There are countless ways to prepare chicken and it probably won’t come as a surprise that my favourite way is to either grill on the BBQ or roast in the oven.  By seasoning with a little salt, black pepper, and olive oil and/or butter, you can produce a wonderfully crispy golden brown skin. Truth be told, I have often enjoyed how effortless cooking a chicken can really be. You can leave a chicken for hours in a low temperature oven or on a grill’s indirect heat. In addition to rendering fork-tender results, this slow cook method will allow you to spend more time doing family activities or even preparing sides to serve with your roast. 

Be patient because once you get comfortable and familiar with how to best prepare chicken you’ll get really good at understanding the different ways to improve its overall flavour.  For example I’ve prepared a custom recipe for the Chicken Farmers of Canada website that includes placing truffles under the skin.  Adding interesting ingredients such as the one above will help how your chicken turns out.

The versatility of chicken makes for endless possibilities when it comes to creating delicious meals. For example, meat loaf is a timeless classic but an equally appealing and lighter option is a chicken version. See how easy it is to impress your family and friends by making subtle changes to recipes and with a bit of creativity everyday meals will taste better. I will often use a loaf recipe to make my burgers by adjusting the shape and cook time. It’s really that simple.

Most of us can appreciate the ease of the one-pot nature of stews. I usually prep all my vegetables and chicken in the initial phases of cooking then layer my flavour profile by introducing ingredients of a more spirited nature, such as chicken stock and 35 % cream. Allowing your one-pot creation to simmer for a few hours will produce something spectacular and nutritious. Chicken is quite forgiving so I’d recommend experimenting and being as creative as you wish. 

Rob Rainford