Fried Chicken Tacos
We’ve all had friends move at some point in our lives. Sometimes, it works out that it is just to a neighboring community or even a short drive. Other times, we see them change time zones, states or continents. When I was a kid, my best friend/neighbor moved away and it was so hard to say “see you soon.” Our parents were friends though and they worked hard at keeping our friendship alive. Back in those days, we wrote letters, visited occasionally and sent cards to one another at birthdays and holidays. In May of 2017, I travelled to Las Vegas where she currently lives and after a teary reunion, we spent an entire afternoon chatting about our lives. Over thirty years later from being neighbors and there we were, clinking mojito glasses and laughing the way only forever friends can.
Chicken Papadoris
I love to plan our meals for the week. My 2017 goal is to make/try one new recipe a week and depending on the success (or failure) of the recipe, post it here for you to enjoy. Most of my inspiration comes from reading magazines. My favorites are Bon Appetit and Sunset. I don’t have a lot of time to myself but each month I get giddy when I see one of the magazines in my mailbox. I also use recipe books I’ve saved over the years, things I made forever ago and wrote out on a recipe card, and of course cookbooks. Some weeks inspiration is abundant and I get excited about my ideas. Other weeks I’m uninspired and get frustrated with any book I open.
A few weeks ago, I opened an old recipe binder filled with recipe cards I wrote when we were newly married and found the recipe for Chicken Papadoris. I used to make it weekly and it was a total favorite of the hubby and I. Immediately, I squealed with excitement at the idea of surprising him by making it! I was excited for the girls to try it and for the nostalgic smell of this dish simmering in my kitchen. Both girls LOVED it and it brought back memories of the hubby and I eating by candlelight, drinking two buck Chuck because it was all we could afford and talking about our day.
The curry flavor is not heavy in case curry isn’t your thing. Give it try and let me know what you think!
- 1/4 cup pine nuts
- 1/4 butter
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into bite size pieces
- 1 brown onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1-2 cans unsweetened coconut milk
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 1/2 teaspoons curry powder
- 2 teaspoons curry powder
- 2 teaspoons corn starch
- 1/4 cup cold water
- 2 cups jasmine rice, cooked
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add pine nuts and cook stirring frequently until evenly toasted. Remove pine nuts and set aside.
- Add butter to the skillet and melt over medium heat. Stir in chicken and cook for 10 minutes or until no pink is showing and juices run clear. Pour off any juices.
- Add onion and garlic and cook until tender. Stir in half of the pine nuts, soy sauce and coconut milk. Season with paprika, cumin and curry powder.
- In a small cup, mix water and cornstarch. Add to skillet and stir until a thick gravy forms. Serve over white rice. Sprinkle remaining pine nuts on top and serve!
BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad
You guys.
It’s the the third week of school and the dreaded letter has already come home. The letter that instantly sends parents into a panic. The letter that makes you start itching all over and contemplating whether homeschooling might be a better idea than ever having this damn letter ever come home again. You contemplate whether a pixie cut might look good….on all of you.
I go straight up 72 hour psych hold over the thought of bugs in my hair or the girls hair. After their nightly shower, I’m a head lamp wearing, comb wielding, anti-lice spray lunatic as I scour their heads inch by inch.
Thank goodness we are all clear. Each day the girls hair is coated in anti-lice spray (which is a delicious Rosemary smell so it just makes them smell even more yummy) and pulled back into some headache inducing hairstyle that hopefully deters any jumping bugs from making contact with my kiddos.
Such a perfect food blog subject, right? Like, you are totes excited to talk food now, aren’t you? I promise my recipes are always bug free so give this salad a shot. It’s beyond delicious and is another easy weeknight meal. For the kiddos, just keep the jalapeño on the side.
- 2 cups diced chicken, cooked (feel free to cheat with Trader Joe's Just Chicken or any stores rotisserie chicken)
- 6 cups mixed greens (I love baby kale, arugula and the spicy spinach blend from Trader Joe's)
- 1/2 cup pearl or grape tomatoes, cut in half
- 1/4 cup diced red onion
- 3/4 cup canned corn, drained
- 3/4 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
- 3/4 cup jack and cheddar cheese blend OR 1/2 cup Crumbled Gorgonzola
- 1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
- 1/4 cup ranch dressing (in a pinch, I like the Homestyle Ranch or Jalapeño Ranch by Litehouse)
- 1/4 cup BBQ sauce
- 1/2 cup tortilla strips
- 1 jalapeno, diced (optional)
- This is going to be really complicated... you ready?
- Add salad to four bowls.
- Top with tomato, corn, beans, cheese, cilantro, onions, chicken and jalapeño.
