Monday, December 29, 2014

How to Make Stock from Chicken Feet

Make delicious soup with the stock from chicken feet - the rich gelatin of the feet create a nutritious broth.

Makes approx. 2 quarts

Ingredients

2 pounds chicken feet
2 large carrots, cut in half
1 onion, cut into wedges
2 celery ribs, cut in half
1 bunch of fresh thyme
1 bay leaf
10 peppercorn

Bring 2 quarts of water to boil.  Put the chicken feet into a large stockpot and cover with boiling water.  Boil for 5 minutes.  Use large metal spoon to skim and discard the scum that rises to surface.

Drain the feet completely, rinse with cold water.  Using a sharp knife, chop off tips of claws and discard.  They should cut easily if you cut them through the joint.  Cut away any rough patches of the claw pad. 

Place chicken feet in a large, clean stockpot.  Fill with cold water to cover the feet by an inch.  Add remaining ingredients and bring to a simmer.  reduce temperature to low.  Partially cover and keep cooking at a bare simmer for 4 hours.  Occasionally skim the foam that may come to the surface.  Uncover, increase heat slightly to maintain a low simmer, uncovered.  Continue to cook for an hour to reduce the stock.   Strain through several layers of cheesecloth or a fine, mesh strainer.  Pour into quart-sized jars.  let cool for an hour before storing in the refrigerator. 

Thursday, December 4, 2014

CLASSIC EGG SALAD


   MAKES 4 SERVINGS

 

6 HARDBOILED EGGS

¼ CUP MAYONNAISE

2 TSP FRESH LEMON JUICE

1 TBSP MINCED ONION

¼ TSP SALT

¼ TSP PEPPER

½ CUP FINELY SHOPPED CELERY (use organic, please)

CHOP EGGS.  MIX MAYO, LEMON JUICE, ONION, SALT AND PEPPER IN BOWL.  ADD CHOPPED EGGS AND CELERY; MIX WELL. 

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Healing Bone Broth

Homemade Broth/Stock can be used as the liquid in making soups, stews, gravies, sauces, and reductions. It can also be used to sauté or roast vegetables. Broth is an excellent source of minerals and is known to boost the immune system and improve digestion. Especially in the fall and winter, we try to drink at least 1 cup per person per day as a health boost.

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds (or more) of bones (approx. 2 carcasses from Roast Chicken)
  • 2 chicken feet for extra gelatin (optional)
  • 1 onion
  • 2 carrots
  • 2 stalks of celery
  • 2 tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar
  • Optional: 1 bunch of parsley, 1 tablespoon or more of sea salt, 1 teaspoon peppercorns, additional herbs or spices to taste
If you are using raw bones, it improves flavor to roast them in the oven first for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

Then, place bones in a large stock pot and pour water over the bones. Add the vinegar. Let sit for 20-30 minutes in the cool water. The acid helps make the nutrients in the bones more available.

Rough chop and add the vegetables to the pot. Add any salt, pepper, spices, or herbs, if using.

Now, bring the broth to a boil. Once it has reached a vigorous boil, reduce to a simmer and simmer until done, 24 hours is ideal for poultry broth.

During the first few hours of simmering, you’ll need to remove the impurities that float to the surface. A frothy/foamy layer will form and it can be easily scooped off with a big spoon.  Grass-fed and healthy animals will produce much less of this than conventional animals.

Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Strain using a fine metal strainer to remove all the bits of bone and vegetable. When cool enough, store in a gallon size glass jar in the fridge for up to 5 days, or freeze for later use.

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Chicken Stock with Whole Bird

Recipe by Laura Luciano, Out East Foodie
 
Ingredients
1 Browder’s Birds Chicken (about 3½ pounds), rinsed, giblets removed
1 head of garlic, halved
1 turnip, quartered
24 parsley stems
3 sprigs of fresh thyme
2 bay leaves
The fronds from 1 fennel
1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
2 carrots, cut in large chunks
1 parsnip, cut in large chunks
4 celery stalks, cut in large chunks
2 large white onions, quartered
1 tablespoon of sea salt
 
 
Directions
Place the chicken and vegetables in a large stockpot over medium heat. Pour in cold water so it covers the contents by an inch. Place the bay leaves, thyme, and peppercorns, in pot and allow it to slowly come to a boil. Lower the heat to low and gently simmer for 2 hours, partially covered, until the chicken is done.
 
