Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Chicken with Artichokes and Lemon







       1 1/2 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs or chicken breast cutlets, rinsed and patted dry
  2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  1 cup white wine or chicken broth
  1 12 ounces jar artichoke hearts, drained and coarsely chopped
  1 lemon, thinly sliced
  1/4 cup all purpose flour
  Salt and pepper
  1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh thyme or parsley


   Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper and dredge in flour. Warm oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook, turning once,until browned on both sides, about 4 minutes total.


  Add wine or broth and artichokes and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until chicken is almost cooked, 10 to 15 minutes.


  Scatter lemon slices over chicken, cover and cook until chicken is done, 2 to 3 minutes longer.


  Transfer chicken and lemon slices to a platter. Stir thyme or parsley into sauce and season with additional salt and pepper, if  desired. Pour over chicken and serve. 
 

 


Monday, May 7, 2012

Buttermilk Biscuits.


  


      1 cup all purpose flour
  1/2 cup cake flour
  3/4 cup buttermilk
  1 tablespoon baking powder
  1 teaspoon salt
  1/3 cup butter, chilled

  Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
 
  Place 1 cup all purpose flour, 1/2 cup cake flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl and whisk to blend. Cut the butter into 1-tablespoon chunks and dump into the flour.



  Use pastry blender to cut the butter into the flour, until the mixture resembles coarse meal with some split-pea sized pieces of butter.


  Gradually add buttermilk, fluffing with a fork, until the mixture looks like very thick, lumpy oatmeal or sticky pie dough.


  Sprinkle 1/4 cup of flour onto your rolling surface, flour the palms of your hands, turn out the dough onto the floured surface, gently kneading the dough for a few seconds. Pat the dough into 1-inch-high circle.


  Use a 2-inch round biscuit cutter to cut out the biscuits.




  Place an inch or so apart on a greased or nonstick cookie sheet.


  Bake in the middle of the oven for 10 to 12 minutes.


  Remove to wire rack to cool five minutes before serving.




  Makes 12 biscuits.