Once upon a time, this was our Christmas Eve dinner menu. Now it is Stephen’s birthday dinner which is also when we have our family Christmas gift get together. I’m still making the pajamas for everyone !
After all these years, everybody likes the chicken, most people like the rice and broccoli and cheesecake is the birthday cake.
CHICKEN GLORIA
6 servings
Sauce:
- 1 cup orange marmalade
- 3/4 cup red wine
- 3/4 cup water
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1 16 ounce can of apricot halves -- puree half of them and save the other for garnishing the finished dish
- 2 tablespoons red currant jelly
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- Combine these ingredients in a saucepan and simmer over low heat, stirring until blended.
- Mix 2 tablespoons cornstarch with 1/4 cup cold water. Slowly add this to the saucepan, stirring constantly and simmer until thickened.
Chicken
- 6 eight ounce skinless boneless chicken breast halves. Flour seasoned with salt and pepper
- 1/4 cup sherry
- 1/4 cup brandy
Dredge the chicken in the seasoned flour and brown on both sides in oil over medium high heat.
Drain on paper towels. Pour off the oil in the pan and wipe it out with a paper towel.
Return the chicken to the pan, add the sherry and the brandy and simmer for 2 minutes.
Stir in the apricot sauce, spooning over the chicken to coat. Cook over low heat for about 20 minutes.
SPICED RICE
6 servings
- 1/2 cup raisins, plumped in boiling water -- these are optional and I leave them out by popular demand !
- 2 and 1/2 cups water
- 2 cups brown rice
- 3/4 tsp cinnamon
- 3/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp salt.
Combine all of this in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, stir the rice once, cover and simmer until tender, about 45 minutes.
Just before serving melt 1/2 stick of butter and add 2 crushed garlic cloves -- pour over the rice and stir.
BROCCOLI WITH GARLIC
- 1 bunch of broccoli, trimmed and chopped
- Boil in water for 4-5 minutes, until just tender.
- Drain the broccoli
In the same pan, over very low heat, saute 4 or 5 chopped garlic cloves in 2 or 3 tablespoons of olive oil for about 5 minutes.
Add the broccoli back to the pan and heat thoroughly. Salt and pepper to taste.