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crescent moon kitchen

seeing spring green: crispy pickle brined chicken & silky key lime cheesecake!

Published 11 months agoΒ β€’Β 1 min read

end of May recipe drop

Here's what I cooked up this month! a little savory, a little sweet, all springy, summery goodness.

​crispy pickle brine chicken thighs​

These pickle brine chicken thighs are soaked in real dill pickle juice, then tossed and fried in the lightest, crispiest coating.

Punchy pickle flavor, meet juicy fried chicken!

here's what you'll need:

  • bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
  • pickle juice
  • all-purpose flour
  • paprika
  • black pepper
  • neutral oil
  • fresh dill
  • mayonnaise
  • whole grain mustard
  • ground coriander
  • fresh garlic

how long to brine pickle-brined chicken?

How long to brine chicken thighs in pickle juice all depends on their size.

I have tried mine for 12 and 18 hours, both with delicious results! I would say marinating chicken in pickle juice for 24 hours is the max though, as it could make the chicken overly salty if it goes too long.

​no-bake key lime cheesecake​

My no bake key lime cheesecake has the distinctive brightness of fresh key limes, blended into a silken cheesecake filling and smothered over buttery sweet ginger cookie crust.

The fact that you don’t even have to turn on your oven makes it the perfect summer dessert!

here's what you'll need:

  • fresh key limes!
  • crushed gingersnap cookies
  • unsalted butter
  • brown sugar
  • cream cheese
  • fat-free sweetened condensed milk
  • vanilla extract
  • cool whip
  • crystallized ginger

what sets a no bake cheesecake?

There are a few different variables that give a no bake cheesecake its set texture.

First, is the inclusion of dairy ingredients like cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk, and cool whip (or heavy cream). The chemical makeup of these ingredients have a strong molecular structure on their own, and even more so when combined.

The chill time in the fridge is the second piece of the setting-without-baking puzzle. Think about it how firm a block of cream cheese is when its straight from the refrigerator! Chilling the filling in the crust serves the same solidification purpose for your cake in its entirety.

And finally, in the case of this no-bake cheesecake in particular, the key lime juice plays a thickening role too as it reacts with the dairy ingredients. Science!

stay tuned for more recipe drops!

Kelly πŸŒ™

600 1st Ave, Ste 330 PMB 92768, Seattle, WA 98104-2246
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crescent moon kitchen

professional chef // perpetual free-spirit

Helping cooks of all kinds create a little magic in every meal! I write approachably inspired recipes, share secrets from my formal culinary training, and offer insights from my 10+ years of food industry experience. Join me for delicious musings, always with a dose of informal attitude and an occasionally enchanted edge πŸŒ™

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