Posts tagged ‘Chicken’

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May 10, 2012

Citrusy Chicken with Pineapple Jalapeño Salsa

It’s hard to believe that I was a vegetarian for over a year simply because I love chicken. Heck, chicken is one of the main reasons I reverted back to my carnivorous ways a few years ago. That and the fact that I seriously lacked the necessary amount of protein in my diet as a college freshman who hated dining hall food options. This recipe made me re-fall in love with chicken. Marinated overnight in a simple combination of orange, lemon and lime juice, thrown on the grill for some char marks and topped with a spicy but sweet salsa, I can proudly say it’s a home run. Perfect for the surge of summer barbecues around the corner! Keep in mind we were serving many hungry bellies so cut the recipe down as you see fit!

Chicken:
12 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, butterflied
1 cup orange juice
Juice from one lime and one lemon
6 garlic cloves

Combine the citrus juices and pour into a resealable plastic bag (or multiple if needed). Add in the chicken breasts, throw in the garlic cloves and let marinade in the refrigerator for 4+ hours. Like I said, I let the chickies soak in the flavorful goodness overnight, giving the bag a nice shake every time I had my head in there for a snack…which is often.  

Salsa:
1 1/2 cups pineapple
1/2 cup red bell pepper
1/2 cup green bell pepper
1/4 cup red onion
1/2 jalapeño
Juice from one lime
1/2 cup chopped tomato, or two small romas
Heaping tablespoon of cilantro

Nothing too daunting here but oh so fresh. Simply chop up and combine all of the ingredients, allowing for the juices to mingle and hangout with one another in the fridge before serving. While that’s happening, fire up the grill and let it do its magic! Serve with the salsa as a side or throw it right on top of the chicken for you and your guests to enjoy. Sprinkled a little extra cilantro on there and add a lime wedge to the plate. Is your mouth watering or what? With the other recipes including tequila and avocado I didn’t think this one needed it but if those ingredients strike your fancy, throw ‘em on in! I bet it would be divine.
Could you ever go cold turkey (er, I mean chicken in this case?) and give up a food you love?  

Sprinkled with Love,
Lauren

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March 30, 2012

Hi, Friday!

TGIF! First off, a special birthday shout out to my mom! I hope you’re having an amazing day, bombshell. You don’t look a day over 35 and I simply cannot wait to get off the train later on this evening to celebrate. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I truly have the best mom in the world. Just saying…On another note, how the heck is it Friday? I mean I’m not complaining but wow this week flew! And has it really been almost a full week since I’ve blogged? Yikes. Time is slipping away from me. The scary thing is, this is just the beginning…the beginning of the end, rather. April is going to be a whirlwind and May, well, May 6 I graduate. Holy ____. So to make up for forgetting WIAW and straight up not keeping you in the loop the past few days, here’s a quick look at some clean eats.

I’m on an asparagus, parsnip and sweet potato kick, can you tell? I couldn’t help but smile when I got back to Mike’s apartment last night after interning to find the grill going and some of my favs already cut up. Plus, he dealt with the chicken and I HATE cooking chicken. He’s too good to me. By the way, my race is in a little over than 2 weeks. So nuts! I’m feeling good, a little achy and sore but nothing a little yoga tomorrow morning can’t fix. I’ve been slacking in the vinyasa department and could use a little om-tastic “me” time tomorrow before the chaos of April ensues. I won’t be a stranger the rest of the weekend, I promise! Happy Friday!
What food have you been loving lately? 

Sprinkled with Love,
Lauren

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September 22, 2011

You Are What You Eat

As promised, here’s a little synopsis on my wonderful long weekend: I went to NYC late Saturday night to visit the boyf and check out his new, humble abode. The weather couldn’t have been more perfect, the food we ate was delish (minus the protein bar I ate in desperation Saturday night for dinner but we’ll pretend that didn’t happen…) and we burned quite a few cals with all the walking we did. Boy, did we walk. A LOT. Since Mike only has Monday’s off, I had Sunday somewhat to myself. It started off with a nice workout, included a grand tour of 30 Rock followed by a little shopping and ended with watching the sunset on his terrace. Rough life, huh?  

