Orange Chicken with our Wonderful Mashed Potatoes

I tried out this recipe from my cookbook, Lion House Classics, and I thought it was delish!  It was very yummy, but it is also a unique dish, so I better give a disclaimer...  Try this out if you like onions and if you like dishes that have a subtle orange flavor, (and if you liked mashed potatoes:) ). Personally, I loved it - it hit the spot for me!  It had a mellow flavor, and the tender chicken and warm sauce, with the fluffy mashed potatoes... it turned out to be a satisfying 'comfort food' type of dinner.  Mmmm....  I happened to make some Wonderful Mashed Potatoes as a side, and it complemented the chicken so well that I will never consider making the chicken without the mashed potatoes! They were just perfect together.

So, I am really curious if you guys like this as much as I did. You know how there are some recipes that you just KNOW everyone will love? (I can think of a bunch right off the top of my head, like Chicken Parmesan or Stuffed Shells.) And then there are some that I really like, but I probably wouldn't serve for company because they aren't entirely mainstream? (Oh, something like Spinach Tarragon Quiche, which I think is great, but you never know if it will be as popular with other people...)  Well, this one is probably more in the second category; I am wondering if other people will like it too. So, if you give it a try, let me know what you think! :)
*Update 10/2011 - I made this again and decided that I definitely LOVE it! It is so delicious. The moist chicken and mild yet flavorful sauce combined with the scrumptious mashed potatoes just  hits the spot on a cold day. And I just love the cooked onions on top. Oh, I think this is so good! 

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Orange Chicken

Submitted by Erin  ~ The Sisters Café
Recipe from Lion House Classics Cookbook

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½ c. flour

2 tsp salt

¼ tsp pepper

6-8 chicken breasts

1/3 c. butter, melted

1 onion, thinly sliced

6 ounces frozen orange juice concentrate

1 juice can water

¼ c. brown sugar

½ tsp nutmeg

2 T. cornstarch

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Combine flour, salt, and pepper in a plastic bag.  Add chicken pieces and shake to coat well.  Place chicken pieces in a 2-quart or 9x13 glass baking pan, breast side up.  Brush each piece with butter.  Bake at 375 for 40 minutes.  In the meantime, combine orange juice, water, brown sugar, nutmeg, and cornstarch.

After 40 minutes, remove chicken from oven and spread sliced onions generously over surface.  Pour the orange juice mixture over the chicken. Cover with foil and bake at 325 for half an hour or until fork tender.

Serve with Wonderful Mashed Potatoes. Makes 6-8 servings.

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Wonderful Mashed Potatoes

3 lbs. potatoes, peeled and quartered
1/4 lb. butter (which is 1 stick, or 1/2 c. butter - if it's not an important occasion, sometimes I skimp on this and just add a couple tablespoons)
1/2-1 c. milk
1/2 c. sour cream
2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground pepper

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Cook the potatoes in a large pot of boiling salted water for 15-20 minutes until very tender. Meanwhile heat the butter and milk in small sauce pan (or in microwave). Drain potatoes. While still hot, place the potatoes in a big bowl. Slowly add the milk and butter mixture, sour cream, salt, and pepper. Mix until the potatoes are mashed but not completely smooth.