I know I was on a roll with my Provencal dinner, but until I actually prepare the whole meal for the recipients of my donation of a meal for six, I will defer from posting the recipes. The most heartwarming response from all of my blogging buddies on the clafoutis has me reeling. You are all wonderful people. Susan of Schnitzel and the Trout alerted me to a recipe for clafoutis that she prepared from Barbara’s blog Moveable Feast. Barbara then commented to let me know about the recipe. The beauty of it is that it can be prepared ahead of time. Racheld of Lawn Tea gave me great tips on assembling the clafoutis in the winner’s home when I deliver the dinner. I will be preparing Barbara and Susan’s recipe soon to see how I do. All of you are very supportive. Thank you.
Now on to Big Bang Chicken. Doesn’t that name grab you? I do not know the origin of the name. Maybe it came about because you get a “big bang” for your buck with this. It is a great company dish for very little money. The recipe was in The Fresh Market & Friends Cookbook; A 25th anniversay publication. The Fresh Market now has more than 70 stores in 15 States.
To give you some background, a couple of weeks ago I went to The Fresh Market in Hendersonville. The Fresh Market and I have a long history. The very first Fresh Market was started in Greensboro, NC where David and I lived for many years. The year was 1982 and this innovative food store had just opened. Imagine my delight in walking into a grocery store illuminated by soft lights with classical music playing in the background and artfully arranged vegetables and flowers filling my eyes. There were bins of specialty grains and a whole section for gourmet jelly beans. The smell of coffee was in the air and samples were available for sipping. The deli displayed wondrous plump rotisserie chickens and the bakery looked like something out of a Paris Patisserie. I was in love. A weekly visit to The Fresh Market became a routine.
When we moved to the North Carolina Mountains I was happy to see that The Fresh Market had preceded us to the area I visit the Hendersonville location at least once a month. I saw their cookbook on my last visit and knew that I had to have it. Many of the recipes in it are from people from Greensboro and each of the recipes underwent a thorough vetting to determine it’s goodness before being included.
This chicken casserole is very easy to assemble and has a special kick of flavor from the marinated artichoke hearts and the sherry and fresh herbs. Served with rice, crusty bread and a salad, you can’t go wrong.
BIG BANG CHICKEN
3 tablespoons olive oil
6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
all-purpose flour
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 medium green bell pepper, sliced
2 (6 ounce) jars marinated artichoke hearts, with juices
2 (15 ounce) cans stewed tomatoes, with juices
8 ounces fresh mushrooms, sliced
1/2 cup sherry
1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, chopped
1 teaspoon fresh oregano, chopped
1 teaspoon fresh basil, chopped
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Dridege chicken in flour then place in pan and brown for 10 minutes. Add Garlic and bell pepper and cook until soft, about 5 to 6 minutes. Add artichoke hearts, stewed tomatoes and mushrooms; remove from heat and place in a 9 x 13 inch baking dish.
Cover and bake 30 minutes. Remove from oven, add sherry, fresh herbs and spices then bake an additional 30 minutes uncovered.
That looks delicious. I go to the Fresh market here a lot and there is a new one in Lady Lake, Florida. Love that store.
My first visit to a Fresh Market was in Naples, Fl…then when I lived in Hendersonville, of course I would go weekly. Now I go to the one in Asheville on Merrimon sometimes and the one in Hendersonville on others.
This sounds like a great recipe!
xo
Penny
I like anything with sherry. It just give a dish such a sophisticated taste, so I definitely will try this one. I’ve seen their cookbook, but haven’t had a change to look through it. Always in a hurry when we’re there.
We love Fresh Market too. How interesting that you know the original store. The store in Chattanooga is a small one compared to the one in Florida. Sometimes when we’re in a hurry we’ll grab one of their sandwiches from the deli and eat at the little tables out front. Makes you feel like you’re in France.
Sam
We have a fresh market here too, Penny. One thing they had to stop doing though was keeping flour in those big bins. We get too many bugs in south Florida. I shop there often though. They seem to be very cutting edge, right down to coffee. My daughter had told me about a coffee she’d had in CA and I mail ordered it for her next trip home. Lo and behold, Fresh Market now carries it.
And yes, I love that recipe name! Never knew they had a cookbook. It looks like a super recipe!
That name really stopped me in my tracks Penny; really makes you want to go study it.
We don’t have Fresh Market in this are, but with your description, I would be there in a flash. I am wondering if this would work on my Cook and Go slow cooker for my next visit with the kids; great combination.
Rita
I have had this recipe for years (don’t know how I got it) and lost it. So, with my fingers crossed, I Googled ingredients and here I am! Only difference in the recipe is mine didn’t call for green peppers..so I now added them. This is the best recipe to make when you want to make dinner for a family in crisis, as I did today for my neighbor going through chemo. Thanks so much! Nancy