Coconut Crusted Chicken Fingers with Coconut rice and Pineapple Cilantro salsa

Hey guys!

Yeah I know, two recipes within a few days. What can I tell ya...there's chilly weather, a bunch of snow, and many creative projects on the table. Combine all of these and I'm apt to do a whole bunch of cooking and baking. 

I promised some folks from Instagram and Facebook that I'd post this recipe today! Aaron and I couldn't stop talking about how delicious this meal was. We are huge cilantro fans. Whether it's infused in Mexican, Indian, or Thai...it can totally carry a recipe for us. As soon as we start chopping and the kitchen fills with it's distinctive scent we can't wait to eat! There's a brightness it brings to any meal. But we do understand that it's not for everyone...in fact there was this interesting discussion on NPR suggesting whether you go for Cilantro or not may actually be stamped on your DNA.   

And I've mentioned on many occasions that coconut is a big time favorite flavor of ours as well. From sweet to savory coconut is a friend in our kitchen.  

This meal was killer! The balance of flavors...the way the rice compliments the chicken and how the salsa compliments the rice etc...just fantastic! If you are already versed in flavoring like this then you'll love this recipe. If you have never tried a coconut rice/spicey yet fruity salsa combo I promise that your taste buds will dance! Forget boring white rice...this rice sings!  

This prep was quick, easy, and fun. Aaron and I worked side by side and were chowing down in no time! And what's great is that the chicken is baked not fried! And if you wanted you could always substitute for a lite coconut milk!

Ok...first things first...get your rice going:

Coconut Rice

2 cups jasmine rice (we used Carolina brand)

2 cups coconut milk (we used Thai kitchen brand)

1 3/4 cups water

2 heaping tablespoons of flaked sweetened coconut

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon coconut oil, or vegetable oil

Coat the bottom and sides of a deep pot with your oil.

Place your rice, coconut milk, water, coconut, and salt in the pot and set over medium-high to high heat. Stir occasionally to keep rice from sticking to the bottom of the pot and burning.

Once it has begun to gently bubble, stop stirring and reduce heat to low. Cover tightly with a lid and let simmer 15-20 minutes, or until most of the liquid has been absorbed by the rice. 

Now turn off the heat, but leave the covered pot on the burner to steam, until you are ready to plate everything!

Now let's get the chicken going!

Coconut Crusted Chicken Fingers

1 lb chicken tenders

1 cup flaked sweetened coconut 

1 cup plain panko breadcrumbs ( a crunchy Japanese breadcrumb, easy to find! )

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons dark brown sugar

1 tablespoon curry powder

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 teaspoon garlic salt

2 eggs

Preheat the oven to 425°F. Spray a baking sheet with nonstick spray. 

Combine your coconut, breadcrumbs, flour, brown sugar, curry powder, and cayenne pepper in a shallow bowl.

 Sprinkle the tenders with the garlic salt. 

Beat the eggs in a large bowl. Now, one at a time, dip your tenders into the eggs, coating both sides...and then right into your coconut mixture to dredge. Pressing to adhere as much of the deliciousness as possible!

Arrange the chicken in a single layer on the baking sheet. 

Spray both sides of the chicken with nonstick spray. 

Bake until lightly golden and crispy... about 20 to 25 minutes, turning once halfway through cooking time. 

while they bake...

Pineapple Salsa 

2 (15-ounce) cans pineapple chunks, drained

1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

4 teaspoons lime juice

4 teaspoons packed brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

2 teaspoons honey (optional)

In a large bowl, combine your pineapple, cilantro, lime juice, brown sugar, cayenne pepper and honey. Mix well.  It's that easy!

Serve over your rice and chicken.

serves 4-6

I hope you have fun making this easy and delicious meal!

xo, Jenny

Snow Day! ...and a yummy recipe! "Sloppy Joe Squares"

Hey guys! Well they weren't lying! Nemo dumped a good amount of the white stuff over the tri state area. We got about 7 inches! Poor Connecticut got 38 inches!!! NUTSO! I'm happy with the amount we got. Enough to make it officially a snow day without feeling like we are snowbound and isolated. Like the awful feelings we had in the wake of Sandy.  

Today we have the Walking Dead marathon on in anticipation of tomorrow night's premiere! Can't wait! And for lunch we had super yummy Sloppy Joe Squares! They are super simple to make and really really yummy...especially on a chilly day like today! As a kid my mom made traditional sloppy joes and they were always a family favorite. This version is not only easy but the neatness of them is very appealing...and the biscuity goodness that they're enveloped in takes the sloppy joe to another level. I know kiddos would probably love them!  Keep reading for the recipe! 

