Frank Stitts Chicken Stock Food

BUTTER BEAN-AND-MINT PILAF

Steps:

• Fill a small saucepan two-thirds full with water, and bring to a boil over high heat. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 sprig of thyme, 2 bay leaves, and shell beans. Bring to a simmer, and then reduce heat slightly. Cook until beans are tender, about 25 minutes. Let cool in cooking liquid. Drain, reserving some of the cooking liquid.
• Bring stock to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium-high heat.
• Meanwhile, in a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, and celery; cook, stirring, until slightly softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Add remaining 2 sprigs thyme, bay leaf, mint, and rice; stir to coat.
• Add simmering stock mixture to rice mixture and stir. Cover, reduce heat to low, and cook until rice is tender, 16 to 18 minutes. Transfer mixture to a large bowl; loosely cover to keep warm.
• Place the beans, remaining tablespoon butter, and 2 tablespoons cooking liquid inside a small saucepan set over medium-low heat. Cook until warmed through. Tear mint leaves and add to beans; season with salt and pepper. Fold bean mixture into rice mixture and serve immediately, drizzled with mint oil if desired.

LOWCOUNTRY RED RICE

Steps:

• If using fresh tomatoes, drain them in a sieve or colander set over a bowl to catch their juices; set juices aside.
• In a large Dutch oven, cook the bacon over medium heat until it is beginning to crisp; with a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to paper towels to drain.
• Return Dutch oven of drippings to the stove; add the onion, bell pepper, and celery; saute until softened, about 10 minutes (add a little oil if the bacon fat seems insufficient).
• Add the jalapeno, poblano, tomatoes, bay leaves, and thyme to the pot; season with salt and pepper to taste; simmer for about 10 minutes, until the peppers have softened.
• Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, combine the broth with a scant 1/4 cup of the reserved tomato juices (discard any remaining juice) and add salt to taste.
• Bring to a simmer; add the rice, return to a simmer, and stir a few times.
• Decrease heat to the lowest setting, cover, and cook until the rice is tender, about 16 minutes.
• Add the rice to the vegetable mixture, along with the bacon; taste for seasonings.
• Stir in the scallions, basil, and a big squeeze of lemon; serve immediately.

FRANK STITT'S CORN BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450°.
• Preheat an 8-to9-inch cast-iron skillet in the hot oven.
• Add cornmeal and flour to a large bowl; stir in the milks, a little at a time, mixing with a large wooden spoon; the batter will be quite loose.
• Meanwhile, add the bacon fat to the preheated skillet, return it to the oven, and heat until the fat is very hot, about 5 minutes.
• Remove the skillet from the oven; pour all but 1 tablespoon of the hot fat into the cornmeal mixture and stir to combine.
• Add the egg and stir to combine.
• Pour the cornmeal mixture into the hot skillet and immediately place it in the oven.
• Bake for 20-30 minutes, until golden brown.
• Remove from the oven and unmold; serve hot.