Cilantro and Garlic Chicken with Tomato-Raisin Sauce

E found this tasty little number here. It fit in perfectly with the rest of the our tapas menu.

Cilantro and Garlic Chicken with Tomato-Raisin Sauce

For the chicken:

3 T cilantro, minced
1 tsp coarsely ground pepper
Salt to taste
4-5 cloves garlic, minced
1 lb. skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cut into 1 1/2 in. chunks
Olive oil

For the Tomato-Raisin Sauce:

2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/3 cup tomato sauce
1 T brown sugar
1 T cider vinegar
1/2 cup raisins

To serve:

Lemon juice
Shaved parmesan

1. Mix cilantro, pepper and 4-5 cloves of garlic together and rub over chicken. Sprinkle a little olive oil over the top. Place chicken pieces on a lightly oiled baking sheet.

2. Pre-heat oven to 500 degrees. Bake chicken for about 20 minutes.

3. In a food processor, process 2 cloves of garlic, tomato sauce, sugar, vinegar and raisins, until smooth.

4. Serve chicken covered with sauce and sprinkle with lemon juice and some shaved parmesan.

Shrimp with Garlic and Chilis

For our tapas party, we made this shrimp dish. It has a good kick and tastes awesome. From bite-sized Spain, p. 31.

Shrimp with Garlic and Chilis
Olive oil to coat pan
4-5 Garlic cloves
1 red chili, deseeded and chopped
1 lb. shrimp, peeled
2-3 Tablespoons chopped parsley
Sea salt
Lemon wedges
Country bread

Heat the oil in a frying pan over high heat. Add the garlic and chili, cook for about 1-2 minutes. Add the shrimp and sea salt to taste. Cook for 2-3 minutes, shaking the dishes frquently. Stir in the parsley. Serve while hot with lemon wedges and bread to mop up the juices.

A Night After Thanksgiving Tapas Party

Attendees: Mitch, E, Ray, Chay, Nana, Papa, Uncle Tim, Aunt Mary, and Grace

For a change of pace and to break in the new house, E and I decided to have family over for a tapas party. I had always wanted to throw one, and the night after Thanksgiving seemed like a perfect chance to break up the big holiday meals. The party was supposed to actually happen the night before Thanksgiving, but Ray broke her arm. Friday night worked out better, though, because Grace was able to join us!

The Menu
Salted Almonds
Spanish Marinated Olives
Goat Cheese and Sun Dried Tomato Pesto with Crackers
1905 Salad
Pancetta Wrapped Asparagus with Shaved Parmesan
Shrimp with Garlic and Chilis
Cilantro and Garlic Chicken with Tomato-Raisin Sauce
Sangria