Easy and economical

Drumsticks and thighs tend to be the cheapest of chicken pieces and this recipe is a good way to cook them. You can sub chicken breasts but I wouldn't use boneless, skinless because they may dry out before the rice cooks through.

This recipe is from a new cookbook by Beatrice Ojakangas called "The Best Casserole Cookbook Ever" from Chronicle Books, which produces some great-looking books. I spent a good part of last night looking through the 500-plus recipes and it's really a keeper. I met Beatrice a few years ago at a Pillsbury Bake-Off in Orlando and she's a lovely woman. Scandinavian roots so of course she lives near Duluth, Minn. This cookbook is a good one for tough times because one-pot meals generally feed a lot of people and can be put together fairly cheaply. Also, you don't necessarily need any side dishes.

For this recipe, I've noted where you can use a less expensive substitution or something else you might have on hand.

Rosemary Chicken and Rice
3 pounds drumsticks and thighs
1 cup long-grain brown or white rice
3 cloves garlic, minced (or 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder)
2 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon dried rosemary (or dried basil, oregano or thyme)
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup fine dry bread crumbs
1/2 cup grated Parmesan (or Romano)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 9- by 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Wash the chicken pieces and pat dry with paper towels.

Spread rice evenly in the bottom of the baking dish. Sprinkle the garlic over the rice and pour the broth over all.

Arrange the chicken pieces on top of the rice. Sprinkle with salt, rosemary (or other herbs) and lemon juice. Brush or spread mayonnaise over the chicken pieces and sprinkle with the bread crumbs.
Bake, uncovered, for 1 to 1 1/4 hours, or until the chicken and rice are tender. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese before serving.

Serves 6.

Source: Adapted from "The Best Casserole Cookbook Ever" by Beatrice Ojakangas (Chronicle Books, $24.95).

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Comments

[hayden]

This is my first visit to your blog,you have a very nice one with a lot of good recipes.