Smoky Chicken and Corn with Honey Butter

1 stick unsalted butter, at room temp

2 Tbsp honey

kosher salt and ground pepper

2 ears of corn, shucked and cut into 1-inch pieces

8 oz shiitake mushrooms, stemmed and thinly sliced

1 bunch scallions, trimmed and cut into 2-inch sections

4 springs fresh thyme

4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts (6 – 8 ounces each)

½ teaspoon sweet smoked paprika

1.     Preheat grill to medium high. Mix the butter, honey, ½ teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a small bowl.

2.     Tear off 4 large sheets of heavy-duty foil. Divide the corn evenly among the sheets, placing it off to one side. Top with the mushrooms, scallions and thyme. Season the chicken with salt and the paprika and place on top of the vegetables. Place a heaping tablespoon of the honey butter on top. Fold the other half of the foil over the chicken and vegetables and fold the ends twice to seal, leaving room for heat to circulate.

3.     Grill the foil packets for 8 minutes. Flip the packets, gently press and cook 6 more minutes. Flip back onto a platter to rest 3 minutes. Carefully open the packets and top with the remaining honey butter.

**This is not my recipe, received from a friend who found through a magazine but unsure where it came from.

Ground Chicken Chili

First time I've ever made chili and I think it's going to be pretty darn good...

1 lb ground chicken
1 can red kidney beans
1 can pinto beans
1/2 large yellow onion (chopped)
1 stalk celery (chopped)
2 small cans tomato paste + 2 cans water
15 oz tomato sauce
Garlic (minced)
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
olive oil

I'm horrible at measuring so these measurements are guesstimates based off a few recipes I researched.

Saute onion, celery, and red pepper flakes in olive oil (a couple tablespoons) until tender

Add ground chicken and garlic and cook until chicken is no longer pink

Meanwhile, rinse the beans (you can choose any beans you want).

Once chicken is cooked through, add the beans, tomato sauce, tomato paste, water, and chili powder.

The recipes all say to cook until heated through but I went ahead and simmered for about 40 minutes, while I cooked up some basmati rice to go along with it!

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San Diego Holiday Half

So for the past 6 months I have been training for the San Diego Half Marathon. There were so many times I never thought I'd make it. 13.1 miles is a long way. I've had the most inspirational 'coach' and running partner for this entire journey and I seriously could never have done this without her! A few things that I did learn... races can start late. The race time was 7:30 and they had us line up in the wrong spot, so we all had to shift to the correct place. Obviously prolonging the start time by at least an hour. I had drank my amino energy with the anticipation of the 7:30 start time- next time I'll take that drink right down to the start line and finish before we run! Also, I didn't take a bottle of water. I figured just drink on the route- not a good idea or train with less water. Eat more the day before and eat about 300 calories prior to the race. I had a side ache throughout a lot of the race and that was not fun! Also, I need more hill training but that will come with time. The race was not my best run day but I finished- 2:34 and my garmin tracked us at 13.25 miles. So we were pretty much on track for our 2:30 goal. Definitely did more walking than expected but overall I'm happy. Funny thing is, 2 weeks prior to this race we ran 13.1 miles in 2:35. That run I was much stronger but Dara had a tough run. It's nice when one of us is on and the other is off but it would be even better if we could both be 'on' for race day... Next up is possibly Surf City in a few weeks!

11 miles - Solo

Today I ran 11 miles on my own... no running partner. It was good. I started at Las Sendas and went east to Higley. North on Higley to Thomas and West on Thomas back to Las Sendas. Up through Las Sendas... and can I say from Recker to Power on Thomas there is a nice incline for about 1 mile. Then up through Las Sendas you are uphill and some flat. At about mile 8.5 it was downhill and I knew I'd made it! However, when I got to McDowell, I had to head east on McDowell for about .30 mile, which was a small incline but holy heck I was beat by then. It was an amazing feeling to be able to complete this run on my own. Of course I always, always want to run with Dara but knowing I can do this by myself just makes me that much stronger!

This was on Higley at about 5.3 miles... I had been waiting and waiting for the sun to come up. I started the run about 5:30 am, I guess the sun rises much later than I thought. I don't pay attention when I run with Dara because I have someone with me but this time was different. At this point I was pretty much just on a street that went through the desert so I was ready to get to Recker!

