Ian still doesn’t know yet, but he has a New Year’s resolution aspiration. I haven’t told him, and quite frankly, I don’t think I’ll bother. For a year-and-a-half I have pandered to and abetted in a lifestyle I don’t approve of. Somehow the proverbial arm got twisted up my back and I have adapted a little too easily to life with the use of the remaining appendage. At three-and-a-half, I don’t think it’s too early to set goals and keep them. It’s a life skill, and who am I to get in the way of that(?)
I’ve decided to put my size-8-thanks-to-my-last-pregnancy foot down and grow a back bone; well, one that doesn’t bend as much anyway. I’m tired of him preferring a chef’s concoctions over mine, it’s despicable and down right rude. So, Chef Boyardee, your days are gone. I have been quietly phasing you out over the past three months and I am happy to say, you’re gone! We used the last tin of you last week and–he didn’t even finish it. We didn’t use your services all that much, but enough to get my knickers in a twist.
So far, we have dabbled with (and consumed) pork, chicken-flavoured rice, corn (that’s HUGE!), braised beef, real mashed potato, egg (salad) sandwiches, black beans, pistachio and cashew nuts. And I’m not done yet.
There are occasions, like last night where I pandered to my own taste buds, because I can. I could feel myself hitting this rut and I didn’t want to go near it. So, I looked up chicken breast recipes on a popular recipe sharing website and found the top hit: Bourbon chicken. It is also bourbon-free! Yes, it is just a clever name. It is reminiscent of Teriyaki chicken with a Chinese red chili chicken back-hander. It is amazingly tasty. Ian didn’t have any…
Prep. Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 35 mins
2 lbs boneless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
1-2 tbsp olive oil
1 garlic clove, crushed
1/4 tsp ginger
3/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 cup apple juice
1/3 cup light brown sugar
2 tbsp ketchup
1 tbsp cider vinegar
1/2 cup water
5 ½ tbsp soy sauce
Heat oil in a large skillet. Add chicken pieces and cook until lightly browned. Remove chicken. Add remaining ingredients, heating over medium Heat until well mixed and dissolved. Add chicken and bring to a hard boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Serve over hot rice and ENJOY.
You can thank me later.
a Brit different 
I know how you feel – I’ve always cooked EVERYTHING they eat at home from scratch. Until I sick this week – then I went and bought a huge frozen lasagna.
Bella has been talking about that damn thing for days, how it’s the best thing she’s ever tasted and she wants more and blah blah blah. She never raves about anything I cook like that. But she thinks I made the lasagna and I ain’t tellin’ her otherwise.
Gotta keep my ‘mommy is the best cooker ever’ cred up.
Keep at it girl! My 12 year old only started eating vegetables in the last year. I don’t know whether I wore him down by putting them on his plate anyway, or that his tastebuds have finally matured. My 4 year old eats absolutely anything but I have no clue what I did right!
As for the Chef Boyardee – have you ever looked at the sodium content in them? Enough to kill a small child.
PS. The Barefoot Contessa has a fab recipe for Parmesan Breaded Chicken which my kids love.
You know – this is just what I need in the middle of the friggin’ morning when my stomach is grumbling at me to begin with because breakfast wasn’t even anywhere big enough but I gotta cut down because I’m going to England in a month and a half and they’re gonna charge me freight for haulin’ my fat ass over there but it really sounds good over at your house that food is amazing and I am sooooooo hungry.
mmmmmmmm!! yay to you getting your baby to eat real food. he will love you for it one day. i promise! i get to be very stuck up and say “my mom didn’t let us eat junk food.” “we also didn’t get to eat fast food very much.” “i never had a frozen dinner until i was in college.” now i may be making up for allllll of those (in the same meal) but its still fun to say! 🙂
Like I was saying, he didn’t get it much anyway. My Mum always gave us fresh fruit and veg and I have always wanted this for Ian. He’s a very, very picky eater but is coming around. What’s strange is he loves corned beef hash, tuna, salsa, all fruit and turkey sausages. He won’t touch veg except for green beans and raw carrots. He loves my homemade mac & cheese and my meatloaf, I’m just trying to get him to expand it.
Have him try some haggis.
Although coming by haggis in Montana might be akin to getting a meatball on the North Pole.
Mine is a very picky eater, too. Way to put your foot down with him!
Sometimes you freak me out. I was looking for a bourbon chicken recipe the other night but didn’t find one that was bourbon free. You lucky devil!
Have you made him egg in a cup with soldiers yet? That’s a favorite of mine along with raviolli and toast.
What kind of cheese do you use to make your mac? I’ve made it here and it just tastes like flour.
Go mommy! My mom was the same. Actually my grandmother cared for me as a child mostly since my parents worked, and she made everything from scratch. I never saw a microwave until I was near 20 years old!
Your recipe sounds de-lish 🙂
Sonds yummie and yes, I also think that the switch is a very good idea :)!!
That recipe sounds glorious. I have chicken, I have a stove… I think I have dinner planned for tomorrow…. thanks!
Mmm sounds good, think will add to the menu for next week 🙂
Good for you! I cook everything from scratch, mainly because it’s cheaper, but I also prefer to eat as much whole foods as possible. It’s amazing how much better real stroganoff tastes compared to Hamburger Helper.
This recipe looks yummy. I’ll let you know if I try it.