Skillet Chicken with Peppers and Tomatoes

 

One of the joys of aging is that certain functions diminish over time. Of course, the path you take also helps diminish your functions....like hearing. Such is the case with me. I started shooting at the age of 6 and went on my first pheasant hunt at the age of 8. That led to a lifelong love of waterfowl and upland game hunting and frequent practice sessions at the gun range. I have easily fired tens of thousands of rounds with shotguns and pistols in my 66 years of shooting.

Back in the 50's and 60's, no one wore ear protection (or seatbelts or bike helmets). If you were out hunting, you needed to be able to hear the sound of pheasants flushing in the field. If you were duck hunting, you needed to hear the jet-like swoosh of ducks diving into your decoys. Likewise, when I was duck hunting in the swamps of Louisiana, you had to be able to hear the sounds of alligators cruising along the water's surface...to ensure a dog did not get released to retrieve a downed duck when those apex predators were in the vicinity.

So I got to forego "age-related" hearing loss. But I certainly got nailed by "cause-related" hearing loss. Becky got tired of me asking to hear everything twice, so I went and got a hearing check. Both ears were compromised and I got fitted for hearing aids. Oh, how I hate them. They are uncomfortable and the sound of them I find most disturbing. They convert all sounds to a digital signal that gets played on a tiny little speaker that rests in your ear. So instead of the warm, analog sounds I was used to, my world became a tinny, metallic version of ones and zeros.

I have always had a pair of Apple's AirPods Pro. So I was quite excited when they announced that they could be used to assist with mild hearing loss. I tried them and sure enough, they worked. The sound was warm and clear, but they have two drawbacks. If you wear them out in the wild, you look like Howard Hughes insomuch that no one will engage with you because you appear as a hermit who does not want to talk to anybody.

But the biggest drawback is that those stupid AirPods will never stay in my ears. They fall right out of the ear at the slightest movement. Well, on February 13, Apple solved that problem. They introduced Powerbeats Pro 2. The earbuds use the same H2 chip that is in the AirPods Pro and have pretty much the identical capabilities as the Apple earbuds, but Apple is positioning Beats differently than AirPods. 

Click photo to enlarge

Powerbeats Pro 2 are positioned as the ultimate workout earbuds. They are the most comfortable earbuds I have ever owned. And I'm here to tell you that there is no way on earth for the earbuds to fall out of your ear. The International Space Station could come crashing down on my head...and the rescuers will find my body with my PowerBeats Pro 2 still in my ears. Because not only do they fit my ears perfectly (they come with 5 different sizes of tips...XS, S, M, L, XL)), they also have a very comfortable silicone loop that slides over the top of your ear. The ear tip plus the loop means you have two points of contact to keep the buds connected to your head.

Now Apple makes no mention of hearing aid functions when it comes to the Powerbeats Pro 2...because they are for extreme workouts. But the Powerbeats have the same H2 chip and the same capabilities as the AirPods Pros (plus a few extras). Plus, they are compatible with the entire Apple ecosystem. So now I have a fantastic set of earbuds that help my hearing and will never fall out of my ears. But there is still the Howard Hughes stigma if you wear them out in public. So I plan on growing my fingernails out about four inches and I will learn to live with the hermit moniker.

So what does Skillet Chicken with Peppers and Tomatoes have to do with this discussion of hearing loss? Well, this recipe will actually improve your hearing. Bell peppers and tomatoes are considered good for hearing health because they are a rich source Vitamin C, which is an antioxidant that can help protect the delicate tissues in the inner ear and may reduce the risk of age-related hearing loss. Bell peppers also contain folate (vitamin B9), another nutrient linked to better  hearing health. 

I made this meal for Becky and I last Tuesday. It is an amazing recipe with a sauce that has so much complexity and flavor that it kind of shocked both of us. You have the acidity of the tomatoes combined with tart (vinegar), sweet (honey) and the heat (red pepper flakes). So you end up with perfectly braised chicken thighs in a bed of onions, peppers and tomatoes. Per the top photo, Becky recommends this dish be served with white rice. It mitigates the heat and serves as the perfect medium to soak up the sauce. This recipe serves four.

INGREDIENTS

2 pounds skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs (4 to 8 thighs depending on size)

Kosher salt

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling.

1 small onion, diced

2 bell peppers, diced (mix colors to amaze your friends)

5 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed

3/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1/4 cup sherry vinegar

1 tablespoon honey

1 pint cherry tomatoes 

DIRECTIONS

1. Pat chicken dry and season generously with salt.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring frequently until just starting to soften, 2 minutes. Add the peppers and cook until just beginning to soften, 1 minute. Add the garlic and red-pepper flakes and season lightly with salt. Cook, stirring, until the garlic is fragrant and the onions are beginning to brown slightly, 2 minutes. Move the cooked vegetables to a plate.
3. Add 1 tablespoon oil to the skillet. Place the chicken skin-side down and sear without moving until the skin is golden brown, about 7 minutes. Turn and cook the other side until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Pour out all but 1 tablespoon fat from the pan. 
4. Add ½ cup water to the skillet and stir and scrape to loosen any stuck bits. Stir in the sherry vinegar and honey. Cover with a lid or foil, turn the heat down to medium-low and cook until the meat is cooked through, about 8 minutes. Uncover, raise the heat to medium-high and cook until the sauce is thickened, 2 to 3 minutes. 
5. Add the cherry tomatoes and cook until they begin to soften and burst, 3 to 4 minutes, smashing open if needed. Return the onion-pepper mixture to the skillet, stir to coat in the pan sauce and cook, uncovered, until warmed through. Taste and add more salt if needed and remove from heat. Drizzle more olive oil over the top and serve.

Wine pairing: Petite Sirah