Southwest Chicken Panini

This sandwich has become a family favorite!  I made them for dinner on Wednesday, and my husband wanted one for lunch yesterday.  Next to my macaroni and cheese, this is one of the most requested meals in my house!

Ingredients:

For aioli:

1 tsp lemon juice

2 tbs mayonnaise

1/2 cup Greek fage 0% yogurt

1 small can olives, diced (reserve 1 1/2 tbsp)

1 tsp ancho chili powder

For sandwich:

8 slices whole wheat bread (or your favorite)

2 tbs olive oil

2 cups organic baby spinach

1 1/2 tsp coarse salt

1 tsp pepper

2 tsp ancho chili powder

2 chicken organic breasts

1 organic avocado, sliced

1 cup grated pepper jack cheese

Combine all ingredients for aioli and set aside.

Heat panini press (or pan) to 375.

Wrap chicken in plastic wrap and pound with a mallet or other heavy object to flatten.  Season with salt, pepper, and chili powder.  Cook on panini press for 4-6 minutes until outside is crispy and inside is tender and cooked through.  Cut chicken into 1/4 inch slices width-wise.  Brush bread with olive oil.  Spread olive aioli on all slices of bread.

Layer bread with spinach leaves, chicken, avocado slices, cheese and reserved olives.  Toast on panini press for 3-4 minutes, until sandwich is crispy and toasted.

Some of my favorite things

We don't do meatless mondays, but I always try to add a meatless meal (or 2) to my weekly menu plan.  This looks like a great website, and I want to try this one, maybe next week... Pasta Primavera

This morning, I made waffles and added 1/4 cup almonds and about 1 tsp of almond extract.  I wished I had some raspberries to make a raspberry puree for the top, but alas, I have to wait until next time!

Yesterday, I got to head back to my husband's home town for a stop at a couple places I LOVE.  One was the spice store Gold Leaf Tea and Spices.  I picked up my favorite Ancho Chili Powder and some cinnamon.  I also got a sample of their smoked paprika.  I will try it soon and let you know how it is!  They have a tea of the month club starting soon.  I think I may just have to join!

Oh, and I've been meaning to mention my new favorite store to shop in.  They've opened 2 nearby, which might not be a good thing!  Besides cooking, I love clothes and shoes!  My new find, thanks to The Pioneer Woman, is Francesca's.  I love that store!  I recently got this top and some adorable earrings that are not pictured on the site right now.  I am a lover of Anthropologie, but I love Francesca's more!  They have the same style as Anthropologie, but less expensive!  I can by 2 tops and a pair of earrings for the same price as one top at Anthro!  They have tons of tops and adorable jewelry!  I feel like I can try out new looks because I'm not investing a whole bunch of money .  Everything I have gotten there I love, and I really want to go get this soon, but alas, I probably shouldn't!

Harvest!

Just wanted to share the first harvest from my garden.

My little guy can't seem to eat enough of the tomatoes, and that cucumber was delicious!  The squash and cucumber plants are taking over my garden, I should have MANY more very soon.

What are you growing in your garden?

Menu Plan Monday

My husband is on vacation this week, so we are going to be out and about a bit.  Here's what I have planned for this week:

Monday: Pulled Pork tacos (crockpot Monday)

Tuesday: We're heading to the Boardwalk for $1 nights hot dogs and junk food (yes, we do it every once in a LONG while, the junk food, I mean!)

Wednesday: Southwest Chicken Panini (I'll post this recipe this week, it was a BIG hit a couple weeks ago with my family)

Thursday: Music in the Park with my husband, not sure what we'll pack for our picnic
 (Maybe this)

Friday: Heading to Carmel with my husband, then picking up my stepson.  I'm hoping we'll have an early dinner at our favorite place down there!

Saturday: Friend's wedding, not at home to cook.  My stepson will eat leftovers or dive into the sausages!

More menu planning ideas at Menu Plan Monday @ Organizing Junkie!

Favorite easy breakfast

You know those mornings when you want something fancier than cereal, but don't want to spend the time and energy to make pancakes or waffles?  I've been making this for years, and its definitely a family favorite (sometimes, I think my son likes it better than regular pancakes)

This is from the 2002 Cooking Light Annual Recipes.

Oven-Puffed Pancake
1/2 c all-purpose flour
1/2 c milk (we usually have 1% in the house, so we use that)
2 tbsp granulated sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 large egg
1 large egg white
1 tbsp butter

I usually add seasonal fruit.  Today, it was blueberries, but I love to add apples in the winter too!

Preheat over to 425.  Add all ingredients through flour to a bowl and mix thoroughly with a wish until blended.  Place 10 inch oven-safe pan on stove and melt butter.  Add batter and scatter fruit on top, if using.  Let cook on stove for 1 minute.  The edge should get slightly bubbly, and the butter should appear around the edge.  Bake for 18 minutes, or until golden brown.  You can serve with fresh fruit or powdered sugar.

When you take this out of the oven, it is beautiful golden brown and puffy.  It will fall pretty quickly after it comes out of the oven.  Its a fun, lazy morning breakfast!

Menu Plan Monday

Today, we headed to San Francisco with my dad and visited The California Academy of Sciences and then ate dinner at a family favorite, The Counter

Here's our menu for the rest of the week:

Tuesday: Chinese Chicken Salad

Wednesday: Smoked Mozerella pasta salad

Thursday: Cauliflower soup and fresh bread

Friday: homemade pizza

Saturday: Spaghetti carbonara

What's on your menu for the week?

For more menu planning, go to I'm an Organizing Junkie!

Quick Post today

We are sitting here being lazy, waiting for hubby to come home and I have 5 minutes before I have to get up and make dinner.  I was catching up on my favorite blogs and came across this post.  What a wonderful, small way to reach out and help a family in need.  I did, won't you help too?