Hey Y'all (In the Paula Dean voice.. hehe!!)
I thought I would post a recipe that is dear to my heart:) I am proud to say I'm mostly Polish! I come from a family that is pretty much imported from Poland. My both of my Great Grandparents came to America as young children. They resided in a Polish neighborhood in the town I'm from and grew families there. My Great Grandparents were hard working people with a strong family base. Ever since I can remember my family getting together for every holiday, birthday, or just a cookout. Yes, we sing "Sto lot" (Happy Birthday in Polish) to everyone on their birthdays and Polka at the Polish Festival. We are very proud of our heritage and this is a way to show my pride.
My Great Bushia (Grandma in Polish) would make Chicken & Dill for her 5 children and would eventually pass it down to her future generations. She would grow the Dill in her garden by the bunches and now my whole family grows Dill and saves the seeds for the next summer's harvest. I have had great memories as a kid having this dish for dinner. It is such a cool story and can't wait to pass it to my children and so on.. Not only is it delicious but easy. It is an amazing dish with an amazing story.. So I hope you enjoy!
Chicken & Dill
You'll need:
1) Chicken- Breast, Thighs, Legs, really any is good. I use Breast because it's white meat and boneless. It all depends how much you'll need by what size of roaster you'll use. I used 5 Breast this time around to feed 3 mouths and had no left overs. When my family makes it they normally fill the bottom on a roaster with Chicken and it feeds many.
2) Dill- Yumm! You can find dill in the produce side of your grocery store. I found it by the Basil. You will need 1 packet of Dill unless you are making a lot.
3) Butter or Margarine- If you are making as much as I did then you will only need 1 stick (Cut it in half) but if you will be filling the bottom of your roaster then you will need 2 sticks. My Bushia would make with 1 stick of Butter and 1 stick of Margarine. I never could tell a difference so I just used one or the other.
4) Salt & Pepper- Just to add flavor. It is REALLY important that you do.. You can tell a difference when you don't..
5) Roaster- If you are cooking a lot you will want to cook in a roaster.. You will want to fill the whole bottom of the pan with chicken where it is almost over lapping. The closer together your chicken is the better taste. If you don't have one or if you are making a smaller amount then your roaster you will want to wrap the Chicken, Dill and Butter in aluminum foil. That's what I did. You need to keep it covered no matter what so the Dill's aromas soak in the Chicken.
For a side:
Rice- My mom always uses wild rice because it is WAY better for you then bleached rice. It also taste really good with the Chicken. You really can use any kind if you would like. I just got Rice A Roni because it was a faster cooking rice.
French Bread- I totally forgot about it this shopping trip so I didn't have it this time around.. But it is AMAZING with the left over butter... BUUUUTTTTERRRR!!
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Directions:
Clean the Chicken
1) First if you are like me you hate the fat, blood or veins in your chicken.. Or maybe I'm just weird. Ekk. Anyways, I cut my chicken in smaller pieces. It cooks faster and you can get more flavor. If you are using legs you don't need to cut off pieces.
Salt & Pepper your Chicken
2) Once you are done cleaning your Chicken you will want to sprinkle it with Salt & Pepper. It adds amazing flavor believe it or not.. Just make sure you don't use to much.
Lay your Dill on Bottom of Pan
3) Make sure you lay your Dill down on the bottom of the Roaster, Pan or Aluminum. So the Chicken can have Dill soaking in from Top and Bottom. I used Aluminum because I wasn't making a big serving. If you are using a roaster you don't need to use Aluminum..
Lay Chicken on top of Dill
4) Just as easy as it says.. Just lay the Chicken on top of the Dill. Remember!! Make sure you Salt & Peppered!!
Lay Dill on top of Chicken
5) Again, very easy step.. I hope I haven't lost you yet;) Juuuuusssttt Kidding!
Put Butter on top of Chicken and Dill
6) BUUUUUUUUUUTTER!! I'm channeling my inner Paula Dean! HAHA Like I said earlier if you are making a lot you'll need 2 sticks. My family likes having a lot of butter to be able to put on top of your rice! It taste as amazing as it sounds;) I only used 1 stick ( I cut it in half and put each half in my Aluminum wrap of Chicken & Dill)
Wrap up your Aluminum!
7) That's pretty much what you do.. Unless you have a roaster then all you'll need to do is cover it!
Bake at 350* for 1 hour
8) Unless you cut your pieces smaller then it will be less time. About 45 minutes seems good. Just make sure you keep checking on your Chicken to see how done it is..
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While cooking...
Mommy Time!
If you had a crazy day like mine then just a good taste in your mouth will do the trick;) Take a breather while dinner is cooking.. Relax you deserve it!
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Can't forget about me!
Oh yes, you might have to cook rice while you relax like I did.. It's relaxing right? REMEMBER DON'T FORGET TO PUT THE LEFT OVER BUTTER ON ME :)
Dig in!!!
YUM!
Well I hope you enjoy this GREAT meal.. It really is very easy to make with a few things. Something you can just pop in the oven and eat. Not only is it delicious but it's very healthy.. Besides all the butter;) LOVE ME SOME BUTTER!!
BUTTER AND OIL!! < Darn that inner Paula Dean!! Comin out while I'm cookin'!!!
Well.... Go enjoy!!! Until next time;) May God Bless!
Hillary
