The Dinner Doctor

Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2006 10:53 am **REVIEW: Mock Chicken Marabella**

Made this last night.

I was very intrigued by this recipe.. especially because Anne talks about how popular it is... I had never heard of it.. and I've worked in the food and beverage industry my whole life! Is it a regional thing? Why have I never heard of it? Anyway.. I was also intrigued b/c of all the unusual ingredients.

We were pleased with the results. It smelled wonderful while cooking. Picky boy came over for dinner and I warned him that he might not like it - I refused to tell him what was in it. He looooooved it - ate a full two plates of it. I think he was just happy for a home cooked meal (his girlfriend dumped him about 6 weeks ago and he's been living on hot dogs and velveeta).

DBF and I both gave it a "it was pretty good and yes should be made again but not for a couple of months"

Then after dinner we were just relaxing at the table and I pulled out my DD book... um.. yeah - in my haste I used balsamic VINEGAR instead of VINAIGRETTE. Big difference!!! You know, I did think it was odd when I was making it, and the sauce was BLACK. But since I had never heard of the dish, I just trusted Anne... too bad I can't trust my own eyesight!!

I am anxious to make this again the proper way.. I think it will be fantastic!

Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2006 3:07 pm **Mock Chicken Marbabella DD pages 166-167**

Hi Catherine, Very Happy

I had never heard of it either, and what a combo of ingredients. I was surprised to see the prunes combined with the other ingredients. Thanks Catherine for another great review.

Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2006 3:25 pm

I've been a bit under the weather, so have been watching a lot of tv, Food Network mostly (DH threatens to put parental controls on that and HGTV Rolling Eyes

). I saw Mario Batali make this dish the other day and thought how strange the prunes were. Of course, his guests all just raved about it. That was the first time I had ever heard about it and then I was looking at DD last night and saw this recipe. I think I'm going to try it soon.

Thanks for the review. Glad to hear I'm not the only one who sometimes miss reads something in a recipe. It's because we are always thinking ahead of how we're going to do it, I think.

Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2006 8:33 am

I found a version with dried cherries instead of prunes... it wasn't a recipe but a menu from a restaurant that had the description on it....

maybe I will use them next time. The guys were all freaked out about the prunes. Laughing

Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2006 8:39 am

The cherries sound good. Wonder how dates would do?

Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2006 11:19 am

hmmm... I feel like dates sometimes have almost a mealy texture... not sure about them in this recipe... maybe it's just me.

Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2006 6:48 pm

I just made this last night. The family's reaction was neutral. I thought it was good, but needed something. I used chopped green olives instead of the "olive salad." Next time I'll add some capers as suggested, and possibly even more olives than called for. It needed a little more tang.

Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2006 1:37 pm

I did use the olive salad - I found it in the Italian section of the store with the tapenades.

he he .. you want more tang? Try messing up like I did and use straight vinegar! Rolling Eyes

Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2009 10:35 am

I made the Mock Chicken Marabella last week for my husband and MIL. I had to make my own olive salad, but it was easy in the processor. I thought the dish was very sweet; I expected much more tang from the olives and capers. Next time I make this, I will add more of the olive mixture.