LOVE NOTE #127: Call Me Carmelized Chicken (Ga Kho)

Hi Everyone!

Happy Tuesday! I hope everyone is enjoying the sunshine and outdoor activities! July is just about to close and I hope everyone has had a nice month! I'm gearing up for August as the retailers love to have back-to-school sales on well, just about everything! It's time I update my Vera Bradley collection and with a relatively new (within the past year) outlet store nearby, I can do it without feeling (too) guilty! Le fiance supports my habit which is sweet... since he knows that I enjoy them so much:) Thanks Bone! And all her handbags are really affordable (even at retail!) and built to last! And when things go on sale, that's when shopping gets really fun because you can get crazy-good deals! The Vera Bradley Outlet is always so packed but the gals who work there are always so sweet and helpful... I'm a bit addicted to these handbags because of the variety of patterns, the comfort quilted fabric, and all the discreet pockets make them so functional as well! Vera Bradley even came out with a coated-cotton fabric so you could very well carry her bags every day of the year! Don't get me wrong, this doesn't mean I've retired my Novacheck and monogrammed canvas to the back of my closet permanently! It's just really nice to switch things up:) When I lived on the West Coast I had never heard of Vera Bradley; but here on the East Coast they are pretty much everywhere! I'm one honorary East Coast Girl that can now look the part too! Yay!

Sometimes when you go into the store it can be overwhelming... with all the other shoppers you are nearly colliding with because everyone is looking at the merchandise and not where they are walking (I'm guilty too!) It almost feels like a frenzy...added to all the colors and styles... so you better get your energy in... and what better way than with a protein-packed meal?! Chicken is my go-to source for some much needed protein! This easy recipe is adopted from my childhood ... one of my favorite dishes my Mommy use to make:) it is called Ga Kho in Vietnamese or translated into carmelized chicken in English. It's really easy to make and even my Irish-American fiance really enjoys it as well! Yay! So here goes...

Ingredients:

• 5-6 chicken legs
• 4 cups of water
• 1/4 cup of lite soy sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper (optional but I like things spicey!)
• 2 packets of splenda (I like the sugar substitute but many people use sugar which is fine!)

Instructions:

• combine the water, soy sauce, pepper, crushed red pepper, and splenda packs in a bowl and stir until mixed.
• using a knife, poke holes into the chicken legs so that they can cook more easily (no pink inside!!!) I chose to use skin on, bone in because I find that they come out much more tender and succulent!
• add the chicken to a large pan
• pour the mixture over the chicken
• cook on medium-high heat until the sauce is reduced or carmelized - turning the chicken ever 15-20 minutes for even coloring (about an hour)

And there you have it... so easy! Often times fish sauce is used instead of or in addition to the soy sauce, but we like it just the way it is above! Adding garlic and ginger can add depth as well. This is the basic version, and it's fabolish as is! Serve it with rice for dinner (brown rice is pictured) and a simple vegetable side (I know tomatoes are considered fruit - shown), or if you are on the go, put it inside some banh mi (baguette)! This Vietnamese-inspired dish is sure to please your taste buds! Although I cook this with skin on, I usually remove the skin and do not eat it (to spare me some of those pesky L-B-S's!!!)

Thanks for inviting me into your kitchen and see you next time:)

XoX,

Marikym