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There are some things that I feel like I’ll never get over.

Zach and Kelly breaking up at prom (sob).

The last episode of Full House. Michelle almost killed in a horse riding accident? Maybe this is why I’m so finicky with horses.

Some of the outfits – that we have photographic evidence of – that I wore, in public. Green jeans with a navy Yale sweatshirt (no one I know went to Yale), scrunch socks, my black keds and hot pink shoelaces? I wish I was kidding. At least my crimped hair looked good.

All of my food aversions from childhood.

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I’m still a baby when it comes to trying anything with cottage cheese. I just can’t do it. That half liquid / half clumpy texture totally grosses me out. Am I the only one?

Baby carrots? Slimy or dry and cracked baby carrots? Nope. Won’t touch ‘em. Don’t buy ‘em. You know they’re just regular carrots that they whittle down into that stubby little shape, right?

Applesauce. I’ve tried, I really have.

I love apples. I love apple juice. I love baked apples. But the texture is what gets me. Why can’t applesauce be totally smooth OR super chunky like it’s just a bowl of roasted apple pieces? The kinda blended-but-still-a-little-gritty-ness of it is what I just cannot take.

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I never tried artichokes when I was growing up, but up until a few years ago, I was sure I didn’t like them. Had I tried them, ever? No. Did I even know what they tasted like? Nope. Did it matter? Of course not.

I’m still stubborn when it comes to food sometimes.

I tried that with my Mammaw and her “green spaghetti”  -  told her I didn’t like it even though I hadn’t tried it. She caught me on that, asking me if I had ever tried it and you can’t lie to Mammaw. It’s impossible. She’s got eyes that see right through any lie you even think about sputtering out and eyes in the back of her head that tell her when you’re not doing your homework or when you’re chewing a piece of watermelon Bubble Yum, aka the forbidden candy.

After being forced to try a bite, I decided I did like green spaghetti. Turns out it’s just spaghetti with pesto. Why was that so scary?

Same thing goes for artichokes. I was sure I wouldn’t like them…until I tried a friend’s casserole a few years ago. Now I can’t stay away from them.

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Although…I’m still terrified of whole artichokes and trying to cook my own. That definitely hasn’t happened yet.

Roast Chicken with Creamy Artichoke Rice

Makes: 6 servings

Ingredients:

  • 2 pounds chicken drumsticks
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp each salt, pepper, oregano, parsley, garlic, crushed red pepper
  • 1 and 3/4 cups water
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 cups quick cooking brown rice
  • 10 oz. artichoke hearts, chopped
  • 1/4 cup cream
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Place the drumsticks on a foil or parchment lined baking sheet. Brush each piece with some olive oil and sprinkle on the seasonings.
  3. Roast the chicken at 375 for 30-40 minutes until the juices run clear.
  4. While the chicken is cooking, bring the water and salt to a boil. Pour in the rice, bring it back to a boil, lower the heat and let the rice simmer, covered, for 5 minutes.
  5. Remove the pan from heat and let it sit, covered for another 5-7 minutes until the rice is tender and all the water is absorbed.
  6. Once the rice is cooked and still warm, stir in the chopped artichokes, cream, salt, and pepper.
  7. Scoop rice onto plates and top with the chicken.

25 comments

  1. Uhh I *totally* feel you on cottage cheese. That stuff skeeves me out. And c’mon now, Full House! Almost murdering the Olsen twins and then giving them mild amnesia was just not the way to go out.

  2. Oh my goodness — that RICE! Looks absolutely amazing.

    And cooking whole artichokes is super easy when you boil them! And then dip them in butter. Mmm…mmm….GOOD. :)

    And I cried at that last episode of Full House!

