Moroccan Spiced Braised Chicken with Mission Figs

This chicken has a ton of flavor and using cinnamon in savory dishes is just wonderful!   I served it over a bed of Israeli couscous but can be served on rice as well.

Source: Rock Recipe Blog

1 whole chicken cut in pieces or 3 pounds chicken drumsticks and/or thighs
(dark meat does braise best) Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper.
In a large heavy bottomed skillet brown the chicken pieces well on all sides in 3 tbsp olive oil.

Transfer the browned pieces to a covered roasting pan.

In a large bowl add and combine well

1 ¼ cups chicken stock
1 ¼ cups apple juice
1 cup chopped mission figs
¼ cup brown sugar
1 chopped onion
4 cloves garlic minced
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh ginger root
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp cracked black pepper
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp ground cloves
1 teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon coriander

Pour over the chicken pieces, cover and cook in a 300 degree oven for 2 hours. You can reduce the sauce to thicken by boiling it on the stovetop for a few minutes if desired.

BLT Pasta

If you love BLT sandwiches then you will absolutely love this pasta!  Instead of Lettuce for the L there is spinach in this recipe - so it is BST pasta - it just doesn't have the same ring to it.   I'll stick with BLT pasta.

Source: Mix and Match Mama Blog

Ingredients:
8-10 cloves roasted garlic (I found these at the olive bar in my grocery store)

1 pint cherry tomatoes

1/2 pound  pasta (I used whole wheat fettuccine)

10-12 pieces of bacon, chopped (you can use regular or turkey bacon)

1 1/2 cups chicken broth

2 cups spinach leaves

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

8-10 basil leaves, torn or chopped

Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO)

Salt and Pepper

Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

2. Take a baking sheet (line it with foil for easy clean up) and spread out cherry tomatoes.  Drizzle tomatoes with EVOO and sprinkle salt and pepper over all of them.  Bake for 15 minutes. 

3. While the tomatoes are roasting, bring a large pot of water to boil, drop pasta and cook until al dente (approx. 7-8 minutes).

4. Meanwhile, over medium-high heat, heat a tablespoon of EVOO.  Once hot, add in chopped bacon to brown (about 6 minutes). Add in chicken stock and salt and pepper to your bacon pan and lower the heat to medium-low and simmer 3-5 minutes. 

5. Stir in your spinach, roasted tomatoes and roasted garlic pieces to the bacon pan.

6. Drain pasta and add to bacon mixture.  Stir in cheese and basil.

Fig & goat cheese on a graham cracker

These make a delicious and super easy summer snack.  I spotted these fresh mission figs in the produce section and decided they must come home with me...immediately. 

Ingredients:
Fresh figs
Soft goat cheese - I get mine from the local farmers market - Mini Moos and Kids Too
Graham crackers

Instructions:
Just spread the goat cheese on the graham crackers and cut the figs into quarters and enjoy!