Chicken Taco Chili

 

Hello, hello! 

Welp, July and August were definitely some lame slow months for the blog. I don't have much of an explanation, other than I really tried to enjoy my summer. I won't always have this kind of time off! I got caught up on some projects around the house - I may or may not share a few of my successful ones - relaxed, visited friends, and got ready for the new school year.

I had a wonderful first week of school with my new kiddos, and I'm ready to get back to sharing yummy recipes and more! I've got a great new recipe for you, and four reasons why you should make it ASAP.

1. This meal is tasty and healthy - what's better than that?
2. The recipe is easily adapatable for my vegetarian friends - see below.••
3. It's fun to try a variation of traditional chili - mix it up!
4. The slow cooker does all the work for you - perfect for a busy household.

Chicken Taco Chili
Recipe adapted from Skinnytaste
Serves 5-8, depending on portions

Baked Chicken with Dijon & Lime

Happy Tuesday, friends! I've noticed new readers to the blog, so a quick welcome and hello to all of you! :)

I realized this morning that I've had the pictures for the recipe for weeks, yet I keep forgetting to write up the post and share it with all of you. Well, not today! This recipe is full of flavor thanks to a few key ingredients, and it's very easy since your oven does most of the work for you.

While chicken thighs aren't my favorite (I prefer chicken breast), John went absolutely crazy over these. He insisted on eating them like wings, and "mmm'd" so many times that I lost count. I will definitely be making these again soon, especially on a night when I get home late or don't have much energy. Let me know what you think!

Baked Chicken with Dijon & Lime
Recipe via Skinnytaste
Serves 2

Seared Scallop Salad w/ Orange Champagne Vinaigrette

As I hinted at here, there is not much to say about this salad other than it is fantastic. I almost flinch as I type that because I used to be the person rolling her eyes after someone told me about a "great" salad. However, as I've developed better eating habits I've come to appreciate a really flavorful and filling salad. Even John raved about it - "Mmmm, good cow food!" (aka "rabbit food")

The original recipe for this, courtesy of Skinnytaste, used grapefruit instead of orange. I found orange champagne vinegar for a couple dollars at Trader Joe's, and John isn't the biggest grapefruit fan, so the modification were perfect for us. I do apologize for the lack of step-by-step pictures, but I think you'll find this recipe easy to follow. This came together in a flash, in part thanks to how quickly scallops cook, and is a perfect summer meal.

Seared Scallop Salad w/ Orange Champagne Vinaigrette 
Recipe adapted from Skinnytaste
Serves 2-4, depending on portions

WIAW: Quick Trip & Summer Staples

Hello, August! My you came quickly. I'm blogging from Chicago, where I'm visiting my good friend Jessie for the day/night! She's working on her MBA, and finished her last final Monday night. Since she has a few weeks before fall classes resume, it was the perfect time for a fun night away.

Sorry about fuzzy self-portraits!

I've been dying to check out RPM Italian, but never seem to get a chance because I'm usually in town for specific events. Jessie suggested we walk there for a drink since it's only a few blocks from her place. I happily agreed, and we tried the "G-Rizzle." It's not on the menu, but I follow Giuliana Rancic on Twitter, so I knew to order it. It was delicious! Lime and ginger combined for a perfect summer cocktail.

After our drink we decided to walk to Portillo's - my favorite! - to get chopped salads to go for dinner. Not only did I save money, but I loved every bite of my salad. It's so good!! It's probably good I don't live in Chicago anymore or else I might have a bit of problem. We ate our salads at Jessie's apartment, and spent the rest of the night watching the Olympics. It was a perfect night with an even better friend. To top it off? I get to have lunch with one of my best and oldest friends before I head back to Indy!

Honestly I was too busy having fun with Jessie to be good about taking pictures, so my WIAW post is a bit different this week - in case you didn't notice already. ;) In honor of this month's What I Ate Wednesday theme, "Summer Staples," I've included some of my favorite new recipes of the summer in this post! Thanks to Jenn for the suggestion - and for hosting!

Seared Scallop Salad w/ Orange Champagne Vinaigrette

This was absolutely amazing! I saw a recipe for a seared scallop and grapefruit salad from Skinnytaste, and I knew I wanted to put my own spin on it. The hubby and I aren't crazy about grapefruit, so I substituted oranges, and even found an orange champagne vinegar at Trader Joe's to use for the dressing. This is easily my favorite new salad. {Recipe coming tomorrow!}

Creamy Smoothies

I've been going crazy combining various flavors of Chobani Greek yogurt with fresh ingredients. My favorite combination has to be Strawberry Banana Chobani + 1 cup fresh strawberries + 1 frozen banana + freshly squeezed juice from 2 oranges + a handful of spinach + chia seeds. When I gave the hubby some of it he exclaimed, "people would pay for this!

BBQ Chicken Salad with Lightened-Up Blue Cheese Vinaigrette

Another great summer salad, especially if you are able to grill your chicken. This salad has so much flavor and is a really filling and easy meal. The dressing complimented the veggies and chicken perfectly. John and I love this for dinner on a beautiful summer night. {Recipe here}