Here are two delicious and rewardingly tasty dishes for those that have little time from their busy daily lives to spend in the kitchen: simple ingredients, simple preparation, simple cooking, and speedy.

And you’ll love their taste.

Not only that, the Cheesy Baked Chicken freezes and reheats exceptionally well.

Originally I cooked both of these recipes individually at completely different times. Each one earned, according to my wife, favourite and second favourite dish ever. I even prepared the Cheesy Baked Chicken when spending an evening with my wife’s Grandmother, whom loved it and cleaned her plate. That’s a good recommendation in my book. I shared the recipe with Crickie, and she too loved it when she gave the recipe a whirl.

Since that evening with our Grandmother, my wife has been demanding that I not only make Cheesy Baked Chicken but also my Spicy Mushrooms, a recent recipe that I tried. And not only that, she wanted a whole buttload of chicken that we could freeze and reheat as our hearts desired. So I set to making both dishes and decided to share this recipe that has earned both the raves of my wife, my grandmother and my best friend.

Prepare the Cheesy Baked Chicken first, then the Spicy Mushrooms while the chicken is baking.

Cheesy Baked Chicken

Serves: 4

2 tablespoon milk
4 tablespoons of your favourite mustard
2 cups grated sharp Cheddar cheese
6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
4 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts

1. Pre-heat oven to 400^oF.
2. Mix milk and mustard in a large bowl. Mix cheese, flour and chives on a plate.
3. Dip each of the chicken breasts into the milk and mustard mix and then press into the cheese mix, coating them all over.
4. Place chicken breasts onto a cookie sheet and spoon any spare cheese over the top.
5. Bake for 35-40 min (or until golden brown).

While the chicken is in the oven backing you will want to begin working on your:

Spicy Mushrooms

Serves: 4

2 tablespoons of olive oil
2 garlic cloves, crushed
3 scallions (green onions/spring onions), chopped
15 ounces of your favourite small mushrooms, sliced
2 large open-cap mushrooms, sliced
1 tablespoon chili sauce
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon wine vinegar
^1/2 tablespoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon sesame oil

1. Heat your wok or large skillet and add your oil, spread it around the wok and let it heat until just starts to smoke.
2. Reduce heat slightly, add garlic and scallions. Stir-fry for 30 seconds.
3. Add all mushrooms, chili sauce, soy sauce, wine vinegar, pepper, and brown sugar. Stir-fry for 4-5 minutes. Increase heat slightly and stir-fry until most of moisture from sauces and mushrooms has reduced.
4. Sprinkle sesame oil on top on mixture in wok, and then transfer to the serving dish.

Combine both the dishes onto a plate, serve with a garnish of your choice and enjoy:

It appears Alton Brown, the endearing host of Good Eats, had a motorcycle accident while filming his new limited series, ironically titled “Feasting On Asphalt”. He apparently hit a ditch 20 miles north of Las Vegas and was sent sprawling. Brown sustained a broken clavicle as a result.

The incident was caught on camera and will be featured in episode four. Feasting On Asphalt, which follows Brown as he travels around the US on motorcycle, premieres on the Food Network on July 29th.

On his website, Brown writes:

Just want to say “thanks” to those who sent cards, emails, sides of beef, etc. in the wake of my mishap in the Nevada desert. Although a broken clavicle is indeed a painful thing, at least we know for sure that Isaac Newton pretty much nailed it with that second law of his.

I should heal just fine but I will have a nasty lump on my shoulder for the rest of my days. (Dang … there goes that modeling career). To those ghouls out there who inquired as to whether or not the event was captured on camera you’ll be comforted to know that the crash will be featured in episode 4 of Feasting on Asphalt. But I have to warn you: it was a low charisma event. No flames, no smoke … just a lot of dust and discomfort.

And features a picture of himself looking quite pained:

I am certainly glad to hear that the accident was not more serious and that he’s retained his witty sense of humor about the whole incident. Looking forward to watching Feasting on Asphalt. Especially episode four

I noticed an interesting little continuity issue on an episode of Good Eats aired on The Food Network last night. I believe the episode was called “Wonton Ways”. The episode focused, unsurprisingly enough, on Wonton Wrappers.

At one point in the episode Alton is cooking Pot Stickers in a skillet, and Mr. Brown warns the viewer to leave them alone for two minutes, and then we see him walk out of the shot. On the shelf behind him is a large clock that reads 4:09.

When he returns seconds later (we are lead to believe a two minute time lapse has occured), the clock still reads 4:09. Indeed in a couple of subsequent shots, we can see that the reading on the clock has not changed.

Mr Brown, I think thy clock is defunct or in need of some AA’s.

Otherwise, it was another of his fine shows.

I’m supposed to drink x glasses of water a day. It’s supposed to be good for me. Its good for weight loss, it replaces the water I lose during my daily activities, etc etc.

The problem is not the drinking of the water though. The problem is that it is boring. It’s not pleasing to the palate after the first 16 fluid ounces, and by 32 I am begging for the water torture to stop.

Until now.

My wife recently introduced me to MetroMint Spearmint water. I must say, I’ve taken on a new view of water as a result.

MetroMint Spearmint is water. Pure. Simple. Flavored with Spearmint. No additives. No sweeteners. No preservatives. Just water and spearmint. It’s just like drinking all of those fluid ounces of water that I had been before, but with a refreshing taste.

So how does MetroMint Spearmint taste? Like chewing spearmint gum and drinking water at the same time. The flavor is not overpowering in the slightest, yet manages to be very refreshing. Spearmint has always been a favorite of mine ever since discovering spearmint leaves candy as a kid (and then spearmint gum as a teenager), and MetroMint Spearmint manages to capture the essence of that memory without the added sweetness.

And it made my breath feel fresher as well. I also felt more alert and refreshed after drinking a serving. I attribute that primarily to the refreshing taste that wakes your taste buds up, without overwhelming them.

For me, MetroMint Spearmint has allowed me to drink more water everyday without the doldrums of having to face yet another bottle of that same old stuff.

For stores near you, and further information about MetroMint Spearmint, visit www.metromint.com

Scott’s Awesome Spaghetti Recipe

1. Take some spaghetti and drop it into a pot of boiling water.
2. Prepare a red spaghetti sauce filled with olives, herbs, and other good tasty stuff.
3. Toast half a loaf of garlic bread.
4. When spaghetti is al dente, throw it in the trash.
5. Generously spread delicious red spaghetti sauce over garlic bread.
6. Enjoy being in hog heaven

Seriously.

Spaghetti is bland, boring, and you rarely get any really scrumptious bits. Its like the Ann Rice of the pasta world, its only value being to draw your attention to how much you enjoy what is being served around it.

Now red sauce on toasted garlic bread? Thats spiffy!

The instructions on my Annie Chun Teriyaki Noodle Bowl which I was preparing for late a lunch read as follows:

1. Place dry toppings, 1 Tbsp. hot tap water, noodles, then sauce into bowl; cover loosely with lid.
2. Cook on high 40-50 seconds, depending on microwave strength.
3. Toss well.

Steps 1. and 2. went quite stunningly. After completing Step 3. I had Annie Chun Teriyaki Noodles dripping slowly down the opposite wall of my office.

I was never very good at making tossed salads either.