Slashfood http://www.slashfood.com Slashfood http://www.slashfood.com/media/feedlogo.gif Slashfood http://www.slashfood.com en-us Copyright 2009 Blogsmith, LLC. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Thanksgiving Recipes - Brined Barbecue Turkey Breasthttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/11/09/thanksgiving-recipes-brined-barbecue-turkey-breast/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/11/09/thanksgiving-recipes-brined-barbecue-turkey-breast/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/11/09/thanksgiving-recipes-brined-barbecue-turkey-breast/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Dry turkey is the ultimate dread of every Thanksgiving host. However, brining basics taught us that the simple act of brining not only adds aromatics, but also results in a moist, more tender bird.

Get the recipe to this classic along with many others after the jump.


Continue reading Thanksgiving Recipes - Brined Barbecue Turkey Breast

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]]>thanksgiving recipesturkeywomans daySarah LeTrent2009-11-09T16:45:00+00:00Judge Accepts Jerk Chicken in Lieu of Community Servicehttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/30/judge-accepts-jerk-chicken-in-lieu-of-community-service/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/30/judge-accepts-jerk-chicken-in-lieu-of-community-service/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/30/judge-accepts-jerk-chicken-in-lieu-of-community-service/#commentsFiled under: , ,

uncle joe's jerk chicken

Photo: Zol87/flickr

Community service has gone to the birds. Or, for some critics, at least the Chicago legal system has after a judge told a defendant he could either do 100 hours community service or bring him some jerk chicken.

When Darrius Logan plead guilty to misdemeanor battery and criminal trespass charges in August, he told Associate Judge Robert Livas that he'd already worked 100 unpaid "community service" hours at Uncle Joe's Jerk Chicken, a South Side Chicago Jamaican restaurant chain. The judge told him to come back in two months with proof he'd completed the community service elsewhere or to bring back enough chicken to feed the court room, the Chicago Tribune reports.

"If you walk in with enough chicken to feed everybody, I'll accept these community service hours," Livas said, according to court transcripts from Aug. 4 obtained by the Tribune. "If you don't, I'm not taking any of them."

Continue reading Judge Accepts Jerk Chicken in Lieu of Community Service

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]]>chicagojerk chickenJerkChickenjudgepunishmentuncle joes jerk chickenUncleJoesJerkChickenJennifer Lawinski2009-10-30T17:00:00+00:00Table for One - Simple Saltimboccahttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/29/table-for-one-simple-saltimbocca/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/29/table-for-one-simple-saltimbocca/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/29/table-for-one-simple-saltimbocca/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Chicken Saltimbocca and Roasted Tomatoes

Photo: Sarah LeTrent.

Few of us want to make a complicated lasagna for solo dining -- by day six, you'll never want to see lasagna again! In this series, AOL Food staffer Sarah LeTrent taste-tests simple recipes suitable for a "table for one."

The time-honored Italian dish, saltimbocca, traditionally calls for veal cutlets, but the classic is easier and more practical for singletons to make with commonplace chicken breasts.

Saltimbocca, roughly translated, means to "jump into your mouth" -- and with thin slices of chicken wrapped in savory prosciutto and autumn sage, the translation seems fitting. Paired with roasted tomatoes on the vine, this 10-minute, one-pot meal yearns for a table under the Tuscan sun. In a concrete jungle, fresh sunflowers will have to suffice.

The beauty of this variation is that everything is cooked in the oven, at one temperature, in one pan. After all, when it's just one person doing the cooking, that same person has to do the cleaning too.

Continue reading Table for One - Simple Saltimbocca

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]]>chicken saltimboccaChickenSaltimboccaprosciuttoroasted tomatoesroasted tomatoes on the vineRoastedTomatoesRoastedTomatoesOnTheVinesaltimboccatable for oneTableForOneSarah LeTrent2009-10-29T17:00:00+00:00Tip of the Day - Brining Basicshttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/26/tip-of-the-day-brining-basics/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/26/tip-of-the-day-brining-basics/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/26/tip-of-the-day-brining-basics/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Because poultry has to be cooked through, it has a tendency to dry out. Brining not only adds flavor, but also produces tender, juicy meat.

