Cranberry-Orange Chicken Breasts

The traditional image of Thanksgiving is one of huge families, all of whom exercise the boarding house reach in search of more potatoes, more cranberries, more turkey … Life doesn’t always match that image.  Sometimes, Thanksgiving is very small - dinner for one or two. No matter who you are or where you are, what’s important is to give thanks.

So here’s a simple recipe I invented a couple of days ago, with a small Thanksgiving dinner in mind. I’m printing it well in advance of the occasion, so you can be sure to have the ingredients on hand.

You’ll love these deliciously low-calorie Cranberry-Orange Chicken Breasts. Trust me, Dollinks! 
This dish is a keeper! I know it’s a disappointment not to have a

a photo, but (blush!) this chicken 
was so good that we gobbled it up fast! Only this dirty skillet remained.

Cranberry-Orange Chicken Breasts:

2 chicken breasts, about 10 oz. (285 g) each, fresh or thawed (See Note)

1/3 c. (80 mL) orange juice, preferably without pulp 

1/3 c. (80 mL) water

2-to-2-1/2 tsp. (10-to-12.5 mL) all-purpose flour

2 tsp. (10 mL) orange-flavored liqueur such as Grande Marnier (optional)

7 or 8 whole cranberries, fresh or frozen

Dusting of dried parsley or leaf-style dried marjoram or thyme  

Add orange juice, water, and chicken breasts to a medium-sized skillet. Place chicken in skillet, best side up. Cover, bringing liquids just to a boil. Reduce heat, simmering 20-to-25 min. Chicken is done when no pink remains at center. Remove chicken from skillet; set aside. Gradually whisk flour into liquids on low heat as orange sauce. Return chicken to thickened liquid, stirring in liqueur. Do not boil. Drop in cranberries, simmering 1 min. Nap sauce over chicken, dusting lightly with marjoram, thyme, or dried parsley. Serve hot. Makes 2 servings.

Note: Choose firm, high breasts, 

as per the photo.

Focus, men, focus! Stop thinking about Pamela Anderson! If they’re fresh from the farm, you may want to wash them in cold water, blotting them dry with a paper towel. Again … Stop thinking about Pamela Anderson!