The second most important thing to a Fire Station

Biceps has begun his “real life” as a firefighter, right here in our hometown. Before the Academy, he was employed as a firefighter by another city, driving back and forth for almost two hours. But, now he’s here and just a few miles down the road. Boo yeah.

It may be a bit of a boys’ club, but they don’t ever turn away cookies, cakes or ice cream.

Trust me.

I’ve learned something by visiting these men a few times. Sure, they have to fight fires, kick in doors, and chainsaw through roofs in order to save homes and lives. Yes, they arrive on scene to DOA’s, horrible car accidents, child abuse situations and people stuck in cherry pickers.

Because of this, they look like superheroes to me-taking care of business when I would be crumpled to the ground in an emotional heap-wreck. (Yes, that’s a word.)

But underneath all the bunker gear, the breathing apparatus and the helmet, they’re still just men.

Men who love their families, their hobbies and their food.

The first time I was invited to the station, I was full-blown nervous. I wore a tank top so that my sweaty pits could breathe. I wore heels so that I would look like I took this invitation seriously. And, I made a mustache cake. I knew if I totally bombed, at least I would have a dessert to make up for it.

I arrived on scene to six firefighting men hovering over a commercial grade stove, taking their jobs of cooking very seriously. A ham was being carved, a skillet full of green beans was being stirred, stuffing was warming in the oven and the mashed potatoes were still steaming.

Whatever I was worried about was for nought. Dinner with five strangers and Biceps couldn’t haven’t been more perfect-the food was amazing and the conversation happened easily. And bonus-I didn’t say one stupid thing. However, my pits did sweat-it was stinkin’ hot in that kitchen. It’s like these guys are around fire all day long, or something.

During the meal, I soon realized how seriously these men took their cooking. “There would be no taco salad or sloppy joe’s made here,” they said. Besides saving lives, cooking was the most important thing they did on shift.

And then, Biceps was asked to make dinner. You must understand that although helpful in the kitchen, Biceps doesn’t really cook.

He was full-blown nervous. We went over a proposed menu numerous times, what times to start each item, how to tell when it’s done and all the little things us cooks forget we do.

“Oh yeah, of course you add olive oil. That kind of goes without saying.” Mr. Details (Biceps) disagreed.

He settled on mesquite chicken, broccoli and mashed potatoes. Total success, of course. And then, he was asked to make dinner again-this time sushi. Another total success.

He’s becoming a regular Julia Child-who happens to wear a helmet from time to time and run into burning buildings to pull out kitty cats and babies. How hot is that?

I guess a girl can have it all.

Sesame Almond Chicken

One of my very favorite dinners I must attribute to my mother’s geniusness. She is the brain behind many of the meals I prepare for Biceps. In all seriousness, my mom pretty much wrote the book on being awesome.

Sesame Almond Chicken is so simple–both in preparation and in the ingredients needed–that anyone, even your sweet husband when you don’t feel like cooking, can make it.
Or your teenage son that’s recently been grounded for being late for his curfew (I don’t have one of these, just remembering what my brother’s used to do).
Or your friend that says, “I don’t know how to cook!” with a voice that emulates Grover from Sesame Street.

But don’t confuse this meal’s simplicity for tastelessness. The chicken is tender and moist because it’s encrusted with bread crumbs, it’s flavorful due to the slightly cooked almonds and sesame seeds and it’s just oh so stinkin’ tasty.

 

Here’s what you’ll need to make your very own Sesame Almond Chicken:
(Serves 4-Preheat oven to 350, grease a 9 x 13 casserole dish)
4 Chicken Breast, remove any fat
1 Package of Whole Wheat or Plain Ritz crackers
1 TBsp Sesame Seeds
1 Cup of Sliced Almonds
1/2 Cup, or one stick, of melted Butter

Gently crush your crackers while they are still in the package. Don’t get too crazy, lest you burst the package and crackers go everywhere.

Measure one cup of sliced almonds.

 

Pour both the almonds and crackers in a large mixing bowl. Add the 1 TBsp of Sesame Seeds.

 

Pour the melted butter in the bowl.

 

Stir the cracker crumb mixture completely.

 

Place one breast of chicken at a time in the mixing bowl and completely cover each breast with the cracker crumb mixture.

 

I usually cover one side, place the breast in the casserole dish and then cover the other side with more cracker crumb mixture using my fingers.

 

Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes, or until the center is no longer pink. There is no need to cover the chicken or to flip it during cooking. Just leave it alone and go read a book.
Or hug your husband. Or take your dog for a walk….come back and enjoy!