Sunday, January 23, 2011

A bird in hand is worth two in the bush

As we navigate through changes in life, a new job, a new city, a new relationship, or just discovering the depth of the relationships you have or being a new mother ( the hardest of them all ) we often forget the small mercies. The warmth of my bed.The brown furry back of my dog next to me and his plosive breath. Friendships that embrace you like a cashmere scarf on a windy winter day. New music to run to at 6 mph as you think you can conquer the world. Keeping that spirit in mind I cooked what I think is an offering or thanks for life and all its small mercies. Chicken in a pot with root vegetables, 40 pieces of garlic and white wine. Something tangy and edgy to cut the earthy soft flavor of the chicken; kale and white bean soup.

Chicken in a pot


An hour at the Co-op, all organic, except the wine

You could use pearl onions, white onions and shallots. Sweet potatoes add a earthy sweetness, but I would not use them again as they melt into the broth rather unceremoniously. I like vegetables that hold their own when in trouble

These colorful potatoes did.

Parsley, Rosemary and Thyme

The pièce de résistance borrowed from my friend and will serve the special purpose of going from stove top to oven.

40 cloves of garlic that will melt like butter along with the chicken.

Saute carrots, celery and garlic

Add shallots and yellow onion.

Add potatoes and sweet potatoes.

Line pot with herbs

Add sauted vegetables

Untie bird, remove skin and roast on pan. Enjoy the gorgeous sight of the browning bird.

Into the pot with the herbs and vegetables

Let the chicken bathe in chicken broth and white wine

The special touch is adding preserved lemon. I preserved them with rice wine vinegar and salt.

Need I say more.......



I cut the chicken with a spoon





Kale and white bean soup






Saute small potatoes, celery, parsley and sage




Saute kale in olive oil and sherry vinegar. I think my friend who is playing my vinegar police is watching this...




Add vegetables and cannelloni beans to chicken broth with a few preserved lemons and slow cook for 20 min.

Add hot oil on top as garnish before serving.

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