Greek Chicken Kabobs

Hi friends! I know, it's been a while, but I had to share this recipe. I didn't use to be a kabob lover because it seemed that my chicken would be undercooked and my vegetables would be overcooked. But now that I have figured out the right sizes of everything when cutting, I am sold on the kabob train. 

These Greek Chicken Kabobs are quickly becoming a family favorite. We have made these many times and had them with guests and they are a pleaser for sure. I paired these kabobs up with a yummy Mediterranian Quinoa Salad, which I will post about as well. The kabobs are full of bright citrus flavor and, when cooked right, super tender and juicy!

2 chicken breasts

1/2 cup plain greek yogurt

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup lemon juice

zest of 1 lemon

1 TBSP balsamic vinegar

2 tsp greek seasoning

5 garlic cloves, minced

3/4 tsp kosher salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

1 red pepper

1/4 red onion, 2 really big thick slices

skewers

1- Prepare the chicken by pounding it to an even thickness all the way around. When even, cut into 1 inch by 1-inch pieces.

2- Combine the greek yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, zest, balsamic vinegar, greek seasoning, garlic, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes in a small mixing bowl.

3- Combine chicken pieces and marinade in a ziplock bag. Massage marinade all over chicken pieces to ensure good coverage and let sit in the refrigerator for 8 hours (massage bag every few hours). 

4- Cut pepper and red onion into 1-1 1/2 inch pieces. 

5- Remove chicken from the refrigerator and start threading meat, peppers, and onion onto skewers. 

6- Heat grill to 400°F. When heated, add skewers and grill roughly 4 minutes per side or until chicken pieces have reached an internal temperature of 165° and vegetables are tender but still crisp.

**Randi's Side Notes**

~If you use wooden skewers make sure that you soak them in water for at least 30 minutes before putting them on the grill. This will help to prevent them from lighting on fire. 

~Cooking time may vary depending on how thick your chicken and vegetable pieces are. Use your best judgment. 

White Fish Tacos

Oh my goodness. This recipe is so fresh and so delicious. I love making fish tacos because they come together relatively quickly and never disappoint. I'm pretty sure these tacos came together in less than 15 minutes total. The fish is quickly seasoned and pan fried and then it's topped with a crunchy light coleslaw and a drizzle of tangy sauce. 

Depending on how much filling you put in the shell you can get roughly 6-7 tacos. For reference my husband and I each ate 3 and were plenty full with no side dishes. 

Turkey Stuffed Peppers

I think stuffed peppers are an underrated food. It's basically an all in one dish and who doesn't like that?!
These are my absolute favorite stuffed peppers recipe out there (other then my anti-inflammatory version).
I have made these so many times and never get sick of them. The flavors are absolutely fantastic and to top it off, its super healthy for you.
The filling alone is worth making if you don't like peppers. I like to serve mine up with a nice green salad.

Smoked Pulled Pork

My husband and I have started to jump on the food smoking bandwagon. I am so excited that the weather here has started to warm up enough that our cute little electric smoker can keep the temperature level. There are all sorts of different types of smokers out there, so when reading recipes make sure that you modify it to your specific smokers needs.
This recipe has quickly become our families favorite thing to smoke. We have made it many times for multiple people now and every time gets the same reaction of ,"Oh....OHHHHHH. That is AMAZING." So needless to say it is blog worthy and making its way on.
This recipe begins with brining the meat to make it nice and tender and add more flavor. This does add some time to the process but it is well worth the wait. I usually get my meat in the brine in the morning, the day before I plan to cook it, but that will depend on whether you want it to be done just before dinner and get up really early to get it in, or if you decide to smoke it overnight and then just re-heat when you want it. Hope you guys enjoy this recipe as much as we have.

Slow Cooker Corned Beef

Hello all! Life is just crazy. I think that is enough said. Between the holidays, trips, and the dreaded toilet paper shortage of 2020, posting recipes has been the last thing on my mind. But, here I am, getting my mind off of the worries of the world and spending more time at home with my family. Recipes may get a little...interesting...over the next few weeks but that's alright.
I know a few days after St. Patrick's day isn't the typical day to post a recipe about Corned Beef, but, that's what's happening. This is the Corned Beef we made this year and it was absolutely phenomenal! Every year I say the same thing, "Why don't we eat Corned Beef more often?!" Seriously though...why don't we. Corned Beef is absolutely delicious. Cooked in the slow cooker keeps it nice and juicy and tender while packed with the amazing peppercorn and saltiness we all love! I wanted to jazz up the flavor packet just a little by adding a couple of other pantry staples to it.
I opted to leave the traditional carrots, potatoes, and cabbage out of the slow cooker this time, but, you can totally add them in to make this an all in one pot dish.

