Someone has invaded my kitchen. I used to have total control over my kitchen, my wonderful, pristine, immaculate kitchen. But lately, someone else has had free rein over everything.

Mr J has learnt how to cook, and he has been unstoppable ever since.

Maybe it was the magic of owning your own home. Maybe it was all this free time now that we live closer to work. Maybe it’s just Jamie Oliver’s miracle work and promise of 30 minute super fast meals that appealed to him. Whatever it was, Mr J has taken it upon himself to learn how to chop, cook, grill and roast absolutely delicious meals (much to my amazement).

Mind you, this is coming from a man who used to have a phobia of knives and anything sharp.

And yes, I’m such a proud lady. Oftentimes I find myself coming home from a 12 hour day at the office, to some incredible home cooked meals that I can’t even cook myself. Pork crackling, wagyu beef steak, red curry prawns from scratch – you name it.

Nigella Lawson's chicken teriyaki, Mr J style

Last week, Mr J was ridden with the man flu and was confined at home. I asked him to do something with the big tray of chicken thigh fillets that I had sitting in the freezer, and he promised a homecooked meal at the end of the day. I knew I was in for a treat, and as I inserted the key to the front door after yet another 12 hour day at work, I could already smell what’s for dinner.

A hug, a kiss, bags down, office clothes out, trackie dacks on, infront of the dining table, and a nice chicken teriyaki dinner. A blissful winter meal with my beloved.

And yes, he even took the photos (he has a clear understanding of how it is living with a foodblogger fiancee).

Nigella Lawson’s Chicken Teriyaki

Recipe adapted from Nigella Kitchen

1 kg chicken thigh fillets, cut into big chunks

1 small thumb size ginger, finely grated

2 tbsp brown sugar

1/4 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup mirin

2 tbsp sake

1/2 tsp sesame oil

1 tbsp canola oil

200g snow peas

Sesame seeds for sprinkling

Rice to serve

1. Mix together brown sugar, soy sauce, mirin, sake, sesame oil and ginger. Add chicken and marinade for 10 – 15 minutes.

2. In a frying pan, fry the marinaded chicken with the canola oil for about 20 minutes. Ensure the chicken is occasionally stirred as the soy sauce and sugar could burn easily if left unstirred for too long.

3. Add snow peas and cook with lid on for 1 minute. Remove from heat and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Serve with warm cooked rice.