Tuscan Chicken with Green Beans and Bacon

On July 29, 2020July 29, 2020 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Italy, Recipes3 Comments

We have enjoyed many different styles of chicken dishes throughout our travels. Tuscany is known for its cooking and use of fresh ingredients, so we decided to create a Tuscan style chicken for dinner recently. Butterflying the chicken, technically called spatchcocked, is a great way to reduce the cooking time and still giving a crispy skin. Also, making an herb butter and spreading it underneath the skin and directly on the meat will also make sure that the chicken is moist and tender. We also sautéed some green beans with bacon to have with the chicken, which complimented the chicken extremely well. We decided to cook the chicken in a cast-iron skillet in the oven, but it works equally well on the grill. It truly was a wonderful meal.

INGREDIENTS

1 Whole Chicken – spatchcocked
8 tbsp Unsalted Butter – softened
1 tbsp Fresh Rosemary – chopped
1 tbsp Fresh Thyme – stems removed
1 clove Roasted Garlic – minced (unroasted garlic is fine)
Zest of 1 Lemon
1 lb Green Beans – trimmed
4 slices Bacon – cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 tbsp Vegetable Oil
Salt and Pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

To spatchcock the chicken, take a sharp knife or scissors and remove the backbone of the chicken by cutting down either side of the spine. Then flip the chicken over so that the interior is exposed and remove the breastbone by sliding the knife between the bone and the meat. This will allow the chicken to lay flat inside of the skillet. In a bowl, combine the butter, rosemary, thyme, garlic, lemon zest, salt and pepper. Using your fingers, separate the skin from the meat and spread about two-thirds of the butter over the breast meat. Spread the final third of butter over the exterior of the skin. Place the chicken in a cast-iron skillet and roast in an oven heated to 500 degrees. Cook the chicken for 30 to 40 minutes or until an internal thermometer reads 165 degrees. While the chicken is cooking, place the green beans in boiling water for about two to three minutes to blanch them and then immediately place them in ice water to shock them and cool them down. Remove the chicken from the oven and let rest for about 15 minutes while the beans are finishing. Heat the vegetable oil to medium-high heat in a skillet and add the green beans, bacon, seasoning the beans with salt and pepper. Sauté for about 10 minutes or until the bacon is crispy. Carve the chicken and serve with the green beans and bacon.

Spatchcocking (Butterflying) the Chicken

Look at How the Herbs Melt Into the Chicken Breast

Guinigi Tower in Lucca, Italy

On June 16, 2020June 16, 2020 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Italy3 Comments

During our trip to Tuscany, Italy, one of the places that we visited was Lucca. It was a day trip from Florence that took us to both Lucca and Pisa. Lucca itself is a wonderful little city with beautiful and historic architecture. Located in the heart of the city is the Torre Guinigi (Guinigi Tower), which is one of the few tower houses that were built in Lucca. If you plan a visit to Lucca, the Torre Guinigi should not be missed with its oak trees on the roof and amazing views.

Built in the late 1300’s by the Guinigi family, who were wealthy merchants in the area, the tower certainly stands out amongst the other buildings in Lucca. The climb up the 235 stairs to the top of the 125 foot tower is certainly worth it as you are rewarded with amazing views of the historic city. If the views of the city weren’t enough, the roof garden with its oak trees for shade are equally fascinating. One can imagine the wealthy Guinigi family sitting on the rooftop to escape the heat of city below with its warm breezes and wonderful shade trees.

Amazing Views of Lucca with Mountains in the Background

As you look down at the rooftops from the Torre Guinigi, you get a true sense of the narrow, winding streets of the city. The Lucca Cathedral, or Cathedral of Saint Martin, clearly dominates the cityscape. The color variations of the church tower are even more dramatic when viewed from the Guinigi Tower. The cathedral, which dates back to 1070, is also something that should not be missed when visiting Lucca.

There is a small fee in order to go to the top of the Torre Guinigi, but it is certainly worth the nominal price. We visited during the off-season, so there were no other tourists with us as we went to the roof to enjoy the views of the city and the Tuscan countryside. Unfortunately it was an overcast day, but that didn’t diminish how beautiful the scenery was from the rooftop.

Beautiful Views in All Directions from the Tower

Looking Up at the Stairs Inside of the Torre Guinigi

We Have Arrived in Italy

On February 27, 2017 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Italy10 Comments

This is our last trip of our extended stay here in Europe and we have every intention of making the most of it. We arrived in Florence late Saturday night and awoke to a gorgeous day. We have a lot planned in our few days in Italy, a few days in Florence, a few days in Rome, and a day in Pisa and the countryside of Tuscany. If our first day was any indication of what to expect, our final trip will be one of the highlights of our six month adventure. As always, we will provide more about what we have seen and the places that we have visited, but here are a couple of quick photos showing just a glimpse of the beauty that is Florence.