One-Dish Chicken

In a few days I will be coming to you live from Bali, Indonesia.  Drew has a conference he has to attend and I’m tagging along for the tropical weather, the massages and the awesome food.  And with so much to look forward to I shouldn’t be so anxious and nervous and stressed.

One-pot chicken

One-dish chicken

But I’m all of those things because the young adults say they don’t want me to get live-in help while I’m away.  That would cramp their style.  They would like to run the home themselves.  And they have never shown me they have any ability to run a home.  And what about the little guy.  ‘He’ll be fine’, they say, ‘We’ll look after him’.


Now Archie is useless and Arabella’s crippled.  What sort of a team is that!

Lots of vegetables

Lots of vegetables

I’ve been up until all hours typing up lists and notes, letting them know the night the garbage has to go out and the fact that the next morning, the bins don’t bring themselves in.  That Arabella can’t drive and so Archie has to do all the errands.  That Arabella can’t pick things up off the floor so Archie will have to do that for her, nor can she hang washing out on the line so that’s another job for Archie (useless) and as she’s on crutches (crippled), she’ll need help in the kitchen with the cooking.

Flowers make me feel better

Flowers make me feel better

And then there’s the little guy.  He has a pretty packed schedule that, as no one else can understand it, you’d think was written in code.  I don’t know why I’m the only one who knows when and where he needs to be.  There’s cross country training one afternoon a week, there’s sea scouts on another afternoon.  There’s five swim squads, two in the morning and three in the afternoon at two different swim centres.  There’s maths coaching one afternoon a week and a saxophone lesson, choir practise and band practise.  Fridays he has to wear his sports uniform to school and have his soccer uniform packed to go with him for inter-school sport.  Archie doesn’t even know he plays soccer and I’m not even sure he’s aware there’s a tenor sax in the house.

He needs to be dropped off at school at different times on different days.  This is another part of the schedule you’d think was written in code as again, Useless and Crippled haven’t got their heads around it.  Three different start times over five days isn’t that challenging to understand.

Besides his schedule that no one understands, he needs food.  I’ve organised his school lunches because these can be ordered on-line so that’s sorted.  He just needs a piece of fruit in his bag every day for ‘munch and crunch’.

A meal everyone in the family will eat

A meal for everyone

But he also needs breakfast.  I usually get this for him while he’s getting dressed.  And when I told Arabella, instead of saying she’d make his breakfast, she said, ‘See mum, the problem is you do too much for him’.  My fault again.

Regardless of the fact I’m parentally flawed, I would like him to eat.  So over the past few days I’ve been whipping up meals all three will enjoy.  I’m storing them in containers and in zip lock bags and freezing them so enjoying a meal only requires, thawing, heating and serving.  I do not want to come home to empty pizza boxes stacked floor-to-ceiling.

Love the convenience of a one-pot meal

Love the convenience of a one-pot meal

And then there’s Rosie.  She will rotate around the beds at night and in all honesty, will probably fair better than the little guy – her schedule isn’t written in code.

So while I’m sunning myself in Bali, with Useless and Crippled at the helm, things may not be all that sunny on the home front.  Prayers please!

Thaw, heat and serve

Thaw, heat and serve

This is one of the meals I’ve stashed away for while I’m gone.  It’s a complete meal that’s cooked in one dish which is easy and convenient.  The chicken is cooked with a range of vegetables so there’s lots of nutrition and with the potatoes, it’s a complete meal that doesn’t need anything else to accompany it – just thaw, heat and serve.

5.0 from 8 reviews
One-Dish Chicken
Author: 
Recipe type: Poultry
Cuisine: Australian
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 4-6
 
A chicken dish loaded with vegetables that can be cooked in one pot.
Ingredients
  • 1 tbspn butter
  • 2 tbspn olive oil
  • 750g kipfler potatoes, halved length-ways
  • 1.5kg chicken, cut into 8
  • 2 Spanish onion, sliced
  • 1 leek, rinsed and sliced
  • 2 cloves of garlic, peeled and sliced
  • 1 red capsicum, sliced
  • 1 yellow capsicum, sliced
  • 800g tinned crushed tomatoes
  • handful oregano leaves
  • handful parsley, chopped
  • half cup stuffed green olives, halved
Instructions
  1. Pre-heat oven to 180C (375F).
  2. Rub half the butter over the base of a large roasting dish then sprinkle with a little of the oil. Place potatoes cut-side up on the bottom of the dish. Season.
  3. Heat remaining butter and oil in a large frying pan over high heat. Brown the chicken pieces then remove with a slotted spoon and place on top of the potatoes. Season chicken.
  4. Turn down the heat and add onions and leeks and cook until softened, about 4 minutes. Add garlic and stir for another minute.
  5. Add capsicums and cook until slightly softened, about 2 minutes.
  6. Remove the pan from the heat and spoon the vegetables over the chicken.
  7. Pour over the tomatoes and sprinkle with oregano.
  8. Cover dish with foil and place in the oven for 45 minutes. When cool, freeze if desired or when ready to serve, sprinkle with parsley and olives.

