Honey Nut Chicken Recipe

This is one of my favorite recipes.  It's moist, delicious, quick and easy and my whole family loves it.  It was created by Rachel Ray and the recipe can be found here.  It's one of my favorite recipes to make because it is full of flavor.  Serve it with the succotash recipe that is also included and it is to die for.

HONEY NUT CHICKEN (created by Rachel Ray and found on the Food Network's website)

Total Time: 25 min; Prep 10 min; Cook 15 min

Yield:
4 servings

Ingredients

4 ounces, 2 small packages, honey roasted peanuts, about 2/3 cup
1/2 cup plain bread crumbs
1 tablespoon grill seasoning blend (recommended: Montreal Seasoning by McCormick)
2 eggs
A splash half-and-half or whole milk
2 teaspoons hot sauce, several drops
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 to 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 (6 to 8-ounce) pieces of chicken breast
Barbequed Succotash, recipe follows

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Put nuts, bread crumbs and grill seasoning in food processor and pulse grind to combine the nuts into bread crumbs. Pour nutty-breading onto a plate.

Beat eggs and half-and-half or milk with hot sauce in a shallow dish.

Pour flour out on a plastic board or plate.

Dust both sides of the chicken with flour. Dip the chicken into the egg mixture and then coat with the nutty-breading.

Preheat a nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Add vegetable oil to coat the bottom of the pan with a thin layer, 2 or 3 turns of the pan. Brown chicken pieces 2 minutes on each side in hot oil or until evenly light golden in color. Transfer to a baking sheet and cook in oven until juices run clear and breasts are cooked through, about 10 to 12 minutes. Serve with Barbecued Succotash.

Barbecued Succotash:

1 tablespoon extra-virgin or vegetable oil, 1 turn of the pan

1/2 red onion, chopped

1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped

1 (14-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained

1 (10-ounce) box frozen corn

Salt and pepper

1/4 cup smoky barbecue sauce

2 tablespoons chopped chives, parsley or cilantro leaves, for garnish

Heat a medium skillet over medium high heat. Add onions and peppers and saute 5 minutes. Add beans and corn and season with salt and pepper. When corn heats through, add barbecue sauce. Stir to combine and serve succotash with chopped chives, parsley or cilantro to garnish.

Yield: 4 servings

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Inactive Cook Time

Ease of preparation: easy

Serves: 4; Calories: 512; Total Fat: 24.5 grams; Saturated Fat: 4 grams; Protein: 51 grams; Total carbohydrates: 20 grams; Sugar: 1 gram; Fiber: 2 grams; Cholesterol: 175 milligrams; Sodium: 442 milligrams

Thursday's Helpful Race Hints: Costume Basics

Snow White and Evil Queen posing for pictures at the Tinkerbell Half Marathon

What separates Run Disney events from other races?  While this can be answered 100 different ways, one of my favorite ways is the costumes.  Grown women and men pay homage to their favorite, pixie, princess, prince, villain and favorite character by creating a costume inspired by their beloved character.  The course is filled with all sorts of Disney characters.

When I was deciding on a pixie powered costume for the Tinkerbell Half Marathon, I obsessed over my first race costume.  I was not sure how to create a costume.  I read all blogs related to costumes and looked at the previous year's costumes (to see the race pictures from the 2013 Tinkerbell Half Marathon, visit www.marathonfoto.com).  My favorite blog related to costumes was from According to Kelly.   Kelly has ran many, many Disney races and always comes up with fabulous costumes which she makes herself.  You can also check out etsy, a website for crafters and sewers to sell their hand made creations by searching for your character and adding "running costume".  You can also search google and google images the same way.

After you decide on a character, decide what details symbolize the character.  For example, Snow White, what are the details that let you know it is Snow White?  Yellow skirt, blue top, red/blue short sleeves, white collar or combination of these items?  For Tinkerbell, is it the light green skirt, wings, pom pom on her shoes, strapless top or poofy bun?  Identify the items on the costume that are essential in recognizing the character.  Now, how do you modify that item so it is easy to run in?  For example, look at the picture above.  See Snow White's sleeves?  They are strips of ribbon that are held together at the sewn to an elastic that make the short sleeves.  Very breathable and very runnable.

