Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Fabricating a Chicken Like a Pro

Although it may seem intimidating at first, fabricating a chicken, or cutting it into smaller parts for cooking, is actually a very simple technique. First, cut from the neck opening down the center of the bird, following the keel bone. Cut away the breast, following the contour of the rib […]

Main Dishes

Farro with Chicken and Chanterelle Ragu

Makes 6 to 8 servings Ingredients 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil 4 small chicken legs (8 to 10 oz each) Kosher salt, as needed Freshly ground black pepper, as needed 1 small yellow onion, chopped 1 small carrot, chopped 1 celery stalk, chopped 1/2 teaspoon chopped rosemary 2 teaspoons chopped […]

Salads

Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad

Makes 8 servings Caesar salad dressing often contains egg yolk and is blended to make a creamy, emulsified dressing. That’s amazing, but this is easy and delicious, making it perfect for a quick weeknight meal. Substitute the grilled chicken for shrimp or salmon, if you like, or even shredded rotisserie […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Holiday Gifting…for the Dogs!

There are two types of people in this world: people who give presents to dogs and people who do not. If you fall in the “do not gift presents to dogs” column, the following content may not appeal to you. If you do give presents to dogs, welcome to our […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Home School: Sautéing

If there is one cooking technique you really need to know, it’s sautéing. Sautéing is how we can most easily cook a tasty chicken breast, yummy veggies, and quick stir-fries. It’s quick, requires basic tools, and is, frankly, hard to mess up. Sautéing and the closely related technique of stir-frying […]

Chef's Notes Plus

How to Make a Pan Sauce Without a Recipe

Just like you, we’re not making fully formed extravagant dinners every night of the week. Sometimes a basic pan-cooked protein + side is as good as it gets, like a sautéed chicken breast or seared pork chop. But just like the foundations of French cooking tell us, nothing makes a […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Ingredient Spotlight: Chicken Thighs

If you’re talking about white meat versus dark meat, it is probably either Thanksgiving or you are ordering fried chicken. In most other instances, chicken doesn’t demand a lot of conversation. For years, we’ve lived in a white meat society, using the boneless, skinless breast in nearly every application, from […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus, Family Fun

Kitchen Vocab: Tagine

Tagine. It’s two words in one, though both are related. It is both a dish, and the dish the dish is made in! Get it yet? A tagine is a North African recipe of Berber origin and is a staple of Moroccan cuisine. Berber refers to the indigenous people of […]

Grilling

Lemon-Ginger Grilled Chicken

Makes 8 servings Ingredients 1/4 cup lemon zest 2/3 cup lemon juice 4 teaspoons minced ginger 4 teaspoons light brown sugar, firmly packed 1 tablespoon peanut oil 4 Szechuan chile peppers, dried, seeds removed 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more as needed 8 chicken thighs, boneless, skinless Directions Combine the […]

Soups and Stews

Matzo Ball Soup

Ingredients Matzo Balls 1 3/4 cups matzo meal 6 eggs, beaten 1 cup water 2 teaspoons salt 2 teaspoons finely ground pepper 1/2 cup Schmaltz, melted, or vegetable oil or melted butter 8 cups Chicken Broth Salt, to taste Freshly ground black pepper, to taste 2 carrots, sliced into coins […]