It's Mila-time

As requested, a few pictures of our new addition:

Gwen carrying her on the way home from North Carolina.

At the dog park.

Going nuts with her Kong toy.

Recipe #3 - Spiced Broiled Chicken Breast

This is a variation on the technique described here.

Interesting spice mix on this one, with cumin, allspice, ground ginger, cinnamon, cayenne and nutmeg.  Gwen and I put it on both sides of the chicken and broiled in the oven.  After it came out, we hit it with lemon juice as in the base recipe.

Notes: The serving suggestions were to pair this with eggplant and yogurt or tahini sauce or some rice.  We just had it with some broccoli and tomatoes (coming up soon).  It would've definitely been better with some sort of sauce. 

Modifications: Definitely some sauce, maybe the yogurt sauce mentioned with the recipe. The spices felt a little gritty without any sort of sauce.  

Make again? : Yes, but not a must.  I think the base recipe was better than this variation, at least the way we did it.

Recipe #2 - 5 Minute Drizzle Sauce

Another day, another recipe.  I actually made this yesterday but I never said I'd post the recipes the same day I made them so get off my back.

This is another one from the "How to Cook Everything" book that I'm probably going to use for the majoriy of my recipes.  This is a series of sauces that are used for drizzling on vegetables, chicken, beef, whatever.  A good way to cook something the usual way and make a quick sauce to put on top to change things up.

I made the base version of this, and later on I'll try some of the variations.  I started with some 

olive oil, cooked some garlic in it for a couple of minutes, then added balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, salt and pepper.  I adjusted some of the seasonings at the end as the directions said.  I served it on broccoli and chicken to try both out.

Notes: It really did only take 5 minutes total, so this is definitely the type of thing you can do while chicken or vegetables are cooking.  It went well with both things I tried it with.  

Modifications: I'd like to try with onions instead of garlic, and I'd like to get the vinegar a bit more integrated with the oil in the future.

Make again?: Definitely, and will try a bunch of the variations.

Overconfidence

Oh well.

Accidents

"Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new" -Einstein

Yesterday was Mila's first day without an accident.  I've never been so happy to not have poop on my kitchen floor.

Recipe #1 - Broiled Boneless Chicken

Here's the first of the 365 recipes of 2009.  This is the Broiled Boneless Chicken recipe from page 641 of How to Cook Everything.  It's one of the Essential Recipes that can be modified in a bunch of ways.  I went with the base version, which is basically just broiled chicken with very light seasoning. 

I started with 3 chicken breasts and pounded them a bit flatter.  I covered them with about 3-4 cloves of garlic, some olive oil, salt and pepper.  I let it marinate in the pan for a little while as I made the 5-Minute Drizzle Sauce (which I will 

post about soon).  I turned on the broiler, put the 

skillet in and cooked for about 3:45 per side.   

The second picture is how it looked like when I yanked it from the oven and put some lemon juice on it.  

I've never cooked chicken with a broiler before.  I've done it on the grill and in a skillet a million 

times, but this was really simple.

Notes: The texture was awesome.  It was as juicy and well cooked as any chicken I've ever made.  

Modifications: Next time I could use less olive oil.  I could've gotten by with half of what I used for sure.  Might be worth trying with 3:30 or 

even less of cooking to see if that might be even better.  Lots of variations on the technique in the book to try.

Make again?: Definitely, either like this or with some different spice combinations.

2009 - There Will Be Blood

So, I took out my bike on my first trip to use the clipless pedals today.  The conventional wisdom is that everyone falls with these pedals when they're getting used to them.  For those that don't know, these pedals require you to turn your ankle out to unclip before you stop or your feet will be stuck and you'll fall over.  I was sure this wouldn't happen to me because I was going to pay so much attention that I'd remember to unclip.  I practiced a few times in the driveway and did fine so I was ready for the road.

Predictably, as soon as I get to the exit of the 

community I unclip one leg and instead of putting 

my weight on one leg like I had planned I tried to do it on both and ate it.  Later on I stopped at a light, put my weight on one leg and lost my balance and fell again, leading to both of these exciting cuts.  I probably won't ride again until after my marathon just to make

 sure I don't hurt anything else.

I started off the new year with Gwen at midnight drinking some wine and eating the traditional 12 grapes for good luck.  Next time I'll eat an extra one for good luck unclipping on my bike.