BACHELOR’S GUIDE: Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner.

Whether you live at home, or alone living off ramen – it is time to learn how to cook a few things. In today’s world the gender roles are becoming reversed. Doesn’t make you less of a man, just makes you a Jack of another trade.

We know this is a loaded topic.  “Improving you to be a better bachelor,” and coming from women, sounds like a bunch of nagging.  Hopefully, we’ve proven by now we can be “one of the guys”.

This week we are cooking.  Are you too broke to go out to eat every weekend?  Tired of not closing the deal? Sick of Ramen and take out? This tip will guarantee you saving money (and not just on date nights)  and at least get her foot in the door for a few hours.

Whether you live at home, or alone living off ramen – it is time to learn how to cook a few things.  In today’s world the gender roles are becoming reversed and less important.  Doesn’t make you less of a man, just makes you a Jack of another trade.

We asked what women wanted on a home cooked date night, and we asked men what they would make.  Men said not so smart things like grilled chicken salads and shell fish (played out or hard to eat, messy)… women asked for pasta, shrimp (ya’ll need to stop watching stupid chick flicks), and not so dainty food.  The great equalizer was “mom like cooking” and comfort foods.

Having a fridge of condiments and a cabinet filled with starch or canned foods is ok – as long as you know how to shop smart. Yes, you’re not only going to get tips on what to cook and how, but how to shop for yourself and turn the left overs into something else so you have more than getting laid as a benefit at the end of the day.

A person who can take care of themselves, is sexy.

On the Menu today is Roasted Chicken, Two Cheese Rice and Mushrooms with a Salad.

Why? Everyone likes chicken, it cooks on its own so you can do other stuff, it’ll leave left overs for you to fuel up on and if done just right it is more impressive than some lame spaghetti and meatballs.

Shopping list:

Whole Chicken $8.00 at most. You can get two pieces of bone in breast for a buck or two less. Why so expensive for a smaller amount? Because the butcher did the work of processing.

Herbs – Grab a mixed herb seasoning of your choice, doesn’t matter. $3.00

Lemon – Usually they’re about .50 each, the sale is usually 3 lemons for a dollar or two.

Boil in a Bag Rice – 1 to 2 pouches is fine, should be under $5.00

Shredded Mozzarella Cheese (or Monetary Jack for a little kick) $3.00

Parmesan Cheese $4.00

Mushrooms – get a large container because they shrink.  Don’t like Mushrooms? Try spinach, peas, red bell pepper… doesn’t matter.  You’ll spend less than $5.00 on this too.

One small onion – more or less than a dollar

One head of garlic – less than a dollar

Lettuce – We recommend one of those mixed greens bags, or green/red leaf lettuce… just don’t get ice burg.  -$5.00 (sometimes these are 2 for $5)

Balsamic Vinegar – $6.00

Optional:
If you want to buy olives, a cucumber, a tomato or two – go ahead its just dollars and cents at this point.

Bottle of White Wine – get a Pinot, or a Chardonnay…. spend less than $10.00 on it.  Yellow Tail isn’t a horrible brand, serves its purpose and unless you have a wine snob on your hand it’ll do the trick.

PAY ATTENTION TO SALES!!!  SPEND A MINUTE LOOKING AT THE SHELVES FOR A GOOD DEAL!!!

Things I assume you have at home, and if not, you should also get: Butter, Mustard, Jelly or Jam, Aluminum Foil, Salt/Pepper, Oil and a wine bottle opener, a good knife, baking sheet and one medium pot.

Total: You could walk out spending $40 and less without the bottle of wine, or $50 if you do not buy the store brands.  A little steep, but I’ve set you up for a couple of days of food, and a really nice date meal.  Beats paying $60+ and getting shitty service.

