Juicy Roasted Chicken

1 Meijers roasting chicken
2 cups water
about 4 tblsp salt
5 cloves garlic
two ribs celery, broken in half
one onion, quartered
fresh cracked pepper
paprika
vegetable or olive oil

cut open the end of the chicken's packaging at the leg end. drain all the juice and remove the giblet bag (retain for soup or gravy if desired). mix the water, garlic and salt until salt dissolves. pour into cavity of chicken still in the packaging, standing it on end, working a finger around the outside of the bird in between the skin and the packaging so the brine gets all over the surface. add more water if needed until cavity is full. prop it up in the fridge in a bag or bowl and let it marinate for 3-4 hours. drain the brine out, put the chicken in a roaster (on a rack if you are worried about fat). stuff the celery and onion into the cavity. rub the breast and legs with vegetable or olive oil, then sprinkle with salt, pepper, and paprika. Roast uncovered at 350 for about 30 minutes or until it gets some nice color, then tent foil over the bird, and roast for another 45 or so. Remove foil and broil for 15 minutes to crisp skin. Let rest, then serve.

Mother and Daddy loved this.

Clam Sauce, Linguini

1 huge Costco can of chopped clams
1 cup sauvignon blanc or other dry white wine
1/2 stick butter
olive oil
minced onion
minced parsley
1/2 BULB very thinly sliced garlic
white pepper
salt (if needed)
arrowroot powder
smidgeon thyme
smidgeon oregano
linguini

Saute onions, white pepper, thyme, oregano, and garlic in a wide skillet with the olive oil until translucent. Add butter. Add clam juice from clams. (Rinse drained clams in a fine colander.) Add wine. Simmer until liquid evaporates to at least half of volume or even less. Spoon some of the broth into a coffee cup and mix with arrowroot; add to sauce to thicken. Add clams and parsley and warm through. Serve immediately over linguini, with grated parmesan.

Note: The thyme, oregano, and parsley need to be added very judiciously.

Curry, Thai Style (Red)

2 cans light coconut milk
2 cans regular coconut milk
1 1/2 lbs chicken thigh meat, in chunks
5 carrots, in large disks
2 medium zucchini or similar squash, sliced into disks
4 small potatoes, cubed
2 large onions, diced
1 can of chicken broth
2 tablespoons Mae Ploy red curry paste
4 leaves dried kaffir lime leaves
1 stalk lemongrass, cut into very thin leaves
canola oil

Saute the onions and carrots in a little bit of oil. Add chicken and curry paste and saute a bit longer. Add chx broth and coconut milk; bring to a boil. Turn the heat down to high simmer, add zucch and potatoes, lemongrass and lime leaves. Simmer until potatoes are soft and zucchini has melted into the curry. Serve over jasmine rice.

Note: The lemongrass is optional but the curry paste and the lime leaves unfortunately are not.

Tuna & Red Sauce Over Spaghetti

2 large cans of tuna in water
2 cans of whole tomatoes
1/2 can tomato paste (optional)
4 long shakes of soy sauce
teaspoon oregano
cracked pepper
olive oil
grated parmesan
1 large chopped onion
spaghetti


Pour a thin layer of olive oil in a large skillet and heat over medium high heat. Sautee the onions until just slightly translucent, then add drained tuna, oregano, and cracked pepper. Sautee until tuna changes color and liquid evaporates. Add tomato, turn down to medium-low. Simmer for 15 minutes, then break up tomatoes with wooden spoon. Add soy sauce. Simmer for 15 minutes more, or until sauce starts to thicken. Adding grated parmesan thickens sauce and adds flavor. Season to taste (may need more salt). Serve over spaghetti.

Note: Cheap, nutritious, and easy. Taught to me in college by one of Danny's girlfriends.