Monday was just plain romantic. I’m sorry. I’m not the sappy type but walking through the quaint streets of Soho and Chelsea hand-in-hand is pretty damn cute if you ask me.

After a quick cardio workout, Mike and I headed to Cafeteria for brunch, which is where he proudly declared that they had filmed an episode of Sex & The City. Isn’t he the greatest? I love their slogan, “You are what you eat.” So true. Anyway, it was around noon so we went for the “unch” part of brunch, both choosing the California Cobb Salad with grilled chicken. I got mine without the bacon or blue cheese, of course. Between the outdoor seating, big mug of coffee and healthy dish, I was in heaven. Oh, and I guess my company made it all the better…

We then wandered our way over to one of my favorite places in New York, Chelsea Market, before strolling the High Line. On a whim, we decided to pay tribute to the recent passing of 9/11′s 10th anniversary by heading over to see the Freedom Tower’s progress. The crowded streets and high security was enough to put me on edge so we quickly made our way toward the ever so lovely South Street Seaport, where we enjoyed happy hour (yes, Mike is drinking a Miami Vice…he’s a keeper, huh?) and an early dinner at Pacific Grill. We had worked up QUITE the appetite!

I ordered the Black & White Sesame Coated Yellow Pink Ahi Tuna, which was served over mixed greens, peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes and hard boiled egg with asian ginger soy dressing. It was divine. Mike went with his typical cheeseburger. Before I knew it, it was time for me to hop on Metro North. I made my way back home, catching the train with Emily after she got out of work, which was fun, then shortly after getting off the train made the drive back to school. Back to reality! It was such a great weekend and I cannot wait to go back the city. Luckily, with the bf now located there, I can go whenever my heart desires. Yay!

Sprinkled with Love,
Lauren

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July 1, 2011

Cross It Off the Bucket List

Happy Friday! I hope you all had a fabulous week. Here’s a look at what’s been going on with me lately. As I mentioned in my last post, it was my sister’s graduation last weekend so I wanted to give you a quick glance at the celebratory festivities first and foremost. Congrats Kru! You made it!

The graduation was postponed Thursday evening due to the bad weather so we all woke up bright and early Friday for the rescheduled ceremony. Luckily, the rain held off for the Class of 2011 to march to Pomp and Circumstance and grab their diplomas!

Saturday was Kristen’s graduation party. The food (half of it being catered for convenience purposes) got rave reviews but the fruit salad in particular, the presentation courtesy of my father’s “famous” pineapple trick, was my personal favorite. I’m pretty sure half of that big bowl was consumed by yours truly, alone…my stomach is still thanking me for that.

Although I would have loved to help make a few dishes, I was quite busy catching up with visiting family members and enjoying some much-needed R&R so I contributed by making a simple punch. Two liters of raspberry lime seltzer + one 64-ounce Ocean Spray Light Cranberry Raspberry Juice + a bag of frozen raspberries + lime slices = perfection. For my over 21-year-old crowd, add some cranberry or raspberry flavored vodka and you have yourself a great cocktail. 

Before I knew it, it was Monday again and I was back on the train to New York. Tuesday was super exciting because I had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing Giada De Laurentiis! Words can’t even begin to describe…such an amazing experience. What did I ask? What did I learn? Find out soon at The Fit Stop. I’ll keep you posted!

I had to show you Tuesday’s romantic train ride dinner for one: Chicken & Avocado Salad (topped with Lentil & Couscous Salad) drizzled with balsamic vinaigrette from Pret A Manger! Can you tell I was ravenous? Every last bite was consumed and 5 miles were ran once I got home thanks to the boost in energy! After a very busy day in the office on Wednesday, I attended an Ed2010 event about the do’s and don’ts of interning. Really great stuff! A fellow intern, TK, and I ended up going to Havana afterwards for some Cuban cuisine. I got the Ensalada De Pollo A La Parilla (Grilled Chicken Salad) for an incredibly affordable $9.00. (Of course I took a photo but it didn’t turn out well, wahh!) TK and I couldn’t believe our bill was just over $20, not that we were complaining! We ended up crashing on another intern’s couch for the night after sitting in Bryant Park and chatting under the twinkling lights of the NYC skyline for a bit. Isn’t it funny how comfortable you feel right off the bat with someone who shares a lot in common with you? We both joked the entire night how we felt like we had known each other for years, rather than days.

