Oven Baked "Fried" Chicken

Super Moist, Crispy, Juicy Panko Baked Chicken, is one of my families favorite salad toppers, and starter to many an amazing, deeply enticing, winter feasts.

Have you heard of panko?  It's a Japanese bread crumb that is so amazing in retaining a light crispy coating! It uses very little, and still seems to coat the entire portion.  I use it exclusively now on fish, seafood and chicken.  It's available in most grocers, but I like to find ones with bulk food sections (read Winco) as it can be pretty spendy in specialty aisles.




Oven-Fried Panko Chicken
30-40 minutes

1 1/2-2 cups panko
1/4-1/2 tsp cayenne
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 stick (8 tbs) butter
1 chicken, 3-4 lbs, cut into pieces such as breasts, thighs, legs, etc.
OR
6 chicken breasts

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Stir together panko, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper.

Whole Chicken pieces- Rub butter all over chicken pieces, dip in panko pressing firmly into to help them adhere.  Transfer skin up into baking dish or cast iron pan. Using a meat thermometer in deepest part of thigh, bake until 170 degrees or juices run clear, around 30-40 minutes

Breasts- Melt butter, dip chicken in butter and then coat thoroughly in bread crumbs. Place in baking dish or cast iron pan. Bake until browned about 30 minutes. Let cool for at least 5 minutes and serve.

Mandarin Chinese Chicken Salad

Mandarin Chinese Chicken Salad

Light, refreshing, fresh, sweet, tangy, crisp and crunchy all at the same time! I can't resist! Loaded with grilled or BBQ'ed chicken this salad has the slight smokey flavor and the delicate mandarin sesame dressing!

This is so good! And frankly good for you! This is an all year salad in my house!







Under 30 Min.

SALAD COMPONENTS

2 cups baby spinach
2 cups shredded romaine
1/2 cup slice toasted almonds, or whole roasted salted cashews
2-3 fresh satsuma mandarin oranges, peeled and sliced (or canned sliced mandarins)
OR
1 navel orange peeled and and sliced
1/4 cup green onion, finely diced (optional)

2 cups shredded Smokey Beer Can Chicken -OR-
2-3 sliced Chicken Breasts- Simply Baked, Roasted or Pan Fried (I add a dash of cajun seasoning)

DRESSING
(In a jiffy I use Soy Vay Toasted Sesame Dressing found at most stores! It's Delicious!)

Zest of 1/2 orange (1/4 cup
1 tsp ginger
Juice of 1 orange(medium)
2 tsp sesame seeds
1 tsp crushed garlic
2 tsp sesame oil
1/3 cup rice vinegar
2 tsp sugar
1 tsp honey
1 tbs soy sauce

4 tbs canola oil

Mix all ingredients well with a whisk or blender. Slowly add oil to mixture.

Add lettuce and spinach to salad bowl or dish separately, and toss with dressing. Top with Chicken, Oranges, Almonds, and Green Onions. Serve and Enjoy!

The options are endless depending on what is in season! Even Sliced apples, diced dried apricots, fry up some crunchy wonton strips...

Thai Coconut Lemongrass Soup- Tom Kha Gai

This soup is made with nice size pieces of tender chicken, creamy coconut milk and broth. I have included the authentic ingredients as well as a the cheat version when your pantry is missing some of those ingredients.  This can be made any time of the year with a leftover chicken breast, turkey or by easily preparing some chicken and cutting or shredding.

This is my FAVORITE soup to kick a cold, especially the kind where nothing tastes good and you can't breathe. Lemongrass, chicken broth, the bit of zing to unplug your nose from the red pepper flakes! Yup! It's the one! I'm even known, if its a real whopper, to add a dash of chili oil.

Under 30 minutes

Thai Coconut Lemongrass Soup

1 quart chicken broth
1 1/2 C. coconut milk
1 cup sliced mushrooms (see authentic ingredient below)
1/4 tsp dried chile flakes, or to taste (see authentic ingredient below)
1 Stalk Lemongrass, cut into inch strips and lightly pounded
1 tsp freshly grated Ginger, OR 2 inches fresh ginger sliced into disk shaped slices (see authentic ingredient below)
2 1/2 tbs Lime juice
1/4 tsp Salt, or to taste
1-2 tbs brown sugar (optional)
1-2 cup pulled or cubed cooked Chicken (or white meat turkey)
1 Green Onion, chopped
Chopped Cilantro. Loosely chopped

Other Delicious Authentic Ingredients:

Straw Mushrooms (Found in a can usually) 

6 kaffir lime leaves (lightly bruised to release the flavor)
6 slices galangal, instead of ginger. A similar root, but not the same taste
8 bird’s eye chilies (lightly pounded), instead of dried red pepper flakes
3 tablespoon fish sauce(SUGGESTED)

Bring the stock to a boil, skim any foam that rises to the top and add coconut milk, lemongrass, lime juice, chile flakes, ginger, and chicken Simmer for about 15 minutes. Season to taste with salt. Ladle into soup bowls or mugs and garnish with cilantro and green onions.

Serve in a bowl with a side of steamed rice. (Traditionally this soup is served with the slices of galangal, lemongrass and lime leaves. I know many people who love to chew or enjoy them in the bowl. However if you do not like that or have a family member who doesn't you can strain or remove before adding chicken right at the end.)

Chipotle Turkey, Bacon and Smoked Cheddar Panini

Spicy, Smokey, Cheesy, Crispy, Melty, Warm... 










Chipotle Turkey, Bacon and Smoked Cheddar Panini
8 slices ciabatta bread (or Italian)

Chipotle Mayonnaise
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 -2 Chipotle Chilies

1/2 tsp honey

8 oz. sliced turkey, white meat
8 (1 oz.) slices Smoked Cheddar or Pepperjack cheese
8 slices pre-cooked bacon (See Perfect Oven Bacon)
8 slices tomato or Avocado
4 tablespoon olive oil

Combine mayonnaise, Chilies and honey in blender or food processor. Heat up panini grill, George Foreman grill, or skillet over medium heat.  Oil one side of bread. Slice Cheese, and tomato or avocado if you prefer. Place bread oil side down on griddle, smear bread with chipotle mayonnaise,  cheese, turkey, bacon, and add schmear other piece of bread with chipotle mayonnaise.  Placing on sandwich with oil side out.  Close grill.  If not a panini grill, add weight like a kettle or another pan. Cook until golden and melted. About 4-6 minutes. Enjoy!

Optional: Opt for thinly sliced red onions if you like them! Yum!