chicken thighs + fries

just the best thing to happen to a sheetpan

Hi! If you’re new here, on Tuesdays I devote my newsletter to “I Love Lunch” and include an easy lunch recipe for paid subscribers. To me, lunch recipes are especially simple to make and simple to clean-up. Of course you can make the recipe for any mealtime that you’d like! I always include a number of notes following these recipes, including how to make vegetarian/vegan/gluten-free versions and other fun notes/ideas.

The other day I saw this from the wonderful

emily nunn

:

It hits home, especially with yesterday’s inauguration in mind.

And yet, it seems we still have to make and eat food. Or: and yet, we still get to make and eat food.

When I’m feeling most connected I remember that cooking is a way I’m able to create, maintain, and strengthen relationships. I loved Chase Strangio’s recent IG post with a few of his thoughts:

chasestrangio

A post shared by @chasestrangio

Especially #3:

From Chase Strangio.

---

With all of this in mind, today I am sharing one of the best things I’ve made in my kitchen in recent history: chicken thighs + fries. You make a garlicky, lemony yogurt and mayo mixture, save half for drizzling on top when the dish is done, and use the rest to coat some boneless/skinless chicken thighs. You roast those on a sheetpan alongside frozen French fries. Serve topped with the yogurt/mayo sauce, maybe some sliced cucumbers or lettuce, maybe a different vegetable if you want, maybe no vegetable at all and that’s just fine! A little ketchup on the fries and hot sauce on everything is also a delight.

It hits THE SPOT. It’s what I’d love to eat for lunch all of the time and the kind-of thing I like to share with Grace, my friends, my family, my neighbors. The kind-of lunch that gives me a way to care for myself and the people around me. It’s not too much work to make or clean-up and is extremely satisfying to eat.

Don’t you want this today?

Sheetpan Trying Not to Feel Despondent.

There are a few things about this recipe I really love:

• All of the prep can happen in the time it takes to heat your oven.

• Very kid-friendly! Especially if you keep the chicken, fries and sauce separate and any toppings/accompaniments separate, too.

• Speaking of, there are endless amounts of toppings/things to serve this with. I went with just sliced cucumber and was very happy, but a simple chopped romaine or iceberg salad would work well, too. And/or chopped tomatoes, a chopped tomato/cuke salad, thinly sliced onion, thinly sliced onion that you marinate with lemon juice and a little sumac, hummus, pickles of any and all kinds, rice, rice pilaf, grilled vegetables, roasted vegetables, etc.

• If you use a Microplane to mince your garlic (that’s what I do!), then you don’t even have to dirty a board or knife for this recipe.

• I only really like chicken thighs when they’re really cooked through and the fat and collagen have a chance to break down. In this recipe, the chicken thighs get to that point exactly when the fries get very crispy which just feels like the synchronicity I love.

Winky is very interested in this recipe and is considering becoming a paid subscriber…

Haven’t gotten your copy of WHAT GOES WITH WHAT yet? Love it and want to get a copy for a friend? Bookshop.org is offering all my newsletter readers 15% off through the end of January when you use the code: LOVEBOOKSELLERS.

If you want a SIGNED copy of WHAT GOES WITH WHAT, including any personalizing you’d like, those are available through my favorite local bookstore Oblong Books. And if you want to get your sweetheart(s) a copy for Valentine’s Day, just order by January 31st and then I can sign it and they can ship it to you in time for the holiday!

For a full Valentine’s Day “itinerary”, order a personalized book and come join me on Friday February 14th for a Quick + Special Valentine’s Day Dinner class — just one hour, just $25. We'll make Cosmos (N/A option given) and Steak Diane (chicken + veg option given). A great activity to do with someone you love (partner, friend, family member, yourself!). Also a really nice activity to do with someone you love who lives far away -- you can both take class and cook, then eat together over FaceTime or Zoom.

The full recipe for paid subscribers is below (including in a PDF version!), plus notes if you:

• Prefer white meat?

• Vegetarian?

• Vegan?

• Want to double this?

• Seeking spiciness?

Chicken Thighs + Fries

• 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt

• 1/4 cup mayonnaise