1969

I was born in 1969. It was a good year (not that I remember any of it) and hard as it is to believe, I was not the only person born that year. I know, really hard to believe.

It is always a dangerous game to start looking for famous people who are your age. It can lead you to wonder “how did they get so (famous, rich, successful, good-looking, etc…) and not me”. Luckily, I’ve got a healthy sense of ego, so here we go.

Other born in 1969 that I may not compare favorably to:

• Jennifer Aniston – Me and Rachel Greene….we’re quite a pair.
• Jennifer Lopez – I’m liking this company I’m in.
• Jay-Z – Megastar…not like me.
• Brett Favre – But he is sooooo old!
• Catherine Zeta-Jones – I have to say there are some pretty good-looking actresses on this list.
• Rob Ford – Former mayor of Toronto and crack user. I’m not sure I win at this one. I don’t have his drug or alcohol problems, but he was mayor of a major city before me.
• Kim Fields – You mean I’m the same age as Tootie? Naw…she’s so young!
• Matthew McConaughey – That one is for the ladies.

Sesame-Lemon Chicken

Not quite as beautiful as Jennifer Aniston, but still a pretty good-looking dish.

Some of these ingredients are for the salad that is part of the recipe.

Making the rub.

All dressed and ready for the broiler.

Yum!

Sesame-Lemon Chicken

prep 15 M ∙ cook 20 M ∙ makes 4 servings ∙ difficulty Easy ∙ source Foodnetwork.com
INGREDIENTS

1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest
2 teaspoons dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon sugar
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
8 skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs, trimmed (2 to 2 1/2 pounds)
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 romaine lettuce hearts, chopped (about 8 cups)
1 cucumber, chopped
1 tomato, chopped
2 cups lightly salted pita chips, crushed
DIRECTIONS

Preheat the broiler. Make the rub: Combine the sesame seeds, lemon zest, thyme, sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a spice grinder; pulse until the seeds are slightly cracked. Season the chicken with salt and all but about 1 1/2 tablespoons of the rub. Set skin-side down on a broiler pan and broil, flipping the chicken and rotating the pan halfway through, until the chicken is golden and a meat thermometer registers 170 degrees F, 8 to 10 minutes per side.

Make the dressing: Mix 1 tablespoon of the reserved rub, the lemon juice, vinegar, and salt to taste in a bowl. Whisk in the olive oil.

When the chicken is done, whisk 1 tablespoon of the pan drippings into the dressing. Add the lettuce, cucumber, tomato and pita chips; season with salt and pepper and toss. Sprinkle the chicken with the remaining 1/2 tablespoon rub and serve with the salad.