Pan-Roasted Chicken with Shrooms

So, I got hungry and I decided I'd attempt to cook some chicken. I followed a recipe I stumbled upon. Unfortunately, I can't remember which site it was from, or I'd link it. Anyway, here's my adventure in cooking.

First, the cast of characters:

1 (6 oz) boneless chicken breast
Kosher salt
Black pepper
2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil
A handful of sliced mushrooms
Some ground rosemary (the recipe called for fresh, but I didn't have any)
1/4 cup water
1/2 lemon, juiced (or a little bit of lemon juice from one of those fake things)


The next step is to preheat the oven, cause that takes awhile and you don't wanna have to wait later. Well, that should have been the next step, but I forgot. I'll go ahead and put it here though.


While you're waiting for the oven to preheat, season the chicken on both sides with generous amounts of salt and pepper.

Okay, so I like salt. I guess you can call me a Salt Liberal. Which presidential candidate do I vote for if I'm a Salt Liberal? Maybe Romney, since he's Mormon. (Get it? Salt Lake City! Okay... maybe I shouldn't be a comedian.)

Place an oven-proof skillet on the stovetop, on medium heat. Add the olive oil.

I got one of these fancy schmancy ketchup squirter things at Walmart for 78 cents. Not bad at all.

Once the oil's all nice and hot (drop a drop of water on it and see if it pops -- if so, it's hot enough). Set the chicken on the pan and let it cook for about five minutes. Flip it halfway through, of course.

There, ain't that purty?

Once the second side is done, throw on the mushrooms and rosemary.


Yum. Now throw it in the oven. Okay, don't literally throw it, open the oven and ever so carefully set it in there. Let it pan-roast for 15 minutes.


Now, go do something for 15 minutes. I sang excerpts from Seussical the Musical and some Beatles tunes. You can go for a jog, check the mail, read my other blog, do your nails, play guitar, peep at the girl changing in the window across the street--err, what?

Once the fifteen minutes are up, take out the pan.


Ain't that purty? Take everything out and set it aside on a plate, set the pan back no the heat and pour the water and lemon juice on the pan.


Let it simmer for about five minutes, until it turns from just watery stuff into syrup. Don't forget to scrape all the crud on the pan -- that's what makes it flavorful! Drizzle the sauce over the chicken, and you're finished! Woot!


Yum! Dig in, folks!

The Presidential Election

I think most of us can agree that the Republicans won't get in office this year. So let's focus on the Democrats here.

Here's the thing. Compare the top five Democratic candidates' platforms. They're all remarkably similar, with only a few minor differences. For instance, Hilary's healthcare plan might cover 15 million more people than Barack's. That's a relatively minor detail in the whole scheme of things. Who has control over the minor details? Not the President, but Congress. Congress is the body that dictates the details.

So, the question we need to ask ourselves isn't "Which platform do we think is best?" but rather "Which candidate do we think can best persuade Congress to follow that platform? Which candidate to we think can best persuade the country and the world that America is back on track and that we mean business?"

Personally, I'll be happy with any of the top 3 Democratic candidates (Clinton, Obama or Edwards).

Oh, and fun game at http://www.campaigngame.us. You get to beat the crap out of the candidates :)

Cat Attack

My roommate has this cat, Pelham. He's kinda cute. Here, have a look-see:

I took the picture with my brand new Canon Rebel XT EOS camera. It's real nice. One of those professional ones. Does that make me a professional?

Pelham doesn't seem to think so. In fact, I didn't get a shot of his real reaction, because he was flying towards my face, claws extended.

It's okay. He only took out one eye.