Strawberry Basil Chicken

Upon returning from Food Blog Forum, I did some thinking about the blog. The phrase, "Find a need, fill a need." was tossed around a few times during the conference and it made me wonder if my recipes were filling YOUR needs as readers. As much as I write this blog for me, it's important to me to provide some useful stuff for you, too!

Since wondering only goes so far, I asked some of you on Facebook to tell me what kinds of recipes you're looking for when you sit down at the computer and browse your favorite blogs and sites. {Gah, I love social media.}You know... recipes that you won't just "pin and forget." Here's what you told me:

- Recipes with few/easy to find ingredients
- Quick recipes
- Family-friendly options
- Make ahead meals
- Healthy recipes
- Recipes that help you overcome your fears of multi-step/advanced cooking

You sound like my kind of people!

I admit that sometimes I get carried away with inspiration and creativity, and I might post things that are fun to look at but unrealistic to make on a typical day. Those kinds of recipes won't ever be eliminated from the blog because I'm sure there are at least a few of you out there who love those kooky projects as much as I do from time to time! {No? Just me? Oh, ok.}

But, as much as I want to live on cookie-crusted, ooey-gooey, boozy things... I know we need to throw some fruits, veggies and lean proteins in there, too. Ugh, darn the responsible, grown up side of my brain.

So... I'm putting on my thinking cap and coming up with some of the best easy, minimal ingredient recipes just for you. And for me, too, because -- I'm not gonna lie -- this was one tasty dish.

Just because you're short on time and don't have a ton of expensive ingredients doesn't mean you can't make something that tastes really good. This is proof.

Turn simple chicken breast into a gratifying {even fancy!} dish. Who woulda thunk strawberry jam and chicken would make such a lovely pair? Served with a salad or some sautéed veggies, this is a dinner you can make any night of the week.

I'm hoping you'll find that this recipe "fills a need"... and your belly! Thanks for interacting with me and letting me know what you're looking for, and for stopping by to check out what's going on in my kitchen -- you keep me on my toes. Stay tuned for more quick and easy recipes coming your way!

Strawberry Basil Chicken

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Pinch of salt
1/2 cup strawberry jam
1 tablespoon good quality balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons water
About 7 or 8 basil leaves, cut into ribbons
{Optional} Goat cheese, for sprinkling

1. Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.

2. Season chicken breasts with a sprinkle of salt on both sides and place in pan. Cook for about 5-6 minutes on one side or until a nice golden crust forms. Flip and cook for another 4-5 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked through.

3. Meanwhile, whisk together strawberry jam, balsamic vinegar and water in a small bowl. When chicken is just about finished cooking, pour mixture over the top, nestling the chicken breasts into the sauce and scraping up brown bits on the bottom of the pan.

4. Reduce heat and bring sauce to a simmer, letting it bubble for 3 or 4 minutes or until it has reduced and thickened a bit. Stir in most of the basil {you may want to save a little for garnish}.

Remove chicken breasts from pan. Pour sauce over the top of each piece. Sprinkle with a little goat cheese if desired and garnish with remaining basil.

 

Bacon & Kale Balsamic Turkey Burgers with Alexia Seasoned Waffle Cut Fries

I have a confession to make: Sometimes we eat burgers and fries for dinner. But it's not what you think.

Our schedule is probably a lot like yours. We're always rushing here or there to meetings, events, errands or family gatherings. It's constantly go, go, go. And it can be tempting to pick up something in a greasy paper bag to quiet growling stomachs at the end of a long day.

With a little bit of foresight and planning, putting a quick meal together at the end of the day is completely possible and not at all stressful.

One tip for making this possible is picking up some pre-made or quick cooking things to round out your meal. For ages, we have been totally smitten with Alexia Foods Frozen Sides. {Specifically their Waffle Cut Sweet Potato Fries. Oh my yum. The husband could take down a whole bag all by himself.} We appreciate the fact that they're creatively crafted with real ingredients, which is probably what makes them taste so darn good!

