It was fantastic! A simple meal for sure, but I still chopped and sauteed and served. It has definitely been a while since the last meal I cooked for me or anyone else (not counting the buckeyes from a few weeks back) and I hadn’t realized I was missing it until last night! There is something so therapeutic and fun about creating something from nothing. I love to add my own update or take on a traditional recipe or even to see how such seemingly disconnected ingredients get folded together to make a meal. All of this in addition to how much I love to eat and taste and savor the magic of food and flavor. (yes I know that rhymes).

So, for all you other recipe and cooking buffs here is what I made. The dish has no special name so I’ll just call it red rice and chicken stir fry (note that you can easily sun tofu or fake chik’n). This recipe came equal parts from my brain, past experiences with stir frys and Real Simple.

Red Rice
Ingredients: 1/2 cup jarred salsa (fat free is best), 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 cup brown rice, 1 and 3/4 cup waterDirections: In a saucepan, bring the salsa, salt, and water to a boil. Add the rice and stir. Replace the cover and reduce heat to medium simmering until the liquid is fully absorbed and the rice is tender. Should take about 15 minutes. Remove from heat, let cool and fluff to serve! :)

While the rice is cooking you can pay attention to the chicken stir fry part.Chicken Stir Fry
Ingredients: pam olive oil spray, 1 teaspoon olive oil, 2 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon black pepper, 1 lb chicken cut into cubes, 1 green and 1 red pepper chopped, 2 cups broccoli florets

Directions: Coat heated frying pan with pam olive oil spray. Add diced garlic cloves, black pepper and olive oil. When sizzling slightly, add chopped chicken. Cook chicken until 2-3 minutes per side. Add vegetables and continue to stir. Stir until chicken cooked all the way through. Serve the whole thing over rice. :)

Like I said, not the world’s most complicated dish but certainly delicious. I’m headed back to NYC in the morning and I cannot wait to check out Eataly — the new Italian Market by Mario Batali that has opened up half a block from my office. It feels like a message from the cooking gods to keep making delicious food. I know an omen when I see one.

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