a Pinterest success! (finally...)

A few days ago I posted about how I have experienced some...well...failures, due to my love of Pinterest. T-shirt bracelets and bitter orange chicken aside, I decided to try another recipe I'd found on Pinterest - blackened chicken w/cilantro & lime quinoa. The best part of the recipe? I already had ALL the ingredients in my pantry/fridge except for the limes. So I thought I'd give it a shot for dinner tonight. Let me just say - the boyfriend LOVED it (so much that after he declined seconds, he actually went to the fridge and ate most of the leftovers...) and I thought it was pretty good (but I noted a few changes that I would make the next time around). And the best part was that I REMEMBERED to take a picture...however my food-picture-taking skills are seriously lacking - so I apologize in advance. :)

I found the original recipe on Pinterest (HERE) and below is the adjusted recipe that I found suited my tastes/needs better. (Example: the original recipe called for 1 cup of quinoa, when cooked, serves about 4 or 5 people. Since I was just making this for 2, I reduced the amount of quinoa.)

Adjusted recipe - serves 2


2 boneless skinless chicken breasts (I always keep this in our freezer, so I just thawed out 2)
1/2 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (I didn't have any - I used chili powder)
1/4 tsp onion powder (again...didn't have any, I used garlic powder)
1/4 tsp cumin
1-2 Tbsp olive oil
1 cup chicken stock
1/2 cup quinoa
juice & zest of 2 limes
salt & pepper to taste (for the quinoa)
3 Tbsp cilantro, chopped

Combine dry seasonings in a small bowl & mix together. Pat chicken breasts dry and season both sides of chicken w/seasoning mix.
Add olive oil to a grill pan (or large skillet) and heat on medium high heat. Add chicken to the pan and cook for 6-7 minutes on each side with the lid on the pan. (I don't have a lid for my grill pan, so I covered it with foil.)
Meanwhile, add the chicken stock & quinoa to a medium sauce pan. Bring to a simmer then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes, or until all the stock has been absorbed.
Once the chicken has cooked through, remove from the pan and set aside. Let them rest for at least 5 minutes before slicing.
After quinoa has cooked, add the lime zest, lime juice, cilantro, and salt and pepper. Mix to combine.

To serve, place the sliced chicken breast on top of the quinoa.

Optional: Puree an avocado w/3-4 Tbsp sour cream for an avocado cream sauce to drizzle over the chicken.



My version - it was pretty tasty!

UPDATE: For those that want nutritional info, here it is! (This info is per serving, and it's approx.)
563 calories, 19g fat, 34g carbs, 3g fiber, 4g sugar, 61g protein

Want free stuff?

A few days ago, I posted about a giveaway that Perfectly Peacock was hosting as they got their shop up and running...and all you have to do is "LIKE" their page on Facebook, and you will be entered to win any item from their shop! (You can even choose a custom handstamped necklace! They are super cute.)
So far, no one has entered...so if only 1 person enters, they will automatically be the winner...am I getting anyone interested?? :)
Just click on the link below, or log in to Facebook and search for "Perfectly Peacock" and "LIKE" their page to be entered to win! You have until May 12 - so get on it! Free means FREE, ya'll!!

LIKE Perfectly Peacock on Facebook to be entered to win!


UPDATE: The giveaway has been extended until May 31 - the winner will be announced on June 1!

my love/hate relationship with Pinterest.

