The chicken fiasco

First let me say, that in my defense, I’m a little preoccupied. The chicken fiasco actually began two nights ago. I decided to make a family favorite recipe we lovingly call “Joe’s Chicken” aptly named after our favorite firefighter who introduced us to the dish. It’s basically a crock pot dish with cream of chicken soup, pineapple, cinnamon, nutmeg and chicken. It’s really yummy over rice!

So, two nights ago I prepared the dish and put it in the fridge before I went to bed with the notion to remind my daughter to turn the crock pot on for 4 hours on high when she came home from school. And, like all great ideas, I forgot all about reminding her. So, the chicken sat in the fridge another night. No big deal – we could make it for dinner tonight instead.

I woke up this morning still reeling from the amazing news about Maddie, and hurriedly got ready for work, all the time reminding myself not to forget the chicken again. As I was running out the door, I threw the crock pot on the counter, plugged it in, turned it on low and left. I was so proud of myself! Yeah! Dinner would be ready when I go home.

I checked in with my daughter in the middle of the day. She mentioned she was a little concerned that the “gravy” was a bit runny. I mentioned this to my friend, Angie, and she suggested adding another can of cream of chicken soup. I was still on top of this!

As I walked through the door into the house I knew immediately there was something wrong. I could not smell the chicken cooking. Usually the whole house fills with the aroma of cinnamon and nutmeg – but today – nothing! I opened the crock pot and couldn’t believe what I saw – RAW CHICKEN. I had turned the crock pot on all right, but not low, on WARM. It looked so nasty, so I closed the crock pot and called Papa Johns to the rescue.

Now you would think this is where the chicken fiasco ended right? WRONG! I left the chicken sitting in the crock pot on the counter while we ate and then I put the kids to bed and messed around on the internet. I knew I couldn’t put the crock pot off any longer, so I headed to the kitchen and opened the container we will now call the Abyss of Hell! It smelled like a sweaty gym locker, feet and dead animals. I seriously almost vomited! It had started to ferment and make bubbles – gag! So…I dumped it in the garbage disposal. H-m-m-m…raw chicken and a garbage disposal – I guess I didn’t think that through. When the disposal started to back up and make weird noises I turned it off and had to reach in with my hands and pull the vile chicken out of the “soup” that came from the Abyss of Hell. I put it in a garbage bag and left it in the garage for my loving husband. Happy Birthday!

Now the house smells like a sweaty gym locker, feet and dead animals. I really need to get my act together. Did I mention I’m a little preoccupied?