what's cookin' honey lime?

For a couple weeks I was on a honey lime kick. Two yummy flavors that I can't get enough of. The first honey lime experiment was inspired by the fabulous grilling weather we have been having. Grilling is always a good idea.

Honey Lime Grilled Chicken Marinade

from Six Sisters Stuff. With a tweak of my own.

Ingredients:

4 chicken breasts
1/2 cup lime juice
1/3 cup vegetable oil
3 Tbsp honey
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp dried rosemary
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp black pepper

I also added a bunch (I say bunch because I have no idea how much it was.) of chopped cilantro. I am a huge cilantro fan and something I learned while living in Brazil is that cilantro and lime go together. You can't have one without the other. Ok, you can. But only in rare situations. 

Directions:

Combine lime juice, oil, honey, thyme, rosemary, garlic and pepper. Pour it over chickens in a ziploc bag. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours up to overnight. Grill until done and juices run clear. 

I think that this marinade would also be good if you wanted to bake the chicken in the oven or dutch oven even. Why limit yourself. Then you would have the yummy juices to serve with rice. I'm going to try it some time. 

My next Honey Lime craving is a recipe I have actually wanted to try for a while. And since I was on a honey lime kick I decided why not. You can find it nearly anywhere on the internet, but I my inspiration came from here and of course I tweaked it just a bit. Lets see if you can figure out what that is. 

Honey Lime Enchiladas

Ingredients:

1.5 lbs pork or chicken, cooked and shredded (I didn't measure this exactly.)

1/3 c honey (use less for a more tangy taste)

1/4 c lime juice

1 Tb chili powder

1/2 tsp garlic powder

A bunch of chopped cilantro. ;)

2 (10 oz) cans green enchilada sauce

equal parts mixed together of: mozzarella cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, shredded

flour tortillas

Directions:

Mix together sauce ingredients then add to shredded pork or chicken. Let the sauce soak into the meat for about 30 minutes. Lightly spray 2 pans with non-stick baking spray. (9×13ish) Pour green enchilada sauce into pans to coat the entire bottom. Fill tortillas with shredded meat and desired amount of cheese. Roll and place in dish.

Pour remainder of sauce over enchiladas and sprinkle more cheese on top – don’t be stingy! Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Then turn on broiler and place enchiladas nearer the top of oven. Let it broil until cheese is slightly brown and crispy. 

I mixed it up in the morning and let it set while I thought about how good it was going to be all day long at work. I might or might not have left work a little early in order to get home and finish it up. I couldn't wait any longer. Yes, I was super excited and it did not disappoint. 

as adventurous as I am…

I am finding that I am not always a big fan of change as I would like to claim to be. I have the fortunate, and sometimes unfortunate, habit of getting comfortable and being happy with where I am. Even if it isn’t where I would love to be in life, I usually find a way to be happy and make a difference.  Then when the frequent visitor of change comes to the door, even though I am eager for a new adventure I sometimes want to close the door and dig in my heels. I think it is getting worse with age.

Yes, I welcome change, adventure, starting fresh. But I dread the good-byes. Sometimes I’m not quite ready say good-bye to the things I’m doing, to all the hopes and dreams that could’ve, might’ve happened there. And the people I’ve met.

Then I remind  myself I get to take all my hopes and dreams with me. I can keep doing what I love to do. I will meet new people I will most likely love. And I will probably love where ever I go to next. I usually do. 

made for each other

There comes those times in my life when I cannot deny that this is where I need to be and this is what I am suppose to be doing. I feel that my next adventure in life is going to be just one of those times. After months of looking. Many interviews and many many many applications… I have a job. And it is just right for me. Like a dress that was cut out and sewn together to fit my every curve to perfection. However, just like custom-made dresses it comes with a price, which is about 13k less than what I was earning before I had a master’s degree. Yes, I have whined… a little. But mostly I am thankful for a job that will combine and put to use all my experience, education, skills, and desires into one opportunity.

