A few months ago, I had a doctors appointment. She told me that I was overweight and needed to lose about 20 pounds. I kind of just laughed and asked her "where?!" Yeah, I have a rear end that's on the bigger side, but I wasn't sad about it. I met the most perfect man ever because of that rear end. Haha. Plus, at other appointments she said that I might have breast cancer and cervical cancer, and those weren't true. Yes, I did get a lump removed from my breast, but it was benign and I just wanted it gone because it was in an uncomfortable spot. So I shook it off and went to Taco Bell. I went home that day and told my parents. I told them that out of spite for my doctor, I'm going to lose the 20 pounds and that when I go back in May she's going to tell me how sickly I look. A few years ago, I was down to the weight were she said I should be. Almost everyone I know, including my mom, thought that I was on drugs.
I woke up one morning feeling like complete crap. Not the "I'm getting sick" crap, but the "wow, I feel like a baby elephant" crap and I knew I wasn't due for my period yet. So I went to the gym. It turned out that I felt great after going. So after the gym and I bought myself some healthy food. Everything was going well..for those 2 days that I was off.
Then I realized my main problem. Work!! But isn't that everyone else's problem too? I'm a cook. I worked for a BBQ place and all the food was delicious. Why the hell would I want a salad when I have pulled pork, brisket, smoked chicken wings, and French fries!? Because I was getting fat!! That's why I would want a salad! It turned out it was a lot easier than I thought, until I got sick of eating salads and said "screw it!" Then after work, I would stop at price chopper, pick up some sushi, and head to Phil's. Sushi is good, but like salads, theres only so much sushi a girl can eat. But hey! Somehow I managed to lose 5 pounds! Great!
I ended up leaving that job, and going back to my old job at On Tap in Latham. Phil and I broke up about a month ago and I went through every girls "deep depression" and just stopped eating normal food. Snacks, when I would get some sort of appetite. I worked so much that no one really notice that I wasn't eating. I even forgot that I wasn't eating. I would go to bed and try to remember what I ate that day and thought "well, I had some coffee this morning and a couple of fries at work." I realized that I'm way better than that and have finally snapped out of it.
I also realized that I still don't want to eat at work. Its all bar food; burgers, fries, chicken wings, etc. So I came up with my idea Cooking For One. I work night, while the rest of my family works during the day. By the time I get out of work, about 90% of places are closed besides Wendy's and Taco Bell. I can't eat sushi everyday. I did lose 5 more pounds, but not the correct way.
Now that my sappy story is finally over. Tonight was the first night of Cooking For One.
CHICKEN CHARDONNAY
Estimated Calorie Count : 400
I probably totally made up the name, but it sounds delicious, doesn't it?
What do you need?
Butter, 1-2 Chicken breasts, flour, 1 teaspoon minced garlic, mushrooms, tomato, chardonnay wine (chilled or room temperature), chicken stock, heavy cream or half and half, and parmesan cheese.
1 pan, 1 knife, 1 pair of tongs OR spatula, 1 cutting board, 2 paper plates
I even took pictures!!
1. You want to flour the chicken. Add a little salt and pepper to the flour to give it some flavor. Using a paper plate will keep from wasting flour. Plus, less dishes!!
2. Melt a small amount of butter in a sauté pan. Melt it on low/medium to keep the butter from burning. Make sure the butter is starting to sizzle before adding the chicken. Add 1teaspoon of minced garlic. Cook the chicken about 2 minutes on one side. While the chicken is cooking slice and dice your tomatoes and mushrooms!!
3. Flip the chicken, cook for another 2 minutes and then add the mushrooms and tomatoes. Sauté all of it together for a couple more minutes.
4. Add about 1 tablespoon of chicken broth and let it all cook together for a few minutes.
5. Increase heat to high. Add about 1/2 cup of wine. It can be Chardonnay or any kind of dry white wine. Let the wine reduce 1/3. The alcohol will cook out of the wine.
6. Reduce heat down to low. Add 2 tablespoon of half and half (or heavy cream). Along with 3 tablespoons of grated parmesan cheese.
7. Let the sauce reduce and thicken.
While the sauce is thickening, those 3 dishes that you have. WASH THEM!!!!
When the dishes are done, your food will be too!!
Personally, I added a side of asparagus. After I plated the chicken, I left a little sauce in the pan. With a little bit of water added just to thin out the sauce a little, I sauteed the asparagus for about 5 minutes. Cooked, but still crunchy!
And since I'm not trying to impress myself, its all on a lovely paper plate!!
