Recipe Corner

Chicken with Apricot Glaze

Ingredients

• 5 lbs. Chicken Quarters (any part of the chicken you would like)
• 1 T Kosher Salt
• 2 tsp Black Pepper
• 1T Basil
• 1T Parsley
• 1tsp Rosemary
• 2 ea. Garlic
• ¼ cup Olive Oil

Sauce:

• 4 ea. Dried Apricots, small diced
• ½ c. Apricot Jam
• Sherry Wine
• Butter
• Brown Sugar
• Chicken Stock
• Onion
• Vinegar

Method of Preparation:

1. Take the chicken and wash under cold running water to remove any blood and liquid it may have been sitting in.  
   
   
2.  In a bowl mix together the salt, pepper, garlic, parsley, basil, and rosemary.  Mix together thoroughly.  Place the chicken in the bowl and coat with the mixture so that all the chicken is coated.
   
   
3. Transfer the chicken to a roasting pan or baking sheet and place in 375 degree oven.  Roast chicken until golden brown and the internal temperature reached 165 degrees.
   
   
4. In a sauce pan over medium high heat add the butter and onions and cook the onions until they are soft.  Once the onions are soft turn the heat to medium and add the Sherry, vinegar, and sugar.  Stir and reduce by a third.  Add the chicken stock, dried apricots, and apricot jam and continue to cook until slightly thicken. 
   
   
5. The last 15 minutes of cooking the chicken baste the chicken 3 or 4 times so that the glaze sticks to the chicken.  Reserve the sauce for the chicken after it is baked.

Roasted Brussel Sprouts

Ingredients

• 2 lbs. Brussel Sprouts, trim any brown leaves, slice in half any large pieces
• 2T Oil
• 1T Kosher Salt
• 2tsp Black Pepper

Method of Preparation:

1. Take the washed and trimmed Brussel sprouts and place them in a baking dish or sheet pan.  Season with salt and pepper then drizzle with oil.  Rub together so that everything is dispersed evenly. 
   
   
2. Place in a preheated 375 degree oven and cook for 15-20 minutes.  Half way through the roasting stir around the Brussel sprouts so that brown and cook evenly.
   
   
3. Remove from oven and place in a bowl or platter. At this time you a squeeze fresh lemon juice or garnish with freshly shaved parmesan cheese.  Serve immediately.

Smashed Red Bliss Potatoes

Ingredients

• 5lbs. Red Bliss Potatoes
• 2T Kosher Salt
• 2tsp Black or White Pepper
• 2 c Milk 
• ½ lb. Butter

Method of Preparation:

1. Place peeled potatoes in a large pot and cover with cold water.  Place a lid on the pot and cook over medium high heat.  Once the potatoes have come to boil remove the lid and continue to cook until a knife can pierce the potatoes without and resistance.
   
   
2. While the potatoes are cooking place the milk and butter in a small sauce pan and scold over medium heat.  Once the mixture comes to scold remove from heat.
   
   
3. Once the potatoes are cooked carefully drain off the water and place the potatoes in a bowl.  Carefully pour some the of milk and butter mixture over the potatoes.  Use a potato smasher to smash the potatoes and continue to add the milk and butter until you achieve the consistency you want.  Since these are “smashed” potatoes they are not required to be smooth.
   
   
4. Season with salt and pepper.  Serve while hot!

Dutch Style Sauerkraut

Ingredients

• 1lb. Potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced half moon
• 1 sm Onion, medium dice
• 1 T Parsley, chopped
• 4 strips Turkey Bacon, small or medium dice
• 1 tsp Black Pepper
• 1 T Butter
• 2 cups Sauerkraut
• 1 tsp Oil

Method of Preparation:

1. Take the sauerkraut and place in colander.  Rinse under cold water and allow to drain.
   
   
2. In a saute pan or Dutch pan over medium high heat add turkey bacon and oil.  Cook the turkey bacon until crisp.  Once the bacon has crisped remove from pan.
   
   
3. Add the chopped onion to the pan and cook until golden brown.  Stir frequently.  Once the onions have browned add the potatoes and continue to cook.  Season with salt and pepper.
   
4. When the potatoes begin to brown add the rinsed and drained sauerkraut and turkey bacon back to the pan. 
   
   
5. Warm through the sauerkraut until hot.  Remove from heat and garnish with chopped parsley.

Note: Pork Bacon can be substituted for Turkey Bacon just omit the oil in the first step

Herbed Barley with Butternut Squash & Spinach

Ingredients

• 1 c Barley
• 1 sm Onion, medium dice
• 1 sm Butternut Squash, peeled and diced
• 2 cups Spinach, remove stem
• ½ tsp Nutmeg
• 1 T Kosher Salt
• 1 tsp Black Pepper
• 1 T Thyme
• 1 tsp Basil
• 2 cups Vegetable Stock

Method of Preparation:

1. In a pot cook place the barley and vegetable stock over medium high heat.  Cover and bring to a boil.  Once the barley comes to boil reduce the heat and cook the barley until tender.
   
   
2. In a large saute pan over medium high heat add the oil and onions to the pan.  Cook onions until they are soft and begin to brown.  Turn heat down and add the butternut squash and cook until it becomes tender.
   
   
3. Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg.  Add the cooked barley and spinach and stir in until spinach is wilted.  Just before you remove from the heat add the fresh herbs.  Serve immediately. 

Thomas Jefferson Sweet Potato Biscuits

Ingredients

• 5 c. Flour
• 2 T Baking Powder
• ½ lb Butter
• 1 ½ c.  Heavy Cream
• 1 cup Brown Sugar
• 1 tsp Cinnamon
• ½ tsp Allspice
• 1 tsp Nutmeg
• ½ tsp Ground Ginger
•  Pinch Salt
• Fresh or Canned Sweet Potatoes (Yams)

Method of Preparation:

1. In a large bowl combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and allspice.
   
   
2. Take the chilled butter and cut into the flour until crumbly.  Take the mashed sweet potatoes and stir into the flour and butter mixture.
   
   
3. Pour the chilled heavy cream and mix gently into the flour mixture.  Mix until just combined.   Turn out onto a well-floured surface and use a rolling pin to roll it out till a 1 inch thickness.  Use a drinking cup or 1 inch cookie cutter to cut the biscuits out.  Place on a parchment lined sheet pan leaving a 1 inch between each one.
   
   
4. Place biscuits in a 350 degree oven and bake until golden brown (about 20 minutes) Can be served warm or room temperature.