Chermoula Spiced Chicken

While Autumn introduces new dishes in our regular menu rotation, I have gotten bored with our regular menu rotation.  So I've been revisiting some recipes I've tagged in various magazines, cookbooks, or websites that I have yet to make.

This really easy chicken recipe is one of them. It is full of really good for you spices, like tumeric and cumin and really doesn't take a lot of time to come together. Oh and once you read over the ingredients list you'll see there is NO SALT and you won't even miss it!

Chermoula Spiced Chicken
Adapted from http://blog.seasonwithspice.com/2011/11/charmoula-spice-roasted-chicken-recipe.html

What you need:

• 4 pieces of chicken leg (thigh & drumstick) or 6 pieces of chicken thighs
• 1 small red onion, chopped
• 4-5 garlic cloves, chopped
• 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
• 1 tablespoon dried or fresh parsley leaves, chopped
• 1 tbsp ground turmeric
• 1/2 tbsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tbsp ground coriander seeds
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• dash of cayenne or red chili flakes, optional
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 2 tsp lemon zest, optional
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Freshly ground black pepper to taste

What to do:

• Blend the chopped onion, garlic and fresh herbs using a food processor
• In a bowl, combine the blended mixture with all the spices.
• Then add the olive oil, lemon juice and lemon zest. Mix well until you obtain a yellow paste.
• Make 2-3 light scores on each chicken piece. This will allow the chermoula marinade to get all up in the chicken! Rub them thoroughly with the chermoula paste. Marinate for one hour at room temperature or overnight in the refrigerator.
• Preheat oven to 375F.
• Place the marinated chicken on baking sheet and sprinkle with freshly ground pepper. Roast for 40-50 minutes.
• Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the chicken before serving, optional.
• Be sure to let the chicken rest for a few minutes to allow the juices to redistribute!
  
  
  
  

  

  
  

Fine by Birthday Time #2

It is probably retained water loss but I will take it! Just need to keep this losing streak going!! How are you doing with your goals?

Pinterest to the Rescue: The Fashioneata Files

When B was about 4 or 5 years old, she announced to her dad and I that she was glad she was a "fashioneata"  I laughed so hard I cried! Fashioneata? Really???? 

She has always been aware of her 'look' and has always been fairly fashion forward.  I have no idea where she gets this from because her dear mother is neither a fashionista or "fashioneata" This is reason 4,524,128,685 that I love Pinterest...fashion boards!

Pinners usually use Polyvore to create looks and then place them on Pinterest. Polyvore is so awesome it even gives you the prices for the items.  Now being the bargain shopper that I am, I can easily replicate the fashions I like for less.

So an occasional segment on Southern Girl City Swirl will be The Fashioneata Files where I will take an outfit from Pinterest and recreate it for less. B is loving this! LOL

Here are a few of my favorite looks. You can follow my 'My Style' board here and my 'I Love My Legs' board here which is dedicated to dresses cause I LOVE a hot dress/skirt.

Wordless Wednesday: Grilled Salmon Tacos

Fine by Birthday Time #1

**Editor note - I should have posted this weeks ago on September 12th. Due to my crazy work schedule that did not happen. However, this is still very relevant to my goal.**


So earlier this week I stepped onto this (here on referred to as Mister):

And got this O_O:

I stepped onto Mister again to be sure that number was correct and it was all “Do like I tellya”!!

I immedJETly went out and purchased new running shoes a pair of regular workout shoes. I gathered some gear that had been sitting on a shelf in my garage, I cleaned up my workout play list, made sure my Couch25k was updated and set a goal:

 20 by 12/12

Fine by Birthday Time!

Can I tell y’all how disgusted I was when that number popped up on Mister??? I was so disappointed in myself.  Last year in November I was about 190 give or take. I was looking goodT, jeans were falling off, I was >>>thisclose<<< to sliding (instead of squeezing) into size 14 then BOOM.  I got holiday comfortable. I ate more than I exercised, that five pound gain that would have been easier to lose turned into a 37lb gain. I got lazy as hell.

