{"id":189,"date":"2011-01-28T07:08:15","date_gmt":"2011-01-28T07:08:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/feedingandrew.com\/?p=189"},"modified":"2011-01-29T06:52:50","modified_gmt":"2011-01-29T06:52:50","slug":"crazy-chicken-an-antidote-to-teenage-surliness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/feedingandrew.com\/?p=189","title":{"rendered":"Crazy Chicken: An Antidote to Teenage Surliness"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\t\"\"<\/a>\n\t

Tortilla Espanola with Smoked Poblano Chile Sauce<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Waiting for your child to become a teenager is a bit like driving in a heavy fog.\u00a0 Everything seems fine as you proceed with caution through the murkiness and then out of nowhere, you have to slam on the brakes and brace yourself for impact.\u00a0 Well, the wait is over.\u00a0 5,4,3,2,1\u2026Impact.<\/p>\n

My normally happy-go lucky son officially let his \u201cteenager\u201d out of the cage today.\u00a0 We were on our way home from school, listening to his choice of radio, when the subject of gaming came up.\u00a0 This is a bit of a sensitive topic in our house.\u00a0 I\u2019m not against it altogether, but the fact that our TV was purchased, used, about 13 years ago does put a damper on \u201cstate of the art\u201d gaming that \u201call his friends get to do.\u201d\u00a0 It started with, \u201cWhy can\u2019t I have a PS 3?\u201d\u00a0 The answer is always the same:<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can.\u00a0 You just need to keep saving your money and buy one.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll the other dads buy their kids play stations!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not all the other dads.\u00a0 I don\u2019t place a lot of value on gaming.\u00a0 I\u2019m not against it, I\u2019m just not convinced that it\u2019s a great pastime.\u00a0 I prefer to give you experiences.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy can\u2019t you be a normal dad?\u00a0 They give their kids gaming when they\u2019re young and take them on trips when they\u2019re older.\u00a0 You have to take me to Europe when I\u2019m young and make me wait until I\u2019m old for gaming!\u201d<\/p>\n

I\u2019m sure you see where this is going.\u00a0 He got a couple of \u201coh, I\u2019m so sorry I took you on a five-week road trip from Paris to Rome.\u00a0 I\u2019ll make sure I never let it happen again\u2026\u201d and the like.\u00a0 This kind of teenage banter is fairly easy to brush off.\u00a0 You just have to sit tight, stay quiet, and wait for the wave of martyrdom to pass.\u00a0 It always does.\u00a0 Today, however, Andrew was determined for a full teenage flagellation and he had chosen me as his persecutor.<\/p>\n

The rest of the commute was short grunts and occasional sighs.\u00a0 Once home, it was upstairs without a word, headphones on, and (thank God for small graces) homework.\u00a0 I started in on dinner right away.\u00a0 The plan was to use the left over lamb for a Shepherd\u2019s Pie, but Andrew had grunted that it may not be to his liking tonight.\u00a0 I\u2019d peeled the potatoes and onion and knew I could go a few different ways with this.<\/p>\n

\u201cAndrew.\u00a0 Do you want Shepherd\u2019s Pie or Tortilla Espanola?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTortilla.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you sure?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre there sausages to go with it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, what then?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow about a grilled chicken breast with a smoked Poblano chile cream sauce?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFine, but you better cut up my chicken breast into pieces.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not going to cut up the chicken for you at the age of 13.\u201d<\/p>\n

I knew I should have just let it go, but brushing off the teenager was getting harder, and I was about to get it full force again.<\/p>\n

\u201cHolly (downstairs duplex mate and perfect mom) would do it for her kids.\u00a0 I wish you would be more like her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAndrew, I\u2019ll give you a steak knife and you can cut it yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n

Anger and martyrdom in full swing; I got what had been building up, squarely in the face.<\/p>\n

\u201cGOD, Why can\u2019t you be a good parent like Holly!\u201d as he stormed back in to his bedroom.<\/p>\n

Well, I\u2019m really not Holly.\u00a0 Holly would have cooked the dinner, set the table, and avoided further drama.\u00a0 Not me.<\/p>\n

