Here is a baroque version of arroz al horno, or "baked rice." Meatballs chicken, pork, and chickpeas are buried in the rice in this specialty of Elche, a small town in the Alicante Province of Spain. This is an ideal dish for home entertaining, as it can be assembled up to four hours in advance and then finished in the oven just before serving.

For the Meatballs:

• ½ pounds  ground lean pork or veal, or a mixture
• ½ cup fresh bread crumbs, soaked in milk or water to cover and then squeezed dry 
• ¼ cup (I½ oz/45 g) almonds, ground 
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf (Italian) parsley
• 1egg
• grated zest of 1 lemon
• salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

• 1 red bell pepper 
• 6 tablespoons olive oil 
• 3 cloves garlic, peeled but left whole 
• 4 cups chicken stock 
• 1 whole chicken breast, boned with skin intact and cut into 1-inch pieces (about ½ lb)
• 1/2 pound pork, cut into 1-inch cubes
• salt and freshly ground pepper to taste 
• ¼ Ib thick-cut bacon, cut into ¼-inch dice, or sweet pork sausage, sliced 
• 2 cups medium-grain rice
• 1 cup drained, cooked or canned chickpeas (garbanzo beans)

Baked Rice from Alicante

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Cheddar Pastry

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, chilled, cut into small pieces 
• 1 cup  shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup ice water

Filling

• 2¼ cups chicken stock
• 2 skinless, boneless whole chicken breasts, about1 1/2 pounds 
• Salt
• 2½ cups baby carrots, cut into 1-inch pieces 
• 3 celery stalks, thickly sliced 
• 10 ounces pearl onions, peeled
• 1 cup small peas
• 6 tablespoons cold butter
• 7 tablespoons all-purpose flour 
• 1 cup heavy (double) cream
• Salt and freshly ground pepper 
• 1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme 
• 3 tablespoons snipped fresh chives 
• 3 tablespoons minced fresh parsley 
• 1 egg, lightly beaten

Chicken Pot Pie

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• 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts 
• 1 tablespoon sweet paprika 
• salt and pepper
• 2 tablespoons olive oil, in all
• 8 garlic cloves, unpeeled
• 3 tablespoons cooking sherry
• 1 cup chicken stock 
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley

Garlic Chicken

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Note: substitute boiled or grilled shrimp, roasted or smoked turkey

• 3 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breasts 
• 1 (32-ounce) box chicken broth
• 1 lemon
• 1½ cups mayonnaise
• 3 tablespoons Creole mustard
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 1 teaspoon celery salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1 teaspoon hot sauce
• 1 small red onion, finely chopped
• 1 bell pepper, finely chopped
• 3 ribs celery, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 tablespoons capers (optional)
• 1 bunch green onions, chopped

Chicken Salad Remoulade

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• 3 - 4 pound hen, cut up
• 2 heaping tablespoons dark roux recipe here
• 1 small onion
• salt, black pepper, and cayenne to taste
• handful green onion tops
• 1/2 cup chopped parsley
• 1 can sliced mushrooms

Old Style Chicken Stew

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• Flour tortillas

Suggested Fillings

• Various shredded or crumbled cheeses
• Refried beans
• Grilled flank steak (find a recipe here)
• Shredded roast chicken
• Boiled or grilled shrimp
• Pulled pork (find a method here; eliminate BBQ sauce)
• Minced green onions
• Minced cilantro
• Minced garlic
• Sauteed mushrooms
• Grilled onions
• Minced chilis

Quesadilla Bar

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• 1 cup Italian bread, cubed
• 1/2 cup almonds, sliced
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 tablespoons low-sodium chicken broth
• 8 chicken tenders, trimmed, 1 lb
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

Sauce

• 1 cup jarred roasted red peppers, drained
• 1 cup Roma tomatoes, seeded, chopped
• 1/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• salt and red pepper flakes to taste

Almond-Crusted Chicken With Romesco Sauce

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• 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
• 1 tablespoon sweet paprika
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 8 garlic cloves, halved
• 3 tablespoons cooking sherry
• 1/2 cup chicken stock
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 tablespoons Italian (flat-leaf) parsley, finely chopped

Chicken In Garlic Sauce

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• 1¼ lb chicken, ground or minced
• 4 green onions, finely chopped
• 4 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 egg white lightly beaten
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 lemon, halved
• 5 ounces tabouleh
• 4 sesame breadrolls or whole grain rolls

Spicy Chicken Burgers

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Chicken

• 1 (4-pound) chicken, cut into pieces
• salt, black pepper, and cayenne
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1⁄2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 small bell pepper, chopped
• 1 large garlic clove, minced
• 1 tablespoon prepared dark roux (or make your own)
• 2  cups chicken broth
• salt, pepper, and/or Cajun seasoning
• 2 tablespoons fresh minced parsley

Dumplings

• 2 cups baking mix, such as original Bisquick
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 2/3 cup milk

Smothered Chicken Fricassee

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