Orzo Chicken Salad

Orzo Chicken Salad

2/3 cup of orzo, cooked

1 cup of corn, fresh or frozen

2 cups of shredded chicken

1 cup grape tomatoes, quartered

1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled

1 avocado, chopped

The juice of 1 lime

Cook pasta. Add the frozen corn to the pasta water for the last minute for the kernels to thaw out. Drain. Rinse the pasta/ corn mixture in cold water to cool off. In a large bowl mix all remaining ingredients. Stir and enjoy! I love this for lunch!

Ps I totally stole the picture from the recipe because I completely forgot to take one of my own before I inhaled every single bite.

Pesto

Pesto

Basil (more than you would think)

 1/4 cup pine nuts

2 cloves of garlic 

1/4 cup parmesan cheese

1/2 cup (or more) of extra virgin olive oil

Add the basil, pine nuts and garlic to the food processor. Once it is pulsed a few times, add the olive oil until it is smooth. It will be a little runny at this point. Next, stir in the parmesan cheese. Do not mix it in the food processor because the heat from the blade changes the taste of the cheese. Enjoy

*side note- These are not precise measurements. I don't measure anything when I make it.

** Freezes really well.

Southwest Steak Rub

Southwest Steak Rub

1 Tablespoon Old Bay seasoning

1 Tablespoon light brown sugar

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon onion powder

1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

Mix all ingredients together and rub on both sides of steaks before grilling.

*Side note: I was messing around on Pinterest and came across this recipe and it was named "Outback Special Seasoning". My husband and I LOVE outback and we both agree it does NOT taste anything like the seasoning on their steaks. So we re-named it :) This steak rub has a smokey taste and then a little bit of a kick at the end. My 2, almost 3 year old ate it and asked for seconds! Enjoy!

Indonesian Chicken

Barefoot Contessa's Indonesian Ginger Marinade

1/3 cup of soy sauce

1/4 cup canola oil

2 teaspoons lemon zest

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

1/4 cup fresh ginger, grated

4 cloves of garlic, minced

2 Tablespoons dijon mustard

Mix all ingredients together. We marinate chicken over night typically and it is to die for! At least marinate for an hour or so. Grill those suckers up and you will be wanting seconds! Enjoy! 

Stir-Fry Sauce

Stir-Fry Sauce

1/3 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup chicken broth/stock

1/4 cup rice wine vinegar

1 3/4 Tablespoon sugar

1/2 Tablespoon sesame oil

1/8 teaspoon pepper

1 Tablespoon canola oil

1/2 Tablespoon garlic, minced

1/2 Tablespoon fresh ginger, grated

1 Tablespoon cornstarch

1/8 cup of water

In a bowl, combine soy sauce, chicken broth, rice wine vinegar, sugar, sesame oil and pepper. Next, dissolve cornstarch in water and set aside. Heat a saute pan on high heat, add the canola oil. Once it is screaming hot, add the garlic and ginger and only cook for about 15 seconds. Add the soy sauce mixture to the garlic and ginger oil. Bring this to a boil and then reduce to medium heat for 1 minute. add the cornstarch/ water mixture until thick. Add this to your favorite stir fry veggies and rice. Enjoy!