Hong Kong Chicken

Spring Break is finally here!  Actually, it seems so early this year.  The weather has been freaking me out...it's colder than it was in December!  I have worn boots more times since this month began than I did in all of 2014!  Serious.

D1 flew to Los Angeles last week for a convention.  She reported that the interisland flight was unbelievably rough.  I figured.  The weather report said more snow was expected atop Mauna Kea.  They even mentioned something called "freezing fog".  I never heard of it, but it sounds nasty.

I was hoping it would be warm and sunny so D2 could invite friends over for a splash, but with sub-80 degree weather, only Sammy is willing to go for a dip.  You won't even catch me lounging.  It's too damn cold.

In light of the cold weather, I've been holding off on preparing salads.  I want to eat Canlis Salad, but I just can't bring myself to have a cold meal, especially for dinner.  I'm not even able to have ice cream for dessert.  Not yet.  Maybe in a month. 

Being on vacation is great, but I really earned it.  Last week, work was brutal.  I had a student attempt to steal from me.  I caught him in the act, which went from "stealing" to "just using".  What's the matter with some of these fucking kids?  They are seniors but still haven't learned about personal space/property.  And the idiot adults who defend the inappropriate behavior of these kids.  Amazing.  It's actually frightening that some adults who work with students cannot themselves distinguish right from wrong or, equally vile, choose to make excuses for the students.  "Oh, but the family is so poor" Since when does being poor give one a right to steal.  "Oh, but he really is a good boy".  Good boy, my ass.  This "good boy" just talked smack about you behind your back, and you are defending his character...yes, that's after you gave him part of your lunch.  "Oh, they are Hawaiian and that's local style"  Stealing is NOT local/Hawaiian style; it is a crime, and it doesn't matter what your ethnicity is.  And yup, this is someone who works with students! 

So yeah, last week I was a little pissy.  It was rather entertaining to hear an adult plead with me not to levy consequences on a student for stealing.  Of course, the easiest thing to do would be to turn away and let this go, but then I would be a fucked up as the adults who make excuses for the kids.

In previous years, I've looked forward to spring break.  Not only does it present a time to relax/regroup, but it was also a good time to try different recipes.  This year, however, things are different.  The Help, with his new eating regimen, is not so enthused about a plate of sugar (I still am) and carbs.  Since early February, he has lost over 10 pounds!  I'm trying to realign my cooking to support him. So instead of dessert, I'm going to focus on an entree that all of us can enjoy.

Upon college graduation, I took a trip to Vancouver, BC, with my grandfather, uGeo, CAE and UL, to visit some Canadian cousins.  We went to dinner at a Chinese restaurant, and that's where I had Hong Kong Chicken for the first time.  I don't think it was called "Hong Kong Chicken" on the menu, but it was a Chinese-style roasted chicken, chopped into pieces, and served with a small dish of spiced salt.  It was heaven.

Years later, I remember Mr. Dependable's mom bringing home roasted birds (duck, chicken) from Honolulu and producing a small, foil packet of damp, spiced salt.  Not sure what kind of warped thinking goes into keeping salt with hot food, but I realize we're not dealing with the brightest light.  This reminded me about the dish I had in Vancouver, and I wanted to make it myself (salt not damp, no duck, skin crispy).

Getting back to present day, Hong Kong Chicken is something we can all enjoy.  The Help can eat it as a topping for a salad.  D1 (when she gets back) can load the leftovers with a ton of spicy salt.  D2 can shred the breast meat and stick it between bread to make a Costco-chicken-like sandwich.  Me?  I always go for the wings.  The carcass can then be used to make a soup...perfect for those nights with freezing fog (whatever that is).

click on recipe title for printable recipe
Hong Kong Chicken

     3-5 lb chicken, neck and innards discarded
     1/4 c oyster sauce
     1 tbsp sugar
     1 tbsp shoyu
     1 tsp salt
     1 tsp 5-spice
     1 tsp sesame oil
     2 cloves garlic, grated
     1/2" piece ginger, grated