We are taking the day to clean the house...at least in the areas that still feel like a house. We're dusting, mopping, and organizing. I'm sure some of you have gone through some sort of home renovation where things were completely turned upside down, but you don't feel sane unless you keep that tiny livable area in some semblance of order. Probably about one half of our first floor is ok. But the other is totally unfinished, cold, and looks like a storage facility. So we have crammed everything that we need for everyday living into one area. Yes, it does feel like the walls are closing in on us sometimes. But in an attempt to maintain sanity (who am I kidding...I haven't been acquainted with sanity in years!!) we decided to take this snow day to clean up a bit so that tomorrows creative endeavors can be approached with less baggage in tow. 

In order to mop Aaron pulled the furniture out and Jack, liking his new vantage point by the front window, took it as a cue to sit up high in order to keep a stern eye on our shoveling neighbors. I mean who knows...without ole snake eyes on watch they could end up stealing some of our snow!

And then this little old man figured it didn't take two guys for that job.

We had some paint left on our palette so we went outside to play a bit! When I was little I did this with food coloring...which was soo fun! Today we had acrylic paint, watered it down, and just let it drip! Silly? Yes...Fun? Yes! Snow cupcake!

Even though it is cold out there it is really bright and fresh...I loved taking deep breaths.

Ok so now for that recipe!!

Sloppy Joe Squares

1 tbs butter or olive oil

1 medium sized onion

1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

2 garlic cloves minced

1 lb ground beef

1 cup ketchup

1/3 cup water

1/4 cup dark brown sugar

3 tbs Worcestershire sauce ( I use Lea & Perrins)

1 tbs red wine vinegar

3 tsp chili powder 

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

1/2 tsp mustard powder

You will also need:

2 cans Pillsbury Big & Buttery crescent rolls

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (we used a block of Tillamook Sharp Cheddar)

First, heat your oven to 350 degrees. 

In a large skillet,  melt your butter (or heat olive oil) and add your onion and garlic (and crushed red pepper flakes if using them)...cook until soft. Add your meat and cook until browned. Drain the grease.

             Now, add the salt, pepper, mustard powder, chili powder, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, and water, stir until well combined, and reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes, uncovered. 

Next,  in a 9x13 ungreased baking pan, roll out your one roll of crescent dough. Press into the bottom  and about 1/2 inch up on the sides of the pan. 

Now, evenly spread the sloppy joe filling over dough. 

Spread your cheese evenly over the filling, and then cover the filling with the other roll of dough. 

Bake for 30-35 minutes. 

Let cool about 10 mins before eating. 

These squares heat up perfectly the next day...if there are any left. ;)

Let me know if you make them!

Happy Snow Day to you friends! (even if you are just living vicariously through blogland friends)

xo Jenny 

Friday Favorites

This week's Friday Favorites are to be viewed with rose tinted glasses. A sampling of things that get us in the Valentine's spirit. A day that is certainly for sweethearts...but I've always attached additional meaning to the day...it's a day dedicated to "love" in general. I love things that inspire love. After all, it's what makes the world go round. So let's give some love to these lovey things!

I've seen this two tone cake technique done in lots of Japanese sweets. I can seriously stare at Japanese sweets all day long. For once I think I might be of the opinion that they actually look "too good to eat!"

Well, I came across this super duper cute double heart Peek-A-Boo Pound Cake ideal for Valentine's Day! So clever! Perfect as a gift for a friend...or imagine leaving this in the break room at work and completely spoiling your coworkers!

Ohh gosh! Candy Cane Crush polish worn over candy pink. Staring down at my fingertips I think I'd want to sip my Eloise pink hot chocolate all day and draw hearts in a notebook.

This little tableau tugs at my heart strings. In our kitchen re-do we'll be painting one whole wall with chalkboard paint...so when I saw this I swooned. Just paint and chalk and a few classic pieces and you've got a perfectly clean well lighted place in which to share dreams with your sweetheart. 

I'm not one for ultra fancy bags...I'm a bit of a magpie and a twelve year old at heart...so utility is the name of the game when it comes to my bags. But of course the bag must be cute as a button! As is this French Paperboy Bag. Love it!

Again, I love tributes to love. And I LOVE comfy and classic heather gray. Add a bunch of sparkle, like you see on this sweatshirt and we've pretty much sealed the deal.

All year round I am gaga for vintage Valentines. I just could die over the colors and overall sweetness that they embody. Here are a couple I found on ebay.

What do you love? What brings out the love in you? I'm really not a cold weather gal...so Valentines comes at just the right time to warm my heart up and get me thrilled about the things that make my world go round.

