Exhaustion Sets In

First, a word about the day because not to mention anything would seem negligent to me.  I told my homeroom full of 9th graders on Friday that on September 11th ten years ago, I was sitting in my own 9th grade World Geography class.  Strange how things have come full circle for me.  My thoughts go out to all those whose lives were changed more significantly that day, those who lost loved ones on 9/11 or in Iraq and Afghanistan since. 

Now on to the business of cooking.  I have to admit to all of you that I cheated this week.  YES I FALTERED IN MY QUEST FOR CULINARY EXCELLENCE.  All I cooked today was my mother's recipe for Curried Chicken and Potatoes.  For my second weekly meal, I got all the ingredients for tostadas (tortillas, beans, lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream) and will be eating those for dinner.  The tostadas were a recommendation from a fellow teacher because, honestly, I'm running out of ideas guys.  So if you have any great meals that you cook all at once (so no roasted chicken with asparagus on the side, that's just too much responsibility) and can last you a week, please let me know.

The curried chicken and potatoes turned out amazing despite a few setbacks, mostly caused by HEB and not by my own blundering incompetence at all.  The lines at HEB are INCREDIBLY LONG, like 30 minutes long.  While I was waiting in line, eating corn-in-a-cup, sipping on an aguas frescas and reading Glamour, I must have lost my mind and thrown the ranch dressing and curry out of my cart onto the floor where they were picked up by a band of thieves.  That or the teller forgot to bag those two critical items.  One of those two versions actually happened; I will leave it up to your imagination.   Anyway, I got home and was 75% done cooking when I realized that the KEY INGREDIENTS WERE MISSING.  Disaster, but have no fear.  I rustled up some "Texas Twist" ranch dressing from the fridge and found some red curry powder on a back shelf (thank goodness for roommates, right? and for themed ranch dressing), and everything turned out just fine, if a little runny.  I've posted the recipe below.  Love and miss you all.

Curried Chicken & Potatoes
2 tbs. butter or margarine
1lb. boneless skinless chicken breast halves, cut into 1/2 inch strips
1 lb. new potatoes (about 7) cut into 6 wedges each
1/2 c. sliced green onions
1/4 tsp. pepper
Dash of salt
1/2 c. ranch dressing
2 tbs. milk
1 tsp. curry powder

Melt margarine in 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat.  Add chicken, potatoes, and half of onions; cover and cook about 20 minutes, stirring frequently, until chicken is no longer pink in center and potatoes are brown on both sides.  Sprinkle with pepper and salt.  Mix dressing, milk and curry powder.  Stir into chicken mixture.  Add remaining onions.  Cook and stir until heated through.  Serves 4.