"ToL" Original Recipe: Chicken Coconut Cream with Soba Noodles

Chicken Coconut Cream with Soba Noodles Recipe

Yields: 4 servings

Ingredients

• 1 pound organic chicken tenderloins

• 1 tablespoon organic extra virgin olive oil

• 8 ounces organic shiitake mushrooms, rinsed and sliced

• 1 large organic onion, peeled and diced

• 2 cups organic coconut milk

• 1 organic lemon, washed and sliced into wedges

• 2 tablespoons fresh organic Italian parsley, chopped

• 1 tablespoon coconut flour (for thickening the sauce)

• Garlic herb seasoning, to taste

• Garlic powder, to taste

• Black pepper, to taste

• 1 packet of jūwari soba noodles (jūwari soba contains 100% buckwheat flour), boiled

• Purified water
  

Kitchen Equipment

• Mixing bowls/cups/spoons for mise en place ("everything in its place") ingredients

• Measuring bowls/cups/spoons

• Cutting board

• Chef knife

• Colander

• Bowl

• Large skillet

• Medium pot (for soba noodles)

• Wooden spoon or spatula

• Tongs

• Plates

• Forks

• Knives

  
  

Cooking Instructions

1. Sanitize the kitchen (sink, faucets, countertops, stovetop, cupboard handles, smart devices, computer, etc.).

2. Wash and slice shiitake mushrooms.

3. Peel and slice the onion.

4. Wash and slice the lemon into wedges.

5. Wash and chop the fresh Italian parsley.

6. Cook soba noodles in boiling purified water according to package instructions or until al dente.

7. Drain in a colander and set aside.

8. Mise en place ingredients.

9. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

10. Add chicken to the skillet, season with garlic herb seasoning, garlic powder, and black pepper, both front and back.

11. Cook until lightly browned and fully cooked at 165ºF (74ºC).

12. Remove chicken and set aside. In the same skillet, sauté the onions and mushrooms until fragrant and softened.

13. Sprinkle coconut flour.

14. Add coconut milk and stir to combine.

15. Simmer gently for 3 to 5 minutes. Sauce will thicken.

16. Return cooked chicken to the skillet, and toss to coat it with the coconut cream sauce.

17. Squeeze lemon wedges over the dish and sprinkle with chopped Italian parsley.

18. Serve coconut chicken over cooked soba noodles immediately.

The Quiet Yearning for Connection

I’ve been thinking a lot about connection lately—how deeply humans long to be seen, understood, and met where they are. I value connection in every part of life, from my closest relationships to small, everyday exchanges with the world.

I’m deeply grateful for the people in my circle—family and close friends—who consistently show up, love wholeheartedly, and remind me what meaningful connection feels like. Their presence, their wisdom, their quiet strength—all of it has shaped who I am. And I keep learning from them as I grow.

Yet beneath that gratitude, there’s also a quiet yearning to find a lifelong partner who feels like home—someone to share life’s moments with—the lighthearted, the challenging, and everything in between. Someone to create memories, share laughter, give and receive support, and grow together while still growing individually.

Sometimes that dream feels distant, especially in a world prioritizing superficial connections over depth. But I’ve learned that yearning doesn’t mean lack. It can also mean aliveness—a reminder that I still believe in something real, something meaningful.

And one thing about me is that I’m persistent and tenacious. Even when hope feels faint, I keep moving forward. I remind myself that real connection begins with genuineness, whether with a friend, a partner, or even within myself. It starts with showing up as I am, even when that feels vulnerable.

Vulnerability isn’t weakness; it’s about authentic connection and growth. Being open means being real, naming the things we often keep hidden, and trusting that someone else might whisper, “me too.”

Cheers!

Gini x

12 October 2025