Asian Style Chicken Dinner

It isn't uncommon for our family to have our Sunday dinner feature chicken. However, usually we have a Southern Fried Chicken dinner. Sometimes we have a succulent Roasted Chicken Dinner. Today, I decided to shake things up.

My daughter in law has been wanting Chinese food takeout for the last week or so. I decided to give her Asian flavors from my very own hands and kitchen. With no real recipe in hand, I relied on my ability to identify flavors and ingredients in foods that I have previously enjoyed. The result was nothing short of amazing! I rounded out the Asian Flavored chicken with steamed Jasmine rice and Stir-fried green beans.


Asian Flavored Chicken

Marinade Ingredients :

2 tsp. Garlic Powder
2 tsp. Onion Powder
1/2 tsp. salt
Juice of one Lime
1/4 cup Lite Soy Sauce
1 tsp Sriracha Sauce

Chicken:

I used 6 large chicken thighs. Use what you prefer.

Method :

Mix marinade ingredients. Massage into the chicken and place in a plastic bowl, covered in the refrigerator for 1/2 hour.

Remove from fridge, and dust generously with 1/2 cup corn starch.


The Fry:

Fry the chicken pieces until browned. (They will not be cooked through at this point)
Drain, and remove to baking dish in warm oven. (325 degree) Begin to prepare the sauce.


Sauce Ingredients:

One Medium Onion, small dice
4 tbsp minced fresh ginger
4 cloves minced fresh garlic
2 tbsp. vegetable oil
2 tbsp. Sesame Oil
1/8 tsp. Red Pepper flakes

Saute aromatic veggies in oil until they caramelize. Then add following mixture:

1/2 cup Soy Sauce
Juice of One Lime
1/2 cup water (hot from tap)
1/2 cup brown sugar (stir to dissolve)
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. onion powder

Cook until it comes together. Then pour sauce over chicken and cook for 25 minutes uncovered in the oven.Sauce will thicken and become glossy. Serve over steamed Jasmine rice.

This Far By Faith

I was sitting at my desk working on a PowerPoint for work. On the web stream, I was listening to Ablazin' Grace Gospel. Nice.

Then it happened: ***Sha-zam!!!***

I was a little girl with braids and knee high white sheer socks and patent leather maryjanes. Just the first line of the song from the computer speakers took me back to Macedonia Baptist Church in San Antonio, Texas in the early 1970's. Sunday morning, eleven o'clock service... the church is packed.I could almost hear the music slowly fade into the fabulous sound of the filled to over-flowing choir loft singing:

We've come this far-ar-ar by faith,
Leaning on....the Lo-ord!!!
Trustin' in His Holy Word....
He's never fail-ail-ailed me ye-et!!!
Oh,oh-oh-ohhh,oh-oh-ohhh!
Can't turn arou-ou-ound.... We've come this far-ar-ar by fai-aith!!!!

I can hear my Momma singing along... I can feel the fans waving. I can hear a sister near the back shouting to the Lord.

And then **** Sha-zam!!!****... I'm back to my desk....

A warm feeling lingers. I know that I've come this far by faith. I think about the faith of my Momma, and I know... I can't turn arou-ou-ound....
And in heaven, I'll be around saints singing praises and hear Momma singing and sisters and brothers shouting to the Lord.

...we've come this fa-a-ar by faith!!!!

Cultivating Cooperation Within the Family

I often find myself thanking people for compliments paid to my family. Both strangers and friends frequently marvel at the calm sense of solidarity and cooperation that envelops our family. More often than not, these comments are followed closely by queries about applying strategies that I have employed to their respective families. Although many of the ideas that I share are elementary, they are no longer obvious in our high speed society. As our lives have become more and more mechanized, streamlined and impersonal, our family relationships have as well.

The cultivation of cooperation in a family begins conscientiously at the genesis of the family unit. Adults in the family must commit to a higher level of communication and expectation of success and peace within the family. By placing a deliberate emphasis on the concept of family members as built in life helpers, a healthy interdependence is born. From babyhood through the teen years, a steady agenda of cooperation and civility is employed. These truths taught by my parents have allowed me to maintain healthy and loving relationships with my siblings as adults.

As children realize that their actions affect others in the family, they strive to attain approval. Simple games of please and thank you accompanied by exaggerated facial expressions and emotions taught my one year olds that their actions mattered. When my toddlers behaved well, they were rewarded with a smile and hug. Over-exaggerated sad faces taught my sons that their actions could hurt people. Soon, they began to understand how we should treat others. They began to look outside of themselves to see where they fit into our family. Clear and consistent messages regarding acceptable behavior were invaluable at this age.

Preschool aged children are able to apply their understanding of relationship dynamics. At ages four and six my children began age appropriate chores such as setting the table, clearing dishes and emptying wastebaskets. Shared chores and clean up time helped to instill a sense of belonging to our group. In our home we have a standard team cleaning time. Friday evenings the whole house is cleaned. This allows everyone to sleep in on Saturdays while I prepare breakfast. My children are grateful for the sleep. I am grateful for the shared burden of keeping our home environment clean and healthy. Not to mention... the quiet Saturday mornings to myself!

I cannot over emphasize the importance of modeling appropriate behavior and decorum. Our home is a haven of the expected. Each member expects to be treated with civility and love, even in times of frustration. Each member expects to compromise at times because they have received grace. There is only one clothes washer. That fact is unchangeable. But perhaps the family member using it can offer to include a garment to help a sibling in a pinch. Help is expected. Peace is expected. Cooperation is expected. My oldest son once told me that our family has behavior code. I suppose he is correct.

Finally, I prayerfully commit myself daily to encourage efforts to cooperate. Rarely does condemnation and consternation aid in the desire to be part of a team. Applaud successes and re-direct shortcomings. I have found that my children at times amaze me with their empathy. Cooperation was not an accidental accomplishment in our family. It was a priority.

Blessings,

Jalanda

*Originally published 8/18/04