This weekend, people, I was consumed with the desire to cook.
On Friday, I purchased a quarter kilo of chicken, and made it go really far- for three spectacular (says she modestly) meals.
That evening, I opened a bottle of wine brought all the way from Delhi (no, I have not found a purveyor of grape-juice-made-interesting in Ddun yet), poured me a glass and set to work on the chicken. I deboned it, and boiled the bones with some veggies for stock. With the meat and some stock, I made me a jambalaya. You might have noticed that I have a slight tendency towards self-congratulation, but this was worthy. I know it happened by accident, and I will not be able to replicate it again, but Lord, this was so good. It was perfectly cooked- creamy but not mushy, had the right amount of flavour and a smidgen of heat, and was hearty and fragrant and warm and awesome. I wish you were all here.
The recipe? I fried my chicken till brown, took the pieces out and added far too much garlic and some sliced onions to the pan. Tossed that around a bit, then added diced tomatoes, and followed that up with some green peppers. Tossed in some chilli powder, a squeeze of lemon and a sprinkling of salt. Added some rice and moved it around till translucent, threw in the chicken, then added hot stock till the things in the pan were covered. Put a lid on the pan, and let it simmer while I cleared the kitchen and drank my wine. Opened the pan to check, and there was perfection. A sprinkling of coriander, and mmmmm.
It was when I sat down for dinner with the rice and another glass of wine, sat down in my house with the first poultry dish that I had cooked there, at the end of a satisfying work week, after having talked with/emailed friends and family, that I realised that it was Thanksgiving.
This is not a perfect world- infact it is filled with far too much horror, and pain and anger and pettiness, but I have a lot to say thanks for, and so do we all. Cheers, people. Miss all those of you I had been with at this time last year. Come and visit me.
3 comments:
Taraji humbly requests permission to link to this post at a later date, as she is enthralled by easy to make chicken recipies and wants to try this one.
Much tunks,
tara.speaks@blogspot.com
I so enjoy reading your posts, Chicu. Your writing is just beautiful.
I hope you are happy in your new home, and I think of you often. I must try that chicken recipe, too!
Sending hugs from Seattle,
Alix
you sound 'at home'. i can actually see how you must have filled it with your cooking smells and your poetry.
wishing you lots of peace, rest, safety and happiness in your new home.
nadi
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