Waste not Want not Wednesday 4/25/12

Normally on Wednesday's I try and cook up something that would be wasted if I didn't.  You know that last apple or the chicken you forgot to freeze when you bought it Sunday.  This Wednesday however was a little different.  We came back from vacation on Sunday and still had yet to have a home cooked dinner.  We're not complaining though we have just been out busy celebrating because we just got engaged. 

I thought what would be a great dinner?  I knew it had to be chicken because we were eating rich foods like a king and queen while away.  But I have a thing against boring chicken.   So I thought spicy cornmeal crusted chicken.  Then I thought, tenders done on the stove top so I could use the oven for popovers.  They are my fiancees (first time typing that in a blog) favorite.  The way to a mans heart is through his stomach, right?  Last my dear friend gave me fiddle heads.  The best vegetable in the spring hands down!  If you have not tried them because you are scared - buck up, its worth it.  I know I sound a little crass but seriously you are missing out. 

An interesting tid bit about me is that unless I am baking I do NOT follow a recipe.  Now don't panic I will help you out with the recipes.  The thing about cooking is that no one would know if you used 1/2tsp of 3/4tsp in your recipe.  Only you will know.  So just use your judgement on things like that.  Plus - its a double duty tip, less measuring = less dishes.

Spicy Cornmeal crusted chicken is a cinch!  Use your basic 3 part dredging flour, egg and in this case cornmeal mixed with cayenne pepper, salt and black pepper.  Pat the chicken dry and then dredge in the order above.  Fry in a pan (flipping once) on the stove using equal parts of olive and canola oil.  You could use all canola if you wish I prefer the flavor of the 50/50. For the sauce I used equal parts of grainy mustard and local honey. 

Fiddle heads - they are an amazing little gem of a vegetable.  I simply cut off the end rinse and saute them in garlic and butter.  The longer you saute them the more they will get crispy.  The crispier the better!

Popovers - even easier.  They truly are a set it and forget it item.  Never, EVER open the oven once you put them in there.  She uses a muffin tin and you can too.  I use a popover pan because I have a passion obsession with kitchen gadgets.    I am a huge fan of Melissa D'Arabian from the Food Network, I like self made chefs! Link to the recipe:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/melissa-darabian/fool-proof-popovers-recipe/index.html
Enjoy!

Melissa