weeknight wonders: tequila-lime chicken fajitas

Summer is never subtle in Virginia.  One minute it's a cold, rainy sweater-wearing-kind-of-day and the next morning you're greeted with blue skies and muggy, sunshine-y air.  Summer strikes fast and with it flip-flops, sunscreen, beach days, and dinner on the patio.  

These fajitas would be the perfect meal to serve on the back deck.  Chicken is marinated in orange juice and tequila with a touch of lime and then quickly sauteed with peppers and onions.  Served on warm tortillas with a touch of sour cream and fresh cilantro.  They go great with iced tea, guacamole & chips, and tiki lights by the pool.  

The best part?  This meal comes together in about 30 minutes flat.  Make these this week and kick off your summer right. 

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Weeknight Wonders: Chipotle Pulled Pork with Tangy Mustard Coleslaw

Happy Monday!  I hope you had a lovely Mother's Day weekend.  We did.  On Thursday, we had a cozy dinner with my mom and on Sunday we had a leisurely after-church brunch with Jason's.  Both were lovely!  We got our moms necklaces from Etsy that said "Grandma".  After the baby is born, we can have the baby's name engraved on a separate little charm.  Fun stuff, and I'm so glad they liked them. :)  I was also very surprised to wake up Sunday to find art supplies and flowers waiting for me from Jason.  Fresh brushes, canvas, and an easel... now I can attempt to paint something for our flat. His parents also got me a gorgeous necklace and my brother, Steve, bought me flowers.  I felt very spoiled and very loved.  I really wasn't thinking of this year as my first mother's day, but I guess it really is.

 Sometimes, it's the little, unexpected things that brighten your week. 

And, sometimes, an unexpected ingredient can transform a recipe.  Dr. Pepper is the secret to crock pot pulled pork. I've tried time and time again to cook pork with bbq sauce, and I think it's cause I'm gone for about 9 hours most days, but every stinking time it ends up burned to a crisp.  Even on low.  Dr. Pepper, however, works like a charm. It keeps the pork moist, juicy, and caramelizes during cooking to lend a sweet, rich flavor to the dish.  It really is a bit surprising, but key to this Chipotle Pulled Pork.  This roast takes about 5 minutes of prep time, cooks for 8 hours, and is absolutely delicious.  It makes a great sandwich, although I have made carnitas with the same recipe before. The smoky chipotle pepper really makes this barbecue a whole different animal... It's different from Carolina BBQ or Texas Brisket, but equally delicious.  

I like to serve it with my mom's tangy mustard coleslaw.  I'm not a big fan of coleslaw, but this one is tart, savory, and light, but not sweet, making it the perfect companion for the smoky bbq sandwiches. Enjoy and I hope you had a lovely weekend! 

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weeknight wonders: mediterranean salmon

Sometimes, the best outfits are those little dresses you just throw on and walk out the door.  You look great and it's no fuss.  Do you have one of those dresses?  I hope you do.  They can certainly get you out of a jam... Or, sometimes, the best friends are the ones that can come over for dinner and spend the whole evening just talking over drinks and dessert.  No games, no event, no movie, no need for entertainment... Conversation rules the day.  Sometimes, a thing doesn't have to be complicated or over thought to be fabulous. 

Broiled salmon is one of those things.  Elegant, savory, and fresh, this dish only takes about 30 minutes to get on the table.  Salmon filets, seasoned with rosemary, thyme, garlic, and oregano, are broiled for a mere 12 minutes. Then, served with quinoa or rice and topped with roasted tomatoes and onions.  Simple can be quite elegant.  The real prep work for this dish happens about 8 hours before... In the morning before work, I whisk up the marinade and pour it over the salmon, onions, and tomatoes.  Let all the goodness soak in and when I get home from work, I put some quinoa on, broil the salmon, and steam some veggies in the microwave.  It's the perfect meal for nights when we have plans after dinner because cooking it is a breeze.  We can eat and be out the door on time, but we still get a healthy, sit down dinner. Meals like that tend to be a little breathe of fresh air in the midst of an otherwise crazy schedule and a reminder that practical can still be classy.   

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