How to Spatchcock a chicken

I have a few recipes to post but I thought I would do a technique post. Spatchcock is really just a fansy word for removing the back bone from a chicken. It is super simple and you can do it with a pair of kitchen sissors.

You will need:
1 whole chicken, cleaned
1 pair of sissors

Turn the chicken breast side down

Find the tail end of the chicken, using the sissors cut the chicken lengths ways following the back bone.

Do the same to the other side

Done

French Onion Soup

I've been informed that my last post was "very personal" I don't think this was intentional. I've had a weird weekend. I've been feeling. I feel confused, about a few things.  I tried to keep my mind off it by cooking, it didn't really work. I tried to make cabbage rolls with beans instead of beef. I haven't tried it yet but I have a feeling that it won't taste good. It just looks off. The one thing that did come out was my french onion soup. It was warm and oniony and cheesy.

You will need

1 1/2 pound onions sliced
3 tablespoon flour
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon oil
1/4 white wine
2 quarts beef stock  (or vegetable stock if you want)

1) Heat the oil and butter in a pot, add the onions and let sweat until golden brown, about 35-40 minutes

2) Add the flour to the onions and stir. Cook for 2-3 minutes.
3) Add the wine and the stock, stir. Bring to a simmer and cook for 30-40 minutes.

4) Pre heat the oven 350 degrees. Slice the baguette, place on a cookie sheet and brown. Ladle the soup into oven proof bowls. Place the baguette on top and add the cheese. Place in the oven and turn on the broiler. Broil until the cheese is bubbling.

Enjoy!!!

Eton Mess

I'm home alone on a Sunday night (well technically Monday morning). Adam has gone out for the night, something called Wrestlemania is tonight and he is watching it at a theatre with a friend. He could of come home after it but decided to spend the night at his friend's. I have no interest in wrestling or any sports for that matter. Well beside boxing but only because a part of me thinks I could be an amazing boxer, I've seen all the Rocky movies after. So here I am alone and sitting on the couch watching Keeping up Appearances. I hate to admit it but I've become very used to Adam's presence. Last summer we spent a lot of time apart, mostly because all of my theatre contracts where out of town. I have however not gone anywhere for more then a day or two since September (and  have become quite bored with that, but that is a different story). There has been a few occasions when he would stay out with a friend or I would go to my mums and we would be a part for the night or a weekend. Today is one of those days. Recently I've been missing him more. It's true that I don't sleep well without him but I think the real reason is because I know we are going to be separated again. I've been preparing myself for whats to come, 6 weeks a part. May 2nd is the day I'm dreading, I'm finding it very difficult to imagine not waking up next to him every morning or bugging him while he is trying to sleep, not to mention cooking for him. I get such pleasure cooking for him, I like to keep him well fed. I like to believe that Adam looks forward to my creations, I think he does.

 On Wednesday I attempted to make a Pavlova, I figured that I had seen it done enough times that I didn't have to read a recipe. Well I was wrong, sort of. With the meringue cooking in the oven and Adam going on about how he doesn't like meringue which is why he hates lemon meringue pie I decided to look up Pavlova on the Internet. Where I was slightly horrified to learn that I should of added vinegar and cornstarch. I had also forgotten to turn the heat down on the oven after I had popped it in. I decided to abandon my Pavlova and just eat the whipping cream and fruits. But then it happened, I remember a dish called Eton Mess. It is whip cream mixed with crumbled meringue and fruit. Now you are more then welcome to use a store bought meringue but if your like me and have at least a dozen frozen egg whites in your freezer and want to get rid of them. I suggest making your own. I also highly suggest making your own whipping cream, all that ready made stuff isn't good for you and doesn't taste nearly as good as the home made stuff.

You will need for 2 dessert loving  people

For the Meringues
6 egg whites
1/2 cup sugar

For the Whipping cream

1 1/4 cup whipping cream
1/4 cup sugar
vanilla

1/2 pound strawberries sliced or fruit of your choice, reserve 2 strawberries-sliced.

1) Pre-heat the oven to 450. Place the egg whites in a bowl or mixer and whip until until soft peaks form. Then add the sugar and whip until firm peaks.
2) Using a dinner place trace out a circle on a sheet of parchment. Place the parchment on a cookie sheet. Using a spatula shape the meringue, using the circle as a pattern.

3) Place in the oven and immediately turn the heat down to 300 and cook for 45 minutes or until crusty on the outside. Let cool
4) Meanwhile add the cream, vanilla and sugar in a bowl or mixer and beat until fluffy. Do not over mix or you will have a sweet butter.
5) Once the meringue is cooled crumble it into the cream, then add the fruit and mix to combine
6) Scoop into serving dishes and garnish with the reserved strawberries.

Enjoy!