Zesty Chicken Oregano Ericas Chicken Food

LEMON AND OREGANO POUNDED CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a large resealable plastic bag, add the lemon zest and juice, oregano, 1 1/4 teaspoons salt and 1 tablespoon of the oil. Massage the bag to combine the ingredients. Add the chicken breasts, seal the bag and massage the marinade evenly into the chicken. Lay the bag flat with the chicken breasts all flat in the bag and let the air out of the bag. Using a small skillet, flat mallet or even the heel of your hand, pound the chicken to flatten slightly. It should be 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick. Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours and up to 10 hours.
• Remove the chicken from the refrigerator 15 minutes before cooking.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil to the hot skillet and swirl to coat the bottom. Add the chicken, smooth side down, and place something heavy on top of the chicken (a brick wrapped in aluminum foil or small cast-iron skillet works well here). Cook until deep golden brown on the first side, about 5 minutes. Remove the weight and flip the chicken. Continue to cook on the second side until it is firm to the touch and an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part reads 160 degrees F, about 5 minutes more. Remove to a plate to rest. Add 1/3 cup of water to the skillet to deglaze. Pour the juices over the rested chicken to serve.

SPICY OVEN-FRIED CHICKEN WITH CHEESE GRITS AND CHORIZO REDUCTION

Steps:

• Pour buttermilk and hot sauce into a large bowl or zip-top bag; mix well. Add chicken and marinate for 4 hours to overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Place a wire rack on top of a baking sheet and spray with cooking spray.
• Combine bread crumbs, flour, paprika, salt, garlic powder, black pepper, onion powder, oregano, thyme, and chili powder in a bowl. Remove chicken from marinade and dredge in crumb mixture. Place coated chicken onto the prepared wire rack.
• Bake in the preheated oven until no longer pink in the centers and juices run clear, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, add milk, water, salt, and pepper to a large saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low and add grits. Cook, covered, for 20 minutes, stirring every few minutes to prevent clumping. Remove from heat and add Mexican cheese and butter; stir until well incorporated and creamy.
• While chicken and grits are cooking, cook chorizo, onion, bell pepper, and jalapeno in a large skillet over medium-high heat until meat is browned and vegetables are tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain grease from the skillet. Stir in garlic and continue to cook over medium-high heat until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• Stir cherry tomatoes, vegetable broth, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce into the skillet, reduce heat to low, and let simmer until reduced, stirring as needed, about 15 minutes. Add heavy cream; let simmer and continue to reduce until sauce coats a spoon, about 5 minutes more.
• Place grits into a bowl, top with chorizo reduction sauce, and top with spicy fried chicken. Garnish with Cotija cheese.

ZESTY CHICKEN OREGANO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Farenheit.
• Place chicken in ungreased 13 x 9 x 2 inch oblong pan.
• Mix the remaining ingredients (except the lemon slices) together.
• Pour over chicken.
• Cook uncovered, spooning oil mixture over chicken occasionally, for 30 minutes.
• Turn the chicken and cook until thickest pieces are done, about another 30 minutes.
• Garnish with lemon slices.

LEMON-OREGANO CHICKEN WITH VEGETABLE STACKS

Steps:

• Place the chicken cubes in a shallow dish. Whisk together the lemon juice, wine, olive oil, oregano, salt, if using, and white pepper. Pour over the chicken. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Spread the potatoes in a shallow roasting pan. Roast for 15 minutes. Add the chicken with its marinade. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover, stir the potato-chicken mixture, and continue to bake for another 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and let stand for 5 minutes before dividing among 4 heated dinner plates. Serve with a Vegetable Stack alongside.
• Place the carrot slices and squash strips in a vegetable steamer over simmering water. Cover and steam for 2 minutes. Add the snow peas to the steamer and continue to steam for another 1 to 2 minutes, until all the vegetables are crisp-tender.
• Divide the snow peas among the 4 dinner plates, arranging closely together lengthwise to form a flat base. Arrange the carrot slices on top of the snow peas and top with the strips of squash in the same direction as the snow peas. Serve hot.

BESSY'S ZESTY GRILLED GARLIC-HERB CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place chicken in a shallow dish. In a medium bowl, mix together the olive oil, sugar, honey, saffron, garlic, basil, thyme, cayenne pepper, salt, oregano, parsley, and sage. Pour the mixture over the chicken. Cover, and marinate 20 to 25 minutes in the refrigerator.
• Preheat the grill for medium heat.
• Lightly oil the grill grate. Discard marinade, and place chicken on the grill. Cook for 10 minutes on each side, or until exterior is charred and juices run clear.

OREGANO CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Combine the melted butter or margarine, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, oregano and garlic powder. Mix well.
• Place chicken in an ungreased 7x11 inch baking dish. Pour the butter/oregano mixture over the chicken. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Baste juices over the chicken. Bake for an additional 15 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a serving platter and serve the pan drippings over hot cooked rice, if desired.

ZESTY CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the mustard, honey, seasoning blend and Worcestershire sauce. Carefully loosen the skin of the chicken; spoon some of the mustard mixture under the skin., Using long-handled tongs, moisten a paper towel with cooking oil and lightly coat the grill rack. Prepare grill for indirect heat, using a drip pan. Place chicken skin side up over drip pan and grill, covered, over indirect medium heat for 20-30 minutes on each side or until juices run clear and a thermometer reads 180°, basting occasionally with remaining mustard mixture. , Cover chicken and let stand for 5 minutes before cutting into serving-size pieces.

ZESTY CHICKEN OREGANO (ERICA'S CHICKEN)

Steps:

• Place chicken in ungreased oblong pan 13 x 9 x 2 inches. Mix remaining ingredients (works best to use food processor); pour over chicken. Cook uncovered in 375 oven, spooning oil mixture over occasionally, 30 minutes. Turn chicken; cook until thickest pieces are done, about 30 minutes.