Mojimbo Chicken

My boyfriend is a bit of an idiot. I'm not sure if he actually dislikes "fancy" stuff or is just afraid of "fancy" people, but he always acts oddly round anything one might consider "upper crust". He very sweetly booked a table a Gordon Ramsay's restaurant at Claridge's for my birthday last month, but when we got to the hotel I basically had to drag him in. He seriously turned white when confronted with the mere suggestion that he speak with the maitre'd to ask for our table. I don't really mind since I'm pretty comfortable in these situations and find his utter fear almost endearing. Even his brother, who aint never lived somewhere fancy like London, has a better grasp on this environment: "You just have to act like you belong- just like the ghetto."

So when my mom started making Mojitos a couple summers back, Kris wasn't quick to accept them and simply refused to call them by their proper name. "What? one of them Mobimbos? Watcha call em? Myhipo?" The drink eventually became known in my household as a "Mojimbo"- because that name apparently makes it fall in line with fried chicken, baked beans and corn puddin' (his mom's kind and not mine).

This is being made in a vase, with gin instead of white rum.... *shame*

Although I haven't mastered the art of "Mojimbo" making (as the picture clearly shows), I've made this Mojito Chicken a couple times and it's pretty darned delicious. Add a side of mashed sweet potatoes and if you don't wanna scare the simple folk...

Mojito Chicken

• 1 (2 1/2 to 3-pound) chicken
• 2 tablespoons garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 2 tablespoons kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• Marinade, recipe follows
• 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• Mojito Glaze, recipe follows

Remove backbone of chicken with poultry shears; flatten chicken out by pressing firmly on skin part of chicken so it will sit evenly in a pan.

(When I did this the first time, I spent a solid 20 minutes pondering where the head and butt used to be on my chicken in order to properly remove the backbone. In the end I took out the breast bone and Kris never let me live it down)

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.

Combine all the dry spices and rub chicken with spice mixture, especially under the skin. Put into a resealable plastic bag and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
In a large mixing bowl combine all the ingredients for the marinade, then add chicken to marinade and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
Remove chicken from marinade and shake off excess marinade. In a large saute pan over medium to high heat, add 4 tablespoons of extra- virgin olive oil. When oil is hot, place chicken skin side down and sear.
When skin is golden brown flip chicken and add 1/2 cup of marinade into pan; place pan in oven and cook the chicken for 25 minutes or until chicken has internal temperature of 165 degrees F. on an instant-read thermometer.
Remove the chicken from oven and brush with Mojito Glaze. Place chicken under broiler for 5 minutes. Remove from broiler, cut and serve immediately with more glaze on the side.

Marinade:

• 1 cup orange juice
• 2 limes, juiced
• 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon sliced garlic
• 1/4 cup dark rum

Combine all ingredients in mixing bowl.

Mojito Glaze:

• 1/2 cup dark rum
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons cold water
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1/4 cup chopped mint leaves
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

In medium sauce pot, place rum, chicken broth and brown sugar. Reduce by 1/3 over high heat. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together water and cornstarch. When rum mixture is reduced, add cornstarch mixture slowly to simmering liquid and whisk for 3 minutes, until 50 percent thicker. Keep in mind that you might not need all of it. When glaze is at desired thickness, add mint leaves and transfer to small bowl. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.