Backpacking Dad’s Cheap Chicken Dinner
I’ve been doing some discount shopping recently. I like to see chicken parts on sale for 77 cents per pound, and 6-for-$1 corn on the cob. The other night, inspired by my cheap buys and a little move by the most recent Next Food Network Star Melissa I made what might be the easiest chicken dinner I’ve ever done.
First, the chicken: I had leg quarters that I divided into thighs and drumsticks because neither Emily nor I ever really want to eat an entire leg quarter at a sitting. Well, Emily doesn’t. I will. But not this time. I seasoned the chicken parts with salt-and-pepper then tossed them in a bag with some marinade I had in the fridge. Use whatever the hell marinade you want. Toss the chicken in oil and soy sauce or vinegar or barbecue sauce or whatever. It’s going to taste like chicken anyway.
Second, the corn. Um. I husked the corn.
Third, the Food Network greatness: I’ve already discovered the wonder of using my muffin tin for stuff, like eggs. And Melissa brought out this little dish of potatoes that she made in her muffin tin and I thought: Holy hell, that looks easy as all get out. I sliced some waxy potatoes about 1/4 inch thick, and tossed them in some oil and vinegar, salt and pepper, and some chopped onions, garlic, carrots, and peppers. Then I placed three slices in each of the muffin cups in the muffin tin, layered with the non-potato mixture they’d been tossed in. Melissa tops hers with cheese for potatoes au gratin, but I just wanted potatoes.
When the oven was pre-heated to 425 I put the chicken in a pan on the bottom rack next to the muffin tin, and put the corn directly onto the top rack. 30 minutes later I had dinner.
And the potatoes ruled.
This has been Part 2 in an infinite, unpredictable, series of food posts here on Backpacking Dad. I am not a chef. I’m not a good cook. But I have a camera and for some reason I want to take pictures of food at the moment.
23 comments
Potatoes in a muffin pan? Flippin’ genius!
Reply
Backpacking Dad Reply:
August 4th, 2009 at 8:23 pm
You can thank the Food Network for that one.
Reply
Love to know where you’re findin’ those chicken parts. Alas, the closest stores to me are the likes of Andronico’s and Whole Food. Sounds good and I was fishin’ for something to make tonight.
Reply
6 ears of corn for a $1? I live by a freaking corn field and cannot find corn for that cheap at the store.
Reply
Backpacking Dad Reply:
August 4th, 2009 at 8:23 pm
Safeway, in-season. It was a pretty good deal.
Reply
Oh you mad thing, what new collations will you produce with your magic muffin tin?? The mind boggles…
Shade and Sweetwater,
K
Reply
Backpacking Dad Reply:
August 4th, 2009 at 8:24 pm
Maybe I’ll make muffins.
Reply
Note to self: when hungry, do not go grocery shopping and do NOT catch up on unread posts in Google Reader!
This sounds freaking awesome – plus, it’s frugal as well. Nice work. I’m very impressed.
Reply
Backpacking Dad Reply:
August 4th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
Frugal is my middle name.
Backpacking Frugal Dad.
Reply
Nice. We used our muffin tin to heat frozen tater tots a few weeks ago. That was pretty good.
Reply
Backpacking Dad Reply:
August 4th, 2009 at 9:05 pm
Tots. Never thought of doing tots before. Nice.
Reply
You are just non-stop, unpredictable fun lately.
I thought the backpacking-an-underage-infant post was a hoot, and now potatoes in a muffin tin? Cheers!
Reply
Backpacking Dad Reply:
August 5th, 2009 at 10:32 am
You never know what you’re going to get when you visit Backpacking Dad.
Reply
At least you cook. My husband ruined a pot once trying to boil water. True story. Also, yum.
Reply
Backpacking Dad Reply:
August 5th, 2009 at 10:38 am
I have ruined pots like that. And I also melted a colander on the element a couple of weeks ago.
Reply
Great! Now I am hungry.
Why would you cook shit in a muffin pan instead of tin foil? No cleanup!
Reply
Backpacking Dad Reply:
August 5th, 2009 at 10:40 am
Individual cooking! Wrapping the potatoes in tin foil would require either wrapping the servings individually, or extending the cooking time by cooking them all in the same foil pouch.
Reply
Excellent. My husband is the cook in our family and I will definitely pass that along.
Reply
Backpacking Dad Reply:
August 5th, 2009 at 10:23 pm
I think that’s probably a good idea. If you let your bread get moldy I’d hate to see what happens to your chicken. :}
Reply
I think I should go back to therapy because the thought of you husking the corn brings images that are just WRONG and oddly exciting.
Reply
Backpacking Dad Reply:
August 5th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
And just like that this innocent little G-Rated blog gets put into the back room of the video store, the one through the beaded curtains with pink lightbulb illuminating the box covers.
Reply
Did my comment get eaten???
I can relate to the need to take pictures of the creations you’ve made… I’m not a great cook either, but when I come up with something particularly yummy I do the same thing and post it on Facebook.
My most recent creation is cheesy chile chicken tacos. MMM. Good stuff.
Reply
Backpacking Dad Reply:
August 6th, 2009 at 10:50 pm
That sounds fantastic.
Reply
Leave a Comment