Didn’t have to go too far

Now, my wonderful hubby and I visit many places, hold our breaths over amazing views, taste new flavors, take lots of pictures and return home with wonderful experiences to remember and talk about. You’ll find us strolling at local events, exhibits, street fairs, markets, walking on the beach or hiking in the nature. We like eating out and trying out new food (Ok, some of us are more adventurous than others). I guess what I enjoy most about eating in a restaurant is sitting face-to-face, sipping wine or a margarita and talking while tasting each other’s food. (Oh, and I’ll be honest – of course I enjoy the dirty dishes magically disappearing from our table.)

Still, no place we have been to and no flavors we have tasted compare to our home and what we create in our kitchen. Truthfully, I never thought I would enjoy cooking as much as I do now. My diet consisted mostly of processed frozen food. I know…brrr. I guess what I needed was a little motivation, a little encouragement. I won’t lie – cooking is much more fun for me when it’s done with someone. Or when I know that someone will appreciate my efforts.

I love it when we cook together (James is in charge of cutting the chicken thighs as raw meat makes me queasy). The funny thing is, he doesn’t even have to participate, I simply appreciate what my mum would call “moral support”. Here we are in the kitchen, talking and laughing as I chop the veggies and mash the potatoes.

Tonight, we are making Hoisin Chicken. You should try it, it’s delicious (and easy to make):

Arrange washed boneless chicken thighs in a glass baking dish (sprayed with Pam). In a bowl, combine 5 tablespoons of Hoisin sauce, 1/2 cup of orange juice, 1/3 cup of maple sirup and 3 cloves of finely chopped garlic (I use food processor). Pour over chicken and bake covered in 350C for about 20 minutes. Remove the cover and bake for additional 5 minutes for a lovely glow. Serve with mashed potatoes and fresh veggies.