Continue reading Tip of the Day - Brining Basics

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]]>brinebrininghomemade brineHomemadeBrinepoultrytip of the dayTipOfTheDaySarah LeTrent2009-10-26T09:00:00+00:00KFC Announces Third Grilled Chicken Giveawayhttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/23/kfc-announces-third-grilled-chicken-giveaway/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/23/kfc-announces-third-grilled-chicken-giveaway/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/23/kfc-announces-third-grilled-chicken-giveaway/#commentsFiled under: , ,

kentucky fried chicken's colonel sanders gives away free grilled chicken outside the united nations

Photo: KFC.

Will the Colonel's third grilled chicken giveaway be a charm?

KFC will once again hand out free pieces of its Kentucky Grilled Chicken on Monday, Oct. 26, in a promotion hailed as "UNFry Day."

Customers can stop by KFC locations throughout the day on Monday and receive a free piece of Kentucky Grilled Chicken. No coupon is required.

"Already, more than 60 million Americans have joined 'Grilled Nation' by trying our new Kentucky Grilled Chicken," KFC spokesman Rick Maynard tells Slashfood. "But we're not satisfied with just 60 million, so we're giving away free KGC again."

Continue reading KFC Announces Third Grilled Chicken Giveaway

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]]>free foodFreeFoodkfckfc grilled chickenKfcGrilledChickenkgcunfry dayUnfryDaySarah LeTrent2009-10-23T15:00:00+00:00Grilled Chicken Lawsuit Accuses McDonald's of Serving Cancer-Causing Meathttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/22/grilled-chicken-lawsuit-accuses-mcdonalds-of-serving-cancer-causing-meat/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/22/grilled-chicken-lawsuit-accuses-mcdonalds-of-serving-cancer-causing-meat/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/22/grilled-chicken-lawsuit-accuses-mcdonalds-of-serving-cancer-causing-meat/#commentsFiled under: , ,

mcdonalds grilled chicken

Photo: iirraa/flickr

A new class-action lawsuit filed Wednesday in Connecticut alleges McDonald's, Burger King and Friendly's failed to warn customers that their grilled chicken could cause cancer.

The suit, filed by two Connecticut residents in the Superior Court of the State of Connecticut: Judicial District of Hartford, claims the chains failed to warn consumers that they're serving grilled poultry containing the compound PhIP, which the state of California considers to be a carcinogen. A similar lawsuit filed in California last month against KFC targeted the Colonel's Kentucky Grilled Chicken.

The Cancer Project, the nonprofit that filed the suit on behalf of the residents, says eating PhIP -- even in small amounts -- can increase one's risk of cancer.

"Consumers deserve to know that grilled chicken from McDonald's and other fast-food chains can increase your risk of cancer," Cancer Project President Dr. Neal D. Barnard said in a statement. "Even a grilled-chicken salad increases the risk of developing some cancers, including breast and prostate cancer."

But a McDonald's spokeswoman said customer "safety and well-being" is a "top priority."

"Scientific research shows that PhIP is naturally occurring, and is created when chicken is grilled -- whether at home -- or in a restaurant. It may be present at low concentrations in oven-broiled, pan-fried, and grilled meats, as a result of normal cooking," Cynthia Goody, McDonald's nutrition director, said. "There is no scientific evidence to suggest the small amount of PhIP that can be created as a by-product of cooking methods humans have employed for thousands of years, poses a health risk.

"Like other restaurant companies and food establishments, at McDonald's, we continue to look to the FDA and USDA for their guidance on PhIP," her statement continued. "Beyond that, because this is a pending legal matter, it would be inappropriate to further comment or speculate."

