Chicken with Pancetta, Mushrooms & White Wine Sauce

Chicken thighs, mushrooms, and pancetta create quite the comforting dish when slow cooked in a creamy white wine sauce. Serve with mashed potatoes and crusty bread for a rustic, satisfying supper

Ingredients:

·       3 tablespoons unsalted butter

·       1 tablespoon olive oil

·       12 skinless boneless chicken thighs

·       Kosher salt & black pepper

·       6 oz pancetta, finely chopped

·       2 to 3 shallots, finely chopped

·       6 garlic cloves, finely chopped

·       1-pound fresh chef’s blend of mushrooms, trimmed and chopped

·       2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves

·       1 cup dry white wine (we used Chardonnay)

·       1½ cups chicken stock

·       ¼ cup sherry

·       1 cup heavy cream

·       Slurry – 1 tablespoon corn starch with 2 tablespoons chicken stock

·       1 tablespoon chopped flat-leaf parsley (optional)

Directions:

1.       In a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter and add oil. Season the chicken with salt & pepper; place topside down and cook until golden brown, about 6 minutes. Turn chicken over and cook about 1 minute more. Remove chicken with tongs and set aside.

2.       To the same pan over medium heat, add pancetta; cook until fat has rendered, and pancetta is crisp.  Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.           

3.       To the same pan, over medium-high heat, add shallots and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in garlic and mushrooms. Cook until mushrooms have softened and released most of their liquid, about 5-7 minutes. Season mixture with salt & pepper; stir in thyme (additional salt may not be needed). Add wine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan, cook about 5 minutes. Add chicken stock, sherry and slurry.  Bring mixture to a simmer, add pancetta and return chicken thighs to pan, topside up. Simmer over medium-low heat until chicken thighs are cooked through, 165 degrees, and sauce has reduced, about 15-25 minutes.  

4.       Stir in cream. Season to taste, if needed. Continue to cook until sauce has thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon. Garnish with chopped parsley.


Click here for PDF of Recipe

Finally… Pasta Carbonara!

One of our favorite followers, Chris from Key West, has asked us to show him how we make our Pasta Carbonara! The thing is… that he actually asked us this a couple of months ago! We feel awful that it took so long to get up here, but truthfully this is not a dish for the diet conscious! So we waited to make it for when we had guests over to share the indulgence!

Here in the video, Harris shows you how to make a perfect Pasta Carbonara! See below for the recipe!

While our recipe calls for Hog Jowl, aka Guanciale at the Italian market, you can use Pancetta or a quality bacon.

Ingredients

(Serves four)

3 – tablespoons Extra-Virgin Olive Oil

8 ounces Guanciale (which is cured pork jowl) or Pancetta or good Bacon

1 pound Spaghetti or pasta of choice

1 ¼ cups freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

4 – Large Eggs (room temperature)

Freshly ground Black Pepper

2 – tablespoons Kosher Salt

Frozen peas (Optional)

Directions

The Dads Tip: Guanciale is our first choice, but it may be difficult to find. Try your local pork butcher. Also, adding half the olive oil at the end adds that fresh olive oil flavor!

Bring 6 quarts of water to boil in a large pot and add 2 Tablespoons salt to the pasta water. Cook the spaghetti/pasta in the boiling water until just al dente.  

Meanwhile, combine half the olive oil and bacon/pancetta in a 12- to 14-inch skillet on medium heat.  Cook until the bacon/pancetta has rendered its fat and is crispy and golden.  Place cooked pork on paper towels to drain, set aside.  Retain about half of the dripping for coating the cooked pasta.

In a bowl, mix together the cheese, eggs, and pepper until smooth.  We like to add just a little bit of the hot pasta water to help temper the egg mixture.  This will prevent the eggs from cooking when added to the hot pasta.

When the pasta is done, reserve a cup of the pasta water.  Drain the pasta and place it in a bowl or back into the pot.  While the pasta is still really hot, slowly drizzle in the egg mixture, stirring the pasta the whole time.  The sauce will become very creamy as it coats the pasta.  If you need to loosen it up a bit, you can add some of the reserved pasta water. 

Now add the peas (optional) and crispy bacon to the mixture.  

Serve immediately and sprinkle the top with remaining Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese!

The Dads Pasta Carbonara

Love this recipe? Follow us and share it with your friends! Let us know how it came out and send us some pictures! Questions? Ask The Dads in the comments or e-mail: HarrisandDave@gmail.com

The Dads’ EPIC Party!

Hey guys! Melissa here, again!

So, The Dads finally threw their epic outdoor BBQ party! Sure it was thrown on Memorial Day weekend, but really their party was also a launch of their extensive home additions!

Needless to say, it was amazing! Their phones and emails were flooded the following days with praise of how great of a job they did and how much fun everyone had!

The Dads BBQ Party

First of all they added a new outdoor kitchen… Look at the Weber Summit grill with a Viking cooktop!

