Rachelkittys Tuscan Chicken Food

TUSCAN CHICKEN SKILLET

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the fettuccine according to package directions; drain.
• Meanwhile, put the bacon in a large, cold skillet, then cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until crispy, about 8 minutes; transfer to a plate with a slotted spoon.
• Sprinkle the chicken lightly with salt and pepper and add to the skillet in a single layer. Let cook, undisturbed, until golden brown on the underside, 2 to 3 minutes. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until cooked through, about 4 minutes more. Transfer to the plate with the bacon.
• Reduce the heat to medium and add the garlic, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the tomatoes and cream and bring to a simmer, then add the spinach and stir until just wilted. Add the bacon, chicken, fettuccine and Parmesan and toss with tongs until well coated; season to taste with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with basil and serve.

TUSCAN LEMON CHICKEN

Steps:

• Sprinkle the chicken with 1 teaspoon salt on each side. Combine the olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic, rosemary, and 2 teaspoons pepper in a small measuring cup. Place the chicken in a ceramic or glass dish just large enough to hold it flat. Pour the lemon marinade over the chicken, turning it in the dish. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight. Turn the chicken 2 or 3 times while marinating.
• When ready to grill, prepare a hot charcoal fire on 1 side of a grill (or turn a gas grill on low heat). Spread 1/4 of the coals across the other side of the grill. Place the chicken on the cooler side, skin side up, and weigh it down with the dish you used for marinating. Cook for 12 to 15 minutes, until the underside is golden brown. Turn the chicken skin side down, weight again with the dish, and cook for another 12 to 15 minutes, until the skin is golden brown and the chicken is cooked through. Place the lemon halves on the cool side of the grill, cut side down for the last 10 minutes of cooking. Remove the chicken to a plate or cutting board, cover with aluminum foil, and allow to rest for 5 minutes. Cut in quarters, sprinkle with salt, and serve with the grilled lemon halves.

TUSCAN CHICKEN

Steps:

• Heat a large, deep skillet over medium high heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Add 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, half the chicken pieces, and a couple of crushed cloves of garlic.
• Brown chicken 2 minutes on each side and remove from pan. Add remaining oil, another single turn of the pan, remaining chicken pieces and garlic. Brown chicken 2 minutes on each side and remove. Add vinegar to the pan. Let it cook off.
• Add butter, shallots, and rosemary to the pan and cook 2 minutes, add flour and cook 1 minute more. Whisk in wine, reduce 1 minute. Whisk in broth and bring liquids up to a bubble. Return chicken to the pan and simmer over moderate heat 7 to 8 minutes to finish cooking chicken through.
• Dessert: This is a very rich meal. My suggestion for dessert is to set out a small cookie tray and offer coffee or tea.

TUSCAN STYLE ROASTED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Set up a grill for cooking with direct and indirect heat. If using a charcoal grill, build the coals on one side only. If using a gas grill, heat one side only. Place a large cast-iron pan on the direct-heat side of the grill to preheat.
• Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper on both sides. Add a film of olive oil to the pan, followed by the chicken pieces, skin-side down. Allow the chicken to deeply brown, 4 to 5 minutes, then flip and add the garlic. Briefly sauté until fragrant, then deglaze with the vermouth. Scatter in the tomatoes, olives and oregano bundle. Add the chicken stock and season with salt and pepper. Move the pan to the indirect-heat side of the grill and close the lid. Allow to cook until the chicken is cooked through and the internal temperature reads 160 degrees F, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the butter. Discard the oregano bundle. Top with the basil and serve.

RACHELKITTY'S TUSCAN CHICKEN

Steps:

• HEAT large nonstick skillet sprayed with cooking spray on medium-high heat.
• Add chicken; cover. Cook 5 to 7 minute on each side or until done (165ºF).
• Remove chicken from skillet; cover to keep warm.
• ADD cream cheese, water, pesto and tomatoes and asparagus to skillet.
• Cook, uncovered, on medium heat 2 minute or until heated through, stirring occasionally.
• RETURN chicken to skillet. Cook and stir 1 minute or until chicken is coated and heated through. Sprinkle with shredded cheese.
• VARIATIONS: Instead of cooking spray, drizzle with olive oil. Add fresh garlic and a finely cut shallot to cook with the chicken. Add spinach, red peppers, squash, zucchini or mushrooms. Sprinkle with freshly chopped basil when ready to serve.

GRILLED TUSCAN CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the grill to medium-high heat.
• Add the chopped rosemary, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper to a large resealable plastic bag.
• Using kitchen shears, cut down both sides of the chicken's backbone and remove the backbone.
• Oil the grill grates, remove the chicken from the marinade and place the chickens skin-side down on the hot grill rack.
• Place 2 foil-covered bricks on top of the chicken to weigh it down. Grill 20 minutes, then remove the bricks and flip. Continue cooking for 15 to 20 minutes longer, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before carving.
• Serve the chicken on a bed of arugula with lemon slices.

TUSCAN ROSEMARY-SMOKED WHOLE CHICKENS

Steps:

• For the brine, bring 6 cups water to a boil in a large saucepan. Add the broth, salt, honey, sugar, peppercorns, rosemary and garlic, stirring to dissolve the salt. Remove from the heat and add the ice cubes to cool quickly to room temperature. Place the chicken in the bucket, breast-side down, cover and refrigerate for 2 to 4 hours.
• Remove the chicken from the brine and rinse well with cold water. Pat dry, place on a baking rack and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 4 hours. This will allow the skin to dry out which will produce a crisper skin while cooking.
• Preheat your smoker to 275 degrees F and up to 325 degrees F if your smoker can do it. Add the soaked wood chips and rosemary sprigs.
• Brush the entire chicken with canola oil and sprinkle with pepper. Put the chicken in the smoker and place a drip pan underneath. Smoke until the breast temperature reaches 160 degrees F and the thigh reaches 170 degrees F, depending on the size of the chicken, 1 1/2 to 3 hours.

CREAMY TUSCAN CHICKEN

Steps:

• Season the chicken with the salt & pepper, making sure to mix it in evenly.
• Heat oil in a skillet over medium-low heat.
• Place the chicken thighs skin side down in the skillet and cook for about 13 minutes in order to crisp up the skin. Move the chicken around from time to time to ensure it cooks evenly. The skin should be hard to the touch.
• Flip the chicken, then cook for about another 15 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked. Remove from pan.
• Add the garlic and onion. Stir in the tomatoes and spinach until the spinach is wilted.
• Add the heavy cream, salt, and pepper, bringing to a boil.
• Add the parmesan cheese, stirring until the sauce has thickened slightly.
• Place the chicken back in the pan, spooning the sauce on top of the chicken.