In January I’ve heard a whole lot of rumblings around the blogosphere about people having a hard time getting back in the swing of things after the holidays. Even though we’re well into February, I’d still have to agree with that sentiment. It’s certainly not due to a lack of inspiration. During my two weeks pause from blogging I felt like a high school student without any homework.

But rather than spending all of my time on Facebook or at the mall (or whatever it is that high school kids do these days), there were post-work Pilates sessions, late nights with good books, early morning weekend hikes and subsequent mid-afternoon naps.
It was pretty great.
Reluctant to let go of all of these little luxuries that can only exist with a little free time, I’ve been slacking a little bit around here. I’ve been forgetting to come up with recipe game plans and grocery lists and just sort of winging it as best I can come the weekend.
Last Saturday I did a quick scan of a Burmese cookbook. I was trying to figure out what I could make with whatever ingredients were in the freezer, fridge, and pantry. I had some sad, forgotten chicken thighs in the freezer and a small tub of Greek yogurt in the fridge. Additionally, I had all of the requisite spices in my admittedly overstocked spice rack. So, this chicken cooked in yogurt and spices shot up to the top of the very short list of possibilities. Chicken is marinated overnight with pretty basic spices and yogurt. Bake it until bubbly and the chicken is cooked through. Finally, top it with some crispy shallots and fresh cilantro, and it pretty much tastes like heaven.
Who knew slacking off could be as delicious as chicken cooked in yogurt and spices?

Burmese Spiced Yogurt Chicken
Although this recipe worked very well using the baking method, I imagine grilling the marinated chicken would be even better…
Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients:
4 pieces chicken breast or chicken thighs, chilled
1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
2 Tablespoons oil
fried shallots, for topping
fresh, chopped cilantro leaves, for topping
Fried Shallots:
At least one cup thinly sliced shallots
oil
Directions:
Place the chicken in a large bowl. Add the yogurt, garlic, ginger, salt, turmeric, cumin, paprika and cardamom. Stir to mix. Cover with a lid or plastic wrap and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight to fully infuse the chicken cooked in yogurt and spices.
When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Arrange the chicken pieces in a baking dish (I used one slightly smaller than a 9×13″) and pour any of the additional marinade over the chicken. Bake for 30 minutes or until the chicken is completely cooked through. This method enhances the chicken cooked with yogurt and spices.
While the chicken is baking, prepare the crispy shallots. Heat 1/4 cup oil in a skillet over high heat. Add the sliced shallots and stir until well-coated in oil. Spread into an even layer. Stop stirring and let the shallots cook until the shallots on the periphery begin to brown. Stir well and again spread the shallots out into an even layer. Repeat until all of the shallots are a dark brown, adding more oil if necessary. Drain on a paper towel.
Top chicken with crispy shallots and chopped cilantro.
I find myself in the unusual position of being relatively stress-free this December. For once I’m not doing any traveling during the holiday season, I don’t have to worry about cooking or eating in kitchens with counters that seem perpetually covered in glutenous bagel and/or bread crumbs, and I really don’t even have to worry about doing any gift shopping (with the exception of the little ones, family and friends have pretty much adopted a no gifts policy and focus on presence instead of presents… although family will have to wait for my presence for another month or so).
In fact, my friends and I have discussed scrapping a traditional Christmas meal altogether and just getting together for either some gluten-free mac and cheese or pizza. Elaborate meals happen all the time around here, so just lounging around, watching movies and having a cheesy carb fest sounds pretty amazing.
Of course there will still be a couple dinner parties this month (you know, the whole presence thing), and this mushroom dish is sure to be on the menu at least once or twice. Since I tend to go overboard with the number of dishes and courses, I always try to keep a couple of them on the simple side to prevent myself from getting overwhelmed.
Rich and creamy, this eggnog is spiced with real vanilla bean, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. And because I’d like everybody to enjoy a Salmonella-free holiday season, I decided to go with a cooked egg version.
If you’re making this eggnog for children, you’ll want to skip the bourbon and rum. But if you’d like to gussy it up a bit, I saw a great tip from Laura Calder to add a bit of orange flower water to taste. And while the eggnog can be garnished simply with a sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg, a small cap of whipped cream and a cinnamon stick garnish make the drinks extra festive.
Before I started typing this out I had to Google, “Are chocolate truffles French?” Good news folks, they are (supposedly the chocolate truffle was first created by Antoine Dufour in Chambéry, France in December 1895).
Do any of you remember a time when chocolate was just that- chocolate? And even the idea of sprinkling salt seemed foreign or scandalous. But then folks like Katrina Markoff came along and before I knew it I was eating chocolate bars infused with chile peppers and chocolate topped with hickory smoked bacon. And all was right with the world until I realized that I couldn’t sustain a Mast Brothers or Vosges Haut Chocolate habit without dipping into my retirement account.


