Family cooking

Family cooking

And sorry about the images.  ‘Someone’ fiddled with my camera moving the focal point.  I’ve spared you the images of cooking this dish as they were too awful and these are the best of a very bad bunch.

Comments

  1. Go, go, go and enjoy yourself!!! xxx

  2. Oh my, I do hope the young adults keep their end of the bargain, particularly for the little guy. With such together parents, it’s quite surprising they aren’t more responsible! I recall making dinners for my family when my parents were working out of town and only came home near seven in the evening, and I was only 16! I will be sending positive thoughts your way for sure. I do hope you have a lovely time while you’re away and that the young adults fair well. I’m sure they’ll eat well as long as they remember everything you’ve cooked for them.
    The recipe sounds like the perfect recipe for a slow cooker on a winters day, I can imagine how lovely your home smelled while making this dish.

  3. Useless and Crippled bahaha!! Go away and leave them to it – they will all survive one way or another. Make the most of your time away!

  4. LOL… sorry I don’t mean to laugh at your misery… I am sure that they will be fine, if not they will come home to a much better appreciation of what you do… you never know it could be the best thing!!! have fun in Bali Liz xx

  5. It will be good for them to see how much you do:). My sister and I were making family meals since we were about 8! And doing household chores since we could walk :). Enjoy yourself. They will do fine.

  6. I love one pot meals too! I this one is going going to be the star of the show if they can figure out how to get it unthawed. LOL Actually, you know this is very good practice for the crew. They need to understand that mom can’t be there every minute and they have to be independent. Bali is loads of fun! Enjoy!

  7. Claudia says:

    You are hilarious Useless and Crippled? Do they ever get upset with you and your writing about them?
    Thanks for the laughs!!
    I’m sure they will be fine! Will you be able to not worry?

  8. I hope you have an awesome time, and that the peoples manage on their own.. 🙂

  9. Aww! Maybe you should ask someone to check in on them…and at least make sure the little one is eating!! And make sure to HAVE FUN!

  10. I have a feeling Archie, Arabella and Alfie will be just fine. They will certainly understand all you do, if nothing else. Try to relax and enjoy the time away with Drew.

  11. Oh my! This might make for some great stories for the blog post return. I have a feeling they’ll all be just fine though. They may not hit every mark on the schedule, will likely eat some pizza and will probably leave the house not as tidy as you’d hope, but they will no doubt be just fine. Enjoy your trip and the sun!!! You’ve given them the tools and they’ll put them to good use. 🙂

  12. YAY! Hope you have a great time Charlie 🙂 I can’t wait to hear and read all about your trip to Bali! This looks and sounds like an amazing one pot dish which even I can handle since I don’t really cook hehe

  13. Charlie,
    so much fun!
    I’m reading EAT PRAY LOVE and she is in Bali, Indonesia right now.
    Will you meet monks, too?
    Such deliciousness, darling.
    xxx

  14. You are definitely a whirlwind of efficiency for your kids. Can’t wait for the moment you breathe out and enjoy the holiday you thoroughly deserve!

  15. I love a good easy chicken dish. Bali sounds wonderful.

  16. On your return you’ll either be pleasantly surprised that they’ve risen to the challenge and managed on their own or you’ll be met by 3 frazzled children grateful and appreciative for all the things mum does to make their lives easy and pleasant (yeah, I’d be surprised about the latter happening too). Go, enjoy in any case.

    Tasty sounding dish.

  17. The Useless and The Crippled…you do make me laugh, Charlie. A few days in Bali…Heaven. I haven’t been in so many years, but would love to return. Can’t wait to read your report. As for the kids and Rosie…they will all be fine. Somehow, they just will be. Enjoy your getaway!

  18. Oh Charlie, what a hive of preparation! I hope the trip is relaxing enough to make up for it. And (I don’t know if this will make you feel better), Archie and Arabella manage to get themselves into challenging situations even with you around, so perhaps it makes no difference if you are there supervising or not (actually, that probably doesn’t help). Let the neighbours know to keep an eye out and I’m sure they’ll be fine!

  19. They will survive at least for a day or two with this delicious meal you made! I hope you have a wonderful relaxing trip.

  20. All I can say Charlie – enjoy the sun:-) At least there is food in the freezer for little guy and I’m sure he will finding his way to freezer when he realises how could they!

  21. I think you should stop worrying and stop stressing yourself, your kids will surprise you and make you proud. They will handle all the chores and appointments without any problem and if they show their human sides, it is a learning experience. Have a great time, enjoy the tropical weather, the massages and the awesome food.

