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Let’s just take a second to remember this meal.
Remember its colors, its flavors and its general health appeal.
Because the boys have somehow taken over the kitchen and my mind. Oh man, it is bad. They have my brain thinking guy food. Over the top, amazing guy food that pretty much everyone wants, but only guys can get away with eating 24/7.
It’s bad, but it is so good.
Sometimes I can get so caught up in pleasing people and making the foods they love that I make only what they want and lose a little of my creativity in the process.
I am a people pleaser one hundred percent. Sometimes it is a great trait, but other times it is totally annoying. Like right now.
The boys are tired of my cooking.
Tired of the green, the reds, the oranges, the citrus, the quinoa, the fish and apparently just all things with color.
I have been fighting their requests so hard, but since the younger brothers got back from Europe yesterday I am feeling the urge to give in. The salads will not fly with them and their begging for “good food” is wearing on me.
No, it is kind of killing me. I feel so bad. I mean Creighton (my oldest brother) is only here till Friday and I have given him only a handful of meals that he has really loved. These tacos are his all time favorite, but I am hoping to crank out at least one more favorite before he leaves.
I have to say though, the boys totally missed out on this meal.
I mean, they let the black rice (so good) and the greens freak them out. Instead they ate chicken noodle casserole. A family recipe that people have been begging for me to share, but it pretty much goes against everything I preach. Then again, I also make it like every other week.
Like I said, it is a family favorite. People go nuts for it.
But this meal. It is just so flavorful.
And colorful. I love the colors (<–color freak!).
First of all, the chicken, it is a chipotle, cara cara orange and balsamic glaze that is lick the spoon good. It is kind of like a winter BBQ sauce that just knocked my socks off. The flavor is insane. I blame it all on the very simple ingredients that allow the orange, chipotle and balsamic to really stand out. The recipe makes a little more sauce than you will probably need, but I loved drizzling  it over a lunch salad the next day.
The black rice, or forbidden rice as it is also called, adds the heft. It gives the salad its heartiness and chew. Trust me, I was a little weary of straying from my beloved basmati rice, but it was a nice change up and the flavors of the black rice (really it is more of a deep purple) work really well with the orange. I have to say though, I did have a little bit of a hard time getting it to fully cook, but I do think that it was because of the high elevation I live at. If you run into this problem just add some more water to the pot and continue cooking until the rice is soft.
Oh, and the Cara Cara oranges? Wow, this bowl was my first experience with these and I am now addicted, SO good. Seriously, do not use regular oranges, buy the Cara Cara’s. It is worth every single extra penny.
Promise.
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Just realizing this is more bowl food. Seriously addicted to the bowls… and the Cara Cara oranges.
Now that is an amazing looking salad and that chipotle orange chicken sounds off the chain delicious! Bookmarked and pinned 🙂
Happy Blogging!
Happy Valley Chow
Thank you! The sauce is so good!
Thank you!
This is my kind of food! I love huge salads, and that chicken looks incredible!
Thanks Abby!
Thanks Abby!!
I love all the colors, the black rice, and the mix of flavors. What a delicious bowl – I’d happily eat this every night for dinner ;).
Thank you so much! I loved the colors too!
Thank you so much, Laura!
OMG I need to go to the Tieghan school of taking mouth watering pictures! WOAH! Everything you make, besides being so creative in the flavors you combine, just look so darn delicious and drippy and yummy! I would love to see a post on how you do your photos if you would dare give some secrets.
Oh man, I cannot even imagine doing a photo post! I will think about it though. Thanks Sophia!
Okay, this salad = Gorg. I mean, there are just so many amazing colors and different flavors going on here!
And I’m with you as far as guys taste buds are concerned—like you, I’m a total people pleaser and even though I love creative and colorful meals, the guys in my family do not. Soo yeah, I feel like I always have to appease their ever-present appetites. It’s worth it though, in my opinion, when they go absolutely nuts over something I make! 😀
Thanks so much, Sarah!!! I do love the reactions. It is my favorite part about cooking!
Thanks Sarah! We sound very much a like!
Such a beautifully composed dish! Yum:)
Thanks Liz!
Gorgeous!
Thank you, Bridget!!
I want to eat this every day for the rest of my life and I haven’t even tried it yet.
PS: I know I’m SOOOOOO behind with blog reading so you probably did your redesign like 10 years ago but I LOVE it!
Haha! I actually just launched it on Friday! Thanks so much, Rachel!
I completely relate to “the boy” food w/ 3 sons. My middle son (10yr) reads this blog w/ me & requests the recipe for chicken noodle casserole…of course
Cara cara’s are a fav, they don’t last long @ our house!
Haha! Too funny!
Thanks Sarah!
I go so hungry looking at your meal. I love how you mix and match your ingredient to create a magnificent looking meal.I love how you call you brothers the “boys” it sound like you are mother feeding a hungry clan. Have a great day today, Tieghan.
Thanks so much!!
Black rice is SO PRETTY, and so much fun to use! Love this dish with the orange and chipotle!
Thanks Brenda!
Such a pretty salad! I don’t think I’ve actually tried Cara Cara oranges but that needs to change ASAP.
Thanks Stephanie! You need to try the cara caras!
I love Forbidden rice! I bought a massive bag at Costco (of all places) last year and I still have a ton left. It has such a great chew–and nuttiness to it. And YES–Cara Caras are the BEST!
This salad is gorgeous Tieghan! Love all the flavors.
This was my fist time making it, but I loved it!! Thanks Laura!
Wow, this is gorgeous. I haven’t tried black rice yet, but I will now. Your photos are beautiful as always.
Thanks so much, Norma!
Giiiiirl, these are the prettiest little salad bowls ever! I saw black rice the other day and was intrigued, but didn’t know what I would use it in…but now I do! I have never heard of a Cara Cara orange…but I live in Florida, the land of oranges, so I can probably find some.
The picture of the chicken breasts with the sticky glaze is killin’ me.
Thank you, Taylor!!