Hoping This Happens

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/10/17/236221076/moms-petition-mars-to-remove-artificial-dyes-from-m-ms?ft=1&f=1001,1019,1146,4467352

Happy Anniversary

My original post was to be about the anniversary dinner and delicious dessert I made.  None of that happened.  I should have known that the day was going to be a challenge when I woke to the sound of my cat puking.

My car wouldn't start resulting in my husband driving home so we could take my car to the garage, followed by hysterical toddlers when brought back in the house instead of going to story time at the library.  I was still determined to make a nice dinner and dessert even though I couldn't get to the store as planned.

I would still make mussels in wine and garlic, but instead of nice bread for sopping, I would make moules frites (literally mussels and fries).  We had this on a trip to Montreal and I've done it at home a few times.  (The kids would have fish sticks.)  For dessert, I decided on a whole wheat brownie instead of the fruit tart.

During naps, I started the fries and baked the brownies.  The brownies smelled great although the batter seemed a bit strange.  I felt I was getting the day back on track.

Wrong!  Without going into too much detail, my kids ate their regularly scheduled fish sticks, fries, and carrots.  Because of timing, my husband and I ate chips and salsa with a glass of wine.  And the brownies were a bit too "healthy" for our liking.

To redeem myself, I made this tasty chicken out if my desire to do a refrigerator purge.  All of us, including the picky one, enjoyed it!  It is easy to throw together in the morning and then toss in the oven for dinner.  We had ours with rice and string beans.  The picky one only kissed the beans.  Still trying to get one in his mouth.

Asian-style Chicken Thighs

1 inch peeled ginger, grated
1/4 tsp powdered onion
1/4 tsp powdered garlic
1/2 tsp pepper
1/4 cup oil
1/4 cup fish sauce
1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
1/4 cup honey
4 chicken thighs, bone in, skin  in

Throw everything in a glass container with a lid or a gallon bag.  Mush or shake up to cover the thighs.  Marinate for a few hours in the refrigerator.

Preheat oven to 350° F.  Place chicken in baking dish, skin side up.  Pour 1/4 cup marinade over top and discard the rest.  Bake uncovered for 45 minutes, or until the thighs have reached the proper internal temperature of 170°.

I like crispy skin, so i broiled them for a minute or two.  Yum!