{Recipe} ~ Jalapeño Popper Chicken

Whenever I post I recipe, I'm usually singing its praises, saying "this was amazing!" "best dish I've ever made!" "so darn good and easy!" etc.

But this time, I really, really mean it. This dinner was amazing. I bought the jalapenõs last week before we went to Dallas, and I knew they were about to spoil. I asked Ryan if he wanted to come over for dinner, with this dish in mind. I don't like things too spicy, but this was just right. Let me tell you, make this now. Seriously, do it. It was extremely easy and the cleanup was basically nil. The chicken cooked perfectly in the oven (can you believe I've never baked chicken before?) in 30 minutes. Once you see that gooey, melty cheese inside the chicken covered with a crunchy crust, you'll die and proclaim it the best thing you've ever eaten. I promise.

Okay, okay, enough raving over this recipe. Without further ado:

Jalapeño Popper Chicken

from Elly Says Opa!

1/2 cup panko
2 tsp. canola oil
1.5 – 2 tsp. taco seasoning
1 egg
2 oz. reduced fat cream cheese
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese 
1-2 jalapeño peppers, seeds and ribs removed, minced
2 chicken breasts

Preheat the oven to 375 and place an ovenproof rack onto a rimmed baking dish (I just used a regular baking sheet). Spray with cooking oil.

In a small skillet over medium heat, combine the panko with the canola oil. Cook, stirring often, until the panko is golden and crispy. Place in a shallow bowl or dish. To the panko, add the taco seasoning and stir to combine.

In another shallow bowl or dish, lightly beat an egg. In a small bowl, combine the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and jalapeños.

Using a small utility knife, cut a pocket into the side of each chicken breast, or horizontally slice the chicken through the center, until it is almost butterflied. Season the chicken lightly with salt and pepper, and then divide the cream cheese mixture evenly between each chicken breast’s pocket. Use toothpicks to secure, if necessary.

Dip the chicken pieces one at a time first into the egg, and then into the panko mixture, making sure to coat the chicken completely. Place the chicken on the prepared baking rack and cook for about 25-30 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through.

GVL --> DFW

I'm having a hard time facing the reality that I'm not in Texas anymore.

Ryan and I had a great, relaxing trip visiting with his family, seeing the city, and eating some great food, because it's always about the food. I should've taken more pictures, but don't worry, I'll share all the details!

Friday

Our plane left Greenville suuuuper early, before the sun came up. But that meant we got to Dallas at 8 am and had a whole day ahead of us! Ryan's mom made us breakfast (and now, I must have this egg poacher), we hung around the house for a bit, and then headed downtown Dallas to meet up with Tyler for lunch! We tried out Bowery's, a new hot dog joint and were pretty impressed. Tyler took us on a tour of his office (which had a pretty awesome view), then we headed back to the house.  A little afternoon shopping with Ryan's mom and brother, then it was time for margaritas at the country club! Ryan's stepsister Laurel, whom I got to meet in March, joined us for dinner at a local Mexican restaurant. Give this girl steak nachos and tequila shots and you know she's happy! A few of Ryan's high school friends came over to the house after dinner. We had been up since 3 am and I was fading real quick. I feel asleep on a lounge chair by the pool before midnight! Such a party pooper.

Saturday

We woke up late morning and just had to have Whataburger (again). Unfortunately, Ryan's allergies showed up with a vengeance just in time for this trip, and he didn't feel so great. He took an all afternoon nap while I read by the pool. He recovered long enough for us to catch the Rangers game! His friend works in the ticket office and hooked us up with awesome seats! We met up with a friend from Clemson and another of Ryan's high school friends, and had a great time! The Rangers won with a walk-off hit in the bottom of the 9th! We went out to a bar in Fort Worth afterwards. Ideal Saturday in my book!

Sunday

This was a bit of a tourist-y day. We went to a diner that Ryan grew up eating in. It turned out that Sunday was their last day in that location, so some of the menu items were $1.68 - the original price the day the restaurant opened!! How cool is that? We then went to the Sixth Floor Musuem in the Texas School Book Depository where they found Lee Harvey Oswald's rifle when JFK was shot. I'm obsessed in love with the Kennedy family, so I was really glad Ryan took me to the museum, and he had never been either! Back at the house, I left for my four miler, then we had a cookout at the house! Ryan's grandmother, Laurel, Chris, and two nephews came over to hang out by the pool and have dinner. I had such a great time playing with the kids and it was such a relaxing evening. I love low-key family get-togethers, even other people's families!

