10chickenstomaine

Mutiny of the Bounty

Spring is quickly sliding into summer here on the mountain, and the explosion of verdance is both refreshing and frustrating, particularly as we look around our garden. In my youth, the family garden was something of a novelty at best, and a weed-ridden albatross at worst. The early morning rays of March sunlight seemed toContinue reading “Mutiny of the Bounty”

Rustic Guacamole

#RecipeUpTop (details below): 3 Ripe Avocados; 1 large lime; 1 jalapeno pepper; Salt (to taste); Method: Zest and juice the lime into a large mixing bowl. Remove the seeds and membrane from the jalapeno, mince fine, and add to the bowl. Split and pit the avocados, and add to the bowl, season with salt, andContinue reading “Rustic Guacamole”

The Pull of Pork

My first serious food obsession was authentic BBQ. And, for someone who (at the time) could barely open a can or boil water, it was a hell of a place to jump into cooking. In baking, a novice can be guided by precise measurements, controlled temperatures in an oven, and any other number of quantifiableContinue reading “The Pull of Pork”

The Classic

No #RecipeUpTop for this one because, well, it’s a cheeseburger. It’s not that complicated, and it’s not really a recipe. It’s more akin to our discussion about steak; some tips and tricks, some things to avoid, and some personal pet peeves. As I’ve mentioned before, we generally only buy two cuts of beef: whole ribeyeContinue reading “The Classic”

The Rite(s) of Spring

Mainers will tell you they hate the winter. And some of us do. But what we really hate is the spring. The problem isn’t necessarily the weather itself, though the manic teasing of sunny warmth pulled back with a whip-crack of snow flurries does wear thin at times. Nor is the issue the omnipresent mudContinue reading “The Rite(s) of Spring”

Spring Carrot and Ginger Soup

#RecipeUpTop (details below): Four (4) large carrots; One (1) tablespoon minced fresh ginger; One (1) rib of celery; One (1) medium yellow onion; One (1) quart of chicken stock, or water; Salt (to taste); Black pepper (to taste); Sugar (to taste): Method: Sweat the celery and onion, then add the carrots and ginger and coverContinue reading “Spring Carrot and Ginger Soup”

Split Pea Soup

#RecipeUpTop (details below): 1 ham bone or smoked ham hock; 1 bag of dried split peas (16oz); 1 yellow onion; 1 celery rib; 1 large carrot; Water (to cover); Salt (to taste); Pepper (to taste); Method: Dice the mirepoix, and add to a large soup pot with the ham bone and split peas, then coverContinue reading “Split Pea Soup”

Cozy Cinnamon-Raisin Swirl Bread

#RecipeUpTop (details below): 500 grams bread flour; 300 grams water; 50 grams sugar; 50 grams vegetable oil; 50 grams raisins; 1 large egg; 10 grams salt; 5 grams yeast; Extra veg oil, cinnamon, and sugar for sprinkling Method: Combine the ingredients (except the raisins) and mix until sticky. Add the raisins, and turn out ontoContinue reading “Cozy Cinnamon-Raisin Swirl Bread”

Extra-Crispy Buttermilk Chicken Tenders

In a break from tradition (at least for this site), I’m not listing an abbreviated recipe at the top here, for a couple of reasons. First, while this meal is super easy, it is almost entirely dependent on specific technique, and a couple of important details that, if ignored, will lead to disaster. And, well,Continue reading “Extra-Crispy Buttermilk Chicken Tenders”

10 Chickens Pot Pie

#RecipeUpTop (Details below): 2 chicken breasts (boneless, skinless) 2 cups of whole milk (have more on hand) 4 stalks of celery 2 large carrots 1 medium sweet potato (or 1 russet potato) 1/2 of a large yellow onion 1/2 bag of frozen peas 4 tablespoons butter 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour Salt (to taste) Pepper (toContinue reading “10 Chickens Pot Pie”