Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed By Lori Gottlieb
Mini Summary: An engaging and humorous memoir of Therapist, Lori Gottlieb and her ups and downs with clients in unearthing some pretty tough stuff. She also candidly relates her personal struggles and experiences in her own therapy.
I was taught to finish what I start (I was taught that at every meal- to finish eating what was on my plate). And although my heart was in this book for a few of the characters, that John guy was a real downer. He was abrasive, spiteful, and a downright jerk face. I wasn’t sure I could make it through this 400+ page book with his negativity oozing it’s misery everywhere. But I powered through and wow, I’m so glad I did! Not only is Lori Gottlieb a witty and engaging writer, but I was reminded, again, how my fellow residents of Earth are deeply complex and maybe some of them have incredible tenderness under all the crust.
When I finished this read, I knew I wanted to make my own version of the Chinese Chicken Salad that Lori Gottlieb and John connect over and became their weekly lunch tradition. Who knows, maybe John will think I’m an idiot for trying to make my own. But I think I’ll risk it.
The dressing is the key and lime is the secret weapon. Enjoy!
Chinese Chicken Salad
Course: Recipes4
servings30
minutes40
minutes300
kcalIngredients
- For the Dressing
1/3 cup vegetable oil (or other mild oil)
1 Tablespoon sesame oil
4 Tablespoons rice vinegar
3 Tablespoons lime juice (from 1 or 2 limes)
1 garlic clove, minced (OR 1 teaspoon garlic powder)
1 inch knob ginger, grated or minced (OR 1 teaspoon ginger powder)
2 Tablespoons Tamari (soy sauce)
Salt and Pepper to taste
- For the Salad
3 romaine hearts, about 8 cups torn or shredded
1 1/2 cups finely shredded red cabbage
3-4 carrots, peeled and grated
8 ounces sugar snap peas (about 2 cups) roughly chopped
3/4 cup sliced almonds
1 English cucumber, thinly sliced
2 cooked chicken breasts, shredded or thinly sliced
(See Note for cooking suggestion)6 green onions, thinly sliced on the bias
1 cup chow mein
Directions
- Dressing: Mix all the ingredients in a bowl. Taste for seasoning. Set aside (If using fresh garlic and ginger, try whizzing it in the blender for a few seconds.)
- In a large bowl, toss the lettuce, cabbage, and carrots together.
- Divide the lettuce mix between four good-size serving bowls and top each with almonds, green onions, peas, chow mein, and chicken.
- Serve with the dressing.
Notes
- Raw Chicken Breasts? If you have a couple raw chicken breasts and feel stumped, here’s what I often do: Pound out the breasts in a sandwich ziplock or between sheets of plastic wrap. This contains any splatters and get the breasts to an even thickness. Season the breasts with a generous sprinkle of paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Place chicken in a shallow pan on medium heat with 1 tablespoon oil. Cook about 8 minutes on each side, until the internal temperature is 160 degrees. Let it rest for 10 minutes before cutting.