Monday, January 16, 2012

We Are Still Boring

Very boring. Sometimes I think we are about the most boring people in the world. We did next to nothing all weekend. Just the usual housework and messing around on the computer for me with a little bit of time spent working on things and for Keith, a weekend of football and reading a book. The reading a book part is actually very unusual for him, he likes books but mostly nonfiction train books. For him to sit down and read a novel is well, quite a novel occurance.

I had bought a stack of thriller novels, killers and cops type of novels at the Goodwill bookstore. A big stack that cost $8.40- love the Goodwill bookstore! If you don't like the book all that much you don't feel guilty for spending money on a book and then not reading it, you just take it back to the Goodwill and let it recycle through again or if it's really beat up and not worth taking it back, toss it in the recycle bin. Anyway, he found a book in my stack about cops and murders in Los Angeles and he got involved in the story and didn't put it down all weekend.

Of course nothing else got done by him all weekend except for the part where I handed him a bag and made him clean out the cat boxes, but he does deserve a weekend of relaxation every once in a while, his job is very demanding physically and he comes home totally worn out every day.

I did make a decent dinner this weekend. Twice actually! It was a plan-over type recipe that I found in one of those cooking magazines and it came out edible and was easy to make. Here is the original recipe that I cut in half for us.

Honey and Spice Baked Chicken. I thought this might be too spicy for me but it was just right.

3 tps garlic powder
3 tsp chili powder
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
1 1/2 tsp paprika
3/4 tsp cayenne pepper
8 boneless skinless chicken breasts
6 tbsp honey
2 tsp cider vinegar

Combine first six ingredients, rub over chicken. It did not specify, but I rubbed both sides of the chicken. Put the chicken in a big greased baking pan. Or sprayed with Pam baking pan or whatever.

Bake at 375 for 25-30 minutes. Combine the honey and vinegar, baste over chicken during the last 10 minutes of cooking. Save some chicken for this next recipe.

Chicken Chimichangas

3 honey and spice baked chicken breasts, cubed
1 cup refried beans
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp garlic salt
1/4 tsp hot pepper sauce
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
6 flour tortillas, warmed
3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
oil for frying
optional toppings like sour cream, lettuce, whatever you like on your chimichangas.

Combine first seven ingredients in a microwave safe bowl. Cover and microwave for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes or until heated through. Spoon 1/2 cup off center on each tortilla, sprinkle with cheese. Fold up edge nearest filling, fold in on both sides and roll up. Secure with a toothpick if you want but it wasn't necessary because I fried with the folded down side first which kind of seals it all together.
If you have an electric skillet or deep fat fryer, heat to 375 and fry until golden brown on all sides. If you aren't all fancy and just have a skillet like me, just fry them up in some hot oil.

This chicken would also be good in just about any recipe calling for chicken with a little spice on it. We make a southwestern chicken salad that it would be perfect for. It's basically just lettuce with black beans and corn (drained of course), olives, tomatoes, grated cheddar cheese, and tortilla strips with the chicken on top and ranch dressing.

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