Catholic Recipe: Gaddina Catanisi - Catania-Style Chicken

In the province of Syracuse, the cult of St. Sebastian is celebrated with processions and fireworks and with good food. Here is a Sicilian recipe which could be prepared for the feast of St. Sebastian. This would go well with Risotto Formaggi, a rice dish.

DIRECTIONS

Cut chicken into eight parts. Sprinkle each part with salt, fresh rosemary, marjoram, chopped garlic to taste, and a good three scrapes of nutmeg. Choose a baking dish that will accommodate the chicken in one layer and can be used on top of the stove as well as in the oven. Place a small amount of extra virgin olive oil in the pan, turn heat to high, and brown the chicken.

When the chicken is well browned on all sides, add the chopped scallions, the cup of orange juice, pepper and 4 tablespoons of cognac. Transfer to a preheated oven at 375 degrees. Bake for 1-1/4 hours. Baste the chicken with th pan juices from time to time. When cooked, serve it in the baking dish in which it was baked.