Lauren's Chicken

Momma is asked for recipes all the time, especially by the young people who are starting to really enjoy cooking. The problem is that Momma rarely measures, so to offer a recipe, I must try it while measuring. The things I do for my children and their friends.

Momma Explains: This recipe is for Lauren, my extra daughter. She is eager to try her culinary skills as she has already mastered cake decorating. It is a two pot recipe, one skillet for the chicken and one sauce pan for the brown rice. It is dependent on the cooking time for the rice as the chicken only takes 30 minutes, so plan your prep time according to the time your particular brown rice needs. Pair it with a fruit forward Shiraz such as Marquis Phillips.

Lauren's Chicken: First, choose a brown rice and prepare according to package directions. Add grated orange peel to the rice as it is cooking to give it a citrus edge, this also enhances the Shiraz fruit flavor. So you have to have some wine with dinner. While the rice is cooking, add olive oil to a pan and cook one sweet onion which has been chopped. While the onion cooks, add some sea salt to the onion. When the onion is opaque add some very thin chicken breasts that you have seasoned with salt and pepper, brown chicken on both sides and when brown, lower heat and add five whole garlic cloves. As soon as the garlic starts to cook, add one can of cranberry sauce, one cup of orange marmalade and one teaspoon of lemon juice. Stir them in the pan carefully and continue to simmer. As it cooks the gelatin will break down and you will be able to blend the sauce better. If you like a sweetened sauce , add about 1/4 cup of sugar and mix evenly into sauce. My family likes it sweetened but it is your call. Cook until the chicken is done but it will depend upon the thickness of the chicken breasts. I usually use very thin breasts about 6-8 but then I have HUGE MOMMA PANS to cook in, it only takes about 30 minutes tops to cook the thin breasts. AND THAT IS COOKING AT A SIMMER. Serve the chicken and rice with a nice crunchy salad. Make extra and take it for lunch the next day, it is good the second time around as well.