Parent & Child Don

I open the fridge only to realise that we don’t have much left - need to head to the market soon, I tell myself. A dozen eggs, a couple of chicken thighs and some vegetables are all that's left. My mind races to come up with a recipe using these ingredients. Oyakodon it is.

I quickly look up a recipe & am inspired by Adam Liaw’s version. Since the sun is out, I decide it's a good day to have lunch in the garden. I gather my items & tell Noah that we are cooking & having lunch outside today. He jumps with excitement & in turn announces it to Mummy & Sophie.

But as life goes, things don’t always go as planned. I accidentally switch on the pot when I’m setting up & it starts to smoke. I panic & quickly switch it off, only to forget to switch it on again when I chuck in the chicken. The chicken doesn't brown. So much for following the recipe.

Noah’s excitement has equally dwindled; a combination of hanger and the pot being “too hot”, and my sous chef has officially retired after pouring in the eggs.

While trying to manage an impatient toddler, get the steaming rice out and help my wife with a crying baby, the eggs cook longer than I wanted. Damn, I mutter under my breath, as I scoop everything out into our individual bowls.

As we eat out in the glorious sun, however, all the failures of the cook don’t matter anymore. The company of my beautiful family, the sight of watching Krystin & Noah gobble down the warm food, with Noah exclaiming “yummy!” after every bite, is enough for my soul. Ironically, Okayodon literally means "parent and child" donburi - a poetic reflection of chicken & egg used together in this dish.

I was going to post the recipe but it’s probably easier (& better) to follow Adam Liaw’s recipe instead which I’ve posted below. Anyway, if you mess up like I did, it’s still a nourishing hearty dish to be enjoyed with your loved ones.