”Leeky” Chicken
Serves: 4-5
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 40 minutes
Total time: 55 minutes
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 40 minutes
Total time: 55 minutes
The Story
This started out as one of those dinners where “I have an ingredient, what do I do with it?” Two of my kids quickly decided it was one of their top favorites, so I tweaked it a bit, and they decided to call it “Leeky Chicken.” My only hang up for cooking this dish was it can be a pain to clean leeks. Once I started soaking them in lemon oil, this recipe became easy breezy.
Ingredients
For the Chicken and Rice
- 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (or breasts, which is what my family prefers. I actually cut them in half, lengthwise, so they cook a bit faster)
- 3 tablespoons grass-fed butter
- 2 large leeks, white and light green parts only, thinly sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups long-grain white rice (basmati or jasmine)
- 4 cups chicken stock
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Capers
For the Salsa Verde (FULL DISCLOSURE: I buy the Herdez brand when I don’t feel like making from scratch, then serve extra capers on the side)
- 1 cup fresh parsley leaves, packed
- ½ cup fresh cilantro leaves
- 1 small clove garlic
- 1 tablespoon capers
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup olive oil
- Juice of 1 lemon
Instructions
- Melt 2T butter in large skillet with high sides over medium-high heat. Add leeks, garlic, and 1-2 drops lemon oil, season with salt and pepper, and mix to coat. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook until leeks are tender, about 5 minutes. Remove lid, increase heat to medium-high, and cook, stirring occasionally, about 3 more minutes. Add rice, stirring often, and cook 3-5 more minutes. Then add stock and 2-3 drops lemon oil, scraping up any browned bits. Season chicken with salt and pepper, nestle down into rice mixture. Bring to a simmer. Cover, reduce heat to medium low, and cook until rice and chicken are done, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat, cut remaining butter (or more, if desired) into small pieces and scatter over dish. Recover and allow to sit for 10 minutes.
- Reminder that I often use store bought salsa verde! If you are making your own, combine all ingredients except olive oil in food processor and blend. With motor running, gradually add olive oil until it makes a thick sauce.
- Serve chicken and rice with salsa verde and an extra spoonful of capers.
GinnyHoo’s Tip
If you’ve never cooked with leeks before, don’t be intimidated. Slice them lengthwise and rinse well—those lovely layers like to hide a little dirt.I actually soak them in a bowl of water with a few drops of lemon oil for about 15-20 minutes, which helps the dirt come right off. And if you make extra salsa verde (you should), it’s magic on eggs, roasted veggies, or grilled bread.
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. That means if you click through and make a purchase within a certain time frame, I may earn a small commission—paid by the retailer, not you. It’s one of the ways I support this little business of mine, and it allows me to keep writing, sharing, and chronicling life here at Ginnyhoo. As always, I only recommend things I truly use, love, or would happily tell a friend about across the kitchen table.
Whether your child is headed off to college, trade school, or his very first job, there’s a strange mix of excitement and nerves in the air. You’re packing boxes, buying dorm essentials, and scrolling through late‑night checklists that make you wonder if you need three different kinds of tape (spoiler: you don’t).
But the truth is this—what your child really needs aren’t things that can be bought.. It’s not about the twin XL sheets or the shower caddy. It’s about what you gave them to carry inside of themselves.
Here are a few things worth knowing before they close their childhood bedroom door and step into the next season:
1. Basic Cooking Skills
If your child can make more than cereal, they are already ahead of the game. Make sure they know how to fix a few basic, inexpensive meals. (Fun story - I knew how to make several dinners, bake multiple desserts, can vegetables and make jam, yet I realized at 20 I didn’t know how long to boil an egg.) Beyond being able to eat decent food, this will build their self-confidence and help their pocketbook.
2. Laundry
This was one of those things that really puzzled our eldest when she went to college - people didn’t know how to do laundry, were disrespectful of the communal laundry room, or both. First, make sure your child knows the basics and doesn’t wash a brand new black or red shirt with everything else. Secondly, they should understand that different machines work better with certain detergent options. For example, dorm washing machines are notorious for not completely dissolving laundry pods and have ruined more than one load of clothes. Also, be respectful of others and skip the heavily fragranced stuff.
