Chipotle Orange Chicken

Since I had a little time yesterday evening between trips to the hospital, I wanted to make some chicken. I leafed through my recipe collection, and saw this one, which was first published by Cooking Light, but attracted my attention on Culinary in the Country. I was making roasted potatoes as a side dish, instead of the rice that Joe used, so I changed the recipe a little to make less sauce. The combination of flavors–orange, cumin, and chipotle chilies–was divine. I really liked how the chicken browned up–the sugars in the orange juice, I suppose.

Orange-Chipotle Chicken
adapted from Cooking Light and Culinary in the Country

2 boneless chicken breasts
1 t butter
1 t canola oil
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 t ground cumin
1/4 t salt
1/3 cup thawed orange juice concentrate, undiluted
1/3 cup water
1 t chopped chipotle chilies in adobo sauce

Using a meat mallet, pound each chicken breast to about 1/4" thick. In a large nonstick skillet, melt butter and oil over low heat. In a shallow plate, mix together flour, cumin, and salt. Lightly coat each chicken breast with some of the flour mixture. Dip chicken in orange juice concentrate and then dredge back through the flour mixture. Reserve leftover concentrate. Increase heat to medium-high and when the butter starts to brown, add chicken. Cook 3 minutes on each side or until done. Remove and keep warm. In the same skillet, stir in leftover concentrate, water and chopped chipotle. Bring to a boil and cook 2 minutes. Serve chicken with sauce on top.

Update on T
So much better. She's shaken off the sedation that dragged her down, has her fresh-faced color back, the fever's gone, and has her personality back. She's moving around a lot; has a lot of discomfort from sitting in one place for three days, and is looking forward to losing the catheter and getting out of bed. Maybe that will happen today. There were lots and lots of visitors yesterday, which kept her awake most of the day, so when we noticed last night that she was fading fast, we left so she could get some much-needed sleep. I'm hoping that when we go see her this morning she'll be on her feet. I know that's what the dr. wanted.
food & drink