BONE BROTH CHARLOTTE NC RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. Rain salt and then some pepper all over chicken. Heat 2 Tbsp. butter in a medium cast-iron skillet over medium-high. Nestle chicken, skin side down, in skillet in a single layer with no gaps (if you can’t quite fit them all, wait until chicken shrinks slightly, then puzzle in the remaining pieces). Cook until meat is opaque around the edges and skin is deep golden brown, 6–8 minutes. Turn chicken skin side up and transfer skillet to oven; bake, uncovered, until chicken is cooked through, 10–15 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate.
• Set same skillet over medium; combine fennel bulb and leek in skillet and sprinkle in some salt and pepper. Cook, tossing occasionally, until leek is looking golden around the edges, about 5 minutes. Add orzo and cook until pasta is darkened (it will take on a brown hue) to a nice nutty brown in spots and toasty smelling, about 3 minutes. Pour in wine and cook, stirring, until liquid is evaporated, about 1 minute. Add broth ½ cup at a time, stirring constantly and letting broth absorb before adding more, until orzo is tender and broth is mostly absorbed but pan is not dry, 10–15 minutes.
• Remove skillet from heat, Taste and add more salt and pepper to your liking; mix in lemon juice and remaining 1 Tbsp. butter, then chopped fennel fronds. Pile chicken on top and finish with lemon zest.

Steps:

• Remove neck, gizzards and any other parts that might be inside the bird.
• Rinse the bird, inside and outside, under cool running water.
• Cut the chicken into pieces
• Place cut chicken in a large stock pot, cover with about 6 inches of water.
• Place on Medium-High heat and let come to a boil.
• Boil chicken about 45-55 minutes or until done.
• Remove chicken from water, place pieces in a pan to cool. Do not discard the water in the pot.
• Turn the heat off under the pot while the chicken is cooling.
• Allow chicken to cool enough to handle and remove chicken from bones.
• Skim as much fat as possible that has surfaced in the stock pot. Discard the fat.
• Remove ¾ cup of broth from the pot and set aside. You’ll need it to make the dough.
• Place the bones back in the pot and add water to cover about 2 inches.
• Let simmer on Medium-Low heat while you make the pastry dough.
• In a medium bowl, add flour and one teaspoon of salt. Sift together.
• Make a well in the middle of the flour and add the ¾ cup of the chicken broth.
• Mix together until you have a slightly moist dough ball.
• Generously flour your table, countertop or large cutting board.
• Using a rolling pin, roll the dough out to about ¼ inch thick.
• Use a pizza cutter or sharp knife and cut the dough into strips about 1 inch wide.
• Cut each strip into sections about 2 inches long.
• Let the dough pieces rest for about 30 minutes to dry out some.
• Remove the chicken bones from the stock pot.
• If needed, add enough water to equal about one gallon of liquid in the pot.
• Add chicken base or granules as needed to create a good tasting broth.
• Bring the chicken stock to a low boil and drop pieces of dough, one by one, into the stock.
• Try not to drop dough pieces on top of each other and DO NOT STIR.
• Add the shredded pieces of chicken to the pot.
• Add Black Pepper to taste.
• Test the pastry before adding any additional salt. Add salt if needed and stir gently.
• Simmer for about 15 minutes until dough pieces are fully cooked and tender.
• Serve warm and enjoy.