Cheap Chicken

When thinking about this week's recipe, I remembered my vacations at the NJ Shore. I would always order the cheapest menu item, usually chicken, so I hoped my parents would have enough money to pay for the amusement rides on the Boardwalk. Money was really not a concern, although I didn't know that then. I was just a kid who wanted to eat and also ride some amusement rides on the Boardwalk.
I hope you had a great week and that you enjoy preparing this recipe with your family. Maybe your child/children will pull the cheap chicken trick on you one day and you will smile and enjoy the moment.

Cheap Chicken with Potatoes & Veg
Serves 4 people
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

4- Six ounce boneless skinless chicken breasts with or without tenders
6 ounces of your favorite marinade/sauce (BBQ sauce, Chipotle lime, Teriyaki, Bourbon Peppercorn, etc) Just make sure you do not purchase a bottled marinade that adds too much sodium or calories.
Ask your children/child what flavor they want to try and make it a mutual experiment. That way you have, "buy in" from your child/children and they should try your cooking.
2 Large "baker" type potatoes, about the size of your adult hand
1 Bunch fresh asparagus, cut 1 inch off of each bottom OR try fresh cleaned Broccolini
3 TBSP olive  or canola oil
1 sprinkle of garlic powder, salt and pepper

Preparation

Parent: Pre-heat a BBQ grill or cast iron stove top grill to high heat. If you do not have either, a George Foreman electric grill or a fry pan will work.
Parent or Child: Wash your potatoes under cold water and rub with a paper towel to remove the grit.
Child: With a dinner fork, fork each potato twice to allow the steam to escape.
Child: Place each forked potato in the middle of your microwave oven.
Microwave on high for 4 minutes.
Parent: Remove the chicken from the package and rinse with fresh cold water for a few seconds to remove chicken blood.
Parent: Place chicken on a few paper towels on top of a plate to drain.
Child: Rub both sides of your chicken breast lightly with olive oil.
Child: Sprinkle seasoning in top of your chicken breasts.
Turn breasts over and season the other side.
Parent or Child over 12: Turn your potatoes over and microwave an additional 4 minutes.
Throw out the soiled paper towels and wash your hands with warm soap and water to remove any bacteria. Do what you learned last time and wash all surfaces that the chicken touched with hot soapy water to eliminate the chance of cross contamination.
Child: Pre-heat oven to 350* F
If you will be cooking your chicken inside your home, make sure a window is open and/or you have a stove exhaust fan on high to remove smoke. 
Parent: Place the chicken breasts, bottom side down on your hot cooking surface for 5 minutes.
Parent: Turn your chicken over so the top side is down now and cook another 5 minutes.
Child or Parent: Spray a cookie sheet pan with a non-stick cooking spray
Child: Place fresh asparagus, or broccolini on the cookie sheet
Child: Then place your partially cooked chicken breasts on top of the vegetable you chose
Parent: Cut your partially microwaved cooked potatoes into 4 equal portions.
Child or Parent: Place the sliced potatoes on the cookie sheet also.
Child: Slowly and gently pour 1 ounce of your favorite marinade or BBQ sauce on the middle of each chicken breast. ( Messy is ok, do not worry, It will taste great!)
Parent or Child: With the bottom of a spoon, slowly rub the sauce or marinade around the top of each chicken breast, to cover each top.
( Don't worry if you drip some sauce on the cookie sheet. You sprayed it with cooking spray, so the clean up will be ok.)
Parent or Child over 12: Place your cookie sheet with the "sauced" chicken, vegetables and sliced potatoes in your pre-heated oven for 35 minutes at 350*F, or until the internal temperature of your chicken is at least 165*F.
Parent: Serve by placing the broccolini, potato and chicken on your plates.
Enjoy!

What you have learned:

1. That asking your child/children to help you select a sauce or marinate, will assist you in getting them to taste your cooking
2. That you use a non stick spray so clean up is easier
3. To place a vegetable underneath a soon to be cooked protein will allow the juices of that protein to cook and add flavor to it while it cooks.
4. That children have their own thoughts and ideas and that they may be trying to eat less to save you money, or have money to do things they really want to do with you.
5. That you have as many recipes as there are marinades that you and your family can agree upon, so you can make many meals together.

I hope that this week is your best week ever and that you continue to attempt to cook healthy fun foods with your family.