Grateful Grits

Having indulged in comparable delights at various eateries, the desire to recreate these culinary wonders in my own kitchen has been a persistent muse. The journey of perfecting this recipe has been a delightful odyssey spanning several months. There were moments of trial and error, a dash of experimentation, and a pinch of creativity. Yet, until tonight, the symphony of flavors never quite hit the perfect note.

In my humble kitchen, a labor of love unfolded, each attempt refining the dance of ingredients to reach a crescendo of culinary bliss. And now, as I unveil this creation, I believe I’ve finally struck the right chord, a gastronomic masterpiece worth sharing with you.

But, my fellow epicurean, this is not a monologue; it’s an invitation to a culinary dialogue. I implore you to embark on this gastronomic adventure with me and provide your discerning palate’s verdict. For in the realm of cooking, there’s always room for enhancement, an ever-expanding canvas for culinary creativity.

Picture this: succulent chicken so tender it surrenders to the mere suggestion of a fork’s touch. The sauce, a velvety elixir, gracefully gliding over the taste buds, transforming each bite into a harmonious symphony of flavors. And fear not, for this ambrosial concoction complements any addition you dare introduce.

Alright, let’s dive into the symphony of flavors, starting with our chicken overture. Grab two plump chicken breasts and wield your culinary prowess by slicing them horizontally, creating succulent strips reminiscent of the coveted “chicken tenders.” Now, let’s bestow upon them a royal treatment of seasoning – a dash of salt, a sprinkle of pepper, and a fragrant whisper of thyme to elevate the taste.

Enter the stage, the mighty cast iron – our culinary maestro. Heat it up to a medium dance, and for the oil, let your instincts guide you. Personally, I lean towards the lush embrace of avocado oil, but feel free to follow your culinary intuition on this flavorful journey.

Once the oil is humming with warmth, let the chicken take center stage in the cast iron waltz. Cook each side until it dons a regal golden brown robe, a visual symphony that transcends the confines of a fixed time. I refrain from dictating precise minutes because, let’s face it, every stove has its own rhythm and dance. Let the sizzling visuals be your culinary compass, guiding you to the realm of perfection.

So, with seasoned chicken and a well-heated cast iron, let the alchemy of flavors commence, allowing your senses to choreograph this culinary masterpiece. The kitchen is your stage, and the pan, your partner in this gastronomic ballet. Let’s waltz into the world of golden-brown perfection!

As the golden finale unfolds, tender and succulent, escort the chicken from the limelight. Set it aside, giving it a moment to bask in the glory of its golden brown triumph. The stage is cleared, the audience (your taste buds) awaits – your culinary masterpiece is ready to be unveiled.

Now, let’s transition seamlessly in the same cast iron theater, where our culinary symphony continues to crescendo. Cue the entrance of the humble yet transformative onion – no need for meticulous dicing; we’re aiming for a rustic elegance, a gentle chunkiness that adds character. Toss these onion gems into the heated pan, allowing them to sauté until they achieve a golden caramelization, infusing the air with their sweet aroma.

But wait, the aromatic ballad doesn’t end there; let’s introduce the maestro of the savory, the garlic. Sprinkle these garlic confetti over the onions and let them waltz together for a minute or two. Caution is the key; garlic, much like a prima donna, doesn’t require an extended performance, as too much heat could turn its delicate melody into a burnt note.

Now, here comes the crescendo – pour in the chicken broth, add a swirl of cream, and crown it all with a generous pat of butter. As these ingredients join the culinary ensemble, seize the moment to scrape off the flavorful bits from the bottom and sides of the cast iron. These savory remnants are the unsung heroes, brimming with intense flavors, and they deserve their moment in the spotlight.

Let this symphony of elements simmer on the stovetop, allowing the magic to unfold as the sauce gracefully reduces by half. Picture it as a culinary sonnet, each moment on the stove akin to a carefully crafted stanza, bringing us closer to the crescendo of perfection. As the sauce thickens, the flavors intensify, and the cast iron becomes a cauldron of culinary alchemy. Patience, my culinary companion, for the reward will be a symphony of flavors that dance on your palate in perfect harmony.

