Chicken/4 recipes

This handsome potage has many personalities as it may be presented in a variety of ways: hot, cold, pureed, or country style.

Balsamic-rosemary chicken cutlets sliced over fresh spinach with crispy bacon, mushrooms, radishes, and a warm shallot-mustard vinaigrette. A low-calorie dinner salad that's filling enough to be the whole meal.

Savory rice pilaf with toasted almonds, diced dried apricots, and a hint of ginger for a side dish that pairs beautifully with roasted meats.

Chicken mushroom piccata pounds chicken thin, pan-fries it quickly, then deglazes with lemon, white wine and sliced mushrooms. A 45-minute Italian-American dinner for two.

Pork loin chops browned and braised with mirepoix, white wine, and tomato paste, then sauced with a strained sour cream, Dijon mustard, and caper finish. Bistro-style elegance in an hour.

Classic veal scallopine with Marsala wine pan sauce. Thin-pounded veal cutlets seared crisp and finished with sweet Marsala in 6 minutes flat.

Grilled smoked sausage with herb-marinated vegetables including zucchini, squash, leeks, and tomatoes. A homemade basil-oregano vinaigrette adds flavor to this easy summer grill meal.

A light Chinese chicken noodle salad with angel hair pasta, shredded chicken breast, crisp snow peas, cucumber, and red bell pepper tossed in a teriyaki-sesame-rice vinegar dressing. Served cold or at room temperature.

Gourmet roast chicken salad with yogurt-curry dressing, Belgian endive, papaya, toasted coconut, and baby greens. A restaurant-style composed salad from a simple roast chicken.

Slow-simmered Brazilian black bean soup with cumin, coriander, orange juice, and a splash of dry sherry. Partially pureed for velvety thickness and topped with a cool dollop of sour cream.

Mexican red rice with roasted red bell pepper, jalapeno, and chicken broth. The roasted pepper puree gives it a smoky, vibrant red color and natural sweetness.

Butternut and acorn squash soup with Gruyere cheese and fresh apple slices. Pureed smooth with a roux-thickened broth, then finished with julienned squash for added texture.

Yoghurt is a great tenderiser for chicken breast, which can be a little tough when cooked without marinating beforehand. Buy organic yoghurt if possible to avoid the traces of growth hormones and antibiotics commonly found in conventional dairy products.

Roast pheasant draped in bacon and basted with a port wine and broth glaze, served with a rich port wine sauce and grapes. An elegant way to keep a lean game bird juicy and tender.

Stir-fried pork with red pepper, snow peas, and rice noodles in a soy-lemongrass sauce. A quick Asian-inspired wok dinner with fresh orange slices stirred in at the end.

Harissa sauce made with fresh or dried red chiles, garlic and a deeply aromatic Moroccan-style broth of chicken, chickpeas, saffron, cinnamon, orange peel and honey. A vivid North African accompaniment for couscous.