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Happiness consists in living a great, strange dream.
Billboard in Brazil, courtesy of my friend Melissa.
Introducing: Reader Q&A!
Going forward, every Friday I’ll be selecting one “Reader Question” to answer here, so if there’s something you’d like advice or an opinion on, email me at jordan@shealuna.co with the subject line “Reader Question”.
A better photo of Lemony Engagement Chicken (this one sans parsley), taken a couple of months ago (my camera flash wasn’t working last night, hence the kinda dim shots).
LEMONY ENGAGEMENT CHICKEN
What you need:
1 chicken, preferably free-range and organic
Last night was my mom’s birthday, so we decided to do a little family-and-friends dinner at their place. Scott and Bruce from 44 1/2 dropped in with an incredible Riesling, which we drank with Lemony Engagement Chicken.
Above, I’m cutting into the space under the drumstick to see whether the juices run clear - the indication that the chicken is cooked…but confession? I sometimes just cut right into the breast itself to check for doneness, because I’d rather have a less perfect-looking chicken than an undercooked one. Also, anyone who would be bothered by the fact that there’s a little cut in the chicken probably isn’t someone I want to have dinner with.
I’ve always referred to this recipe as “Engagement Chicken,” because a long time ago I read an article in Glamour about a similar recipe for roast chicken that staffers had discovered often immediately preceded a marriage proposal. I don’t know whether whipping one of these things up will put a ring on it, but believe me: this recipe is pure magic.
I served the Lemony Engagement Chicken with Rosemary Red Potatoes.
ROSEMARY RED POTATOES
1. Preheat oven to 400F
2. Cut larger potatoes in half, leaving the smaller ones whole.
For dessert, I made a Betty Crocker Angel Food cake with Pillsbury Creamy Supreme chocolate frosting, because that’s what the birthday girl wanted…and if I have one rule, it’s that the birthday girl always gets what she wants.
That cake up there graced every single birthday party of mine from age 1 to age 18, and the fact that I can so love a cake that requires me to do nothing more than beat together cake mix and water makes me happy.
Obviously this cake is improved by the addition of rainbow sprinkles.
Just returned from a late lunch with web designer Adda (who’s helping me transform RamshackleGlam.com into a Wordpress site) at the Film Center Cafe. Why, you may ask, have I posted a stock photo from NYMag instead of a personal photo of my macaroni and cheese? Because it was just that unattractive. And bad. Simultaneously flavorless and excessively cheesy, with a weird orange crust over the top that came off all in one piece. Adda’s Penne Caprese was prettier, but nothing very exciting.
Pros: no lunch dish costs more than $9 (most are between $5.50 and $6.50), and the restaurant’s recent renovation has made it a slightly more upscale place to grab a quiet midday bite. Also, I’ve been to brunch and dinner at Film Center Cafe before (both much more raucous times to visit), and the menus for those meals were vastly better.
In sum: hit it up for brunch, not lunch.
Hi!
For those of you just now joining me…hi, and thank you.
