Let's Make a Meal!

If you know me well you know that I love food, and what is most enjoyable about food is creating your own dishes.  I like to always say that there's nothing new under the sun (according to biblical scriptures) and when it comes to food (or anything else for that matter) someone somewhere may have already done it.  However, this Thursday, I had the urge to cook, which is something that's not a frequent feeling but whenever it comes, it's usually a pretty awesome meal.  

Whole wheat bread 'long bread' as we say it in Grenada

For quite some time, my mom has been BEGGING me to buy some more vegetables.  Being away from home means mom isn't around to do all these things that she loves doing for me.  Steaming vegetables is one of them! But of recent, I went to the market with Crystal and I decided that I was going to get some vegetables and cook a mean dish this week.  After coming from my Thursday morning class, I decided that I was going to just bake bread; however, if you ask me how I moved from baking bread to a full meal for four, cleaning, preparing for classes the following day AND organizing to attend a town hall meeting, I don't have a clue! (God's grace and strength maybe?)

Anyway, I decided to share my conjured recipe with you.  I havent quite decided on a definite name so in the event of me giving it a fancy name and not just calling it my favorite, food, I call this the Vegetarian Chicken (how unreal is this?!)😹

You will need:

1 Carrot

1 onion

2 tomatoes

1/2 seasoning pepper (large)

3 potatoes 

Chives

Thyme

Clove

Cinnamon

Paprika

Garlic butter

Pepper Sauce

Black Pepper

Other green and powder (packet) seasonings 

1 small packet chicken wings

Salt to taste

Ketchup and/or bbq sauce

Bottled/packaged green seasoning 

1 baking sheet/tray

Aluminum foil

Directions:
1. Cut chicken wings in half (separate the drumstick from the 'flap')

2. Cut and dice carrots, potatoes, onions, seasoning pepper, chive, thyme and any other green seasonings

3. Add packaged seasoning to chicken and season and lay aside to marinate (I like using Bajan seasonings sometimes because the flavors are pretty good most times)

4. After approximately 10 minutes of marinating, put the chicken on the stove with half of pot of water. Add potatoes along with a few head of cloves and other seasonings.

5. Allow the pot to come to a parboil for approximately 10-15 minutes then remove from stove.

6. Preheat oven at this moment at 150-180 degrees

7. In your baking sheet/tray, cover entire surface and edges of the tray with aluminum foil.  This allows the sauce/juices to go through your mixture much easier when compared to it being hit by direct heat. Not forgetting to mention, when you're done, there's less cleaning to do! Remove it when it's cool and then presto!

8. In a small container, pour a medium amount of the chicken stock and place chopped onions. Allow that to sit until.

9. Remove chicken from pot and place into a container. Remove potatoes as well and put in a separate container. Add ketchup and/or bbq sauce, packet seasonings, salt and bottled seasonings. Mix well and allow to sit.

10. At the bottom of the tray, you're going to coat the foil with garlic butter. Lay out half of your carrot slices, cinnamon pieces, clove and other green seasonings slices. Your other half will be placed at the top so share them equally!

11. You're now going to place half of your chicken mixture on the top of your vegetables and seasonings. Place parboiled potatoes on top and around chicken. Put the other chicken mixture and then put the remainder of your potatoes on and around your chicken again.

12. Do NOT put your container that your chicken was in in the sink just yet! Pour your onion and chicken stock into that container and mix the remaining sauce in that container together well. Allow this to sit for just a few seconds-minutes

13. Put the other half of your vegetables etc over your chicken to cover it. You are now going to pour your onion, sauce and chicken stock mixture over your entire dish that you're about to bake! Yum yum!

14. Cover your tray with foil again and ensure that it is properly sealed.

15. Place it into the oven for 20-30 minutes.  This can vary so keep checking your oven to ensure it doesn't burn. Time and temperature can change for different individuals and ovens so 

USE YOUR DISCRETION 



















This will serve 3-4 people which depends on how much your family or friends eat.  I'm sure if Kenny is reading this, he might say that this can fill him alone 😲😂

So this is what yours may look like; the flavours from the top, bottom and the sauce on the chicken should give you a burst of flavours! I enjoyed every bit of it.  If you're like me and not a fan of biting cloves, remember to remove them (and also the pieces of cinnamon)


NB: In the Caribbean (Grenada to be specific) we say green seasonings which means the plant and not necessarily the colour. Green seasonings are basically the actual plant and not the dried or powdered form of the plant.  Just thought I should clear that one up!

Happy eating guys, and if you've tried this, please be sure to share a picture in the comment section down below! Have an enjoyable weekend!!

Baked vegetarian chicken, curried black eye peas and white rice simmered in coconut milk