Let me first start by saying that the majority of the time I LOVE Pinterest - I just can't get enough. Tons of ideas, tons of recipes, tons of everything. I don't think it's very easy to describe Pinterest to someone who has never used it or seen it. Like, for example, my boyfriend. He doesn't understand what Pinterest is all about, nor does he think it's worth the time I spend zoning out in front of it. (Although he doesn't complain when I make a tasty dinner and I proudly proclaim "I found this recipe on Pinterest!") He likes to walk around the house making jokes like, "Oh, that's Pinteresting."
SO...why do I hate Pinterest sometimes?? I hate it when I find an awesome idea/recipe/craft/whatever, buy the supplies/ingredients/whatevers for this idea, and upon completion, it's a FAIL. I have to say this has happened quite a few times.
So the other day, I was super excited to try a recipe for crock pot orange chicken. It sounded yummy, wasn't much work, and I hadn't had Chinese food in FOREVER. So after patiently waiting the 3-4 hours for my crock pot to do it's THANG, I served up my dinner. Let me just say...EW. It tasted like a bitter orange swamp mush - not the yummy dinner I had in mind. Luckily, I was able to trick my dog into eating the rest of the chicken (after I had rinsed off the orange goop) and mixed it in with a little bit of her regular dog food. I was going to take a picture, but I was much too irritated to go find my camera. Has this happened to any of you?? Please, tell me it has, because it would make me feel better. :)
Another time I tried to make a bracelet out of a t-shirt...I had to learn to do this hand-finger-knitting-weaving-strange-concept...after I THOUGHT I had mastered it, I attempted to make the bracelet - and it was hideous!! I took pictures of the bracelet...if I can find them, I'll post them!
I've decided that from now on, I'm going to take pictures of every Pinterest-inspired project I embark on. That way, if it turns out fabulously, I can be proud. :) And if it's a fail - well, then, I can post it here for everyone's entertainment. (Personally, I think it's hilarious when I see the actual results of Pinterest projects!)

UPDATE: OK...I found a picture of the bracelets. Maybe they don't look so bad in the picture, but I'm telling you - in person, they look like, well, some t-shirts that I cut up and braided funkily together. Not a good look.

GIVEAWAY!!

Now who doesn't love a giveaway?! Our friends at Perfectly Peacock have offered 1 lucky reader a chance to win ANY ITEM from their online store. They are still updating and adding more items to their Facebook page, but they currently have adorable vintage items and handmade accessories. SOOOO...what do you have to do to enter? All you need to do is "LIKE" their page on Facebook! Easy, huh? You have until midnight on May 12 to "LIKE" their page. A winner will be randomly selected and will be announced on May 14 on this blog. Any questions? Just ask! Click the link below to enter...

LIKE Perfectly Peacock on Facebook to be entered to win!

On a side note...
I've been feeling extra crafty lately...but I need some inspiration! Any ideas?? Please and thank you. :)

UPDATE: The giveaway has been extended until May 31 - the winner will be announced on June 1!

The 1 1/2 minute breakfast!

I can remember my mom making these breakfast sandwiches for me while I was growing up. They are fast, easy, delicious, satisfying, and pretty healthy too! (Oh yeah, and they only have 3 ingredients!) You could make these sandwiches a ton of different ways, but the way I prefer is...

Makes 1 breakfast sandwich

English muffin (whichever is your favorite)
cheddar cheese (or another cheese, if you prefer)
Morningstar Farms sausage patties (yeah, I know these are meatless - but they are really yummy and have lots of protein!)

1. Wrap the sausage patty in a paper towel and microwave on high for about 30 seconds (or until heated through).
2. Cut the English muffin in half and slice (or grate) enough cheese to put on both sides of the muffin.
3. Assemble the sandwich...meaning: English muffin top, cheese, sausage patty, more cheese, and English muffin bottom.
4. Wrap sandwich in the paper towel, microwave on high for 30-45 seconds (or until heated through and the cheese is nice and melty!) :)

And there ya have it! Super fast and super simple. I make these almost every day for the man, the little man (he loves to dip his in ketchup!) and sometimes for myself, too.

I know this isn't rocket-science, but it's just something I wanted to share!

whoopsie.

First off, I want to say... IT'S MAY ALREADY?! Where has the time gone?! One thing is for sure - I've been TERRIBLE at posting/updating/blogging/rambling/writing. But I PROMISE that will change!! Lots and lots of things have been going on over here in our neck of the woods...er, mountains, whatever you wanna call it.
The reason I've been too busy to keep in touch? Well...

I found out about 7 weeks ago, and since then, it's been a whirlwind of doctor's visits, hospital admittances (more on that later...), family visits, and Easter.
Lots of recipes, photos, crafts, etc. to post - so stick around!! (Oh yeah, and that giveaway I mentioned a while back? It's still gonna happen! Technical difficulties, my friends.)