Much Ado About Chicken

It's pretty funny that I get asked all of the time about chicken recipes (especially by my friend Tricia), when we don't really eat chicken that often. To be honest, we very rarely eat chicken. BUT! I do eat turkey alllll the time. I get the majority of my ideas from articles discussing different ways to eat chicken and then adapt to suit my turkey preference.

So far, this is the best site I have found for chicken/turkey recipes:

25 Most Popular Chicken Recipes (MyRecipes.com)
*Love love love the Chicken Scallopini with Morels and Spring Vegetables.

The best part is that a million other people have already home-kitchen tested the recipes and made notes so I don't have to feed my poor husband "salty dried up chicken" as he likes to say.

Kitchen Arsenal - The Short List

I don't have much use in the kitchen for a garlic press or an egg poacher. I love Martha Stewart don't get me wrong, however spending $23 on a cookie cutter she reccomended that now serves as a paperweight is not a "good thing". If something only has one purpose, I had better use it every day. Toilet paper for example...totally makes sense.

I know the feeling well, you're innocently watching TV when a guy with an accent tells you that slap chopping is the only way to an exciting life. It's hard to resist. Long ago I made a commitment not to buy into any kitchen tool that isn't multipurpose. I recommend these 5 tools, simply based on the fact that I use them each week without fail.

1. Chef's Knife & Sharpener - I use mine every day. A sharp, high quality knife is an investment and a must have. A good knife will last you for years and years. You'll also need a knife sharpener. A dull knife is dangerous. I'm sure many a person has lost a finger hacking at meat with a dull knife.

2. Meat Thermometer - I get asked all the time what the secret is to a moist turkey or pork loin. The answer is pretty simple...temperature! I've gone through 4 meat thermometers in the past couple of years. I now have a digital and analog version just in case.

3. Microplane - Not just for zesting anymore! Sure you can use it for citrus, but I use it for garlic, ginger, nutmeg, lemongrass and Parmesan among other things. Here is what a microplane looks like:

4. Stand Mixer - I really don't like doing dishes so I only use my mixer for large batches but it makes easy work of almost anything.

5. Pepper Grinder - Whoever says that pre-ground pepper tastes the same is a damn liar. Period.

Happy Shopping.

-Colleen