buffalo is the new black

When did the buffalo chicken flavor become such a trend?

I remember a few years ago when Buffalo Chicken Dip emerged in some of our game day catering menus at work, and even before then when restaurants like Buffalo Wild Wings became popular.

And then at some point, you could purchase your very own wing sauce in the grocery store.  And pizza places introduced Buffalo Chicken Pizza?  Didn't see that one coming.

I enjoy wings on occasion, but I have never ventured into the let's-make-every-chicken-recipe-available-in-the-buffalo-variety world, until this week.

Chicken burgers have become quite a go-to for me.  They are relatively healthy, and like the versatile sweet potato, they can spotlight a slew of delicious tastes.  This one by Giada is one of my favorites.

One night this week I was dying to cook, but was strapped for time, and I decided to give the Buffalo Chicken Burger a chance.  I used this recipe, but here it is with my own notes.

Buffalo Chicken Burgers

1 lb. ground chicken breast
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. course ground pepper
1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp. paprika
1/4 c. buffalo wing sauce*
1/4 c. breadcrumbs*
1/4 c. grated parmesan cheese
Ranch or Blue Cheese dressing, optional
Extra wing sauce, optional

* I had never bought wing sauce before, and I strangely rolled the dice on the Budweiser brand.  It is delicious, but I am certain that any brand is fine.

* I always use Panko bread crumbs, but again, I'm sure any you have on hand will serve the purpose.

1. Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl.  Use your hands, be gentle, and don't over-mix.  Form into four patties.


2. Heat a grill pan (or grill, if you're really going all out) to medium-high heat, and lightly spray with non-stick oil.


3. Cook for 4-5 minutes on each side.

As for serving, obviously you can eat these like a real burger.  Personally, I think that this burger, some melted pepper jack cheese, lettuce, tomato, and Ranch dressing, all piled up on a freshly baked roll, would be pretty fantastic.

However, if you're watching the calories and fleeing from carbs, it also works great on a bed of lettuce, with tomatoes, green onions, and French's fried onions (my favorite salad topping, ever).  Over the top, I drizzled a little bit of the wing sauce, and a little bit of Ranch dressing, and it made for a very tasty salad.

And if I'd had some, crumbled blue cheese would have also made an appearance.

Happy weekend, folks.  Go grill up something in this gorgeous fall weather!

thankful thursday #97

A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned my intention to buy this couch:

I had to strategize on the timing, because frankly, spending money like that requires some planning!

This week I finally bit the bullet, and praise Jesus, no buyer's regret.

And even better?  I only had to pay a deposit to order it.  It's like God sort of built in a payment plan for me, with no interest.

That was so gentle of Him, to lessen the blow.  I can't help but be thankful!

In other news, I am not traveling this weekend and am beyond excited to enjoy time in my home, cooking in my kitchen, lounging on my couch, watching my football team.

Thankful doesn't even begin to describe my sentiment about that.

What's got you excited today?  Go on, be grateful!

meeting charles

From the club level windows, I checked the scoreboard, relieved to see the game clock finally nearing the end of the fourth quarter. The home team nursed a comfortable lead, and fans had begun to exit the stadium.

My favorite time of the work day.  Glory!

Behind me, a gentleman steadied a young man against the back wall of the club level, and I rolled my eyes, annoyed at the inevitable game day scene: inebriated fans who lack self control.

I hope no one caught me in that moment of unprofessionalism.

I should check to see if we need medical assistance.

I stepped closer and peered around the corner to get a better visual.

The young man was shaking, but determined; unstable, but trusting in the elder man's strength.  His wheelchair sat empty to his right.

This man wants to take his picture.

"Would you like a picture together?  I'm happy to take one,"  I offered sheepishly.

How lame.  Is that the best you can do here?

He seemed grateful and, given the opportunity to be in the photo, suggested a different location with a better background.  I was more than happy to oblige.

He lowered the young man back into his wheelchair, and we began our short walk together.

Charles Sr. shared proudly with me about his son, Charles Jr., who is approaching the second anniversary of the tragic accident that changed their lives forever. Written off by doctors and expected to have no brain activity ever again, Charles Jr. eventually emerged from a ten-month coma, determined to walk again and to finish his degree on campus.

