chicken Tag

The fall is typically a time where we shift into new routines.  We juggle school, work, children’s activities, and sporting events.  As a family of 5, we often find ourselves moving in different directions, but still enjoy eating together at least a couple of times a week.  This meal is full of flavor and is fast and easy, so it’s perfect for a quick, but healthy dinner.  I actually like to double the recipe so that we have leftovers throughout the week for lunches.

Sheet Pan Fajitas

Ingredients:
1 ½ lbs boneless chicken breasts, thinly sliced
2 onions, sliced
4 peppers (green bell peppers or sweet peppers), stem/seeds removed and sliced
3 Tbsp olive or avocado oil
2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp sea salt
¼ tsp ground cumin

  • Preheat oven to 375°F.
  • Place sliced chicken, onions, and peppers in large bowl. Add oil and toss to coat.

  • In small bowl, mix all of the spices. Sprinkle over chicken and vegetables.  Mix well to evenly distribute.
  • Place on large baking sheet.
  • Bake for 25 minutes.

  • Serve in wraps or on top of rice. Top with homemade salsa (see recipe for End of Summer Salsa), guacamole (see recipe below), sour cream, and shredded cheese.
  • Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up a week.

 

Guacamole
4 ripe avocados
1 lime, juiced + 1 tsp zest
1 tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
½ jalapeno, seeds/membranes removed and finely chopped
½ medium onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 medium tomato, seeds removed and finely chopped
1 Tbsp fresh cilantro, finely chopped (optional)

Scoop the avocado pulp into a large bowl.  Mash with a fork.  Add lime juice, lime zest, salt, and pepper.  Mix well.  In a small bowl, combine jalapeno, onion, garlic, tomatoes, and cilantro (if using).  Add to avocado mixture and fold in.  Serve with fajitas, tacos, nachos, or just with chips or veggies.

 

Recipe and photos by Stephanie Borzio.  Stephanie is a mom of three active boys and is an autoimmune warrior.  After battling her own health for several years, Stephanie found healing through food and lifestyle changes, including joining Blooming Glen Farm CSA of which she is a long time member.  She is a Board Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach who is passionate about sharing healthy living tips and real food recipes.  Instagram and Facebook: Tru You Essentials; Website: www.truyouessentials.com

With beautiful tomatoes, spicy peppers, pungent onions, and zesty cilantro all in one share, a batch of fresh salsa was calling my name last night.

There are several hot peppers to choose from this week. I used a serrano pepper, a variety of chili that originated in the mountainous regions of Mexico. It is the pepper traditionally used in making pico de gallo and salsa. It is hotter than a jalapeno and has a nice bright flavor for use in raw recipes.

This recipe makes a “medium” salsa, but can be adapted to be as spicy or mild as you like. Omit the hot pepper all together if you’ve got a sensitive mouth, or kick it up a notch by including the seeds or more than one hot pepper.

Salsa Fresca

In a food processor, pulse together: 1 pound red tomatoes (about 2 medium-sized tomatoes), cored and chopped; 1 torpedo onion, greens cut off and bulb chopped; 1 serrano pepper, stem and seeds removed; 1 handful cilantro; 1 garlic clove; juice of one lime; and a pinch of salt, to taste.

Voila! You’ve got salsa!

Now you can top these ultra-simple tostadas with a dollop of the salsa for a quick and fresh dinner. They are a great way to use up leftovers from a roasted Ledamete Grass chicken, and perfect for a summer night when the last thing you want to do is slave away over a hot stove.

Chicken Tostadas

Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a cast iron or non-stick pan. When the oil is sizzling hot, lightly fry 4 corn tortillas (one at a time) in the oil–about 50 seconds per side, until just golden brown and starting to puff up. Place fried tortillas on a paper towel or newspapers to absorb extra oil.

Top fried tortillas with 2 cups shredded cooked chicken, shredded or crumbled cheese (I like cotija, a mild Mexican cheese, but cheddar, jack, or chevre also work well), a big dollop of your salsa, and a squeeze of lime.

Text and photography by Kate Darlington – Blooming Glen Farm second year intern, fresh food enthusiast, and budding food blogger. She also writes for the Digging Deep Campaign, as well as for her personal blog, Growing Things.