Downton Abbey eats (and yes I'm alive)

Whoa -- I can't believe my last post was in August and looking back, the topic is ironic. Soon after I wrote that, I got a call to interview for a job position back in my old Birmingham stomping grounds. And guess what! I got the job and started a few months ago at FOX6 News.

My official title is Community Web Producer which means I blog for 27 neighborhood websites, process video and write stories for my main news site, and take care of the station's social network.

But I'm ready to get back into it, even if it's a little soft. Spending all day online and writing takes a lot outta ya, so it's taken me a while to get settled into the new routine in addition to returning to B'ham.

Now for the good stuff! A small group of friends and I are in love with Downton Abbey and get together each Sunday for a viewing party. And being the food lovers we are, we have to have something to nibble on.

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.