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Roast Chicken with Potatoes

5 to 6 boneless skinless chicken thighs
(I prefer hormone and antibiotic free)
1/2 cup of extra virgin olive oil
1 cup of water or white wine
6 to 8 small red skin potatoes cut in quarters (with peel but scrupulously cleaned)
Juice of one large lemon
One large crushed and diced garlic clove or 1 tsp garlic powder
Oregano, Basil and Salt and Pepper

Place chicken in a small roasting pan. Peel and quarter the potatoes and place in the pan around the chicken. (Sometimes I put the potatoes under the chicken.) Drizzle olive oil on chicken and potatoes.  Sprinkle with garlic, oregano, basil, salt and pepper. Pour lemon juice, water or wine all over chicken and potatoes. Bake in 350 degree oven for one hour. Baste occasionally with pan juice.

Koulourakia (Butter cookies)

1 pound unsalted butter
1 1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup whipping cream
3 eggs
2 tsp. vegatable oil
3 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. vanilla
Zest of one orange or 2 tsp. orange extract
4 to 5 cups of all purpose flour
Small can of sesame seeds

Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs. Mix well.  Add in cream, vanilla, oil and zest. In a separate bowl, mix the rest of the dry ingredients. Slowly add dry ingredients to form a firm but pliable dough. Using about a tsp of dough, roll with hands on counter surface in long ropes, then fold in half and twist into a braid like cookie.

Place on cookie sheet. Brush tops of cookies with egg wash and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes.

This one is my Mother’s recipe. I have made these cookies by hand with and without a mixer. I always give them out at Christmas.

Helpful Hints

I read that if you want to clarify fat add slices of potato to the melted fat and fry them until the potatoes are brown. The potatoes are supposed to absorb unwanted flavors and collect some sediment.

This hint was listed in one of my Mother’s Greek recipes books.  I have six,  all published by various Greek Orthodox groups.  This one is from the Sts. Constantine and Helen Ladies Society from the Fall of 1956. It was so well used the front cover is gone and the pages are tattered, so I don’t have the title of the book. My Mom has notes penciled in the margins. It’s a treasure.