For Randi: Julia's Chicken Breasts with Cream, and Mushroom Variation

joe

Well-known member
Randi requested this after seeing Julie and Julia. I won't be seeing the movie until Wednesday but I'm sure this is the right recipe. I remember when I was channeling Julia all by myself on the swap. Now that this movie is making her hugely popular, I thought the burden would be lifted, but no, here I am still typing her recipes. I really think anyone who is so inspired by the film should buy the book, but, *sigh*, I'm willing to make an exception just this once.

From Mastering the Art of French Cooking:

SUPRÊMES DE VOLAILLE À BLANC

Breast of Chicken with Cream

Serve these with buttered asparagus tips, green peas, artichoke hearts, or creamed spinach, a good risotto cooked in chicken stock, and a bottle of chilled white Burgundy or Traminer.

4 suprêmes (boned breasts from two fryers)

1/2 tsp. lemon juice

1/4 tsp. salt

Big pinch white pepper

4 Tbs. butter

For the sauce:

1/4 cup white or brown stock or canned beef bouillon

1/4 cup port, Madeira, or dry white vermouth

1 cup whipping cream

Salt and pepper

Lemon juice as needed

2 Tbs. fresh minced parsley

A heavy, covered, fireproof casserole about 10" in diameter

A round of waxed paper 10" in diameter, buttered on one side

Preheat the oven to 400°F.

Rub the suprêmes with drops of lemon juice and sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. Heat the butter in the casserole until it is foaming. Quickly roll the suprêmes in the butter, lay the buttered paper over them, cover the casserole and place in the hot oven. After 6 minutes, press the top of suprêmes with your finger. If still soft, return to the oven for a moment or two. When the meat is pringy to the touch it is done. Remove the suprêmes to a warm platter and cover while making the sauce.

Pour the stock or bouillon and wine into the casserole with the cooking butter and boil down quickly over high heat until liquid is syrupy. Stir in the cream and boil down again over high heat until cream has thickened slightly. Off heat, taste carefully for seasoning and add drops of lemon juice to taste. Pour the sauce over the suprêmes, sprinkle with parsley, and serve at once.

VARIATIONS

Suprêmes de Volaille aux Champignons

(Chicken Breasts with Mushrooms and Cream)

5 Tbs. butter

1 Tbs. minced shallot or green onion

1/4 lb. diced or sliced fresh mushrooms

1/8 tsp. salt

4 suprêmes, and the sauce ingredients in the master recipe

Heat the butter in the casserole over moderate heat until foaming. Stir in the minced shallots or green onion and sauté a moment without browning. Then stir in the mushrooms and sauté lightly for a minute or two withot browning. Sprinkle with salt.

Following the master recipe, cook the suprêmes in the mushrooms and butter. Remove when done, leaving the mushrooms in the casserole. Complete the sauce, as described in the master recipe.

(One more for good measure)

Suprêmes de Volaille Archiduc

(Chicken Breasts with Paprika, Onions, and Cream)

2/3 cup finely minced white onions

5 Tbs. butter

1 Tbs. fragrant red paprika

1/8 tsp. salt

4 suprêmes, and the sauce ingredients in the master recipe

Drop the minced onions into boiling water for 1 minute. Drain, run cold water over them, and drain again. Cook the onions with the salt, paprika and butter in the covered casserole for about 10 minutes over very low heat until the onions are tender and translucent, but not browned.

Following the master recipe, cook the suprêmes in the onions, paprika, and butter. Remove when done, leaving the onions in the casserole. Complete the sauce, as described in the master recipe.

 
The Paprika looks good to me. I've never tried these and I think I'll have to. Maybe combining

the mushrooms with the paprika would be good.

I do think since this was written so long ago that modern chicken breasts are about twice the size. Perhaps the cooking times and the quantities need to be adjusted.

 
Joe, LOL, I just realized I should have put my post below here instead.

Apparently the bookstores are selling out of Mastering The Art of French Cooking and Julia is now 1-6 on Amazon.com.

 
your "exception" is noted and pearls to go with the pot are on their way '-D

thanks Joe. French cooking is not my forte but every now and then one must make a wonderful French dinner. smileys/smile.gif

 
I'll think about it. I do her falsetto pretty well, and with Randi sending me pearls.....

 
for many years I had a large, copper bowl for beating egg whites. it was purchased in

Paris at Le Cordon Bleu. I never used it and when Joe was here I gave it to him. in Julie and Julia, there is a scene with Julia beating egg whites in an identical copper bowl. it was then I realized I would have to give him pearls to complete the experience.... "-))

 
I'm afraid I still haven't used the bowl. Perhaps, deep down, I felt something was missing?

 
You have a copper bowl and NOT USED IT YET. That is a fantasy of mine, right up

there with Highlander (I know, I know. I'm so ashamed) along with serving a souffle in stiletto heels, with neither of us falling.

Get the damn pearls, man!

 
I've used my smaller one for years, does that count? The one Randi gave me is HUGE! I haven't had

cause to make a souffle for 30 yet. Besides, I'm a little intimidated by its pedigree. But I promise to whip something up in it soon. (I realize now I'll need heels too--thanks for the reminder.)

It sure is beautiful, and I plan to hang it in an honored spot right over an archway in the kitchen after we repaint this fall.

 
has anyone made one of these yet? I'm intrigued with the oven method vs the sautee and

was wondering if there is a big difference? and just what is the difference? I was going to try one tonight but I'm missing a couple of ingredients. that's my story and sticking to it '-))

thanks

 
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