CONNECT ME TO THE PAST CHICKEN.

 

How do you connect with your past? 

Perhaps a  song...a photo...a perfume...a movie...

 a chicken?

 

What a strange connection, every time I think of Elsa, my ex mother- in-law, I

relate her to a certain chicken. Now, don't be bad ....I know what you are

thinking...but, it's not my ex-husband!!! It's the other type of chicken the

type that you CAN kill....

But let me dis-connect from certain memories and stick to this story.

Ah, yes... Elsa made a delicious, tangy, orange-lemony, whole roasted chicken in

a pan...and I was craving it for dinner! Did I have the ingredients?

Yes, I did!!! Now I just needed to connect with my

memory, and remember the steps to this recipe...

A whole chicken, oranges, lemons, onions, oregano, chicken bouillon, salt

and pepper.

Then, I looked for a pan where the chicken would fit. The only one that was

right was just too sad looking....No!!! This could not be happening!!! It was

time to say goodbye to my faithful....ugly...pan. GASP!!! Panic mode set in.

That meant running to Wal-Mart and buying one. That also meant a lot

of $$$. I felt faint....but still grabbed my car keys and drove to the store. 

 

Once at Wal-Mart I walked straight to the kitchen-ware area. There I stood.

I searched for the right size with my keen eyes. Once I found the right size...

could I find the right price? No! My blood started boiling, my blood pressure

started rising, my eyes started bulging out my sockets! Somebody help me...

Rachel Ray and Paula Deen want to kill me!!!

 

Gaaaaaaaaaahhhhh!!! This was down right robbery...

connect the alarm!!!

I had to be strong...and grabbed the cheapest 12 Qt pan with one arm

as I clasped my purse to my chest with the other, then headed to the 20

items and less register...where I paid $40.00 for it!!! I thought: If I ever

become famous with my blog I will have my own line of cookware...

"Juana's  Food Connection Cookware...you can dish out great food,

without dishing out your hard earned money at the register...

Remember with Food Connection, you got a friend with the right

connections!!

 

OK, now back to reality...

 

Before I started with dinner I washed the pan. As I dried it I shook my head

and said, "It will never be the same chicken", then sighed...and continued,

"from now on when I prepare this recipe, it will remind me of this

new pan!".

I rubbed the fryer with oregano, salt, and pepper. Then tied the legs with

string. Once the olive oil in my new pan was hot I put the chicken in and let it 

brown. 

After a few minutes it was time to flip it and let it brown on it's belly....

this part always reminded me of a tanning bed...so give it a nice tan.

Once browned I take out "le  poul et" and add a couple of onions thin sliced...

until  caramelized. Yum, it smell sooooooo good! 

Then I add the juice of 4 big, sweet Valencia oranges and 1  large juicy lemon

or 2 if you wish! Add some more oregano to the sauce and 1 tbs of granulated

chicken boullion, a little more salt and pepper....a dash of sugar.

Now it's time for this chick to hit the "hot tub"...

I will put the cover on it and let it in the "steam bath" until  it's tender. turning

it once in a while so all the flavors of  the sauce penetrate it.

Once the chicken is nice and tender I will take it out ...wait a few minutes to

cut it in  pieces and check on the sauce iff the sauce needs a to be reduced I

will turn up the heat and let it simmer a bit more, then the moment I have been 

waiting for....tasting that tangy sauce to see if it needs more salt, etc.

Finally, ready to be served I  plated it, poured the sauce over it and

served it with with "arroz con gandules", a great Puerto Rican rice dish

and plantains...but, it is truly wonderful with mashed potatoes and

any vegetable you prefer!!!

It's been a good 28 years since Elsa taught me how to make this chicken ...

and it's still one of my favorite recipes, even if I had to go and buy a new pan!

I hope you try it, and love it as much as I do...But I have a feeling

that every time you crave it, you will connect to the

past...to the moment you read this story!

Note: My ex husband and I are in good terms. I just wanted to add

some "divorce humor" to this post!!  ;)

 

Comments

[Sally G.]

This is FANTASTIC!! The chicken looks incredible! I am going to make this for my family this weekend.

I love the way you blend humour with cooking with wisdom.

Well done!

[Jillsy Girl]

Man, I'm starving now! I, too, am going to make this over the weekend!

You're a hoot ~ you know that don't you! :-)

[Barbara S.]

Looks and sounds delicious - and easy!! My kind of recipe!! But I think whenever I make it I'm going to think of your ex-mother-in-law!!!

[Amy]

Awesome! Love the connections!

[Juana]

Thanks Amy! Glad you liked it!!

[Juana]

Well, Barbara, it's better than thinking of my ex-husband!! he he he ;)

[Juana]

Thanks Jillsy, can't wait to hear how it turns out...hope you like it! Take pictures!!
lol, I don't think I am a hoot...but my friends do!
The only thing I know is that my family and friends
enjoy reading my recipes, and I like that they like it, everyone has so many problems, if this makes them smile, I feel good...so I keep going!

[Juana]

Thank you Sally! I hope the chicken turns out to be a favorite with your family!! I am happy to know you enjoyed reading it :)

[Bella StyleBook]

Man, I gotta learn to cook! Nah, I'll just pretend thru your blog posts!

Jan @ BellaCasa

[Jillsy Girl]

OMG!! Is this DELICIOUS!! We just had it and we devoured as much as we could and there's still more than enough for another dinner (just 2 of us). Juana ~ Thank you SO MUCH for the recipe. It will be a favorite for years to come!

[Jillsy Girl]

I'm going to go put this on my "Latest & Greatest" page!

[Juana]

Oh, Jillsy, how wonderful that you prepared the chicken and you liked it so much!! Thank you so much for letting me know, it means a lot to me...
Just wait until tomorrow, it's even better!
I guess we have really "connected" with this recipe, lol!!

[Juana]

YAY! I on your "latest and Greatest" again!! How awesome!! :)

[Juana]

Jan, I have seen your recipes...YOU KNOW HOW TO COOK!!! By the way, I have to try that turkey "thing"
soup! Looks delish!