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They added lots of new outdoor furniture… I love the green!

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They added columns, fans and a new railing to the back porch…

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And a new outdoor bar… Look at that stock!

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(The tags on the chairs were cut of course, post photo.)

They had a special cocktail menu… My favorite was the Coconut Tree Martini! The Dads toasted the shredded coconut right before the party began, and it made it impossible to not want more! It was actually a cocktail designed by my step-sister, Casey (from my mother’s side). She made it for my 21st birthday and The Dads thought it would be a nice personal touch. They also hired their favorite bartender, Megan from City Cafe in Baltimore and her fiancé Tommy, who were super sweet!

Cocktail Menu The Dads

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The Dads Cocktail Bar

They hired their contractor’s brother for the catering called N&M in Pennsylvania. The Dads hired the caters to cook for 70% of the party and The Dads took care of the remainder 30%. They had expected up to 80 guests, so this was not an easy feat!

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The Dads' Grill

The food needless to say was divinity. Everyone seemed to really enjoy the passed ahi tuna from the caters, but the highlight for me was their crab fondue! I’m making you salivate, right?

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Their friend George was kind enough to bring in a huge amount of seasoned shrimp! I couldn’t stop eating them with my cousin, Stephanie!

George, Melissa & Jerry

The indoor table landscape was designed by their dear friend Leslie…

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Of course, Dave’s sister Carol was a huge help!

Did I mention they had 300 pounds of ice?!!!

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Well there’s a taste of what a party at The Dads is like!

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Want tips on how to throw your next upcoming shindig? Leave your questions in our comments! Or email harrisanddave@gmail.com!

Quick Tip on Grilling: Non-Stick Grill Grids!

Instead of our usual Tuesday Two Minute Tutorial, today The Dads’ wanted to share with you one of their Quick Tips for Grilling!

At last, Spring is in the air! The flowers are blooming and the birds are chirping! And that means, its time for grilling and outside eating! 

Have you ever tried to grill vegetables or shrimp only to have them fall between the grates? Well we found the perfect (and most stylish) solution: Non-Stick Grill Grids from Sur La Table!

These are a must try if you haven’t already. We love them, as they are not only functional but also a beautiful addition to the grill. 

Dave demonstrates in his love for the product in this Quick Tip, one minute video below:

If you don’t have a Sur La Table in your area, you can also order the grids online here: 

http://www.surlatable.com/product/PRO-1310556/Red+Nonstick+Grill+Grids+Set+of+2

Happy Grilling!

The Dads: Harris & Dave

***Have grilling tips you would like to share? Add your tips or questions in our comments section under our post’s title or e-mail us at: harrisanddave@gmail.com!***

Let’s get Spicy! Chipotle Lime Chicken!

In this video below, Harris demonstrates how to make one of The Dads’ favorite spicy dishes: Chipotle Lime Chicken!

Harris picked up this recipe from his friend Dale who makes it every year on their annual ski trips. Naturally, The Dads have made a few twists to the dish and here, Harris shows you how.

This dinner dish is paired wonderfully with Quinoa and Roasted Asparagus. Be sure to check out Leah’s video from a previous post on how to roast asparagus!

The Dads' Chipotle Lime Chicken

If you make this dish or have questions for The Dads, be sure to leave a comment or send us an e-mail to harrisanddave@gmail.com! Enjoy!

Chipotle Lime Chicken

Ingredients:

7 ounces Greek Yogurt
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 tablespoons Lime Juice
Zest of one lime
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
2 to 3 chipotle peppers (depending how much heat you want) in adobo sauce- We love La Costeña Adobo Sauce
4 cloves of garlic finely chopped
1 teaspoon butter (for sautéing garlic)
2 pounds boneless chicken thighs

Directions:

Combine first 6 ingredients in large mixing bowl.
Lightly sauté garlic in butter just until fragrant, about 1 minute; don’t let brown.
Add cooked garlic to adobo sauce.
Reserve enough of the marinade for dipping sauce (about ¼ to ½ cup).
Add chicken thighs to the marinade and let sit for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Grill on Medium heat for approximately 8 to 10 minutes on each side.

Serve with dipping sauce. Delicious!!

Today’s Quick Tip: Poached Pear Salad!

Last month, Dave showed you how to make Princess Diana’s favorite Poached Pears that we adapted from her former butler, Paul Burrell’s cookbook In the Royal Manner.

Today, we would like to present them to you as an idea for a decadent salad! Slice them up and serve as a delicious lunch treat or as a side salad with your dinner. To view the full recipe and video from Dave, please go click on the “Recipes” and “Video” tabs on the top of our homepage! Enjoy!

Poached Pear Salad

The Dads’ Menu for an Intimate Dinner Party!

This week, we threw a dear friend’s very special birthday dinner!

The Dads' Party Table

Our friend, Xavier recently moved to the U.S. from Barcelona, Spain. So, this was his first birthday celebrated here in the U.S! We were delighted to be able to help make his night extra special!

