Chicken And Vegetable Ragout With Natural Whole Grain Brown Rice Food

EARLONNE'S CHICKEN AND BROWN RICE

Steps:

• Season the chicken generously with salt and pepper and leave it out at room temperature for at least 30 minutes or up to 1 hour. At the same time, add the brown rice to a bowl, cover with water and set aside to soak for at least 30 minutes or up to 1 hour.
• Adjust oven rack position to lower third and heat to 375 degrees.
• Make the spice mix: Add garlic powder, onion powder, coriander, paprika, cayenne, 1 tablespoon salt and 1 tablespoon pepper to a small jar or other lidded container and whisk to combine. Cover spice mix and set aside.
• Set a large (10- or 12-inch) cast-iron or other oven-safe skillet (preferably with a lid) over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons butter and allow to melt. Working in batches if necessary to avoid crowding, carefully lay chicken legs in pan in a single layer, skin-side down, and cook until golden-brown, 4 to 6 minutes, then remove from pan and set aside on a plate, skin-side up. Meanwhile, drain the brown rice in a fine-mesh strainer, shaking to remove excess water; set aside.
• Add onions and celery to pan along with a generous pinch of salt. Reduce heat to medium and cook until vegetables are tender and lightly golden, 12 to 14 minutes.
• Return heat to medium-high, add remaining 2 tablespoons butter and allow to melt, then add rice and 4 teaspoons prepared spice mix. Toast rice until golden, about 90 seconds, then add stock and bay leaves.
• Bring to a boil, then taste and adjust for salt - the stock should be a little saltier than you are comfortable with. Turn off flame, nestle chicken legs into the pan, skin-side up, and cover with a lid or foil. (If using foil, take care to create a tight seal to prevent steam from escaping.) Place onto prepared rack in the oven.
• Check the pan after 15 minutes to make sure the liquid is at a steady simmer and adjust oven temperature as needed. Cook until rice absorbs the liquid and is tender and chicken is falling off the bone, about 80 to 90 minutes.
• Increase oven temperature to 450 degrees and remove lid or foil from pan. Adjust rack position to upper third of oven, and place pan on rack. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes until chicken skin is deep golden brown. Remove from oven, and allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving.
• In the meantime, prepare sauce: In a medium bowl, combine sour cream or yogurt, cilantro, jalapeño, garlic and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Stir, taste and adjust seasoning for salt. Serve with chicken and rice; garnish with cilantro.
• Cover and refrigerate leftover chicken, rice and sauce for up to 5 days. Cover and store remaining spice mix in a cool, dry place for up to 3 months.

BASIC VEGETABLE RAGOUT

Steps:

• In a large hot saucepan heat oil. Add onion, 1/3 of garlic, red pepper flakes, thyme and saute until onions and garlic are fragrant. Stir in zucchini, 1/3 garlic and tarragon, partially cover pan and cook for approximately 3 minutes or until zucchini has begun to soften. Stir in plum tomatoes with juice, 1/3 garlic and basil, partially cover pan and cook for 7 minutes or until vegetables are crisp tender. Serve over rice. Top with Parmesan.

ROASTED VEGETABLE CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Season chicken with salt and pepper to taste; place in a large roasting pan. Arrange vegetables around chicken, add water to the bottom of the pan, and cover pan tightly with aluminum foil.
• Roast at in preheated oven, basting occasionally, for 2 hours, removing the foil for the last half hour or so of cooking. Roast until chicken is golden brown and a thermometer inserted into the thigh reaches 165 degrees F (74 C). Let chicken rest 10 minutes before carving.

ROAST CHICKEN AND VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 385 degrees F (196 degrees C).
• Pour olive oil into a large bowl; toss potatoes, carrots, bite-size pieces of celery, and 3/4 of the sliced onion in the oil to coat. Set remaining onion aside. Transfer oiled vegetables to a large cast iron skillet.
• Rinse chicken and pat thoroughly dry with paper towels. Generously season the chicken, inside and out, with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Place the remaining 1/4 of the sliced onion, 1/4 cup margarine, lemon slices, 1 teaspoon minced garlic, and large pieces of celery into the cavity of the chicken.
• Place the chicken atop the oiled vegetables; scatter remaining 1/4 cup of margarine pieces and 1 2/3 tablespoon minced garlic in small amounts around the vegetables.
• Roast chicken and vegetables in the preheated oven until the skin is browned and crisp, the vegetables are tender, and an instant-read meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a thigh reads 165 degrees F (75 degrees C), about 1 hour and 45 minutes. Let chicken rest for 10 minutes before carving and serving with vegetables.

CHICKEN AND VEGETABLE RAGOUT WITH NATURAL WHOLE GRAIN BROWN RICE

Steps:

• Cook rice according to package instructions.
• Apply coating spray to large non-stick skillet. Add chicken and cook 2-3 minutes each side or until cooked through. Remove from skillet and set aside.
• Add garlic, green beans, zucchini and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add mushrooms, herbs and cook two minutes more. Add tomatoes and cook until heated through.
• Pour ragout over chicken and serve with rice.

CHICKEN, VEGETABLE AND BROWN RICE CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• In a 9x13" or larger casserole dish stir together rice, soup, water, 2 tablespoons of dill weed, 1 teaspoon of paprika, salt and pepper to taste, celery, onion, and carrots.
• make sure rice is covered by liquid.
• Skin chicken pieces and place meat side up on top of rice and vegetable mixture, leaving about 1" between pieces.
• Cover casserole dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 1 hour.
• After 1 hour, remove casserole from oven and check chicken for doneness by piercing thickest pieces and looking for clear juices.
• If juices are pink or unclear put casserole back in oven and bake until juices run clear.
• Meanwhile in a medium saucepan melt butter or margarine over low heat.
• Remove pan from heat and add in the crushed crackers, remaining 2 tablespoons of dill, and remaining 2 teaspoons of paprika.
• Stir well until butter is absorbed and mixture is moist.
• Remove casserole from oven and discard aluminum foil.
• Spoon cracker mixture over chicken pieces only and spread.
• Place casserole back in oven and bake 10-15 minutes more or until cracker mixture is firm but not dry.
• Remove casserole from oven and let stand 10 minutes or until liquid is absorbed into the rice.