I feel every one of those extra pounds too. I am far more fatigued, my knees ache and my stomach has this bottomless pit thing going on, I mean I eat and eat! I hate it! More importantly I am really diappointed in myself, I fell off the wagon and I fell hard.  What I know for sure though is I really do feel better after working out and I know working out is KEY to my weight loss and maintenance.

So, the goal for the next 90 days is to lose 20lbs. Ninety days from 9/12 is 12/12, my actual born on date.  I will keep track of my progress on the blog every Wednesday. Y’all better watch me work! Fine by Birthday Time is officially in full affect around 18082!

What are some things YOU do to make exercising a regular part of your life or to simply be healthier?

Wordless Wednesday: Church Flow

Wordless Wednesday: How My Weekend Started

Curry Roasted Wings

So Babe and her Dad had a come to Jesus talk with me a few weeks ago. They ever so gently (snort) told me that I am wasting my talents serving them the same rotation of meals every week O_o See how they gang up on me??  Well to that end, I was on the hunt for "new and exciting" dishes to serve the troops. So for the next couple of weeks I will be cooking that "new, new ish"

Today I made these wings! Bay-bey!!!!! These wings right here were all of THAT and easy to prep to boot.  You can use any curry powder you choose. I used a generic McCor.mick brand and a bit of garam marsala. I completely eliminated the salt (of course) because it truly did not need it. The melted apple jelly set this wings off. There was nothing but lip smacking and finger licking at the table. Um, yes we did have Southern fried okra with this Indian style dish! LOL

Curry Roasted Wings
Adapted from Cuisine at Home, Issue 57 June 2008

What you need:

• 1/8 cup of your favorite curry powder
• 1/8 cup garam marsala
• 1 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 16 chicken wing pieces
• 1/4 cup oil (you need enough oil to evenly coat the wings)
• 1/2 - 1 cup apple jelly

What to do:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees
• Combine the curry powder, garam marsala, pepper flakes and pepper in a resealable plastic bag; reserve 1 Tbs of mixture
• In a medium bowl add the chicken and the oil; using your hands evenly coat the chicken
• Add the chicken, seal the bag and shake to coat
• On a baking sheet place the wings in a single layer and roast for 30 minutes or until cooked through
• In a medium skillet add the reserved spice mix along with the apple jelly; warm just enough to melt the jelly. Place the cooked chicken in the apple jelly mixture and gently stir to coat.

Originally posted August 22, 2011 from my old blog at www.threefoodwords.blogspot.com

Did You Know...?

That you can rent camera lenses for your fancy, schmancy camera? This site offers rental of camera and video equipment. I have never used this company before but I know a lot of you are for real about that photography life so this might be useful for you!
You're welcome.

Now Churning: Cookie Dough Ice Cream

It was seriously as good as it looks. Cookie dough ice cream that is actual cookie dough flavored and not chunks of cookie dough! This is one of B's favorite flavors and she definitely had her share!

Cookie Dough Ice Cream Adapted from http://www.takeamegabite.com/cookie-no-dough-ice-cream/

What you need:

• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 3 T unsalted butter
• 2 cups half and half
• 1 1/2 cups whole milk
• 2 t pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup chocolate chips

What to do:

• In small bowl, whisk together the brown sugar and egg yolks until pale and fluffy. Set aside.
• In a small saucepan, melt the butter until it’s a deep golden brown color. There will be brown tiny flecks at the bottom of the pan and have a delicious nutty smell
• Add the half and half and heat until just about to boil
• Take the half and half mixture off the heat, and *temper the eggs until about half of the half/half is mixed into the egg/sugar mixture. 

*Temper: to gradually introduce hot liquid to eggs while stirring. Do this so you won't cook the eggs with the hot liquid.

• Pour everything back into the sauce pan. Heat until the mixture coats the back of a spoon; be sure to consistently stir the mixture while heating.
• Off the heat add the whole milk and vanilla
• Cool the mixture in the fridge; I usually do this overnight.
• Transfer to your ice cream maker and follow the manufacturer's instructions for churning
• When the ice cream is almost fully churned, add the chocolate chips
• Freeze overnight