View Poll

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]]>burger kingBurgerKingcancer projectCancerProjectfriendlyskentucky grilled chickenKentuckyGrilledChickenkfclawsuitmcdonaldsphipSlashfood Editor2009-10-22T16:30:00+00:00Bog Isn't Pilau, No Matter How You Spell Ithttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/16/bog-isnt-pilau-no-matter-how-you-spell-it/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/16/bog-isnt-pilau-no-matter-how-you-spell-it/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/16/bog-isnt-pilau-no-matter-how-you-spell-it/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Chicken bog. Photo: Loris Chamber of Commerce.

Chicken bog is a seasoned chicken, rice and sausage dish that's not half as soupy as its name suggests. What chicken bog isn't -- at least according to the organizers behind the 30th annual Loris Bog-Off being held this weekend in Horry County, S.C. -- is pilau.

Samantha Norris, executive assistant to the Chamber of Commerce's board of directors, maintains that bog is distinct from the beloved African-tinged casserole served one county over, also known as pilau, perloo, pilaf and perlau.

"Some people tell me bog is wetter, some people tell me there's more chicken in bog," Norris says.

Food historians don't necessarily agree: In her book "The Carolina Rice Kitchen: The African Connection," Karen Hess posits that bog is really just pilau made on a massive scale. "It is difficult to make very large amounts of a proper pilau, so it ends up being 'boggy,'" she writes.

Continue reading Bog Isn't Pilau, No Matter How You Spell It

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]]>bogbog-offchicken bogChickenBoggeo:34.056099+-78.890602Loris Bog-OffLorisBog-offpilausouth carolinaSouthCarolinathe carolina rice kitchenTheCarolinaRiceKitchenHanna Raskin2009-10-16T15:00:00+00:00Table For One - The Small Savory Tarthttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/09/17/table-for-one-the-tiny-tantalizing-tart/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/09/17/table-for-one-the-tiny-tantalizing-tart/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/09/17/table-for-one-the-tiny-tantalizing-tart/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

tart
Turkey, Blue Cheese and Caramelized Onion Tart. Photo: Sarah LeTrent.
Few of us want to make a complicated lasagna for solo dining -- by day six, you'll never want to see lasagna again! In this series, AOL Food staffer Sarah LeTrent taste-tests simple recipes suitable for a "table for one."

Despite appearances, tarts are quite rudimentary to assemble. Plus they are a simple and elegant way to use up your leftovers. When I found my refrigerator stocked with a lone baked turkey breast, blue cheese and an onion, the endless versatility of tarts struck a cord of culinary inspiration.

Seems like caramelized onions and pungent cheese -- be it blue, Roquefort or gorgonzola -- have an affinity for one another in many recipes. This savory tart is no exception: The sweetness of the onions is absolutely ambrosial with tangy fromage bleu. And while turkey tends to be overlooked in months that don't end in "ember," it is used here as a protein-packed topping.

Recipe after the jump.

Continue reading Table For One - The Small Savory Tart

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]]>blue cheeseBlueCheesecaramelized onionsCaramelizedOnionshomemade tartHomemadeTartsarah letrentSarahLetrentsavory tartSavoryTarttable for oneTableForOnetartturkeySarah LeTrent2009-09-17T15:00:00+00:00Cold Cuts ID Quizhttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/09/01/cold-cuts-id-quiz/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/09/01/cold-cuts-id-quiz/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/09/01/cold-cuts-id-quiz/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Can you identify a cold cut by sight alone, or will your wits be spoiled? Check out these lunch meats and test your sandwich smarts!

Cold Cuts ID Quiz

This soft, air-dried sausage is usually made with a combo of beef and pork.

  • Mortadella
  • Dutch Loaf
  • Lebanon Bologna
  • Cotto Salami

This is a turkey version of which classic cold cut?

  • Corned Beef
  • Pastrami
  • Bastirma
  • Brisket

This traditional cut has been so long beloved, it's the star of an English ballad first performed in the 1730s.

  • Roast Beef
  • Brisket
  • Corned Beef
  • Smoked Meat

This dry cured ham is simply lip smacking when wound around melon slices.

  • Pancetta
  • Capicola
  • Sopressatta
  • Prosciutto

Name these hams from left to right.