The social worker in me. Desire to serve. Love of teaching. The need to make a difference. Experience teaching adults.  Love of playing. Experiential Education.  Need to create. Love of planning parties and events. Need for challenge. Opportunity to grow. Experience teaching children. Experience teaching teens. The budgeting and analysis skills I have always wanted to put to use.  The organizer in me I just can’t help.

…And I get a place of my own. The facility where I will be is mine to manage and do with as I please.  Complete with an office.

Yes. I believe we were made for each other.

BTW. I am a program coordinator at a low-income housing community center. Stories to come.

March

I was just thinking…I love March. As much as I love the month love, especially with its extra day, I am so happy that March is here. The month of LUCK. At least it should be the month of luck. I am feeling awful lucky. (Otherwise known as blessed.) I am especially lucky because I have this little guy in my life to make laugh and laugh, again and again. And I dearly love to laugh.

 

“Kiss me Baby, I’m Irish”

Parmesan Chicken

Writer’s block = Share a recipe. I can always talk about food. Never a problem there. When I tried this one I didn’t have very high expectations. I’m not a huge parmesan chicken fan. At least not the ones I have ordered in restaurants. I guess I expect it to be more parmesan and less spaghetti sauce. But this was surprisingly good. I mean really good. Just like the guy at Food Wishes said it would be.

Ingredients:
2 tbsp olive oil
2 cloves garlic, crushed
hot red pepper flakes, to taste
6 boneless skinless chicken breasts (I used frozen chicken fillets, and boy were they tender. Yum.)
2 cups marinara sauce
1/4 cup chopped basil
8 oz mozzarella, shredded
4 oz Parmesan, grated
1 (5-oz) package garlic croutons

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a 9x13 pan spread olive oil, garlic, and red flake peppers. Next lay the chicken in the pan and pour marinara sauce over. Sprinkle basil over. (Yes, fresh is best.) Next sprinkle with 1/2 of the called for mozzarella and parmesan cheese. Then cover with the croutons and top it off with the rest of the cheese. Bake it uncovered for 30-35 minutes. (Until chicken is fully cooked. Make take longer depending on chicken.) Serve. Don’t burn your tongue. Enjoy.

let her fly

The other day I was talking to a guy about dating. And inevitably the issue of educated women being intimidating to guys came up. It always does. This, naturally, catches my attention and strikes a chord because I fall into the category of educated, solid, return missionary, full of purpose and direction, top-notch, bright, experienced, and, simply put, amazing women that some guys consider intimidating. And the question came to my mind. Would men prefer that a woman who is all these great qualities “dumb-down” so that they won’t feel  intimidated? Please answer no. Any other answer would just be dumb. The whole intimidation excuse sounds to me like them trying to pass the buck and blame women for being too good and amazing. And what are we supposed to do about it? Play dumb? Do you really want women to be less than what they are capable? We don’t expect you to be less than what you are capable of . In fact, good women will have high expectations of themselves and men. And I know men are more than capable of reaching those expectations. I’ve seen it in my father, brothers, uncles, cousins, friends, coworkers, etc. It is possible.  And an educated, full of purpose and direction, top-notch, bright, experienced, and, simply put, amazing woman will help you get there.

While I was mulling this around in my mind the example of President and Sister Hinckley came to mind. Sister Hinckley often said, “He gave me space and let me fly.” In response to that President Hinckley said, “I’ve tried to recognize my wife’s individuality, her personality, her desires, her background, her ambitions. Let her fly. Yes, let her fly! Let her develop her own talents. Let her do things her way. Get out of her way, and marvel at what she does.” That seems easy enough, right? Just jump in the picture and let her fly. She will love and cherish you for it.

So men, who are claiming to be intimidated by educated, full of purpose and direction, top-notch, bright, experienced, and, simply put, amazing women… That is a really dumb excuse that I am not buying.  Buck up and step it up. There is a woman out there who is totally worth it. Actually, there are many.

Picture from here.

a girl can always use….

a new pair of bowling shoes!

Hey! Ya never know when you are going to need them.

It’s just one of those basic wardrobe essentials.