- Drizzle with Ranch dressing and BBQ sauce. Top with tortilla strips and serve!
Mommy Bistro: Chef, Mom and Lice Hunter
Sesame Chicken with Roasted Broccoli and Pineapple
I’m sitting alone in Starbucks.
There are couples on coffee dates, college students studying, a group of older women chatting and laughing together. The sound of steam escaping from the espresso machine with the soft coffeehouse radio in the background is the perfect backdrop for people watching. Sipping my green tea with stormy clouds outside; the reminder that fall is here and the blistering hot days of summer are behind us.
Chicken and Butternut Squash Curry plus The Bone Broth Diet
You guys! I’ve been MIA because I was ASKED TO REVIEW A COOKBOOK! Little ol’ me!!! I was so honored when I got the email (I think I also snorted coffee out my nose ’cause I was so flabbergasted!)
Teriyaki Skewers with Grilled Pineapple
One hundred and five degrees. No, that is not the temperature you need the grill to be at to make these skewers. It is however the temperature of the muggy air outside of my house right now. Sweet baby Jesus, someone turn the heat down please!! Think of the Wicked Witch of the West being held under Niagara Falls by Dorothy; that’s how much I’m melting. Although that doesn’t sound like a terrible thing right now, to be under a waterfall of cool water with a Pina Colada… calm island music playing in the background…. Ahhhh, take me there!!
Soy Ginger Sticky Chicken
A long time ago, I made a vow to myself to enjoy life and adventure. This past weekend we celebrated my birthday at the beach. Birthday’s and age have never bothered me so at the ripe age of 36, I spent the day in the ocean boogie boarding with my kids, digging sand castles and making them sand mermaid tails, throwing the ball for my dog for hours and resetting my soul with the ocean tide. I’ve always felt a deep connection to the ocean and lo and behold, Pixie is half mermaid 😉
Hungarian Chicken Paprikash & Cucumber Salad
A few years ago I auditioned for Master Chef. What a complete adrenaline rush… I mean seriously…Holy Hell! Every emotion and feeling you can imagine explode inside you all at once. I went back to my roots and created a traditional recipe from Hungary. It is a favorite in our house and probably the most comforting and delicious dish you can imagine. It is best served along with a cucumber salad. Enjoy!
Pad Thai
When the hubby and I first started dating, we were broke. I had just come home from a three month backpacking trip to Europe where I spent my life savings (as much of a life savings as one has at 21) and was barely waiting tables at the infamous Miyagi’s in Hollywood. My car had died so we shared his 1994 Saturn and we barely had enough money to fill the gas tank. Groceries were a JOKE. My budget for groceries in those days was about $40 a week. We all know our college pal, Top Ramen. I got pretty darn creative with this $.05 wonder. Pasta salad, chicken soup, stir fry and…. Pad Thai. Some of our best memories are of eating this meal on a blanket with candles (to conserve energy since we could barely afford the bill!) in the living room with a delicious bottle of $2 buck chuck (seriously, it’s delicious if it is all you can afford).
Now I make this recipe with fresh rice noodles that I get from Trader Joe’s. It might taste better with all of the fresh ingredients but the memories of this dish will always remind me of one of the best times of our lives
INGREDIENTS
1 package flat rice noodles cooked according to package instructions (I love the fresh Trader Joe’s rice noodles)
2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts, pounded to ½ inch thickness and chopped into bite-sized pieces + salt, pepper and garlic powder to taste
4 eggs
3/4 cup sliced green onions
3/4 cup sliced white onion
2/3 cup cilantro, roughly chopped
optional: peanuts, chopped
Sauce
1/2 cup ketchup
3 tablespoons fish sauce (found in the Asian section at most grocery stores)
3 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons peanut butter
juice of 1 lime
1/2-1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (to taste)
1/4 cup soy sauce
INSTRUCTIONS
Season chicken with salt, pepper and garlic powder to taste. Cook chicken in a large wok or pan over medium heat, stirring throughout until cooked through (about 6-8 minutes), transfer chicken to a bowl and set aside.
Whisk together all sauce ingredients and set aside. Crack eggs over preheated pan (where you cooked the chicken) and allow to fry for about a minute, then break it up with a spoon and add the onions. Add chicken and sauce. Add noodles and toss to coat the noodles in the sauce. Stir in green onions and cilantro. Garnish with peanuts if desired.
NOTES
*adapted from Creme de la Crumb
Citrus Herb Chicken
We are deep in throes of Summer people. I’ve survived two camping trips, a wedding, two weeks of swim class, gymnastics camp, play dates, swim dates, having the neighborhood children over, beautiful weather, great food, great friends and NO ALARM CLOCK.