After witnessing the murder of his wife and children, Frank Castle took the law into his own hands as The Punisher.
Thinking of Frank Castle cooking transports me to a time before The Punisher existed. I envision Frank using his expert knife skills frantically chopping vegetables in the Castle kitchen. He is planning a surprise Valentine's Day Supper for Maria and making a recipe passed down through generations in the Castiglione family. Maria just put the kids to bed and is ready to join her love for a memorable Italian meal.
For those of you staying home on Valentine's Day, here is a great Comic Book themed recipe sure to make your significant other glad you spend all your time on CBM.com
Chicken Caccitore alla Castiglione:
(For 2)
Ingredients:
4 - Boneless Chicken Thighs
1/2 to 1 cup - All Purpose Flour
3 Tbsp - Olive Oil (extra virgin is best but not necessary)
3 - Garlic Cloves (minced)
1 - Red Bell Pepper (sliced into strips @ 3/4" wide)
1 - Cubanelle Pepper* (sliced as above)
1 - Medium Yellow Onion (sliced as above)
1/2 cup - Sliced Mushrooms (any type)
1/4 cup - Red Wine (Italian is best)
3 cups or 24 ounces Marinara Sauce (a store bought jar of sauce will work fine at 25 ounces)
1 cup water
Salt and Pepper (to taste)
Parmesan Cheese (to taste)
*Can substitute green bell pepper
To Prepare:
Season chicken with salt and pepper
season flour with salt and pepper
Dredge all four chicken thighs in flour and shake off the excess
Put a large sauté pan on the stove at medium heat
Add oil to the pan and heat until it "shimmers" (be careful here. If the pan is too hot, the oil will burn)
Sear chicken by cooking on one side until it is golden brown
Turn chicken over and repeat on other side
Remove chicken from pan and place on a plate for later use
Add garlic, peppers, onions, and mushrooms to the hot pan
Season vegetables with salt and pepper
Cook vegetables until glossy but not soft (add more oil if needed)
Add red wine and reduce liquid by1/2
Add marinara and water
Return chicken to pan with any juices collected from the plate
Lower the heat and bring the pan to a simmer
Cover pan and simmer for 20 minutes or until the chicken reads 165 degrees on a thermometer
If you have no cover place pan in a preheated 350 degree oven and cook for 20-25 minutes or until the chicken reads 165 degrees on a thermometer
When done, taste and adjust seasoning
To Serve:
Serve on top of pasta, rice, or polenta (box directions apply)
Enjoy with a loved one, warm bread, Chianti, candlelight, and soft Italian music
I can picture Frank remembering this scene when he has some quiet time. Thinking of Maria and Valentine's Days of the past. As Frank says, "Good memories can save your life"