Summary: Deep rich and delicious flavors to make your chicken a family favorite.
Ingredients
2 1/2 to 3 Pounds of Skinned Chicken pieces (I normally use skinless breast pieces, but legs and thighs are just as delicious).
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. freshly ground pepper
5 cloves of garlic (minced)
1 large onion (coarsely chopped)
2 Cups water
1 Can (6 ounces) tomato paste (Italian seasoning paste, if you can find it. If not, plain tomato paste is good).
1 Tbsp Italian Herb Seasoning
1/2 cup grated Parmesan Cheese
2 Tbsp Olive Oil
Instructions
Take a paper towel and pat dry all of the chicken pieces. Place chicken aside.
In a small bowl, mix cinnamon, salt and pepper well.
Rub the cinnamon mixture, with your fingers, into all of the chicken pieces.
Heat Olive Oil in a large nonreactive skillet.
When oil is hot, place the chicken pieces in the skillet to sear (about 4 minutes on each side). If you do not have a skillet large enough, you may need to sear the chicken in two batches. A skillet with 2 or 3″ sides works best.
When chicken has been seared on both sides, remove from skillet and place aside.
Lower the heat to medium-high and add 3 of the minced garlic cloves and the chopped onion.
Saute the onions and garlic, until the onions become soft and golden brown.
Add 1/2 cup of water to the onions and garlic in the pan. Use a spatula or spoon to deglaze the pan, scraping the bottom of the skillet and loosening any particles stuck on the bottom.
When the water has mostly evaporated, add the remaining 1 1/2 cups of water, tomato paste, Italian herb seasoning and remaining minced garlic cloves. Mix well.
Add the chicken back to the skillet. The tomato liquid should cover about 3/4 of the chicken. Cover the pot and simmer over medium-high heat for 30 – 40 minutes until chicken is tender and fully cooked.
Place chicken mixture on a serving plate and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
A popular expression is, ” as American as apple pie.” However, if one wants to become more specific about the African American cultural group then it might be fair to say, “as African American as sweet potato pie.” I have quite a few African American friends who do not like the pie but truthfully most that I know love it. My family has a multi-generational recipe that I am not allowed to give out or punishable by death by my mother. Tough luck getting Southerners of the U.S.A to give up family secrets.
Well, I found this recipe on the site of a fellow Examiner Talli Counsel, Presidential Master Chef. Do not take the title lightly. He actually has consulted for three U.S. Presidents. This pie was served to Bill Clinton while in office. -Crystal Johnson, MCCN Editor
INGREDIENTS
2 medium sweet potatoes about a 1/2 pound)
1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter
3/4 cup sugar (*or to taste)
3/4 cup half & half
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon good quality vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg (*pan toasted)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon dark Jamaican rum
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 unbaked 9-inch good quality pie shell PREPARING THE PIE
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Place the sweet potatoes on a shallow baking pan or pie tin, in the middle of the oven and roast until very tender, about 1 1/4 hours. Cool to room temperature. With a soup spoon, scoop out the sweet potatoes into a bowl and dispose of the skins. Mash the sweet potatoes with a potato masher or fork until smooth. Melt the butter in a small saucepan and stir in the sugar. Add the melted butter to the sweet potatoes with the half and half milk and the eggs, and beat with a whisk until smooth. Whisk in the remaining ingredients (the filling will be very liquid). Pour the filling into a docked (fork holes in the pie crust) pie shell. Depending on your oven, and where you live, the middle rack may be a better alternative to place the pie for baking.
Sure, the classic broadway song Seasons of Love is not your traditional holiday song but the story of Rent takes place during Christmas time and the cast filled with cultural diversity which we love to celebrate at MCCN. However, aside from culture which is down played in the story in a wonderful way, a recurring theme in Rent is the problem of homelessness. The holiday season tends to make it easier to supply food to those in need. Many organizations have can food drives or need help in soup kitchens. Make this a season of love.
Check back here for updates of where you can help in your area.
Take a break from holiday hassles and enjoy lunch or dinner at some of the finest restaurants serving international and ethnic cuisine in Toronto. The following quality establishments are open at various times during the Christmas season.
The Dinner: The story of The Princess and the Frog takes you to New Orleans where beignets, Po’Boys and Jambalaya are local faves.
The Movie: The Princess and the Frog
The Princess and the Frog hit s theaters nationwide on December 11th. It is a long-awaited return to classic animation and Disney’s first African-American animated princess. The story centers around Tiana, a working class woman from New Orleans with hopes of opening her own restaurant. The Disney films drives home the point of having a good work ethic.
Tiana is voiced by Tony award winner Anika Noni Rose, more widely recognized as one of the Dreamgirls from the movie Dreamgirls. Who is the dashing Prince turned frog? Brazilian actor Bruno Campos (Nip/Tuck, Jesse) plays Prince Naveen of Maldonia. The prince consumes the fruits of life without knowing what it is to labor for it until he meets Tiana. Other celebrities voicing characters in the film include Oprah Winfrey and Terrence Howard.
Among the highlights of the film is the music and the characters. There are catchy tunes sprinkled throughout the film. The characters resonate to a point in which you know they will become a common to everyone as Pinocchio or Simba. When a dialogue is written well and acted superbly it amounts to a winning combination.
Also this film is a treat to foodies because it not only showcases New Orleans food;moreover, it drives the point of how preparing food can be a loving act.
Generosity Water recently built a well in Mai Gundi, Ethiopia–a village desperate for clean water. Check out http://GenerosityWater.com for more stories of how communities are being transformed by clean water.
Strikingly good looking DC Native Rick Yune is one of stars of Ninja Assassins. Recently while on the red carpet at the USA Today Hollywood Hero Awards, the actor shared with MCCN about his favorite food. He loves a good slice of pumpkin pie and food from Roscoes Chicken and Waffles is his other indulgence.
