Thai Peanut Chicken

Taste of Home Simply Tempting November 2010, p. 46

4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves (about 1 pound), cut into 1-1/2-inch pieces

4 teaspoons minced garlic

2 tablespoons lime juice

2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro leaves, divided

2 tablespoons olive oil, divided

1 large onion, thinly sliced (about 1 cup)

2 medium red, yellow, or orange bell peppers, cut into 2-inch-long strips (about 3 cups)

1 can (10 ¾ ounces) cream of mushroom soup

1 cup milk or water

¼ cup creamy peanut butter

Hot cooked rice

I heard somewhere that you're not supposed to cut meat on a cutting board because it harbors the nasty bits. Live and learn.  

Onions, though, are happily at home there. 

Bell peppers - one of the most aesthetically appealing foods. Ever. 

AND I SHALL DESTROY THEM. 

Stir chicken, garlic, lime juice and 1 tablespoon cilantro in a medium bowl.

How does one bowl hold so much deliciousness? 

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a 12-in. nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken mixture and cook until chicken is well browned, stirring often. Remove the chicken mixture from the skillet.

Garlic shrapnel is just a reminder of how yummy this is going to be. 

Heat the remaining oil in the skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and peppers and cook until they’re tender-crisp, stirring occasionally.

The chicken waits patiently.

Flavor, highly concentrated. 

Stir the soup, milk [or water] and peanut butter in skillet and heat to a boil. 

We used water. Because, um, it's free. 

Return the chicken to the skillet. Reduce the heat to low. Cook for 5 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through, stirring occasionally.

Glippity gloppity gloop.

Serve chicken mixture with the rice and sprinkle with the remaining cilantro. 

Ready for a cheerfully candlelit but casual setting. Served with  Bacardi Limon and Iced Tea. 

My Rating: 4/5 "The chicken is absolutely divine, make no mistake, but the sauce kind of tended to obfuscate it rather than complimenting it. The overall effect is quite tasty, though."