Get home and take everything out of the bags so you aren’t looking for it and set up a battle station. Put the pot on the stove and fill it with water and turn on the heat so the water boils, then set up your baking sheet (wrap it with aluminum foil to make clean up easier on you). Grab a cutting board if you have one, and take the chicken out of the plastic bag, take out the gizzard bag and throw it out (unless you enjoy them and know how to cook with them). Then break down your chicken, carefully, like this:

Season the bird by sprinkling the herbs and a few pinches of salt and pepper over the skin and on the inside.  Pour a cup of wine (or water, or apple juice, or chicken stock…) in the pan and put your oven on 350 degrees – put the chicken in.  It’ll take about an hour to cook because you broke down the chicken.

While you wait for the water to boil you’re going to prep your veges and make the vinaigrette for the lettuce.

Cut the onion into a dice, like this:

Separate 3 cloves of garlic like this, then smash them again with your knife and rough chop them:

If you chose mushrooms, rinse them of dirt, and slice them any way you want, just make sure the pieces are bite sized. If you picked anything else, the same rules apply. Wash, and cut. You don’t have to cut spinach though, just rinse it.

You should have 3 piles of stuff you’ve chopped. If you’re still waiting for the water at this point, clean up after yourself. Wrap the other half of the onion and put it away etc.  Clean the apartment, set the table, pick out something to wear.

Boil in a bag rice is a quick cheat, if you want to try uncooked rice – go for it, follow the directions on the bag it’ll also cost less over time.  When the water boils, put the bags of rice in the pot don’t remove them from the bags and follow the directions on the box.  After the rice cooks, put it aside and pour the water out.  Put the pot back on the stove on medium heat, add 2 tablespoons of butter, the onions and garlic and a little salt, pepper, and a pinch or two of the herbs.

Wait till the onions are a little translucent (not bright white anymore) and add the mushrooms and a splash of the wine.  Let them simmer, while you stir for another 8-10 minutes.  The mushrooms should shrink alot and look/smell good. Add the rice from the bags to the pot, and stir gently.  Add another tablespoon of butter and wait till it melts.  Then add half of your bag of shredded cheese and stir to help it melt, then measure (in your palm) some Parmesan cheese and add your palmfull… stir till incorporated and melty.

Want that rich color? Use chicken stock and not boil-a-bag rice.

Set aside with a lid on it when it is all melty and good.  This whole mixing/saute process should take like 20 minutes… so do it in the last 20 minutes of chicken cooking time.

Vinaigrette: 2 parts oil, 1 part balsamic vinegar, 1 tea spoon of any jelly you want (I like raspberry or orange jam), 1 tea spoon of mustard, and a few pinches of herbs, salt and pepper.  Combine it together, its great on anything.  The jelly helps cut the harsh bitter taste of the balsamic vinegar and the mustard helps bring it all together plus add flavor.

Time to kill? Clean everything you used and wont need again and put it away.

No need to baste your chicken alot, no need to really check in with it before 40 minutes either.  Let the heat stay in the oven, let it cook.  To get that crunchy skin YOU HAVE TO LEAVE IT ALONE!!  You’ll know the chicken is done by smelling it (wont smell burnt) and looking at its awesome golden color (tap the skin, if it “clicks” then its crunchy)… and by making a cut if you have to. Pick the breast piece and make the cut underneath to not ruin your presentation. If you make a cut and the juices are clear and the meat isn’t pink – take it out.

When the chicken is done, take it out of the oven, let it rest for at least 5 minutes then squeeze the lemon over it. (Helps get the garlic/onion stink off your hands too)
Toss the salad (haha), portion out the rice and mushrooms.

Serve the wine/ Enjoy.

If you want to do a test run, cook for your friends, or your parents.
You can reheat any left overs for the next couple of days for yourself.  You can even pick the rest of the meat off the chicken and combine it with mayo or more lemon to make chicken salad. Plus, now you have a few more items in your pantry for next time you decide to cook.

It is impressive because it isn’t what is expected, you learned some new skills, and it shows you can do more than boil water and add Prego. Plus, your date is already in your place, makes it really easy to segue into “watching a movie” :nudge nudge:

Any questions? Suggestions on how to cook anything else?

<3 Jane

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