Drunken chicken and instant mashed potatoes

With my nonexistent cooking skills, the only thing I'd venture to make at the moment is fried chicken. Last time I made some, I rubbed the chicken breast with mustard and garlic powder and let it fry in olive oil sprinkled with minced onions. The chicken has a good taste, but it is a bit dry after it's done frying. I thought I would branch out this time and try a marinade.

Do I look like I'm smart enough to make a marinade? Of course not. So I went to the Happiest Place on Earth for college students - Target.

As I pushed my cart down one of the grocery aisles, I stopped to look at the Archer Farms marinades and dipping sauces. Unlike other store brands that offer cheap products that taste like rubber slippers, Target's home brands actually taste good. Archer Farms products also come in different flavors and are reasonably priced. No, they're not paying me to say all that, though I could use the extra cash.

Anyway, I picked the Chardonnay & Herb marinade, partly because it would make my chicken, and by extension me, seem sophisticated, and partly because Mustard & Beer was out. The 12 oz. bottle was $3.99, which I thought was a good price considering I have at least seven chicken breasts sitting in my freezer. However, whatever class I thought I had acquired by picking the Chardonnay & Herb marinade went out the window when I told my roommate about the awesome "char-don-ey" marinade I had found.

I also thought about what side to have with my chicken. I arrived at the starch aisle, and I picked up a box of Market Pantry four-cheese instant mashed potatoes for less than a dollar. Another Target brand, Market Pantry is not as fancy or diverse as Archer Farms, but it still tastes good, and with a tight budget, I'm not picky. The box alleges that it uses real potatoes! It must be true.

I thawed two chicken breasts yesterday and let them marinade overnight in Ziploc bags. I made the mashed potatoes today, following instructions, except I added some garlic powder to give it some flavor. I fried the chicken in olive oil. Perhaps too much, because the chicken was a little dry again, and though it tasted good, the flavor was faint. I really need to work on that.

My drink was a glass of Old Orchard apple raspberry juice. The can made two quarts of juice. I was hesitant to get it because the label said "no sugar added," and I think sugar makes the work go 'round, but it was sweet enough.

I'll pass on the Char-don-ey, thank you very much.


This week's groceries

1. Archer Farms marinade - $3.99
2. Market Pantry potatoes - $0.94
3. Betty Crocker chicken alfredo meal - $2.99
4. Del Monte Fruit Chillers - $2.00
5. Old Orchard apple juice - $1.19
6. Market Pantry milk - $2.49

Total = $13.60