Carefully remove the chicken to a cutting board. When it is cool enough to handle, discard the skin and bones; hand-shred the meat into a container.
 
Note: The chicken is perfectly good to use for chicken soup.
 
Carefully strain the stock through a fine sieve into another pot to remove the vegetables. You can use the stock immediately or cool the stock down to room temperature and place in refrigerator until completely cool.
 
Skim the fat off the top and discard. Then freeze your stock for later use.

Basic Golden Rich Chicken Stock

Recipe courtesy of Jamesport Chef Peter Berley; to learn more, visit www.peterberley.com/classes


Makes 3 quarts

5-6 pounds chicken:  backs, necks, and feet
2 medium onion chopped,
1 large carrot, chopped
1 stalk celery chopped, with leaves
several thyme sprigs, handful of parsley and a bay leaf
4-5 quarts water




1.  Put the vegetables and herbs in the bottom of a 10-12 quart pot.  Place the chicken parts on top and add enough cold water to just cover the chicken.



2.  Cook over medium-high heat until the water begins to simmer. Reduce the heat and simmer gently, skim the scum during the first 30 minutes, then cook undisturbed AT A GENTLE SIMMER for 21/2-3 hours, the stock should never boil.



3.  Strain the stock, cool uncovered, then refrigerate for up to 3 days, or freeze for 3 months.



ABOUT CHICKEN FAT:

Chicken fat from pastured birds is loaded with flavor and nutrients. After the stock has cooled, refrigerate it uncovered until the fat hardens.  Cover the stock. If you leave the fat on your stock it will stay fresh in the frig for up to 2 weeks if left undisturbed. Or skim it off and use it as a healthy cooking fat or spread for bread. I find it best to remove the fat before freezing it.



ABOUT THOSE FEET:

 The bird’s feet possess the greatest concentration of gelatin - so good for your hair teeth and nails. Stock made with them will be awesomely thick so your soups and stews will be richer and far more yummy!


Thursday, July 3, 2014

Sweet & Spicy Beer Can Chicken


Ingredients:
  • 1 whole Browder's chicken
  • olive oil
  • 1 can of beer
  • 2 tablespoons barbecue sauce
  • 1 fresh red chili pepper, deseeded
  • 1 bunch of spring onions, trimmed
  • ½ a bunch of fresh coriander         

    For the rub:
  • 1 heaped tablespoon smoked paprika
  • 1 heaped teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 heaped tablespoon fennel seeds
  • 1 heaped tablespoon coriander seeds
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 1-2 dried red chillies
  • 1 heaped teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 heaped tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 heaped tablespoon soft dark brown sugar
Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Remove the chicken from the fridge and leave aside to come up to room temperature. Bash the rub ingredients to a fine powder in a large pestle and mortar, then drizzle the chicken with olive oil. Sprinkle over the rub and use your hands to massage all those lovely flavours into all the nooks and crannies.

Crack open the beer and pour out around two-thirds of it (or drink it!), then carefully lower the chicken cavity onto the can so it looks like it's sitting up. Position the chicken so it's upright on a roasting tray, then place in the oven and cook for around 1 hour 10 minutes, or until golden and cooked through. To check it's done, insert a knife into the thickest part of the thigh – the juices should run clear.

Brush the chicken all over with the barbecue sauce, then return to the oven for a further 10 minutes, or until dark and sticky. Meanwhile, finely slice the chilli and spring onions and pick the coriander leaves. Once ready, carefully remove and discard the can, then carve up the bird, scatter over the chilli, spring onions and coriander leaves, then serve.

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Roast Chicken & Pesto


This is a fantastic and simple way to eat a roast chicken – whether it's hot or cold.
Serves 6.

