hello! sorry for the lack of post... i've been sick and in san francisco... we went for a food show.. i met duff goldman... omg it was AMAZING
anyways faithful reader(s?) i actually got a few parchment bags to test out at the show... and it made me realize... i've never made an actual meal wrapped in parchment paper. so here we go... this is my attempt... and may i say... it was delicious. and super easy... and really really cheap.
by the way. if you don't have parchment paper... foil works just as well.
so anyways... chicken en papillote with garlic mashed potatoes
tools needed:
parchment paper (about 20"... or foil. whatever. just don't use wax paper. otherwise you'll have a mess)
meat cutting board (PLEASE be sanitary)
veggie cutting board
tongs
sharp knife
cookie sheet
large pot
a medium size bowl
small, microwavable bowl
a potato masher (or pastry cutter)
ingredients:
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 red bell pepper
1 bunch of asparagus
1 zucchini
2 carrots
1/2 medium onion or 1 small onion
2 sprigs of fresh rosemary
1 lemon, sliced
2-3 cloves of garlic (depending on your taste)
2 potatoes (russet is best)
1 clove of garlic
2 TBSP butter
3/4 c. heavy cream
directions:
PRE HEAT THE OVEN TO 400 DEGREES F. wash potatoes throughly and place in a pot. fill it with enough water to just cover the potatoes. put the pot on the stove, and set to high. Bring the water to a boil. Let the potatoes cook for about 10-15 minutes, or until you can pierce them with a fork without any resistance. meanwhile....
wash and slice your veggies (except for garlic). i cut the bell peppers and onions into strips. make sure you take out the seeds and cut out the white ribs on the inside. that makes the pepper reall bitter. the carrots i cut on the bias (kind of diagonal discs) and the zucchinis into medalions. make sure to trim the woody ends of the asparagus off. stack your veggies in the center of your parchment (or foil)
rinse and trim the chicken breasts. i cut off the little flap of meat, also known as the tenders. WASH YOUR HANDS!!!! WASH YOUR HANDS!!! WASH YOUR HANDS!!! no salmonella!!!
salt and pepper one side of the chicken, then place the chicken on top of the veggies, using your tongs. salt and pepper the other side.
lay 2 slices of lemon on top of the chicken, along with the sprig of rosemary.
crush cloves of garlic, chop coarsely, and sprinkle over the chicken.
wrap the chicken in the parchment paper (or foil) by bringing up the sides, and folding them down in the center, then roll the sides up to seal up the little packet.
repeat for the rest of the chicken and put the packets on the cookie sheet.
Bake the chicken for 35 minutes. Pull them out of the oven once the time is up, and let it cool for at least 15 minutes.
While the chicken is in the oven, take the potatoes out of the water and set them aside for a few minutes. when they're cool enough to touch, pull off the skins and set into a bowl. Cut up a clove of garlic, and put in the small bowl. Add the butter, and put in the microwave for 15-30 seconds, or until butter is melted. pour the butter and garlic over the potatoes, along with the cream.
mash everything together using potato masher or pastry cutter (pictured, since i don't actually own a potato masher. go figure. the one tool every household has...) until smooth
salt and pepper to taste.
open up one of the packets to make sure the chicken is cooked all the way through (no pink) either eat straight from the paper,
or you can put everything on a plate... and enjoy!
