Chipotle Avocado BLTs

Sometimes you just want something simple for dinner.   Last week was one of those times.  I decided to make BLTs and spice it up a bit. The result was amazing and Mr. C has been asking me when we’re making them again.  You barely even need a recipe for this one, but here it is anyhow and you can access the printable here.  Sorry for the photography…I was having some serious camera issues.

Ingredients

Bread

Romaine Lettuce, washed and dried
Large tomato, sliced

Avocado, sliced

Applewood smoked bacon

Mayo

Chipotle peppers in Adobo sauce

Cook the bacon to your liking.  We like ours crispy round here and we ended up using 3 pieces per sandwich.  It also fits better if you cut the bacon in half.

While you’re toasting the bread, mince 1-2 of the chipotle peppers and mix with ¼ c. mayo.  I cut our peppers into fairly large pieces but they have a bit of a kick.  You may want to add the peppers a little at a time and taste for flavor.  I also mixed some of the sauce in with the mayo mixture.  This was plenty for 2 sandwiches but you can adjust as needed.  

Generously spread on the mayo mixture and start layering – bacon, lettuce, tomato, and top with avocado.  You could be really crazy and add some cheese too.  

I firmly believe that sandwiches taste better when they are cut diagonally in half, so I suggest doing this as well!

We ate ours with a veggie-packed salad and some kettle chips.  So good!

Gotta have Faith

This year I decided to get myself a birthday gift.  I had been wanting a tattoo on my wrist for over a year.  I knew what I wanted, it was something meaningful, but it was still a “someday” thing.  The pain didn’t sound fun and forever is a big commitment.  It wasn’t difficult to make the commitment to Mr. C. but when I can’t even chose a place for dinner without second guessing myself, I wasn’t sure that I could choose something to be on my body forever.

Recently I decided I wanted to go for it and knew I wanted my tattoo before my birthday.  I asked around for some referrals, got the number of a guy who had done my friend’s that I loved, and texted him.  Within an hour I had an appointment for Wednesday and within about 10 seconds of that I was freaking out.  I was serious but holy cow, now was actually going to do it!

I spent hours (yes, hours) searching for a font I liked and would want to see on my wrist forever.  I was getting frustrated until I found a pin (pinterest is amazing btw) that I loved.  I copied it, printed it out, and walked around with it taped to my wrist at home one night.  Yes, I did this, and yes, Mr. C laughed at me.  I loved it though. 

I told very few people because I honestly thought I might chicken out.  The day before I got it I came home and told Mr. C that I was having second thoughts.  I really wasn’t, I was just freaked out.  “What if I can’t find a job,” I asked.  He assured me that my one coverable tattoo would not make me unemployable.  I asked “what if it hurts too much and I’m just a chicken” and he assured me that I’d be fine (I did used to have my teeth drilled with no Novocain).  Lucky he knows how I am.

Everyday after I set up the date, I’d wake up and think “tattoo day is __ days away”.  The day of, I woke up and though “ahhhh, I’m getting a tattoo today….or running out of the place screaming”.  I told Mr. C if I ran out that he’d have to explain whatever and pay whatever he needed to.  He laughed at me.  I was serious.

I got there, my stomach in knots, and my hands shook as I filled out the paperwork.  The guy went to make the stencil and I relaxed a bit.  Then he came out and my knots returned.  We walked back and I told him I was terrified as I sat down.  I’ve learned that telling people you’re terrified in situations like that is a great thing.  Someone’s taking my blood and I say I’m terrified – they don’t dig around in my arm much.  We talked a bit and joked around as he set everything up and then came the time to give him my arm.  It was like when I’m at the dentist and he asks me to open so he can shove the needle in my gums.  Not my favorite part.