Happy Friday friends!

xo, Jenny

In Memory of our sweet little feathered friend "Bird"

Today our dear friend "Bird" passed on. It was sudden and we were right there as it happened. Most likely it was a heart attack. We miss him so so much already. His beautiful singing filled our days. We work from home and he was such a big part of our daily routine. He chirped when we opened doors, when we took the dogs outside he'd see us out the window and yell as loud as he could so that we'd hear him inside, when we used the microwave he had something to say, when we listened to music. In the morning Aaron would come downstairs first and Bird would be silent...he'd wait til we were both on the couch and then he'd start singing to start the day. His absence is truly palpable. 

We'll miss giving him his spray of millet...he'd get so excited as he saw us open the bag. And the little nibbles he gave to the tip of Aaron's nose...and the way he'd slide down the rungs of his cage like they were fireman's poles. 

He was present for every part of our day. Even when he'd chirp loudly and relentlessly it was never ever anything close to a nuisance...he'd be screaming his head off to the point where we could barely continue our conversation and we'd just smile and laugh and say "Bird...you're crazy!" 

This commercial was his favorite! Just a few minutes ago it came on the television and it was the first time ever that we didn't hear bird chirping at the end of the jingle. It was a little hard to handle. We loved that he had his "thing"...something about the Empire Carpet jingle thrilled the little guy.

And this song...oh, jeez we just listened to this and we couldn't hold back the tears. Every time the whistling part came it was Bird's time to shine. 

We'll miss the beautiful little guy. He was such a gift to us and I hope he knew it. There's no way that we ever could've reciprocated the magic and sunshine he brought to us. I seriously don't know how to explain it...he grounded us and kept things light when they could've been very heavy. Such a beautiful little guy. 

Bird, thank you for blessing us with your presence and your song.

Show & Tell: Vintage Valentines

Hey friends!

I'm loving all of the Valentine inspired crafts, recipes, decorations, and DIYS that I've been seeing all throughout blogland, Instagram and of course pinterest! :) I cannot cannot cannot tell you how happy I am that my Vintage Valentine collection was spared in the Hurricane! I have been collecting them for well over 18 yrs! I have hundreds! Some dating back to the 20s! You know that I am a pink gal and if I had to choose between pink and red, pink would be the winner. But Valentine's Day is just SO FUN! and I just couldn't live without the classic red. It is dazzling! Gosh, I have memories of grade school Valentine's Day parties and baking cupcakes to bring to my class. One year...I think it was 2nd grade...we constructed these little "mailboxes" from paper plates, a hole punch, and yarn. We made them look like they had sewn edges and we decorated them with paint & glitter and then hung them from the back of our desks. During our party everyone walked down the rows placing their Valentine's in each of the mailboxes. We would then to take them home to open that night. It was sooo exciting! Some of my happiest memories are of holiday classroom parties! I loved making the classroom decorations the week or so beforehand. It was so fun seeing them hang on bulletin boards and in the windows!

I've been collecting these adorable little ephemeral pronouncements of love for so many years. Picking them up at antique shops, on ebay, at yard sales...etc. I love seeing the distinct fonts and trends of each era.

This may be my favorite. It is the largest I own...like double the size of the others. Probably one that you'd reserve for that extra special someone. And despite it's age, the little pull tag at the bottom is still functional.

A little tug opens her eyes and reveals a space for the message.

The cards of the past were so much more substantial than today's little throw aways. I adore this one with these two cuties...

ahhh that little mirror image kills me! And what a gent that Roy D. must've been.

Oh those adorable rosy cheeks!

And this dapper fella with his top hat, cane...and cigar!

I'm sensing that mom filled this one out dated 1929!

Jeez look at these little guys! Brown paper packages and bellhops! Oh those uniforms!

I love seeing these little notes...Roy D makes another appearance!

yowza Ronald! 

How cuuute is this one?! My dad tells me about his time in Catholic school back when he was growing up in New York City's upper west side back in the 40s and 50s. Kids constantly being made to wear Dunce hats!

I seriously am brought to tears when I look through these old treasures. Through the ages they came into my possession...all this adorable imagery, the scrawled messages from the kids...and now I get to keep them and use them in art projects and share their cuteness with everyone. 

Do you collect vintage Valentine's? Have you blogged them? I'd love to see them! Leave me a link in the comments!

If you'd like to start your own collection pop over to ebay or etsy! Some sellers list them in bunches! :) Instant collection!

Happy February kids!

xo Jenny

life lately...

Hey kids! Happy Saturday to you! From what I've been seeing on Instagram and blogs many of you are pretty covered in snow. As beautiful and enchanting as some of those photos are I am so so glad that we are not in your zipcode. In the span of one week we had pipes freeze and burst and then it warmed up enough for a mosquito to invade my space! Aaron shakes his head at my anger over mosquitos. I get pretty nuts when I see mosquitos inside MY home. How dare they! I seriously would yell at them. I have no love for the little whining bloodsuckers.

