We’re just a few short days from the Oscar Academy Awards Ceremony (February 24, 8:00 p.m. Eastern) and I’m already gearing up my menu for the evening. I plan to have a few of our closest friends over so that we can watch the show together and enjoy each other’s company. I don’t really watch the Superbowl, but I imagine if I did, it would sort of be like a Superbowl Party. Of course, we’re a little geeky around here, back before the writer’s strike, we’d get together to watch all sorts of things together. Like Heros. Or The Office. Or Scrubs. I heard a rumor that the writers are back, though, so soon I’ll be in television bliss once again.
Anyhow, back to the task at hand, the menu. I’m going to start off the evening with my Red Carpet Chicken, which is the recipe I’m giving you today. I’m going to serve it with some pesto spiked bread, and some pasta. Later we’ll enjoy some little chocolate tarts covered in whipped cream, which really should win a little award all on their own. But, for now, let’s just stick to the chicken.
First, a note of warning. O.k., not really a warning, because it won’t hurt anything – quite the contrary, it’s a good thing. This chicken is sweet. Which makes it yummy. I mean, I like it that way. And kids, yeah, kids they like it that way, too.
But sometimes when I serve this, in the middle of all the ooohs and ahhhs, one random adult will say “Wow, this is sweet.” You know how someone will state a fact without saying something negative, but you know they really meant it in a negative way, but don’t want to hurt your feelings, so they say it like in a statement? Like “Hey, I’m just sayin’.” Not that anyone was saying something negative, just, you know, a statement about your crooked teeth, or the flavor of the chicken, or – you know, whatever.
So, if you think you might be one of those sugar haters (hey, it’s just a statement, nothing negative here – Ms. Sugar Hater Pants), then well I don’t know what to tell you. No, I’m just kidding, it’s very simple, just substitute the ketchup with chili sauce. So, instead of using 1/2 cup of chili sauce and 1/2 cup of ketchup (as listed), just use 1 cup of chili sauce. That should help with your non-sweet tooth.
Red Carpet Chicken
1 1/2 pounds chicken breasts (I use boneless)
Olive oil
1/2 cup chili sauce
1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon horseradish
1 can (12 ounces) diet soda
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
14.5 ounce can of petite diced tomatoes, drained, or about 1 cup of fresh diced tomatoes
Drizzle olive oil across the bottom of a large saute pan and heat over medium heat.
Add chicken breasts and season each breast with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Saute lightly on each side, browning gently.
In a bowl, mix remaining ingredients, except tomatoes.
Gently pour sauce over the chicken, cover, lower heat slightly, and simmer for 30-45 minutes, or until chicken is tender.
Top with tomatoes and allow tomatoes to heat through.
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I freakin’ love the Oscars! It really is like the Superbowl to me. Hey! We should have a discussion about it on Monday. Kay?
I love The Office too!
OOH! OOH! Me, too! I’ll send some linky love later, let’s see if we can get a bunch of us together here to talk about it!
Oh, and Angie… Don’t YOU dare make the non-sweet version on Sunday. I’ll warn John. He’ll deal.