Basting Sauce:  1 tbsp oyster sauce
                          1 tbsp shoyu
                          1 tbsp mirin

Spiced Salt:  1 tsp salt
                     1 tsp 5-spice
                     1/4 tsp white pepper
                     1/8 tsp sugar

Wash and dry chicken.  Combine chicken with other ingredients (except basting sauce & spiced salt).  Marinate overnight.  Roast breast-side up (tuck wing tips under body) at 350 degrees (20 minutes per pound) until done.  Combine basting sauce ingredients.  Baste twice while chicken is roasting.  Chop chicken as desired.  Combine spiced salt ingredients.  Serve in a small dish alongside chopped chicken.

It's boys volleyball season!  I'd be hard-pressed to decide which sport I prefer watching...football or volleyball.

I was fortunate enough to be at the first home game of the season (not the first game of the season).  I was planning to attend as a spectator, but the opportunity to help out a friend presented itself so I found myself working at the game.  In spite of it being "work", I had a great time, and I got to watch both the jv and varsity games from a great seat.

The Viking victory (varsity) made the experience even sweeter.  Let's hope the jv can find their groove and win their next game.

This was my first athletic event in the new gym.  The new gym is first-rate.  You can even look onto the court from the AD's office. 

The best thing about Saturday's game?  The concession!  Having been watching my cholesterol for the past few weeks, I broke down and bought a smoked meat & onion bowl.  The $5 price was a bargain for the thrill it brought me.  Even my cousin, who has lost over 20 lbs just from eating healthier, broke down and had a bowl.  The meat was tender, and there was a good proportion of meat/onions to rice...not just rice in the bowl.  I was told the volleyball parents did the concession.  I hope they will take care of more concessions...I would have a hard time not buying the smoked meat bowl every time.

Matsu, Brenda & Lance...next visit to Hilo, stop by and check out the gym!  They are still accepting donations for the gym, so if you're interested, here's a link to the donation form. 

I must apologize...this was not the first home game of the season.  The first home game was on Wednesday, March 11, against Christian Liberty (varsity only).  I heard it was a very quick game.

Spring Break is finally here!  Actually, it seems so early this year.  The weather has been freaking me out...it's colder than it was in December!  I have worn boots more times since this month began than I did in all of 2014!  Serious.

D1 flew to Los Angeles last week for a convention.  She reported that the interisland flight was unbelievably rough.  I figured.  The weather report said more snow was expected atop Mauna Kea.  They even mentioned something called "freezing fog".  I never heard of it, but it sounds nasty.

I was hoping it would be warm and sunny so D2 could invite friends over for a splash, but with sub-80 degree weather, only Sammy is willing to go for a dip.  You won't even catch me lounging.  It's too damn cold.

In light of the cold weather, I've been holding off on preparing salads.  I want to eat Canlis Salad, but I just can't bring myself to have a cold meal, especially for dinner.  I'm not even able to have ice cream for dessert.  Not yet.  Maybe in a month. 

Being on vacation is great, but I really earned it.  Last week, work was brutal.  I had a student attempt to steal from me.  I caught him in the act, which went from "stealing" to "just using".  What's the matter with some of these fucking kids?  They are seniors but still haven't learned about personal space/property.  And the idiot adults who defend the inappropriate behavior of these kids.  Amazing.  It's actually frightening that some adults who work with students cannot themselves distinguish right from wrong or, equally vile, choose to make excuses for the students.  "Oh, but the family is so poor" Since when does being poor give one a right to steal.  "Oh, but he really is a good boy".  Good boy, my ass.  This "good boy" just talked smack about you behind your back, and you are defending his character...yes, that's after you gave him part of your lunch.  "Oh, they are Hawaiian and that's local style"  Stealing is NOT local/Hawaiian style; it is a crime, and it doesn't matter what your ethnicity is.  And yup, this is someone who works with students! 

So yeah, last week I was a little pissy.  It was rather entertaining to hear an adult plead with me not to levy consequences on a student for stealing.  Of course, the easiest thing to do would be to turn away and let this go, but then I would be a fucked up as the adults who make excuses for the kids.