Finally, the gun turned on and we got started.  It felt like I thought it would.  Kind of annoying, not comfortable, but not horrible.  Thinking back now, it doesn’t really seem that bad anyhow, definitely not “run out screaming” uncomfortable.  The needle-like thing in my arm was what really freaked me out.    At one point I started feeling dizzy, my ears were ringing, and my vision was getting fuzzy….and then I couldn’t hear much.  I had to ask him to stop so I could get some water. I hate the feeling of passing out and I’ve done it enough that I’d rather not do it again.  I waited a few minutes, drank some water, and felt okay.  We weren’t even a third done.  I felt like a moron because I’m over there almost passing out at my little wrist tattoo and there’s this guy across the room getting a big piece on his arm done just laying there like it’s all cool (on the way out some girl getting another huge piece was just texting!  TEXTING, like she couldn’t be bothered to care about anything!)  After that it was all smooth sailing though.

I was surprised when he said he was done.  I was just getting used to it!  I looked at my wrist and loved it even more than I thought I would, and the pain really didn’t seem to matter. 

In the past year I’ve done things I didn’t want to - things I was scared to do  (many involving needles which I’m terrified of), and through it all I knew God was with me, people were praying for me, and I needed to just trust that it would all work out.  I can’t imagine living my life without God being a part of it.  I don’t claim to be perfect, but my faith is a big part of my life, and I need to spend less time worrying and more time having faith that God has a plan for me.  My tattoo was to remind me of that, to always have faith, to always remember I’m not alone, and to remember that I’m stronger than I think I am sometimes.  I love birds, but I added the bird because of my favorite bible verse, also about having faith:

“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much more valuable than they?”

-Matthew 6:26 (NIV)

In the end, I really, really love it.  I waited a long time to be sure it was what I wanted and I couldn’t be happier.  For me, it’s a perfect reminder of my 27^th year and that with God, I’m stronger than I think.

Strawberry Spinach Salad

One of my favorite things about the summer is the fresh fruit salads.  I’ve had many strawberry salads over the years but this one is my favorite because of the phenomenal dressing.   Unfortunately I’m not sure of the original source of this recipe; a co-worker got it from another co-worker who I think got it from someone else.  The salad is simple to throw together and it’s typically the dish I get the most complements on when serving it to guests.  I buy the cinnamon roasted almonds at Sprouts (or Trader Joes), but I’ve also made them before using a recipe close to this one.

The nuts need to be made ahead of time if you’re making them instead of buying, but actually mixing the cinnamon mixture is quick; it’s the baking that takes a bit of time.  You can make a big batch though and if you can keep from snacking on them, you'll have them on hand for when you want to throw this salad together.  

I’ve made this before with spring mix and it’s just not the same so I definitely recommend sticking to the spinach.  The spinach is heavy enough that it perfectly balances out the nuts and strawberries without wilting under the weight of the dressing.

The dressing makes a big batch so you can half it or just keep it in the fridge for the week, which is what I do.  When I run out of strawberries, I switch them out for apples or mangoes.

I’m not one for measuring when it comes to salads, except for the dressing.  I start with 3-4 handfuls of spinach (or you can use cups if you want).  Throw in a little salt and pepper and toss it around (in the bowl…don’t want any confusion here..if I’m not specific with Mr. C he’ll do crazy things like start tossing the spinach on the ground).

Here’s another scientific measurement for you; then grab a small handful of the nuts and throw them in.

I go a little overboard on the strawberries sometimes, but hey, no one ever complains.  With the 3-4 handfuls spinach I’d use a pint of strawberries, sliced horizontally because for some reason I swear it tastes better that way. 

As you can see, I don’t have great measurements, but I’ve put some together for you.  I usually throw in a bunch of stuff, mix it up, and then see if I need to add more.

Finish by making the dressing.  You can blend it in a blender, but I like it better whisked.  Put the dressing on right before serving.

 You can get the printable recipe here.

Strawberry Spinach Salad

4 c. (or handfuls) spinach (don’t pack it if you’re using a measuring cup)

1 pt. strawberries, hulled and sliced horizontally

½ c. cinnamon roasted almonds

Poppy Seed Dressing

¼ c sugar

¼ t salt

1 t poppy seed

1 t dry mustard

1 t instant onion powder

1/3 c red wine vinegar

2/3 c olive oil

Whisk dressing or use blender to combine.  Toss with salad right before serving.  Dressing should stay fresh for about a week in the refrigerator. THIS WILL MAKE MORE THAN YOU NEED FOR ONE SERVING.

