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A First Ladylike Grilled Chicken Salad With Herb Vinaigrette

Nancy Einhart — Thu, 24 May 2012 05:33:23 PDT

Michelle Obama exudes elegance, so it's no surprise that her recipe for chicken salad with herb vinaigrette is simple and sophisticated too. In honor of the First Lady's first cookbook, American Grown, coming out on May 29, I whipped up this easy and healthy dinner salad.

This salad celebrates Summer greens, herbs, and grilling season, though if you don't have a grill, the chicken is just as delicious if you cook it in a broiler, like I did. The grill-laden marinade and sherry vinaigrette complement each other for a fresh flavor that requires little adornments. To marinate the chicken, just mix up the lemon zest, herbs, and enough olive oil to coat. I only marinated mine for about 20 minutes and that was plenty to create a flavorful, golden browned breast.

I also served the chicken a second night atop a salad with fresh corn and avocado, and it was still a standout. Considering how extraordinary fast and easy this recipe was, I'll definitely be making it again. Get the recipe now.

Feel Like a Spring Chicken - and Feast on One, Too

Lauren Hendrickson — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:51:54 PDT

A whole roast chicken is one the easiest weekend meals to prepare; it's pretty hands-off, requires minimal cleanup, and usually yields plenty of leftovers for the rest of the work week. During the Winter, I keep this recipe pretty simple with potatoes and onions but once Spring has sprung, I love to add carrots, radishes, bell pepper, and even asparagus.
To season the chicken, coat it in a mixture of Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and olive oil. Place the squeezed lemon rinds inside the cavity of the chicken for even more zest. Of course, a whole chicken will take longer to cook than those delicate Spring veggies, so I always start the chicken with baby potatoes and onions. As the chicken roasts, I add the other vegetables depending on their thickness and cook time. Carrots and radishes can take the heat but sliced bell pepper and asparagus should go nearly at the end. Serve your succulent chicken and Spring vegetables with some crusty French bread and white wine for a perfect weekend meal. Feast on your Spring chicken once you get the recipe.

Try the Chicken Recipe That Inspired Hundreds of Engagements

Nancy Einhart — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 08:27:00 PDT

Could a chicken take your relationship to the next level? This legendary recipe for "engagement chicken" has led to hundreds of marriage proposals. Even if you're not looking to get hitched, it makes a perfectly easy and comforting meal. Watch our video to learn its storied wedding history and how to make this versatile recipe.

1 Roasted Chicken, 5 Healthy Recipes

Michele Foley — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 13:19:24 PDT

Besides being delicious on its own, roasted chicken is the meal that keeps on giving. First, start with YumSugar's delectable recipe for roasted engagement chicken (or if you're feeling lazy, buy a rotisserie chicken). After enjoying some of that for tonight's dinner, use the roasted meat to make any (or all) of these healthy recipes that rely on leftover roasted chicken.

Rainy Day Roast Chicken With Sweet Potatoes and Onions

YumSugar — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 16:25:18 PDT

This weekend was nothing but rain and the perfect time for comfort food. Browsing through Tyler Florence's Dinner at My Place, I found myself drooling over a whole roasted chicken recipe. Since the weather was bad, I didn't want to leave the house, thus I improvised his recipe with items I already had on hand. Rather than Meyer lemons and fingerling potatoes, I substituted regular lemons and sweet potatoes. I also had a couple of onions, a shallot, fresh thyme, and rosemary lying around, so I threw those into the mix.

With my adjustments and additions, I was thrilled with the final result: a succulent, flavorful chicken and scrumptiously caramelized sweet potatoes and onions. Prep for this delicious dinner is quick, but cooking an entire chicken does take time, be sure to get started early. To brighten your day with this comforting classic,

Roast Chicken With Sweet Potato and Onions
Adapted from Tyler Florence Dinner at My Place

