FLASH!!! Chicken Crosses Road, and a Nation - 4 Step Chicken Coast to Coast

This is a post about 1 little jet set chicken... We will call him George... Just because. Anyway, George was in Hollywood doing a guest spot for Melissa of "The Next Food Network Star" dressed in his best Rustic Lemon & Onion attire, while Melissa explained, in plain English, the basics of Chicken cookery in 4 easy steps.... Way to go thesaurus!!! ;)

I use slightly different terms (See Italics), but the idea is basically the same...

1. Dredge and Saute - Browning
2. Add Aromatics - A Mirepoix, Sofrito, or Sofritto - Depending on Cuisines
3. Add Liquid - Deglazing
4. Finish Sauce - Via Enrichment, Reduction or Both (but not necessarily in that order)

She assured everyone that the recipe was infinitely modifiable (is that a word, it sounds funny?) So, a group of my "beeps" (BakeSpace Peeps) decided to take her chicken recipe and do the modifications, with a little help from George, and see what we all came up with... Thus was born the Coast to Coast 4 Step Chicken... BOO YAH!!

George paid me a visit and assisted me greatly with this recipe, seems his true talents were wasted on Cartoon Network's Cow and Chicken. ;)
I seem to be in a rich food phase again, which is a little out of sync with the season, but I guess it can't be helped...

So I present here, my interpretation of Melissa's 4 step process for chicken...

Chicken Stroganov

1 1/4 lb Boneless Chicken breast or Thighs, cut in pieces
1 tsp Kosher Salt
1/4 tsp White Pepper
1/4 cup AP Flour
4 TB Butter; Divided
1/2 cup Leeks, Chopped
1 Garlic Clove, Minced
1 cup Cremini or White button Mushrooms, Sliced
1/2 cup Pinot Grigio
1/2 cup Chicken Stock
3/4 tsp Tarragon
1/4 tsp Nutmeg
1/2 cup Sour Cream or Yogurt or Crème Fraîche, at room temperature
Egg Noodles, Cooked
Optional - Paprika or Tarragon for serving

Cut the chicken into even chunks

Season the flour with Salt and pepper,

then lightly coat the chicken with the flour;

reserve remaining seasoned flour for thickening the sauce later.

Heat 2 TB butter in skillet;

add chicken and brown on all sides. (Dredge and Sauté)

Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
Melt the remaining butter and add Leeks, saute for 1 minute before adding the Garlic and Mushrooms; cook until almost tender. (Cook Aromatics)

Stir in reserved flour and toss to coat vegetables, continue to cook until a light nutty aroma signals that the flour is browned and not still “raw”, before adding Pinot Grigio and Chicken Stock, cooking until slightly thickened. (Add Liquid)

Return chicken pieces, cover and simmer until tender, about 12 minutes.

Add Sour Cream, Tarragon and Nutmeg to the skillet; heat but do not boil. (Finish Sauce)

Spoon over drained Egg noodles and serve.

Sprinkle with Paprika or more Tarragon if desired for a little color.

I also made 5 Minutes Individual Au Gratin Potatoes...
With a modified recipe of Melissa's as well. I was lucky enough to stumble across little individual cast iron au gratin pans a couple years ago, so instead of using a muffin tin, I used them. All I did was replace the Swiss cheese she used with Gorgonzola, and the Spring Onions with leeks.
Then, because I like crust (which is what "au Gratin" means) I sprinkled the top with Panko and a couple dots of butter.

George was sad to leave, but my friend Danielle was in need of his services back in the LA area. So from San Diego to Burbank he traveled where Danielle at "Cooking for my Piece of Mind" has created this 4 step chicken dish...

Dani's 4 Step Chicken and Individual Potato Gratins

Hopping a plane at LAX (cause everyone knows that chickens can't fly) George traveled to Pennsylvania where Spryte at "Spryte's Place" gave him a respite from cooking and fed him some delicious 5 Minute Individual Au Gratin Potatoes.... Again, using Melissa's Recipe...

Spryte's Individual Potato Gratins

And Finally, George made it to the eastern seaboard, where in New Jersey, Michele at "My Italian Grandmother" interpreted the dish in this way......

Michele's 4-Step-Chicken and Individual Potatoes

And so ends the journey of our, now, travel weary chicken. What will YOU do with these 4 easy steps?

Mangia!!
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