Cider Braised Chicken Over Smoked Cheddar Grits Food

CIDER BRAISED CHICKEN OVER SMOKED CHEDDAR GRITS

Steps:

• In large skillet over medium high heat, place 2 tablespoons olive oil.
• Add chicken and cook about 3 minutes per side, until browned. Remove to 9x12-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray.
• In small bowl, whisk together apple cider, thyme, garlic salt and honey; pour over chicken.
• Place in 350°F oven and bake about 45 minutes or until fork tender. In large skillet, heat remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium high heat.
• Add onions and saute about 3 minutes or until transparent.
• Reduce heat to low, cover and cook 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove lid and continue cooking about 5 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.
• In medium saucepan, place water and bring to rapid boil.
• Stir in grits, reduce heat to medium low and cover. Cook about 5 minutes or until thickened, stirring occasionally.
• Reduce heat to low; stir in butter and cheese and continue stirring until melted. Cover and remove from heat.
• To serve, place equal amounts of grits in 4 shallow bowls. Top with onion mixture and 2 chicken thighs. Garnish with thyme sprigs. Makes 4 servings.

CREAMY CHEDDAR GRITS

Steps:

• Bring 4 cups of water to a boil in a heavy 4-quart saucepan. Add the salt, then slowly add the grits in a thin, steady stream, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the grits thicken, about 5 to 7 minutes.
• Add the half-and-half and butter to the grits and stir. The mixture will seem thin but it will thicken as it cooks. Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Cover the pot, reduce the heat to low, and cook, stirring occasionally for 45 minutes, until very smooth and creamy. Off the heat, stir in the Cheddar, scallions, and pepper. Season to taste and serve hot with a sprinkle of grated cheese and scallions.

DEEP-FRIED CHICKEN WITH CHEDDAR CHEESE GRITS

Steps:

• For the chicken: Fill a large heavy-bottomed high-sided skillet with enough oil to come 1/3 of the way up the sides. Place over medium heat.
• Set up a breading station by whisking together the eggs, buttermilk and hot sauce in 1 pie plate or baking dish, and stirring together the fish fry mix and Cajun seasoning in another. Dip each chicken breast in the egg mixture, and then press into the fish fry mixture, making sure it gets completely coated. Set aside while the oil is heating.
• When the oil reaches about 365 degrees F, carefully place the chicken into the oil. Fry in 2 batches so that the pot does not get overcrowded. Fry until just cooked through, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove from the oil and drain on a tray lined with paper towels.
• For the grits: In medium pot, heat the milk to a simmer over medium heat. Whisk in the butter. Whisk in the grits and continue to whisk until thickened. Mix in 1/2 cup cheese and continue to stir until the cheese is melted and incorporated. Remove from the heat, sprinkle each serving with 1 tablespoon of the remaining cheese and serve along with the fried chicken.

CIDER-BRAISED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Sprinkle chicken with 2 teaspoons coarsely ground pepper and 1 teaspoon salt.
• Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers, then brown chicken, skin side down first, turning once, 8 to 10 minutes total. Transfer to a plate, discarding oil.
• Wipe out skillet, then boil remaining ingredients until reduced by half, 3 to 5 minutes. Return chicken to skillet and braise, covered, turning once, until chicken is just cooked through, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer chicken to a platter. Boil sauce to thicken if necessary. Whisk sauce if separated and season with salt, then pour over chicken.

BACON AND CHEDDAR GRITS QUICHE

Steps:

• Preheat over to 350 degrees.
• Cook bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon; drain and crumble. Transfer 2 teaspoons bacon drippings to a saucepan.
• Bring drippings, milk, and butter to a boil over medium heat. Gradually whisk in grits, 1 teaspoons kosher salt, and 1/2 teaspoons pepper; cook, whisking constantly, 15 minutes or until very thick. Remove from heat; let stand 10 minutes. Stir in 1 cup cheese; let stand 10 minutes. Stir in 1 egg; spread in a 9" springform pan coated with cooking spray.
• Bake for 25 minutes or until set and browned. Sprinkle remaining 1 1/2 cups cheese over warm grits, spreading to edges. Let stand for 15 minutes.
• Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees.
• Combine half-and-half, cream, green onions, and remaining 5 eggs, 1 teaspoons kosher salt, and 1/2 teaspoons black pepper. Pour over grits; sprinkle with crumbled bacon. Place pan on a foil-lined baking sheet.
• Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until lightly browned and just set. Let stand 20 minutes. Run a sharp knife around edges of quiche; remove sides of pan.