  • Pressed Ham / Black Forest Ham
  • Turkey Ham / Chopped Ham
  • Black Forest Ham / Turkey Ham
  • Chopped Ham / Pressed Ham

A small dash of white wine contributes to the flavor of this cured, sometimes multi-meat Italian treat.

  • Genoa Salami
  • Nostrano
  • Capicola
  • Bresaola

We can't pretend this is anything but olive loaf. What ingredient is not found in it?

  • Corn Syrup
  • Mechanically Separated Chicken
  • Red Peppers
  • Cloves

This picture is full of baloney. What varieties are they from top to bottom?

  • Beef / Turkey / Chicken & Pork
  • Soy / Turkey / Beef
  • Chicken & Pork / Beef / Turkey
  • Beef / Soy / Pork

This soft, smoked meat is a variety of liverwurst,.

  • Cervelat
  • Gelbwurst
  • Leberkase
  • Braunschweiger

This pork and beef sausage is cured, rather than cooked.

  • Lebanon Bologna
  • Hard Salami
  • Mortadella
  • Morcilla

This smoked, juniper-flavored proscuitto is also known as what?

  • Speck
  • Bresaola
  • Lardo
  • Presunto

This kosher cut is a grocery store staple.

  • Dutch Loaf
  • Spiced Luncheon Loaf
  • Beef Salami
  • Summer Sausage

Name these ham styles from left to right.

  • Black Forest Ham / Chopped Ham
  • Smithfield Ham / Black Forest Ham
  • Chopped Ham / Smithfield Ham
  • Virginia Ham / Chopped Ham

The name of this American-made, Italian style sweet salami means

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]]>black forest hamBlackForestHambolognaBraunschweigerbresaolabrisketcold cutsColdCutscoppacorned beefCornedBeefhamliverwurstnostranopancettapastramipepperoniprosciuttoroast beefRoastBeefsalamisalamigenoasausagesausagessopressataspeckSlashfood Editor2009-09-01T16:19:00+00:00Champion Chicken - Feast Your Eyeshttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/07/08/champion-chicken-feast-your-eyes/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/07/08/champion-chicken-feast-your-eyes/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/07/08/champion-chicken-feast-your-eyes/#commentsFiled under: ,

grilled chicken
Photo: Kristin, The Kitchen Sink
The combination of grill marks and paprika is a timeless and potent one, up there with martinis and olives or biscuits and gravy. It has the power to evoke all of the five senses, to say nothing of a Pavlovian response. T

his photo of grilled chicken, liberally seasoned with the smoky, peppery spice, was taken by Kristin of The Kitchen Sink. It could cause a slab of Sheetrock to salivate, to say nothing of the unfortunate mortals who happen to stumble upon this photo on an empty stomach. So behold with caution ... and possibly a napkin or two.

[Via The Kitchen Sink]
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]]>chickenfeast your eyesFeastYourEyesgrillingpaprikasmoked paprikaSmokedPaprikaRebecca Flint Marx2009-07-08T10:00:00+00:00Turkey Burgers 101http://www.slashfood.com/2009/06/29/turkey-burgers-101/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/06/29/turkey-burgers-101/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/06/29/turkey-burgers-101/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Turkey burgers on the grill. Photo: The Skinny Chef
Turkey burgers can be a great option for a high-protein, low-fat cookout. But what about their flavor, which often gets a bad rap for being overly dry and bland? My turkey burgers 101 guide will make your next barbecue both healthier and more delicious.

Dark or Light?

Not all ground turkey is created equal. Regular ground turkey -- labeled 93 percent lean -- is a combination of white and dark meat and sometimes contains other parts of the turkey, including skin and organ meat. Look for statements like "98 to 99 percent fat free" or check the label for calorie and fat content to make sure you're getting the lean stuff.

Get Jennifer's no-fail turkey burger tips after the jump.

