30 Things I Have Learned At 30
I turned 30 yesterday!!!
Feels a little crazy, but also really good. I’m ready for a new decade, and all of the adventures and life lessons that I’m sure are to come!
Entrees
Sweet Potato Chip Chicken
I have to admit that I’ve never been a fried chicken girl, which I credit to my mom.
Growing up, we never owned a fryer. We never went to KFC. And even when my extended family went to the most famous fried chicken restaurant in Wichita, little 10-year-old me always ordered a big juicy steak, thankyouverymuch. (Midwestern through and through.)
Chicken and Asparagus Stir-Fry
In my wise old age, I have come to a realization about myself — I am terrible with due dates. Like, really terrible.
From library books, to movie rentals, even to turning in my taxes on time (which I at least mailed in this week at 4:50pm!), I have a pretty terrible track record of remembering to take care of things on time. This past weekend, when I was “spring cleaning” out my fridge, I realized the same holds true there. Eek. Let’s just say that I think I finally learned what happens to cilantro if it accidentally gets hidden at the back of the vegetable drawer for a month!
Chipotle Chicken and Rice Soup
One of my absolute things about moving to a loft is the relationships that I have with all of my neighbors.
I have to admit that — after owning and living in a house for much of my twenties — I was a little worried that moving into a building would feel like regressing to college and dorm life. But I have discovered quite the opposite. I love living in a building with so many interesting, smart, thoughtful, generous and fun people!
Lighter Chinese Chicken Salad
I always get a little pit in my stomach whenever one of those dramatic restaurant exposes comes up online or on the news. You know what I’m talking about. A picture of a beautiful green salad or light sandwich is shown, but then the announcer comes on with his dark and scary “mwahaha” voice and challenges, “Do you KNOW what you’re eating?” Dum..dum..DUM!!!!
Ok, by this point in life, I know that most of the healthier-seeming options in restaurants are often less than such. But every now and then I’m still blown away by the nutrition facts. And more often than not, big beautiful salads tend to win the awards for most fat and calories. I remember when I recently looked up the nutrition facts for one of my favorite Asian chicken salads from a large well-known restaurant chain, it scored in at a whopping 98 grams of fat. Nope, no typo there. 98, people!!!!
Roasted Vegetable Enchiladas
Confession time.
For the first twenty years of my life, I was passionately anti-vegetable.
Lighter Sweet and Sour Chicken
Sweet and sour chicken has long been one of the most popular dishes at Chinese restaurants. But did you know that it often ranks at the top of the most unhealthy things you can order — by far?? Yikes, people!
Thankfully, the good news is that sweet and sour chicken is incredibly easy to make “lighter” at home. And in this food blogger’s humble opinion, I think it tastes just as good!! Granted, I’m not a huge fried food lover to begin with. But when you saute instead of deep-fry the chicken, add in tons of fresh vegetables, and then top it with the signature sweet and sour sauce, this colorful dish turns into a fabulously tasty and healthier treat that everyone will definitely satisfy your sweet and sour cravings. So good!!!
Chicken, Bacon & Avocado Chopped Salad
Sometimes the best salads come as a bit of a surprise.
A few weeks ago when I traveled to small-town Kansas for my friend Monica’s wedding, I ended up getting there early in the morning with the other members of our old college band so that we could rehearse for the (13!!!!) songs that we were going to play during the ceremony. Miraculously, we somehow plowed through our rehearsal in two hours, but definitely worked up a big appetite for lunch!
Philadelphia Sushi Stacks
Today’s post is devoted to all things Philadelphia. Allow me to introduce to you my newest recipe experiment — Philadelphia Sushi Stacks, made with PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese!
A few years ago, my friend Mollie took me to a restaurant that had just opened up near her called Yard House. There was rock music pumped up inside, pizzas and tacos and steaks galore, but then as I was browsing the menu the words “California Roll” caught my eye. Sushi sounded better than a steak, so I decided to take a chance and order it. And lo and behold, I was served this huge stacked masterpiece! No “rolls” in sight. Instead, they just layered all of the ingredients into one huge mountain, which made my day. I still think about that meal every time I eat California rolls!
Thai Chicken Tacos
What does one make with a fresh batch of Thai Peanut Sauce? Why, Thai Chicken Tacos, of course!!
Ok, ok, I admit that I was initially planning on making a Thai chicken pizza. But the idea occurred to me to skip the step of making the dough and waiting for it to rise (keyword: waiting), and instead just layer the ingredients into some tortillas and call it good!