CIDER-BRAISED CHICKEN WITH APPLES AND KALE

Steps:

• Arrange rack in upper third of oven; preheat to 450°F. Season chicken all over with 1 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. pepper, then rub with 1/4 cup mustard, making sure to get mustard under skin.
• Heat 2 Tbsp. oil in a large heatproof high-sided skillet or heavy braising pan over medium-high. Sear chicken, skin side down, until golden-brown, about 8 minutes. Turn chicken, then arrange apples and onion around chicken. Add wine and 1 cup cider, then transfer to oven and roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 165°F, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat remaining 1/2 cup cider, 1 Tbsp. oil, and 1/2 tsp. salt in a large pot over medium; add kale, cover, and cook until wilted. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until kale is tender, about 5 minutes. Using slotted spoon, divide kale among plates.
• Transfer chicken, apples, and onion to plates with a slotted spoon. Heat remaining liquid in skillet over high. Add cream and remaining 1 tsp. mustard and bring to a boil. Cook, whisking constantly, until sauce is thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice.
• Spoon sauce alongside chicken and kale. Garnish with tarragon, if desired.

SHREDDED BARBECUE CHICKEN OVER GRITS

Steps:

• Sprinkle chicken with pepper; place in a large nonstick skillet., In a large bowl, combine 1 cup broth, barbecue sauce, molasses, chili pepper and cinnamon; pour over chicken. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20-25 minutes or until a thermometer reads 165°. Shred meat with 2 forks and return to the skillet., Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, bring water and remaining broth to a boil. Slowly stir in grits and pumpkin. Reduce heat; cook and stir for 5-7 minutes or until thickened. Stir in cheese until melted., Divide grits among 6 serving bowls; top each with 1/2 cup chicken mixture. Serve with tomato, sour cream, green onions and cilantro.

CIDER-BRAISED CHICKEN THIGHS WITH APPLES AND GREENS

Steps:

• Pat the chicken thighs dry and season generously with salt and pepper.
• In a Dutch oven or heavy pot, heat the oil over medium. Cook the chicken thighs skin-side down, undisturbed, until the skin is golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Flip and cook until lightly browned on the other side, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
• Pour off all but about 3 tablespoons of fat from the pot, turn the heat to medium-low, then add the shallots and sage. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the shallots are translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Be careful not to let the garlic burn.
• Add the cider, cider vinegar, mustard, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and cook, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan, until the cider has reduced slightly, 2 to 3 minutes. Return the chicken and any accumulated juices to the pot, skin-side up. Pour just enough broth around (not on!) the chicken to cover the sides of the thighs but not cover the skin on top.
• Bring to a boil, then turn the heat to low. Partly cover and gently simmer until the thighs are cooked through and tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a clean plate or sheet pan (if you'd like to broil the chicken in the next step), raise the heat to medium, and add the kale and apple to the pot. Cook, tossing often, until all the kale is wilted, the apples are just softened and the liquid has reduced slightly, about 5 minutes. While the greens cook, if you'd like to crisp the skin on the chicken, pop it under the broiler for 2 to 3 minutes.
• Taste for seasoning, and stir in 1 or 2 more teaspoons cider vinegar to taste. Divide the chicken and kale mixture among shallow bowls; serve with crusty bread to mop up broth.

CHICKEN BREAST WITH CIDER

Steps:

• Heat the oil and butter in a large frying pan and fry the chicken breasts about 3 minutes on each side until golden brown. Transfer to a plate. (NB: They will not be completely cooked at this stage.)
• Add a little more oil and butter if necessary and add the shallots and apple slices. Fry over a medium/high heat until they begin to colour and soften, about 5 minutes.
• Pour in the cider, bring to the boil and simmer for about 3–4 minutes. Return the chicken to the pan and continue to simmer, uncovered, for another 5–7 minutes. Stir in the mustard and double cream and heat through.
• Check to make sure the chicken is done and season the sauce with salt and pepper if necessary. Serve with rice, pasta or steamed new potatoes.