Basil Chile Chicken Stir-Fry

In fourth grade my elementary teacher brought a toaster oven into the class and said that if we bring in $5 (for ingredients) she will teach us how to cook basic snacks. One of the first thing we learned to make was pizza (using canned biscuits as the crust). You would have thought I just graduated from the CIA (Cooking Institute of America). My mind was BLOWN knowing that I can have pizza anytime I wanted. No more asking mom for delivery! That's the power of cooking, once you learn a few basic recipes you're not constrained by the restaurants (or lack of) that are around you.

Recently I made Basile Chile Chicken Stir-Fry and I was all, "Yes! Now I can have Thai whenever I want!" Granted, there are no shortage of excellent Thai restaurants here but still... It's good to know that I can cook a Thai (ish) dish a home.


Basil Chile Chicken Stir-Fry

1 cup quick-cooking short-grain brown rice
4 cloves garlic
1 TBSP plus 1 tsp vegetable oil
1 lb green beans, trimmed and cut into 1" pieces (I used broccoli because it's what I already had in the fridge.
1/2 cup plus 2 TBSP water
salt and pepper
1 fresh Thai or serrano chile, stem and seeds discarded, finely chopped
1.25 lbs chicken-breast tenders, very thinly sliced crosswise
2 TBSP lower-sodium fish sauce (definitely recommend not using regular fish sauce, or if using regular, then cut back on the salt)
1 tsp lower-sodium soy sauce
2 tsp sugar
1 cup packed fresh basil leaves, plus additional basil leaves for garnish

Prepare rise as label directs, but do not add any salt.

Very thinly slice 2 cloves garlic; finely chop remaining 2 cloves garlic.

In 12" skillet, heat 1 tsp oil on medium-high until hot. Add thinly sliced garlic and cook 10 seconds or until garlic is golden. Add green beans, 1/4 cup water, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper. Cook 4 to 5 minutes or until beans are crisp-tender and water has evaporated, stirring frequently. Transfer bean mixture to large plate or bowl.

In same skillet, heat remaining 1 TBSP oil on medium-high until hot. Add chile and chopped garlic and cook 10 seconds or until garlic is golden, stirring. Add chicken tenders in single layer and cook 2 to 3 minutes or until chicken just loses its pink color though out, stirring mixture occasionally.

Add fish sauce, soy sauce, sugar, and remaining 2 TBSP water. Cook 1 minute or until chicken is just cooked through, stirring. Stir in basil and cook 15 to 20 seconds or until just wilted.

To serve, divide cooked rice, green beans, and chicken with sauce among serving plates. Garnish with 2 or 3 fresh basil leaves.

GO BACK TO WORK!!!

So, it's been about a month since Michael broke his toe, since he's worked, since we have been reduced to a single income household.

We did have to dip into our finances to cover some expenses (mostly medical), and we weren't able to save anything this month. Well, "dip" might be the wrong word, more like, "dive", but you know, that's okay, because that's what emergency savings are for, right? That's what I tell myself so I won't be too sad about the state of our savings. I think this experience has shown us that, with a little belt tightening, we might be able to get by with just my income (well, scrape by), which is amazing since I really do not make much for this area.

Knock on wood, that will not be necessary! Originally, I thought Michale's toe incident was a huge set back to our finances but I'm starting to see that maybe it's a blessing. It's shown us that we can probably get by, pretty comfortably, on my pay alone... which means that we should just put all of his pay (once he goes back to work) into savings. It's an exciting thought.

So, once we become a two income household once more (which, fingers crossed, will be sometime next week), first thing will be to pay back our savings. My biggest regret of last year is that we had so many opportunity to build up a HUGE savings but we didn't. Now that we are resolved to be more financially responsible, it feels like there's all these things that are working against us. Blerch.

In Sickness or In Health...

Michael's toes are still broken. Not only is it broken but he had surgery to put pins in his toes because they were not healing straight.

So, not only are we a single income household for... Oh, I don't even know how long, probably the entire month of February, but we had to pay a $1,700 copay on the surgery, not to mention the pain med prescriptions (which is only $3) and the copays on all the weekly doctor's visits ($30). Michael said he might need physical therapy (on a toe!?!?) down the line. So, all in all, his broken toe will cost us over $2,000 in medical costs and several more thousands in lost income.

Sheesh.

The financial stress isn't really getting to me (yet?). Thank goodness we have health insurance and thank goodness we have emergency savings. Plus, we should be getting some money back for taxes this year and Michael got several thousands for selling his stock after he left his old company. So, you know, whatever.

However, I would be lying if I said that his injury isn't stressing me out. I am a pretty private person so the fact that he is always there is starting to grate on my nerves a bit. If he was hanging out in his office or in the basement (his "man cave") I think I wouldn't be so frazzled but no. He's plopped himself in our bedroom (which I consider my space). Where am I supposed to go to escape? His office? His basement? It's driving me insane. Those couples who feel the need to spend 24/7 by each other's side, I don't know they do it. Even in marriage I need my own, physical space, and right now I feel like there's no privacy.

There of course, is the guilt that I should be there at all times. I mean, if I'm not at work how selfish of me to not be by his side. What if he trips and falls down the stairs trying to hobble on down? What if his toes are in throbbing pain and the glass of water is just out of his reach?

Then, there's the barrage of visitors, phone calls, texts, emails, and messages. More invasion! And of course everyone is all, "Oh, I'm sure she's taking very good care of you!"/"I'M SURE YOU'RE TAKING VERY GOOD CARE OF HIM THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!! :) !!!!" Um, well, no. No, I'm not really. I am definitely not Florence Nightingale and he may be propped up on the bed but I'm not at his beck and call because...

IT'S JUST TWO BROKEN TOES!!!

Geez, the boy is not in a full body cast and he is not dying of cancer! Are people so starved for drama that two broken toes warrant this much outpouring of grief and worrying? Am I a cold, heartless bitch for saying, "It's just two broken toes!"? Was his world so wrapped in bubble wrap and foam peanuts that the slightest booboo is like near death? I know pain is relative and all but, I can tell you that if my dad broke his toes, he would be back at work and not on bed rest for a month. I swear guys are so fragile these days.

I know bed rest is hard on him too. He tries to keep up a positive attitude but he has a pretty bad case of cabin fever and he'll probably end up like that guy, in that movie, who spies on his neighbor and swears that one committed murder.

I'm just hoping that he will heal quickly so that he can be on a walking cast soon. Of course, he broke the toes on his right foot and you can't drive on a walking cast... Sigh...