Monday

I was glad we had an extra day to decompress and wind down before hopping on a plane again. We had lunch (Texas BBQ) with Ryan's mom and stepdad, and then Ryan took me on a tour of Coppell where he grew up! It was so much fun to drive around..we saw his old houses, his elementary, middle, and high schools, where he played ball growing up, etc. I loved taking a trip down memory lane with him, since that was way before we met! He also drove me around SMU, where his dad and stepsisters went to college. 

Unfortunately, it was time for the trip to end. Surprisingly, Ryan's dad and stepmom happened to be in Dallas for work, so we got to have dinner with them before we went to the airport. We had dinner at Pappas Bros. Steakhouse, and I swear to you, it was the most amazing steak I've ever had. It just melted in your mouth. The lettuce wedge and lobster mac and cheese didn't hurt either. I would walk back to Dallas to eat here again. 

Goodbye Dallas! Don't worry, I'll definitely be back!

Week 1 ~ Spinx Half 10.27.12

Week 1 of training is in the books and went off without a hitch! I had to do several of my runs on the treadmill, which isn't ideal. The heat was just too much in Texas for a mid-day 4 miler and I woke up one morning to lace up my shoes to find it pouring. I am thankful that my apartment building has a small gym, so I can still get my run in without having to leave the building!

Monday - Rest

Tuesday - 3 miles, .15 mile walk between each mile

Because of my endurance level, walk breaks are a little necessary in the beginning for me. I just built walk breaks into this run to make it easier on me. I still ran the full 3 miles, but the treadmill helped me track my distance.

Wednesday - 3 miles

I took off for this run after work, not really expecting to be anything special since it was still pretty hot outside. But this turned out to be my best run of the week, and fast, too! 

Thursday - 3 miles, .15 mile walk between each mile

This run was pretty identical to Tuesday's run, except I had the company of "How I Met Your Mother" on Netflix.

Friday - Cross Train

I failed at Friday's cross training, unless you count wheeling and lifting my suitcase through the GSP and DFW airports as "weight lifting."

Saturday - Rest

Done and done. Saturday involved a Whataburger trip, a nap by the pool, and beers at the Rangers' ballpark.

Sunday - 4 miles, .20 mile walk between each mile

I procrastinated all day on this run. I hated to miss time with Ryan's family because I had to hop on the treadmill for almost an hour. But a window of opportunity opened up right before dinner, so I hit the fitness center across from Ryan's house. Around mile 3, I really started to regret all the rich and unhealthy food we had been eating all weekend. But hey, I was on vacation and it's all about balance right?!

At least this treadmill had a nice view!

Happy Running!

{Recipe} ~ Tomato Pie

Nothing says summer to me like home-grown tomatoes. Growing up, I used to eat sliced tomatoes with salt for lunch. I'd even eat peanut butter and tomato sandwiches! I know, it sounds disgusting, but I promise it's delicious and I would never lie to you.

My mom and I are always trying new tomato pie recipes. She has combined several recipes over the years, most recently using this one from Southern Living. I've never attempted one myself, but wanted to try something a little different. I, like all resourceful cooks, took to Pinterest. (Seriously though, how did people ever cook, decorate, or plan a wedding, without Pinterest?? Those must have been some dark times). The recipe I found was really simple and I had it baking in the oven about 20 minutes after I got home from work. I've changed the recipe a bit (it was originally suggested to serve it cold - I thought that was weird). I do suggest adding some fresh herbs (chives, parsley, basil, etc.) to give the pie a little extra. But the addition of the bacon and panko is really what makes this dish.

