2 kicky takes on chicken

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Generous chunks of chicken get help from salsa, avocado, corn and black beans in Salsa Soup, inspired by recipes of restaurateur Rick Bayless.

By J.M. Hirsch, AP

Unable to handle another summer of gloopy, mayo-sodden pasta salads, I started tinkering.

And the winning idea came from a chicken sandwich. Wondering what to do with leftover grilled chicken breasts that had been marinated in peanut sauce, I decided to play up the peanuts.

Grabbing a piece of flatbread, I spread it with peanut butter. I cut my cold chicken into thin strips and layered it over the peanut butter. Odd? Yes. But delicious.

From that inspiration, I made the leap to a chilled pasta salad with chicken in which a spicy peanut sauce stood in for the mayonnaise. (The salad also would be delicious slightly warmed.)

The recipe calls for roasted or grilled chicken that has cooled. The easiest way is to use leftovers, or buy a rotisserie chicken and either let it cool or pop it in the refrigerator overnight.

Using a jarred peanut sauce would speed up this recipe, but it's not a worthwhile shortcut. Most are too salty, and the flavor of the peanuts is too muted.

Asian noodles such as udon are a wonderful choice, especially if you plan to serve this salad as an entree. But many people associate pasta salads with smaller, paper-plate-friendly pasta shapes, so I stuck with spirals.

http://www.azcentral.com/style/hfe/food/ar...nsalad0618.html

[Amby 490]

I love chicken #######

eta: I think rotisserie chickens are sickly and waay too greasy. roast your own!

Edited June 18, 2008 by Amby

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I love chicken #######

eta: I think rotisserie chickens are sickly and waay too greasy. roast your own!

I've thought about getting my own rotisserie oven. Have you seen those turbo ovens? They sell them out here in the Asian Markets...suppose to be a really healthy way to cook.

[SteveLaura 0]

You post the most eclectic stuff, Steven.

[Amby 490]

I've seen them, but I've never used one. 95% of the time I grill stuff.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

You post the most eclectic stuff, Steven.

I bring balance to the Force.

I've seen them, but I've never used one. 95% of the time I grill stuff.

We buy the rotisserie chicken at Costco...it's really inexpensive ($5) and delicious. I always thought it was a healthier alternative to fried chicken.

[Amby 490]

I enjoy most of Steven's topics. I like to read about a variety of things. A lot of the time I read about health/nutrition type stuff though.

You post the most eclectic stuff, Steven.

I bring balance to the Force.

I've seen them, but I've never used one. 95% of the time I grill stuff.

We buy the rotisserie chicken at Costco...it's really inexpensive ($5) and delicious. I always thought it was a healthier alternative to fried chicken.

Healthier than fried chicken, but you need to remove the skin!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I enjoy most of Steven's topics. I like to read about a variety of things. A lot of the time I read about health/nutrition type stuff though.

You post the most eclectic stuff, Steven.

I bring balance to the Force.

I've seen them, but I've never used one. 95% of the time I grill stuff.

We buy the rotisserie chicken at Costco...it's really inexpensive ($5) and delicious. I always thought it was a healthier alternative to fried chicken.

Healthier than fried chicken, but you need to remove the skin!

I don't eat the skin...except a little here and there.

Now....how do you feel about what Sen. Whatshisname of Wisconsin said about how to solve our chicken fat problem?

[Nessa 23]

I love chicken #######

you love boobs period.

[Amby 490]

Chicken fat...I've noticed I have to pull more fat off of my chicken breasts before I cook them lately. Lazy chickens!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Chicken fat...I've noticed I have to pull more fat off of my chicken breasts before I cook them lately. Lazy chickens!

Supposedly, Foster Farms and Zacky Farms chickens are free of any hormones or antibiotics.

[Amby 490]

interesting. I buy the no hormones/antibiotics chicken and it has fat on the egdes. normally near what would be the back end of the chicken. never any near the wing.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

interesting. I buy the no hormones/antibiotics chicken and it has fat on the egdes. normally near what would be the back end of the chicken. never any near the wing.

Hmmm....I wonder if they are free roaming or kept in cages? Normally, chickens are susceptible to sickness when kept in confined quarters. We used to raise chickens and had a chicken koop....chickenshit EVERWHERE...even on the eggs.