I was so honored to meet him.

We found the spot for our photo shoot, and Charles raised his son out of his chair with an inner strength that only pours out of a dad with a son in need.  He nudged him and said, "Show her how you can step."

And he did. 

Charles Jr. struggled to get into position.  His dad adjusted his ball cap, so his eyes would shine unobstructed, straight into that camera.  Charles Sr. stood close to his son's side, just like any dad would, making a memory with his son at a football game.

I snapped two pictures, shook their hands, and wished them well.

The moment I turned my face away, tears spilled over easily, without warning.

I cried because I'm a sucker for a good father-son story.

I cried because that dad loved his son hard, and was proud of him.

I cried because that son had more faith than his doctors did.

I cried because just about every "problem" I am paid to solve is altogether absurd in real life.

Real life is unfair.

In real life, some people are working hard to take one tiny, literal step.

I've cried twice more since meeting Charles, and I imagine I will do so again.

He is a sweet reminder to find opportunities to step outside of my self-centered world and into real life, where sometimes, somebody just wants his picture taken.

thankful thursday #96

Four weeks from today, on October 18th, I will write my 100th Thankful Thursday post. Wild.

To celebrate, I'm considering a little giveaway. And when I say little, I mean a little something, that might have a big impact on somebody.

You're invited to play, so stay tuned to see how that will all go down. I'm not sure I quite know myself!

As for #96, though, this week is almost my favorite week of the year (second only to Holy Week, of course) because tucked in the middle of it, is the first day I...

Feel a little nip in the air ...

Turn on the heat in my car for a quick minute to take the chill off ...

Look up and see leaves beginning to change their color ...

Wear my first light sweater ...

Begin considering what will be my nail polish color of the season ...

Research cozy soup recipes ...

Welcome Fall.

I'm so thankful to see Fall again.

And you? What are you appreciating this week? Go on, be grateful!

the christmas card quandary

Today began the annual hunt for the perfect Christmas card.

Weird that I do that in September?  Maybe.

But anyone who knows me well, knows that I love sending Christmas cards.  Even when I was an intern making barely enough money to pay my bills, I invested in Christmas greetings, because they are meaningful to me.  Not obligatory.

What I do not love, however, is that the best card designs out there -- and there are some fabulous ones, to be sure -- involve a little something I like to call, 

A family.

Or, a spouse.

Or rather, über-artistic photographs of said subjects.

Now truly, I'm not a whiner about singleness.  In fact, there are only about two times in my life where I have thrown a legitimate tantrum, where I may or may not have sat in the floor and cried about it.  And over spilled barbecue sauce on white carpet, wailed something overdramatic like, I mean, Lord, can I just get a husband to help me carry in these bags of groceries?  Just this once?

I know there are non-photo cards.  Goodness knows I've worked that system many a year.

But blah.

And custom designs are not realistic.  I do have a budget, and I'm no graphic designer.

Single people, unite.  Give me some solutions before I have a mini-tantrum, sit in my floor, and cry, Can't I just have one cute photo, for one cute Christmas card?

And that rant, friends, is one I like to file in a little growing category of musings called #firstworldproblems.

Don't pretend like you don't have 'em.

all hail the sweet potato

Until I was about 22, sweet potatoes grossed me out.  I don't know why.  I think it has roots (no pun intended) in my disdain for certain sweet and savory combination foods.

For example, chocolate-covered pretzels?  Nasty.

Maybe since sweet potatoes were always a side dish served with my Mimi's pot roast, I just couldn't get over that personal quirk?  I don't know.

But these days?  Oh, how I love a sweet potato.  I almost always roast them, and while they usually take on the form of a sweet potato fry, I haven't mastered a sweet potato fry crispiness, which I regret.

As roasted s.p.'s go, though, you can season them up a thousand different ways.  So versatile, those s.p.'s.  This particular recipe happens to use one of the most boring standard flavor combinations ever, but it has so many other things going for it.

• It's super simple.  (Anyone can cube up potatoes and chop garlic.)

• The potatoes' color really shine in a white baking dish.  (Even a weeknight meal deserves some flare now and again.)

