I'm still no Martha Stewart.

Having purchased my first wok a week ago, I'm finding myself searching for great stir-fry recipes. On Wednesday, however, Martha Stewart and her segment on Asian cooking found me. After watching she and her guest make ginger-honey chicken, I decided to do the same.

Last night, armed with ginger and rice vinegar (new purchases for me), I set out to make ginger-honey chicken.

The recipe was very straightforward, but required some prep time. Chopping vegetables and chicken and mixing sauces might take a normal person 10-15 minutes. It takes me closer to 30 minutes. I'm slow, and I like to clean as I go.

I followed the recipe exactly, with the exception of adding cilantro at the end, because Ben dislikes it. (Note: We spent four months living in Thailand and cilantro plays a big role in Thai cooking, yet he's not a fan.)

The chicken turned out beautifully, but it didn't have much zing. More and more as I follow new and exciting recipes, I'm discovering that they lack flavor. OK, I should re-phrase that. The meals lack flavor when I cook them, even when closely following recipes.

Am I at fault? Or does the recipe in the first place not pack flavor?

Expert cooks out there, you tell me.

Stir-fried honey-ginger chicken
Ingredients

--1/4 cup honey
--2 tablespoons rice vinegar
--2 tablespoons soy sauce
--2 tablespoons vegetable oil
--1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, sliced into 1/4-inch strips
--1/4 cup minced peeled fresh ginger
--2 garlic cloves, minced
--3 red, orange, or yellow bell peppers (ribs and seeds removed), thinly sliced
--Cooked rice, for serving
--Fresh cilantro leaves, for serving

Directions

1. In a small bowl, stir together honey, vinegar, and soy sauce. Heat a large skillet or wok over high until hot. Add 1 tablespoon oil and swirl to coat skillet. Add chicken and stir until opaque but not cooked through, about 3 minutes; transfer to a plate.
2. Add 1 tablespoon oil, ginger, and garlic to skillet and stir until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add peppers and stir 2 minutes. Add soy mixture and bring to a boil. Return chicken to skillet and toss until sauce thickens and chicken is cooked through, about 3 minutes. Serve over rice, topped with cilantro.

From: Everyday Food, January 2010 (as seen on Martha Stewart)

Things are looking up, I think.

It's time to dust off the business suit and put my mad interview preparation skills to work. I have a job interview on Monday. It's for contract work, lasting only two or four months. But it pays, which is good, because we're running low on toilet paper.

Run. Write. Eat.

I created Kitchen (Mis)adventures in August 2007 to document my culinary mishaps. I had just become a wife, moved in with a boy for the first time and instead of making cereal for one, I was learning to cook for two. I have evolved and so has the blog since its creation.

While I still have my fair share of kitchen misadventures, I want to make this blog a place to share my other passions -- writing and running, as well. So I have changed the blog's title. It reflects my favorite things, and what you can expect to read about when you stop by.

No need to worry, though, dear readers. I will continue regaling you with mishaps in the kitchen and new recipes. The only changes you will see are the title and more frequent postings about running and writing.

Enjoy!

Ab power

If you asked me what I want to get out of running and exercising, besides a Boston Marathon qualifying time, I would tell you that I want abs of steel. And not just any abs of steel, but Lolo Jones, six-pack abs.

I'm neither an Olympian nor a consumer of only healthy foods (I have a child-like love affair with candy. Milk Duds, Sour Patch Kids and licorice make me happy).

But knowledge is on my side, and knowledge is ab power. After soaking up the latest issue of Runners' World this week and watching ab and core exercises, I think I might be on my way to having ab power.

Today I sucked up my fear of male gawkers at the gym and did the exercise in the video below, even though I felt slightly foolish. Oh, and I did the "cheerleader."

Abs of steel are just around the corner. Right?

Exploring all options

The job hunt has resumed since returning from Minnesota for the holidays. To give you an idea of where I last applied, the company offers a service that combines my two loves: dogs and running.

I got inspired after reading this about the industry.

Let's Wok and Roll.

Ben and I purchased our first wok yesterday. I've often found the need for a wok, but the need has never been so great that I've purposely shopped for one.

Yesterday, we were on the hunt for a tall lamp at Home Goods* -- which I think is one of the greatest home furnishing stores ever -- when I found a wok for a whopping $20. With the exceptions of a Kitchen Aid mixer and a fancy coffee maker, which are on my wish list, I don't care about or desire expensive kitchen gadgets. I'm sure the $20 wok will work just fine -- for now.

Here's to using the wok, modifying recipes and gathering material for the blog.

*Think of it as a TJ Max for home furnishings. You can get great, beautiful designer stuff for a fraction of the cost. If Ben hadn't been with me, I can only imagine the sort of financial damage I could have done at that store.

Vote, it's your duty!

Dear readers,

I know there aren't many of you who regularly get your fill of misadventures here, but for those of you who do, or for those of you who drop on by about as frequently as you go to the dentist, please fill out my little poll in the upper right corner of the blog.

I started this blog two and a half years ago with the intent to write about mishaps and the occasional victory in the kitchen. Sometimes I steer away from the theme, and I end up writing about crazy car problems, my love for running and the world's cutest dog (my pooch, Indie!).

If you think the blog is great, then great. If you think I should complain less and write about food more, let me know. A little guidance from you can only improve this blog and, I hope, my writing!

Thank you and please vote!
Your domestic diva