Food Freak Friday...and other musings

It's Friday, which only means one thing - it's time for another one of my favorite recipes! You might be thinking, where were you LAST Friday, when you were supposed to post a recipe? Well, let me tell you a little secret. Just like my tagline says, I am a mom by day and a writer by naptime. Therefore, writing only happens when, you guessed it, the children are actually napping. Unfortunately, the nap protests were in rare form last week, and the demands of the nappers were so vast that it essentially left no time for me to actually write. I apologize in advance, but if you would like to negotiate with the protestors, then by all means, come teach me your ways.

However, I'm saying quiet prayers that the children will stay asleep for a fleeting 45 minutes so that I can get you this recipe because YOU NEED IT. Here it is, in all of it's easy-to-prepare, incredibly delicious glory. I present to you...

Asian Chicken Salad

You wanna feel all fancy in the kitchen? You wanna prepare something healthy and delicious? This one is for you. If you are not a "salad person" do not fear, this is every bit hardy and substantial, and will make you consider leaving your "meat and potatoes-only"cult to venture into the world of colorful vegetables. Just don't say I didn't warn you...

Ingredients:

• 1 head of Romaine lettuce
• 1 carrot
• 1/2 small head of red cabbage (I love the color and am ambivalent about the taste, but if you and red cabbage are besties, then by all means, use the whole thing)
• 1/3 lb. Snow Peas
• 2 or 3 Chicken Breasts (Your meat, your choice)
• 3 Tbsp. Soy Sauce
• 2 Tbsps. Vegetable Oil
• 1/4 c. Chopped cilantro
• 1 Thumb Ginger
• 1 Thai Chili
• 1 lime
• A handful of cashews

The whole family of ingredients! (Except the Vegetable Oil because it was in time out in the pantry)

​Directions:

• Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil. Coarsely chop the cabbage and lettuce. Slice the snow peas in half lengthwise and grate the carrot.
• Throw the snow peas into the boiling water for 30 seconds and remove with a slotted spoon.
• Ok, so let's talk chicken for a moment. For the sake of this recipe, we just need cooked chicken, so it's "choose your own adventure" time!
  1. If you're feeling lazy and untinerested in the process of cooking, and your children are demanding every ounce of your attention, just throw those chicken breasts RIGHT NOW into that boiling water. Reduce the heat to simmer and cook for 12-15 minutes (or until cooked through). Do not feel guilty for a hot second. You are making dinner for your children, and that my friends, deserves a million gold stars.
  2. If you have a husband who wants to feel helpful (like mine did last night), then you can sprinkle some salt and pepper over those breasts and let him fulfill his manly duties by grilling those breasts outside. My husband doesn't let a raw piece of meat get past him without trying his hardest to introduce it to his grill.
  3. Lastly, you can turn your oven on to broil, and cook the breasts on a baking sheet for about 5-6 minutes per side. Easy peasy, chicken squeezy.

(Y'all, it just doesn't matter. The chicken is not the star here, it is just a vehicle for delivering the ridiculous Asian flavors that are coming your way.)

Taste the rainbow

Courtesy of the Grill Man

• Once the chicken is cooked through, you can use the same trick I showed you last time: SHRED THE CHICKEN IN THE KITCHENAID. (That kitchen trick never ceases to amaze me!)

BING

BANG

BOOM!

• Now for the good stuff. Mince the ginger and finely chop as much of the thai chili as your taste buds can handle (1/4 tsp. is a good place to start.) In a bowl, whisk together soy sauce, vegetable oil, cilantro, ginger, chili, and the juice from the lime. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper. 
• In the bowl with the dressing, toss in the lettuce, carrot, snow peas, cabbage and chicken. Mix it all together until the salad is evenly dressed. 

Heavenly dressing

Toss it up!

• Serve and top with cashews. Guys. You will never order an Asian Chicken Salad anywhere else, because all others will only disappoint.You're welcome.

YALL...

Wishing you kudos in the kitchen,

McKinley