Beef and Broccoli

MMM. Guys. This recipe is amazing. This version of the classic beef and broccoli does NOT have some of the typical ingredients that cause inflammation in the body such as cornstarch, sugar, and vegetable oil. This is a great recipe to use if you are in the beginning phases of "trialing" foods, because other then the beefy ingredients the other ingredients are anti-inflammatory!
Something I love about beef and broccoli is that it doesn't take long to make and can be served together, separate, with rice, without rice, etc. My kids typically like their food all separated out, so meals like this where I can easily do that not only makes them happy, but me as well because I don't have to listen to the groaning at dinner if it's combined.

Avocado Salsa

One thing I miss about living a little further south is El Pollo Loco. Everything I got at that restaurant was delicious (although slightly over priced in my humble opinion). My favorite thing to order was their Chicken Taco Al' Carbon and I would drench it in this amazing avocado salsa.
So being that we no longer live by an El Pollo Loco I had to go in search of a copycat recipe. 
This recipe is PRETTY DARN CLOSE to El Pollo Loco's Original avocado salsa. I say original because they changed the recipe for theirs a few years ago (per the update below). I don't know if they changed it back but this is our favorite homemade version.
We like ours a bit more thick then how they have theirs but aside from thickness, everything else is pretty spot on.
This recipe is a great alternative to salsa's that use a tomato base for those who can't have tomatoes or who are just looking for something different. We like to make a double batch and keep it in the fridge for a few days to eat with chips and quesadillas.

**UPDATE** I have recently been noticing that the kind at El Pollo Loco is spicier then it used to be and read a sign somewhere that they don't use the jalapeno anymore to make this but they use a habanero pepper instead. So I guess if you like the extra heat you can change the type of pepper in this recipe but I prefer the taste of the original salsa better.

Cashew Chicken

This recipe is legit. It is full of flavor and just flat out delicious. My kids love it, I love it, my husband loves it...I'm sure if I had a pet they would love it as well. It takes hardly any time to put together from start to finish and is anti-inflammatory!
💥Mind Blown💥
In all seriousness, this is just a darn good recipe. It's got the crunch of the roasted cashews and all the wonderful flavors you would expect from an Asian dish.
Since discovering this recipe (and tweaking it) we have had it almost every other week. That's a pretty big deal in this household because I don't like to make very many meals over and over again.
Give it a try, you won't regret it, and your gut will thank you!

Lentil Curry Soup

So it's been a while. I go through these periods of time where I get really into blogging and then I need a break. But, here is one of our favorite soup recipes. We make this quite often at our house.  This stuff is great.
This soup recipe is one that is not only warm to eat but is full of those delicious warm curry flavors. I love it so much! 
Besides the flavor being amazing, another awesome thing I like about it is that it comes together pretty fast which makes it great for a weeknight meal.
This soup is great for many dietary needs. It's anti-inflammatory which is awesome for me as I have been trialing foods right now.
Every week we try to do a meal that doesn't have any meat in it. This is a great recipe if your trying to cut out some meat because having the lentils in it makes it very filling.
*This picture isn't the most appetizing to look at but I promise it is worth trying!!!*

Spanish Rice

In this house we actually call this Orange rice because as you can see it is bright orange, but I will call is Spanish rice as this is what I make to go along with all of our Mexican themed meals. Is this true Spanish rice? No idea...but does it taste good...YES! So call it what you may, just make it.
I feel like when I make any kind of Mexican dish I need to have rice and beans with it. I don't know if that's just because it's been ingrained in me because every Mexican restaurant serves rice and beans with all of it's meals or because it's traditional to do so. Either way, I like the combination of it all together, so I always do it.
This recipe is super simple and doesn't require any prep-work other then putting everything in the pot and letting it do it's thing.
The two seasonings I use in this recipe I have been asked quite a few times what they are and where to buy them.
First, the Sazon Goya seasoning. I like to use either this one or this one. Either work just fine and taste pretty similar. As you can see one has chicken on it and one has fish on it. So I use one or the other depending on what I am serving it with. You can buy these through Amazon, or I am always able to find them at local Mexican markets.
The second seasoning is Knorr Tomato Bouillon. I use this in quite a few of my Mexican themed dishes. This can be purchased through Amazon or I often am able to find it in most grocery stores down the Mexican food isle next to the chicken bouillon.