In previous years, I've looked forward to spring break.  Not only does it present a time to relax/regroup, but it was also a good time to try different recipes.  This year, however, things are different.  The Help, with his new eating regimen, is not so enthused about a plate of sugar (I still am) and carbs.  Since early February, he has lost over 10 pounds!  I'm trying to realign my cooking to support him. So instead of dessert, I'm going to focus on an entree that all of us can enjoy.

Upon college graduation, I took a trip to Vancouver, BC, with my grandfather, uGeo, CAE and UL, to visit some Canadian cousins.  We went to dinner at a Chinese restaurant, and that's where I had Hong Kong Chicken for the first time.  I don't think it was called "Hong Kong Chicken" on the menu, but it was a Chinese-style roasted chicken, chopped into pieces, and served with a small dish of spiced salt.  It was heaven.

Years later, I remember Mr. Dependable's mom bringing home roasted birds (duck, chicken) from Honolulu and producing a small, foil packet of damp, spiced salt.  Not sure what kind of warped thinking goes into keeping salt with hot food, but I realize we're not dealing with the brightest light.  This reminded me about the dish I had in Vancouver, and I wanted to make it myself (salt not damp, no duck, skin crispy).

Getting back to present day, Hong Kong Chicken is something we can all enjoy.  The Help can eat it as a topping for a salad.  D1 (when she gets back) can load the leftovers with a ton of spicy salt.  D2 can shred the breast meat and stick it between bread to make a Costco-chicken-like sandwich.  Me?  I always go for the wings.  The carcass can then be used to make a soup...perfect for those nights with freezing fog (whatever that is).

click on recipe title for printable recipe
Hong Kong Chicken

     3-5 lb chicken, neck and innards discarded
     1/4 c oyster sauce
     1 tbsp sugar
     1 tbsp shoyu
     1 tsp salt
     1 tsp 5-spice
     1 tsp sesame oil
     2 cloves garlic, grated
     1/2" piece ginger, grated

Basting Sauce:  1 tbsp oyster sauce
                          1 tbsp shoyu
                          1 tbsp mirin

Spiced Salt:  1 tsp salt
                     1 tsp 5-spice
                     1/4 tsp white pepper
                     1/8 tsp sugar

Wash and dry chicken.  Combine chicken with other ingredients (except basting sauce & spiced salt).  Marinate overnight.  Roast breast-side up (tuck wing tips under body) at 350 degrees (20 minutes per pound) until done.  Combine basting sauce ingredients.  Baste twice while chicken is roasting.  Chop chicken as desired.  Combine spiced salt ingredients.  Serve in a small dish alongside chopped chicken.

It's boys volleyball season!  I'd be hard-pressed to decide which sport I prefer watching...football or volleyball.

I was fortunate enough to be at the first home game of the season (not the first game of the season).  I was planning to attend as a spectator, but the opportunity to help out a friend presented itself so I found myself working at the game.  In spite of it being "work", I had a great time, and I got to watch both the jv and varsity games from a great seat.

The Viking victory (varsity) made the experience even sweeter.  Let's hope the jv can find their groove and win their next game.

This was my first athletic event in the new gym.  The new gym is first-rate.  You can even look onto the court from the AD's office. 

The best thing about Saturday's game?  The concession!  Having been watching my cholesterol for the past few weeks, I broke down and bought a smoked meat & onion bowl.  The $5 price was a bargain for the thrill it brought me.  Even my cousin, who has lost over 20 lbs just from eating healthier, broke down and had a bowl.  The meat was tender, and there was a good proportion of meat/onions to rice...not just rice in the bowl.  I was told the volleyball parents did the concession.  I hope they will take care of more concessions...I would have a hard time not buying the smoked meat bowl every time.

Matsu, Brenda & Lance...next visit to Hilo, stop by and check out the gym!  They are still accepting donations for the gym, so if you're interested, here's a link to the donation form. 

I must apologize...this was not the first home game of the season.  The first home game was on Wednesday, March 11, against Christian Liberty (varsity only).  I heard it was a very quick game.