Last week was a big week! Not only was it Valentine's Day, but it was also the Monkey Scientist's birthday. We celebrated with lots of delicious food! This was the start of the week - a romantic and easy-to-pull-together dinner. Nothing says romance like serious comfort food.
Of course, this dish was just a little bit selfish. The very short list of things that the Monkey Scientist won't eat includes olives. I get it - they're super salty and definitely an acquired taste. Dad despises them too. But, since the olives are still big, he was able to pick around him and he didn't mind at all. I liked the flavor they added to the dish, but it wasn't so strong that it ruined it for him.
I did let him add his own touches, though. Any time you see "salt and pepper" below, you can assume we added a good tablespoon of red pepper flakes as well. It wouldn't be a good dinner without a little bit of heat around here! I enjoyed this addition, and if you're a spice lover I recommend you make this addition as well.
As for difficulty, this really couldn't be easier to make. I was worried because the rice wasn't cooking after 30 minutes (it was still quite hard) but I just kept adding 1/2 - 1 cup of broth at a time, putting another 10 minutes on the clock, and eventually it cooked to perfection. When it was "done" there still appeared to be a little broth that wasn't absorbed, but once I stirred the rice up it soaked right in. Even though I was adding time on, the chicken was super moist - not a bit overcooked.
When it was finally done, it was super delicious. The rice was cooked perfectly - warm, tender, and loaded with flavor. The chicken was perfection. We don't usually eat thighs but for Valentine's Day this was a special treat and absolutely worth it. The Monkey Scientist said he thought it was delicious as well (especially because I managed to avoid getting any olives on his plate!). After we finished, we ate the bits of rice that had become crispy on the bottom of the pan. It was absolutely the best part! Valentine's Day might be over this year, but you can make this for your honey any day of the year!
