Today is Chicken Day

Today is Chicken Day

Why is today chicken day?  Mostly because I have a ton of chicken recipes to share with you.  We eat chicken so often I am surprised that we don't cluck.  Plus, chicken is so versatile you can use it in almost any recipe.  

Besides that it is healthy and delicious.  But we will get to that later.  For right now, lets get on with the recipes.

Beer Can Chicken Recipe

Ingredients:

1  whole chicken, betwween 4 to 5 lbs.

2 tbsp.Extra Virgin Olive Oil 

seasoning of your choice, I like to use Montreal Chicken seasoning by Grill Mates but you can use any seasoning or make your own

1/2 can of beer (what you do with the other half is your choice)

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. 

Remove the neck, giblets and so forth from the chicken.

Rinse and pat chicken dry with paper towels.

Rub olive oil over your chicken making sure that the entire chicken is covered with oil. Spread your seasonings all over the chicken on the inside as well as the outside.

Place your chicken over the 1/2 filled can of beer. Place the hole of the chicken over the can. 

Put chicken with beer can on a roasting pan with a wire rack and place in preheated oven.

Cook to the internal breast temperature of 180 degrees.

***When grilling your beer can chicken you need to have the grilling temperature between 325 and 350 degrees,  It should take approximately 1 1/2 hours.  When internal temperature reaches 180 degrees for the breast it will be done.

Healthy Orange Chicken Recipe

Ingredients:

1 large boneless skinless chicken breast

1/2 teaspoon salt substitute

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

1/2 cup orange juice (I use Tropicana 50, it has 1/2 the sugar)

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

1 teaspoon minced garlic  

zest of 1/2 orange

1 tablespoon cornstarch

Directions:

1.    Cut chicken into bite size pieces, season with salt and pepper.

2.    Heat up olive oil in skillet. Add chicken and cook until starting to brown.

3.    In a measuring glass cup, whisk together orange juice, honey, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, garlic, orange zest and cornstarch. Whisk until well blended. .

4.    Add to chicken and cook on medium-low heat until the sauce thickens. Remove from heat.

5. Serve over rice and garnish with chives.

***  This is a wonderful dinner when served with stir fried vegetables.  Any vegetables that you choose will be great.

Tip for the Day

If you are having a problem with your chicken baking to a dry crisp try covering it with a sheet of parchment paper. A single piece of parchment paper placed over the chicken before going into the oven acts almost like the chicken’s missing skin, protecting it and preventing it from drying out. 

***I was going to write so much more today but I am sorry to say I have to leave.  I hope you enjoy the two chicken recipes I have shared with you.