Chicken with 40 Cloves Redux

I end up making this recipe once or twice a year, and have posted about it before, but I added a new ingredient that was worth sharing. Lemon juice and zest added a welcome acidity to this super moist chicken dish. After trying the chicken last night, my husband said that from now on, I couldn't make this recipe without it. Here's the link to Alton Brown's recipe: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/40-cloves-and-a-chicken-recipe/index.html. 

Chicken with 40 Cloves

adapted from Alton Brown's Recipe, serves 6

Ingredients

• 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (or a combination of 8 thighs and legs)
• < 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon olive oil (see note *)
• 10 sprigs fresh thyme
• 40 peeled cloves garlic
• 1 lemon, peeled and juiced
• Salt and pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

*Juice lemon into a measuring cup, add olive oil until it reaches 1/2 cup. You will typically get 3 tablespoons from an average lemon. Season chicken liberally with salt and pepper. Toss with a 1 tablespoon olive oil and brown on both sides in a wide fry pan or skillet over high heat. Remove from heat, add oil with lemon juice, thyme, lemon zest and garlic cloves. Cover and bake for 1 1/2 hours.

Remove chicken from the oven, let rest for 10-15 minutes and serve.

I served the meal with sauteed snow peas and orange bell pepper and some crusty bread. I hope some of you get to try this delicious recipe!

Sweet Potato, Mushroom & Bacon Frittata

We've been trying to cook an egg-focused dinner at least once a week. Eggs are such delicious and inexpensive protein. This was just your basic frittata recipe with sweet potatoes, mushrooms and bacon. Add cheese, herbs or caramelized onions to make it even fancier.

Sweet Potato, Mushroom & Bacon Frittata

Serves 4, adapted from Alton Brown's recipe from Food Network

Ingredients

• 6 eggs, beaten
• 1/2 cup cooked sweet potato, cubed
• 1/4 cup cooked bacon, chopped
• 1/4 cup cooked mushrooms, sliced
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• pinch of salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to broil setting. Adjust top oven rack so that pan sits 5-6 inches below the broiler element.

In a medium bowl, using a fork, blend together eggs, salt and pepper. Heat 12-inch non-stick, oven safe saute pan over medium high heat. Add olive oil to pan. Add bacon, sweet potato and mushrooms to pan and saute for 2 to 3 minutes. Pour egg mixture into pan and stir with rubber spatula. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes or until the egg mixture has set on the bottom and begins to set up on top. 

Place pan into oven and broil for 3 to 4 minutes, until lightly browned and fluffy. Remove from pan and cut into 6 servings. Serve immediately.