I, too, believe in sainthood through martyrdom.<\/p>\n

I put all of the peeled vegetables into Ziplocks, put everything away, and cleaned the kitchen.\u00a0 I headed out the door and went straight to Pollo Loco. \u00a0Back at home, I set up a place in front of the TV, and ate my dinner.<\/p>\n

Eventually, Andrew came out and surveyed the landscape.\u00a0 He may be 13, but he knows when a good chess game is starting.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s for dinner?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhatever you want.\u00a0 You know where the kitchen is.\u00a0 Have at it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Not taking the bait, he came into the living room, sat down, and watched TV with me.\u00a0 About 15 minutes later, a commercial for Taco Bell\u2019s new creation came on, offering a new \u201cBunch of Junk Supreme\u201d or something.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan we get that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSomeday.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot right now?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n

Poker face no more\u2026 \u201cWhy not, I\u2019m starving!\u201d<\/p>\n

Calmly, I reply, \u201cYou know where the kitchen is.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCome on, I\u2019m starving.\u00a0 I want Taco Bell.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAndrew, what you see here is your dad, relaxing, and taking care of himself.\u00a0 Please go and take care of yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not fair!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe you can go downstairs and see what Holly will make for you.\u00a0 She\u2019s a good mom.\u201d<\/p>\n

Suddenly, he\u2019s back in the game.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow long does it take to defrost chicken breast?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re going to make chicken for dinner tonight?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, for tomorrow night.\u201d\u00a0 This is without sarcasm.\u00a0 He\u2019s planning his next move and it\u2019s long-term planning.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, you want this arrangement to go beyond today?\u00a0 Then, let me point out a few things.\u00a0 Since we\u2019re taking care of ourselves, you can\u2019t go to your study group tomorrow, because I\u2019m not staying late at work so I can pick you up way out in the valley.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWHAT?\u00a0 Then you want me to get an F?\u00a0 You\u2019re forcing me to get an F!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot my issue.\u00a0 I already graduated.\u00a0 Maybe you can get one of the other good dads to drive you there and then home.\u00a0 Or maybe you can get Holly to drive you over the hill during rush hour traffic and pick you up when you\u2019re finished!\u201d<\/p>\n

He didn\u2019t see this coming.\u00a0 He thought he had positioned his game pieces for a win and suddenly found himself in \u201ccheck.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 I don\u2019t remember all he said, but there must have been a reason I had put on my tee shirt with the Israeli flag on it\u2026\u00a0 I was about to channel Jewish mother and finish off the match.<\/p>\n

\u201cLook Andrew, I love you.\u00a0 I love you more than you will ever know.\u00a0 I can\u2019t tell you how much joy you have brought to my life since I became you dad.\u00a0 The truth is I live to come home and take care of you.\u00a0 I love cooking for you and making dinners that you love.\u00a0 I can\u2019t imagine my life without you and even though I would never have wished upon you the tragedy of losing your mom, I thank God everyday that He blessed me with you as my son.\u00a0 All I ask is that you show me respect and a little gratitude.\u00a0 I\u2019m not saying you need to fall down on your knees and say thank you, just that you treat me with kindness and not like a servant.\u00a0 Am I asking too much?\u201d<\/p>\n

Checkmate.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy don\u2019t you have a bowl of cereal?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I\u2019m just going to go to bed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAt 8:15?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.\u201d\u00a0 We\u2019re back to check.\u00a0 I know he\u2019s thinking that I will feel badly if I witness the ultimate martyrdom: bed without supper and with an apology.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry, Dad.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cApology accepted.\u00a0 Would you like for me to make you something?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo thank you.\u00a0 I\u2019m just going to go to bed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, honey.\u00a0 I love you.\u00a0 Thank you for saying you\u2019re sorry.\u00a0 Duermate con los angelitos (sleep with the angels).\u201d<\/p>\n

Checkmate.<\/p>\n

Sometimes a big bowl of unsustainable, fast food crazy chicken is just what the doctor ordered.<\/p>\n

