surface of the icing, to prevent forming a skin.
• For cupcakes: Dip the surface of the cupcakes into the icing, allowing excess to drip into bowl. Clean any excess from the sides. Alternately, use a knife or a spreader to apply. Whisk as needed to keep icing glossy and smooth while using.
• For Light Blue Icing: Combine 2 to 3 drops of blue food coloring to 1 cup of Basic Glaze Icing.
• For Deep Yellow Icing: Combine 4 to 5 drops of yellow food coloring to 1 cup of Basic Glaze Icing.
• For Purple Icing: Combine 4 drops of red and 5 drops of blue food coloring to 1 cup of Basic Glaze Icing.
• Preheat oven to 250 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place a mesh rack on top, if available.
• Put coconut in a shallow bowl. While tossing with a large spoon, add food coloring drop by drop until the desired color is reached. A little more green than yellow makes a pretty grass color. Add a few tablespoons water to moisten the mixture and help disperse the color evenly. If the color is too dark, add additional water, as needed, to dilute to the desired color. Drain the coconut in a sieve or strainer.
• Spread the coconut in an even layer on the rack, or directly on the lined baking sheet. Place in the oven until dry, about 10 to 15 minutes. Use immediately, or store in covered container for up to 3 days.