Recipe: Chicken Oreganato (not the Macaroni Grill's recipe) and Scampi Oreganato

Chicken Oreganato
Submitted by: Teresa
Makes 6 to 8 servings
"This flavorful recipe is good warm, cold or at room temperature. It works very well for picnics. "

7 chicken thighs
2 teaspoons dried oregano
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 lemon, juiced

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Wash chicken well and pat dry. Mix oregano with salt and pepper to taste. Rub well over all of the chicken pieces. Put chicken in a greased 9x13 inch baking dish. Whisk the oil with the lemon juice and drizzle half over the chicken. Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes. Turn the chicken pieces and drizzle with the remaining oil/lemon mixture. Bake for another 15 to 20 minutes. Serve warm, cold or at room temperature!

Scampi Oreganato (Serves 6 to 8)

2 1/2 lbs. Unpeeled Shrimp
1 Tbs. Salt
Freshly Ground Black Pepper to taste
1/2 cup Unsalted Butter, softened
2 Tbs. Fresh Garlic, chopped
1 tsp. Dried Oregano
An additional 1/2 cup Unsalted Butter, softened
2 Tbs. fresh Lemon Juice
3 to 4 cups Rice Pilaf, cooked
About 2/3 cup Green Peas, cooked
Fresh Parsley and Lemon Wedges for Garnish

Thoroughly rinse and drain the unpeeled shrimp. While washing the shrimp, look for a black vein on the back. If the vein is black, a light incision will expose the vein for easy removal. Place all cleaned and deveined shrimp on a baking sheet that has been brushed with butter, and add salt and pepper to taste.

Meanwhile, prepare rice pilaf as directed on the package, making sure to add the cooked peas when the rice is ready to serve.

Return to preparing the scampi by combining the softened butter with the garlic and oregano in a small mixing bowl. Brush the shrimp with the butter mixture and then bake in a pre-heated 450-F degree oven for about 5 minutes, or until the shrimp are opaque.

In a small glass bowl, combine any of the remaining garlic and oregano butter with the additional 1/2 cup butter and the lemon juice. Reserve the mixture to pour over the broiled shrimp at serving time. A few seconds in the microwave or a few minutes in the saucepan will quickly re-heat the buttery lemon mixture.

Serve each shipmate a plate filled with a scoop of the rice pilaf -- with peas -- and a portion of the Scampi Oreganato. Garnish with parsley and lemon, if desired.