The first month of my internship is now behind me and I cannot believe how fast it whizzed by. I have been learning so much, meeting incredible people I will be sure to stay in touch with in the future and even got to cross something off my bucket list! Someone PLEASE pinch me. After getting off the train yesterday morning and squeezing in a quick upper body workout at the gym, I relaxed poolside with Chelsea. We flipped through magazines, chatted about our week and bronzed our pasty bods. Sounds like one solid afternoon to me! At 5:30 we headed over to a favorite local restaurant of mine, The Guilford Bistro & Grille Cafe, for a mother/daughter dinner. How priceless is that picture?

I got the Montego Bay salad (arugula and fennel with balsamic vinaigrette) topped with grilled salmon and asked for some cucumbers and grilled asparagus to be thrown on there. Delicious!

A bottle of red and a bottle of white were polished off, four massive meals were enjoyed (with endless MMmmm’s! inserted here and there) and girly giggles were muffled by napkins, as we tried to not disturb other patrons enjoying the outside dining. Such a pleasant way to end the week before a long holiday weekend! Bring on the fireworks!
If you could meet one celeb who would it be? What would you ask them if you had the opportunity?

Sprinkled with Love,
Lauren 

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June 2, 2011

Sweet Summertime

I’ve been pretty nostalgic lately. Maybe it’s the fact that being home and sleeping in the same room I’ve slept in since kindergarten has finally sank in. Or maybe it has been the catching up, immature giggles and cocktails with my two best friends from high school, alongside the run-ins from old classmates wherever I may go. Come to think of it, you know what could very well be the nostalgia culprit? My new obsession with Gossip Girl. I’ve watched half of the first season in a matter of days. I think I have a problem. Regardless, let me summarize my overall weirdness by saying I got teary eyed listening to Trace Adkins’ “You’re Gonna Miss This” while driving through my neighborhood…

Whatever this emotional stint may be/be about, I have decided not to fight it. Instead, I’ve allowed it to inspire me, especially when it came to making one of my favorite summertime meals the other night: Spinach and Strawberry Salad. Although I lost the original recipe my friend, Amy, and I used to make, I decided to improvise a bit using Fitness Magazine’s Mesclun Strawberry Salad as a guide. It ended up tasting great, especially with grilled chicken on top. Avocado mixed in would have been divine, but my local grocery store was all out so I had to manage without my favorite ingredient. Besides that, it was pretty darn perfect. Oh, the taste of sweet summertime!

Ingredients
(Yields 2 servings)
2.5 ounces spinach
8 large strawberries (or more if you love ‘em like me!)
3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
Freshly squeezed juice from 1/2 of a lemon
Freshly chopped basil to taste (less than 1/4 cup?)
2 ounces of crumbled goat cheese
Handful or two of walnuts
One avocado, cubed
3 small chicken breasts

Start by throwing your chicken on the grill. I was so hungry I didn’t marinate it but feel free to do so if you would like. I bet it would compliment the salad well if marinated in a strawberry vinaigrette! Next, hull and slice the strawberries. In a large bowl, add in the spinach, strawberries, goat cheese, avocado (if desired) and walnuts. In a separate bowl combine wet ingredients and chopped basil.

Once the chicken is done, finish assembling the salad. Drizzle with the dressing, mix it all up and serve! Delicious! Light but sweet and filling with the chicken. Add a pinch of salt alongside a little honey or agave nectar to the dressing if need be.

