I began cooking and baking when I was about 8 years old, and my mother, who taught me, is an excellent cook, so I've become quite proficient in this area of homemaking. It's a good thing too, because I continue to struggle in so many of the other areas, that it would be quite discouraging if I was a rotten cook in addition to being a procrastinating pack rat who can't overcome clutter and never makes her bed! I would love to encourage those who don't enjoy cooking as much, as they have often blessed me with tips on how to become more organized. Unfortunately, I rarely follow recipes, and even when I do start with a recipe, I hardly ever follow it . So, unless you can be beside me in the kitchen, as I add a little of this and some more of that, rarely measuring anything, it's difficult for me to offer any assistance.
That being said, I wanted to share with you some easy instructions for simply delicious chicken. I detest dry chicken, and disagree with those who believe that white meat is always dry, or at least a little bit. Many of you dear readers probably already know how to make delicious, succulent, chicken, so this is for those of you who do not.
Baked Chicken
Preheat oven to 375 F. Arrange your favorite chicken pieces (“Pic of the Chic” works well for my family) in a baking dish (I use a glass 9x13 pan) without overlapping. Do not remove skins. (If you’re dieting, you can always remove the skins before eating, but baking with the skins on adds tremendous flavor and moisture to the meat.) Sprinkle the chicken pieces with garlic powder, and oregano (and/or any other spices you might prefer, sometimes I opt for SeasonAll instead of oregano). Drizzle 2 Tbsp.(give or take) of wine on top of the chicken, there should be enough to cover the bottom of the pan. (I usually use Sherry or Marsala cooking wine, but any White Wine will do). Place in pre-heated oven for 45minutes-1hour, until golden brown. It is beneficial to baste the meat with the wine and juices at least once, but is not absolutely necessary. To check that meat is cooked completely, prick the largest piece with a fork: the juices should run clear.
Serve with mashed potatoes or rice and vegetable and maybe even blueberry muffins. Pour the juices into a gravy ladle and serve with the chicken.
Well, I really hope that works for you! We had it again last night and everyone devoured it! This is my idea of comfort food and I thought I ought to at least try to share the "recipe" with you. It's really one of the easiest meals to cook, and one of the most delicious. And I think it's healthy, at least it's better than using condensed soup. One other bonus is how simply delicious the house smells while it's cooking! Enjoy! |
