Date Night In: Dinner and a Movie

I wanted to share with you all a meal that proved to be the perfect at home date night meal recently. Tuck the kiddos in, light a candle at your dinner table sans fragrance--drawing from one of the Simply Hosting speakers--and enjoy your date.

First, dinner:
Clare's minimalist take on asian americana 'Park City Cashew Chicken' by Rachael Ray
from Rachel Ray 365: No Repeats...

3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 large onion, 1/4 finely chopped, 3/4 thinly sliced
2 cups brown rice
4 cups chicken stock or low-sodium vegetable broth
1 1/2 lbs or lil less of skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cut into 2-inch pieces
2 tablespoons of combo of dried seasonings you have on hand that are somewhat mild-can't remember what I used..random ex: onion powder, coriander, paprika, and ginger
2 to 3 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce or what you have (eyeball it)
4 garlic cloves, chopped
3/4 lb. or so of broccoli, cut lengthwise into little trees or half trees
3 tablespoons canned chipotle chiles in adobo sauce, finely chopped (available in the international foods aisle), or 1 1/2 tablespoons ground chipotle powder
1 tablespoon ground cumin (a palmful)
2 to 3 tablespoons honey (2 healthy drizzles)
1/4 cup pure maple syrup (eyeball it) [I recommend omitting it or reducing to 1/8 c. unless you want it really sweet]
1 cup raw cashews

1. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine 1 tablespoon of the vegetable oil (1 turn of the pan) and the butter. When the butter melts into the oil, add the chopped onion and cook for 2 minutes, then add the rice and cook for 3 minutes more. Add the chicken stock and cover the pot. Raise the heat and bring the stock to a rapid boil. Once the stock boils, reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring occasionally, until the rice is tender, about 18 minutes. 2. While the rice cooks, make the chicken. Heat a large skillet over high heat. Season the chicken with the seasonings. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil (2 turns of the pan) and then the chicken. Brown the chicken on both sides, season with the soy sauce, then move the chicken to 1 side of the pan. Add the sliced onion, garlic and broccoli. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes and mix the vegetables and chicken together. Add the chipotle chiles and cumin. Toss to coat. Glaze the chicken mixture with the honey and maple syrup and turn off the heat. Add the cashews. 3. Spoon the rice into bowls, top with the cashew chicken and serve.

Now, the movie:

Movies I highly recommend: "Arranged", "Fireproof", "Once", "An Affair to Remember", "Return to Me", "Shadowlands", "Sabrina (1995 version)", "Emma", "Martian Child", "Nine Queens" and "Wall-E". I really enjoyed "Once" though some of the camera work was shaky, accents sometimes difficult to decipher and the ending was great but left me dissatisfied. Also, Nine Queens, Martian Child and Wall-E are not datey movies per se but if you like picaresque/crime comedy, John Cusak and cultural commentaries in your cartoons, respectively, then they're up your alley. Don't read any reviews of 9 Queens or it'll ruin it for you! I've heard great things about the old classic 1930sish romantic comedy "The Thin Man" and its sequels as well.