Merry Post-Christmas and Happy 2012! Honey Glaze Chicken

Hi all! Merry Post-Christmas!! Wow, it's end of 2011 already, time flies...I remembered last year at this time we were celebrating Xmas with only 2 person in the family in HK and now.... with a baby! Wow... Did I make a wish for this? Yes, but not in a hurry mode. Fortunately, it just happens! Very happy and grateful for that. And now I am back! Thanks for dropping to take a look because I have not been grass-cutting aka updating this blog frequently. (对不起,很久没来这里除草了…)

There are many matters keeping me busy and this is a major one. So the past few months have been a roller-coaster ride to me, full of excitement and challenges, I guess I was caught off-guard being a new parent, never expect that sleep deprivation, coupled with baby’s cry can be so serious that at some point I just wanted to pop my baby back into my tummy. Having been working full-time and studying for the past 2 years, I did not frown at any issues related to work and study. However, taking care of the baby and breast-feeding was indeed a cultural shock to me, never expect that it could be so challenging and head-scratching! So if you ask me a few weeks ago, I don’t think I could laugh because I looked like an over-worked zombie. Now, after settling down, I think I have learnt a fair bit of parenting business. These are some life-saving skills reminding me that I should not forget to laugh for being a new parent. Here are some of them:

• taking cue from the baby, instinctively;
• singing to the baby, doesn't mind if it's out of tune, publicly;
• talking to the baby, even though she is more interested in my breast, earnestly;
• gobbling down a meal as if I am taking part in an eating competition, standing up;
• checking her once in a while to make sure she is still breathing, tiredlessly;
• walking while holding the baby with one hand and the other hand with some groceries, a blue-blood HDB mummy;
• bathing and massaging a baby, doesn't mind her urine on my pants, happily;
• going to the toilet to pee while holding the baby; (anyone wants to learn?)
• …and the list can go on and on, with many skills awaiting to be learnt.

It takes sometimes for me to realise that I am a mother now and adjust to it. It took me 3 months to be a happy mummy, and I loo…veee it! I guess there will be more stories to be told here.

See my 3-month old little one? Saying hello to everyone here! Oh by the way, she is a girl, if you can't tell from the photo and I am still wondering how to make her hair grow...:(

Enough of my story.

The other day, my husband and I decided to try Bobby Flay’s honey glaze chicken with green peas and mint sauce. I personally think that the chicken tastes good without the sauce, the sauce is too complicated to my liking, some may like it though. This is really a great recipe for safe-keeping – simple, easy and tasty! All thanks to Bobby Flay, one of my favourite chefs in Foodnetwork!

Recipe courtesy from Bobby Flay, alternatively you can get it from Foodnetwork.com

1/4 cup honey (we use half a cup in view of bigger chicken portion)

3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

4 whole bone-in chicken breasts ( we used a whole chicken)

Olive oil, for grilling, optional

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Green Pea and Mint Sauce, recipe follows

Heat grill to medium. Whisk together the honey and balsamic vinegar in a small bowl. Brush the breasts on both sides with oil, if desired, and season with salt and pepper. Grill the breasts for 7 to 10 minutes per side or until golden brown and cooked through. Brush with the honey glaze during the last few minutes of cooking. Serve on a bed of sauce or with sauce drizzled over.

Green Pea and Mint Sauce:

2 cups frozen peas, blanched and drained well

1/2 cup white wine vinegar

3 tablespoons chopped fresh mint leaves

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves

1 jalapeno, grilled or roasted, chopped

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1/4 cup olive oil or canola oil

1 tablespoon honey

Place peas, vinegar, mint, cilantro, jalapeno, and salt and pepper in a blender and blend until smooth. With the motor running, slowly add the oil and taste for seasoning.

Add the honey and blend again. If the mixture if too thick, blend in a few tablespoons of cold water.

Voila!