Peasant Chicken Food

TRADITIONAL FRENCH CASSOULET RECIPE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cover beans with 3 quarts water and add salt. Stir to combine and let sit at room temperature overnight. Drain and rinse beans and set aside.
• Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and preheat oven to 300°F (150°C). Place stock in a large liquid measuring cup and sprinkle gelatin over the top. Set aside. Heat duck fat (if using) in a large Dutch oven over high heat until shimmering. Add salt pork and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned all over, about 8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a large bowl, leaving rendered fat in Dutch oven, and set aside. (If not using duck fat, cook pork with no additional fat.)
• Season chicken pieces with pepper (do not add salt) and place skin side down in now-empty pan. Cook without moving until well-browned, 6 to 8 minutes. Flip chicken pieces and continue cooking until lightly browned on second side, about 3 minutes longer. Transfer to bowl with salt pork.
• Add sausages and cook, turning occasionally, until well-browned on both sides. Transfer to bowl with salt pork and chicken. Drain all but 2 tablespoons fat from pot.
• Add onions to pot and cook, stirring and scraping up browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Cook until onions are translucent but not browned, about 4 minutes. Add drained beans, carrot, celery, garlic, parsley, bay leaves, cloves, and stock/gelatin mixture. Bring to a simmer over high heat. Reduce to low, cover Dutch oven, and cook until beans are almost tender but retain a slight bite, about 45 minutes.
• Using tongs, remove carrots, celery, parsley, bay leaves, and cloves and discard. Add meats to pot and stir to incorporate, making sure that the chicken pieces end up on top of the beans with the skin facing upwards. Beans should be almost completely submerged. Transfer to oven and cook, uncovered, until a thin crust forms on top, about 2 hours, adding more water by pouring it carefully down the side of the pot, as necessary, to keep beans mostly covered.
• Break crust with a spoon and shake pot gently to redistribute. Return to oven and continue cooking, stopping to break and shake the crust every 30 minutes until you reach the 4 1/2 hour mark. Return to oven and continue cooking undisturbed until the crust is deep brown and thick, about 5 to 6 hours total. Serve immediately.

CHICKEN FRIED PHEASANT

Steps:

• In a shallow bowl, mix the milk and vinegar. Dip the pheasant slices in the milk and vinegar mixture, then press both side in the cracker crumbs to coat.
• Heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the pheasant in the hot oil about 5 minutes on each side, or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.

FRIED PRAIRIE CHICKEN OR PHEASANT

Steps:

• Cut bird into serving portions, plunge into cold water; drain thoroughly but do not wipe dry.
• Season well with salt and pepper; dredge thickly with flour.
• Heat fat in skillet; cook bird slowly until brown and tender, about 45 minutes.
• Remove to a hot serving platter and serve with cream gravy.

PEASANT-STYLE GREEK CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place chicken in a shallow baking dish.
• Arrange potatoes and garlic around chicken.
• Mix together lemon juice and olive oil, salt and pepper, and pour evenly over chicken and potatoes.
• Add just enough water until potatoes are almost about covered.
• Cover chicken and pototoes with 2 Tbsps. of oregano.
• Cover with foil and bake at 350ºF. for 20 minutes.
• Uncover, turn chicken; stir potatoes; and sprinkle on remaining oregano.
• If potatoes aren't at least half-covered with liquid, add more water.
• Return to oven for about 25-30 minutes.
• Chicken is done when both sides are lightly browned and potatoes are soft.
• Good served with crisp bread or pita.

GERMAN PEASANT STYLE CHICKEN

Steps:

• Wash and dry the chicken pieces. Beat the egg, 1 1/2 t salt and 1/4 t pepper. Dip chicken in mixture, then roll in the bread crumbs mixed with the cheese. Melt 4 tablespoons butter in a skillet, and sauté the chicken until browned and tender. Transfer to a baking pan and place in a 350 oven while preparing the sauce.
• Melt the remaining butter in the skillet in which the chicken was cooked. Sauté the mushrooms 5 minutes. Blend in the flour, dash of salt and pepper. Gradually add the milk stirring steadily until it reaches the boiling point. Mix in the wine and cook over low heat 5 minutes. Arrange the chicken on a hot serving dish ad pour sauce over it.