Happy St. Patrick’s Day! In an admission of guilt, I had every intention of cooking up a traditional Irish feast of corned beef and cabbage. My sister, Angela, even took the time to send me her recipe. Alas, I’m sharing one of our all-time favorite chicken dishes with you because I always have plenty of chicken in my fridge and I don’t have corned beef or cabbage handy.
However, I will make an Irish connection for this recipe via California. Did you know the state boasts one of the largest populations Irish-American populations in the country? About 2,000,000 to be exact. Plus, if you are feeling a little Irish, you could wear a green apron when you make this tasty California chicken. So there, enough with history and kitchen humor, let the feast begin.
My husband and I were friends with a family who loved to cook. Bill and Sally Chadwick cooked everything from international cuisine to southern classic dishes. They welcomed their friends, family, and their children’s friends into their home and to their dinner table. It wasn’t unusual for there to be 20 or 30 people to gather for a meal. It was my first experience with homecooked Greek and Chinese food and boy was it delicious!
The California chicken recipe came from the House of Chadwick, as we called it, where it was a favorite dish. We continue to make this today in our kitchen. It always brings back memories of the times spent with some wonderful friends.
Ingredients:
5 – 6 pieces of leftover fried chicken or cook frozen chicken strips- Large onion sliced
- 2 Tbls. olive oil
- 1/2 tsp. thyme
- Juice of 2 lemons
- 1 stick of butter
- 1/4 tsp. lemon pepper seasoning
- 1/8 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/4 cup water
Directions:
Saute onions in olive oil in large skillet or pan until soft.
Add all ingredients except for chicken.
Bring to low simmer and stir for 5 minutes, then add chicken.
Spoon onion mixture over chicken. Cover and cook for 5 more minutes.
Serve over your favorite rice. Add a side of English peas or other vegetable of your choice.
There is an Irish Kitchen Prayer to share on this day:
“Bless us with good food, the gift of gab, and hearty laughter. May the love and joy we share, be with us ever after!”
We experienced all of that happiness in the Chadwick home and they are memories that will last a lifetime.
