Monday, July 11, 2022

It is perfectly acceptable to try things out (to taste) with a recipe to see what suits your palate. Cooking is an activity that can fill your creative outlet. Many people report getting into a flow state when working in the kitchen, like other hobbies where you simply lose track of time experiencing the joy of preparing your food.

Creativity reduces anxiety, depression, and stress, and it can also help you process trauma. Therefore, cooking is so much more than physical nourishment.

photo of Chermaine Hung, MD

Chermaine Hung, MD, Internal Medicine Resident, submitted this Chinese recipe as a part of her participation in UI Internal Medicine Grand Rounds

This recipe was passed on to Dr. Hung from a family friend, Mrs. Chui Bo Chan. These recipes have never been written down and the ingredients are not exact. Dr. Hung recommends seasoning to taste.

liveWELL recommends adding some seasonal color with your favorite veggies: red bell pepper, shredded carrots, scallions, and shredded purple cabbage would sauté perfectly with this recipe!

Soy Chicken Drumsticks

chicken drumsticks in sauce with sesame seeds

 

Ingredients: 

  • Chicken drumsticks 
  • Dark soy sauce 
  • Light soy sauce 
  • Chicken broth 
  • Rock sugar 
  • Ginger, cut in thin slices 

Instructions: 

  1. Wash drumsticks and trim fat. Pat dry with paper towels. Pierce chicken with fork several times. 
  1. Add salt and pepper onto drumsticks. Marinate for 20 minutes. 
  1. In a pot, add 2 parts dark soy sauce, 1 part regular soy sauce. 

Add chicken broth and rock sugar. Add ginger. Bring mixture to a boil. Season to taste. 

  1. Add chicken drumsticks. Add cooking wine. Bring to a boil again. 
  1. Reduce heat to medium. Cook for approximately 10 minutes before turning off heat. 
  1. Insert a fork into the drumstick. 

If juices are bloody then chicken is cooked. 

black and gray liveWELL lunch back

Voila! Delicious and a work of creative art! Send your photos of being creative in the kitchen to liveWELL@uiowa.edu with your name and what you made, and we will feature you on our @UIowaliveWELL social media accounts! We will also send you a liveWELL lunch bag!

This article appeared in the liveWELL 2022 Summer Employee Well-Being Newsletter.