Instant Pot Lemon Chicken with Garlic and Olives...Comfort In An Instant

Oh my. How the world has changed. Only a few short months ago the word "COVID-19" was something that occurred in another world somewhere, of no concern to us over here in the Great White North. It happened to other countries. Other people. Not us. And now. Now our schools have been shut down, parks are closed, as have restaurants, businesses. Grocery stores have line ups outside...god forbid we should run out of toilet paper or flour! We all are trying to practice Social Distancing. Some of us are really good at it (I'm an introvert and have been training for this my whole life- I've got this!)  Some of us are really bad at it. Anytime anyone coughs we look at them with fear and suspicion. We are doing our best by working at home if we can (unless you are technologically inept like me and can't get the remote access on my computer working...sigh.) Some of us don't have a choice and still have to go in to work as we were deemed "essential." Some of us have to go into work each day where we are not adequately protected and are scared for our safety and the safety of our loved ones. Some of us having underlying health issues that will make us more susceptible to infection. Some of us have elderly parents with health issues and we know what will inevitably happen to them if they contract it. Some of us won't get paid if we are self- isolating. Some of us have lost our jobs. Some of us have lost a lot of our financial nest egg when the economy went to crap. Everyone is scared. Our anxiety levels have multiplied tenfold. We are having trouble sleeping...hello 2 a.m. my old friend! And oh yah, we happened to get a Border Collie puppy right before the proverbial shit hit the fan. Insert facepalm emoji if I had one.

So. What can we do to help keep ourselves sane during this crisis. On many days I've really just wished I could hide under the covers and not get up until everything is sorted again. But giving up isn't an option right now.  There are bills to be paid, children to support, pets to feed, dogs to walk so they don't chew our house. So my current Self-Talk is: Take advantage of this unforeseen down time and remember those things that you never had time to do because life was too hectic.  Read that book (or books) that have been sitting on your nightstand for the past 4 months (they seemed like a good idea at the time when you were binge buying on Amazon at 2 a.m.) Finally give your house a thorough clean (even though it will only stay that way for an hour tops after the puppy wakes up from his nap.) Organize that basement. Take the dog for a walk. Or several walks especially if he happens to be a Border Collie puppy. Learn to crochet/knit/paint/write/create. Take that on-line course that you've been interested in but have never had the time. Or, like me and the sous chef, cook and self-medicate with food and a couple glasses of wine (*bottles.) Thankfully we do love to cook and we have a well-stocked pantry (one of the benefits of being descendants of Depression/War Era parents.)

Get out that beautiful Le Creuset pot that I bought you and you were too afraid to use and make something lovely. Your Instant Pot is also calling you and wishes you would get over your fear of it (there is nothing to be afraid of, it's so very safe and only wants to make your life easier.) Search out some lovely comforting meals. Like a good old basic yet hearty lemon chicken with pasta. So easy. Not much thinking required. Stress free. Hardly any clean up. Delicious.

When life turns to lemons, make some lemonade. Or maybe a Lemon Chicken with Garlic and Olives in your Instant Pot. As they are saying, We are All In This Together. Someday hopefully soon I will find comfort in that. Soon. Until then, I will continue to cook, eat, have a couple of glasses of the red medicine, have a cuddle with the pets, and then convince myself to get out from underneath those warm, cosy sheets in the morning. Fingers crossed.

Stay Safe and Stay Healthy! Virtual xoxoxo from Bistro 164!

Instant Pot Lemon Chicken with Garlic and Olives

from "Comfort In An Instant" by Melissa Clark

Pressure Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time (includes prep time) : 45 minutes

Servings: 3-4

Ingredients

1 tbsp olive oil

2 lbs bone in, skin on chicken thighs 

kosher salt and ground pepper

1/2 cup chicken stock

1/3 cup olives

4 thin slices of lemon

4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced (or a spoonful of jarred diced garlic)

1 tbsp of drained capers

1 tsp fresh rosemary, chopped

1 tsp fresh thyme leaves, chopped

1/2 tsp fennel seeds, lightly crushed with a mortar and pestle

Directions

Select the saute function on your Instant Pot and heat the oil on high. Season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper and add to the IP in a single layer, skin side down.  Cook for 8 minutes without flipping the chicken, until well browned on one side. 

Flip the chicken, pour in the stock, add in the thyme, rosemary, fennel seeds, capers, garlic and lemon slices.

Lock the IP lid in to place and cook on high for 15 minutes. Let the pressure release naturally.

Discard the lemon slices, transfer the chicken to a plate and tent it with aluminium foil. Select the saute function and bring the sauce to a simmer and cook for 3-5 minutes, until it has thickened a bit.  Spoon the sauce over the chicken. Serve over a bed of egg noodles or rice or polenta. Garnish with lemon, thyme and rosemary.

And here is a very cute pic of our new Border Collie pup, Peat. He is a handful like any Border Collie pup, but we love him to bits....Welcome to Bistro 164 Puppy Peat!