Here was our menu plan for the evening:

5:00 PM

Guests arrive!

Happy Hour
· Bombay Sapphire Martinis
· Red Wine
· Antipasti Tray with Assorted Imported Meats, Cheeses, Olives, Peppers, etc.
(See The Dads’ Antipasti Picture below!)

The Dads' Antipasti Platter

6:00 PM

Dinner (Serving 6)

First course

Fois Gras pate’
– Wine pairing: Ice Wine

Second course

Poached Pears in Port Wine (See The Dads’ Recipe in our “Recipe” Section!)
– Served on a bed of salad with Gorgonzola Cheese, Spanish Candied Walnuts. Dressing: Homemade Balsamic Vinegar infused with Pear and Cinnamon Vinaigrette.

Third course

Rack of Lamb with Rosemary Parmesan Pesto
– Served with Pewee Potatoes roasted with Pearl Onions and French Green Beans. (See The Dads’ Recipe in the previous post below!)
Wine pairing: French Bordeaux

Fourth course

Harris’ Yellow Cake with Decadent Chocolate Frosting (See The Dads’ Recipe in the previous post below!)

The Dads' Yellow Layer Cake

Needless to say, the evening was a success!

Be sure to look under our “Recipes” and “Videos” tab to find our Rack of Lamb and Poached Pears recipe! Also, we will be posting Harris’ recipe for Yellow Layer Cake very soon! Stay Tuned!

Tuesday Two Minute Tutorial: How to french a Rack of Lamb

This Tuesday’s Two Minute Tutorial is all about how to french a rack of lamb. And we’re not talking about kissing a cut of meat!

Frenching is removing the membrane between the rib bones of the lamb. The result are those fancy, restaurant-style, lollypop lambchops. And it is so much easier than you might think! This is one of those tricks that can turn a simple meal into a meal fit for a queen!

We shared the video on how to cook a rack of lamb yesterday, but this tip is a go-to when you need to cook to impress!

Tonight’s Feast: Rack of Lamb!

If you’re looking to spoil yourself tonight, how about serving up this delicious dish? Try this recipe below that we love! To learn how to french your rack go to our Two Minute Tutorial’s

Rack of Lamb with Rosemary Parmesan Pesto

Ingredients:

2 to 3 Racks of Lamb (each rack has 8 ribs and you need 3 ribs per person)
1 ½ cups (packed) parsley leaves and small stems
4 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary
2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
4 medium garlic cloves
¼ cup olive oil
Kosher salt & freshly ground pepper

Directions:

Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 450 degrees.

French your racks of lamb down to the tenderloin. Trim most of the fat off the lamb and place on a small rimmed baking sheet and season on both sides with salt & pepper.

“Frenched” Definition: A culinary term for the process of cutting away fat and meat from the bone end of a rib chop or steak for esthetic presentation. The bone is scraped completely clean with a knife, leaving a white bone that is often decorated with a “chop frill” (rack of lamb chops is a classic example) or used as a “handle” for eating.

The Dads: Frenching the Rack of Lamb

Place coarse chopped parsley, rosemary, grated Parmesan cheese and garlic into food processor. With machine running, gradually add olive oil until you get the consistence of pesto. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Coat the top of the meat with the pesto.

The Dads: Rack of Lamb with Pesto

You are now ready to roast the lamb or you can place in the refrigerator and store in advance for your dinner party. Simply remove from the refrigerator 1 hour prior to the time you intend to place in the oven, allowing it time to come to room temperature.

Roast 10 minutes at 450 degrees, then reduce oven temperature to 400 degrees and roast additional 15 minutes for medium-rare. 
Rare: 120 – 130 °F, Medium – rare: 130 – 140 °F, Medium: 140 – 150 °F, Well-done: 150 – 165 °F

Bon appétit!

Ideas for a Romantic Dinner at Home!

Dave shows off his decorating skills with a romantic tablescape for two- just in time for Valentine’s Day! He decided to use the family room as his setting for his special dinner, rather than the kitchen or dining room. Dave also breaks out the best china, silver, and crystal to celebrate in style! Check out the transformation in the video below!

Changing up your setting just by changing the room in which you enjoy your meal can make for a surprisingly elegant and intimate evening. Try planning your Valentine’s dinner in a room that is filled with your own memories. Check out some of these cool details Dave adds to his Valentine’s Day table!

Dave’s Special Valentine’s Day Menu (Let us know if you want us to do one of these recipes!)

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Here, he uses their special red tinted Waterford glasses and unique bottle opener!
Valentine's Day

And here are the name tents for dinner. Even if it’s just the two of you, name tents will make your dinner at home feel professionally catered! These elegant cherub-shaped name plate holders are from Germany and bring back lots of wonderful memories.

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From our hearts to yours- Have a Beautiful and Happy Valentine’s Day!

With Love,
The Dads: Harris & Dave