CPK's Chicken Tequila Fettuccine

Friday, February 12, 2010

It's been a long while since I've posted a recipe.
I have a feeling this one will make up for all that lost time.
It is sooo yummy. It's a little spicy, a little tangy, and very filling.
And it can be gluten-free and dairy-free!

CPK's Chicken Tequila Fettuccine

Ingredients:
1 pound fettuccine (or gluten-free fettuccine, in my case)
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 tsp. minced garlic
2 jalapeños, chopped fine
4 T. unsalted butter
1/2 cup chicken stock
2 T. tequila (or 2 more T. lime juice)
4 T. freshly-squeezed lime juice
1/2 cup soy sauce (or gluten-free tamari or amino acids)
1.5 lbs. chicken breast, diced
1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced
1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
4 T. heavy cream (or coconut creamer if dairy-intolerant)
Lime wedges and cilantro for garnish
(Official instructions at the end of post)

Start out with about a bunch of this...
a.k.a. best herb God created (cilantro).
Chop about 1/2 cup of it, or more if you like it as much as I do.
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Then take two of these guys
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and chop them, seeds and all,
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until they look just about like this.
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Now's a good time to start boiling a pot of water for the fettuccine.

Here are the other ingredients you need at this point: butter, chicken stock, garlic.
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Throw in 2 T. butter into a large saucepan and sauté cilantro, chopped jalapeños, and garlic.
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Let it simmer for several minutes.
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In the meantime, dice some raw chicken breast. This was about 1.2 lbs. and was plenty, though the recipe calls for 1.5 lbs. Pour soy sauce over chicken and let it soak for about 5 minutes.
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Thinly slice 1/2 red onion.
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And 1 yellow bell pepper and 1 red bell pepper.
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In another saucepan, throw in the other 2 T. butter and the peppers and onions and let them cook down.
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They'll sweat a little.
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Then they'll be nice and caramelized. Yummy.
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To the large saucepan with cilantro, add chicken stock, tequila, and lime juice. Bring the mixture to a boil and cook until reduced to a paste-like consistency; set aside.

Now add the marinated chicken and cream and bring to a boil.
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You'll let the chicken cook and the sauce thicken, then add your sautéed veggies and toss with fettuccine.

Garnish with a lime slice and cilantro and you've got a gorgeous, delicious meal!

Wanna see the finished product?
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It's every bit as good as it looks.
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Best with yummy ginger ale and a lime wedge (in our opinion). :)
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Directions:

1. In a large saucepan (and they mean large!), cook cilantro, garlic and jalapeño in 2 T. butter over medium heat for 4 to 5 minutes, until wilted. In a second pot, boil water for fettuccine.
2. In a sauté pan, begin sauteing the peppers and onion in 2 T. of butter over medium heat until soft.

3. To the large saucepan with cilantro, add chicken stock, tequila, and lime juice. Bring the mixture to a boil and cook until reduced to a paste-like consistency; set aside.

4. Pour soy sauce (or tamari or amino acids) over diced chicken; set aside for 5 minutes. Add to saucepan, along with cream and bring to boil. Cook until chicken is no longer pink and sauce is thick, about 5 minutes. Add sauteed veggies to sauce mixture and toss with cooked fettuccine. Garnish with lime and cilantro.

Say What You Need to Say.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Last night we got to spend a little time with this guy.

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Well, us... and thousands of screaming fans.

It was an incredible concert and a very welcomed break to what has recently become our very hectic life. With both of us working (Shawn actually has 3 jobs right now) and me taking classes toward my nursing degree, it's just a lot right now.

So to sit back and enjoy everything from "Comfortable" to "Half of My Heart" to "No Such Thing" (ok, those are just some of my favorites) was such a treat.

We love John Mayer - especially Shawn, who has loved his music from before he was so big.
We don't love or condone what John Mayer says in certain interviews.
We were impressed, though, with what seemed to be an honest, humble apology. It even came with tears - a rare glimpse into the very human hearts that we sometimes forget celebrities have.
Click here to see the apology video.

Thank you, Tony and Christina, for the free tickets! You blessed us last night.

A perfect birthday.

Saturday, February 6, 2010

6:52 a.m.
Woke up to a table of flowers and presents (and a handmade card by my Shawn!)

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Shawn has officially learned that I really do want what I ask for - even if it doesn't seem like a "good" gift. I was jumping up and down about this one - no more trips to the post office! I'll send my Etsy packages from home!
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Lovely gifts from Germany - Mama & Papa know me well! I loved everything in this box.
Thank you!!
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8:55 a.m.
Birthday breakfast with the Brelands.
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brye

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11:12 a.m.
Get to spend some time with this adorable little guy (who loves posing for the camera!).

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And his little brother... who wasn't real thrilled with getting his picture taken (or being put down).
I just love his bib: "Party guy."
(And no, John and Erica, this is not what he did for the entire time he was with me. Promise.) :)

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Gabe dancing to John Mayer.

