Chicken and Roasted Red Pepper Quesadillas

Ok, quesadillas are a no brainer. Pretty much one of the easiest and most delicious things you can make. Quite versatile, throw anything in there and add cheese... voila, quesadilla. I really like this version because the chicken tastes really delicious in the mix with all the other ingredients. It's a simple dinner, but it's also a quick and filling one!

On a side note, Top Chef Masters starts on Bravo tonight so be sure to watch it!

Ingredients:
Adapted from the Rocco Dispirito cookbook "Now Eat This!"

6 8-inch tortillas
2 cups monterrey jack cheese, shredded
1/2 cup cotija cheese, grated
1 large chicken breast
1 red bell pepper
Fresh salsa
small handful cilantro, chopped
salt and pepper
non-stick cooking spray
sour cream (optional)
Hot or mild taco sauce (optional)

Preheat your oven to 400 F. Sprinkle chicken breast with salt and pepper and place in glass baking dish. Bake in over for about 20-30 minutes, turning once, until chicken is cooked through.

Allow chicken to cool, then shred or cut into small pieces.

While the chicken is cooling, set your oven broiler to high and place red pepper on closest rack to broiler (without touching the actual broiler, of course). Char the pepper on all sides, about 5-10 minutes. Let cool in brown paper bag (this will let the pepper steam and allow for easier peeling of the charred skin). Peel pepper and evenly dice into small 1/2 inch pieces.

Heat a large skillet (about the size of the tortilla rounds) under medium high heat and spray with non-stick cooking spray. Place 1 tortilla on skillet, add a small handful of chicken, some red pepper strips, a little bit (or a lotta bit) or both cheeses, a couple tablespoons of salsa, a pinch of chopped cilantro, and salt and pepper. Then top with another tortilla and cook until bottom is golden, about 4-5 minutes. Carefully flip and cook until remaining side is golden brown and cheese is melted, about 4-5 more minutes.

Repeat with remaining tortillas to make 2 more additional quesadillas.

Cut the rounds into quarters, like a pizza, and serve with sour cream and taco sauce, if desired.

See... easy. And the reward is a delicious cheesy quesadilla that's full of flavor! Enjoy!

Roasted Chicken w/ Fingerling Potatoes & Garlic-Parsley Jus

I'm disappointed in myself. I burnt the broccoli. It was supposed to be broccoli and potatoes, but the potatoes were the only vegetable to survive the high heat of the oven. And even the potatoes I thought were a tad overdone, but Andy said the slight crunchy-ness of the potatoes went well with the juicy soft chicken. So I guess not all is lost, because this chicken was off the chain! And on a side note, for all you football fans, welcome back Donovan McNabb!

Ingredients:
Recipe adapted from Bon Appetit October 2009 issue

4-4 & 1/2 lb whole chicken, heart and gizzards reserved
kosher salt
few parsley sprigs
1 lemon, halved
6 garlic cloves, peeled
2 teaspoons plus 1/4 cup olive oil
1 lb gold fingerling potatoes, cut into rounds
1 lb broccolini (just be careful, they cook fast)
1 cup chicken broth
1/4 cup beef stock (I used this on accident, but turned out pretty tasty)
1/4 cup white wine (I used a chardonnay)
1/3 cup parsley, chopped

You want to start this a day ahead so make sure you plan for it. Sprinkle the chicken all over with salt. Then sit chicken in a roasting rack and pan, breast side up, in the fridge and leave it uncovered overnight.

Next day when you're ready to cook, place the parsley springs and 1/2 of the lemon inside the cavity of the chicken. Tie the legs together to close it up. Place the heart and gizzards underneath the rack, along with the garlic. Drizzle 2 teaspoons of oil on the chicken. I rubbed mine in also to get the bird all lubed up, but I don't think it's required. Let the chicken sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes.

Make sure 1 oven rack is in the bottom third and 1 rack is in the center of the oven. Preheat your oven to 400 degress.

Place potatoes in large bowl and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add 1/4 cup oil and toss. Spread potatoes out on baking sheet in an even layer. Set aside.


Roast the chicken on the center rack for about 25 minutes. Then add 1 cup chicken stock to roasting pan. Place potatoes on bottom rack under chicken. You can add more stock if the pan gets dry. This is where I accidentally added 1/4 cup of beef stock, but it turned out pretty good, so I kept it in there. Roast for about 45-55 minutes longer. You might want to watch the potatoes, depending on their size, they might be done after about 30 minutes or so. Unless you like them a little crispy on the edges, then you can leave them in for the 45 minutes, but I'd suggest just watching them closely.

Let the chicken rest for 15 minutes after coming out of the oven.

Season potatoes with salt and pepper, if needed. Tent with foil to keep them warm.

Tilt the chicken so the juices from the cavity spill out into the roasting pan. Throw out the heart and the gizzards. Take chicken and rack and let sit on cutting board, or flat surface. Then strain out the juices from the roasting pan into a medium saucepan. This might be a two-man job, because it's tricky to the hot pan tilted into the strainer, but if you can one-man it, then more power to ya. Press on the solids to let the roasted garlic press through the strainer and into the liquid.

On medium-high to high heat, heat liquid for about 5 minutes to reduce just a little bit and add wine. Squeeze juice from other lemon half into mixture and stir in chopped parsley. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Carve the chicken and serve alongside potatoes. Spoon jus over chicken and eat!

The chicken was succulent and juicy. I'm a big fan of chicken and this was a keeper. Long process time, but it was well worth the end result. Enjoy!