Keeping a bag of these {or one of their many tasty frozen sides} in the freezer is sort of like our version of "Break Glass in Case of Emergency". We don't eat them all the time, but they're sure nice to have around for those evenings when quick comfort food is all that will do.

Our version of "burgers and fries" is guilt-free and all natural. These "loaded" turkey burgers cover all the bases -- flavorful, satisfying and even filled with some greens! Wrapped with a big piece of Swiss chard or your favorite large leafy green, you get a double dose of veggies to even out the tiny bit of bacon that crept its way into this luscious burger. Caramelized onions and a splash of balsamic add a little extra something, too.

Served with a side of Alexia Waffle Cut Sweet Potato Fries {or Seasoned Waffle Cut Fries as pictured here}, you'll be glad you didn't pull up to the next window. It's the best version of "fast food" you can have!

Stay in the loop of Alexia's products and promotions by joining their Club 350 newsletter, or head over to their recipe page for more ideas!

Bacon & Kale Balsamic Turkey Burgers

1 bag Alexia Waffle Cut Fries
2-3 slices bacon
1/2 large onion, finely diced
2 cups finely chopped kale
2 tablespoons balsamic
2-3 tablespoons chicken broth or water
Pinch of salt
1 pound ground turkey meat
4-5 large leaves of Swiss chard or favorite large-leafed green, washed, dried & stemmed

1. Preheat oven to 425. Line a large baking pan with foil and bake fries as directed on package.

2. Meanwhile, heat a large skillet {preferably non-stick} over medium-high heat on the stovetop. Add bacon and cook until beginning to crisp up. Add onion and saute until soft and translucent.

3. When the skillet begins to look a bit dry, deglaze the pan with balsamic and chicken broth or water. Add chopped kale and cook for about 2-3 more minutes until wilted. Remove from heat and set aside to cool slightly.

4. In a medium bowl, season turkey meat with a pinch of salt. Add cooled kale mixture. Gently incorporate throughout turkey meat; divide and shape into 4-5 patties.

5. In same skillet over medium-high heat, add a bit of olive oil or spray with non-stick cooking spray. Place burgers in skillet and cook for 4-5 minutes on one side or until browned. Flip and cook 2-3 minutes on the other side or until burgers are cooked through. Remove from skillet and allow to rest.

**Don't forget your fries in the oven!**

For Assembly:

Place condiments & toppings on burger {tomatoes, sauces, etc.}. Place burger on top of Swiss chard leaf to create an edible wrapper.

Serve with Alexia Waffle Cut Fries!

Alexia Foods offers frozen potatoes, appetizers, breads and side dishes with minimal, but distinctive, real ingredients that serve-up exceptional taste. Alexia frozen sides are a delicious addition to a balanced meal with that little something extra and can be ready in 25 minutes—or less. Sign up for Alexia’s Club 350 newsletter for more great meal inspiration!

Alexia. Farm to Flavor.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Alexia . The opinions and text are all mine.

The Ancient Olive + Blue Bell Ice Cream

Had someone told me 2 1/2 years ago that food blogging would give me the opportunity to eat copious amounts of ice cream in the name of "research", I might have started this blog much sooner.

I've gotten some pretty cool food related opportunities lately, but last week's visit to The Ancient Olive in Delray Beach might have just made one of the top three for this year so far. I was invited to come check out a really exciting collaboration between their store and beloved Blue Bell Ice Cream brand, and I didn't have to think twice about responding, "YES!" to the event.

I arrived at The Ancient Olive {which looks unassumingly small from the outside}, opened the door, and found myself drawn in to the seemingly endless array of shiny silver drums beckoning for investigation. Rows and rows of specialty olive oils and vinegars were punctuated by various other wares - from gifts like soaps and lotions to condiments like smoked sea salt and uniquely flavored hot sauce. {But more on that later!}

It was immediately evident that olive oils and balsamics are a true passion for co-owners Jeffrey Schrader and Brian Behling. They scour the world for the very best products available and proudly tout their latest accomplishment -- being able to call themselves carriers of Ultra Premium Certified Olive Oil. {Don't worry, I had no idea what that meant, either. But it's pretty cool and you should definitely read about it!} Not only are these two gentlemen knowledgeable, but they're also happy to lend a hand to anyone who walks into the shop with a question or curiosity about anything they sell.

