A Note on Motivation

Ah, motivation. In relation to my blog it has been hard to find lately (oh, you've noticed?).

My last month has been spent putting more time towards my job search and though I still haven't found a full-time position, I'm now writing copy for Gilt City Atlanta and I recently started managing the Facebook account of a local non-profit, Hiring for Hope.

And can I share a secret? Every once in a while, anyone who cooks for a living or writes about food (chef, recipe developer, food stylist, me!, etc.) gets tired and needs a break. Luckily for me right now, I work for myself and for free so I can a) take that break and b) admit all this to you.

But now that I'm settled into my new roles, I feel better about going back to the blog. I've been working on some new recipes to share and I hope to be back and posting regularly very soon.

W is for...Where I Spent Last Weekend

W is for...What the?

Grilled Lemon-Rosemary Chicken

Time has just slipped by this week and I almost forgot to post this week's recipe! Again, since it's a holiday weekend, I wanted to share this early so we can all enjoy the long weekend.

I really love this recipe because of the fresh lemon and herbs. It's amazing how much more flavor these ingredients give to the chicken, and it's totally worth the time.

The chicken can marinate for as little as 30 minutes, which fits my needs for a quick dinner perfectly. You can pair just about any vegetable, grilled or otherwise, with the chicken.

If you haven't already decided on a Fourth of July menu, I would highly recommend this because it means less time cooking and more time with loved ones.

I hope you all have a great weekend and a very Happy Fourth of July!

Grilled Lemon-Rosemary Chicken (Serves 4)
1 lemon, zested
Juice from the lemon
2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced OR 2 tsp. bottled minced garlic
2 sprigs fresh rosemary (about 1 Tbsp.), roughly chopped
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper 
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts 
 

1. Combine the first 7 ingredients in a gallon-sized plastic bag.

2. Place chicken breasts in the bag; seal and move the chicken around so the marinade coats it well.

3. Marinade for 30 minutes, but no more than an hour.

4. Preheat your grill to medium. Take the chicken from the bag, discarding the marinade. Grill the chicken about 6 minutes each side.

Wordless Wednesday: Here's Your Sign!

Auburn Recap

We had a very nice trip to Auburn despite the heat. The Toomer's Oaks did not look good at all and I'm afraid they may be lost for good. To give you an idea of how sick they look, below is a picture of one of the trees in August 2010.
 

And I took the following photos this past weekend.
 

On a brighter note, we had some free, highly entertaining antics from my friend's cat, Albus. Here, he's gone incognito on the back porch.
 

Sun-Dried Tomato Sausage & Peppers

One of my favorite go-to dinners is chicken sausage. There are many flavors available inspired by Italian, Latin, and American cooking so I'm never bored. And these are often pre-cooked which makes for a super easy supper. This kind of sausage is great all year and you can warm these up in a pan or on the grill in about ten minutes.

Different flavors also mean you can pair the sausages with all kinds of veggies, pasta and grains. I decided to pair this particular sausage with fresh sweet bell peppers and tomatoes. Fresh herbs and garlic really help bring the sausage and veggies together.