• It calls for rosemary.  (I have rosemary bushes that are bordering on kudzu-status.  It's everywhere, people.)

Give these a go when you need a simple side, especially as fall weather approaches (yes, Jesus, yes).

Rosemary Roasted Sweet Potatoes

3 sweet potatoes, cubed into one-inch pieces (peel or don't peel, whichever you prefer)
3 Tbsp. EVOO
3 garlic cloves, minced
3 branches of fresh rosemary, chopped
1/4 tsp. kosher salt (or to taste)
1/4 tsp. course ground pepper (or to taste)

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
 
2. Whisk together EVOO, garlic, rosemary, salt and pepper in a mixing bowl.
 
3. Add sweet potatoes to the EVOO mixture and toss to coat.
 
4. Pour potatoes into a baking dish (I used an 8 x 8 square, but anything comparable in size is good).
 
5. Bake for 25 minutes, stir, and bake for 25 more minutes, until potatoes are tender.

hello mondays (a case of them)

I had a case of the Mondays today.

Sometimes when Monday is around the corner, the only thing you can do is greet him, and face him head on.  It's like saying, Bring it, Monday.  I'm ready for you.

Kind of like this:

Hello, game reports.  You don't scare me.

Hello, rain.  You want to send me straight into nap mode, but no sir.  I have too much to do.

Hello, humidity.  Your abuse of my hair makes me think I need a haircut.  You don't fool me.

Hello, lunch with the girls.  Belated birthday celebrations make Mondays better.

Hello, old friend I ran into at lunch.  It's been too long!

Hello, shopping for my baby brother's birthday present.  I can't believe he's 26 in two days!

Hello, skipping out on my Monday night run.  I'm just not feeling you tonight.

Hello, tears. Thanks for letting me shed a few of you. It felt nice.

Hello, sweet Nikol.  Thanks for letting me shed those tears with you.

Hello, sweat pants.  You always make me feel better.

Hello, new recipes.  You are much more attractive to me than a run in this humidity.

Hello, Jesus.  I'm so glad you're bigger than my case of Mondays.

thankful thursday #95

I mentioned Trainer Man last week, because his friendship really has been a positive influence for me over the past year.

Several weeks ago during a particularly harsh workout, I asked him desperately (and probably dramatically) how many calories he thought I burned in that hour.  (I wanted to be able to justify eating something really delicious, I'm sure.)  We chatted casually about a heart rate monitor, and how that would be the best way to know for sure.

I have friends who swear by these things, but frankly, I've just not wanted to spend the money.  They aren't cheap.

Do you know these?  Ones like this:

On Tuesday, Trainer Man asked me if I'd thought anymore about investing in one, and I told him, Not really.  I just don't think I care enough to spend the money.  Which was true.

As it turns out, somehow lots of these little gems were donated to my Y, and Trainer Man snatched one up that very day and gifted it to me.

I can't say I'm overly thankful to be strapped up every time I work out (and I probably won't be every time), but I am really grateful that Trainer Man is so generous, and that he thought to share one of those with me.

Cheers to burning calories, folks.

What're you appreciating and happy about today?  Go on, be grateful!

let's chat

I don't drink coffee, so I can't legitimately say to someone, Hey, let's grab a cup of coffee.

(Which, as you know, is just a hip way of saying, Let's hang out and catch up.  Enjoy some good conversation.)

If I did drink coffee, though, and could say to you for real, Hey, let's grab a cup of coffee, I might chat with you about these random thoughts:

...................................

I think I'm about to call and order this couch:

I dig the tufted back (does anyone else hate the separated back cushions that sag like crazy after a spell?), and I love that there's just one long cushion.  No one loves to sit in the crack.

I'm excited.  Don't tell me if you don't like it.

.....................................

My friend Annette, who owns this little salon that I patronize often, is helping me get a living room vision.  She's proposed a splash of navy for the wall on which that couch up there will sit, and I think I'm on board.

Question of the day: How does one pick the perfect navy?  Mercy, they all run together.

......................................

No one should ever look to me for style tips, but Target has been such a hotbed for inexpensive, cute clothes these past couple of months!  A couple of recent faves:

This has been fun to wear with colored pants.

