Glamour's 100 Recipes Every Woman Should Know: Engagement Chicken

Yesterday we paid a visit to the book store. Usually I buy my books online, download them to my Kindle or borrow them from the library.  But when it comes time to buy  a new cook I like to go to the store so I can look through it before I purchase it.  Glamour's 100 Recipes Every Woman Should Know jumped right out to me.




I started to panic, if these are recipes I should know, is there going to be a pop quiz at some point that I should be prepared for. I figured I should buy right it away just in case, because you never know.

The introduction of the cookbook discusses the recipe they say started it all, Engagement Chicken.  Apparently women all over the country have made this chicken and have been proposed to shortly afterwards.  I could have used that recipe years ago. (It took Michael 3 years to propose to me). The introduction also says that you can use the recipes in the book to get all kinds of things in life.  So, I decided to start a new segment where I will try the recipes in this cookbook and share the results.  I'll try to do two a week, so we should get through the book in about a year.

The very first recipe in the book is for the Engagement Chicken.  I already had a chicken defrosted and all of the ingredients on hand so I decided to try it out. Of course I am already married, but who knows maybe; I will get a spontaneous foot massage or maybe the guys will be inspired to clean the apartment without any negotiating on my part.

Ingredients

1 whole chicken (about 4 pounds)
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice, plus 3 whole lemons, including 1 sliced for garnish
1 tbsp kosher or coarse sea salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper
Fresh herbs for garnish



The recipe itself is simple. Just season and pour lemon juice on chicken. I was surprised they just wanted to use the herbs for garnishment. It seems like such a waste to not use the herbs for flavoring. But since this was a test I followed the recipe exactly.





So, it turned out pretty tasty, but I wasn't completely blown away or anything. No one held a parade in my honor or swept me away to an island somewhere. But I am still holding out for a delayed reaction.  I think I will stick to my chicken recipe and I will be sharing it soon.

Contest Winner and a recipe for a Steak Fajita Frittata

Before I announce the winner to my first giveaway, I thought I would first share the very scientific way I chose the winner.  First I wrote each name on a piece of paper, one for each method they entered the contest. I placed all the names in a hat and had my husband pick a name out of the hat to select the winner.

And our winner is. . . Driving Miss Daisy! Congratulations! Please send me an e-mail at latisha@spicedwithlove.com to claim you prize!  Thank you to everyone who entered my very first contest.  Keep an eye out for the next one.

I am a little quirky or ditsy at times, but my husband Michael loves me in spite of my craziness or maybe because of it. He probably needs to be a little crazy himself in order to be so in sync with me. Last week I was watching a movie on TV. Michael came into the room and our conversation went a little like this.

Michael: What are you watching?
Me: Relic
Michael: Is that the one in Mexico with the killer vines?
Me: No, that was called . . .

And that was the end of the conversation because I could not remember the name of the movie. Until yesterday. We're driving along in the car listening to music and suddenly it comes to me.

Me: The Ruins
Michael: (laughing) What are we finishing the conversation from a week ago? You're crazy.
Me: (laughing) Well, you knew exactly what I was talking about so you must be crazy too!

And this is one of the many reasons I love my husband and one why I I love to wake up Sunday mornings and make him a breakfast like this one.

Ingredients
8  eggs
8 oz cooked steak strips
1/2 to 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 tsp Fajita seasonings
A splash of milk
1 tbsp butter
Salt & Pepper to taste



Yes, I bought the peppers pre-cut. It saves me time and I really hate chopping.
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Melt butter in an ovenproof skillet.



Add peppers and saute until tender.





Add steak and sprinkle with fajita seasonings.



Meanwhile add eggs to a bowl, scramble with milk and salt and pepper. Add to pan.



Stir eggs gently. Add 1/2 of the cheese.



As eggs set, lift up bottom skin that has formed and allow uncooked eggs to settle. Keep doing this until the eggs begin to set throughout.



Add remaining cheese and allow frittata to cook in the oven for about 20 minutes or until eggs are completely set and cheese has melted.





Serve and enjoy!