  3. There is so much I want to comment about on this post:
    1. That Saved by the Bell episode is the worst! She is crying, Zach looks dashing (and it took is surprisingly well) in his Romeo outfit and of course Slater and Jessie singing. Sigh.
    2. Full House….love it! However, why don’t I remember the last episode?
    3. The outfits. OMG the proof I have of what I wore, looked like and loved. I could not get enough of I.O.U. sweatshirts…do you remember those?
    4. I’m not super picky but I hate fish. Hate hate hate fish. It’s so gross.
    5. This dish looks amazing! I don’t have a lot of experience cooking with artichokes but I think I need to change that. To be honest I don’t think I have ever had them…meep!

    • Ugh, Jessie and Slater singing just made everything even WORSE. and it felt so real, too, like my bffs in high school (even though I was in middle school) were breaking up. I know they got married later, but it still doesn’t make it any better!

      YES i remember those sweatshirts. Love.

  4. I never knew that horse riding episode was the last Full House one! I remember watching that and being like devastated that she was injured, but I don’t remember it being the finale. You learn something new every day!!

    This chicken looks DELICIOUS :D

  5. So with you on cottage cheese. I tried it in a lasagna once and even that completely grossed me out.

    I’m glad that you have embraced artichokes though – this dish looks amazing!

  6. I’m not much of an artichoke person but I’m seriously LOVVVING this!

    And that full house episode was pretty scarring!

  7. I love you for this post. These are all things that I will never really get over either. Definitely the biggest baby when it comes to cottage cheese and I am still not a fan of artichokes. I want to be but for some reason, I’m just not a fan. But this looks so good regardless, I would give them another try, for sure!

  8. Wait, WHAT?! I didn’t know either of those things! They almost had Michelle killed?! And Kelly and Zac broke up at prom?? I yie yie – time to go back and watch some classic television…

  9. I’m right there with you on applesauce and cottage cheese- definitely a texture thing that I just cannot deal with. Which is unfortunately why I also don’t like bananas, but love banana bread! Weird, I know. This looks like a fantastic meal though and I can’t wait to give it a try. Do you think I could sub almond milk for the cream?

    • hmm…maybe? i haven’t tried it – just make sure you don’t grab vanilla almond milk ;)

  10. I sort of worry about people who don’t roast chicken on a regular basis. It’s so good and so easy, plus it’s cheap and rather healthy. It’s just a big bunch of Win. And with this rice, I completely love it all. But green spaghetti does sound a little frightening…

    • I worry about them, too. Roasted chicken is seriously like the best food ever. So easy, so delicious.

  11. Sounds awesome. I too am afraid of fresh artichokes…bought them once, massacred them trying to find the heart…ended up a disaster and never tried again!

  12. A few things:

    You MUST share that photo of yourself! I neeeeed to see it! :)

    Two, I abhor cottage cheese too. And lately, it’s making this organic/healthy comeback. I’m NOT on board. We used to feed it to my dog when he was a puppy, so it’s dog food to me.

    Three, baby carrots are awful! Whole carrots that you cut into small sticks yourself are a-okay.

    xo

    • why did you have to say that? :) now i’ll have to ask my mom or dad to scan it and send it to me. the things i do for you…

      thank goodness i’m not the only cottage cheese hater. this restores my faith in humanity a little bit.

  13. somehow i don’t remember the last episode of full house?!? i agree on whole artichokes and baby carrots, although i adore my homemade applesauce (just apples and cinnamon, cooked in the crockpot… nary a blender or masher in sight), and have nothing against cottage cheese :)

  14. See, we had an artichoke bush in our backyard when I was little–so one of the first vegetables I ever ate was steamed artichoke with mayo dip (ugh–nowadays I’d definitely do vinaigrette). This cemented my artichoke love for life. :) Good for you for expanding your horizons! The combination with chicken & rice is classic.

  15. Ben and I are considering going through the entire Saved by the Bell series on Netflix after we finish Arrested Development. I think it would be hilarious to go through them again, back to back. But, honestly, who has the time? lol!

    I love this meal combo! I throw artichokes into my salsa, too. Will definitely have to try them in my rice! YUM!

  16. omgosh….cottage cheese freaks me out. I’ve tried to like it a million times. That rice! My husband is an artichoke-aholic. I must make!

  17. This sounds ammmazing!

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