CHICKEN WRAPPED ASPARAGUS
Chicken on black round plate
Photo by Anshu A on UnsplashINGREDIENTS
Ingredients for 4 rolls
- 1lb (four 4oz pieces) chicken breast
- 1/2 cup chipotle raspberry sauce
- 1/4 cup for marinating
- 1/4 cup for basting
- 16 thick asparagus spears
- aluminum foil (for tips of asparagus)
- Garnish
- finely chopped cilantro or parsley
- Fire up a grill to roughly 300F-350F (177C).
- Slice larger, thicker pieces of chicken breasts in half – butterfly cut – to make thinner pieces of chicken.
- Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel, then gently flatten out the chicken using a food mallet or the bottom of a heavier skillet. Careful not to pulverize the chicken.
- Season with a little pepper, then add the pieces to a sealable plastic bag along with half of the raspberry sauce. Seal the bag, leaving as little air as possible, and marinate for at least 20 minutes at room temperature, or 1 hour in the fridge.
- Remove the pieces of chicken from the bag. Place about 4 spears of asparagus at the thicker end of the chicken breast, then tightly roll it closed with the smaller, thinner side down. Repeat.
- Place the chicken on the hot grill with the flap side down so it cooks closed.
- Grill for 8 to 10 minutes, then flip. Use the remaining sauce to baste the (cooked side of) chicken after you flip it. Cook for another 8 to 10 minutes, or until the juices run clear and the chicken is white on the inside. Brush the remaining sauce over the chicken again and garnish.
- Enjoy the rolls with brown rice, quinoa, roasted potato or even cauliflower rice for a lower carbohydrate alternative.
CHIPOTLE RASPBERRY SAUCE
Strawberry and blueberry on white ceramic plate
Photo by Inja Pavlić on UnsplashINGREDIENTS
Ingredients for 16 servings (of 2 tbsp each)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced or chopped
- 1/3 cup red onion, diced
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 15oz fresh raspberries
- 2/3 cup apple cider vinegar (add more/less to taste)
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire
- 2 tablespoons liquid smoke (whichever flavor you prefer)
- 4 tablespoons coconut sugar (or honey/agave or 2g Stevia in the raw)
- 3 tablespoons can chipotle sauce (more/less to desired spice level)
- 1/2 tablespoon arrowroot starch (mixed with 1 tablespoon water)
- Set a nonstick skillet on medium heat, add olive oil, garlic and onion. Caramelize the onions for 3 minutes and be careful not to burn the garlic.
- Add cumin and "bloom" the spice in the oil for 1 minute.
- Add fresh raspberries. Gently push them around the skillet and allow them to explode under the heat to create a sauce. About 5 to 7 minutes.
- Add vinegar, Worcestershire, liquid smoke and coconut sugar. Bring it a simmer, about 1 to 2 minutes, then add chipotle sauce (and if desired, one chipotle pepper to simmer in the sauce). Cook together on low heat for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to ensure no sticking.
- Mix arrowroot starch with water, then pour into the skillet. Stir immediately to avoid any clumping.
- Remove the skillet from the heat and allow it to thicken more. Season to taste with sea salt and pepper. If you want the sauce to be thinner, add tablespoons of vinegar or broth.
- Store in an airtight jar or container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
“I made clothes because I was looking for something that didn’t exist. I had to try to create my own world,” Manfred Thierry Mugler once said. And that’s exactly what the fashion and perfume visionary did, inspiring others beyond fashion to include art forms such as manga and anime.
The designer, who died last week at 73, combined fashion, technology, sci-fi and surrealism in the late ‘80s and ‘90s, revitalizing the fashion world. His affinity for the female form was evident throughout his work — he turned women into otherworldly creatures, insects, angels — you name it.
His eccentric and futuristic approach to fashion helped cultivate some of the most stylish vilenesses in Sailor Moon, such as Koan and Princess Snow Kaguya. With characters draped in Mugler-esque pieces from the notable Fall 1992 collection, Naoko Takeuchi, the mastermind behind Sailor Moon, embraced haute couture whilst creating an empowering universe for girls.
Love, justice and friendship are the main premises of Sailor Moon but Takeuchi also mesmerized audiences with her characters’ costumes, designs and art. As a haute couture and fashion aficionado, Takeuchi took inspiration from the ‘90s runways from the likes of Mugler, Chanel and Dior. This is what makes Sailor Moon special for a lot of people; you have your empowering protagonists and the beauty of expression through fashion.
Sailor Moon revived the magical girl genre in Japan and set the pace for similar animated shows in the West, portraying powerful and hyper-feminine girls in series such as the Winx Club and Totally Spies. The genre focuses on the power of young women and emphasizes that being a girl doesn’t make you weak. Instead, the magical girl genre subverts the outdated trope and highlights one’s power as a girl with the skirts, high heels and makeup.
Mugler’s influence on anime even encompasses perfume and Karen Mulder’s hair from his Spring 92 collection. His best-selling Angel ‘Eau de Parfum’ with Amy Wesson inspired a Vento Aureo cover. From Bruno Buccellati wearing Mugler pieces from the Fall 1996 collection and Giorno Giovanna’s infamous hairstyle, it’s safe to say that Mugler’s impact transcends beyond the runway. Below, a few highlights.
Koan is one of many glamorous villainesses in Sailor Moon. Yes, she’s a villain but she looks good doing it. One of the most iconic fits of all, Koan is draped in a multi layered feathered tutu skirt with a semi sheer bodysuit, almost identical to Mugler’s in the FW 1992 collection.
Sailor Saturn’s Shirt
Sailor Saturn is the strongest and most feared of all Sailor Guardians, due to her powers and of course, she had to be decked out in a Mugler-esque t-shirt. Another ode to Mugler, Sailor Saturn wears a black turtleneck t-shirt with a black bow on each shoulder, inspired by the Fall 1992 collection.
Princess Snow Kaguya’s Dress
For Princess Snow Kaguya, her dress was inspired by the white dress worn by Laurence Pellagot from the Fall 1999 collection. The dress always goes viral on Twitter for how beautiful and detailed it is. I certainly don’t blame Takeuchi for taking inspiration.
Screenshot via YouTube
The Great Report
2020 Global Report Sheet
