Balsamic Brushetta Chicken

Tried this new recipe tonight and it was really, really good.

Ingredients:

• 4 chicken breasts
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil (divided)
• 1 – 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 container Brushetta Sauce from Trader Joes

 

or you can make your own Brushetta sauce own using:

• 4 medium roma tomatoes
• 1 small sweet onion
• 1 medium garlic clove, minced
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

 

Method:

Add 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar, 1/2 tablespoon olive oil, 1 clove minced garlic, and salt and pepper to a ziplock bag. Add the chicken and shake to mix. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Preheat oven to 375

Brown the chicken breasts in a pan using 1 tbs olive oil

Place in a baking dish and bake 30 minutes.

Remove and top with Brushetta sauce and put back into oven and cook another 10 minutes or until chicken is cooked thoroughly.

 

I served mine with roasted broccoli.  Enjoy!

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Roasted Broccoli with lemon and parmesan cheese

Usually, I prefer to steam broccoli, and sometimes even load it up with cheese.  But today I tried a new recipe.  I roasted the broccoli and then when I pulled it out, topped it with some lemon juice and Parmesan cheese……sooooo good. Here’s the recipe:

2 cups broccoli (washed and completely dried)

5 tbs olive oil

1 1/2 tsp kosher salt

1/2 tsp ground black pepper

4 cloves minced garlic

1/2 – 1 small lemon

1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese

 

Method:

preheat over to 425

place broccoli on a cooking sheet

toss with olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper

roast for 20-25 minutes (mix once about half way through)

as soon as you take it out of the oven, squeeze with lemon juice and then add 1/3 cup of grated parmesan cheese.

 

Enjoy!

Five Question Friday

Finally, it’s Friday.  I thought with having Monday off, my week would have gone faster, but it was still a pretty long week.   Now to just get through my work day, and then school for 3 hours this evening, and then I’m free for the weekend 🙂   What are your plans?

I have to start it off right with Five Question Friday.  As always, feel free to answer the questions for yourself either in the comments section below or write your own blog post.

 

1. Do you embrace or dread snow/cold weather days?  

Originally being from upstate NY, you would think that I could embrace the snow and cold.  But now after living in southern CA for almost 7 years, I have to admit I am now spoiled from the weather here.  Last week we had unusual cold/lows, reminding me of NY days, and I was FREEZING.

2. Which game show or reality show could you totally win?

Wheel of Fortune…hands down.  I am always being told I need to go on that show, because I can always guess the puzzles with just a few letters. I have registered online, but so far no calls or emails.

3. What is your preferred climate?

I love the southern California climate.  Dry heat, pretty even temperatures, mostly sunny.

4. What do you buy every time you walk into the grocery store, no matter what?

Lately, kale and bananas, for my morning smoothies, since I use them up pretty quickly and they both can go bad fast.

5. If you see a spider/bug in the house, are you brave enough to kill it, or do you call for your hubby?

After screaming like a girl and freaking out, I will sometimes attempt to kill it, but usually if its a spider, I have the hubby do it.

Heart. Plant. Storm.

todays daily post topic is:

Write down the first words that comes to mind when we say . . .

. . . home.

. . . soil.

. . . rain.

Use those words in the title of your post.

So my words were Heart, Plant, Storm.  How does that go together to form a post???  The only think I can think of is that stress and conflict can become present in our lives from time to time – think of that as Storm.  If you allow that Storm, that stress and conflict to linger, in can lead to anger, bitterness, resentment, and more. It can then take root – Plant itself- inside of you, in your Heart.  This can turn you into a bitter, angry, mean person, or cause depression or cause you to act in ways you never would have thought.  When you hold on to the Storms, you really need to look at what you doing to yourself or those around you.  Who is it benefiting?  When you finally realize that the Storms are temporary, they will pass, and you let it go, you are able to live a happier and healthier and more productive life  And you might be surprised by what can bloom around you.

Date Night Challenge week 3

We had date 3 yesterday, and we were also celebrating 5 months of marriage.  It was the perfect night for this weeks topic  Reminisce Together.  The instructions were to go somewhere and/or do something that was meaningful to you both and your relationship.  It started off with him surprising me with my favorite flowers, orchids, and some cupcakes from this amazing gourmet cupcakery that we went to several times when we were first dating.  I surprised him with a bottle of wine that he really likes.  Then we went to downtown and walked around some antique shops to find some fun treasures.  Then, we went out for sushi, something we love!  During dinner, we asked each other the 15 discussion questions that were very focused on reminiscing on your relationship.  Some of the questions were:  “what do you remember about our first date?”, “what are some of the things that you value about me?”, “what stands out about our marriage proposal?”, “what are you favorite moments of our wedding ceremony?”,  “What’s the best gift I’ve ever given you and why is it so special to you?”, etc.  When we got home, we planned on looking at our wedding photos and DVD, but we ended up eating the cupcakes and finishing the wine, and things went in a different direction.  So far, it was the more romantic and intimate date.  Can’t wait for the next date challenge!

cheers!

Date Night Challenge week 2

Last night, hubby and I had our date night, as part of the 2013 date night challenge.  This week, it was do an activity together and there were 15 discussion questions to ask each other to get to know more about the person and even a few about how they see things with you or how you might influence them.  We went out to dinner and just took time to really answer each question.  It was great discussion and I of course loved his company.  Then we went to see Les Miserables at the movie theater.  I have been wanting to see this movie so badly, and he was sweet enough to agree to go with me, even though he had no idea what it was about and knew it was musically based.  We both LOVED it!  (go see it if you haven’t already!!)  At the end of our date, we talked about what to do for our next date, which is supposed to be to go somewhere that is very meaningful to us as a couple.  There are a few ideas we need to pick from….stay tuned.  Anyone out there doing the date night challenge?