Tie Me Up Poussin With Madeira Sauce Food

PARTY POUSSINS WITH FESTIVE COUSCOUS

Steps:

• For the poussins, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Place the poussins in a roasting tin. Pour the oil slowly over the top of the top of the poussins. Rub the oil into the poussins so that they are well coated.
• Place the salt, sugar, cinnamon and paprika in a small clean bowl and mix well. Sprinkle the spice mixture over the poussins. Slice the lemon into quarters and then slice each quarter into 4 so you have 16 small pieces. Place the pieces around and in between the poussins.
• Separate the garlic bulb into cloves and place the pieces around and in between the poussins. Transfer the poussins to the oven and cook for 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes, or until completely cooked through. Remove the poussins from the oven and then let them rest for 10 minutes in their tin.
• Place the couscous, sultanas, spices and salt into a microwave-proof bowl and mix well. Add the freshly boiled water to the bowl and then cover the bowl with cling film. Leave the mixture to sit for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the water has been absorbed by the couscous. Remove the cling film from the bowl and stir the couscous with a fork to separate the grains. Carefully pour some of the juices that have collected in the roasting tin of poussins into the bowl. Stir the mixture again and season, to taste, with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Transfer the couscous to a serving dish.
• Slice the pomegranate in half and extract a good quarter of the seeds. Place them onto the couscous. Sprinkle the chopped cilantro (coriander) over the top.
• To serve, place the poussins onto clean plates and place the couscous alongside. Use the oven-charred lemon pieces and garlic cloves from the roasting tin to garnish.

GRANDMA'S WATERCRESS SALAD ALL DRESSED UP

Steps:

• In a medium mixing bowl, toss watercress, gorgonzola, onion, nuts and vinaigrette. Season and decoratively place in the center of a chilled plate (be sure to divide all ingredients evenly amongst 4 plates). Garnish salad with slices of prosciutto, figs and a drizzle of fig balsamic vinegar.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a medium saute pan over medium heat, melt butter and then add nuts. Toss nuts in pan until well coated with butter, then add honey and toss some more until nuts are well coated. Season with salt, pepper and a touch of cayenne pepper. Put nuts in oven for about 5 to 7 minutes, tossing regularly so they toast evenly. Cool. Store in airtight container until needed.
• Place all ingredients in blender except oil. Process until smooth and then slowly drizzle in oil. Adjust seasoning, as desired.

POUSSIN AL MATTONE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
• Combine the cumin, pimenton, 1 of the garlic cloves, the rosemary, lemon zest, half of the lemon juice, the red pepper flakes, 1 teaspoon olive oil and a pinch salt in a small bowl. Gently massage the spice rub all over the bird, being careful not to tear the skin.
• Coat a large saute pan with olive oil over medium-high heat. Sprinkle the poussin with salt, and place in the pan, skin-side down. Lay the foil-wrapped brick on top of the bird to press it into the pan. Cook the poussin until the skin is a lovely dark golden brown, about 7 minutes. Flip the bird and continue to cook, without the brick, until the internal temperature has reached at least 150 degrees F, 5 to 7 minutes more.
• Transfer the poussin to a parchment paper-lined sheet tray and continue to cook in the oven until the internal temperature of the thickest part of the meat reaches 165 degrees F.
• Meanwhile, remove the excess fat from the saute pan and pour in the white wine, remaining lemon juice and garlic. Scrap up any brown bits stuck to the bottom of the pan and cook over high heat until the wine has reduced by more than half. Add the chicken stock and simmer until slightly thickened. Taste and adjust the seasoning.
• Arrange the poussin on a plate, and spoon the juices on top.

CHICKEN MADEIRA

Steps:

• Sprinkle each chicken breast liberally with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken until browned, 4 to 6 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate and cover with foil.
• Add the remaining 2 tablespoons oil to the same skillet over medium-high heat and saute the mushrooms until softened, 2 minutes. Add the wine and cook 1 minute before adding the beef broth and thyme. Bring the sauce to a simmer and let reduce by three-quarters, about 15 minutes. The sauce should have thickened and turned a rich dark brown. Just as the sauce is almost done, return the chicken to the pan and finish cooking through to 165 degrees F, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Serve the chicken with the mushrooms and Madeira sauce and garnish with fresh thyme.
• Per serving: Calories 280; Total Fat 14 grams; Saturated Fat 2 grams; Protein 29 grams; Total Carbohydrate 4 grams; Sugar: 3 grams; Fiber 0 grams; Cholesterol 76 milligrams; Sodium 296 milligrams

CHICKEN MADEIRA

Steps:

• in a large skillet over medium heat olive oil.
• Cover each chicken breast with plastic wrap then use a mallet to flatten the chicken to about 1/4-inch thick.
• Sprinkle each fillet with salt and pepper.
• Sauté the chicken fillets for 4 to 6 minutes per side, or until the chicken has browned just a bit.
• Remove chicken fillets from the pan and wrap them together in foil to keep the fillets warm while you make the sauce.
• Don't clean the pan.
• You want all that cooked-on goodness to stay in the skillet to help make the sauce.
• With the heat still on medium, add two tablespoons of oil to the skillet.
• Add the sliced mushrooms and sauté for about two minutes.
• Add the madeira wine, beef stock, butter and pepper.
• Bring sauce to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 20 minutes or until sauce has reduce to about 1/4 of its original volume.
• When the sauce is done it will have thickened and turned a dark brown color.
• As the sauce is simmering, bring a medium saucepan filled about halfway with water to a boil.
• Add a little salt to the water.
• Toss the asparagus into the water and boil for 3 to 5 minutes, or until just tender.
• Drop the asparagus in a bowl of ice water.
• Set oven to broil.
• To Prepare the dish: Arrange the cooked chicken fillets on a baking pan.
• Cross two asparagus spears over each fillet, then cover each with a slice of mozzarella cheese.
• Broil the fillets for 3 to 4 minutes or until light brown spots begin to appear on the cheese.
• To serve: Arrange two chicken breasts on each plate, then spoon 3 or 4 tablespoons of madeira sauce over the chicken on each plate.

THYME-ROASTED POUSSIN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees.
• Rinse the poussins and season the cavities with salt and pepper. Rub each with 1/4 teaspoon olive oil. Fill each cavity with a lemon wedge, 2 sprigs each of thyme and marjoram, and 1 crushed garlic clove.
• Loosen the skin from the breast of each poussin. Slide a sprig each of thyme and marjoram between the skin and the breast. Spoon the Cognac (1/2 tablespoon per bird) into the breast pockets of each poussin. Truss with kitchen string.
• On a roasting rack set in a roasting pan, roast for 30 minutes, or until the juices run clear when the thigh is pierced with a fork.