Tomato Pie
adapted from Vanilla Sugar

1 (9") deep dish pie shell, frozen
4-5 large tomatoes, thickly cut
Freshly cracked sea salt & black pepper
A light sprinkling of sugar
1 c. good quality mayonnaise
1 c. shredded cheddar cheese
½ cup cooked bacon, crumbled
2 tbsp. fresh herbs (chives would be delicious in this)
½ - ¾ cup of panko crumbs

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Slice up the tomatoes in rather thick slices and place them on paper towels to absorb some of the excess moisture. Also place paper towels on the top.
2. Get pie crust from freezer, place sliced tomatoes over crust; do a double layer of sliced tomatoes. Sprinkle with a very light layer of sugar, a little bit of salt, then freshly cracker black pepper.
3. In a bowl combine mayonnaise with shredded cheddar cheese, and the chopped up bacon. Spoon over tomatoes; try to get it spread evenly over the tomatoes, but don’t push down.
4. Then sprinkle on the panko crumbs just before baking, push them down a bit into the topping.
5. Bake for 25-30 minutes, based on preference for crust.

And We're Off...

Half marathon training starts today! Here's my 12 week training schedule for those of you who are curious!

My fitness level isn't exactly where I'd like it to be and the recent stomach issues are causing a bit of a problem, but I'm determined to make it through this training cycle injury-free and having fun! I plan on posting a weekly recap each Monday (mainly for my own benefit) about how the previous week's training went.

But since Mondays are rest days, I'm hydrating, eating foods I can easily digest, and heading to bed super early to catch up on the hours I've been missing lately! But I couldn't let the first day of training go by without commemorating it somehow...

I present to you: my favorite running products!

Running started out as a relative cheap hobby. Sure, running shoes can be a little pricey, but otherwise, you can just grab your iPod and head out the door. But after my first half marathon, I realized I needed a little more than just running shoes and some pump-up jams. All these products below get frequent use and I highly recommend all of them. If you have any questions, just ask!

Garmin Forerunner 210

I bought this watch for myself as a present when I passed the CPA exam last fall. It was definitely a splurge, but I so wish I had it when I trained for my first half. The information it provides can be extremely helpful when analyzing your runs (too fast? too slow? how far?) I wear this watch every time I run outside and haven't had any trouble with it. Some people claim it takes awhile to find a signal, but I usually just stand outside and stretch while I'm waiting, so that doesn't bother me. The only complaint I have is that the battery dies pretty quickly. I sometimes think I can go several days without charging, and then find the battery beeping at me within the first quarter mile. It even has a lap function, handy for interval runs.

Nike Two-in-One Tempo Short

I used to always run and workout in the classic Tempo short, every sorority girl's uniform. I have at least 8 pairs, if not more. And then I discovered these babies. It's everything you love about the classic tempo short, with compression shorts underneath (and an extra zipper pocket)! When running in this summer's humidity (i.e. lots of sweat), I noticed that my shorts were clinging to me like trash bags. I headed online to see what I could find, knowing that spandex compression shorts were not an option. These shorts are the best of both worlds! I don't feel like I'm on display in tight spandex, while still having the look of a tempo short. Since they're pricey, I only have one pair, but they've quickly become I favorite! I even wash them in between runs so I can wear them as much as possible.

Nathan QuickShot Plus Handheld Water Bottle

I just bought this water bottle a few weeks ago and am kicking myself for not buying it sooner. It's so handy (ha, yes, pun intended)! It holds just enough water for my shorter runs and I don't have to worry about finding a working water fountain in Cleveland Park. The little pouch is nice for holding extras, too!

Balega Running Socks

I'm obsessed with these socks. When I was at a local running store picking out shoes, the salesperson suggested these to me. I was skeptical, thinking they probably wouldn't make more of a difference than the cheap ankle socks I usually wore. Boy, was I wrong. The cushioned seam at the heel keeps blisters away and they keep your feet dry. I scoop up as many pairs as I can when they go on sale.

Apple iPod Nano

I've tried running with and without music, and I'm still undecided about which I prefer. Sometimes, quiet runs allow you to think and have time alone. Other times, I just want to blast some tunes and zone out. Either way, this little guy gets the job done.

Gaiam Restore Foam Roller

Foam rollers are great for muscle recovery. I know spending 5 minutes on my muscles after my long runs is going to make a big difference in soreness the next day. 

One thing you'll notice is missing is running shoes. I still haven't found a pair that I'm in love with. My last two pairs have been Asics, but I'm not sure they were the best for me. I have a neutral foot strike so there a lot of options out there. I had a weird foot injury and hip injury with the first half, and I'm not entirely convinced it wasn't because of my shoes. I'm heading out this week to hopefully find a pair I'll love! 

Are there any running products you swear by that I just have to try? I'd love to hear about them!

Happy running y'all! 