This was at the top of Las Sendas, about 8.3 miles. I had made it to the top and as I said... it was downhill from there! This was a great feeling, I had to get a photo! I love running as the sun comes up or is setting. One, the temperature is definitely much nicer but two- you cannot beat the view. I suppose running in the desert makes it that much better too!

I did PR on this run.. I ran my first two miles at about 10 min/miles. Total PR. Then at mile 4 I was at about 45. Which about 2-3 weeks ago, my 4 mile time was 46:46... so another PR. Last week we ran 10.91 and my time was about 2:15:? and today I finished at 11 mile @ 2:14:49. Not bad for being solo! Oh- and I love my new Brooks too! 

Missing him always

It's been awhile since I have updated this blog... I didn't even do it on the 3 year anniversary of my dads passing. I went skydiving again that day! It was amazing, my way to celebrate his life once again. I'm doing better than I was 3+ years ago, better than I was a year ago, 18 months ago. I can laugh and smile and I know that is what he truly wanted...  my happiness. That is what mattered to him... that I was happy.
There are still days that I miss him terrible. There are days were my tears come and go quickly and other days it takes awhile longer to not feel that pain in my heart. Last night I had a dream. It was strange... I was with a friend whose husband was dying, then I was at his bedside and it was my dad. he was dying... again. Dang it! Tears just rolled down my cheeks and they didn't stop. I was heart broken and just told him I loved him... I do specifically remember telling him he left me with the devil too! ha- he said she's not that bad. He knows. But what I remember and what I woke up to was the ache in my heart of missing him. What I wouldn't do to pick up the phone and hear his voice. I never realized before that there are just certain things I only want to talk with my dad about. I love my mom with all my heart but still... there are moments I just want to talk with my dad.
Greif sucks... it does "get better" but it never goes away.
I love you dad and I miss you with every breath I take!

My dad- back in the day...

My jump on July 24, 2014

Papa

32 years ago today I experienced heart ache for the first time. My amazing grandpa (Papa) passed away, I was 10 year's old. I loved him dearly. He was the rock to our family and he was my favorite person! He played the harmonica, sang diddy's - Mr. Johhny Rebeck- that was my favorite. My mom has told me several times when I was about 4 years old, I'd wake up in the middle of the night and call him, yes at 3 in the morning. She'd taught me his phone number and I used it. I remember when he'd be gone for a job and call the house, how happy I was to talk with him. I'd go stay at Papa and grandma's house on the weekends and loved being with him. He taught me how to mix my vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup. Back in the day, my mom would take me to the bar where he would be and I'd order a Shirley Temple- he'd make me an animal (I believe a pig) out of a lime. One day I didn't want to go to church so my grandma called him. Papa came and picked me up. We got ice cream and he drove me around Mesa, telling me stories of when my mom was younger. 

I think about him all the time and I know he's always been watching over me. These last few years, I've had the pleasure of spending time with my mom's cousins husband Newell. He's about Papa's age and it makes me realize that I really missed out. I sit and talk with Newell, he tells stories of WWII and I wish it was Papa sitting there telling me stories about his life, his WWII experiences. Even though I missed out, I am still extremely blessed because for a short time, I had this man in my life. He made an impression on me and I've always wanted to do my best to make him proud. I would like to think he'd be very proud of me today. I'd like to think that we'd be able to sit back, have a drink, and talk for hours and hours. I don't think I've ever heard anyone say a bad thing about this man. He was truly one of a kind. Love you always Papa!

Father's Day 2014

If you where still here, I'd have called you to wish you a Happy Father's Day. I'd tell you how much I love you and thank you for being an amazing dad. I'd tell you that you're my hero, my heart. I wouldn't yet know the pain I'd have from you not being here any more. So there would be a part of me that took it all for granted.

Today I've cried because I miss you so much. I also watched the video I made for your memorial service... I want my dad! I want you back! I want you here with me. I want to hear your voice and talk with you. It's just really not fair that you are not here with me. And it really, really sucks!

I love you Dad... Happy Father's Day!

Love,
your daughter :-)