Guest Star Turn, or El Pollo Loco

[Allow me to introduce my cool-headed and epicurean colleague, Michelle Coffey, with a recipe. -A]

Blood(less) Orange Chicken
 
I like cooking with blood oranges, but I've had enough accidents involving my finger and a slicer to make me disproportionately squeamish at the sight of the peeled and sectioned fruit. For this chicken masterpiece, I have a smart workaround that involves freshly squeezed orange juice (a la carton!). 

So, Sunday is my trash-bag day, the day I rip apart the fridge and dispose of gamy meat, rotting fruit, brown greens, mayonnaise and salad dressing that was best in '05, etc. This otherwise peaceful weekend day makes Mr. Coffey very, very nervous as I have been known to barbarically and cold-heartedly toss out his jar of (debatably) empty salsa, his tiny army of expired low-fat yogurt cups and most recently, his skunky band of decomposing shrimp that I argue were no longer edible. 

Sunday is also the day I find things that are edible but likely will not survive another day, and I pool everything together into something that passes as delicious. This week's findings: a white onion on the brink of green, garlic that is sprouting a green shoot, leftover lemons and Mr. Coffey's martini olives. United as one is a pleasant blend of sour and sweet, though a sloppy mixture that is not on the photogenic side, so maybe best on a night you are not aiming to impress.
 
4 chicken thighs with bone in, skin on
2 teaspoons olive oil
3 large garlic cloves, minced
1 white onion, sliced
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1 cup orange juice
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/3 cup pitted green olives, chopped
 
Side note: Mr. Coffey likes his green olives in his vodka martini, but not in his chicken, so eliminate if you feel the same.
 
Preparation: Season chicken with salt and pepper. In a skillet over medium-high heat, brown chicken, then remove from skillet. Pour out all but one tablespoon of fat. Reduce heat to moderate. Add garlic, onion to the skillet. Cook until golden. Stir in cumin, orange juice, lemon juice and salt and pepper. Add chicken. Add olives (or not). Simmer for 25 minutes.

The Simple Pleasure of Lunch at Home

* turkey and goat gouda sandwich, melted, on lightly toasted wheat sourdough
* cold soba with sliced cucumber, feta and rice vinegar
* a chilled, crisp grannysmith apple
* a half cup of reheated coffee