Chicken!

Note: this was part of a newspaper group project we did in Communications class.

The Many Ways to Cook Up Chicken
Written By Larissa Dillon


Everyone knows there is a multitude of different ways to cook a chicken
You can keep it whole or cut it up, stuff it, bake it, fry it, BBQ it, stuff it in a crock pot, steam it, broil it, flame it, grill it, or even use foreign methods. And then, of course, there's a bazillion and one different ways to flavor it, spice it, and sauce it for maximum flavor. Of course, there's a fair few people who like chicken plain, with no spices or flavors. That's okay, too; but for me, the more flavor, the better.

Personally, I enjoy chicken and rice. Rather than cooking the chicken whole, I cut it into bite-size pieces. I take a frying pan, and fry the chicken bites using a little bit of oil, pepper, onions, chives, and whichever other spices and veggies will be needed for the dish. Then, I stir in the rice (which is boiled in chicken brother rather than plain water, for it adds much more flavor), more spices and flavorings, and maybe some fruit pieces, such as pineapple or apple; surprisingly, fruit tastes very yummy when mixed in with dishes such as chicken rice.

Another thing cubed chicken is good for is pasta. It adds a wonder of protein to alfredo sauce, and can taste good as a meatball substitute. Or, you can simply grind it up and use it to replace beef in a meat sauce; chicken is certainly much healthier.

Stuffed chicken is good for thanksgiving, but it can be very unhealthy with all that bread and calories, so I like to stay away from it. The same goes for fried chicken, particularly so because of all the fat and oil it's fried in. BBQ chicken is a bit better, health-wise, but a lot of sauce can make it deadly for your health, so be cautious of that. I personally dislike BBQ sauce, but some people love it.

Chicken is great in sandwiches, as well. Grilled chicken is perfect for them; breaded is liked by some, too, but it adds many unwanted calories, so I'd stay away from it if I were you. Some lettuce, tomato, pepper, and mustard can make the sandwich perfect for lunch. Or, you can cut it into strips and wrap the chicken in a tortilla shell.

Heating chicken pieces in a slow cooker, or croc pot, can make for very tender, melt-in your mouth chicken, which can be very homely.

And of course, one must not forget the simple delight of fresh oven-baked chicken, good for any occasion.

There are certainly many ways to cook chicken, aren't there? Now, let's hear from our readers on which ways they prefer. Baked? Sandwiched? Stuffed? Fried? Cut or whole? Or, maybe, they've cooked up some new, interesting ways for us to discover. To think, there are so many cooking possibilities for just one little bird!