  22. Bon Voyage…I always get myself in a lather prior to leaving the family…totally understand that nobody gets the routine like you do…except you know they will survive and you can relax and have a ball (dreaming of those massages now….). Always thrilled to get a new on dish recipe, thank you! x

  23. Hi Charlie, I bet your children will surprise you and do a brilliant job. Have fun in Bali!

  24. Oh Charlie they’ll be fine! I think this time will do them good and learn independence 😀 Have a fabulous time in Bali! I’m with you and seeking warmer weather next week!

  25. Charlie – you won’t enjoy your days away unless you switch off Sydney. They WILL survive tho’ ‘Useless’ and ‘Crippled’ may have a stablemate in ‘Late’ or ‘Absentee’ at times : that will do no lasting damage!!! Methinks ‘nasty’ me would have snuck in live-in help without telling before it happened 😀 !! Sorry to see Arabella is still on crutches . . .

  26. I prescribe LOTS of wine. Enjoy yourself—and I can’t wait to hear the stories from Bali (and home) upon your return. Fingers crossed that those nice children you’ve raised will rise to the occasion. xx

  27. Love these easy one pot chicken dishes!!! Have a wonderful trip!

  28. I’m sure they will be fine! Just make sure you get some relaxing in between worrying xx

  29. Ooo, what a fun time you are going to have Charlie, well if you can find the “off” switch in your brain that is – the house and kids and pup will all still be there when you get home – maybe a little disorganised but they will be fine and you will have a glorious tan and be wonderfully relaxed to get things back into shape.
    🙂 Mandy xo

  30. Archie will be useless as long as you expect him to be. I, on the other hand, expect that he’ll rise to the occasion and be the man you raised him to be. I’ve met him and I believe him to be perfectly capable and responsible. (read this to him) Arabella will remain crippled until you return and Alfie will learn to make his own breakfast. Sorted. 🙂

    I’ll have some of that chicken, please.

    Have WONDERFUL time and everything will be fine while you’re away.

  31. So excited for you to get away Charlie. Going on a break always involves a lot of organisation and stress, but once you are there Useless, and Crippled ( double LOL!) will survive as they always manage too. Just as long as the little one is looked after. I have a feeling big brother will look after him ( But not as he is accustomed)

  32. Oh Charlie – your synopsis of this whole situation on the homefront when you are away in Bali, has me highly amused! I bet the young adults will do just fine – or you might come home to Alfie putting everyone in their place! Sending prayers – so don’t worry!
    xx

  33. okay, sorry, but I haven’t gotten past the word “Bali!” You’re going to Bali?!!! WOW!!!!! (Great chicken recipe – love the addition of the olives!)

  34. hehehe…looking forward to hearing about this when you get back 🙂
    You know the little guy will have the best week ever because his loving (and cool) big brother and sister will be looking after him. They’ll be fine, enjoy your Bali time.

  35. Hope it all goes smoothly. Never know, they might just surprise you with how functional they can be when they have to. Have a great time in Bali.

  36. I hope you have an absolutely MARVELOUS time!!! 🙂 And that the youngsters outdo themselves in responsibility and care for each other. 🙂

  37. That’s all hilarious. You have been far too efficient as a mother. It will be very interesting to see how they go. Do let us know.

  38. Well I hope you get your planning done and then when you get to Bali you just relax – sounds like you will need to. As for the kids, well I just hope they don’t have too many parties planned – ha ha! Seriously, they might surprise you in a good way, though the little one’s schedule sounds frightening! Good luck

  39. You’re going to love Bali, Charlie … we had such a great time there and you’ll come home sooooo relaxed! Don’t worry about the kids … they’ll be fine!

  40. Such a lovely but convenient dish.

  41. It’s very worrying leaving ‘young adults’ in charge of your house and dogs, let alone leaving them with a much younger sibling. we left our farm with our 18 year old son for weeks a few years back and the dogs are still emotionally scarred from never seeing him as they didn’t factor in his schedule of work, football practice and socialising.
    They won’t do things in the same way you do them, but Alfie will probably live through the experience so do try to relax and enjoy the treat.

  42. Hugs and prayers that all will go will. I’m sure it will! Enjoy yourself! xx

  43. More than you doing too much for the little one, it seems like you have done too much for the older ones, if you know what I mean ;o)
    I understand that Alfie’s schedule is complicated, especially to a non-parent, but they should be able to take care of everything (food, shopping, laundry) once they have a weekly schedule printed out for him! Go and relax, sounds like you deserve it!!!

  44. Oh dear. I do hope that the young folks rise to the occasion and surprise you!

  45. I’m a little late to read this, Charlie, and! I hope that Useless and Crippled have been behaving themselves. 🙂 I think they undoubtedly have risen to the occasion! And I hope you’re having a wonderful time. ox

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