Alabama Peanuts… Thanks Dad

Last month, my dad went “down home” to visit with family.  “Down Home” being Alabama.  My dad… the thoughtful, sweetheart that he is – always brings us something back.  This time it was Alabama Peanuts.  Delicious, toasty, roasted, salty peanuts, still in the shell.

It was my inspiration for this… my version of a Korean Rice Bowl since I’m all snowed in and inevitably on one adventure after another in my kitchen.

I had some leftover jasmine rice from last night’s dinner.  I also had one boneless, skinless chicken thigh waiting in my fridge to be cooked. Yes… ONE – hence the reason this is lunch… and not dinner.  I marinated the thigh last night in fresh ginger, soy sauce, garlic and brown sugar.

Today, I poured it in a screaming hot skillet with sesame oil.  In the meantime, I sliced and crisped a few mushrooms, sliced a hothouse cucumber and a lime.  See… we can actually call this a salad at this point.  Right…?  Anywho… cracking open a few peanuts at this point was pretty therapeutic.

I sprinkled in some dried basil (yes… I know… fresh is best… blah, blah, blah….).  It cooked up in no time – I poured it hot and bubbling all over the jasmine rice – which by the way is my absolute favorite rice these days.  Grabbed a bunch of cilantro and topped it with those Alabama Peanuts!

Hmm… now I feel like I’ve been someplace.  #nomorecabinfever #umami