2009 August — A Southern Fairytale

Lemon Rosemary Chicken

12:36 AM ByRachelFiled Under17 day diet, Mouthwatering Monday, Poultry

One of my favorite things about blogging is the connection to others.

Whether it’s through the sharing of our lives, laughter, family stories or our shared love of food… it’s just that, the sharing that makes this blogging thing so amazing.

Y’all know me, I am all about the food, I love spicy foods, sweet foods, crazy foods but most of all, I love real food. My friend Jessi sent me this recipe and just reading it had my tastebuds tingling and my fingers itching to get cooking. So much so, that I made it the very same night that she sent it to me.

I have a rosemary bush right outside my front door, and on those rare days that it rains in South Texas, the scent of rosemary floats around my front door and mists down the driveway to greet anyone who ventures towards my door.

There’s just something that I love about the combination of Lemon and Rosemary. They are simply irresistible – they are both fresh, invigorating and zingy.

Fresh rosemary, freshly juiced lemons, smashed garlic, olive oil, paprika and the surprising addition of cinnamon combine to bring this chicken recipe a deliciously savory, zingy and fresh flavor.

Lemon Rosemary Chicken

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Yield: 4 chicken breasts

Lemon Rosemary Chicken

Ingredients

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
3 lemons, halved and juiced, (both rinds and juice will be used)
1/2 C olive oil
1 tsp sea or kosher salt
1/2 to 1 tsp cayenne pepper (I used 1 tsp)
1/2 tsp roasted cinnamon
8 cloves of garlic, smashed with flat side of knife
6 whole sprigs of fresh rosemary

Instructions

Place the chicken into a large Ziploc baggie.
Prep the lemons and garlic
In a large bowl mix: lemon juice, olive oil, salt and spices. Pour into the bag over chicken.
Add lemon halves, garlic and rosemary. Remove all air from the bag and seal.
Smoosh all the ingredients around inside the bag to ensure that the chicken is well coated and the ingredients are well incorporated throughout the bag.
Marinate (turning occasionally) for 1 hour to overnight.
Heat up your grill and cook evenly on both sides, about 7 minutes per side, or until the juices run clear - or the internal temp reaches 165° F

Rachel Says

This is simply amazing served with freshly steamed broccoli topped with freshly squeezed lemon juice

http://asouthernfairytale.com/2009/08/10/lemon-rosemary-chicken/

Taggedchicken, lemon, rosemary 35 Comments

Weekly Winners: The Beachy Birthday Edition

11:45 PM ByRachelFiled UnderBirthdays, Photography, Weekly Winners

Bubbles Bubbles Everywhere
bubbles on the beach

Nate Making Me Mimosas on My Birthday. On The Beach
Popping the cork

Happy Birthday to Me
Mimosas on the beach

The Heart in The Sand was Nate’s Idea. <3 I love my husband.
mimosas on the beach2

Princess Found a Sea Horse (It’s in Nate’s hands)
seahorse
it was alive and yes, we took it back into the water and released it

Faster Daddy, Faster

I had the most wonderful birthday. I spent it with my family and then I came home, turned on my computer and saw this from my Mishi. It warmed my heart, made me smile and brought tears to my eyes. She is a blessing and a gift to me.

I’m thrilled to join the photograph sharing meme hosted by my darling friend, Lotus. Go check her out at Sarcastic Mom and every Sunday check out all the amazing people who link up their inspiring, funny, beautiful and breathtaking photos in the Weekly Winners Meme.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*

Don’t forget! Tomorrow is Mouthwatering Monday! Bring your favorite dish and enjoy the recipe sharing love!

43 Comments

Dear 31

12:01 AM ByRachelFiled UnderBirthdays

Dear 31,

The last few minutes of 30 here. Can we chat?

I had big expectations for 30. It was no big deal to hit a new decade… and yet, I had ideas. I thought, this would be it! That something! That BIG THING! It would happen this year.

Well, it didn’t.

I had heartache, I had loss, I had pain. I had joy and laughter and new friends.

As 30, I’ve laughed until I’ve cried. I’ve cried until I couldn’t breathe and I’ve screamed until there was nothing left.

Let’s just say it. 30 was a year which will never be forgotten.

So 31… here you come, you’re approaching.. I see you. With your new gray hairs and your wrinkles, your trials and tribulations, your memories, your laughter, your shocks, your joys.

You’re going to kick my ass, you’re going to make me cry, you’re going to bring me to my knees and cause me to scream to the skies with joy.

You’re going to be nothing like I’ve ever seen before.

But now it’s my turn. I have a few minutes before I, the 30 yr old Rachel am no longer in existence and I’m going to tell you now.. what I expect of you. And you, 31, you’re going to take note.

I expect you to be a better mother, a more patient mother, listen to them, hold them more, kiss them more, touch them more, play with them more… Laugh with them more. Remember what it was to be nearly 3 and nearly 6. There are a multitude of firsts just beyond your grasp.. hold them dear and place them upon your heart because, 31, you’ll never see them again.

Love your husband more. Find a reason or excuse to kiss him daily, and I’m not talking a Hi Mr Lady or Tanis peck on the lips kiss. A REAL KISS. Bring him to his knees more often. Remind him and yourself why 11 years ago.. you couldn’t keep your hands off each other.

Take more pictures woman! BE in more pictures. I don’t care how much you hate yourself at this weight or that angle. This isn’t for you. Quit being so selfish and insecure. Your children need to know that you were there. They need to see your laughter as you sweep their hair out of their face. The awe in your eyes as you watch them blow out their candles… the tears on their first day of school. Get over yourself, girl.

Write more. It’s what you love, it’s your passion. Do it.

Quit being your own worst enemy.

Dear 31.. walk, laugh, love, enjoy, immerse yourself… do it all. There are no regrets in life except not trying.

Quit getting in your own way and live. Lose the weight. or don’t.

Write the cookbook. or don’t.

Jump out of a plane. or don’t.

Just do, just live.

Above all. Be there. experience. Remember. Make sure that your children, your family know that you lived, that you tried, that you were there and most of all, that you loved them.

If you do these things. Then 31, I will be proud of you.

Love,

what is left of 30

43 Comments