Chili's Margarita Chicken Copycat Recipe

Chili's Margarita Grilled Chicken Copycat Recipe

Chili's Margarita Grilled Chicken Recipe Clone - Serves 4
You will surprised at how easy and quick this Chili's recipe is to make.

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 cup margarita mix
1/4 cup of Tequila
1 tbsp of minced garlic
Salt and pepper to taste
Black beans
Pico de Gallo
Brown rice

Pound chicken breasts flat so that they are no more than 1 inch thick. Next, let them marinate in the margarita mix in the refrigerator. Overnight is best, but let marinate for at least two hours.

Remove chicken breasts from marinade and sprinkle with salt and pepper, your preference.

For the best flavor, use a grill to cook the chicken breasts. If not, try to cook the chicken in a cast iron skillet or on a George Foreman grill. Cook on medium high heat. Lightly spray the skillet with a cooking spray before adding the chicken.

After chicken breasts are nice and brown, serve over black beans. Add Mexican brown rice and pico de gallo on the side.

Lysteria and Cantelopes

What is Lysteria?

Listeria monocytogenes is commonly found in soil, stream water, sewage, plants, and food. Listeriosis is a serious illness, and the disease may manifest as meningitis, or affect newborns due to its ability to penetrate the endothelial layer of the placenta. Vegetables can become contaminated from the soil, and animals can also be carriers. Listeria has been found in uncooked meats, uncooked vegetables, unpasteurized milk, foods made from unpasteurized milk, and processed foods. Pasteurization and sufficient cooking kill Listeria; however, contamination may occur after cooking and before packaging. For example, meat-processing plants producing ready-to-eat foods, such as hot dogs and deli meats, must follow extensive sanitation policies and procedures to prevent Listeria contamination. 

From the FDA Website:

Jensen Farms Recalls Cantaloupe Due to Possible Health Risk

Contact:
Consumer
800-267-4561
recall@rfordcantaloupe.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 14, 2011 - Jensen Farms, of Holly, CO is voluntarily recalling their shipments of Rocky Ford whole cantaloupe because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria. The company is working with the State of Colorado and the FDA to inform consumers of this recall. L. monocytogenes is a bacterium that can contaminate foods and cause a mild non-invasive illness (called listerial gastroenteritis) or a severe, sometimes life-threatening, illness (called invasive listeriosis). Persons who have the greatest risk of experiencing listeriosis after consuming foods contaminated with L. monocytogenes are fetuses and neonates who are infected after the mother is exposed to L. monocytogenes during pregnancy, the elderly, and persons with weakened immune systems.

The whole cantaloupes in question were shipped between July 29th, 2011 and September 10th 2011, and distributed to the following states: IL, WY, TN, UT, TX, CO, MN, KS, NM, NC, MO, NE, OK, AZ, NJ, NY, PA. The whole cantaloupes have a green and white sticker that reads: Product of USA- Frontera Produce-Colorado Fresh-Rocky Ford-Cantaloupe or a gray, yellow, and green sticker that reads: Jensen Farms-Sweet Rocky Fords. If the whole cantaloupe is unlabeled, please contact your retail store for sourcing information. Jensen Farms is requesting any consumer that many have one of these cantaloupes to please destroy the products.

The recall involves only whole cantaloupe shipped by Jensen Farms, and no other commodities are involved. Jensen Farms feels it is prudent to participate in the recall as the State of Colorado has stated (in their September 12th, 2011 press release) that people at a high risk for infection should not eat whole cantaloupe from the Rocky Ford growing region.

“Jensen Farms continues to stay committed to the highest levels of food safety and maintains many third party safety audits, as we have for many years. We continually look for ways to enhance our protocol,” said Ryan Jensen, partner at Jensen Farms. Jensen Farms is a 3rd generation family farm of the Holly, Colorado community.

Consumers with questions may contact Jensen Farms via email at recall@rfordcantaloupe.com or phone 1-800-267-4561 between the hours of 9am and 4pm MST.

