Thyme for Color

The Evolution of Ginger Thyme Part V:

Baby A and I had two years together before there was the announcement of Baby E; a beautiful baby girl was about to join our team. I was excited for Baby A to experience the joy of having a familiar counterpart. Someone to teach him about kindness, cooperation, and compromise. The sibling alliance can recover a clash that could sink any friendship. I was readily anxious for the challenge; two babes and a new dynamic to flourish within the kitchen. 

 

   

Baby E would soon mimic the role Baby A once held. She was my new audience with curious eyes, and a brave palette. This little girl loved to eat. She would try anything and everything put before her. Some of her favorites came from the fruits of her genetics. Half Jewish, and half Taiwanese, Baby E was loving Challah bread and Bok Choy. In particular, she took a liking to Asian vegetables. I was proud in many ways. One of them being that she was accepting and enjoying vegetables; while on the other hand she was receptive to a new style of cooking that I had become accustomed to; Asian cuisine. I first learned this style with influence from their grandmother, who would visit from St. Louis. During her stay, she was eager to pull me aside and show me how to incorporate ginger, miso, rice wine vinegar and green onions to beef, chicken and vegetable dishes. I soon caught on to the tricks of her trade and enjoyed making: Hoisin chicken, Gal Bi (Korean BBQ short ribs), Shrimp Pad Thai, Seared Tofu, Miso Soup, Lettuce Wraps, and Bibimbap. Eventually, I developed my own style which involved American and Asian cooking, as one. These dishes also complimented and furthered my love for colorful 

ingredients and plating. 

Along with Asian Cuisine the grandmother was also persistent about eating in colors; which is commonly referred to as the "Rainbow Diet." I was intrigued by the rainbow diet. The principle of the rainbow diet wasn't so much a "diet," but more of a technicolor lifestyle. The idea behind it was to include as many colors of fruits and vegetables as possible daily. The different colors of produce contain a plethora of beneficial plant chemicals for well balanced and healthy eating habits. The primary health colors are blue, white, green, yellow, red, orange and purple. 

If you can incorporate the colors of the rainbow into your diet on a daily basis it will not only brighten and expand your palette; but it will also lead you to a healthier lifestyle. 

Roasted Chicken: Five Ingredients in Five Steps

Roasted Chicken is simple, and delicious to make. There are many styles and varieties to use, but I'm going to show you the most basic form possible. I won't be using butchers twine to tie the legs and there will be no vegetables to roast along with the chicken. I'm going minimalist with just FIVE ingredients (let's group salt & pepper as one)and FIVE easy steps. 

 First you want to preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Make sure the racks in the oven are at an appropriate level to fit a roasting pan with a chicken. (It's best to take care of that before oven is at full temperature as the racks can get extremely hot) Start by rinsing the chicken off with cold water thoroughly and removing and discarding the giblets from the cavity. Giblets are sometimes in a small closed off pouch. However, sometimes you have to pull out the components by hand. These include the heart, gizzard, liver etc. This part can be a little frightening at first but once you've done it a couple times it's no big deal. Now let's go through the Five steps; using the Five ingredients:

A key component to crispy skin is making sure you dry off the chicken thoroughly. Blot the whole chicken with paper towels until there is no moisture. This includes the inside of the cavity. It's important to know that water creates steam in the oven, making it difficult to achieve crispy skin. 

Step two is all about the essence and the flavor your chicken will take on. Salt and pepper the inside of the bird liberally (don't be afraid to go crazy) A tip for making this work if there is no offered hand is to rest the chicken against a tall glass (or two) so it's standing vertical. Next, stuff the cavity with the bunch of fresh sage and the onion cut in half (skin off) 

Note: There are a variety of ingredients and herbs you can use for roasted chicken. Such as: 

• Rosemary
• Thyme 
• Lemon
• Orange
• Garlic 
• Chervil 

Use these ingredients to stuff the cavity either alone, or in different combinations to your liking; such as lemon with rosemary and thyme. Part of cooking something new is to learn how to experiment with different flavors and styles. Roasted chicken is perfect for flavor experimentation because no matter what you can't go wrong, it always comes out delicious!

Now you want to melt the butter and brush it all over the outside of the chicken, make sure to get every part covered including the drums and the wings, the front and the back.  Next, liberally salt and pepper the whole chicken.

Place the chicken, breast side up,(see picture above) on a roasting rack in a roasting pan and then put it in the oven for about 1 hour and 25 mins or until juices run clear and the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit. If the  skin starts getting too crispy for your liking, place tinfoil over it. 

If your feeling fancy and want to spice up you're roasted chicken with one additional step; incorporate some Herbs de Provence in your butter.

A personal favorite of mine, that's a bit similar to Herbs de Provence is the Parisian herbs from Penzeys Spice Shop in Arlington. This mixture includes chives, dill weed, basil, French tarragon, chervil and white pepper. Sprinkle about a tablespoon into melted butter before brushing on the chicken. 

Voila! 🌿🍋✌🏼️

Thyme to Blossom

The Evolution of Ginger Thyme Part IV:

The Ginger Thyme aesthetic vibrantly evolved from simple color schemes to more of a funky-chic vibe, and flowers started to make quite the impression. It wasn't just about the food, it involved the acclaimed counterparts that bring a dish to life. Whether it was flowers on the table, prepped ingredients on the cutting board or table settings, it was more about the essence and composition. Drawn to the colors, textures and variety, flowers were somehow frequently part of the appeal. They radiate such a bold and whimsical aspect of nature, but also complement to the indoor space, bringing it to life. I'm constantly seeking precious petals whether they are in a garden, on display at a store or incorporated into prints, patterns and fabrics. My love for flowers is hard to pinpoint. It may have stemmed from my mother, who used to come home from long walks along the quaint beach estates of Craigville with a hand-picked bouquet. I'd always wonder how she accumulated these blossoms and then she would tease, "there is no shame in bringing sheers on a stroll." She would often greet us at the bus stop with a hand full of hydrangeas freshly picked from a near by bush that delicately cultivated at the opening of Trinity Place, the family compound, as we often call it. Conversely, it could have been my infatuation with the Parisian flea market, intermixed antique/boutique chic flea market-esque store that is the Mecca; Anthropologie. I'll have to say I could wreathe them together as coequals of influence.

I knew Perennials couldn't always stand alone making their debut on the outskirts of pictures. Their fanciful, elegant role could cultivate within the dish alone. It was then I met the most beautiful ingredient ever harvested; with  its dueling purpose that apportioned both palatable and aesthetic; the edible flower. I ran with this one. It fully expressed the refinement and style I had zealously longed for.  

I'll leave you with this flower power speal. Stay tuned for next time when the Ginger Thyme storyline will continue to evolve.

✌🏼️🌿