Lemon Honey & Soy Sauce Chicken

I know I promised myself I would not reset and start anew here. Still, so much has happened since the beginning of September that continuing as if nothing had changed no longer felt honest.

I am grieving love lost and feeling anxious about what lies ahead. At the same time, I am breaking away from the domestic violence I endured over the past year. Leaving brought old wounds to the surface, including childhood traumas and secrets I carried quietly for far too long. Shame once convinced me that the abuses inflicted on me were mine to hide. While it is still difficult to speak openly, I am beginning to understand that healing only happens when we do not hide ourselves along with the abuse.

I do not know if I will ever forgive or forget. What I do know is that I want to heal. I want to tend to the wounds and allow the scars to soften with time. You may be wondering what any of this has to do with the Lemon Honey and Soy Sauce Chicken recipe.

Nothing, and yet everything.

This is the first recipe I worked on after moving out of the home I once shared with my ex-partner. That alone makes it meaningful. It felt right that this dish be the first post after restarting the blog, a quiet marker of a new beginning.

Food has always been one constant joy in my life. I love to eat and I love to cook. In the past, cooking has helped steady my anxieties. Now, once again, it has become a refuge, keeping my mind away from destructive self-criticism and gently pulling me back into the present.

This Lemon Honey and Soy Sauce Chicken recipe is simple and comforting, making it an ideal weekday dinner. Serve it with sautéed broccoli and jasmine rice for a nourishing and approachable meal.

INGREDIENTS
[serves 2 to 3 as a main course]
five chicken thighs, bone-in and skin-on
one garlic clove, roughly chopped
one tablespoon of ginger, roughly chopped
three tablespoons of soy sauce
three tablespoons of creamy lemon honey
a half tablespoon of unsalted butter

Preheat the oven to 450°F (232°C).

In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, combine the butter, soy sauce, lemon honey, ginger, and garlic. Stir until the butter melts, then reduce the heat to a gentle simmer. Continue stirring until the sauce thickens slightly.

Arrange the chicken thighs on a sheet pan with the skin facing up. Pour half of the sauce over the chicken and roast for 10 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven, spoon the remaining sauce over the chicken, and return it to the oven for another 10 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the skin is golden.

Voilà. Lemon Honey and Soy Sauce Chicken.

Bon Appétit.

If you do not have creamy lemon honey, substitute two tablespoons plus one teaspoon of honey and two teaspoons of lemon juice.

_____

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