Chicken Marbella and a Visit

I always say that this lonely planet, in which we are living, is just a big neighborhood. Recently I discovered Juliana’s blog Simple Recipes (She cooks beautifully, check her out). We started following each other’s blog just like we all do. From a comment she left once, I realized that she would visit Greece. So, after exchanging messages we agreed to meet and that passing Saturday we went out together with our husbands. For me and for her it was amazing, considering the fact that we live thousands of kilometers away. Anyway, we had a great time the four of us. We took them to a vintage tavern called in English “The cicada and the ant” from Aesop’s Fables. I am saying vintage because it depicts how taverns used to be in the 60’s. We really enjoyed their company and spend a great evening. I hope at some point of time I will be able to see them again. Who knows, perhaps I will be able to visit California once my son grows up a little bit.

Now, I know that some of you currently, may face the challenge of a competition such as the one at foodbuzz. Let me tell you something; I face this challenge everyday when I have to cook for my 7 year old son. For this past Saturday I had the following requirements; chicken, not red sauce, not white sauce, soft and to the sweet side. Something new, whatever that means. Ok, fine, I took my enormous chicken recipes pile and sat on the couch trying to find this obscure dish of chicken. I must tell you, I was in a loss, when I saw this recipe on Leite’s blog. I thought that this chicken might be what I was looking for. After reducing the recipe to half, since it was too large for us and after making my usual changes, I came up with this absolutely delicious chicken. I served it with pureed potatoes and let me tell you that the dishes went from the table straight to the dishwasher, that clean they were.

I will definitely make this again; in fact I am putting it to my party recipes since it is easy and very sophisticated.

Place chicken in a bowl, add the garlic, oregano, salt, pepper, vinegar, olive oil, prunes, olives and bay leaves. Rub the chicken with the marinade and refrigerate at least two hours.

Preheat oven to 175° C.

In a pan arrange chicken in a single layer and pour the marinade above it. As you will see in the pictures, I used the terracotta pan we use here in Greece for giouvetsi, but any pan will be fine. Just put on top parchment paper. Sprinkle with brown sugar and pour white wine around but not above them. Bake for about an hour, basting with pan juice every now and then. Ten minutes before the end uncover and sprinkle some parsley. Let it take a nice golden color. I served it with mashed potatoes. Mmmmm, just perfect.