Stock And Cider Brined Chicken Over Stuffing Recipes

STOCK-AND-CIDER-BRINED CHICKEN OVER STUFFING

Steps:

• Make the brine: Melt 3 tablespoons of the butter in a 10-inch cast-iron skillet or similar pan over medium-low heat. Add onion, celery and carrots, 1/2 teaspoon of the salt and the pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are all tender, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a plate, and cool to room temperature in freezer.
• While the vegetables cool, cut the bread into 3/4-inch cubes and spread into a single layer on a baking sheet. Allow to dry out overnight.
• Combine the stock and cider in a large measuring cup and pour 1 1/2 cups of the mixture into a plastic gallon-size zipper bag. Add vegetables, remaining salt, prunes, vinegar and chicken thighs. Seal bag, and massage everything around to dissolve salt and combine. Refrigerate 8 hours or overnight. Cover and refrigerate remaining stock-cider mixture.
• To cook the chicken: Allow chicken to come to room temperature. Heat oven to 400. Scraping off brine and vegetables, remove chicken from bag, and set aside. Place brine with vegetables and remaining stock-cider mixture in a 10-inch cast-iron skillet or similar pan, and bring to a boil.
• In a large bowl, combine cubed bread, vegetables and liquid, sage, parsley, thyme and greens, if using. Return pan to low heat, and add remaining 3 tablespoons butter to melt. Pack stuffing mixture into pan, and lay chicken thighs on top. Place pan onto a rimmed baking sheet to catch any overflow, and bake on lower rack for 50 to 55 minutes until chicken and stuffing are golden brown.
• Allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving.

CIDER-BRINED FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk together cider and salt until salt dissolves. Add chicken pieces and enough water to coat and soak 1 hour in the refrigerator. Chicken should be completely submerged in brine.
• In a large pot, heat vegetable shortening until a deep-fry thermometer reaches 325 degrees F. Line a sheet tray with a wire rack.
• In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, cayenne and black pepper. In a paper bag, shake together flour and cornstarch. Drain chicken from brine and dip in batches first in egg mixture then in flour mixture to coat. Set on wire rack to let coating sit for 10 minutes. In 2 batches, fry chicken until golden brown on both sides and cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes, depending on the size of the piece. Remove from oil to drain on paper towel-lined plate.

CELERY HERB STUFFING AND SAVORY CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Stir together onion, celery, bread, pepper, parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, and celery salt in a large bowl; pour melted butter over bread mixture and stir to combine.
• Spoon stuffing into the cavities of chicken; place chicken into a roasting pan. Sprinkle chicken with savory; cover with a lid or foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour. Remove cover; increase oven temperature to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Roast until browned and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, near the bone, reads 165 degrees F (74 degrees C), about 15 minutes.

ONE-DISH CHICKEN AND STUFFING BAKE

Steps:

• Mix water and butter. Add stuffing. Mix lightly.
• Spoon stuffing along center of 3-quart shallow baking dish. Arrange chicken on each side of stuffing and sprinkle with paprika.
• Mix soup, milk and parsley. Pour over chicken. Cover.
• Bake at 400 degrees F for 30 minutes or until done.

STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS WITH APPLE CIDER VINEGAR SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 425 degrees.
• For stuffing boil enough water to soak apricots and cranberries. Let soak for 15 minutes. Let apricots cool slightly and cut into small pieces and add to bowl with tomatoes and feta cheese. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Using sharp knife, cut horizontal slit 3/4 way through each chicken breast. Open like a book and place on a cooking sheet. I use a cooking stone sheet with great results. Place a couple of layers of spinach on each inside side of chicken breast. No need to steam first. Place as much of the stuffing mix as you can on one side and close the breast over. I don't use string, but you can if you find it easier. I stuff as much as I can, almost to the point of overstuffing.
• Lightly brush olive oil over breasts. Cover with foil for the first 10 mins of baking and then remove foil for last 30 mins or so. Actual time depends on breast size. I remove from oven when internal temp is 175 degrees. Cover with foil while you complete the sauce. I usually let sit covered for 10 mins or so.
• For sauce melt 1 tbsp butter in sauce pan on medium heat. Add garlic and brown. Add the cider vinegar and boil 2 minutes. Add the sugar and beef stock and reduce temperature slightly and continue to boil until sauce is reduced to desired thickness and taste. About 10-15 mins should do it. You can dilute with additional stock if you boil down too much. Season to taste with salt and pepper. You can play around with sugar and vinegar amounts to get the flavor that is right for you.
• You can serve breast as is or sliced. I prefer whole as I find that it tends to fall apart. Pour sauce over and serve.

STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS WITH CIDER VINEGAR SAUCE

Steps:

• Make sauce:
• Melt butter in heavy medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Add shallots; sauté until beginning to brown, about 10 minutes. Add sugar. Sauté until shallots are golden brown, about 10 minutes. Increase heat to medium-high. Add vinegar; boil 2 minutes. Add both stocks; boil until liquid is reduced to 1 1/2 cups, about 25 minutes. Strain.
• Make chicken:
• Soak dried fruit in hot water to cover for 15 minutes. Drain.
• Melt 1 tablespoon butter in heavy medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and sauté until tender, about 4 minutes. Add tomatoes and sauté until almost all liquid evaporates, about 4 minutes. Stir in fruit and sauté 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Steam spinach until just wilted, about 2 minutes. Cool.
• Using sharp knife, cut horizontal slit 3/4 of the way through each chicken breast. Open as for book. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place thin layer of spinach over half of each breast. Top spinach with 2 tablespoons fruit mixture. Close breasts over filling. Tie with kitchen string. (Sauce and chicken can be made 1 day ahead; chill.)
• Preheat oven to 425°F. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in large skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper; brown in skillet, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer to baking sheet. Bake until chicken is cooked through, about 15 minutes.
• Bring sauce to simmer. Remove from heat. Gradually add 4 tablespoons butter, whisking just until melted. Remove string from chicken. Cut each breast crosswise into 5 slices. Serve with sauce.

ROAST STUFFED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F.
• Mix hot water and margarine in large bowl until margarine is melted. Add stuffing mix; stir just until moistened. Set aside. (Do not stuff chicken until ready to bake.)
• Stuff chicken lightly with prepared stuffing; close openings with skewers and string. Place, breast-side up, on rack in baking pan; sprinkle with thyme.
• Bake 1 hour 40 min. or until chicken is done (165°F) and stuffing is heated through (165ºF), basting occasionally with pan juices.