Anyone Can Cook

Day 10.

Did you ever make "potions" in your bathroom sink, with the door locked so Mom didn't know what mischief you were making? Did you ever make your kid sister taste ingredients blindfolded? Did you ever enter a science fair and do all the work yourself? You're an inventor. Inventors can cook. All cooking boils down to is experimentation. You throw in a little of this, a dash of that. You taste your creation again and again, playing with it. You make a potion. Only this time, it's on your stovetop instead of your bathroom sink. Chef Gusteau knew what he was talking about. Anyone can cook.



So go on! Take one of my recipes and change it up a little or a lot. Make it your own. That's what makes cooking fun! And when you're done, come back and tell me all about YOUR new creation. I'd love to hear about it.





Honey-Orange Chicken over Garlic Brown Rice

serves 4



Ingredients:


2 Tbsp butter

1 3/4 cups chicken broth

1 cup brown rice, uncooked

1 clove garlic, minced

1/4 minced onion

1 Tbsp olive oil

3 chicken breast halves, cut into 1" strips

1 shallot, chopped

1/2 cup orange marmalade

1/3 cup honey*

1 tsp grated ginger

2 Tbsp plus 1 tsp soy sauce

1/2 tsp each sea salt and black pepper


How it's Done:



In a saucepan, melt 2 Tbsp butter. Add your rice and garlic and toast for a few minutes until lightly browned and aromatic. Add chicken broth and diced onion. Cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer 50 minutes.



Meanwhile, heat 1 Tbsp olive oil in your skillet over medium heat. Cook chicken strips until no longer pink. Transfer to a plate.



Add the shallot to the skillet and cook five minutes. Stir in marmalade, honey, ginger, soy sauce, salt, and pepper.



Return the chicken to the skillet and stir to coat with sauce. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 10 minutes.



Plate each portion over rice. Garnish with thinly sliced oranges and fresh parsley.



*Tip for measuring honey, peanut butter, molasses, or any other sticky ingredient: first spray your measuring cup with non-stick spray. Your ingredient will slip right out!