Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

Thanks to "Just a Taste" blog for this recipe. It is awesome! Perfect Monday dinner to come home to after a long day. Many times "Asian" type chicken dishes in the crock pot lack flavor. This one was packed with flavor. I did add A LOT more garlic and onions to the recipe, I highly recommend it. This dish was also really good with some sriracha lightly drizzled over :) I served ours over brown Jasmine rice (even though it looks white in the picture), but it is definitely not necessary.

3 large chicken breasts, skinless

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup blackberry jam

1/4 cup hoisin sauce

2 tablespoons olive oil

7 cloves garlic minced

1 diced onion

1 teaspoon crushed red pepper

1 tablespoon cornstarch

scallions & sesame seeds for garnish

Directions:

• Put chicken in the slow cooker
• In a small bowl, mix together hone, soy, jam, hoisin, olive oil, garlic, onion and crushed red peppers. Then pour the sauce over the chicken
• Cover and cook the chicken on low for 5 hours until the chicken is fully cooked. 
• Remove the chicken and shred, then put in a large bowl.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water to make a slurry.
• Transfer liquids from slow cooker into a small saucepan and set over medium-high heat and whisk. Add the cornstarch slurry.
• Bring the sauce to a boil and cook until it reduces and has thickened slightly - 3-5 minutes. 
• Pour the sauce over the chicken and toss. 
• Serve the chicken topped with scallions and sesame seeds. 

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Chicken Ravioli with Kale and Peppers

Here is what my schedule regularly looks like: Wake up at 4:30 am, get to the gym by 4:50 to set up and workout from 5:15 -6:15 am, run to work and be working by 7:00 am, work until 4:00 pm, rush home, change and get back to the gym by 5:30 pm (trying to get some sort of dinner prepped before I go to the gym), work at the gym until 8 - 8:30 pm! Long day! So when Stephen and I get home at 8 - 8:30 we are starving and I am always looking for something quick to make. This is a dish I will regularly go to. DELICIOUS and uber simple!

1/2 container of Costco Chicken & Mozzarella Ravioli

Italian Meatballs (mine had mozzarella in them)

1 orange pepper, diced

1 yellow pepper. diced

1 cup of Kale, diced

2 cups fresh spinach

salt and pepper

garlic powder

pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)

Meatballs

Directions:

• Boil your water and cook the ravioli according to the instructions, drain and set aside - reserve about 1/4 cup of hot cooking liquid
• Cook meatballs in a pan until they are browned
• Add Peppers, kale, and spinach and cook about 5 minutes, until everything is softer. You still want everything to taste fresh and have some crispness. 
• Season the vegetables
• Add the ravioli to the veggies and meatballs - add a little bit of the pasta cooking water to the pan and stir, careful not to add to much (only need about 3 tablespoons). 
• Devour! 

WODtoberfest 2013

I competed in my second CrossFit competition this past Saturday!! Although I had really hoped I would place higher, I am super proud of my 8th place finish- TOP 10!! woo hoo!! I had so much fun and I really feel so blessed to be part of such an awesome team. Obsidian CrossFit had such a strong presence at the event and it was so fun to cheer on every single athlete. I can't wait for next year. Below is a pic of our crew- although we were missing a couple of key people when we took the picture (my parents, Stephens mom and some of our other awesome cheerleaders!)

Check out our website!

www.CoastlineSC.com

Teriyaki Chicken Sliders

This was a quick dinner idea last week. Had some chicken... was craving Kings Hawaiian Rolls.. and had some teriyaki glaze.. Done. These were delicious!! I might cut the strips of chicken a little differently the next time I do it, so they fit better on the rolls, but if you are ok with a little bit of mess, just dig in with these! I served it up with an Chinese chicken salad on the side.

1 jar of Teriyaki glaze

1 tablespoon coconut oil

chicken breasts or thighs

1 orange pepper, diced

1 teaspoon garlic poweder

1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

salt and pepper

Kings Hawaiian Rolls

Chinese chicken salad (or your other fav salad)

Directions:

• Dice up your chicken and add it to a bowl. Add all of the seasonings and mix. 
• If you have time, let it marinate in the fridge for at least an hour - up to overnight. 
• In a large pan, saute the pepper in the coconut oil.
• Add chicken and cook all the way through. 
• Serve on your rolls! 

First Day of School!

Today marks Stephen's first day of school - first day with his own classroom, his own rules, his own chair, and his own lesson plans. I am so incredibly proud of him, I could burst! Unfortunately this morning I was out the door before he was dressed and ready so I didn't get to take that "first day picture" that everyone seems to get. Maybe tonight :) I can't believe how incredibly lucky I am to have married this stud! Below is a pic I was able to snap of him last week when we were getting his classroom ready. Stephen - you are doing the job God has asked you to do, nothing but amazing things are coming for you!

CrossFit Level 1 Training

Melissa, Teresa and I attended the Level 1 CrossFit Training class last weekend (Aug 17-18). I learned SO much and took away so many awesome tips for how to improve not only my training, but others. Lets hope I passed the test! Our trainers were Russel Berger, Michelle (her last name escapes me) and Neal Maddox (he was #9 in the 2013 CrossFit Games). So awesome to spend some time with Melissa and Teresa, see where the CrossFit Games started (CrossFit Ranch, Aromas, CA), and do something I love.