Although I don't wear them a ton, I do love a good ballet flat, and isn't that royal blue so fun?

..........................................

Last Saturday, my Georgia Bulldogs played Mizzou, and don't you know, kickoff was scheduled for exactly the time I'd be starting my four hour drive home from Knoxville.  I went on this mad search of a way to listen to a broadcast of the game, and in a nutshell, I discovered this app for my magic iPhone:

Why has no one told me about TuneIn before now?!  Mi-ra-cle.  (And Go Dawgs.)

.........................................

I'm dying to make these potatoes.

I'm supposed to be scorning carbs, but I'm probably going to indulge in these very soon.  I hope they live up to the fantasy I've dreamed up in my head.

.........................................

That is all the randomness I can muster for one day, but it's been lovely having a conversation with myself chatting with you!

goodbye

"Where is the good in goodbye?"
-- "Sincere" from The Music Man

Friends of mine dropped their son off this past weekend at boarding school, 650 miles away from home.  His mom said first about the goodbye, It was better than I thought, but when she continued to tell me about their final moments together, tears spilled over without warning.

I'm horrible at goodbyes.

A couple of months ago (and just two weeks ago, for that matter), I backed out of Mom and Dad's driveway, waving goodbye to Christopher, Katie, and Little Man.  I barely got to the road before a minor meltdown ensued.

I just felt the weight of being separated from family, from celebrating milestones, from every day life spent with the people you love most.

I remember when I first knew good and well, that me and goodbye would never be friends.

After my college graduation, I moved to New Orleans to start an internship.  As my family pulled out of the parking lot of my new apartment, I stood and watched, and cried like a blubbering fool.

I'm talking about the uninhibited, shoulder-shaking, visible sobbing.  The ugly-girl cry.

That day goes down in my personal history as a) a particularly pitiful display of self-control, and b) a defining moment when I realized that goodbyes are sophisticated, and complex.

They are endings, and beginnings.

They can be short, or long.

Healthy, or devastating.

Awkward, or routine.

Understated, or dramatic.

Temporary, or permanent.

Communicative, or silent.

Painful, or hopeful.

They might be unintrusive in the moment, but sneaky later on, when they slip into your heart unannounced, unexpectedly, leaving only a catch in your throat and a sting in your eyes.

Goodbyes don't care about your circumstances.

They're just hard sometimes.

Is it just me?  Or do you, too, wrestle hard with that little word?

thankful thursday #94

This is my current favorite song, and appropriate to share on a Thankful Thursday.  Its lyrics are poignant by themselves, but you should give it a listen; it'll make your heart sing.

Thanks Be To Our God
Travis Cottrell

For the road that leads from darkness into light, 
For the hope that rescues us from endless night, 
For the grace covers sin, at the the door where life begins, 
For salvation reaching in to guide us through, 
Thanks be to our God. 

For the healing that no mortal can explain, 
For deliverance that breaks the sinner's chains, 
For the strength to carry on, and forgiveness great and strong, 
And the promise of your mercies ever new, 
Thanks be to our God. 

Hallelujah! Everlasting songs will rise 
For all you've done. 
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! 
Thanks be to our God! 

For the emptiness that cries out to be filled, 
For the promise that your word is deeper still, 
For the longing and the need, to have more of you in me, 
Because nothing satifies the way you do, 
Thanks be to our God! 

Hallelujah! Everlasting songs will rise 
For all you've done. 
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! 
Thanks be to our God! 

For the mysterious beyond the veil of death, 
For the peace that opens with our closing breath, 
When our struggles pass away, and we finally see your face, 
And a greater glory rises into you. 
Thanks be to our God! 

Hallelujah! Everlasting songs will rise 
For all you've done. 
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! 
Thanks be to our God!

And in other unrelated news, it's been one year since I had my first work-out with Trainer Man.  Barring sickness or travel, he's been faithful to meet me every Tuesday and Thursday morning at 5:30 a.m.  I'm grateful that while he has absolutely ripped my muscles to shreds most of those mornings, he hasn't killed me yet.

What're you appreciating today?  Go on, be grateful!