Continue reading Turkey Burgers 101

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]]>jennifer iserlohJenniferIserlohskinny chefSkinnyChefturkey burgerturkey burgersTurkeyBurgerTurkeyBurgersJennifer Iserloh2009-06-29T13:00:00+00:00Delicious and Healthy - Gena's Turkey Burgershttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/06/05/delicious-and-healthy-genas-turkey-burgers/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/06/05/delicious-and-healthy-genas-turkey-burgers/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/06/05/delicious-and-healthy-genas-turkey-burgers/#commentsFiled under: ,

southwestern turkey burger

Part of a continuing summer series by grilling expert Gena Knox.

Turkey burgers can be a healthy alternative to hamburgers, but they can easily lack flavor. I have enjoyed creating recipes to make what is traditionally a dry, flavorless burger into a delicious meal you will want to serve again and again.

There are usually two options when buying ground turkey. Turkey breast is 99 percent fat free, but has little flavor. Then there is ground turkey that includes some dark meat and skin, but can easily contain just as much fat as ground beef. Most of the time I purchase both and create a mixture of 75 percent breast meat and 25 percent dark meat. This gives the burger nice balance and moisture. Short on time, I use the breast meat, but add a few extra ingredients for flavor and moisture.

My favorite creation just may be my most recent: Italian Turkey Burgers.

Continue reading Delicious and Healthy - Gena's Turkey Burgers

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]]>fire and flavorFireAndFlavorgena knoxGenaKnoxgrillinggrilling tipsGrillingTipsturkeyturkey burgerTurkeyBurgerGena Knox2009-06-05T16:00:00+00:00Are You Too Chicken for Gizzards? http://www.slashfood.com/2009/05/29/are-you-too-chicken-for-gizzards/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/05/29/are-you-too-chicken-for-gizzards/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/05/29/are-you-too-chicken-for-gizzards/#commentsFiled under: ,

chicken
Since they've thoroughly explored every nook and cranny of the pig, it seems reasonable to expect offal-loving chefs to turn their attentions to the chicken.

This theory is most assuredly not shared, however, by the lovely lady who mans the phones at Blue Plate Roadside Cafe, a retro Southern comfort food joint in Sandy Springs, Ga.

"Gizzards?" she blurts when we inquire if they're on the menu. She sounds as though we've chased down an obviously lousy tip: "No, no, no, not gizzards, never."

Many savvy Southern eaters are still saying no to gizzards, a humble food that's retained its stigma -- it is, after all, the tough, lower stomach pouch of the bird -- despite a wonderfully chewy, fatty flavor. But a few brave chefs are quietly sneaking gizzards onto their menus, elevating a poultry part oft dismissed as a poor man's food to a starring role.

Continue reading Are You Too Chicken for Gizzards?

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]]>chickenfeaturedgizzardsrestaurantsHanna Raskin2009-05-29T16:00:00+00:00Juicy Grilled Chicken - Tip of the Dayhttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/05/29/juicy-grilled-chicken-tip-of-the-day/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/05/29/juicy-grilled-chicken-tip-of-the-day/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/05/29/juicy-grilled-chicken-tip-of-the-day/#commentsFiled under: ,

Tired of your grilled chicken turning out dry or rubbery? Try this.

Continue reading Juicy Grilled Chicken - Tip of the Day

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]]>chickengena knoxGenaKnoxgrillingGena Knox2009-05-29T09:00:00+00:00Four Steps to Chicken Perfectionhttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/05/08/four-steps-to-chicken-perfection/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/05/08/four-steps-to-chicken-perfection/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/05/08/four-steps-to-chicken-perfection/#commentsFiled under: ,

sliced chicken breast
Have you ever made chicken that came out dry, stringy or tough? I know I sure have. Chicken is one of the most popular cooking ingredients, but most home cooks aren't sure how to prepare a delicious, moist, yet healthy chicken breast. I'm here to help with my favorite method for cooking juicy, naturally low-fat chicken in four easy steps.

Get Jennifer's four steps for cooking chicken after the jump.