Weekend Update ~ Birmingham, AL

Hope everyone had a great weekend! Mine was full of spontaneity and I failed to take a single picture. #Blogdocumentingfail.

During training Friday, our United Way campagin leader at work asked me if I wanted two tickets to the Drive game to sit in our company's box for helping out with the campaign. I jumped at the chance to sit in the box with my coworkers! I love having a minor league team whose stadium is within walking distance from our apartment. The game was fun (we won!) and the fireworks show afterwards was pretty too. We met up with some friends who live downtown with plans to hit up our favorite bar (the one with the awesome DJ). Little did we know the second we started to walk to the bar, the bottom dropped out and we got soaked! Ha, nothing like a little run in the rain to count as Friday's exercise! We danced for two hours straight and finally made the walk home after we were completely worn out.

Ryan and I had made pretty spontaneous plans on Friday night to go visit our friend Bobby, who just moved to Birmingham for PA School. It was his first weekend in his new city and his roommate happened to be out of town, so we decided to head down and keep him company for the rest of the weekend. I hadn't seen Bobby since his dad's funeral in April, so I really wanted to make the effort to go visit him. I woke up early Saturday, showered, and packed, but Ryan was not a happy camper to have to wake up so early. I promised him he could sleep in the car while I drove. While he packed a bag, I instantly started feeling sick (hello food poisoning flashback...). I was laying on the bathroom floor and Ryan was trying to convince me we should just stay home. I hated to disappoint Bobby since I had already told him we were coming. We made a pit stop for some Pepto and got in the car anyway, with Ryan at the wheel. I finally felt a little better halfway through the drive, but still wasn't able to eat much food or really partake in our bar-hopping festivities in B'ham. I've never really had stomach issues before but it's really starting to be a real drag! We all know how much I love food!

I was in Birmingham in February for work, but was staying on the south side of the city in Hoover, so I never felt like I really got to explore. Bobby lives right downtown, near UAB, so when we got to his place around 2 pm, we hopped in the car so he could give us a tour. We spent the rest of the afternoon catching up and watching the Olympics. We had plans to walk to a nearby Mexican restaurant, but the weather had other plans. It stormed for over an hour and we finally made it outside for dinner around 8 pm. Rojo was delicious...I just wish I could've enjoyed my food a little more!

We walked downtown afterwards and had so much fun people-watching. We ran into someone from Clemson the second we stepped into the bar. Haha, the south is such a small world! We even had a front row seat to a catfight between two girls. Pure entertainment.

I hated to leave Bobby so soon; we were only there for 24 hours! We had lunch and said our goodbyes and were back on the road again. Bobby isn't looking forward to the full-time schedule of studying, so hopefully we'll be able to make it back to visit when he's not so busy!

Catching up with friends makes my heart happy. I haven't laughed that much in a long time!

Off to bed early - this weekend has left me exhausted. But as they always say...

via

{Recipe} ~ Baked Ziti with Summer Veggies

This has been a rough week. But it's Friday and I'm only 8 hours of Risk Assessment Training (sounds fun, huh?) away from the weekend!

I should've posted this recipe earlier in the week, as it's a great weeknight meal. It was fresh and healthy and loaded with vegetables (with a little bit of cheese in there, too). It didn't reheat as well as I was hoping, so I'm not sure I can manage to eat all 4 servings by myself. But it's an excellent dish to share!

Baked Ziti and Summer Veggies
from Rantings of an Amateur Chef

Ingredients:

4 ounces uncooked ziti
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cups chopped yellow squash
1 cup chopped zucchini
1/2 chopped onion
2 cups chopped tomato
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
2 teaspoons chopped fresh oregano
3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/4 cup (2 counces) part-skim ricotta cheese
1 large egg, lightly beaten
Cooking spray

Directions:

1. Cook pasta according to package directions; drain.

2. Preheat oven to 400°.

3. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil to pan. Add squash, zucchini, and onion; sauté 5 minutes. Add tomato and garlic; sauté 3 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in pasta, 1/2 cup mozzarella, herbs, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and pepper.

4. Combine ricotta, remaining salt, and egg. Stir into pasta mixture. Spoon into an 8-inch square glass or ceramic baking dish coated with cooking spray; sprinkle with remaining mozzarella. Bake at 400° for 15 minutes or until bubbly and browned.