3. Financial Literacy (Including Building Credit)
I really wish someone had warned me that credit card companies love to send all kinds of offers to college students. I knew how to balance a checkbook, and while my high school math classes taught me how to compute compounded interest, living it is a whole other ballgame. You don’t need to be an accountant, but you do need to know how to budget, pay bills on time, and understand how credit works. 18 is a great time to start building credit. Have your child research credit card companies (don’t miss looking at credit unions!), find the best option, and then use it for a couple of small transactions per month, paying it off before the end of each cycle. Think of money as a tool, not a mystery.
4. How to Communicate Effectively (and Politely)
I often have people tell me how much they appreciate that my children look them in the eye when speaking, communicate clearly, and know how to shake hands. The reason they take the time to comment? Too few young people have these skills today. Additionally, teach them how to write an email and when it is appropriate to text. I have received more than my fair share of emails that lacked a salutation and/or signature, and the text of the body was rambling and incoherent. Trust me, that doesn’t impress a professor or employer, and they may choose to simply ignore the message. (On an additional note, your child needs to be writing these, NOT the parent. If they want you to proofread, that’s great, but they need to be the author.) Clear and respectful communication will get you far. Manners never go out of style.
5. Medical Appointments, Advocacy & First Aid
We had a less than positive experience at the pediatrician’s office with our eldest child. Right then and there, I promised all of our kids that no matter how old they were, if they wanted me at any kind of appointment with them, I would be there. Here’s the kicker, though. I don’t speak for them. We go over potential questions and answers ahead of time. They know that the medical professional works for THEM, not the other way around. OUr kids are comfortable saying, “I’d like time to think about that information” rather than being forced into a decision in the doctor’s office. Your child needs to know how to make their own appointments. Learn how to ask questions at the doctor’s office, fill out forms, and understand your insurance. Having basic first aid supplies on hand, knowing how to use them, and having confidence in what their body needs will also go a long way towards avoiding unnecessary appointments and charges.
6. Time Management, Study Skills & Job Responsibility
Deadlines are real. Alarms are your friend. Balance matters. Whether it’s coursework or clocking in, being dependable is a skill that sets you apart. Have them practice living by the adage “Early is on time, on time is late.” It is a quickly vanishing skill, and it will help your child stand out in a positive way.
7. Resolving Conflict the Grown‑Up Way
Civil discourse seems to be a dying skill across several generations. Let’s do our part to fix that, shall we? Equipping your child with the ability to handle differing opinions will serve them throughout their lives. It might be something as simple as disagreeing with a roommate over how a shared space should be set up, to a boss who holds different political views, or a coworker with values that don’t align. It will even improve your own relationship with your child as they figure out how to be an adult as they won’t always make decisions that you agree with. After all, it would be strange if they didn’t branch out on their own.
8. Cleaning & Home Maintenance Basics
I would add to this, know how to change a tire and jump a car. In addition to basic cleaning skills, show them how to change the battery in a smoke alarm and how to operate a fuse box. Hopefully they already know how to take out the trash (and put a new bag in the can!) and scrub a toilet, but if not, have them start practicing now.
9. Confidence (and Knowing When to Ask for Help)
Kids naturally have various confidence levels. Some of them are overflowing (those may need some tips on tempering tendencies), while others need a bit more nudging to try new experiences or speak with strangers. When our children have knowledge about basic skills and practice addressing common occurrences, it is much easier for them to feel confident in new settings and when faced with unknown situations. And you know what will really help them? Knowing that they can reach out when they are unsure of the next step. Independence doesn’t mean doing everything alone. Encourage them to step into adulthood with the confidence to handle life’s bumps—and the wisdom to know when to call home, ask a mentor, or lean on a friend.
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Leaving home for the first time is equal parts adventure and unknown. Our children don’t have to have it all figured out, but a little preparation will make the journey smoother. Think of these nine things not as rules, but as gifts you are empowering them with.
