Rogue Waves,

Sunday night we watched a fascinating programme about the way the oceans are changing and also about rogue waves. For a long time people believed that the huge waves spoken about by sailors and the like, However, they have now managed to measure some of these waves. One they measured was over 80 meters high. That is huge. They have sunk ships all over the world and there is really no way to tell when they are going to happen. They are also working on the theory that a lot of the energy driving the movement of the seas is actually generated by the animals living in the seas. What they call the butterfly theory (a butterfly flaps its wings and a hurricane occurs on the other side of the world). They consider the seas are becoming angrier and that by mid century people won't be able to live on the coasts at all. Some of this is due to global warming but not all of it. The only people who appreciate these waves are surfers who travel the world looking for these dangerous waves. I wondered about deaths of surfers, it is 2.8 deaths to every 100,000 surfers. Surprisingly low.

To me this is a new way of doing Chicken alla Cacciatora and sounds good. Because Jamie Oliver (British TV cook) went to Italy, I know that their ways of cooking foods differ virtually from town to town so I am not surprised that there is a different recipe for Chicken alla Cacciatora. Sometimes the differences are only small, sometimes the food preparation differs immensely.

Umbrian-Style Chicken alla Cacciatora

Chicken alla cacciatora, or hunter’s style, is found all over Italy — but for a long time, tomatoes were not. Most American know the southern Italian version, with tomatoes, but this one is from Umbria, in

the country's center, and it’s made savory with lemon, vinegar, olives and rosemary instead of tomatoes. It’s lovely served with steamed greens dressed with a fruity olive oil, over homemade mashed potatoes or polenta.

1 Tbs plus 1 teaspoon olive oil
1 small chicken (about 2 1/2 pounds), cut into serving pieces, or use bone-in, skin-on thighs and drumsticks
1 onion, sliced
2 to 3 cloves garlic, very finely minced
1 Tbs capers
¼ cup good-quality brine-cured olives, black or green, with pits
1 sprig rosemary
1 handful sage leaves
Salt and black pepper
1 cup dry white wine
Zest and juice of 1/2 lemon
1 Tbs balsamic vinegar

1. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large non-stick pan. Add chicken pieces and sear over medium heat until golden on all sides, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a plate and wipe the pan clean before proceeding.

2. Turn heat to low, add remaining 1 teaspoon oil, and return the chicken to the pan. Add onions and stir frequently until caramelized, about 18 minutes. Add minced garlic, capers, olives, rosemary sprig and sage leaves. Season with just a sprinkle of salt and black pepper.

3. After a couple of minutes, when everything smells fragrant, add wine. Cover and simmer very slowly until the chicken is tender and cooked through (165 degrees). Start checking the temperature of the chicken after 15 minutes to avoid overcooking. Add some water if the sauce gets too dry while simmering.

4. When ready to serve, reheat if necessary, then add lemon juice and zest and balsamic vinegar. Taste and add more lemon if desired. Remove the rosemary sprig and serve.

Servings: 4

Author: JULIA MOSKIN
Source: The New York Times

Have a great day