Baked Chicken Recipes

You can never have enough baked chicken recipes in your repertoire. Chicken is a great low-fat source of high quality protein, and easy to prepare. Yesterday I had some family members over for a Sunday lunch. As an avid user of Epicurious.com I was anxious to try a new baked chicken breast recipe that I found there, Roast Chicken Breasts with Garbanzo Beans, Tomatoes, and Paprika.

This recipe was so easy to prepare. It took about 5 minutes to get it into the oven, then 20 minutes total baking time. It was a cinch. I served a nice green salad and basmati rice on the side. Since everyone was going back and forth to the beach, it was a great light lunch that we all enjoyed without a lot of fuss.

The fresh cherry tomatoes are a must. Don't substitute canned tomatoes here. Also, try to find the smoked paprika, if you don't already have it in your pantry. It is the ingredient that makes this dish POP. My source in Miami for smoked paprika is Delicias de Espana in South Miami. They also have an online store. Another good online source for authentic Spanish foods direct from Spain is La Tienda.

Don't be afraid to try new ingredients and foods from other cultures.

Tag: baked chicken recipes

Why Food?

Let's face it - food is one of the most important things in our lives. Food not only nourishes, but also gives us pleasure. I love everything about food. Reading about food, preparing and cooking food, and of course eating it!

I plan to share my love of food with every post. I'll review restaurants when I travel. I'll tell you about what I'm preparing in my own kitchen. I'll give you menu suggestions, and much more including recipes, too.

About a year ago, we had the opportunity to travel to Italy. What a trip for a foodie. Unbelieveable extra virgin olive oil, pasta, wine. It was an incredible food adventure.
I'll tell you more about that trip in future posts, but for now here is a recipe for a simple, yet luxurious appetizer that we enjoyed in Rome. Enjoy Bruschetta with a nice glass of Fontanafredda Briccotondo Barbera 2006, a lovely red wine from the Piedmont region of Italy.

Bruschetta con Pomodoro

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
6 small ripe but firm tomatoes, halved, seeded and finely diced (roma tomatoes work well)
2 cloves garlic, minced
8 fresh basil leaves, chiffonade
Cayenne pepper, to taste
1/4 teaspoon salt
8 (1/2-inch thick) slices Italian country bread
2 cloves garlic, halved
Sea salt

In a bowl, combine the olive oil, tomatoes, minced garlic, basil, cayenne, and salt. Set aside for at least 60 minutes to marinate.

Toast the bread in a 400 degree oven until golden; rub each slice of toast with the halved garlic cloves immediately upon removing it from the oven. Drizzle each slice of bread with additional extra virgin olive oil and a pinch of sea salt.

Top the bread with the tomato mixture, garnish with leaves of fresh basil and serve.

Bon appetit!

Tags: italian, food, recipes, bruschetta, wine