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Mmm ... Chicken!
Mmm ... Chicken!
by Chef Dana McCauley
Chicken is one of the most popular foods in North America. Ubiquitous in all types of restaurants and on home dining tables alike, chicken is often the “safe” choice hosts make when they want to please lunch or dinner guests. As a result, the average per capita consumption of this light-colored, versatile meat is about 88 lb. per year in the United States. When you do the math, it turns out that on average each American is eating about three servings of chicken per week!
The appeal of chicken in modern life isn’t surprising when you stop to consider its versatility. Chicken is a staple ingredient in almost every cuisine from regional American dishes such as southern fried and Cajun blackened chicken to ethnic specialties such India’s Tandoori Chicken or France’s famous Coq au Vin.
A generation ago chickens were generally sold whole, which meant that it was much less convenient to prepare poultry on busy weeknights when a 30-minute upper was needed. Today there are so many skinless, boneless cuts and prepared chicken products available that it has never been easier to prepare meals with this low-in-saturated-fat meat. And, as moms know, chicken is the meat choice that is most likely to please the entire family.
DineWise offers over 60 different ways to enjoy chicken, from meal plans to premium raw chicken cuts that feature this favorite meat as the star. DineWise’s Chicken Marsala with Garlic Mashed Potatoes and California Blend Vegetables is a satisfying restaurant-quality meal that is ready to serve in mere minutes, while our whole, grill-ready Mesquite
Chickens are ideal for weekend meals when you want to create a memorable meal time experience. Likewise, DineWise has an array of comforting entrée favorites such as Chicken Parmesan that make eating chicken at home a simple pleasure.
Whether you serve chicken as a fast and easy dinner solution or make it for a special occasion, pairing chicken dishes with complementary wines can enhance your dining experience. Numerous studies indicate that including a moderate serving of wine as part of a balanced diet can have long-term health benefits. While the old adage is that white wine is the only choice when serving chicken or fish, savvy sommeliers recommend serving any light-bodied wine with delicate-flavored chicken. Among their top non-traditional recommendations are red wines such as pinot noir, merlot and grenache. In the end, all you need to remember is that the chicken dish and the wine choice should complement one another. The
wine shouldn’t overpower the food, nor should the food overpower the wine.
Because chicken is an American family favorite, it’s important to know how to prepare it safely. Remember to discard the packaging that surrounds raw chicken products and to wash thoroughly the tools and dishes that raw chicken touches before using them for other purposes. Likewise, thoroughly thaw frozen raw chicken products before cooking so that they cook evenly throughout. The USDA recommends 165ºF (for chicken pieces) or 185ºF (for whole birds) as sufficient internal cooked temperatures to ensure that harmful microbes are destroyed. You can easily check the temperature of cooked chicken by inserting the probe of an instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of the meat. Check that the probe does not touch bone or gristle to ensure that the temperature is accurately assessed.
DineWise offers delicious meal plans that will allow you to have mouthwatering chicken meals on hand at all times. The $199 Poultry Favorites plan includes everything from Chicken Fingers with Macaroni and Cheese, and French Cut Beans for the kids, to Chicken Chow Mein with Lo Mein and Oriental Vegetables for lunch, to delectable Chicken Cacciatore with Baby Carrots and Green Beans Almondine for a fabulous gourmet dinner. You’ll receive 17 microwaveable complete meals as well as 2 free meals, making this a real poultry lover’s treat!
Looking to give a great gift? DineWise’s Poultry Lover’s package has seven terrific choices, such as Chicken Florentine with Mashed Sweet Potatoes and Lentil Corn, and a Stuffed Cornish Hen Half with Creamed Potatoes and Broccoli with Red Peppers. Whether you are sending a loved one a unique and tasty gift or ordering this package for your own convenience and enjoyment, DineWise has everything you need to make cooking a breeze and every meal a special one. |
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