Friday, April 19, 2013

FFwD - 'Chickened' Out on Cod and Spinach Roulades, Pun Intended

I need to state up front that I am a food coward.  I often have someone else taste a new food and tell me if its good.  If they approve I might nibble the edge.  I hesitate to taste new food or anything I'm not familiar with.  So when the recipe starts with put the fish in the food processor with egg whites and cream you can understand my squeamishness!  So to be fair to the recipe I asked Gary what he thought about it.  I'll just say he wasn't enthusiastic and leave it at that.
'Chickened Out' Roulades
But I wanted to play.  So I decided to try boneless chicken thighs.  I made the filling as directed in the recipe, onions, garlic and baby spinach.  It made a delicious filling or just a nice way to prepare spinach.  I did not puree the chicken but rolled up the thighs around the filling and pan fried them.  It turned out delicious but I should have made the sauce.  For some reason the sauce didn't appeal to me and the rolls seemed a bit undressed with no sauce.  I served them on a bed of roasted sweet potatoes, though, and with several glasses of chardonnay they tasted wonderful!

It was good and we enjoyed them as did our friends.  I have mixed feelings about my departure because the point of this project is to try new things and learn new skills.  On the other hand this is not the sort of dish we would enjoy.  I DO feel that my participation in the group is what gave me the courage to try something on my own.

I hope everyone had a good week.  So much tragedy in the U.S. this week.  I wish peace for everyone everywhere.

This is a French Friday with Dorie post.

15 comments:

  1. Oh, Guyla, I wish I had been sitting at your table. But I love Brandade de Morue and thought this would be a good dish to know how to make. It all went well until the steaming and then all hell broke loose. On to pancakes next week........

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  2. I can totally understand the squeamishness. I worried that this would be a steamed log of mush. I turned out to love it, but I don't fault you for skipping it. Your chicken looks good! My mom used to stuff chicken with a spinach and feta mixture that was good. Mmm.

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  3. I, too was squeamish so I only made half the recipe and was sure my hubby would eat it if I didn't like it. I was surprisingly impressed :) Good for you for trying something new this week though!

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  4. Guyla, I have to say, I’m a pretty adventurous eater, that said... when I read this recipe I too, was a bit squeamish! I already knew that my husband (he shares your views on food) was not going to eat it! I cooked a filet for him and made the roulade for me…they actually tasted very good. I was pleasantly surprised!! I probably will not make them again…I like a dish that we could both sit down to eat together!
    Love your chicken idea…sounds delicious! Now my husband would enjoy that!
    This was a very tough week…all day the news has been about the lock down in Boston!
    Have a great weekend!

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  5. Like the chicken version...sure is a LOT prettier! Yeah, not worth making something you wouldn't eat :)

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  6. I don't think you're missing much from the original recipe! I think I would have preferred your adjustments. The cod was just a mess - yours actually looks pretty tasty!

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  7. I think I would've enjoyed this chicken version!

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  8. You didn't stray that far...
    This dish did pleasantly surprise, but I can see where it wouldn't be for everyone. Besides, you were fearless enough to come up with your own Dorie-inspired dish.

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  9. I love the chicken idea... I will try this wonderful.

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  10. I don't blame you for not making something that no-one in your house would eat - it's a waste of good food. The chicken sounds like a lovely substitution. Hope you have a great weekend.

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  11. I think your "chickened out" version sounds delicious, Guyla! I share your hope for peace for everyone everywhere. Looks like the week is wrapping up with the possibility of getting some answers about the week's earlier tragedy. What a week and what a day.

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  12. This was certainly a very creative interpretation of a roulade recipe - I actually really like the way your chicken roulades look! And I am sure that the spinach filling was nice with the chicken.
    Have a good Monday!

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  13. Bravo- a perfect adaptation & you followed the recipe otherwise.....I looked at it & said, "not happening."

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  14. I'm glad you played with the recipe - those chicken roulades look delicious!

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