Herbs de Provence Chicken Breasts with Garlic, Dijon, and Lemon
And cooking through a week of devastating fires in Los Angeles
I’ve been making a lot of comfort food in LA this week. The fires have left us all in a state of collective grief and shock—an unease that feels sort of familiar, like the early days of the pandemic, but much more acute. EVERYONE I know has multiple friends who’s homes burned down. This kind of sudden devastation lingers like the smoke in the air, palpable, intense, and heavy. As of Saturday morning, these fires are still not out.
When I feel overwhelmed, my instinct is to turn outward (something I learned in AA): How can I help? It’s impossible to help everyone, but it’s so absolutely doable to help one person or a few people. I go into nurture mode, trying to be of service in tangible ways. Cooking meals that bring comfort. Volunteering. Collecting clothes and essentials for families who have lost everything. Driving donations across town to those who need them. Ensuring my kids feel safe and grounded amid the chaos. Donating money directly to affected families through Go Fund Me’s. It’s absurd and infuriating that in the richest country in the world, so many folks end up relying on private donations in times of crisis, but that’s a topic for another day.
One thing that stood out was how underfunded many GoFundMe campaigns were for lower-income Hispanic and Black families. If you’re looking to make a difference, I shared a post on my Facebook here with links to support families personally known to my friend Tanya, an LAUSD teacher who lost her house as well, Despite her own loss, nearly every message I received from her was about getting help for her students and their families from the Title 1 school where she teaches.
Additionally, you can find a vetted list of displaced Black families and Black-owned businesses in Altadena HERE all of whom could use some extra love. And by love, I mean financial support. Every bit helps.
Tuesday, I held a crying woman who had lost her home and helped her “shop” at a beautifully curated clothing donation center for herself, her 13-year-old, and her husband at the incredible NELA (Northeast LA) Moms and NELA Purge clothing hub in Pasadena. Many of the moms in these two groups are from Altadena and quite a few lost their homes—the rest have stepped up in extraordinary ways. I feel so fortunate to be part of this group of women who consistently show up, not just for one another, but for the community around them.
And we laughed—a cliché, perhaps, but laughter truly is the best medicine. At one point, I held up a dress. She hesitated, saying, “I like it, but it’s maybe too pilgrim” I paused. “Is subtle pilgrim okay?” “Yes!” she laughed, “subtle pilgrim is my vibe. And my husband’s vibe is cranberry farmer.” Of course it is.
The kids and I baked many cookies for first responders, while Zach turned out 15 loaves of sourdough to donate. A friend stopped by to pick up shoes and clothes for her daughter, who had fled their home with only what she was wearing. I delivered new Hello Kitty dresses to a young girl who had lost not just her cherished collection but every piece of clothing she owned. I made a chicken tagine for a family that lost everything. It felt like such a small gesture for such a profound loss, but their gratitude reminded me that a homemade meal can offer more than nourishment—it can be a source of comfort, connection and healing.
Everywhere I turned, I saw Angelenos doing the same—giving whatever they could, whether time, money, or care. Fostering animals, taking friends in.
The World Central Kitchen hub where I volunteered was buzzing with people eager to help. Mexicans, Americans, Brits, Argentines, Koreans—Angelenos from every background—coming together,—showing up, because that’s what LA is. A city of immigrants, natives and dreamers with grit who rise to the occasion when it matters most. I have had a monthly donation set up with them since the Ukraine invasion and I highly recommend it as a meaningful way to provide ongoing support. Even small contributions add up over time and make a consistent, vital impact where it’s needed most.
The resilience and generosity of this city in moments of crisis is the silver lining to all the trauma. LA is often described as fragmented, and it is, but beneath its vastness lies a profound sense of community, love, and an unshakable capacity for compassion.
If you want to share any funds or other good ways to help, you can leave info in the comments:
And Now Some Recipes:
I know you’re here for recipes—because, of course, we still need to eat. We’ll always need to eat! Food is love, and this week has been a powerful reminder of that. If you’re craving some of the comfort dishes I leaned on this week, here are the links:
Chicken Tagine with Sweet Potato, Zucchini, Apricots and Olives:
And now, let’s talk chicken breasts. Grocers usually carry two kinds: boneless, skinless; or bone-in, skin on.
I prefer the later - the bone and skin add immeasurable flavor (and who doesn’t like crispy skin??) Another cut, which you don’t see as much is skin-on and boneless which is ideal for this recipe. In LA I can usually find them at Bristol Farms or McCall’s in Santa Monica or Atwater Village. If you have a human behind your butcher counter (oh happy joy!!) you can ask them to make you boneless, skin-on breasts. It’s worth the ask. That crispy skin keeps the chicken juicy and flavorful and without the bone, the cooking process is quite fast for a weeknight.
If your only chicken with skin option is bone-in, skin-on breasts, don’t stress — go with those. You can cut the meat off the bone yourself (video below), or add a few minutes cooking time. You can also use boneless skinless breasts if you don’t mind sacrificing the crispy skin. If you’re a thigh person you can do boneless or bone in thighs WITH the skin.
Ok now seasoning. Remember Herb de Provence? It’s an herb blend you don’t hear about much today. I remember my mom using it in the 90’s from a little terra cotta pot. You can still buy them in the ceramic pots (kinda pricey.) I love this one from Frontier (in a regular spice jar) that’s only about $4.
I started using Herb de P (can we call it that?) a few years ago for pork chops and realized how much I love it. Typically, it contains thyme, rosemary, savory, oregano, and marjoram. Sometimes lavender and/or basil. ALL of these herbs are ABSOLUTELY delicious with chicken. So it’s a no brainer. Add lemon, garlic and Dijon and you’ve turned your kitchen into a charming bistro in Provence. It’s perfect alongside roasted potatoes or a bowl of buttery rice. Add a steamed veg (broccolini, broccoli, asparagus, or green beans) and you have a perfectly well rounded simple meal that will make all ages happy.
If you’re feeling un petit peu (a little bit) ambitious, throw together a simple green salad with a mustardy vinaigrette. Butter lettuce, endive, or frisée would be très French.
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