Habits of a Lifetime

A habit.. is a routine of behaviour that is repeated regularly and tends to occur subconsciously (Wikipedia's definition).

We all have good and bad habits.  Although I'm sure not all of us will admit to having many bad habits... we do know we could improve or do away with certain habits.

They say its takes 21 days to break a habit... really? I don't think so. A life time of doing things a certain way needs more than that. .. or does it just get easier after 21 days?

Do we really analyse ourselves before we embark on trying to change our habits? I don't think so...

So I guess in order to try and "Improve" our habits we should start by trying to analyse ourselves?  Or just get on with our "Self Improvement " ... or just say "f**k it" and carry on with life as it is... Yes some people think about it but actually don't do anything about it...

As we approach the new year most of us look back over the past year and think about the things we could have done,  changed or just eliminated. ..

Robert Kiyosaki quoted on his Facebook page "Don't bother with New Year's resolutions unless you have the discipline to carry out your plan".  Cannot agree more and I am sure you probably silently do too, we will always try in any case. Some of us contain this mustard seed of faith within us that believe we can do it. .. That we can change those "bad" habits, that we can do more than what we set out to do originally, that we can lose those sneaky few pounds.

And that is what makes us human. .. our Habits!! And if habits are bad then are humans bad?. ... Err.. Don't answer that!  But do you get what I'm saying?  Our habits and us constantly wanting to change or self-improve (which is a habit in itself) is what makes us us.

For the most part,  we are ever positive.  Continuously aiming high with a smile on our face! Our "plan", formulated with minimal self-analysis,  to continue as we do, pushing past the 21 day mark.. and one day we might actually just get it right.

Tasty food out of the blue...

They say the best recipes happen when you experiment.  I am not that creative in the kitchen but every now and then I surprise myself with the flavours I come up with.  If you like something with a little kick but tasty, then this one is for you.

Now, trying to remember what I did... Yup!  So here goes.

Sweet & Spicy Chicken (serves 4, prep+cooking time 70 mins)

8 Chicken Thighs (with or without skin, depending on "diet")
Olive oil 
Large onion, roughly chopped
2 Garlic cloves, roughly chopped
1/2 Punnet of Button Mushrooms, halved or roughly chopped
1 Orange pepper, roughly chopped
2 Spring onions, roughly chopped
1 Pkt Sugar Snap Peas
Tsp Chicken seasoning (I use South African made, Ina Paarman's Chicken Spice, but use whatever you have available)
Tsp Paprika
Tsp Cumin seeds
Tsp Mixed Herbs
Freshly Ground Black pepper
Chicken stock cube, on its own 
Chicken stock pot
3 Cups of Coke/ Diet Coke ... or just judge for yourself, chicken must be covered.
Tblsp Soy sauce
Tblsp Nando's Mild Peri Peri Sauce

Preheat oven at 180 degrees. In an oven-proof pot, heat oil, fry onion & garlic until soft, add chicken and brown. Add in seasoning, herbs, spices and crumble chicken stock cube, coat the chicken and fry off for another few minutes.  Add orange, lemon juice, coke, soy sauce, Nandos and stock pot and then the chopped mushrooms, stir. Cover with lid, place in oven for 40 minutes.  Remove from oven, give it a good stir, chuck in the spring onion, orange peppers & sugar snap peas and simmer on a low heat for 10 minutes.  This ensures the colour and crispness remains.

Ready to serve.... either with chunky bread, rice or noodles.  
Enjoy!