2 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp brown sugar
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1 Tbsp soy sauce
2 cloves garlic, minced
Freshly cracked pepper
6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
4 oz. whole milk mozzarella
2 Roma tomatoes
1/4 bunch fresh parsley
1) Prepare the marinade by stirring together the olive oil, brown sugar, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, minced garlic, and some freshly cracked pepper (about 10-15 cranks of a pepper mill).
2) Place the chicken thighs in a gallon-size zip top bag or a shallow dish and pour the marinade over top. Stir to coat the chicken in the marinade. Marinate the chicken in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to 8 hours, turning occasionally to redistribute the marinade.
3) When ready to cook the chicken, heat a large skillet over medium flame. When the skillet is hot, carefully take the chicken thighs out of the marinade and place them in the hot skillet. Cook the chicken thighs until cooked through and browned on each side (about 5 minutes each side). While the chicken is cooking, slice the mozzarella into six pieces, slice the tomatoes (at least 12 slices), and roughly chop the parsley.
4) Once the chicken is cooked through, remove it to a clean plate. Pour the remaining marinade into the skillet and let it boil over medium heat, stirring often, until it has reduced to a thick and rich glaze.
5) Turn the heat under the skillet down to medium-low, return the chicken to the skillet, and spoon some of the glaze over each piece. Place a slice of mozzarella on top of each piece of chicken, followed by two slices of tomato. Place a lid on the skillet and let it heat through until the mozzarella is melted. Top the chicken with the chopped fresh parsley, then serve.
6 - 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
8 tablespoons butter, melted
2 tablespoons minced chives
1/4-1/2 cup diced celery
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
4 cups cubed or shredded cooked chicken
2 tubes (8 ounces each) refrigerated crescent rolls
1 cup crushed seasoned stuffing or Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
Sauce:
Heat 1 can cream of chicken soup with 1/4 to 3/4 cup milk to thin to taste.
1. Preheat oven to 350°. Beat cream cheese, chives, salt and pepper until blended. (Sometimes we also add 1/4 - 1/2 cup diced celery. Stir in chicken.
2. Unroll crescent roll dough and separate into eight rectangles; press perforations together. Then cut each rectangle in half to make 16 squares. Spoon about 1/4 cup chicken mixture in the center of each square. Bring edges up to the center and pinch to seal. Dip in melted butter, then in crushed stuffing, gently pressing to coat.
3. Transfer to ungreased baking sheets. Bake until golden brown, 20-25 minutes.
Freeze option: Freeze unbaked bundles on baking sheets until firm; transfer to a freezer container. May be frozen up to 2 months. To use, thaw in refrigerator. Bake as directed, increasing time as necessary to heat through.
BRINE:
8 cups (2 quarts) water
1 small can frozen apple juice
1 tsp rosemary
1tsp thyme
cup white sugar
cup brown sugar
1 cup salt
(Depending on size of turkey, may need to prepare 3 to 4 batches of brine).
1. Soak turkey in brine at least 12 hours. Remove from brine and very lightly rinse outside of turkey.
2. Place turkey in smoker and smoke with apple chips for 1 to two hours (two full pans if you are using a Luhr Jensen smoker).
3. Remove from smoker and place (upside down so juices flow into white meat while baking) in covered baking pan. Smoking will dry out the turkey, so you will need to pour 1and ½ cups of water into baking pan.
4. Stuff with extra moist (i.e. extra butter) corn bread stuffing.
5. Bake turkey at 325 degrees (usually about 1 hour per three pounds of bird). Baste with honey during last half hour of baking.
6. Remove turkey from oven. Bird will be ugly, but delicious. You will need to post an armed guard beside turkey (tempting smell will draw attention of family, guests and possible strangers) if you intend to actually serve the turkey at the dinner table.
7. Any leftover meat is very tasty with dinner rolls and butter.
© John M. Walker 1981
Copyright © 2021 Walker Family Recipe Book - All Rights Reserved.