As the symphony of flavors simmers and melds in the cast iron, let’s shift our culinary spotlight to the verdant performers of this gastronomic ballet – the green beans. In the culinary amphitheater of a large saucepan, pour in water and sprinkle a tablespoon of salt, setting the stage for the bubbling spectacle. Crank up the heat until the water pirouettes into a rolling boil, a prelude to the aquatic ballet about to unfold.

With the water dancing in anticipation, gracefully introduce the green beans into the bubbling aquatic stage. Give them a gentle stir, ensuring each bean becomes a willing participant in this culinary choreography. Let the verdant dancers twirl and sway in the hot water for approximately six minutes, their vibrant hues intensifying with each passing second.

As the beans pirouette in the bubbling cauldron, prepare a backstage sanctuary – a mixing bowl filled with ice water stands ready, and a colander takes its place in the sink. The ice water, a refreshing haven, anticipates the beans’ graceful exit from the steamy limelight.

At the stroke of six minutes, escort the green beans to the colander, their time in the spotlight concluded. Now, with a flourish, allow them to take a well-deserved plunge into the ice water – a moment of culinary serenity. This blanching technique, a culinary spa treatment, ensures the beans are partially cooked, retaining their crisp vibrancy without succumbing to a soggy fate.

Think of it as an express spa day for your green beans, where the ice water serves as the ultimate cooldown session, preserving their verdant beauty. As the beans luxuriate in their post-blanching refreshment, the stage is set for their grand entrance into the culinary composition – a perfect balance of crispness and tenderness awaits.

Now, with the green beans basking in their well-deserved repose within the drained colander, the culinary spotlight gracefully pivots to the next act – the sautéed mushrooms. In a medium saucepan, let’s conjure culinary magic by melting two tablespoons of butter. As the butter weaves its golden spell, introduce the mushrooms to the enchanted dance floor, where they shall sauté until they graciously release their liquid essence and metamorphose into a delightful golden hue.

Ease the tempo of the cast iron symphony by dialing down the heat, signaling a pause before the grand finale. Now, let’s introduce a zesty crescendo with a splash of lemon juice and a sprinkle of fresh thyme, infusing the ensemble with a vibrant melody. The star of our show, the chicken, takes center stage, pirouetting gracefully into the flavorful embrace of the sauce. Ensure every nook and cranny is bathed in this savory elixir.

But hold on, the supporting actors are ready to make their entrance – the sautéed mushrooms and the blanched green beans join the culinary ensemble. A deft toss, a harmonious mingling, and voilà, the cast iron becomes a canvas painted with a medley of flavors. Now, it’s time for the grand finale as our culinary masterpiece takes a transformative journey into the preheated oven for about ten minutes.

As the kitchen fills with the tantalizing aroma of this culinary performance, a moment of anticipation lingers. Retrieve the ensemble from the oven, and like any maestro after a symphony, allow it to set for about five minutes – a brief interlude for the flavors to harmonize and reach their full potential.

When the time is ripe, summon the ensemble to the table, each element contributing its unique note to the culinary symphony. As the curtain rises, present this gastronomic masterpiece with a side of rice, allowing the grains to soak in the savory crescendo. Your culinary masterpiece is now ready to take a well-deserved bow, leaving taste buds in awe and palates serenaded by a composition of flavors.

Chicken with Lemon Garlic Cream Sauce

Ingredients:

2 boneless chicken breasts, cut horizontally

Salt and Pepper

Thyme

1 Tablespoon of Avocado Oil, (or the oil of your choosing)

1 medium onion, chopped

2 Teaspoons of minced garlic

2 1/2 cups of Chicken Broth

3/4 cup of Heavy Cream

1 lb. of Blanched Green Beans

1/2 lb. sauted mushrooms

3 Tablespoons of fresh Lemon Juice

Fresh Thyme

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2. Season chicken with salt, pepper and thyme
3. Heat oil in a large cast iron over medium heat. Add chicken and cook each side until it is golden brown. Remove from pan and set aside.
4. Saute onion in same pan until they are translucent. Add garlic and cook another minute or two.
5. Add chicken broth, cream and butter. Scrape the bottom and sides of the pan. Bring sauce to a simmer and reduce by half.
6. Stir in lemon juice and fresh thyme.
7. Add the chicken, green beans, and mushrooms. Place in oven for ten minutes, or until sauce is to the thickness you like.
8. Remove from oven and allow to sit for at least five minutes
9. Serve with rice. Enjoy!