Sheet Pan Chicken & Books I'm Reading
life is hard; food doesn't have to be #101 [vol3, 9.4]
Reader’s Question
My husband and kids really like casseroles made with canned soups - even though I'm not a fan like when I was little. I feel my tummy rebelling just by opening the cans of creamy soups. Do you have any recipes to make fresh alternates for cream of chicken/mushroom/celery soups? I'm also wondering if this is something I can make ahead of time and freeze.
Yes you can make and freeze cream of mushroom condensed soup (and please use homemade broth!)
Another bit of advice I give people who are trying to switch to a healthier lifestyle: try new recipes all together. This advice is particularly for those trying to eliminate gluten. Replacing gluten with gluten-free substitutes is often disappointing (not to mention expensive!)
Mediterranean Sheet Pan Chicken
Ingredients (gluten & dairy free)
for 4 portions, easily halved
2lbs thighs, boneless skinless, salted with spices* of choice - see notes below
1 pint cherry tomatoes
1 can garbanzo or white/navy beans, drained & rinsed
1 small jar olives, drained (black, green or kalamata) or omit
2 onions, sliced, any variety
Generous glug of olive oil
Optional garnishes: herbs like cilantro, mint, parsley and or green onions or anything that needs used up in the fridge. Slice of lemon looks pretty.
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400*.
Use 13x18 sheet pan or two 9x13 pans.
Unwrap chicken and salt generously. Sprinkle spices on chicken making sure both sides of meat have seasoning. Let rest & come to room temperature while preparing the remainder.
Slice onions into half moons or whatever shape fits your fancy. Add one onion to each 9x13 pan (or dump everything on 13x18 sheet pan).
Divide the pint tomatoes, beans, and olives if using between two pans. Drizzle with olive oil. Mix to combine & make sure everything is coated. Salt generously.
Lay chicken on top of veggie mixture.
Bake at 400* for 30 minutes. Garnish if desired with something green or with lemon slices. Tatziki would be yum with this too.
Could make a side salad or serve simply sliced cucumbers. Steamed broccoli with butter is always a winner at our house.
Serve with rice, cooked in broth, if you wanna bulk it up.
This is an easy dish to prep and take to someone and let them bake to eat hot.
*Spices: I used about 1t each curry (or turmeric) & ground coriander + generous sprinkling of Ajika from Trader Joe’s. Smoked paprika would have been a lovely addition. Really you could use any spices or none. Just don’t forget the SALT.
* Chicken: on IG someone asked about substituting breasts… you can completely use breasts for this recipe. Simply lay the breasts on the bottom of pan so it cooks in juices. Using bone-in breasts would provide more moisture as it cooks. I’m not a fan of chicken breast in general because I find it dries out quickly and becomes tough.
This dish provided a fair amount of liquid in the pan. If you have plans for soup later in the week — SAVE THE DELICIOUS JUICE for soup.
Books I’m Reading
I posted pictures of these books on Instagram. Last night a friend told me in person she was inspired by how much I read and also overwhelmed thinking she could never do it, as she’s not been much of a reader. But wants to read more.
Baby steps!
I keep a stack of books next to my bed and read depending on my mood…and frankly alertness.
Sleeper Agent: The Atomic Spy Who Got Away - I just read a few pages at a time because it was filled with names and facts that were uninteresting. I kept reading because communism. It’s hard for me to wrap my mind around why anyone thinks (or could think) this form of government is healthy. The spy was born in America to Russian immigrants, went to Russia as a teen, became a spy and went back to America for war efforts as a chemist. Second half of the book was better than the first.
The Count of Monte Cristo - I saw the movie a decade ago. Read the book and is easily one of my favorite novels of all time. Reading again for a second time. Highly recommended. The Red Horse is also a fav long novel... was voted European novel of the decade.
Spiritual Development
In the mornings I am reading through the Bible (year plan by the Navigators). Then nibble from these books as my mood and time allows.
Disciplines of a Godly Woman by Barbara Hughes - it’s 20+ years old, has wisdom, some opinions are dated, lots of good reminders of truth.
Get Out of Your Head: Stopping the Spiral of Toxic Thoughts by Jennie Allen - recommended by a friend to help understand my daughter’s anxiety.
Why Pro-Life? by Randy Alcorn - short, accessible, logical read without a condescending tone. If you have an open-minded pro-abortion friend, it’s a good one to read and discuss. He’s been a favorite author for 20 years. So much respect for his work and life. He’s been a guest on the FamilyLife Today podcast several times. Read his bio and listen to conversations here. I think the first book I read of his was Safely Home, a fiction work about the persecuted church in China.
Dark Night of the Soul by St. John of the Cross - weighty spiritual formations book written 440 years ago. This one I’m reading SLOWLY, sometimes just a paragraph at a time. I was attuned to this idea of a dark night by Peter Scazzaro in his book Emotionally Healthy Spirituality (which changed my life about 10 years ago). I have been contemplating lately the difference between a death to a dream (prompted by a devo by Paul Tripp) and a dark night.
The Genesis of Gender by Abigail Favale - interest piqued by a podcast with her and host Tsh Oxenrider. (Spotify or Apple). Crazy enough, John and I listened together on a car trip and he was finishing her book at the time. In an email to some of his friends, my husband wrote:
I read this book over the past few days and cannot recommend it enough. I think this is going to be one of the most important books on the topic of our age, maybe even one of the more important books of any kind in our age. Her writing is excellent, her thinking clear, her stories engaging (she weaves much of her personal story throughout) and her engagement with the medical research (or lack thereof) and references and summarization is well done. I only wish this book were written to the average pre-teen girl to help them see the radical and evil agenda that is being pressed upon our culture. The book is definitely written at a college level or higher, but still accessible (because of the stories) I think to the average person. Maybe she will write another book for the pre-teen girl, which is the group most at risk right now in this crazy world. Another Abigail (Shrier) already pointed this out in her landmark book Irreversible Damage, but Favale brings in a much needed biblical perspective. Her handling of the Genesis account (ch2) is itself enough reason to buy and read this book.
Shepherding a Child’s Heart by Tedd Tripp - one of my fav parenting books of all time for over arching parenting philosophy. Reading a chapter a week for at least the 4th time and leading a discussion at church with other parents. (Not currently reading but recommended if you’re looking for a parenting book: Don’t Make Me Count to Three is a fav book for kids under 11. For teens: Feeding The Mouth That Bites You: A Complete Guide to Parenting Adolescents and Launching Them Into the World. For strong willed children You Can’t Make Me but I can Be Persuaded.)
Recently listened to Joe Rogan’s interview with Max Lugavere (who I follow on IG). Joe can be a bit crass at times so I don’t recommend him implicitly. The 2.75 hour interview might make your head spin. Lugavere’s passion is nutrition yet the first hour of the interview is about his mom’s fight with Alzeheimers and Parkinson’s. I appreciate Lugavere’s approach to food. Some people who specialize can be unrealistic. He seems to have a good grip on life and how people realistically make dietary changes. I’ve not yet purchased his book but am thinking maybe I should get a copy. Genius Kitchen: Over 100 Easy and Delicious Recipes to Make Your Brain Sharp, Body Strong, and Taste Buds Happy
What are you reading these days?
Life is hard, food doesn’t have to be. I hope you try this sheet pan meal!
Julie