Main Dishes

Baked Teriyaki Chicken And Vegetables, Sparkling Ginger-Lime Mocktail, and The Turn of the Key

September 24, 2025
editor
"The Turn of the Key" by Ruth Ware pairs well with Baked Teriyaki Chicken and Vegetables and a Sparkling Ginger-Lime Mocktail. The book's suspenseful and mysterious mood aligns with the aromatic and tangy flavor of the teriyaki dish. The contrasting flavors of the ginger-lime mocktail cleanse the palate and mirror the contrasting themes within the book. Together, they create a captivating experience, perfect for a cozy reading night.
Baked Teriyaki Chicken And Vegetables

Ingredients

For the Teriyaki Sauce:

  • 1/2 cup soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup rice vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1 tablespoon minced ginger
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil

For the Chicken and Vegetables:

  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 red bell pepper, sliced
  • 1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
  • 1 cup broccoli florets
  • 1 cup snap peas
  • 1 large carrot, thinly sliced
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds (optional)
  • 2 green onions, sliced (optional)

Instructions

Prepare the Teriyaki Sauce:

  • In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, brown sugar, minced garlic, and minced ginger.
  • In a separate bowl, mix cornstarch and water until smooth, then add to the saucepan.
  • Stir continuously until the sauce thickens, about 5-7 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in sesame oil.

Prepare the Chicken and Vegetables:

  • Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
  • Arrange the chicken breasts in a large baking dish.
  • In a large bowl, toss the sliced bell peppers, broccoli, snap peas, and carrots with olive oil, salt, and pepper.

Assemble and Bake:

  • Pour half of the teriyaki sauce over the chicken breasts, ensuring they are well-coated.
  • Arrange the prepared vegetables around the chicken in the baking dish.
  • Drizzle the remaining teriyaki sauce over the vegetables.
  • Cover the dish with foil and bake for 25 minutes.
  • Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the vegetables are tender.

Serve:

  • Sprinkle sesame seeds and green onions over the top before serving, if desired.
  • Serve the baked teriyaki chicken and vegetables over steamed rice or noodles for a complete meal.

The Turn of the Key

The Turn of the Key

A suspenseful story about a nanny in a smart-home that turns a dream job into a nightmare.
The #1 instant bestseller from the Agatha Christie of our times. When Rowan stumbles across an ad for a live-in nanny, she’s looking for something else completely. But it seems like too good an opportunity to miss—with a staggeringly generous salary. And when she arrives at Heatherbrae House, she is smitten—by the luxurious “smart” house fitted out with all modern conveniences, by the beautiful Scottish Highlands, and by this picture perfect family. What Rowan doesn’t know is that she’s stepping into a nightmare—one that will end with a child dead and Rowan in prison awaiting trial for murder. Writing to her lawyer from prison, Rowan struggles to explain the unravelling events that have led to her incarceration. It wasn’t just the constant surveillance from the cameras installed around the house, or the malfunctioning technology that woke the household with booming music, or turned the lights off at the worst possible time. It wasn’t just the children, who turned out to be a far cry from the immaculately behaved model children she met at her interview. It wasn’t even the way she was left alone for weeks at a time, with no adults around apart from the enigmatic handyman, Jack Grant. It was everything. Rowan knows she’s made mistakes. She admits that she lied to obtain the post, and that her behavior toward the children wasn’t always ideal. She’s not innocent, by any means. But, she maintains, she’s not guilty—at least not of murder. Which means someone else is. Full of spellbinding menace and told in Ruth Ware’s signature suspenseful style, this is an unputdownable thriller from the Agatha Christie of our time.

Discussion Questions

  • What elements of the smart home in "The Turn of the Key" contribute to the novel's suspenseful atmosphere?
  • How does the setting of Heatherbrae House enhance the mystery and tension in the story?
  • Discuss the character of Rowan and her role as an unreliable narrator. How does this impact your interpretation of the story?
  • How does the author use foreshadowing throughout the book? Identify key moments and their significance.
  • In what ways do the children in "The Turn of the Key" add to the suspense of the plot?
  • Analyze the relationship dynamics between the characters in the novel. How do these relationships evolve?
  • What are the themes of isolation and surveillance in the book, and how do they affect the protagonist?
  • Discuss the role of technology in the novel. How does it add to or detract from a sense of privacy and safety?
  • What is the significance of the letters the narrator writes in the novel? How do they serve the story?
  • How does Ruth Ware build and maintain tension throughout the novel? In what ways is this effective for the reader?
Authors: Ruth Ware
ISBN: 9781501156205
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published Date: 2020-06-30

Sparkling Ginger-Lime Mocktail

Sparkling Ginger-Lime Mocktail
A refreshing and invigorating non-alcoholic beverage, perfect for pairing with the teriyaki chicken dish and the suspenseful tale of "The Turn of the Key" by Ruth Ware.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup ginger beer (non-alcoholic)
  • 1/2 cup lime juice, freshly squeezed
  • 1/4 cup simple syrup
  • Ice cubes
  • Lime wedges, for garnish
  • Fresh mint leaves, for garnish

Instructions

  • In a pitcher, combine the ginger beer, lime juice, and simple syrup.
  • Fill glasses with ice cubes and pour the ginger-lime mixture over the ice.
  • Garnish each glass with a lime wedge and a sprig of mint.