Ingredients

Roast Chicken
1 5-7 pound organic chicken
1 lemon, quartered
5-7 garlic cloves, cleaned
4 to 5 fresh bay leaves
8 sprigs of fresh thyme
2 sprigs of rosemary
2 sprigs of sage
1 shallot, cleaned
Extra Olive Oil
Kosher salt and ground pepper
Sweet Potatoes
2 pounds sweet potatoes, 2 inch chunks
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 fresh rosemary spring, leaves only
1 to 2 lemons, cut in quarters
2 onions, quartered

Directions

Preheat oven to 350. Rinse chicken with cool water and pat dry with paper towels.
Season cavity with kosher salt and pepper. Stuff cavity with lemon, garlic, bay leaves, shallot, rosemary, and thyme. Rub outside with oil and season with salt pepper.
Wash sweet potatoes and cut into 2-inch chunks. Toss potatoes and onions with oil. Toss with rosemary, thyme, and lemon wedges in a roasting pan. Season with salt and pepper.
Place the chicken on top of the sweet potatoes.
Roast for 1 hour 30 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes or until the juices run clear. (180 Fahrenheit)

Serves 4-6.

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Quick Chicken Dinners For Any Night

Susannah Chen — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 09:08:31 PDT

If there's one protein that should always be in your freezer, make it chicken. It's delicious, healthy, affordable, filling, easy to defrost, and incredibly versatile. From soups to stuffed peppers to sandwiches, there isn't much you can't do with it. Don't have a lot of time to spare for most meals? That's OK: slender chicken tenders can be ready in a flash, and even a whole bird is small enough to roast in under an hour. Join us for some fast and creative ideas with America's most popular meat.

Easy Dinner: Elegant Chicken Paillard With Ponzu Dressing

Susannah Chen — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 09:41:26 PST

Midweek blues have you in a bind? Chef Marlon Alexander shows you the most elegant chicken dinner you'll ever make in under 15 minutes: chicken paillard with a ponzu dressing. Fast, flavor-packed, and on the lighter side, it's the perfect dish to serve any day of the week.

7 Wing Recipes to Make Your Game Day Spread a High-Flying Success

Sara Yoo — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 04:50:58 PST

Just like the halftime show and cheerleaders, wings are considered to be a great component on game day, but who says they can't be the main event? If you're willing to travel beyond the buffalo, the poultry possibilities are boundless, and prepping a wing buffet is easy to boot. Just fry up enough wing parts to feed your crowd, and toss them in a variety of make-ahead sauces to keep palates piqued and appetites sated. Check out our wing wrap-up for inspiration, but don't be afraid to get creative and experiment with your favorite flavors and ingredients!

The Wide World of Wings: Lemon Pepper With Cucumber-Feta Yogurt Sauce

Sara Yoo — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:30:04 PST

We close out our week of worldly wings with a recipe . . . with an accessory. While I love this classic finger food on its own, sometimes a cooling dipping sauce is just what the tailgater ordered to complement a piping hot and/or fiery chicken wing. Think about it: buffalo wings are divine, but when that Frank's RedHot sauce becomes too hot to handle, nothing quenches a mouth inferno quite like some blue cheese dressing.

While this recipe forgoes a spicy wing in favor of a tangy lemon-pepper vinaigrette, it's merely a vehicle for the velvety yogurt dipping sauce. Creamy feta and soothing cucumber serve to heighten the cooling sensation, making it a great addition to a wing buffet side by side with its hotter cousins. Get the recipe.

Buffalo Chicken Pizza With Shaved Celery Salad

Lauren Hendrickson — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 08:30:34 PST

Buffalo chicken is one of my favorite game-time indulgences, and I love to transform its flavors into something new, like a buffalo chicken dip and now a pizza with all of the same flavors. This tasty pie is topped with buffalo chicken, mozzarella, and Gorgonzola cheese, but it doesn't end there: the whole pizza gets topped with a shaved celery and parsley salad.
If you've never shaved your celery, don't worry: it's really easy. Use a vegetable peeler to remove the stringiness, and be sure to hang onto the leaves of the celery, since they are quite tender and add texture to the salad.
Alone, this pizza might be a little heavy but topped with shaved celery salad, it's lighter and even has a bit of a crunch. Score a touchdown with this pizza at your Super Bowl party when you get the recipe!