Friday, December 2, 2011

Arroz con Pollo

Arroz con Pollo w/Peruano Beans

I know it's been over a month since my last post.  Thank you everybody that reads my blog for their patience & support :o)  I really do enjoy blogging, but sometimes it does feel like a chore, so I decided to take some time off from it and just post my food photos on Facebook. I still have tons of fun taking pictures of food, both my own and sometimes at restaurants.  Please "friend" me if you want to be my friend! I give kudos to my blogger friends that keep up with their daily to several times a week posts!  I'm also sorry that I haven't kept up with reading all the fabulous blogs out there too :o(

I just wanted to make sure that blogging stays fun for me and remember that the posts and photos don't need to be perfect, just entertaining.  It's so aggravating to get rejected by Foodgawker & Tastespotting, but I have to remember that just because they didn't accept me, it doesn't mean that my photo is bad...lol  Hubby has always said that I have ADD and have a hard time sticking with something for a long time, so it's a surprise that I have stuck with my blog for over 6 months.  I just know that once I do finish a post and publish it, it is an accomplishment and a great feeling :o)

I hope that everybody had a wonderful time with their friends and family over Thanksgiving.  Can you believe that Christmas/Hanukkah Season is coming on us so quickly!  Hubby & I had a lovely time visiting with his parents over Thanksgiving in the St. Louis area.  It was just the 4 of us this time, so we went out for our Thanksgiving meal, it's always fantastic spending time with his parents.  If you go to my Facebook page you can see the feasting we did while we were out there including Cracker Barrel ;o)

On to the food of this post...I love Arroz con Pollo, but it seems that every time I cook it, it turns out differently.  This is one way I like to do it, whole pieces cooked with the rice in the oven then served with whole pieces of chicken.  One of my favorite Mexican restaurants, Lares in Santa Monica, CA, serves it very brothy.  I think that they cook the chicken separately like a brothy stew and then just serves it over their regular rice.  I love it their way too, the broth is super flavorful!

Marinating...

I marinated cut-up chicken pieces in Olive Oil, Mexican Seasonings, Mex Oregano, Garlic, Paprika, Red Chile Powder, Salt, Pepper & Lime for a couple of hours.  

Browning Chicken, Skin Side Down to start...

except for some reason, the far left piece is skin side up ;o) 

Flipped Over...

I'm sure that you can use boneless/skinless chicken for this, but the bones & skins add so much flavor!  After the chicken was almost cooked through, I plated it and then sauteed onions, carrots, celery, cilantro, Mex Seasonings, Mex Oregano, Salt, Pepper & garlic in the flavored oil.

Sauteed Veggies,  Chicken Broth & Tomato Sauce

3 1/2 Cups Broth
1/2 Cup Tomato Sauce
2 Cups Long Grain Rice

Chicken Added Back in..

I also added a couple of bay leafs then cooked the chicken for about 20 mins on Med Heat partially covered.

Sauteeing Long Grain Rice

I cover the bottom of the sauce pan w/Rice Bran Oil, any oil will do....then add 2 cups of rice.

Until it's a Nice Toasty Color :o)

When the rice gets to be a nicely toasted color I add it to the chicken/broth mixture, cover it, then put it in a 350 degree oven.

After About 10 mins in Oven...

350 degree oven
Stir Every 10 mins

Another 10 mins in oven...

Add water if necessary.

Last 10 mins in oven...

Ready to serve, but cook to the doneness that you like :o)

Served w/Peruano Refried Beans & Simple Salad

This time I served the chicken in whole pieces, but sometimes I shred it and mix it with the rice :o)

Kah Tequila

I love these mini Kah Tequila bottles that Hubby found :o)  They have several types and also have big skulls too.

Burritos made w/the Leftovers the Next Day :o)

18 comments:

  1. That arroz con pollo is droolworthy, Sis!

    And I think you do such a great job on the blog. I'd rather you take a much needed break and come back to it refreshed than fatigue yourself on it and not blog. :)

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  2. Sis, you ALWAYS put a smile on my face, thank you :o)

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  3. This is SOOOOOO delicious! I want to cook this sooon! ;D

    Guess we're very alike when comes to blogging--it does feel like a chore and I don't wanna be too 'into it' bcoz very soon, when sch term starts next year, I'm afraid I may not have that much time sitting in front of my pc like what I'm doing right now (I've already cut down lotsa hrs after we moved last mth)! LOL ;P
    Happy weekend!

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  4. This looks amazingly drool-worthy!

    And a thank you to Shinae for pointing out this blog. I want your tonkatsu too. :9

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  5. i know what you mean about making it and it coming out different. I feel like the same thing happens to me all the time. My hands when i season somethings one day are different when i season them another and its so crazy cause it shows in my food when i cook at home. I think that's what makes flavors and cooking so personal. But being able to have a spot on dish every time is nice as well. I think balance is key.

    I love when you blog and i love when you just post your photos on facebook. It is hard blogging all the time but its quality over quantity and you certainly have that down. I'm glad I get to witness both sides of it :)

    Have a wonderful weekend!

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  6. Two great meals! Bravo.

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  7. I really enjoy your cooking Kayo. Everything is really thought through and I bet this is so delicious. Keep blogging okay?

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  8. What a wonderful arroz con pollo recipe! You can't beat Mex seasoning and I love the amount that you used in this dish. Definitely one of those dishes this is great the first time and in all of the leftovers afterwards! Great pics! Your first one is definitely food porn site worthy!

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  9. Looks great! I've always wanted to make it, too. A co-worker used to bring it in to share every once in a while and I loved it!

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  10. I missed your posts, but I am glad that you took some time off and just relaxed..This dish look so tasty, and your photos are ALWAYS beautiful!!!

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  11. Welcome back!! This is such a wonderful dish, totally up my husband's alley. He would love all the flavors you have going on.
    I know what you mean about the FG and Tastespotting... can be so frustrating, but I just don't let it get to me anymore. I think we have better taste than they do!!! :)

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  12. LOL I am just trying to catch up on my blog readding. I love arroz con pollo, I made a weight watchers version before, but im sure this one is way better!! LOL

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  13. WOW that looks good. Considering making this for sunday dinner. Wow.

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  14. Hello! I hope all is well. Missing one of my favorite bloggers. :)

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  15. Good lord that looks delish. I am going to have to make this soon. I know what you mean about feeling rejected by food gawker and tastespotting. My husband is an a ameature photographer and he says they are nuts. Some of there photos look great and others are way too bright. It is all subjective and I think because they get a massive amount of photos daily they have to be super choosy. I try not to let it get to me but it certainly does from time to time. Keep up the good work because I can see that you can really cook and love good food.

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    1. Thanks for visiting my blog, Andrea! Thank you also for the encouragement about FG & TS. Hope you do try to make the Arroz con Pollo some day :o)

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  16. Hi KEcker,
    Your Arroz con Pollo looks tasty
    You can submit your Arroz con Pollo pics on http://www.foodporn.net It is a food photography site where members can submit all food pictures that make readers hungry :)
    I am already hungry to see your Arroz con Pollo photo btw, LOL

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, and thank you for the head's up about the foodporn site :o)

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