Once I listened to them talk briefly about their quality products, it was easy to see why a partnership with Blue Bell Ice Cream was a natural fit. The two companies have quite a bit in common!

Through Jim Wiederholt, I learned that Blue Bell is a Texas-based company that started back in 1907. Over the years, they've maintained a proven track record by putting their heart and soul into creating an ice cream that ranks in the top three brands in the country! That's pretty big compliment, but the folks at Blue Bell seem to only care about one thing: Making truly delicious ice cream without ever compromising the quality of their product. {Did you know that some "ice creams" out there are not, in fact, ice cream but "frozen dairy dessert"?? Eek!}

{My only complaint: I could do without the high fructose corn syrup. Just a friendly opinion from a well-meaning fan!}

That's some professional ice cream scoopage right there.

Together, The Ancient Olive and Blue Bell Ice Cream make the Dessert Dream Team.

That's right, friends... olive oil and balsamic are no longer just for making vinaigrette. They also make some fabulous ice cream toppings.

I discovered the ice cream/balsamic thing about 3 years ago and was hooked, so I was super-jazzed to let the experts guide me in creating some amazing flavor combos.

Here are just a few of the ones we were sampling:

Italian Cream Cake Ice Cream + Blood Orange Olive Oil + Murray River Sea Salt

Peaches and Homemade Vanilla + Strawberry Balsamic + Basil Chiffonade

Caramel Turtle Cheesecake + Dark Chocolate Balsamic

Rockslide Brownie + Espresso Balsamic + Applewood Smoked Sea Salt

They even recommended a dash of Papaya Pequin Hot Sauce to enhance the flavor experience!

{P.S. My system was in complete lactose shock from going from a reduced/non-dairy diet in the past few weeks to stuffing my face with ice cream. Not recommended... but totally worth it!}

If you think ice cream and balsamic or olive oil isn't your thing {though I highly suggest trying it before coming to that conclusion!}, there are other ways to enjoy experimenting with these ingredients. 

For example, Maria Ruiz Castaneda discovered that flavored balsamics and olive oils were the perfect accompaniment to cashews, walnuts, and almonds. The pairings were so popular, in fact, that she just launched her own company -- Kernel Desires -- and is selling her delightful products at several of The Ancient Olive's locations. Her Blackberry-Ginger Walnuts were out of this world!

Flavored balsamic and vinegar are also featured in this amazing Coconut Lime Shrimp Ceviche that was served at the event. I couldn't get enough, so I made sure to get the scoop{ha! How appropriate for an ice cream post!} on the recipe and am sharing it with you today!

At the end of the event, we were each given a chance to choose four little bottles of flavored oil and balsamic, and were gifted with a generous cooler-full of Blue Bell Ice Cream... 4 half gallons to be exact! Swoon!

The udder-load.

Well, you can't say I didn't bring back some new, creative ideas for your next ice cream party! Be sure to let me know if you get innovative the next time you serve yourself a scoop. ;)

A big thanks to The Ancient Olive and Blue Bell Ice Cream for hosting this fantastic event!

Coconut Lime Shrimp Ceviche 
Courtesy of The Ancient Olive

1 bag {41 count} raw shrimp
2-3 cucumbers, diced
2 Serrano Peppers, diced
1 cup chopped cilantro
1 medium red onion diced
1/2 c Coconut Balsamic
1/2 c Persian Lime Olive Oil

1. In a large bowl, combine the diced cucumbers, peppers, cilantro, red onion, oil and vinegar together.

2. Parboil the shrimp, about 1 minute, then immediately transfer to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking.

3. Remove from ice water {draining as much water as possible}, and dice shrimp.

4. Add to the bowl with the rest of the ingredients. Stir well to combine.

5. Chill for 1 hour to allow flavors to marry. S

Serve with tortilla chips. Makes enough for a large crowd or a few very hungry folks! ;)