1 Browder's Birds roasting chicken         
½ bulb garlic, plus an extra ¼ clove
2 small lemons
a few sprigs fresh thyme
extra virgin olive oil
3 bunches fresh basil, stalks removed
1 handful pine nuts, lightly toasted
1/4 cup of Parmesan, freshly grated

Preheat your oven or grill to 400ºF, then stuff your chicken with the ½ garlic bulb, one of the lemons and the thyme. Rub the outside with lots of sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, then rub with olive oil and roast for 1½ hours. To see if it's properly cooked, pierce a thigh with the tip of a knife and check that the juices run clear. If they don't, continue cooking and check again.

Pound the remaining garlic with a pinch of salt in a pestle and mortar. Scrape the paste into a food processor and whiz with the basil and pine nuts. Pour the mix into a bowl and stir in a few good lugs of olive oil. Add the Parmesan and season with salt, pepper and the juice of the other lemon. If the pesto looks stiff, moisten it with olive oil.

Serve the chicken in portions – hot or cold – on a big plate with the pesto in a bowl next to it. Better still, tear off bits of chicken and dip in a bowl of pesto before eating – fantastic! Great with arugula and roasted lemon halves, if you like.

Recipe by Chef Jamie Oliver

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Chicken Scratch Cake

This lemon-y cake is called “Chicken Scratch” because the frosting and topping resemble the chicken yard after a busy day of hen scratching. And also because it has a lot of eggs, making it dense and moist.

Prep time: 1 Hour
Cook time: 40 Min
Total time: 1 Hour 40 Min 

Ingredients:
For cake:

  • 1 ½ cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter
  • 3 ¾ cups all-purpose flour, plus more for pans
  • 3 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 ½ cups sugar
  • 6 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1 ½ teaspoons almond extract (can substitute vanilla)
  • ¾ cup milk
  • zest of one lemon
  • ¼ cup lemon juice
For frosting:
  • 16 ounces cream cheese
  • ½ cup (one stick) butter
  • 2 cups confectioners’ sugar
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract (can substitute vanilla)
  • 3 cups sweetened flaked coconut
  • ½ cup salted, roasted almonds

Directions:

For cake:
Preheat oven to 350F. Butter & flour two 9 inch round cake pans. (Use buttered parchment rounds if desired.)

In a medium mixing bowl, sift together flour, salt & baking powder. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy. (Approximately 4-5 minutes.) Add eggs & almond extract, and beat on medium speed an additional 5 minutes.

Reduce to low speed. Add flour, milk & lemon juice alternately, to butter/egg mixture. Begin and end with flour. Beat until combined. Add lemon and beat briefly to incorporate.
Divide batter evenly between two pans. Bake for 30-35 minutes on middle rack of oven, rotating pan halfway through to brown evenly. Cake is done when cake tester inserted into center comes out clean. Remove from oven, cool for 10 minutes, and turn out onto cooling rack. Let cool completely before frosting.

For Frosting:
Begin by toasting coconut: preheat oven to 375F. Spread coconut on baking sheet. Bake for 7-12 minutes, stirring every five minutes to keep from burning. Once flakes are golden brown, remove from oven and allow to cool completely.

Pulse salted roasted almonds in food processor until coarsely ground.

In electric mixer with paddle attachment, beat together cream cheese, butter, confectioners’ sugar & almond extract on medium high speed until light and fluffy. Add one third of the toasted coconut.
Beat on low speed until just combined.

To assemble cake, spread ¼ of frosting mixture evenly on top of one layer of cake. Place second layer on top. Spread remaining frosting evenly on top and sides. Sprinkle remaining toasted coconut on top of cake (and sides if desired). Sprinkle salted roasted almonds over top of coconut.

*Recipe courtesy of Beekman1802.com

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Lamb Stew with Lemons and Green Olives


This flavorful lamb stew is brightened with lemon, green olives, and yogurt sauce.  Recipe courtesy of the Beekman Boys. 

