In the Kitchen of...Chelsea Patton

How vain it is to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live. -Henry David Thoreau

Oh boy, have I stood up to live which now gives me great purpose to write. I got the wonderful opportunity to spend a night in the kitchen of Chelsea Patton (and the apartment 24). I knew Chelsea would be a great example of a well-rounded, and healthy cook. 

 She starts off the meal with a scrumptious apple and walnut spinach salad. I am such a fan of complementing fruit with other foods. Fruit and...chicken, veggies, bread, CHOCOLATE. Also, this is a great way to spice up your salads. Chelsea added nutmeg and raspberry vinaigrette to top it off. I will definitely try adding more nutmeg to my salads! 

 Chelsea prepared a classic for her and James. Yet to me, it was a delicacy! Chicken Alfredo. I can genuinely say I didn't know it was so easy to whip up! Start with melting butter on a pan, and gradually adding a couple tablespoons of flour. Then add milk, and some spices. And voila! She thawed and grilled the chicken, as you can see in the picture above. 

Note: when thawing chicken, don't thaw it in hot water!T hat creates the perfect environment for bacteria to grow in between 40-140 degrees Fahrenheit. The Food Safety and Inspection Services "recommends three ways to thaw chicken: in the refrigerator, in cold water, and in the microwave" (fsis.usda.gov). Chelsea was a great example and thawed her poultry in cold water! 

What a simple, easy meal that can be prepared for one, two, or a company! These are also general ingredients in your home: 

• apples
• spinach
• nuts
• dressing
• chicken
• noodles
• flour
• butter 
• spices
• milk

Chelsea also gave some great advice about how to choose meals. She and James first pick a base grain/starch (rice, potatoes, noodles) and then build a meal around that. If you're struggling with meal planning, it's a great place to start! Alyse and Chelsea both agreed that eating healthy just feels better! 

Bon Appetite!