Edna Lewiss Steamed Chicken In Casserole Food

EDNA LEWIS'S OVEN-BRAISED SOUTHWEST CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
• Cut the chicken into serving pieces, or have the butcher do so. Heat a nonstick skillet over a high flame and sear the chicken on all sides, but do not brown. This will keep the skin from seizing up during the baking. Set aside on paper towels.
• Drain the hominy in a sieve, rinse it and drain it again. Spoon into a 3-quart casserole with a lid. Arrange the chicken pieces on top.
• Layer the onion, bell pepper, carrot, shiitakes and jalapenos on top. Sprinkle with the cumin, then crumble the oregano over. Season with pepper and place bay leaf on top. Pour the vermouth into the casserole, cover and bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until cooked through.
• When the chicken is cooked, remove from the oven and discard the bay leaf. Add the cilantro and cream (if you like) to the casserole and mix to combine all the ingredients in the casserole. Season with salt to taste. Serve the chicken pieces with the hominy mixture alongside and spoon the juices over.

EDNA LEWIS'S STEAMED CHICKEN IN CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Have the chicken cut into 8 pieces. Wash and dry with a clean cloth.
• Into a heavy pot or saucepan put the butter and heat to foaming stage. Add the onions. When the onions are quite heated through, add in the chicken. Raise the flame and brown the chicken and onions well, without burning.
• When the chicken is well browned, turn the burner as low as possible, add the thyme, bay leaf, and carrots, cover with a closely fitting lid, and simmer for 1 ½ hours. Stir by shaking the pot around. The pot can be set into a preheated 250˚ oven. Be sure its quite hot when set into the oven. Cook for 45 minutes.
• If you have fresh tarragon add ½ tbs. about 15 minutes before removing from the oven, then salt and pepper to taste and swish the pot around to blend the herb. Adding the tarragon at the last gives a better flavor than if it is cooked in from the beginning. Don't use dried tarragon; it is too strong.
• The chicken wings can be removed if you like; they are added really to give thickness to the sauce, which comes from the two last wing joints.