First off, if you have cats and live near a Publix, Meow Mix (the 3-pound size) is buy one, get one free. Plus, they had the bags that have 20-percent more food! I might not have to buy dry food for Daphne for a year! Okay, maybe just a few months, but still, good sale. As you can see, Daphne was thrilled.
Moving on!
I was talking to my friend Paige, who is one of my gurus of all things food, and she asked if she had ever sent me the recipe for something called Chicken Bonne Femme. It's a chicken dish served at a restaurant called Galatoire's in New Orleans. I said, "no.. tell me about it."
"Well," she said, "it has bacon."
"Sounds good," I said quickly. Because, as we all know, anything with bacon has to be awesome.
I hit the store with my list, and came home ready to create the rumored fabulousness of Chicken Bonne Femme. Which really means Good Girl Chicken. Stop snickering. Quite a bit of prep, chopping veggies thinly. First are two onions. I like to use Spanish onions, but apparently they are illegal here, because they are hardly every available at the Publix. White onions it is.
Then two large potatoes. You have to peel them first. That's my fancy KitchenAide peeler. It pivots. Thanks Jenny!!!
And now for the best part!!!! Plus, it was on sale!!! It was a sign!
Hey, wait. That isn't bacon! Anyway, the ABC Liquor Store man, after offering up a sample of a lovely French sparkling wine, recommended this Chardonnay. And it was on sale. Plus I had earned a coupon. I have a frequent drinker card there. I know, you're all shocked. The verdict: Quite tasty. Sharp, but with a smooth caramel finish. Props to the ABC Liquor Store man.
Okay, now HERE is the important part. Also on sale! Isn't it beautiful!?!?
The recipe calls for half a pound of bacon. If you listen closely, I think Paula Deen just squealed. I figured the easiest way to measure a half pound was not to measure at all.
And now I have breakfast for tomorrow! And block of sharp red KitchenAide knives. They look nice and, God forbid, in case of a break-in, I don't need a permit to use them.
(As you can see from all of blogs and pictures, I like red things in my kitchen. My dream used to be a bright red KitchenAide mixer. It would look so pretty on my counter. But, unfortunately that is probably all it would do. I am not much of a baker. I would love some really fabulous pots and pans though, Santa. Maybe an apron or two...)
Now for the chicken part of Good Girl Chicken (stop snickering!). A whole fryer, chopped into 8 pieces. Just season with salt and pepper and pop it in at 400 for 30 minutes. Turn it after 15 minutes. (That means flip it over, not rotate it clockwise.)
Back to BACON! I can bring it home, and fry it up in a pan.
After I took the bacon out, I slid in a couple tablespoons of butter (SQUEAL goes Paula Deen) and the onions and stirred them around until the onions were soft.
Speaking of frying, I had to deep fry the potatoes. Again, there goes Paula Deen squealing. I've never deep fried anything. Honestly. So I was a bit nervous. I used vegetable oil in my skillet, and fried them in a couple batches. Now, I've complained a lot about how much I hate cooking on an electric stove. Well, if I had been cooking with gas tonight... this would have probably caused a huge grease fire. WOW. That oil will splatter and splash when you drop those potatoes in. Thankfully, I had my wok top to cover it up!
Fry them until they are golden brown(ish) and then take them out. I put them in another glass pan lined with some paper towels. Meanwhile, mix the bacon in with the onions and a tablespoon of minced garlic. I used the minced garlic in a jar. It's easy.
Then, you mix the onion mix with the potatoes, and pour it over chicken. Pop the chicken back in for about 10 more minutes, and POW!!! Good Girl Chicken (stop snickering!).
I served it up with some steamed haricot verts. Yum!!! It was really tasty. How could it not be? It's got bacon!!! But the chicken itself was really juicy and flavorful, just by seasoning with salt and pepper and baking it!
And then I had to clean up, which involved bleach spray, a sponge, a mop and a load of laundry. Totally worth it.
Although, it should be called Bad Girl Chicken!! I will definitely be hitting the treadmill tomorrow. Again, totally worth it!
The "Thank you Bacon, Sincerely Water Chestnut III" Playlist (It's long. There was cleaning involved)
When Love Came to Town U2 and BB King (I LOVE YOU BONO!!!!!)
Let's Go Crazy Prince & the Revolution (And yes Dickie, Prince is a musical genius!)
The End of the Innocence Don Henley ("Lawyers dwell on small details since daddy had to fly.")
Love Bites Def Leppard ("Do you tell lies, and say that it's forever")
Computer Blue Prince & the Revolution (Another from Purple Rain, for which he won the Oscar for Best Original Song Score. Musical genius!!!!)
Dirty Great Monster Duran Duran
New Age Girl Dead Eye Dick ("Don't eat meat, but she sure like the bone")
Tiny Daggers INXS (Gone to soon!!!!)
Jerk Out Morris Day and the TIME!!! (The BEST surprise opening act EVER, right Paige???)
Don't Ask Me Why The Eurythmics ("I don't love you anymore. I don't think I ever did.")
Mr. Jones Counting Crows ("Everybody wants to pass as cats.")
Your Love The Outfield ("Josie's on a vacation far away...")
Your English is Good Tokyo Police Club (THANKS TIMMER!!!)
Here Today Paul McCartney (A beautiful song, written in memory of John)
Hammering In My Head Garbage ("I knew you were mine for the taking when I walked in the room.")
Stuck on You Elvis ("Look at Elvis, he sold his soul and you crowned him king.")
Humor of the Situation Barenaked Ladies
Special Garbage
Read my Mind The Killers
Big Shot Billy Joel ("You had to prove it to the crowd.")
Congratulations Blue October ("I came to see the light in my best friend..")
Jump Around House of Pain ("Pack it up, pack it in, let me begin...")
Hold on my Heart Genesis (Interesting segue, but love this song.)
Can't Help Falling in Love With You Elvis (only fools rush in....)
Sign Your Name Terrence Trent D'Arby (And no, jackass, your album WAS NOT better than Sgt. Pepper.)
My Life has been Saved Queen (Sadly, it wasn't. But he'll live forever through his awesome music. I know that sounds lame, but it's true. Freddie will always be fabulous!)
Sexy M.F Prince ("Come here baby.. yeah... you sexy mother fucker.")
I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man as sung by Jordan Knight, the dreamiest of all the New Kids on the Block
Wake Up Alanis Morissette ("There's no fundamental excuse for the granted I'm taken for.")
The Headmaster Ritual The Smiths (This song reminds a very good friend of mine of the powers that be at his job.)
Home Again Vonda Shepard (Maybe for my birthday!!!!)
Do You Really Want to Hurt Me? Culture Club
Captain Jack Billy Joel ("Just a little push, and you'll be smiling.")
2 comments:
Shocked that you, of all people, have a frequent drinker card...
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