My in-laws are here. They are lovely people but they have a few quirks around food. One, they bring large quantities of food with them when they come. Seriously. They stop at the grocery store on the way to my house and buy everything they need (like milk and fruit and cereal)...never mind the fact that since I have houseguests I've already stocked up.

Actually, there's a simple solution to that problem: I don't buy anything for them any more.

The other quirk is my father-in-law's food preferences. He only likes to eat about 12 things and all of them are very bland! So it's been a learning process for me, feeding him, starting at the very first meal I prepared for them, 13 years ago, when my husband and I moved in together. I had made grilled barbecued chicken breasts, pasta salad, and probably some fruit. I set the table, invited everyone to sit down, and he took one look at the table and asked me where the grocery store was...then left.

Ouch.

I know that sounds unforgiveably rude of him. But I've since learned that his food preferences are so strong that he'd rather not eat than eat something he doesn't like. I have food sensitivities, so I know how that goes...kind of. I also let my hostess know what I can and can't eat before she makes a meal, and with my FIL it took me about 8 years to figure it out, but whatever. We only see them once a year.

When they come I make really plain meals. We had salmon, broccoli, and potatoes last night. Sunday night we're having turkey breast, sweet potatoes, and assorted vegetables. And rolls, always rolls. Which are food items I never serve because my children will only eat rolls if given the preference, and never eat the nutritious foods on their plates.

Anyway, what does all this have to do with Russian adoption? Oh, not a heck of a lot. But I haven't posted a recipe in a while, and I thought I'd try to find a Russian recipe he'd eat. I haven't had any luck. I guess old Don would starve if he were in Russia! He doesn't eat mushrooms, onions, sour cream, beets, cooked cabbage, anything with any "weird" spices (like all of them), garlic, yogurt, any kind of casserole...the list goes on. But I've found something he might eat: Tsyplionok Tabaka . Basically, baked chicken. As long as I used deboned chicken breasts instead of a whole chicken as the recipe calls for I think I'd be okay.

Here's the recipe( from ruscuisine.com):

1 chicken
2 tb melted butter
salt
pepper

Directions:

Take a clean chicken, make a cut longwise the stomach, unfold it and beat it to make carcass flat. Tuck in legs and press wings to the back. Season to taste from both sides.
Heat the pan with melted butter, put the chicken on, cover and put the weight on. Cook on average heat for 15 minutes, then turn the chicken over and cook for other 15 minutes.
Make the heat low and cook until done.