Chicken Thighs with Tomato-Basil Cream Sauce over Saffron Rice

Serves 5-6

6 chicken thighs de-boned and cut into full bite sizes
1 large tomato diced (will want to make this 2 instead of 1)
5 baby carrots shredded
1 large onion diced
Salr, Pepper, Tuscan Sunset Italian Seasoning (Penzy's), Paprika, Basil
1/4 cup chicken broth
3/4 cup whipping cream
1 tablespoon of butter

1) After preparations made from Sous Chef, bring 3 cups of water to boil with some saffron threads. Add 1 1/2 cup rice and cook. Put chicken pieces into heated Cast Iron Skillet (14") over medium heat with virgin olive oil. Spice as desired, cover turning once. Remove chicken pieces to separate plate to rest.

2) Drain juices, leaving a thin layer on bottom of skillet. Add onions, cook until beginning to become translucent. Add in shredded carrots, cover and let soften. Add in tomato and spice as desired. Cover and cook until everything is tender and cooked through.

3) Add 1/4 coup chicken broth and 3/4 cup whipping cream, pouring slowly and mixing well with vegetables. Add in tablespoon of butter, cover for 3 minutes, mixing once and adding any spices as desired. Replace chicken pieces and cook for additional 4 minutes. Serve over rice.

The biggest thing about this meal was that I get it. At least in this case. My middle son, Caleb is here for Christmas week and I was able to make one of my country Italian meals I know for him, Jordan, his girlfriend and my wife. Until this time, only my wife has tasted my cooking fresh, with Jordan getting leftovers in the microwave due to work schedules. So it was a neat experience sitting down to eat with everyone today and most everyone having never tasted my cooking before.

I have to say, as with the first time I made this, I did very well. It was better than I have had in many a restaurant and I had nothing to be ashamed of. Rather I was pretty proud of what I had done and felt the warm fuzzies for the first time of having made a wonderful meal for the people that I love. It was obvious they all enjoyed it as well and tonight there is no left overs. For anyone. Including me. I'm so sad. Not.

For the first time, cooking gave me an experience that made me feel important to the role in our family as patriarch. For the first time, cooking wasn't a chore but pleasant as I cooked and spent time with my family talking and joking together. The prep, the cooking, the meal itself was very reminiscent of what you hear what country Italian cooking is all about. Like I said earlier, I got it. And it was awesome.