Chicken In My Hair

My 3 year old is very busy little Aspie.  Smart as a whip and stubborn as a little mule.  I mentioned the other day that we are working on table manners.  The world is just such an interesting place from his eyes.   Where you and I would see a grilled chicken breast, he sees a lump of play doh.  At times, I have turned my back for one minute and have returned to find him shampooing his hair with lemon chicken. I speak firmly and he knows he's done wrong so his response is "Mommy, do you want to cuddle?  You not happy with BJ?"  He throws his arms around me....who can resist!?

After my son is washed up, I head out to run errands.  Third stop was the grocery store. I keep BJ on a gluten free diet since I've noticed that it does wonders for his ability to focus.  As usual, there is always a product I can't find and it's usually the GF pretzels, the one's he begs for endlessly.  I locate a store clerk and a conversation sparks up (typical of me).  We talk and talk and all the while she stares at the top of my head. What the heck is going on with this woman?  Can I grab her face?  I'm in Florida, our best tool to measure humidity levels is often the size of the poof on our heads.  I wonder if I'm having an 80's, Diana Ross style hair day.   We finally say our good bye's, I grab my pretzels and move on to the next stop.  

I'm driving in the car, still thinking about the awkward experience with the store clerk.  As soon as the light turns red, I decide to pull down my visor and tame my locks.  There is was, 1/4 of BJ's chicken breast floating on top of my head and dozens of mini shreds of chicken snow gracefully interlocked in my curls.  As I was fantasizing about rearranging the angle of the clerks head, she was mentally washing my hair!  Did I mention this was my THIRD stop?  I wonder how people can see this and not try to save you?  Maybe I have a higher comfort level than most.  Last week I ran after a woman who walked out of the bathroom with what seemed like a yard of toilet paper stuck to her shoe.  She gave me a strange look, but who cares?  I saved her!

I have been asked many times, why I have named my blog "Chicken In My Hair".   This name symbolizes more than just my ridiculous spectacle at a store.  It is the essence of motherhood.  The love that we feel for our children surpasses our need to take a moment for ourselves at times.  Don't get me wrong, I do love to look cute but I didn't think twice when indulging in that delicious chicken covered hug.  These moments are here today and gone in the blink of an eye.  Enjoy the blessed messes and hug them anyway. 

Chicken Again?

Just when I'd run out of ways to make chicken!  I make chicken almost every day. My family is about to grow feathers and cluck.  Sometimes my husband walks in from work and hands me a pack of salmon, with this desperate look on his face....begging me to PLEASE stop.  

This one is so GOOD!  It's the concept of  Vaca Frita, "Fried Cow", a Cuban dish, except that its made with chicken.  It is lemony, garlicy, finely shredded meat, a little crisp and so tasty. Great over rice.

Chicken "Fried Cow" (corny name...and I'm happy to not take the credit for it)

Vaca Frita de Pollo

2 lbs dark meat chicken (legs and thighs)

½ cup SOUR orange juice (if sour orange not available, use lemon)

¼ cup lime juice 

5 tbsp vegetable oil

1 tsp oregano (minced)

¼ tsp cumin

1 bay leaf

6 garlic cloves (minced)

¼ tsp freshly ground pepper

2 medium onions (very thinly sliced)

Salt and ground pepper to taste

Directions:

Simmer chicken and bay leaf for about 40-50 minutes or until meat is tender and falls off the bones.

Remove chicken from liquid and allow it to cool.  When cool, debone and shred using two forks, then use your hands to shred. The thinner the slices, the crispier it gets at the end.

In a skillet, add about 2-3 tbsp of oil, add minced garlic and sauté on medium for about 1 minute, then add the sour orange juice, lime juice, cumin, oregano and pepper. Stir well, let it simmer for about 2 minutes and remove from heat. Pour that mixture in a separate bowl and set aside.

Using same frying pan, heat it over medium-high, add the remaining oil, once oil is hot, add the shredded chicken and sauté for about 1 minute. Add the thinly sliced onion and cook on medium-high, stirring constantly, until chicken turns brown and feels a little crisp, but onions are translucent and soft. Add about 3 tbsp of the mojo you just made and stir fry for another 2 minutes or until the mojo has almost evaporated completely. Add salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat.

Place on a Serving dish while it is still hot. Pour some of the mojo (the lemon sauce) over it.