Cilantro Lime Chicken Breasts and OAMC

For the love of cooking... cilantro lime chicken

I don't really have much of a post for this week which is a shame because I made a great Rustic Apple Tart, and about 12 other dishes last week.  I was not catering, or throwing a dinner party, or anything exciting at all.  I was planning.  And by planning I mean plotting.  And by plotting I mean I am sick of not having time to cook dinner and I think that we have ordered too many pizzas in the past month. 

I say this only because my 3 year old asked me to call the lady that brings the pizza to the door so he could give her a hug.  That's a hard flag to ignore.  So I started searching for quick recipes and I stumbled upon Once a Month Cooking.  I don't even know why I started reading up on it because I have read it all before and thought... I think not!

However this time I came across Once a Month Mom... www.onceamonthmom.com, and she had 4 full menus already there waiting.  With a printable grocery list, and a prep list and fresh and tasty looking meals so I thought.... eh, why not.  I made all sorts of things.  Some very traditional that are my good old standbys for freezable meals.  Things I make before going to the hospital to say deliver children and such.  Things like meatloaf which I already told you about click here for recipe.  And spaghetti sauce which I have not told you about but the recipe has recently been requested because apparently not everyone has a fast spaghetti recipe that doesn't involve opening a jar and I think this is a staple so I will get on it.  Then there were Pork Carnitas, Ginger-Beef Stir Fry, Oatmeal pancakes, Scones, and CILANTRO CHICKEN.  That is the photo of it up there.  I didn't take any photos while making it because it was the last thing I made and I was burnt out on photos and food in general, and because honestly I didn't have high hopes for it, but it was delicious.  It also took 5 minutes to make and I have a second batch in the freezer just waiting for us.  Here is the link for the real recipe.

http://fortheloveofcooking-recipes.blogspot.com/2009/01/cilantro-and-lime-chicken-breasts.html

here is how I made it.... Take all ingredients... double the recipe and put into a blender or smoothie maker if you like to just throw it in the dishwasher... hypothetically speaking of course.  Pulse, pulse, some more... do a little dance with the pulse to make your sick 8 month old laugh. Now while making ridiculous faces at a the ridiculously cute 8 month old who is trying to free herself from the cute hat you've just put on her...

Now throw 1.5lbs or two chicken breasts in the bag... just as they came no fancy pounding needed.  Now pour half the marinade into each bag.  Smoosh the chicken...why yes that is a technical term.  Now remove as much air as you can, roll up the bag to take up less space and freeze.  When you want to cook them take them out the night before or the morning of.  At dinner time... grill.   Ta da.... that's it.  And it was good... so very good, and I am plotting some kind of black bean, tomato, avocado salad thing to go with it next time.  I can't wait.  And... there is another batch already so I don't even have to do the five minute prep just move it from the freezer to the fridge.... you can't even get a pizza delivered in that amount of time, your child's love of the delivery girl aside.  And my husband is lord of the grill so that is where my job ends other to say... did you start the grill?  Can you start the grill?  Hellllooooo?  Grill!

or how about this little gem. 

http://www.skinnytaste.com/2008/11/crock-pot-chicken-taco-chili-4-pts.html

I am not a huge fan of a lot of canned foods, but I think when it comes to beans and tomatoes often it's just easier.  If I had to remember to soak beans or lentils every single time I cooked them they would never be made.  If you have time use dried, however.... if you  had time you would probably cook something instead of using a crock pot, and honestly isn't it nice to know that you have something you can make in the house and you do not have to run out for anything.  The first time I made this I forgot to thaw the chicken so I just thew the frozen breasts on top, let it cook for 10 hours on low and hoped for the best.  It worked.  The second time I made it I forgot to make it, and ran home at lunch and thew everything into the crock pot, turned it on high for 4 hours (thawed chicken this time) and hoped for the best and IT WORKED!  Oh yeah and I didn't have cilantro that time either but I hardly missed it. 



As for the Once a Month Cooking so far so good.  I will be sure to get the better recipes to you.  And I hope they are all good because I made double batches of EVERYTHING.... why do something twice when you can do it once?