Continue reading Four Steps to Chicken Perfection

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]]>chickenhow to cook chickenHowToCookChickenjennifer iserlohJenniferIserlohskinny chefSkinnyChefJennifer Iserloh2009-05-08T13:00:00+00:00Removing Chicken Tendons - Tip of the Dayhttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/05/05/removing-chicken-tendons-tip-of-the-day/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/05/05/removing-chicken-tendons-tip-of-the-day/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/05/05/removing-chicken-tendons-tip-of-the-day/#commentsFiled under: ,

Are tough tendons getting in the way of wonderful chicken? Read on for how to de-sinew your chicken without massacring the bird.

Continue reading Removing Chicken Tendons - Tip of the Day

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]]>chickenremoving chicken tendonsRemovingChickenTendonstendonsMonika Bartyzel2009-05-05T09:00:00+00:00Flashback to the '70s - Sweet and Sour Chickenhttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/04/23/flashback-to-the-seventies-sweet-and-sour-chicken/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/04/23/flashback-to-the-seventies-sweet-and-sour-chicken/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/04/23/flashback-to-the-seventies-sweet-and-sour-chicken/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

chicken
In the 1970s the handy little ovens we now use to reheat leftovers and frozen dinners experienced a brief golden age, with folks employing them for cooking everything from turkeys to cheesecake. This recipe dates from the glorious reign of microwaves.

Like many of Aunt Evie's recipes, her microwaved sweet-and-sour chicken is easy, convenient and surprisingly flavorful. However, it relies on hard-to-find, annoyingly coarse-textured pickling spice and employs an unnecessary amount of margarine. For the modern incarnation we selected only certain pickling spices and ground them up, resulting in a far more evenly flavored and pleasantly textured dish.

This was an interesting experiment with the tiny oven: Microwaving, which essentially cooks meat from the inside out, didn't really yield chicken that has fully absorbed its sauce (or its savory flavor). Consequently, this recipe yields meat that is tender but bland. With that in mind, stove-top directions are at the end of the recipe. Regardless of which cooking method you use, this is a fun, easy and surprisingly tasty dish. Go, Aunt Evie!

Continue reading Flashback to the '70s - Sweet and Sour Chicken

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]]>beyond rice krispie treatsBeyondRiceKrispieTreatsmicrowaved chickenMicrowavedChickenpickling spicesPicklingSpicessweet and soursweet and sour chickenSweetAndSourSweetAndSourChickenBruce Watson2009-04-23T11:00:00+00:00Sonic Premium Chicken Sandwicheshttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/04/14/sonic-premium-chicken-sandwiches/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/04/14/sonic-premium-chicken-sandwiches/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/04/14/sonic-premium-chicken-sandwiches/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Sonic Neon SignWhen fast food joints decide to expand beyond the burger, the first place they go is typically the chicken sandwich. After all, the kids in the back of the joint can basically do all the same things, just to a different patty. (Why don't the bigwigs just pick fish? Well, you know, the whole tartar sauce issue.)

Sonic Drive-In has recently added two new "premium" chicken sandwiches to its menu: Chicken and chicken bacon ranch. Both come either fried or grilled with an option for a "wheat" bun option (that apparently, per the nutritional details, does not actually contain any whole grain). As far as I can tell the quote-unquote wheat bun and slightly larger size are what make these suckers "premium."

Between the chicken and the bacon ranch chicken, guess which one tastes better? Well, the plain chicken (which I ordered grilled) is just that: Plain. A chicken patty arrives topped with lettuce, tomato and mayo on a less-squishy-than-usual bun. Though it's not that thrilling, at under 500 calories it's one of the less-heinous fast food options out there.

Naturally, the fried version with bacon and ranch dressing is more exciting even if it could use a bit more bacon or another dollop of ranch and you'll have to scurry double-time on the treadmill later. Is it tastier than the other chicken sandwiches on the market? Eh. Sonic falls into the chicken spectrum thusly: Superior to a McChicken, worse than a Carl's Jr. and can't compete at all with chicken-specializing chains like KFC or Popeye's. On my next trip to Sonic I think I'll just stick to burgers and Java Chillers.