And currently we are back to cold cold cold. Had to keep the faucets dripping last night. The sun is shining today but we still need the space heater aimed at us.

Aimed at us as we work...yes we're working today...what else is new?! So many projects going on at once. But when there is paint left on a palette and things are drying and I'm sketching things, Aaron cannot help himself! Out comes his marble notebook art journal and within minutes there is a "pretty girl".  I love the look of these girls...how they're just dashed out quickly on lined paper. They're unassuming and unimportant...rendered with whatever leftover paint is on the palette...yet they work. I hope to keep these notebooks of his forever. I just love the juxtaposition of the black and white marble...and the lines and these pretty pastel colors and faces. And another crack up is I'm pretty sure that the above gal was painted all within the length of Metallica's Battery. Yeah this chick has secrets. Don't let the sweet collar fool ya! ;)

We had to run to Staples and oooh I just couldn't pass up these candy colored office bits! Eeee! look at those push pins. Once that studio is finished I will be a pin pushing fool!

And meet the newest member of the family. I had been wanting this guy for years now. I kid you not...Years! I had seen him in a shop in Lambertville/New Hope years ago and I've been kicking myself since. So happy to have found one online! Ebay! And get this...it was like under $2.00!! REALLY! 

And ohhh I am pretty darn excited about my new bag! I had been needing a new purse so so badly.  An everyday bag. And this black and cream striped number certainly fits the bill. It was a Friday Favorite a little while ago. I'll show you a bit more this coming week! How about a "What's in my bag" post?

Oh man...so this amaaazing pkg arrived at our door all the way from Tillamook Oregon! Our sweet friend Lonnie knows what a cheese NUT Aaron is. We had met Lonnie back in 2007 when we taught at Silver Bella in Omaha! We had been blog friends and she and her daughter owned a bakery which they just so happened to decorate with our art. She is one of the sweetest gals ever! And Super talented too! 

Aaron was beyond thrilled. Check out this haul! And he wears his pin proudly! That night we made grilled Havarti and marionberry sandwiches for dinner!

And these were heavenly too....maybe Lonnie included them for me!

Oh Oh and this here is my new mug! I know...not really anything like mega special but I just loved it the second I saw it!  :)  I found it at A&P while grocery shopping! I think it was 1.99!!  #cheapdate 

What have you guys been up to? Any good movies? or music? Tell me! :)

xo Jenny...and Aaron sends love!

Friday Favorites

Stuff is so inspiring! I know that's a particularly general statement...but I guess it's meant to be. The things that inspire me on a daily basis are so random and range across such a broad spectrum of categories, genres, and mediums. I could never box them up for safe keeping...to pull out on a rainy day when I'm feeling especially dull. Yeah sure, I've got Pinterest etc...but sometimes I find it's best to let stuff find you when it's ready to find you. And that's what so many of my Friday Favorites are...wonderful things that travel through space and find me in just the right mood with just the right eyes for seeing them. I hope this week's Friday Faves find you in a blissfully receptive state.

Starting with Ohhh goodness!! This dress I spied over at Hello Holiday. Pair this with black tights and a cardigan and look out! I could decorate a room around this dress.

 

These tights  embellished with "love text" are so fab! I love when texture and pattern aren't merely texture and pattern...it's what I love about art journaling.

The Art of Louis Boudreault  absolutely floors me. The layers, the color...and jeez, the large format of them! Again, it's impossible for these not to find their way into my creative process. 

It's so simple and yet so easy to forget. As the studio starts to come together I could see this print occupying some wall space in there.

I adore this necklace from Pygmy Hippo Shoppe. One of the cutest shops on the face of the earth that I vow to visit in real life one day! 

Oh jeez...these are just too cute! Our bathroom has a vintage boardwalk theme...well I should say HAD...thanks a lot Hurricane Sandy. Right now it needs to be gutted. The floor fell in... the walls, ceiling, shower, tiles, vanity, all need to be replaced...yeah, so pretty much evvverything. So I guess we'll be starting from scratch. I'm not sure if we'll stick to what we had or try something brand new. Either way these would really make me happy! 

Ohh man: neeed! If you know me you know that I've been all about GOLD forevs...like when most peeps thought gold was only "still worn" on Staten Island. I've been rocken' my gold bamboo door knockers since I was 14! And my first crush was Mr. T. yep! The mass of gold necklaces, the camo pants rolled up, the combat boots, and the best haircut in the business! Well, that said...I need this set.

Ok, hope you were inspired to do the thing you do. (and bless you if Shopping is your thing!) Happy Friday!

xo, Jenny