_________________________<\/p>\n

Smoked Poblano Chile Sauce<\/strong><\/p>\n

Smoked Poblano Chile Sauce<\/p>\n

The sauce I offered Andrew for the grilled chicken is one of our favorites and will be one of yours too. This is a fast, easy, and versatile sauce I learned to make while living in Veracruz, Mexico.\u00a0It can be used to:\u00a0 sauce grilled, baked, or boiled chicken; toss with grilled onions, corn kernels, and shredded chicken for a great enchilada filling; or pour over a chicken-filled crepe.\u00a0However, our favorite way to use this is in mashed potatoes!\u00a0 After you cook your potatoes, add butter and then as much of the sauce as you like to taste.\u00a0 Of course this will mean having to taste these heavenly potatoes after each addition\u2026<\/p>\n

The trouble with dishes you make without a recipe is translating what you do into a workable recipe for others.\u00a0Here\u2019s my translated version for your kitchen. Play around with it.\u00a0It\u2019s not a magic formula (except the way it tastes).\u00a0 You really can\u2019t go wrong with this one.<\/p>\n

Ingredients:<\/p>\n

3 or 4 smoked poblano chiles, depending on intensity and heat preferred (see note)<\/p>\n

2 tablespoons butter<\/p>\n

1 or 2 cloves garlic roughly chopped<\/p>\n

\u00bd small onion<\/p>\n

1 cup cream (see note)<\/p>\n

2 teaspoons Knorr Suiza\u00a0 (see note)<\/p>\n

\u00bc cup milk or to taste<\/p>\n

A good grinding of black pepper<\/p>\n

Char the chiles on top of your gas-burning stove or under a hot broiler until completely blackened. Place chiles in a brown grocery sack, close it up, and let sit for 15 to 30 minutes.\u00a0Remove from the bag and rinse off charred skin under cold water.\u00a0Discard the stem and seeds.<\/p>\n

\n\t\"\"<\/a>\n\t

Charring the Chile<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

While chiles are smoking, melt the butter and saut\u00e9 the onions over medium heat until translucent.\u00a0Add the garlic and saut\u00e9 a bit longer, but don\u2019t let the garlic brown.<\/p>\n

Place the chiles and the onion\/garlic mixture in a blender and gradually increase power to high. Add the cream, pepper, and Knorr Suiza, and blend until smooth.<\/p>\n

\n\t\"\"<\/a>\n\t

Blender and Secret Ingredient<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Place ingredients in a saucepan and bring just to a boil, turn down heat and let simmer for about 5 to 10 minutes.\u00a0 Check sauce to make sure it\u2019s not burning and add milk to thin the sauce to your preferred consistency.<\/p>\n

\n\t\"\"<\/a>\n\t

Chicken Crepe with Smoked Poblano Chile Sauce<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Provecho!<\/p>\n

Note 1:\u00a0 Poblano chiles are sometimes called a pasilla chile in California.\u00a0 They run mild to an occasional hot one.\u00a0 They can be found in most grocery stores these days.\u00a0 If you have a Latin market near you, search no further.<\/p>\n

Note 2:\u00a0 Start with 1 cup cream and add milk after you have cooked the sauce if you want a thinner consistency.\u00a0 If you can find Mexican Crema or cr\u00e8me friache, they work very well too.<\/p>\n

Note 3:\u00a0 Knorr Suiza is a \u201cchicken flavor bouillon\u201d that\u2019s loosely translated as a condiment of Swiss decent.\u00a0\u00a0 And even though Rick Bayless won\u2019t tell you this, it is the secret of most home style Mexican cooking.\u00a0 One of the few things in my cupboards of dubious origin and manufacturing, Knorr Suiza is a must have staple when I want \u201cauthentic\u201d Mexican food.\u00a0 It is easily found in the Mexican\/Latin section of your grocer. Salt can be substituted for Knorr to good results, if something is lost in the translation for you .<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Waiting for your child to become a teenager is a bit like driving in a heavy fog.\u00a0 Everything seems fine as you proceed with caution through the murkiness and then out of nowhere, you have to slam on the brakes and brace yourself for impact.\u00a0 Well, the wait is over.\u00a0 5,4,3,2,1\u2026Impact. My normally happy-go lucky […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-189","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-recipes"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/feedingandrew.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/189","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/feedingandrew.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/feedingandrew.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/feedingandrew.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/feedingandrew.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=189"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"https:\/\/feedingandrew.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/189\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":217,"href":"https:\/\/feedingandrew.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/189\/revisions\/217"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/feedingandrew.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=189"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/feedingandrew.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=189"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/feedingandrew.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=189"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}