If I really like something, I don't just enjoy it, I consume it with the fervor of a Hare Krishna working a pair of finger cymbals. When I saw "Flashdance" for the first time, my MIND WAS BLOWN by this Masterpiece of Drama & Dance. I called my mom to ask if she could pick me up form the movie theater 4 hours later than planned, just so I could see it again and again. Then there's improv. It wasn't long after my first improv comedy class when I found myself involved with 4 troupes at one time, performing and rehearsing 3-4 shows a week. And I already mentioned my Farmers Market addiction a few entries prior.
Usually my enthusiasms subside to a manageable level. I stopped trying to turn on guys by removing my bra without taking off my shirt. My improv troupes experienced VH-1 "Beyond The Music"-type downfalls so now I'm only in one. As for the Farmers Market? Get off my back.
Even if I don't calm down, well, as long as no one gets hurt. So when I picked up a copy of Cooking for Mr. Latte and fell truly-madly-deeply in love with Amanda Hesser after only one chapter, I wasn't too concerned. Especially since I copped my entire dinner party menu from the first fifty or so pages. And especially when she made it OK to serve boneless chicken breasts for dinner guests.
Until Amanda Hesser, I thought chicken breasts where NOT for company. Company gets educated cows slaughtered without violence, served in a delicate truffle sauce. Or 5,000 calorie pastas smothered in a heart attack. Not bland, nothin' special, diet-food chicken breasts.
But Ms. Hesser took me by the hand and led me out of this limited culinary thinking. And she knew just how to work me, with a story of romance. I know. I'm such a girl. It also helped that she has a palate not too snotty to reject a sauce made with mayonnaise.
It's ideal for company. I timed it so it went into the oven right when Christina had her drink, giving us ample time to chat while it cooked and cooled a bit. It seemed too easy. Blend a few ingredients together and pour them over chicken breasts. Roast it in a hot oven for 20 minutes and it's done.
But not overdone. This chicken was cooked perfectly, so tender and juicy. The sauce had a hint of sweet but wasn't cloying, which I despise. The curry peeked through but didn't dominate. In fact, all of the flavors played so well together that I gave them a gold star for the night, noting that this good behavior will be reflected in their future report cards. I served it with cous cous, but I'm confident you can successfully serve this with rice, pasta, or, YUM-parsley specked, butter-coated egg noodles.
Next time I may try a spicy mango chutney instead of a regular one. The kick would be nice. And I may try to lighten it up with a little less mayo and sour cream. But I'm going to have to wait for my Amanda fever to break before going against her instructions. Until then I'm going to enjoy the ride. Perhaps I'll even ride by Amanda Hesser's apartment? Hmmm.
Chicken Roasted with Sour Cream, Lemon Juice and Mango Chutney
adapted from Cooking With Mr. Latte by Amanda Hesser (W. W. Norton & Company; Reprint edition May 2004)
Generously serves 4.
8 chicken breast halves
1 cup of mayonnaise
1 cup of sour cream
4 TBL of mango chutney
2 lemons, juiced
Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Lay chicken breasts flat in a glass baking dish. Don't overlap. Whisk together the mayo and sour cream. Add the chutney and curry powder and blend. Add the lemon juice a little at a time, tasting to see if it's tangy enough. Pour sauce over the chicken breasts. Roast in the oven for 20 minutes. Take out and let sit for about 10 minutes. Grind some pepper over top before serving.
6 comments:
Suggestion...you might want to try a quick sear before putting this in the oven...might give you some interesting texture :)
Good suggestion. Thanks!
That sounds really good. I've been meaning to add this book to my wishlist and reading this is a good reminder.
Have you ever tried Amanda Hesser's lemon chicken? Another excellent chicken dish that I think is company-worthy.
Oh my, oh my. That Lemon Chicken looks absolutely delish. I may have to try this immediately. Thanks, Julie.
Doesn't "Flashdance" make Pittsburgh look great? But FYI, we have absolutely no bars such as the one she dances in in the movie!
It does! It's funny...as a young, naive teen, the bar where they danced made sense to me. Wrong-side-of-the-tracks gals doing sexy jigs for steelworkers. Then as I got older I thought, "Hey! Wait a minute! They keep their clothes on! No steelworker would go to a bar to watch that!" I guess when you're 14, blue collar guys watching performance art makes sense.
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