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1:08 p.m.
A perfect homemade lunch with Mom and Dad.
Salmon salad.
Butternut squash soup.
Gluten-free cake and strawberries for dessert.
lunch

3:54 p.m.
Manicure.
Talked about Viet Nam and how she will probably never go back to see her family there again.
Made me sad.
Told her how I'd visited a couple years ago and thought her country was beautiful.
Made her happy.

6:41 p.m.
Shawn was taking me on a dinner date, but we just so happened to stop by my parents' house first.
That's when I was SURPRISED by these guys!
(And their parents, of course.)
All 11 of these kiddos mean so much to me!
I was even more surprised because I'd already seen some of them earlier in the day.

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Birthday cake by my sweet friend Jennifer who couldn't be there.
Too perfect.


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The ones who made it all possible.
My birthday party and... well... my birth. :)

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New friends and old friends.
Erica and I have only known each other a few months (feels like much longer!) and I have loved getting to spend time with her and her amazing family.
Kate and I have known each other since Kindergarten! She has been at all the major events in my life from elementary birthday parties to bridal showers to our weddings.
Love them both so much.

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Introducing the real star of the show... Keebler Tunney.


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My sweet Mom who did so much for me today!

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My amazing Shawn who made me feel like a princess.
He loves me so, so well.

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Shawn's eyes in this picture tell me it was past his bedtime. :)
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What a long, wonderful, perfect day!
I absolutely loved it and felt so celebrated and special.
Thank you - all of you - for making my life what it is.
Full and complete.


These precious friends gave me a couple more birthday presents on their blog! Thank you guys! I feel so undeserving of what you said but am incredibly thankful for you both.

And this cute video made me smile! Thanks for the cake and presents, Ruby!

Year in review.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

On the eve of my 24th birthday, I thought I'd take a few minutes to revisit my year as a 23-year-old. (I love having a blog to jog my memory!)

So here we go. A "year in review."

Started a blog.
Spent our first Valentine's day as sick as dogs (I kindly passed a virus along to Shawn). Hopefully this year won't be a repeat of that!
Took a pottery class and loved it. {Finished products here.}
Saw the Chicago River turn green for St. Patrick's Day.
Taught in an inner city school for a few difficult yet rewarding months.
Mourned the loss of a dear and inspiring family friend.
Learned about the intimate comfort God gives even in the midst of fear and pain.
Took a quick trip to Atlanta and visited old friends and met new ones.
Celebrated my incredible Mom and Dad.
Did lots of cooking and DIY projects (of course).
Tried to sew.
Lost my dear Grams. Heaven's gain.
Had a fun Chicago visit with Shawn's parents (for his graduation) and even got to celebrate Mama on Mother's Day in person!
Took a trip to Texas and enjoyed my best friend Jess and our sweet Texas family.
Watched little sis get married!
Loved on Pops.
Discovered my gluten intolerance and learned how to cook gluten-free.
Moved into an adorable yellow house on a farm. God's abundant blessing, once again.
Met a hero.
Found community.
Celebrated one year married to the love of my life.

Whew. Once again, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the people God has brought into my life and the beautiful ways He is moving.
I cannot wait to see what this year will hold!

How true.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

An old missionary couple had been working in Africa for years and were returning to New York to retire. They had no pension; their health was broken; they were defeated, discouraged, and afraid. They discovered they were booked on the same ship as President Teddy Roosevelt, who was returning from one of his big-game hunting expeditions.

No one paid any attention to them. They watched the fanfare that accompanied the President's entourage, with passengers trying to catch a glimpse of the great man. As the ship moved across the ocean, the old missionary said to his wife, "Something is wrong."

"Why should we have given our lives in faithful service for God in Africa all these many years and have no one care a thing about us? Here this man comes back from a hunting trip and everybody makes much over him, but nobody gives two hoots about us."

"Dear, you shouldn't feel that way," his wife said.

"I can't help it; it doesn't seem right."

When the ship docked in New York, a band was waiting to greet the President. The mayor and other dignitaries were there. The papers were full of the President's arrival.

No one noticed this missionary couple. They slipped off the ship and found a cheap flat on the East Side, hoping the next day to see what they could do to make a living in the city.

That night the man's spirit broke. He said to his wife, "I can't take this; God is not treating us fairly."

His wife replied, "Why don't you go in the bedroom and tell that to the Lord?"

A short time later he came out from the bedroom, but now his face was completely different. His wife asked, "Dear, what happened?"

"The Lord settled it with me," he said. "I told Him how bitter I was that the President should receive this tremendous homecoming, when no one met us as we returned home. And when I finished, it seemed as though the Lord put His hand on my shoulder and simply said,
'But you're not home yet!'"

- Author unknown
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