orange-braised chicken with fennel, asparagus, and carrots

i am visiting the family this week, and tonight was "my night" to cook.  apparently i needed some vitamin c in my diet, because everything i cooked/baked today had oranges or orange juice (or both) in it.  what i ended up serving for dinner was this: orange-braised chicken with fennel, asparagus, and carrots!

(i swear there is chicken under there...)

a few tbsp vegetable oil (i used canola)

6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

2 small (or 1 large) fennel bulb, sliced

1 small bag baby carrots

1 white onion, sliced

2 bunches asparagus, trimmed (bent and snapped)

5 clementines, or 1-2 lg. oranges, peeled and segmented

orange juice (a few cups -- eyeball it and use your best judgment)

preheat oven to 350

on stove top, heat oil in a large dutch oven on med/med-high heat.  pat chicken breasts dry with paper towel, salt and pepper one side.  once pot is hot, put seasoned side down to sear.  season top side while the bottom side sears.  sear both sides, about 4-5 minutes per side.  remove chicken from pot, set aside.

add fennel and onions to dutch oven.  after a few minutes, add baby carrots (or peeled carrots cut into 2-3 in pieces).  once onions begin to soften, add asparagus.  salt and pepper to taste

after a few more minutes of cooking, spread a layer of orange segments over vegetables.  put chicken breasts on top of this layer, and top with the rest of the orange segments.

pour in orange juice to cover vegetables and just touching the bottom of the chicken breasts.  cover and bring up to the beginning of a boil.

uncover, put in oven, and let braise for about half an hour.

check chicken for done-ness (should be white, not pink, all the way through).

this was a total hit with the fam!  really delicious!  moist, tender chicken, and the citrus was a really nice accent to the veggies!  i served it with fresh spinach that i just wilted with orange segements and toasted pecans.  none of the orange was overpowering, but it just added a really nice freshness to the whole meal!  it would actually be really great in the summer, but i love oranges during cold weather as well.  i recommend it, and i'm pretty sure my family would, too!

and, of course, have a very happy thanksgiving!