DIY Kitchen Racks

If you you're like me you may have two to three sets of pots and pans and no place to put them all. I posted some nails on the wall and hung my pots but found that there still wasn't enough room. One day I was in Anna's Linens and I saw a really nice curtain rod. I had absolutely no need for it but I really liked it. Then I noticed that there was a weight specification on the side of the package. Apparently this curtain rod was meant to hold a very heavy amount of fabric thus allowing the owner to hang long heavy drapery. I went home and weighed a set of pots and pans I just bought in the box and they were well withing the weight limit. I bought the rod and hung it in my kitchen, using metal curtain hooks, (squeezed closed) to hang the pots and pans. I felt special that I had come up with a money saving idea. Immediately I went online to share my idea with all of you and found that I was certainly not the first to come up with this idea. You can use towel racks or curtain rods to store your lids or pots in your kitchen and still have plenty of space. 

In the above picture, Martha Stewart used a regular towel rod she got from a garage sale. She painted it and used hooks to hold her utensils. 

Here's one that can be added on the inside of a cabinet door so that your wall space is not overflowing with utensils. 

If towel racks are not your thing, you can recycle and old crib and make an overhead rack like this one.

Fit Me Maybelline Foundation Review

I am well overdue for this review but I wanted to finish the bottle before I reviewed it. 

The Promise

This foundation does not have a new concept. It is the same as all of the other makeups that promise to blend perfectly into your skin. The only difference between this makeup and the others is the others will cover your blemishes and this one will not. It promises to make you look great without hiding your skin.

The delivery

Being a woman of color I have an issue with my skin known as hyperpigmentation. It means that when a blemish appears on my skin it leaves behind a black mark, dark brown marks on lighter skinned women of color. Fit Me does not cover these blemishes but it does make them less noticeable. It finds the balance between the highs and lows in the color of your skin. So you aren't being covered up but your skin tone is being evened out. If you have decent skin with the occasional hiccup then this foundation is for you. It makes you look naturally beautiful. My husband couldn't tell that I was wearing makeup until he noticed my eyeshadow. 

It matches my skin perfectly. I am a 320, Honey Beige and it matched my skin when I bought right before summer and it matched my skin in the dead of summer.  It's light enough to wear daily and all year.

Recommendations

Use a sponge to apply it not your fingers or a foundation brush. Use natural light to see if you have applied it evenly. Apply more foundation for a smoother look. Don't use heave eyeshadow colors with this look because it will look like you made up your eyes and nothing else.

Cost

It was $7.59 a bottle at RiteAid without the sale. That price was the average price of the foundation at Target and at Walgreens. I recommend looking online at Walgreens, RiteAid, and  Target at the same time to see which one has it on sale. It's usually on sale for $4.59 a bottle. If it's not on sale at one store it will be at the other. I would not buy this item when it is not on sale.

Halloween Jars

I know that it is too early for Halloween but it's one of my favorite holidays and I like to prepare early. One of my annual crafts are Halloween jars. There are many different versions and uses for this craft making it the perfect family craft. 

Halloween Ghosts

You will need mason, sauce, or condiment jars and acrylic paint with brushes. You will also need tea light candles or a line of white, green or orange lights (Christmas lights).

Carefully peel the label off of the jars making the stickiest part the back of the jar. Paint your jar completely on the outside whatever color you want. If it's a ghost paint it white. If it's Frankenstein paint it green. Make sure the layer of paint is thin enough for the light to show through. I like to light the candle first and drop into the jar before I paint so I can see if the light shines through. Leave the lid off. 

Icky Jars

You will need green jello, hard boiled eggs, gummy worms or spaghetti and vienna sausage. Paint is optional.

This is a game I played when I went to Halloween parties when I was younger. Fill the jars with jello and drop an egg in one, worms in the other, and 3 to 5 sausages in the other. If your haunted house is dark then you won't need to wrap or paint the jars. Have each kid stick their hand in the jar with their eyes closed and have them guess what's in it or tell them what you want them to believe is in it. The egg is the eyeball, the sausage is the finger etc. 

