Food

4 ea Large chicken breasts
1/4 ts Chili powder

Skinned and boned
1/4 c Flour
1/2 ts Garlic salt
2/3 c White wine
1/2 ts Paprika
1/2 lb Thin sliced baked ham

Cut chicken breasts into strips about 1″ wide. Place in smoker and smoke for approximately 1 hour. Dredge in a the mixture of garlic salt, paprika, chili powder and flour. Brown strips in 3 tbs of butter. Add white wine, cover, and simmer for approximately 20 minutes until tender. Cool. Wrap each piece of chicken breast in strips of thinly sliced baked ham. Skewer with cocktail picks. Wrap and carry in a cooler to the picnic.
Chicken Breast Handling, Safety & Storage

When working with chicken breasts it is essential that proper handling and storage is used to ensure safety. You cannot see the harmful bacteria on the chicken breasts so you must handle it as if it is present. Salmonella is a bacteria that can cause foodborne illness and is sometimes found on chicken. Follow the guidelines below to ensure safety against foodborne illnesses when handling chicken breasts.

Chicken Breast Contamination Prevention

Cleanliness: A clean working environment is essential in the prevention of contamination when working with chicken breasts.

Be sure to wash hands thoroughly before and after handling raw chicken breasts. The work area, cutting boards, and utensils must be thoroughly cleaned with hot soapy water after being exposed and should not be used for other foods until properly cleaned. This will prevent cross contamination of bacteria from the chicken breasts to other foods.

When working with other foods at the same time as preparing and cooking chicken breasts, be sure to use different utensils for each food. Do not use the same cutting board to carve cooked chicken breasts as was used for the raw meat, unless it has been properly washed and dried before using. Cutting boards should be thoroughly scrubbed with hot soapy water after each use and periodically cleaned with a bleach solution consisting of 1 tablespoon of bleach per gallon of water.

Handling: Raw chicken breasts should be purchased just before checking out at the store so it is exposed to unsafe temperatures for as short a time as possible. It should be placed in a plastic bag to prevent any leakage from contaminating any other foods. After purchasing it should be taken home and refrigerated as soon as possible. In warm weather, be sure your vehicle is air-conditioned or bring a cooler along to store the chicken breasts in while traveling home.

When cooking and serving chicken breasts, the meat must be handled properly to prevent contamination. Use a different platter and cooking utensils for cooked meat than what was used for the raw meat, unless they have been properly cleaned and dried after exposure to the raw chicken breasts. Be sure the raw meat does not come in contact with foods that have already been cooked or foods that do not require cooking before being consumed, such as raw vegetables and fruit.

If taking cooked chicken breasts to be served at another location, be sure to pack the chicken breasts so it maintains the proper temperatures. If you are keeping it hot, it should maintain at least a 140°F temperature and if it is cold, it must be kept at or below 40°F.

Chicken Breast Cooking Safety

Be sure chicken breast is cooked completely to eliminate the chance of foodborne illness. Check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer in several locations to ensure doneness. Internal temperature should be a minimum of 170°F when checked in chicken breast area. If a meat thermometer is not available, check for doneness by piercing the chicken breast with a fork and be sure the juices run clear.

If cooking a chicken breast that has been stuffed, be sure to check the stuffing for doneness. It should reach an internal temperature of 165°F. Do not stuff until just before cooking and remove immediately once it is done. It is recommended that stuffing be cooked outside the chicken breast in a separate dish to reduce the risk of bacteria growth.

Do not partially cook chicken breasts and then store to complete cooking at a later time. The chicken breast should be cooked completely.

Proper Storage of Chicken Breasts

Chicken breasts should be stored at a temperature outside of the temperature zone in which bacteria, that causes foodborne illness, grows quickly. The danger temperature zone is a range between 40°F and 140°F. Raw chicken breasts can be stored in a refrigerator for several days. If it is not going to be used within the recommended time, it should be frozen to prevent it from perishing. Leftover cooked chicken breasts should be wrapped tightly and refrigerated as soon as possible.

Do not leave the chicken breasts at room temperature for more than two hours. If cooked chicken breasts are not going to be used within four days of cooking, it should be frozen.