Prep time: 30 Min
Cook time: 2 Hours30 Min
Total time: 3 Hours

3 lbs lamb shoulder, cut into 1 inch pieces
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 garlic cloves, sliced thin
2 medium onions, thinly sliced
3 teaspoons minced fresh ginger
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
2 teaspoons coriander seeds
1 teaspoon cumin
5 whole cardamom seed pods
1 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 3-inch cinnamon stick
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
2 bay leaves
1 tablespoon salt
4 large carrots, sliced thin
1 small lemon with ends cut off, sliced in half, then again ¼ slices. **If using large lemon, use half.
1 cup white wine
1  qt jar of diced tomatoes
3 cups chicken stock
1 ½ cups pitted fresh green olives
½ cup chopped cilantro leaves
For Sauce:
1 cup  chopped flat leaf parsley
1 ½ cups plain yogurt (not greek)
Zest of one lemon


Heat oil over medium high heat in heavy, large covered dutch oven. When oil begins to “ripple” add half of the lamb cubes. Brown thoroughly, stirring occasionally. Approximately five minutes. Once browned, transfer to paper towel lined plate with slotted spoon. Add second half of lamb cubes. Repeat.

Once all meat is browned and removed from pot, pour off any excess fat/oil if necessary, leaving about 3 tablespoons behind. Saute garlic and onions in the oil until soft. Add carrots and ginger. Sautee for an additional 2 minutes. Add lemon and white wine. Scrape up bits of burned meat from bottom of pot. Add spices. Add tomatoes and stock. Transfer meat back to pot, bring to boil. Reduce to very low simmer.

Simmer uncovered for approximately 2 hours, or until meat is very tender. If liquid level seems to drop far below meat, add more stock or water. Allow sauce to reduce and thicken during the last 30 minutes.

Add olives during the last 10 minutes of simmering.

Remove from heat. Stir in chopped fresh cilantro.

Make yogurt sauce: combine yogurt, chopped parsley and lemon zest. Stir.

Serve stew hot either in bowl or over couscous. Pour ¼ cup yogurt sauce over individual servings.

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Snow Pudding

 

What you'll need

1 tablespoon unflavored gelatin
1 1/4 cups water
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup lemon juice
 3 egg whites
 
 Custard Sauce
3 egg yolks
2 cups milk
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

How to make it

  1. In a large bowl, sprinkle the gelatin over 1/4 cup of cold water and let it stand for 1 minute. Add 1 cup of boiling water, 1/2 cup of sugar, and the lemon juice. Stir until all of the sugar has dissolved and place the mixture in the refrigerator to thicken for about 2 hours.
  2. Once the gelatin has chilled, prepare the egg whites (a dash of cream of tartar helps) and beat with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form, about 5 minutes. In a separate bowl, beat the gelatin with an electric mixer until it's a frothy foam, about 4 minutes.
  3. Add the egg whites to the gelatin and beat until well blended, about 1 minute. Refrigerate this mixture for a minimum of 2 hours.
  4. While the gelatin mixture chills, begin preparing the custard sauce by beating the egg yolks and setting them aside.
  5. Scald the milk by heating it on medium high until small bubbles appear, about 4 minutes.
  6. Pour the milk, egg yolks, and 1/4 cup of sugar into the top of a double boiler sitting over simmering water. Stir the mixture constantly to prevent lumping until the custard has thickened and lightly coats a metal spoon, about 10 to 13 minutes; a finger drawn across a coated spoon should leave a clear path. Don't cook the custard too long or it will curdle.
  7. Remove the custard from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Let it cool to room temperature, stirring often. Cover and refrigerate for a minimum of 1 1/2 hours. Serve the gelatin mixture topped with the custard. Makes 6 servings.

*Courtesy of Family Fun Magazine.

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Lamb Ribs with Honey and Wine


Ingredients
3 1/2 lbs lamb ribs
2 onions, chopped
2 tsp minced garlic
3 tsp honey
3 tsp olive oil
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 cup white wine
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp salt
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 tsp ground cinnamon

Directions:

1. Mix Marinade: Place lamb in 9 x 13 inch baking dish and combine remaining ingredients. Pour over lamb ribs; cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.
2.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees, cover dish with foil and bake ribs for 70 minutes.