All posts by NerdMom

Crispy Chicken Thighs

I love this super easy crispy chicken thighs! Dark meat is so meat and chicken thighs can go on sale super cheap (sometimes as low as 70 cents a pound) during BBQ season. You can make these with either bone in or boneless, the cooking times will just change. Either way you peel the skin off before breading! My recipe is based off the family pack of boneless, skinless chicken thighs from Vons. So while it only says I think is somewhere in the 3-4lb arena. That makes us dinner and 2 generous lunches for NerdDad.

Ingredients:
6 skinless chicken thighs
2 cups panko bread crumbs
1 1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon salt
Oil Spray (such as Pam)
Process:
Put your panko crumbs, paprika, salt and pepper into a plastic bag (zip close or twist tie, your choice). Now I usually do this in 2 batches. Then I put in 1 chicken thigh (I really do this one at a time), close the bag and shake. Make sure the thigh is covered in crumbs and place it onto a lined sheet tray ugly side up. Continue this process until all your thighs are breaded and placed on the tray. Then lightly spray the thighs with oil spray. Then put your thighs into a 400 degree oven for 15 minutes (20 minutes if they have bones). Then flip the thighs and put them back in for another 10 minutes (or 15-20 minutes if you have bones). If you aren’t sure if they are done, the thermometer should read 180 degrees.
That is it! I often serve just over rice with a side of broccoli. It is a huge hit with the whole family.

Meal Plan Monday

Hey Everyone! I hope you are having an awesome weekend! This week is St. Patrick’s Day so that makes one meal easy for us here in the NerdFamily House! It is the rest of the week that takes some planning;).

Monday: Shrimp, Asparagus, and Pasta in a Butter Garlic Sauce
Tuesday: Crispy Chicken Thighs, Rice, Broccoli
Wednesday: Corned Beef, Broccoli, Broccoli Mac and Cheese
Thursday: Boboli Pizza
Friday: Chicken Kiev, Rolls, Broccoli

Awesome Restaurant Idea

There is an article in the LA Times about a interesting restaurant concept. Forage in the Silver Lake neighborhood in LA is actually fulfilling their name. They are taking local produce and letting that dictate the menu. And when I say local produce I mean the dude down the street brings in a bag of whatever he has grown.The neighbors who participate can get gift certificates or free food. The chef also shops at the local farmer’s market (we know how I love these) but loves to take what ever foraged food he is provided for on the spot creativity!

I think that is such a cool idea!

(HT: Mark Bittman)

Healthcare Wisdom From Obama’s Cousin

I just read a great piece on healthcare over on the Washington Times by Dr. Milton R. Wolf. Part of what makes this interesting is that it is both written by a doctor and that the doctor happens to be President Obama’s 2nd cousin. Here is one part I really like!

One of America’s founding principles is our trust in the people and their economic freedom to rule their own lives. We should decouple health insurance from employers and empower patients to be consumers once again. Allow them to determine the insurance plan that best meets their families’ needs and which company will provide it. This will unleash a wave of competition that will drive costs down in a way that price controls never have. Eliminate the artificial state boundary rules that protect insurance companies from true competition and watch as voters demand that their state insurance commissioners get the heck out of the way. Innovative companies will drive down costs similar to how Geico and Progressive have worked for automobile insurance. And it won’t cost taxpayers a trillion dollars in the process.

This free-market approach has worked for everything from high-definition TVs to breakfast cereals, but will it work for medicine? It already is. Take Lasik eye surgery, for example. Because patients are allowed to be informed consumers and can shop anywhere, doctors work hard for their business. Services, availability and expertise have all increased, and costs have decreased. Should consumers demand it, insurance companies – now answerable to you rather than your employer – would cover it.

Go check it out!

Many Kids, Crumby Floors

I have a passel of kids…which means I have issues with food on the floor. Who doesn’t? One of the best tools NerdDad and I have found is an old school carpet sweeper, yes you heard me right. A carpet sweeper. One of the reasons that we love it is that the kids can use it all by themselves and they love it. It has no batteries or cords to cause issue. It is a simple push operated device. And it works! When I say that is works I mean it picks up dirt, hair, cheerios and just about any little annoying crumb that falls! For less than $20 you can’t go wrong. It beats all the pretend dust busters that people give kids and then the kids actually help!!!

Theories of Everything

New Scientist has a great articles on the various physics theories that are trying to be the “theories of everything”. These are the theories that they think might make the world;). New Scientist looks at the top 7 in clear terms. Ever wanted to know about String theory after watching Big Bang? Go read and let me know what you think! I think I might read it with my older 2 kids so none of the rest of you are off the hook;).