And remember—no matter where they are headed, they are not going alone. They carry with them every lesson, every encouragement, and every “you’ve got this” that helped them get to this point.
So go ahead—tell them to spread their wings. The nest will always be here when they need it.
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. That means if you click through and make a purchase within a certain time frame, I may earn a small commission—paid by the retailer, not you. It’s one of the ways I support this little business of mine, and it allows me to keep writing, sharing, and chronicling life here at Ginnyhoo. As always, I only recommend things I truly use, love, or would happily tell a friend about across the kitchen table.
If you've been thinking about a raw diet for Fido but are hesitant because you think it is difficult, I promise it doesn't have to be.
In the beginning, I measured everything, but years later, I pretty much eyeball it.
- 1 apple, core and seeds removed
- 1 large carrot (I use ahredded because it mixes better)
- 5 oz spinach
- 2 whole eggs (yes, you want the shell in there)
- About 1 cup of whole plain yogurt
- 2-3T ground flaxseed
- 2T olive oil
- 3-4 chicken livers (or other organ meat)
Mix it all in food processor
Combine with about 1.5 lbs ground beef
Make into patties and freeze, then thaw as needed.
Obviously, the size of patties and/or amount you feed your dog will depend on his or her size.
And, of course, this is where I'm supposed to recommend you consult your vet. 😊
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. That means if you click through and make a purchase within a certain time frame, I may earn a small commission—paid by the retailer, not you. It’s one of the ways I support this little business of mine, and it allows me to keep writing, sharing, and chronicling life here at Ginnyhoo. As always, I only recommend things I truly use, love, or would happily tell a friend about across the kitchen table.
This was one of the best decisions I made when it came to our eldest child’s college graduation.
About 6 weeks prior, she called to ask what we wanted to do each day we were there because all of her friends’ parents had certain nights, times, etc they wanted to go to dinner, take photos … and the list went on and on. I could hear the stress and overwhelm mounting in her voice.
So I said, “We’ll do whatever you want to do whenever. Just tell me where we need to be and when we need to be there.” There was a pause, and then, “Really?”
(You see, go-with-the-flow isn’t my normal personality. I’m a planner. Oh, I’ve gotten way better in my 40s, but when it comes to big events, I usually still like somewhat of an itinerary.)
I told her we still wanted to spend some time with her and take photos, and we did want to take her out for a nice meal or two, but it could be whenever it fit her schedule. I could almost physically feel the relief seeping through the phone.
So we went, we were pretty darn flexible, and our family of 5 had a wonderful time celebrating this amazing young woman.
Turns out the best gift wasn’t money or something tangible, but simply a release of worry and expectation. And that’s something we can all afford to give. ❤️
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. That means if you click through and make a purchase within a certain time frame, I may earn a small commission—paid by the retailer, not you. It’s one of the ways I support this little business of mine, and it allows me to keep writing, sharing, and chronicling life here at Ginnyhoo. As always, I only recommend things I truly use, love, or would happily tell a friend about across the kitchen table.
Parenting a young adult is a whole different ballgame.
The phone call came while she was at school, a couple of states away. She was upset, telling me about a problem, so I offered some suggestions. Her next statement caught me off guard. "Instead of telling me what to do, sometimes I just need you to listen."
I spoke to her a few minutes more, but I had to get off the phone before I said something I was going to regret. My feelings were incredibly hurt. After all, I was only trying to help.
But after I calmed down, I started thinking about when I was her age. And I realized two things. One, I remember feeling almost the same way at times. And two, she will one day understand my intentions were good.
So, the next time she called with a problem, I asked her, "Would you like my help with this, or do you just want me to listen?" And we had a great conversation.
Now, that doesn't mean we've ended all bumps in our relationship, but it sure has gone a long way in improving our communication. Getting ready to see how it works with kid #2.
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. That means if you click through and make a purchase within a certain time frame, I may earn a small commission—paid by the retailer, not you. It’s one of the ways I support this little business of mine, and it allows me to keep writing, sharing, and chronicling life here at Ginnyhoo. As always, I only recommend things I truly use, love, or would happily tell a friend about across the kitchen table.
