It was a bright and breezy Saturday morning when Lala, the curious golden dog, trotted into the kitchen with her tail wagging excitedly. Her nose twitched as she sniffed the air — something smelled delicious already.
“Morning, Lala!” Thuy smiled, kneeling down to pat Lala on the head. “I’m going to try out some new chicken breast recipes today. Want to help?”
Lala barked once — a soft, happy sound. She didn’t understand every word, but she definitely understood “chicken.” Thuy giggled.
“Okay, partner! Let’s cook together.”
Thuy had just returned from the market with a fresh batch of skinless, boneless chicken breasts. She was planning a small lunch for her younger brother and grandparents, and she wanted to keep the dishes simple, healthy, and tasty.
She tied her apron and turned on her favorite music. Lala sat patiently on the floor, her head slightly tilted as she watched Thuy prep the ingredients.
“Let’s start with the honey garlic chicken,” Thuy said. “It’s easy and smells amazing!”
Recipe 1: Honey Garlic Chicken Breast
Thuy placed two chicken breasts on the cutting board and trimmed off any extra fat. She patted them dry with paper towels, then sprinkled them with salt and pepper.
In a small bowl, she mixed:
- 3 tablespoons of honey
- 2 minced garlic cloves
- 1 tablespoon of soy sauce
- A splash of apple cider vinegar
She heated some oil in a nonstick pan and seared the chicken breasts until golden brown on both sides, then poured in the sauce mixture. The sweet and savory aroma quickly filled the kitchen.
Lala’s ears perked up and her nose lifted. She let out a soft whine.
“Don’t worry,” Thuy laughed. “I’ll make a dog-safe version for you later.”
After letting the sauce bubble and thicken, Thuy turned off the heat and covered the pan.
“This one’s done! Let’s call it ‘Sticky Sweet Chicken,’” she said, writing it down in her notebook.
Recipe 2: Lemon Herb Grilled Chicken
Next up, Thuy prepared a refreshing recipe using lemon and herbs. This one didn’t need much cooking — just marinating and grilling.
She made a quick marinade using:
- Juice of one lemon
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1 teaspoon of dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon of thyme
- Salt and pepper to taste
She placed two chicken breasts in a ziplock bag, poured in the marinade, and gave it a good shake. Then she left it in the fridge to marinate.
Lala followed her closely, sniffing every step of the way.
“Grilling time will be in thirty minutes,” Thuy told Lala. “Let’s make one more while we wait.”
Recipe 3: Creamy Garlic Chicken (Without Cream)
Thuy was in the mood for something creamy but still healthy. She reached for some Greek yogurt in the fridge and smiled.
“For this one,” she said aloud, “we’ll use Greek yogurt instead of cream!”
She sautéed garlic in a bit of olive oil, then added:
- Half a cup of plain Greek yogurt
- A quarter cup of chicken broth
- A pinch of salt and pepper
- A sprinkle of parmesan cheese
Once the sauce was smooth and bubbly, she added sliced cooked chicken breast into the pan and stirred until everything was well coated.
Lala wagged her tail excitedly.
“Not for you, silly,” Thuy teased. “But I promise — I’ll share a plain piece later.”
Back to the Lemon Chicken
By now, the lemon herb chicken was ready to be grilled. Thuy heated her grill pan and cooked each side for 5 minutes until the grill marks formed beautifully. The kitchen smelled fresh, zesty, and inviting.
As she flipped the chicken, she looked at Lala. “You’ve been such a good helper, you know that?”
Lala barked happily and did a little spin.
Lunch is Served!
By noon, the table was set. Thuy sliced all three types of chicken breast and arranged them on a wooden board. She served them with simple sides: steamed vegetables, fluffy white rice, and a cucumber salad with vinegar dressing.
Her younger brother rushed in first. “Whoa! What smells so good?”
“Try them and tell me which is your favorite,” Thuy said, handing him a fork.
Grandma and Grandpa followed, both surprised and touched by the delicious spread. Everyone tried a little bit of each chicken dish.
“The lemon herb one is so fresh!” said Grandma.
“I love the sticky one,” said her brother, pointing to the honey garlic.
“I like this creamy one,” Grandpa said. “It’s rich but light.”
Thuy beamed with pride.
“And guess who helped me?” she said, pointing to Lala, who sat wagging her tail, watching them enjoy the meal.
Everyone laughed and gave Lala a little piece of plain grilled chicken as a reward.
Bonus: A Dog-Friendly Chicken Treat
After lunch, Thuy decided to make something just for Lala.
She boiled a small piece of chicken breast with some chopped carrots and sweet potato, with no seasoning. Once it cooled down, she chopped it into bite-sized bits.
“Here you go, chef Lala,” she said, placing the treat into Lala’s special bowl.
Lala devoured it in seconds, licking her lips and wagging her tail.
Wrapping Up the Day
After the dishes were washed and the kitchen cleaned, Thuy sat by the window with a cup of tea and Lala curled up beside her.
“You know,” Thuy said softly, “you really are the best cooking companion.”
Lala gave a sleepy sigh, resting her head on Thuy’s lap.
Thuy opened her notebook and wrote the title: “Simple but Delicious Chicken Breast Recipes” and listed the three recipes from earlier, making sure to add little paw prints next to each one.
Because cooking was more fun with a furry friend by her side.
