Let it burn

Let's talk about how I'm still learning to use my Spanish kitchen.

This includes making due without a garbage disposal or dishwasher (which is allegedly done in many places, though I refuse to believe this).

Also dealing with appliances that rely solely on hieroglyphic pictures and not words like "ON" "OFF" "DEGREES" "MINUTES" and other such useful words.

Plus the stove has two settings of flame: bigger than your fucking face and barely there. Joke's on me.

I'm not even going to delve into the issue of our oven which billowed smoke the first time Tommy and I tried to use it. European electronics are devilish and terrifying.


Anyway, I wanted to make an actual dinner for Tommy, something nicer than pasta salad, so we settled on chicken. Earlier this summer we made Greek lemon chicken with roasted vegetables together and it turned out really well so I wanted to spin off on that: herbes de Provence, paprika and lots of fresh lemon juice. I did not count on the stove trying to foil all my plans for a beautifully made romantic dinner.

Anyway, the chicken turned out a little burned on the outside but was still tasty on the inside. I think I added a little too much lemon juice and not enough of the other spices so I altered the recipe a little here. The olive oil pan-fries the chicken while the lemon juice steams it and infuses the flavor throughout the whole breast. You can probably use thighs for this recipe too but I'm a big wimp and I don't like bones or muscle or gristle in my dead animal.

Ingredients
2 large chicken breasts
1/3 c. freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/4 c. EVOO
1/2 tsp. kosher or coarse sea salt
1/4 tsp. herbes de Provence
1/8 tsp. paprika or cayenne

1. In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the liquid ingredients and the spices until well combined.
2. Place the chicken breasts in a saucepan over medium heat and pour the spice mixture over the top.
3. Cover the saucepan and let steam for 8 or so minutes, flipping the breasts halfway
through, or until the juices run clear.

DO NOT TURN THE HEAT UP SUPER HIGH LIKE I DID because everything will start to burn and be all crappy tasting. Take it from me. Tommy said he liked it because he's a good boyfriend but I was less than pleased with the results of my overzealous flame usage.