Cast iron cooking, oh my!

Cast Iron Chicken Thighs with Fresh Thyme

Did I mention that I have the best husband in the world?  Well if I didn't I'm saying it now!  Dave cooked the most amazing meal for me tonight - "Cast Iron Roasted Chicken Thighs with Potatoes."  I normally do 90% of the cooking in our household and I prefer it that way.  But Dave is the absolute master at grilling, making breakfast and drum roll please......cooking with the cast iron pan.  Tonight he was in the mood for a cast iron meal so he offered to cook dinner for me. Bonus! Salute to cast iron cooking!

Cast Iron Chicken Thighs and Potatoes!

Cast Iron Chicken Thighs with Thyme (Click to print recipe)

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 8 skin on, bone-in chicken thighs
• 6 whole garlic cloves
• salt and freshly ground pepper
• 6 sprigs of fresh thyme
• 1 t paprika 

Preheat oven to 475 degrees.  In a cast iron skillet, heat olive oil on medium-high heat  for a few minutes and then add garlic cloves.  Generously season chicken with salt, pepper and paprika.  Place chicken skin side down for a few minutes until browned. Turn chicken over and heat bottom side for 10 minutes.  Add thyme by taking a few off stems and sprinkling on chicken, then place whole thyme sprigs on top of chicken. Now transfer pan to oven and cook through for another 15 minutes. Skin on chicken should be crispy and brown.

Cast Iron Garlic Potatoes: (Click to print recipe)

Serves 4

Ingredients:

•  4 tb. olive oil
• 1 1/2 lbs. baby new red potatoes sliced
• kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1/8 cup of diced red onion
• 3 minced garlic cloves

Preheat oven to 475 degrees.  In a cast iron skillet, heat olive oil on medium-high heat for a few minutes and then add onion, garlic and potatoes.  Season with salt and pepper. Cook for 10 minutes or until potatoes are browned.  Transfer pan to oven and cook until potatoes are tender, approximately 20 minutes.

Food Impressions:

Andrea: Oh My!!! Moist, delicious chicken with crispy tasty skin. Potatoes were tender inside and crispy on the outside. Perfect combination.  Cast iron pan made a winner out of this dish.

Dave: Full of flavor.  A repeatable meal for sure. (He was being modest...it was amazing!)

Nate, Tyler and Zachary: Unfortunately they didn't get to taste this amazing meal.  Since Dave got home later tonight I fed the boys earlier....their choice was leftover Spaghetti Parmesan.  I had a small taste, okay a fairly large taste, and I must say it was even better the next day. Yum!