Chicken for dinner.

I rarely buy breast as it can quickly become dry and tasteless. Although this thread has prompted me to order 2 supremes to make marsala chicken.

What nonsense. I serve what I think will be nice and tasty (well I did, never have dinner parties now) . I never think of whether its expensive or a cheap option.

I don’t see it as the cheap option - especially if you go for free range/organic. I also think it’s really versatile, so I’d have no problem serving it to guests.

Whitewavemark2

The point is that chicken is only cheap because of the way it is produced.

Buy a properly reared chicken who has had the freedom to roam without hormones etc and fed naturally then you will pay for a cruelty free bird that tastes just as chicken should taste.

So yes - dead cheap meat from chickens intensively reared, that has little flavour and the knowledge that you have helped encourage cruel practices or respect for the animal and the knowledge that you have ensured a natural existence for the animal in its time on this earth.

So true. I only buy free range chicken and eggs. I realise though that some cannot afford to. If I couldn’t afford it I would rather go without. Definitely wouldn’t hesitate to serve chicken to guests. So versatile.

Love that pic Tilly! Delicious!

The only part of chicken that we buy is the breasts and the only way I would consider serving it to dinner guests is in a curry.
No point in me buying and cooking a whole bird as so much would be wasted, hence I just get the breasts.

JaneJudge

I am just grateful when other people cook for me tbh

And me?

I am just grateful when other people cook for me tbh

Sago

I have often served a roast for a dinner party, usually beef or lamb, it always goes down well.

New season Welsh lamb with Irish roast potatoes (Queens) fresh peas, chanteney carrots and tender stem broccoli, homemade mint sauce & red currant jelly and of course.

Delicious.

Oh I’m in good company ! I’ve done roasts for friends too because I know I can do them well!

I haven't done dinner parties for a long time but it would not occur to me that people would look down on chicken because it is cheap. Some older men say chicken is tasteless and prefer stronger flavour meat but price is not the issue there. Pork is also cheap so that would be ruled out as well.
For every day meals, I rarely eat red meat and thought a lot of other people were cutting down on it as well.

Tarragon chicken was the first meal I cooked after we got married!

The point is that chicken is only cheap because of the way it is produced.

Buy a properly reared chicken who has had the freedom to roam without hormones etc and fed naturally then you will pay for a cruelty free bird that tastes just as chicken should taste.

So yes - dead cheap meat from chickens intensively reared, that has little flavour and the knowledge that you have helped encourage cruel practices or respect for the animal and the knowledge that you have ensured a natural existence for the animal in its time on this earth.

TillyTrotter, I will look up that recipe. M&S skinless, boneless chicken thighs are always very good, and are often on a 3 for 2 offer.

I only eat free range chicken or eggs from a local farm shop. It’s a protein my DH would eat every day but not me I don’t eat a lot of meat these days.
If having family or friends around I would include chicken as part of a mezze tapas or thali type of meaI. A variety of dishes it’s what people like best rather than a big roast.

I wouldn't do chicken for a special one-off meal for guests, but after reading this thread I am wondering why. Here in Germany it is considered even more of a "cheap option".

If I have guests staying for a few days I wouldn't hesitate to offer some as a weekday meal, especially as it can require little preparation. However, the only guests I ever have are family and they prefer meat-free.

I always buy organic or free range chicken. Not cheap, but you get what you pay for. I have Diana Henry’s ‘A Bird in the Hand’ and that has some brilliant recipes. One, a whole chicken cooked with milk, bay leaves, garlic and lemons, is a family favourite.

Gravy, I missed the gravy!

I have often served a roast for a dinner party, usually beef or lamb, it always goes down well.

New season Welsh lamb with Irish roast potatoes (Queens) fresh peas, chanteney carrots and tender stem broccoli, homemade mint sauce & red currant jelly and of course.

Delicious.

No - we don't have a greenhouse. I just chop it down when it's beyond help and feed the pot in spring.

I find it a bit temperamental. I was shocked to see a friend's tarragon flourishing in a year when mine was hardly growing. I buy freeze dried if I see it.

kittylester

How could I forget Tarragon Chicken!!! It's the reason I planted tarragon!

Mine hasn’t grown at all this year? just stayed tiny.

Do you take yours into the greenhouse overwinter kitty?

Here’s a pic.

I agree annsixty. A meal was cooked for us by a family member and it was Lemon Chicken , one of Mary Berry’s recipes.
It was really delicious, well presented at the table and we helped ourselves. It’s made with chicken thighs which makes it inexpensive.
I have cooked it often since and would be happy to feed it to guests.

How could I forget Tarragon Chicken!!! It's the reason I planted tarragon!

I am so pleased that everyone agrees with my views that chicken, well cooked, can be a special meal, and I will continue to cook it and serve it on the very few occasions I entertain, they are very few and far between now.

Give them spam I love tarragon chicken and would e more than happy to be served it at dinner.

I love butter chicken, and have made it when having friends round for dinner. You can make chicken into something really special. I don't regard it as a cheap meal.