Wiccan Herbal Gift

Halloween is New Years to the Wiccans of the world. Give them the gift of the harvest or new beginnings. Halloween is a harvest holiday. You can fill the jars with harvested herbs like Mandrake for healing, chamomile for relaxation, basil for success etc. Be sure to label them. If you want to give the gift of new beginnings plant herb seeds in the jars with soil and label them. They will have their own herb garden.

Jambalaya Recipe

The base of this recipe is the jambalaya recipe from Better Homes and Garden. It's the big cookbook that looks like a picnic blanket. My book has the recipe on page 498. My husband loved the recipe but my son couldn't get passed the spicy sausage or the red pepper flakes. Now I have a 12 month old daughter who likes to eat off of my plate. Spice is a no no, at least for now. Here is the recipe with my alterations noted.

Jambalaya

Makes: about 7 cups (6 main-dish servings)

Prep: 25 minutes Cook: 20 minutes

 

Ingredients

• 1pound fresh or frozen peeled and deveined shrimp
• 1/2 cup chopped onion (1 medium)
• 1/3 cup chopped celery
• 1/4 cup chopped green sweet pepper
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons cooking oil
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 14-1/2-ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained
• 8 ounces andouille or kielbasa sausage, halved lengthwise and cut into 1/2-inch slices
• 3/4cup uncooked long grain rice
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed
• 1/2teaspoon dried basil, crushed
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 cup cubed cooked ham

Alterations: My onion was the size of a small, bagged apple. I used 3 stalks of celery with the white end cut off. I used one whole green pepper the same size as the onion with the white membrane removed. I used extra virgin olive oil to cook with and freshly chopped tomatoes. I used mild links for the sausage and instant long grain rice. I completely omitted the ground red pepper. 

 

Directions 1. Thaw shrimp, if frozen. Set shrimp aside. In a 12-inch skillet cook onion, celery, sweet pepper, and garlic in hot oil until tender. Stir in chicken broth, undrained tomatoes, sausage, rice, thyme, basil, black pepper, red pepper, and bay leaf. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, for 15 minutes.

2. Stir in shrimp. Return to boiling. Simmer, covered, about 5 minutes more or until shrimp turn opaque and rice is tender. Stir in ham; heat through. Discard bay leaf. Makes about 7 cups (6 main-dish servings).

nutrition facts

• Servings Per Recipe about 7 cups (6 main-dish servings)
• Calories416
• Total Fat (g)20
• Saturated Fat (g)6,
• Monounsaturated Fat (g)9,
• Polyunsaturated Fat (g)4,
• Cholesterol (mg)154,
• Sodium (mg)1199,
• Carbohydrate (g)27,
• Total Sugar (g)4,
• Fiber (g)1,
• Protein (g)30,
• Vitamin A (DV%)0,
• Vitamin C (DV%)29,
• Calcium (DV%)9,
• Iron (DV%)22,
• Starch (d.e.)1.5,
• Vegetables (d.e.)1,
• Medium-fat Meat (d.e.)3.5,
• Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

 

 

Back To School Night: 10 Questions You Should Ask

Back to school night typically occurs twice in any given school year. The first is usually during the first three months of school. The point of back to school night is to brag about the amenities of the school as well as the qualifications of the teachers. The children are able to show what they have done so far and parents are able to ask any questions about their child's development that weren't addressed before. With all of the activities that go on during this school function, it's easy to lose track of what you really want or should know about your child's school and education. Here are ten questions you should ask to get you started. You will find it easy to add to it as you consider your specific situation. 

1. What are the teacher's credentials?

2. What is her teaching style?

3. What is the teacher's lesson plan for the quarter, semester, year?

4. What assignments and subjects are the most challenging / easy for your child and why?

5. What methods of discipline does the teacher use?

6. What is the best way to support her learning plan?

7. Which children does your child get along with best / worst?

8. How would the teacher describe your child's personality and behavior?

9. What ranking does your school have in the No Child Left Behind testing?

10. What is being done to effect that ranking?