Holiday Do-Ahead Cooking for Dinner Parties

Here's a "company dish" recipe you'll flip over because:

-who has lots of time to cook?
-you can prep the night before the party
-all it needs is 20 minutes in the oven, some rice, and a good wine
-ingredients are wholesome and you can vary them to your own taste
-small kitchen? no need to go into survival mode the night of
-make a double batch of veggies and use them over rice the next day
-the aromas and flavors mingle and seduce

Do-Ahead Pouch Cooking: Mediterranean Chicken with Black Trumpet (Serves 2)

Preheat oven to 400F. Soak and drain 3 oz. Dried Black Trumpet mushrooms as directed. In a heavy-bottomed sauté pan, brown 2 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves in olive oil. They will still be pink in the center. Season to taste. Add the black trumpets, using more oil if necessary. Saute over medium heat until softened, about 6 minutes.

In a small pot, boil 3/4 cup orange juice, zest of 1 orange, ¼ teaspoon saffron, ¼ cup Gewurztraminer or other white wine, and 2 tablespoons butter. Reduce to syrupy consistency, about 1/3 cup. Toss with the black trumpets and ½ cup sliced fresh basil. Season to taste.

Lay out 2 14 x 12-inch sheets of aluminum foil. Crease them in the center along the long side. Mound half the mushroom mixture on one side of each piece. Top with a chicken breast. Loosely fold foil to create a pouch, and close it by rolling up the edges. Place packets on baking sheet and bake 12-18 minutes, depending on how plump your chicken breasts are.

Place packets on dinner plate and have guests open them carefully to avoid steam burns. Inhale the aromas (if you are dieting, you can skip the next step). Dig in.