Dive into the bold, aromatic world of Thai street food with the Spicy Thai Basil Chicken, perfectly complemented by the fiery intrigue of Gillian Flynn's "The Grownup". Enjoy this flavorful dish with a refreshing Thai Basil Smash cocktail, bringing harmony to the spicy and sweet notes.
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 2-3 Thai bird chilies, finely chopped (adjust to taste)
- 1 small onion, thinly sliced
- 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup fresh Thai basil leaves
- Steamed jasmine rice, for serving
- Fried eggs (optional), for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the sauce: In a small bowl, mix together the soy sauce, fish sauce, oyster sauce, sugar, and chicken broth. Set aside.
- Cook the garlic and chilies: Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the minced garlic and chopped Thai bird chilies, and stir-fry for about 30 seconds to 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add the chicken: Increase the heat to high and add the chicken pieces to the skillet. Stir-fry for about 5-7 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and slightly browned.
- Add the vegetables: Stir in the sliced onion and red bell pepper. Continue to stir-fry for another 2-3 minutes until the vegetables are tender-crisp.
- Add the sauce: Pour the prepared sauce over the chicken and vegetables. Stir well to coat everything evenly. Cook for another 2-3 minutes until the sauce has thickened slightly.
- Add the basil: Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the fresh Thai basil leaves. Toss until the basil is wilted and well incorporated into the dish.
- Serve: Serve the Spicy Thai Basil Chicken over steamed jasmine rice. Top with a fried egg if desired for an authentic touch.
The Grownup
A young woman, part psychic and part scam artist, gets more than she bargained for when she meets Susan Burke, a lonely, wealthy housewife with troubles at home. Invited to cleanse Susan’s Victorian house of evil spirits, the woman soon realizes that she’s in over her head.
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Gillian Flynn’s Edgar Award-winning homage to the classic ghost story, published for the first time as a standalone. A canny young woman is struggling to survive by perpetrating various levels of mostly harmless fraud. On a rainy April morning, she is reading auras at Spiritual Palms when Susan Burke walks in. A keen observer of human behavior, our unnamed narrator immediately diagnoses beautiful, rich Susan as an unhappy woman eager to give her lovely life a drama injection. However, when the "psychic" visits the eerie Victorian home that has been the source of Susan’s terror and grief, she realizes she may not have to pretend to believe in ghosts anymore. Miles, Susan’s teenage stepson, doesn’t help matters with his disturbing manner and grisly imagination. The three are soon locked in a chilling battle to discover where the evil truly lurks and what, if anything, can be done to escape it. “The Grownup,” which originally appeared as “What Do You Do?” in George R. R. Martin’s Rogues anthology, proves once again that Gillian Flynn is one of the world’s most original and skilled voices in fiction.
Discussion Questions
- What did you think about the protagonist's profession as a psychic and scam artist?
- How does the setting of the old Victorian house contribute to the mood of the story?
- What are the themes of deception and truth in the novella?
- Discuss the dynamics between the psychic and Susan Burke. What are the power shifts?
- How does the novella play with the reader's expectations?
- Explore the significance of the title, 'The Grownup'. What does it represent in the story?
- How does Flynn incorporate elements of psychological horror into the narrative?
- What was your reaction to the ending? Did it leave you satisfied or wanting more?
- How does 'The Grownup' compare to Flynn’s other works in style and theme?
- What role does appearance versus reality play in the novella?
Authors:
Gillian Flynn
ISBN: 0802124020
Publisher: Crown
Published Date: 2015-11-03
Thai Basil Smash
A refreshing cocktail that combines the distinct flavors of Thai basil with the bright notes of lime and gin, perfect as a companion to spicy Thai dishes.
Ingredients
- 2 oz gin
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
- 3/4 oz simple syrup
- 8-10 fresh Thai basil leaves
- Ice
- Lime wheel or Thai basil sprig, for garnish
Instructions
- Muddle the Thai basil leaves with lime juice and simple syrup in a shaker.
- Add gin and fill shaker with ice.
- Shake well and strain into an ice-filled glass.
- Garnish with a lime wheel or Thai basil sprig.