In other news, I have been trying to get my act together these past few days in preparation for the start of life in the real world and the ever-so-dreaded, intense commuting schedule. Task number one: tackle my bomb of a room.

I would have taken a “Before” to compare to this “After” photo, but it was far too embarrassing to share with you all. Good as new, now. It’s funny how much better you feel in a tidy space. Please note my beautiful bottle of lemoncello brought back from Florence, Italy, courtesy of my besties. 

Next project: organizing the closet by type for easy access and outfit arrangement (jackets>tanks>short sleeved shirts>dresses>oxfords>cardigans). Can you tell I have a ‘thing’ for navy blue stripes? Yeesh…

To make my stripe addiction more apparent, I would like to introduce you to today’s glorious Steve Madden purchase. They can be laceless and feel like a sneaker. Perfect for running around NYC in! Hi, I like you. Boy, am I am a sucker for seersucker…

Last but not least on my agenda was to start compiling a summer reading list. I love having free time to read during my time off from school and what better way to keep me occupied on the train!? Thanks to my wonderful Twitter followers, I have a nice list going already…
Do you have must-read suggestions? What is a theme in your closet? 

Sprinkled with Love,
Lauren

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May 25, 2011

Kru’s Day of Birth

Happy 18th birthday to my little sister, Kristen (aka Kru)! We celebrated by going out to a nice, casual dinner at a local pizza joint…I, of course, opted for a huge side salad with chicken instead of a slice of pie. Teehee.

Happy birthday, sis! I am so proud of you and have no doubt in my mind that you will excel to extraordinary heights next year pursuing your dreams at the University of New Hampshire. 

Xoxo,
Lauren

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September 16, 2010

Shuck it!

It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood! 116 came over to our place (143) for a first official family dinner to kick off the school year and celebrate Ian’s birthday. My roommates and I cooked…actually to clarify: Al, Taylor and I cooked, while Gianna cleaned our condo (a task equally as taxing and necessary when having guests over obv.)

On the Menu: Grilled Corn, veggie shish kabobs and BBQ chicken

As you can see, we wanted to fully take advantage of the last few weeks of summer cuisine. How cute is Gianna’s grill!?! At home, my dad is usually the grill-master, but I gave myself the challenging job of gettin’ my grill on and honestly have to give myself a pat on the back. (I texted my dad a picture of the meal after it was complete, even he was impressed.)


Tip: If you want to cook corn on the cob in the husks, soak them for about 15 minutes prior to throwing them on the grill and snip off the excess husk and silk pieces. This provides extra moisture for cooking! (I once learned this hard way, dry corn = not tasty.) Place the corn on the grill’s grate and cover for about 15 minutes, turning them every once in a while for equal cooking.


Taylor was kind enough to cut up our veggies. I’ve been on a bit of a zucchini kick lately so we speared green zucchini, as well as red bell peppers, mushrooms and onions onto metal sticks. Taylor had a nice pattern going on the kabobs (you can tell she’s an art major.)

After brushing on some olive oil, I lightly seasoning it with some awesome Olde Thompson California Garlic & Sea Salt (I’m obsessed with this stuff. A must buy!)

Voilà! So now onto the BBQ chicken. I’m a big fan of Perdue’s Fit & Easy Breast Tenderloins because most of the nasty schtuff is already cut out! In other words, there’s a lot less hassle when it comes to trimming off fat…well, you know what I mean. I’m not getting into it. Gross.

+

= heavenly

Usually I would make a homemade sauce, but we were in a bit of a time crunch so I quickly marinaded the chicken with the Jack Daniel’s Original BBQ sauce we had in the fridge (we love BBQ in 143,) then threw the little chickies on the grill.


Although it wasn’t a difficult meal to create, it was a solid, first family dinner and safe blog post to start off my semester with. I will get more creative, I promise! Just to make a note of this, though, grilling veggies like the corn and kabobs mixes things up a bit. I know that, personally, I get sick of the same old, steamed vegetable side dishes! So next time, throw them on the grill and let me know what ya think.

Happy, hungry kids

Sprinkled with Love,
Lauren

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