Egg Roll in a Bowl

Okay, since the last recipe shared was about the most unhealthy recipe in the world, I decided I should remind you all that generally I do love cooking healthier 😂
This recipe is SO CLOSE to being anti-inflammatory that I decided to label it as such anyway, even though the sauce drizzled on top is not. The rest of it is, so if you follow the anti-inflammatory diet, just don't add the spicy mayo sauce on the top, but I HIGHLY suggest adding it when you can because it is delicious.
I love the flavors that are in typical egg rolls, but sometimes I don't want the added carbs and fat from deep frying them. This recipe is so full of flavor that you don't even miss the added grease.

Pastrami Chili Cheese Fries

Okay this recipe is by no means healthy AT ALL BUT man is it delicious and easy and brings back so many memories.
This is my Ode to The Hat. This is one place that I REALLY REALLY REALLY miss about
living in California. This is probably one of the most unhealthy things you can possibly eat, but it is absolutely one of the best things you will ever eat. They are famous for their ginormous Pastrami sandwiches, which are also amazingly fantastic and consist of pastrami, pickles, and mustard. This is what most people order. After going there with a "Hat Pro" we ordered the (not on the menu) Pastrami Chili Cheese Fries. Oh my goodness. Since I know most of you aren't from California and can't visit The Hat, I have created the same recipe that I use at home. Granted it isn't exactly like The Hat, because their pastrami is out of this world (and I don't even like pastrami) but its a great homemade alternative.

Anti-Inflammatory Lettuce Wraps

I love lettuce wraps. They make me feel like I am doing something good for my body, and everybody else in my family loves them as well. Double win for me. I know I have another lettuce wraps recipe on the blog already, but this one is one that we have been making a lot lately because it is full of ingredients that are anti-inflammatory. I honestly can't decide which recipe I like better. I guess you can decide if you make both of them 😁
One thing I love about this recipe is that yes it has meat in it, but it's also loaded with minced up mushrooms, which helps stretch the meat without you even realizing it's mushrooms. My daughter HATES and I mean HATES mushrooms. If we get a supreme pizza with mushrooms on it, even if we pick them off, she won't eat it because the sauce and bread take on the flavor of the once placed mushroom. True story. BUT...she loves this recipe. Gobbles it up every stinking time! Of course, I don't tell her there are mushrooms in it until after she has already consumed a massive plate full and every time she gets mad at me and tells me she hates mushrooms, and yet I continue making it, and she continues to enjoy it. 😏😏

Turmeric Roasted Cauliflower

Is everybody else's bodies just exhausted from the massive amounts of over eating from the last couple of weeks?! Mine is. From having 3 birthdays, Thanksgiving, and a baptism, my body has been feeling a bit like it needs a break from the carbs and sugar. Thus the need to blog about a few more of my favorite Anti-Inflammatory recipes. Can you have to many? I don't think so.
This recipe here has been one that I have made over and over again.
Usually I'm not a huge cauliflower fan but roasting it does amazing things to it and honestly the turmeric seasoning and other spices make this recipe a keeper in my book.
I'm always looking for new ways to cook vegetables. Side dishes in my house get pretty boring and I feel like I get in this cycle of "okay do I roast it, steam it, or just boil it to tar tonight?"
I'm so glad that I have a side dish now that has amazing flavors, is healthy, and looks beautiful in color!

Chicken and Lentil Soup

It has really begun getting colder here lately and I for one have not been ready for it. I hate being cold, so when I have been planning my meals all I can think of is soup. What is it about soup that just warms the body so well!?
This has become one of my families favorite soups over the years. I think one of the reasons we like it so much is because it has more of the Spanish flavors that we like. I also love the fact that it is jammed with delicious lentils. I love lentils. Especially in soup. You won't regret trying out this soup recipe because it's got amazing flavor and is packed with protein.

