Flavor on a Budget: The Provocative Spicy Lemon Herbal Chicken – Charlie and Sally #2
Sally:
“Hey there, flavor lovers—welcome back to Flavor on a Budget, the show where we cook up amazing meals that keep your wallet full and your taste buds happy!”
Charlie:
“And sometimes, we take an easy budget recipe and accidentally torch a situationship or two.
I’m Chef Charlie, she’s Sally, and today we’re serving up one spicy entrée in more ways than one.”
Sally (smiling, stirring a skillet):
“Today we’re making one of my favorite budget friendly dishes—Spicy Lemon Herbal Chicken.
It’s easy, bold, affordable, and apparently… controversial.”
Charlie (grinning):
“Oh, you mean the spicy chicken? As in, the easy spicy chicken you made for Max?”
Sally (eyebrows up):
“Here we go. Yes, Charlie. Same easy budget recipe. But for the record, I didn’t make it for him. He had it at Johnny’s and I said I could make it for less and it would be easy. I made it as a challenge. And he ate it.”
Charlie:
“Mmhmm. And then Dana found out, and Max had to sleep on the couch.
You can’t just go cooking relationship-wrecking marinades for people’s boyfriends.”
Sally (coolly):
“Well actually, for the record—they’re not exclusive. So Max didn’t sleep on the couch. He slept at his place.”
Charlie (pausing):
“Wait a minute—how do you know they’re not exclusive? I thought this was just a friendly dinner.”
Sally (stirring with extra emphasis):
“It was a friendly dinner. That doesn’t mean I don’t have ears.”
Charlie (half-smiling, half-hurt):
“Right. A friendly, easy budget dinner.
Got it.
Let’s just teach people how to make it before someone tosses this skillet through the window.”
Sally:
“I don’t understand why you are so upset Charlie. We have never been a thing.”
Charlie (whispering):
“Not a spicy thing with easy budget spicy dishes being cooked. But I thought there was an…understanding.”
Sally (out of the side of her mouth):
“Can we help the viewers understand how to cook Easy Budget Spicy Lemon Herbal Chicken–and save our feelings for the fridge?
Here’s what you need.”
Sally’s Spicy Lemon Herbal Chicken
Total Budget: Under $8 | Serves 2–3 (or one Max-sized problem)
🍋 Ingredients (Per Tenderloin):
1 tsp lemon juice – $0.10
1/2 tsp melted butter or olive oil – pantry item
1/4 tsp Cajun seasoning – pantry item
Pinch of garlic powder
Pinch of dried thyme or rosemary
Tiny pinch of salt & pepper
(Optional: lemon zest for bonus flair)
Main Ingredients:
Chicken tenderloins (1 lb) – approx. $4.99
Boil-in-bag rice or pasta (2–3 servings) – $1.50
Lemon – $0.79
Total Estimated Cost: $7.28
How to Make It
Sally:
“This is a super easy budget recipe that looks way more impressive than it is—ideal if you’re feeding a friend, a maybe-not-boyfriend, or just yourself with excellent taste.”
Mix all marinade ingredients in a bowl.
Toss chicken in the mixture and refrigerate for at least 5 hours. Overnight = maximum flavor.
Heat a skillet and pour in the chicken and marinade.
Make sure to bring it to a rolling boil for 10 minutes—no raw drama allowed.
Reduce heat and simmer until tender and sauce is thick.
Serve over rice or pasta. Optional garnish: fresh herbs, lemon wedge, or a sticky note that says “For Friends Only.”
Charlie:
“You know, this would pair great with some grilled zucchini or cornbread—something budget friendly and comforting in case emotions get overcooked.”
Sally:
“Honestly, the only thing that got burned here was Charlie’s assumption.”
Charlie:
“I’m just saying—next time label your leftovers. You can’t hand out flavor on a budget like that without stirring the pot.”
Sally:
“Flavor on a Budget doesn’t cause drama. People do.”
Mike worked in the radio industry for 35 years which means sarcastic, tongue-in-cheek, satirical, trash talking characters to remind you laughter is good for the soul! Let’s have some fun with entertainment, movies and TV, sports, budget food and games, lifestyle and we’ll get ridiculous.