Place Spinach in large bowl.  Salt and pepper lettuce. Add sliced strawberries and nuts and toss.  Add dressing one tablespoon at a time until salad is lightly coated.

Heirloom Tomato Bruschetta

I’ve decided heirloom tomatoes are taking over the world.  Forget the zombie apocalypse, it’s these tomatoes that are EVERYWHERE!  I used to just call them “funny looking tomatoes” but apparently their proper name is “heirloom tomatoes” and I’m all about being proper today (if you have no idea what I’m talking about, they’re the weird shaped/colored tomatoes that cost double the “normal” ones and look a bit diseased).  I wikipedia’d these things and I learned that they taste better because they lack a mutation which basically puts beauty before taste, but they are many times inbred tomatoes due to people saving the seeds from year to year.  So, basically they are awesome tasting inbred tomatoes.  Got it.  Didn’t think you were going to get anything educational out of this post did you?  Well today is your lucky day!

Anyhow, I saw some of these heirloom tomatoes, got sucked in by their pretty colors (they do that to you) and spent three times as much as usual on two times more tomatoes than I usually buy.  I then got home and wondered what the heck I was going to do with my beautiful tomatoes.   I decided I’d make a wonderful italaianish tomato salad for dinner.

I started throwing things in a bowl and mixing and when I got to the end I realized that my tomato salad would be delicious on some toasted bread.  That’s how this bruschetta was born and I’m in love with it.  Unfortunately for Mr. C, I hadn’t anticipated that I’d be needing bread so I had to send him out.  Don’t be like me; be prepared.

Begin by cutting some heirloom or baby heirloom tomatoes.  I threw in some red and yellow grape tomatoes also (which BTW came in a container labeled rainbow trio, however 2 sections were yellow and 1 was red.  How is that a rainbow trio?  To me that sounds like a duet….IDK about these labelers sometimes).

Chop up some basil.  If you don’t have some nifty herbscissors like me, you should check these out.  They’re amazing.  They are also very sharp.  I forgot that once.

Throw in some garlic, pepper, a pinch of sugar, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and marinate.

We ate some the first night and it was good, but I saved some for the next night and ohmygosh that was amazing!  The flavors must have had a ranging party and mingled overnight.  Whatever happened, it was amazing.  What happens in the fridge stays there.

For the bread, preheat your oven to 450 degrees.  Diagonally cut some crusty bread, drizzle with olive oil, and bake it until browned and crustier, about 5-6 minutes. 

When you spoon the bruschetta mixture on the bread be sure to spoon on some of the juices as well.  I also drizzled a bit of balsamic vinegar over the tops which really put this recipe over the top.  Get it…over the top?!?  Anyhow…the recipe is below or you can check out the printable recipe.

Heirloom Tomato Bruschetta

1. c chopped heirloom tomatoes

1 c. grape tomatoes, halved

small handful basil (about 5-6 leaves)

2 cloves garlic, minced

fresh cracked pepper

pinch salt

1/8 c. olive oil

1 1/2 tsp balsamic vinegar

Mix everything together and marinate for 30 minutes-24 hours.

Bread

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.  Slice 1 loaf crusty bread diagonally.  Drizzle with olive oil and bake until golden and crusty, about 5-6 minutes.

Enjoy!

It's a bird...it's a plane...it's a new logo!!!

I am so very excited to debut my brand spanking new logo today (if you're reading this post from an email subscription you'll need to visit the blog site to check out the new logo)!  If you've ever been to my house you know I have a thing (otherwise known as an obsession) with birds.  This summer Mr. C met an awesome graphic designer who designed the logo from some very vague requests I had.  She was beyond patient when I kept asking for just one more thing to be changed.  I am so happy with the result and very excited to have something so unique.  

This designer also happens to sell some pretty cute shirts with her designs at Render Change.  With every shirt purchase, another shirt is donated to a child living in poverty in America. Mr. C and I are currently working on narrowing down our top pics for a couple shirts.  I think I'm in love with the camera t-shirt, and I'm really in love with the idea of helping others at the same time.  

What do you think of the new look?