Quick Chicken Tacos

Tacos are life. That pretty much just sums up everything I want to say.
These chicken tacos are so incredibly easy to make and take no time at all to whip up. One thing I like to do is make extra chicken and use it to jazz up some nacho's, quesadillas, or even add to Mac-n-Cheese (I KNOW) with some BBQ sauce. If you haven't figured it out by now, this chicken is incredibly versatile and can be used in a variety of dishes, but my favorite has got to be these chicken tacos.
I do like to to the extra mile, and fry up our corn tortillas myself, but that is a step that doesn't have to be necessary, but in my opinion, very worth it.

Slow Cooker Basil Chicken

I love basil. Like, absolutely love it. So when a friend of mine told me I need to try a similar Basil Chicken recipe, I knew I needed to jump on it immediately. This recipe is amazing. If you like curry, and you like basil, this recipe will be your jam.
I think sometimes people feel that Anti-Inflammatory recipes are lackluster in the flavor department, but I am here to show you otherwise. This Anti-Inflammatory recipe is jam packed with flavor and seriously will not disappoint. I love the fact that this dish is made in the slow cooker, because it makes my house smell delicious for many hours and it helps to keep dinner time less hectic. I also love the fact that I GENERALLY will have all of the ingredients on hand to make this, which makes it budget friendly and easy to add into a rotation when I have forgotten something at the store for a different meal.
I haven't tried to figure out times for making it in the Pressure Cooker yet, but I'm sure that won't be to far off in the future.

Creamy Cilantro Dressing

I can't believe that in my many rantings and ravings about me missing and loving my precious El Pollo Loco that I forgot to post this very very delicious recipe I found online for their creamy cilantro dressing. I'll tell you what...I could order their little itty bitty Loco Salads every single day  and never EVER get tired of it. Anyway, this recipe isn't EXACT,but it tastes pretty darn good regardless.
If anybody does happen to have the EXACT recipe they use and want to share it with me....I WILL LOVE YOU FOREVER! BUT--until then, this is close enough!

Homemade Chicken Broth

Oh chicken broth. We love this stuff so much at my house. Whenever I get a rotisserie chicken from Costco or have leftover bones from any kind of chicken (or turkey) I make broth out of it and store it in the freezer for a rainy day.
When one of us is sick at our house we heat up some of this yummy deliciousness and it makes us feel so much better! Its a great way to get a lot of nutrients into your body.
I use this for all sorts of recipes. I especially love it in my Homemade Chicken and Quinoa Soup! It is a great start to any soup to be honest :)
You will not be sorry you tried making your own homemade broth, and may not even go back to buying that store bought kind because this stuff has so much more flavor!

By the way, I just want to give a big shout out to my wonderful followers.  Man, I really do appreciate all of you who follow my blog and enjoy these recipes. It really makes me happy to know that sharing great recipes can really help people enjoy being in the kitchen. I appreciate all of your comments as well! When I see that I have new comments it seriously makes my day a billion times better! SO THANK YOU!

Butternut Squash Soup

It's soup season! I love fall. The leaves changing, the weather getting cooler (although it's gotten cold to fast for me this year), and the general bout of excitement that seems to be in the air for the rest of the year because there are so many awesome holidays over the next few months! I'm not usually a craver of soup but I feel like our family has been sick with something new every couple of weeks this season so we have been enjoying A LOT of soup at this house. There is just something about being sick and eating an awesome bowl of soup that makes everything in your body feel better, for the 10 minutes it takes to eat it 😁
Anyone who knows me well knows that fall flavors are generally not my favorite. I avoid Pinterest at all costs once September hits because all I see on there is "Pumpkin this" and "Squash that". Pumpkins should be carved...not eaten...JUST KIDDING! I came across this recipe in a cookbook and it screamed fall flavors. Like I stated above, I usually go right by a recipe like this, BUT, for some odd reason I decided nope we are going to try it. GUYS!!!! I am so glad I did. Who knew butternut squash could actually taste okay?! 😂
This soup has so many "warm" spices in it that roast in the oven with the butternut squash helping the squash to develop some really tasty flavors! So if you are looking for a delicious soup that screams fall, you need to give this one a try.