Got a fave fast-food chix sandwich that makes the others look like frauds? Let us know in the comments.
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]]>chickendrive-thrufast foodFastFoodpremium chicken sandwichPremiumChickenSandwichsandwichsonicLissa Townsend Rodgers2009-04-14T13:00:00+00:00Three Chicks a Day - The Charlie's Angels of Urban Farming Are Ready for Their Close-Uphttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/04/09/three-chicks-a-day-urban-farming-gets-three-adorable-role-model/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/04/09/three-chicks-a-day-urban-farming-gets-three-adorable-role-model/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/04/09/three-chicks-a-day-urban-farming-gets-three-adorable-role-model/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

chicks

Josh Elliott is obsessed with chicks.

Three in particular -- Pot Pie, Salad Sandwich and Noodle Soup -- have turned his head. A pro freelance shutterbug turned urban chicken farmer, he has devoted a blog to their adventures (and misadventures) called Three Chicks a Day that will break your heart with cuteness.

It all started when a friend introduced Elliott to home-raised eggs -- "definitely better than store-bought" -- four years ago. When he and roommate Chrissy Morgan finally adopted three dewy little critters last week, he decided to snap their portraits daily until they are old enough to move outside in about four weeks. The blog features photos with brief notes about the chicks' modeling preferences: Noodle Soup, for example, is a "strutter."

Elliott is among a growing number of city dwellers from coast to coast building coops in their yards. They are holding social events and even chat groups where forums range from incubating and hatching eggs to lively discussions about predators and pests.

In Portland, Ore., where he lives, three chickens are the legal limit without having to obtain a permit. With the blessing of his landlord, a teacher who found the idea adorable, he began building a coop and enrolled in a weekend-long seminar called Chicken Fest at a local nursery. Classes included Chicken 101, coop-building and chicken health and boy, was it popular: "I went to one class and there must have been 30 people [there]."

Why is Elliott going through all this?

Continue reading Three Chicks a Day - The Charlie's Angels of Urban Farming Are Ready for Their Close-Up

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]]>blogschickenchickseggsportlandspringurban farmingUrbanFarmingPervaiz Shallwani2009-04-09T15:00:00+00:00Entree on the Fly - Chicken Biryanihttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/02/20/entree-on-the-fly-chicken-biryani/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/02/20/entree-on-the-fly-chicken-biryani/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/02/20/entree-on-the-fly-chicken-biryani/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Chicken biryaniI typically use recipes in one of two ways. In the best case scenario, I consult a recipe before I shop so that even if I choose to tweak things a bit, I'm at least starting with all the appropriate raw materials. But then there are those evenings when it's chilly outside or I'm just feeling too lazy to shop, and I need a recipe that makes use of whatever's in the fridge, freezer, and pantry.

Last night was the second scenario. I had a pack of chicken thighs thawing but no plan for them. At first I printed out a recipe for chicken divan, knowing full well that I would have to substitute 2-percent milk for the cream and whole milk. Then I realized that I'd accidentally bought bone-in thighs. The thought of carving up chicken thighs to make a casserole sounded like a major pain. I remembered a recent charmed encounter with lamb biryani takeout, so I looked up some recipes for a chicken version online.

Most had a laundry list of ingredients, but then I found a very simple preparation on Mark Bittman's blog, Bitten. I still didn't have everything on the list: no fresh ginger, no saffron, no basmati. His recipe calls for a whole cut-up chicken; I figured the thighs would substitute nicely.

I added some curry powder in place of the missing spices, and threw in a pinch of fragrant dried spearmint leaves. I think whole cardamom pods are probably pretty integral to biryani (though I think the ten he calls for is a few too many), but then again, saffron and basmati probably are, too. The point is that you can work with the spices, and the kind of rice, and the cuts of chicken you have, and this ambrosial casserole will warm you right up.
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]]>chicken biryaniChickenBiryaniAmy McDaniel2009-02-20T17:00:00+00:00