BBQ Chicken Salad

We’re having our carpet cleaned tomorrow so our house is in shambles.  I made sure to clean so the carpet people wouldn’t be distracted thinking about how they could leave dust messages on our coffee table, but at this point I’m not even sure where the coffee table is.   On the positive side, if you want to sit down there’s probably a piece of the sectional within 10 feet. 

I planned an easy meal tonight since I knew we’d need to spend some time moving furniture and I realized I somehow never shared this recipe.  This BBQ Chicken Salad is actually one of my favorite summer salads because after all the toppings it’s still pretty healthy.

Begin by boiling some chicken and shred it.  Just in case you didn’t know – you can shred cooked chicken in a stand mixer with the paddle attachment (works best if the chicken is still hot).  If you didn’t know this – you’re very welcome!  If you did know this, I’m disappointed you never shared it with me.  If you know any more life-changing tips you think I may not know, please let me know!

Once the chicken is shredded, coat it with BBQ sauce so it can soak up the flavor while you work on the rest of the salad.

Cut up the lettuce and veggies. I know the basil seems like a weird addition, but it really makes the salad.  Trust me on this one. 

Mix the dressing in a separate bowl.

I usually portion the lettuce into 4 bowls, divvy the cut veggies between the bowls, and then toss each one separately with dressing.  This way no one gets jipped because all the good stuff fell to the bottom, but you can do whatever floats your boat. 

That’s it!  This saves very well and if you’re saving leftovers, just make sure to keep the BBQ chicken, dressing, and cheese separate from the veggies and mix together right before serving.  

BBQ Chopped Chicken Salad

Recipe adapted slightly from: hungry girl (based on California Pizza Kitchen’s BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad)

Yields: 4 serving

Ingredients

1 lb. chicken, shredded or cubed

BBQ sauce

10 c. chopped romaine lettuce

2 medium tomatoes, chopped

1 c. jicama, chopped

1 can (15 oz.) black beans, drained and rinsed

1 c. corn kernels

½ c. scallions, chopped

¼ c. cilantro, chopped

¼ c. basil, chopped

½ c. fat-free cheddar cheese

Dressing

½ c. fat-free ranch dressing

¼ c. BBQ sauce

Directions

In a small bowl, coat shredded chicken with BBQ sauce.  I usually use about ¼ - ½ c. or so.  It’s best to start with a little and add more as needed.  Set aside.

Place lettuce in a large bowl.  Top with tomato, jicama, black beans, corn, scallions, cilantro, and basil.

Make the dressing in a separate small bowl.  Add in a little dressing at a time and toss salad until coated, depending on your personal preference. 

Divide up into 4 portions.  Top each with equal amounts of the BBQ chicken and cheese.

Enjoy!

Summer in AZ

I feel like I've dropped off the face of the earth a lot lately.  In the past few months I've had some medical stuff going on, and it's amazing how that, and not feeling like yourself, can consume your life.  That's not to say I haven't been enjoying life, but I'm not the type of person who can be told "don't worry" and actually not worry until I have results!  Mr. C is good at that, but me - not so much.  I do enough worrying for the both of us!   I did a lot of worrying, a lot of praying, a lot of things I didn't want to (growing up sucks), and then I spent some time thanking God for all the supportive, wonderful people in my life.  To know that people were praying for me was a huge thing and I can't imagine living life not knowing that God's got my back.

I'm finally feeling back to myself and I'm so excited!  I've missed blogging so much and I'm so excited to share with you the wonderful recipes I've discovered even though I wasn't posting them.  

I hope you've been having a wonderful summer.  I'm not a fan of this crazy AZ heat, but it's finally monsoon season which is a wonderful time of year, even if it is in the summer.  Monsoon season means waking up to cloudy days, thunder in the distance, and rain when we're lucky.  Sunsets in AZ are usually pretty amazing and with the monsoon clouds they are extra beautiful.

We took this photo one evening (sorry for the poor quality) after dinner when we took Coconut to run around in a grassy area.  It was actually cool out that night and Coconut looked so happy running around in circles in the overgrown grass while Mr. C and I enjoyed the gorgeous sunset.  That's my idea of a perfect night.  Hope you've had some of your own perfect evenings too!