Chicken with Wild Mushroom and Balsamic Cream Sauce
I’m not topping the drink with the bitter orange. I learned my lesson last time. Just a few dashes should do it.
And there goes the vodka. Looks like I’ve got to make another trip to Bluegrass Beverages!
Okay, not as bad as the last drink I had with orange bitters in, but still pretty rough. I ran out of vodka before getting the recommended amount, and I don’t think there was enough lemon juice or triple sec (that’s the orange-flavored liquor I used) to cut down on the bitterness. Still, it’s drinkable, so I shall.
I had the hardest time finding orzo at the grocery store. Not with the rice. Searched the pasta aisle. Wasn’t sure if it was ethnic or not, so I looked in the Hispanic section, then the smaller ethnic areas. Eventually found it with the kosher products.
I wanted to go with fresh mushrooms, I really did, but they were incredibly expensive. The creminis were $6.99/lb., and the shitakes were $9.99/lb.! So I went for prepackaged, and even decided to slice my own shitakes in order to save a few more cents. Yeah, I’m that cheap.
I was surprised at how good this was. Not the chicken or mushrooms; I assumed they’d be good. It was the orzo. I thought I had cooked it too long then let it sit too long waiting for the chicken and mushrooms to finish. Mixed all together, though, it was a pleasant eating experience.
I apologize if future posts may be light on pictures or details. Personal bidniz, donchaknow. I'll do my best to keep these post top-shelf, though. They might be a bit fewer and farther between, but I'll do what I can.
Cider Vinegar Chicken with Smashed Potatoes and a Watercress and Cucumber Salad
Usually, any chicken dish is a safe bet with my kids. They’ll eat mashed potatoes, but these homemade smashed potatoes still have the skin in it, so I’m sure that’ll turn them off.
The drink for the evening, a Long Jean, was quite good. If you’ve never had Campari before, I liken it to putting a handful of pennies in your mouth and sucking. I don’t see how people drink this stuff by itself. The OJ really helps take some of the bite out of it, but it’s still a somewhat bitter drink. I'm okay with that, though. Right now I'm a hoppy, bitter beer lover, so that's upped my tolerance for Campari a bit.
To keep in a decent budget, I’ll use dry spices rather than fresh. That’s what I’m doing with the thyme here. I’m not much of a stickler for that, but sometimes I’ll go fresh, usually with basil or mint.
A jar of minced garlic again instead of chopping a clove up. It’s easier, and I’ve got to get rid of this giant jar somehow.
I use broth as opposed to stock, just to save a buck or two. Can anyone tell if it actually makes a difference in the recipe?
I’m only using one onion. I don’t like onions all that much, and sometimes I’ll leave them out all together. Sometimes I’ll make due with half. I usually do the same with salt. I usually never add it to a recipe.
Kroger had no watercress, and according to the two produce guys I talked with, there wasn’t a similar substitute. So I decided to go with some good ol’ iceberg lettuce. I know the kids’ll eat a salad with that in it. They probably wouldn’t have touched the watercress.
I love these knives. They were a wedding present from somebody who I don’t think I’ve spoken to since the wedding. My wife might have. Anyways, we got this set and a set of two LamsonSharp knives as well, but I these better. They’re crazy sharp and good for slicing. I like the LamsonSharp for chopping.
I didn’t bother asking the produce guy about seedless cucumbers. I used to use English cucumbers…are those seedless? Eh, two out of my three kids love regular cucumbers, so I thought why mess with a sure thing?
I’m quartering my potatoes instead of halving them. The recipe calls for small potatoes, but these don’t look all that small. It was the only type or red-skinned potatoes Kroger had, though. I love my local Kroger Marketplace, but I miss the Publix that’s right down the road. They have a wonderful produce section, but shopping there hurts my checking account.
I’m not tossing the salad with the dressing, I’m just going to drizzle it on top. I plan on having leftovers, and I don’t think some dressing-drenched lettuce will hold up in the fridge.
My kids never fail to surprise me. In a meal that they all should have devoured, the two youngest only ate their salad, and the oldest ate nothing at all. Sigh. I loved it, though. The honey used to glaze the onions really made it a winner. This’ll be one I keep trying every now and then to see maybe they’ll take a chance on it.
