Here’s the thing. I really want to participate in Laura’s Strange But Good link ups, but my food isn’t all that strange. I’m serious. You should see what these other ladies eat: peanut butter, jelly and eggs….um, no thanks. I’m sure it’s great, but I’m too scared to try. My issue, not theirs.
I still want in on the weekly link up party though because Laura’s pretty funny. She eats a trillion meals a day and bench presses three times her body weight. Truth time, I have no idea how much she bench presses, but she’s in killer shape. By killer, I mean her bicep could swallow mine whole, although she seems really kind and sometimes snarky, which I adore, so I think her muscles will play nicely next to mine. Think being the operative word.
Also, I want to go to the party, dammit. Seriously, if you’re having fun over there, I want to be a part of it. Cue Ke$ha: ♫ “Now, the party don’t start ’til I walk in.” ♫ It’s a complete myth that introverts don’t like to party. I call shenanigans because I love a good party (especially of the dance variety) so long as I’m mentally prepared for it going in and have a de-stress plan for after. Also, a blogger party is different because I don’t even have to leave my house.
I decided to heck with the rules (Sorry Laura; feel free to scold me) and join in on the fun anyway. While my actual submission dish may not be strange, the cooking process most definitely was, which is how I justify my entry. Justification is one of my specialties. For a small fee (it could be monetary, although I accept food as well), I could help you create a logical and wonderful justification for almost any scenario…I should have been an attorney.
I submit to you Indian Butter Chicken Stew with a grab bag of veggies and the real reason this dish is strange, which is simply that I made it. See, I don’t eat meat, so while I made this dish from start to finish, I didn’t even so much as try it because I’m a vegetarian. No meat for me, but plenty of meat for my Hubby. Silly carnivore.
I started off with a jar of Patak’s Authentic Indian Butter Chicken Sauce, which I threw into the Crockpot, along with some chopped radishes (I still have a ton of these from my CSA), a diced onion, a couple of cloves of minced garlic, a carrot, and a stalk of celery. I then proceeded to boil two chicken breasts, so I could ultimately shred them and add ’em to my Crockpot. Boiling chicken, even if you’re a fan of chicken, is pretty gross. Sorry, it’s just weird how white it turns the second you drop it into a pot of boiling water. And the fat that accumulates along the top is gnarly. I’m really selling this dish, aren’t I?
In any event, the chicken came out fine and looked succulent and moist when I tore it apart with two forks. I know the word moist shouldn’t be a part of a food blogger’s vocabulary, except I think it’s kind of fitting when you’re talking about meat. While I can’t actually verify the taste myself, I could see the texture, and it was spot on (is that better?) because even I know there’s nothing worse than rubbery chicken (well except maybe factory farm chickens).
Bottom line, the Hubby loved it, and he absolutely raved about it. I also happen to think making the Hubby an all meat dish, which I have no intentions of eating, is pretty romantic of me. How’s that for working on my New Year’s Resolutions?
Just in case, my stewed chicken, even though it was made by a Vegetarian, doesn’t qualify as strange enough, I also made and drank carrot juice for the first time yesterday. I’m not sure if this actually qualifies since I don’t find it strange, but then again I didn’t think my Beet Juice Mimosa’s were strange either, although you most certainly did. I’ll never forgive you….just kidding.
This picture really doesn’t do the juice justice because it was super good: light, sweet and airy. What this picture does have going for it is the word Ball etched across the front. It always makes me smile, especially when I’m drinking it down.
What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever put in your mouth? Would you prepare meat, even if you didn’t eat it? Are you a master at justification too? We could host seminars.
Gee, Meghan, maybe I need to show some of the meaty things I make for Ralph. I did show the chicken and chickenesque soups I made last fall when he was sick. That was fun to do. I would like to get into juicing but just haven’t. Which juicer do you use? Not going to buy it now, I’ll wait until we move. I’m in the info gathering stage.
I don’t have a juicer. I just my trusty blender, and it works fine for me.
You are not allowed to call The Big Chill an antique film because I have seen and even enjoyed this movie, so it is in no way, shape, or form old.
I did strain the carrot juice because it was, much like you said, pulpy. I wasn’t expecting it though, so it ended up being more work and taking longer than I would have thought. I did however use the carrot pulp, along with the acorn squash in a soup later on that same night. So it wasn’t all in vain.
Juicy rationalizations are what does it for me. There’s an antique film, The Big Chill, in which Jeff Goldblum’s character goes on a rant about juicy rationalizations and how you can’t get through the day without one.
I eat chicken but I still think it’s icky in all forms except roasted or in my belly.
Did you strain your carrot juice? I add carrots to smoothies all the time, but they do leave a thick . . . carrot aftertaste because they are pretty pulpy. I expect it when I toss a pear in there, but I am surprised, every single time, by the carrot.
haha those are some strange eats, but I’ve DEFINITELY eaten weirder…. The weirdest thing I’ve eaten is brussels sprouts and peanut butter…. I shouldn’t admit that, but I kind of think it’s hilarious. Also you totally get major points for making that for the hubby! 😀
Yep brussel sprouts and PB counts as weird, but feel free to share those things here. No shame from this blog, especially because half the things I do would/could be construed as “weird.” It’s a bowl full of weirdness here.
You deserve the wife of the week award for making your hubby such a fabulous meal when you had no intentions of having a single bite =)
Thanks Jessie; I’ll make sure to let the Hubby know. 😉
Oh man, you mentioned the lack of appeal of boiling chicken without even mentioning that SMELL? I mean, I really have nothing against chicken (I don’t eat it, but I DO own four of them…), and grilled chicken even smells quite mouth-watering from time to time…but boiling? What a terrible cooking process. But efficient. And heck, I can’t remember the last time I’ve ever really, exactly, precisely followed the rules of a link-up. Close enough is good enough.
Yeah, it was completely gross, but also one of the easiest ways to go about making shredded chicken. Thanks for the vote of confidence on my rule breaking. Glad to know there’s another deviant out there, and with your non-pumpkin loving ways, I should have guessed it would be you. 🙂
You make mason jars dirty. Good for you 🙂
Juicing this week too and loving the carrot juice!! (Ginger is one if my fav additions)
Making mason jars dirty is par for the course here. 🙂 And it makes my day you think so too. Ginger is amazing, and I actually have some in the fridge right now…maybe I’ll juice that next.
Beet juice mimosa?! I LOVE it! I can’t drink the OJ versions anymore – it’s just too sweet. Strange but good WIN!
I really enjoyed the Beet Juice Mimosa. Sweet, yet earthy. Strange, but good.
Wow, I definitely give you props on the chicken dish girl! I AM a meat eater but I know how gross it can be sometimes to handle raw meat! I once took a whole chicken and skinned it…and I swear I had nightmares for weeks! And for some strange reason, sometime over the summer I lost my ability to look at raw bacon. I can eat it just fine (as long as it’s crispy) but to even THINK about how slimy and gross it looks as it’s cooking? Oh geez, my stomach is literally turning! :-/