A Snow White Inspired Costume from www.team-sparkle.com on Pinterest

 Identifying the icons for each costume that make it recognizable as that character is essential in creating the perfect running costume.  There are those that replicate every item on the costume while others create a character-inspired costume.  The best costumes have little details that reflect the characters.  For example, if you saw a disney runner in a yellow skirt, blue tank top, and a red ribbon in her black hair, you would probably still identify her as Snow White?  Why?  The color scheme is Snow White including the red ribbon in her hair (an essential detail in her costume).

When you are putting together your costume, take a minute to ask what are the details which are essential to the character.  Don't forget to include these in your costume.  Happy Costuming!

I"m Going to Disneyland But Where Do I Stay?

Whether planning a vacation or your next run through Run Disney, one of the first of many questions is "where do I stay"?  First, let me say that I am NOT a travel agent or associated with a travel agent or hotel in any way.  I am someone who just visits Disneyland ALOT!  According to my annual pass last year, I made over 50 visits to Disneyland.  Why?  I LOVE this place!

I found this map on the internet (not sure of the source) and have been using it as a reference when I make hotel reservations.  You can also check out google earth street view as an additional resource.  WARNING: I do believe that more of the hotels should be designated as within walking distance.  For example, Anabella Hotel near Katella Avenue and Disneyland Drive is only about a 5 minute walk from the parks and across the street from the corrals used for the Run Disney races.

If you are familiar with Disney World, you will be surprised that the hotels at Disneyland are close to the parks.  Disneyland is surrounded by city streets.  Most hotels will have shuttles going to/from the parks and there are sidewalks so it is easy to get around.

Distance between California Adventure and Disneyland?  Maybe a 5 minute walk turnstile to turnstile if you stop to take pictures.  They are right across a large plaza from each other so you can easily go from one park to the other.  Downtown Disney is also within walking distance of each park.

There are lots of hotels with lots of different price points.  The most inexpensive way I have found to book hotels is through priceline or travelocity.  My hubby and I do not generally plan our trips in advance but rather look at each other on Friday afternoon and decide it's a great day to see fireworks above our favorite castle.  We have a Disney-Go Bag in our trunk so we can leave on a whim.  So, we end up booking a hotel as we drive down to Disneyland.

The rare times we plan our trips, such as family reunion trips or Run Disney events, we still book through Priceline.  Whatever your budget, you can find a hotel near Disneyland.  If you want to spend an outrageous per night price, you can stay at the fabulous Disneyland Hotel, Paradise Pier or Grand Californian Hotel which are all owed by Disney.  On a budget, well, there is Super 8 Motel.  There are lots of choices and price points to fit everyone's budget and needs.

Here's to your next stay!

This Week's Goals: 3/25/2013 - 3/31/13

This week's goals:

1. Lose 1 pound by eating every few hours and not eating over 1500 calories a day
2. Drink 80 ounces of water daily
3. Work out four times a week
4. Create a facebook page for this blog
5. Blog 4 times a week

Seeking Professional Help with Plantar Fasciitis

Since my last post, I did complete the Princess Half Marathon at Disney World!  I had not ran since completing the Tinkerbell Half Marathon about a month before. The week before Tinkerbell, I felt a sharp pain in the bottom of my foot.  After searching the internet and describing the symptoms to more experienced runners, I self-diagnosed with plantars fasciitis.  I tried limiting walking, icing, stretching and used KT tape to try to assist the healing process.  But the pain persisted and I began the race knowing it would not be pretty and I just wanted to finish.  My goals for this race is to (1) finish (I did not care if it was upright or not) and (2) have fun! 

It was the toughest race I have done.  It was only on pure willpower that I finished.  I talked to a lot of people, stopped for some photo ops, had a magical time storming the castle, and with some encouragement from the Fairy Godmother herself, finished!

This week I sought assistance from a chiropractor who has a background in sports massage therapy to help with my ongoing battle against plantar fasciitis.  After a thorough examination, she taped my foot.  She instructed me to roll my foot over a water bottle for up to 20 minutes 3x a day.

The hardest part~not being able to run.  I have learned to love the time I spend outside just competing against myself.  I cannot wait until this injury is healed so I can get back to my training.  There are some fantastic runs out there that I want to do!  Hopefully, I'll be running shortly.  After all, I have a run over Labor Day at Disneyland on the books!