I've got beef with chicken.
Not only do I detest handling raw chicken, I don't enjoy cooking it, cleaning up after I cook it and I actually don't really enjoy eating it all that much.
Chicken is a staple food for us meat eaters and I realize that it is an excellent source of lean protein. I do eat chicken and I try really hard to enjoy it, but when I cook it on my own I usually stop at two bites. Why you ask? Because I am a crazy person. I am so crazy paranoid of salmonella poisoning that I always overcook my chicken to the point where it is as dry as the Sahara Desert and the only person who will actually eat it is my loving boyfriend. I'm pretty sure he only eats it out of fear that I will think he hates my cooking and won't cook for him anymore. But he does eat it, and for that I am thankful.
Seeing as working out and trying to build muscle goes hand and hand with consuming pounds of protein, I have made a real attempt to eat more chicken. My solution is not to cook it, but rather to purchase pre-made grilled chicken breasts and incorporate them into all my recipes. Salads, fajitas, wraps etc...these pre-made, prepackaged and not at all dry chicken breasts have become a staple in my refrigerator.
I know, all you foodies are gasping at the horror of pre-cooked chicken in air tight packaging that has an expiration date of months from now. I know how gross that sounds. But, I have to say that
President's Choice brand
Blue Menu pre-cooked chicken is actually pretty good. The only draw back to using this super fast, salmonella free alternative to cooking chicken on your own is that it is a little high in sodium.
So, I am going to try to make amends and put my beef with chicken behind me. As I finish off at my old job (today!) and have a few days off before I start my new job, I plan to cook a fabulous chicken dinner...with real, fresh chicken.
I will keep you posted...
