Pipian

Chicken breasts are mostly what Mark's diet consists of. Whenever he's at the military camp, he usually eats boiled (or sometimes steamed) chicken breasts without even a pinch of salt or pepper. I can just imagine how sad his meal times are. So whenever he comes home on weekends, I make sure that he gets to enjoy what he eats without having to compromise his healthy growing body. :p

I've cooked grilled chicken for him several times already and I prepared Chicken Broccoli for him just recently, so those were definitely out of my list. I remember him requesting me to cook something with tomatoes and  so Chicken Cacciatore was what topped my head.

Cacciatore means "hunter" in Italian. In cuisine, it refers to a meal prepared "hunter-style" with tomatoes, onions, and herbs, and is popularly made with braised chicken. Chicken Cacciatore is a dish in itself, but it may also be paired with pasta or even with rice. Fancy and complicated as it may seem, Chicken Cacciatore is very easy to make. Let me share with you guys my version. :)

Chicken Cacciatore over Whole Wheat Fusilli

Ingredients:

2 450g-packs boneless skinless chicken breast halves

8 pcs medium-sized ripe tomatoes, cut into cubes

2 tbsp ground black pepper (for sauce) and another 1 tsp (for chicken) 1 tbsp olive oil for frying

2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely-chopped 1 250g-can whole button mushrooms, thinly-sliced 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 medium-sized onion, chopped 2 tbsp dried oregano 2 tbsp honey whole wheat fusilli or brown rice

I've been living away from home for almost a month now.  It's actually my first time in 28 years to be away from my family. And because of that, I have no choice but to do everything, house chores specifically, all on my own. If there's one chore that I love doing the most, it's definitely cooking! And even though I'm not accustomed to being alone and doing everything by myself, I still find joy in it because I get to cook every single day, especially on weekends when I get to cook for Mark. :D

While cooking is really a no-brainer task for me, cooking for a bodybuilder is another thing. I always have to improvise and know healthier alternatives to usual ingredients that 'normal' people eat. :p Here's one of the 'healthy' dishes that I've cooked for Mark. :p

Chicken Broccoli

Printable Recipe: Chicken Broccoli

Ingredients:

450g chicken breast fillet, cut into strips

2 cloves garlice, minced 1 medium-sized white onion, cubed (red onion may also be used) 1 can button mushrooms, drained and sliced 1 medium-sized broccoli, cut into florets

2 tbsp honey 3 tbsp oyster sauce 1 tsp soy sauce 1 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp ground black pepper

Being a girlfriend of a bodybuilder for more than 8 years now, I have already known and mastered Mark's needs especially when it comes to food. I enjoy cooking and I love to cook especially for my loved ones, and that of course includes Mark. I know how strict his diet is but that didn't stop me from cooking for him. Thank God for off-seasons from competitions, Mark can get to enjoy my home-cooked specialties. :D

Whenever Mark comes over our house for a visit, if my dad's not around, I make sure to prepare something that will surely satisfy his big appetite. I also see to it that I prepare different dishes for him for his every visit.  I already cooked Kare-kare for him before, so that's definitely out of the list.  I knew how Mark loves to eat chicken so I decided to cook Chinese-style Roasted Chicken for him when he paid me a visit at home a few weeks ago. :D

I actually learned this recipe from my dad.  It's basically roasted chicken with soy sauce plus star anise, where the distinct Chinese herb taste comes from. :) I have already perfected this recipe and so whenever there is roasted chicken in the menu in our family feasts, I am always tasked to cook it. Here's one simple yet delectable recipe that I'm sure you'll enjoy just as how my family and Mark did. :)

Chinese-style Roasted Chicken

If you have left over pork or chicken in the fridge and you're sick of just having it reheated and served, instead of throwing away the food (which also means throwing away some cash :p), this recipe is the best for you.

Let me share with you a recipe of yet another tasty treat from my dad that will surely satisfy your palates. :D 

Chicken and Pork Empanada