Just Chicken and Mushrooms

This chicken and mushrooms recipe video is an experiment in extreme self-control. I wanted to challenge myself to make a chicken and mushrooms recipe using only chicken and mushrooms. By the way, if it was still Fat Tuesday, I would have totally called this recipe, "Almost Naked Breasts," but on Ash Wednesday, that just doesn't seem appropriate.

While chefs are always preaching about keeping things uncomplicated, and letting the natural goodness of the main ingredients shine though, we rarely follow our own advice. There are so many ways to flavor and enhance breasts like these that it's easy to forget simplicity and instead start, "layering the flavors."

As I mention in the video, while this may seem like it was intended as a lesson for novice cooks, it's actually dedicated to the advanced cook who may have forgotten just how wonderful a two-ingredient recipe can be.

Now, before the more anal among you start sending in the, "there are actually five ingredients" comments and emails, I'll tell you right now, I'm not counting salt and black pepper as ingredients, nor am I including the fats. Hey, I have to sear that skin in something.

Anyway, the real point is to get you to try and see how much flavor you can coax out of these two main players by simply using great technique, and the right equipment. Of course, that's easier said than done, and the vast majority of you will be unable to resist the minced garlic and the cayenne shaker. Either way, enjoy!

Speaking of the right equipment, that stainless-steel skillet you'll see in the video is my lovely new All-Clad 12-inch aluminum core frying pan. We're going to be doing some work together, and this recipe was the first real test run. I've used their stuff countless times in pro kitchens, but I've never the pleasure of working with it in my home kitchen until now. It was perfect for this recipe's required techniques.

Ingredients:

2 large chicken breasts, boneless, skin-on

salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste

2 tablespoon olive oil

8 oz thickly sliced mushrooms

1/2 cup water

1 tablespoon butter

What I Had for Breakfast

I know some of you enjoy the occasional "What I Had for Breakfast" post, so here is the latest installment. I took a small, heavy, non-stick pan, and placed it on medium heat. I tossed in a teaspoon of butter, a few cubes of cheddar cheese, and two unbeaten eggs. I took a small rubber spatula and scrambled the mixture while it cooked. This technique makes for a very creamy mixture. Once it got to that custardy texture we all know and love, I spooned it over some toasted double-fiber, whole grain English muffins, and topped it with salt and cayenne. It was very good. Enjoy!

Loafing with Chris Lilly's Loaf Pan Chicken

We arrived back in San Francisco after a fun, but tiring few days at Kingsford University. I have a great recap planned, but neither the time nor the energy to post it today. 

So, if you'll pardon my "loafing," I'd like to share this cool loaf pan chicken recipe from Chris Lilly instead. 

Please forgive the low-res video and poor sound, as it was shot on my cell phone, but stay tuned for my upcoming HD version, which I'll adapt for the oven. Enjoy!

Ingredients:
3 1/4 pound chicken

3/4 cup apple sauce

3 tbsp Worcestershire sauce to taste

Any dry rub, enough to coat

Heading Home from Kingsford University

Michele and I will be heading back to San Francisco tomorrow morning after a very educational few days at Kingsford University, in Las Vegas. I'll have a full recap of all the interesting new grilling trends we learned from Chris Lilly, as well as some great new video recipes (including an incredible technique for pickling grilled vegetables). Stay tuned!