Spicy Mexican Rice

If you read my last post for Tequila Lime Chicken, you saw that I promised the recipe for the Mexican Rice that I served along side of it.  Well, you will not be disappointed!  This rice was very tasty!!  This recipe can also be found in the Pioneer Woman’s cookbook and here on her blog.

I halved her recipe since I was just making it for my hubby and me, but there was still enough for 4 people!  I’ll list the ingredients that she includes, and you can tweak it from there.  Just know that this quantity will probably serve 6-8 people.

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • 2 tbsp canola oil
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 cups long-grain rice
  • One 10 oz. can Rotel Diced Tomatoes w/ Green Chiles
  • One 14 oz. can whole tomatoes (I used crushed tomatoes because we don’t like big chunks of tomato)
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (a little goes a long way with this!)
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2-3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • Fresh cilantro, chopped, for garnish (optional)

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

Chop onion (the smaller the dice the better, in my opinion)

and garlic

and add to the hot canola oil.  Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until the onions are nice and translucent.

Reduce your heat to low and add the rice.

Cook for 3 minutes, stirring constantly so the rice doesn’t burn.

Add Rotel,

canned tomatoes,

yummy cumin,

salt and cayenne pepper.  Stir to combine and cook for about 2 minutes.

Add the chicken broth,

and bring to a boil.  Once your rice is boiling, turn the heat down to low, cover, and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, or until rice is tender.  Once all the liquid is absorbed, give the rice a little taste to see if you need to add more liquid.  Once rice is cooked thoroughly, you can add the chopped cilantro for garnish.

Doesn’t that look tasty?!  Well, it was!  I hope you enjoy!

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Tequila Lime Chicken

I’m always looking for new ways to make chicken, so when I saw this recipe in the Pioneer Woman’s new cookbook, I knew I just had to try it out!  As with most of my recipes, I made enough just for my husband and me, so if you are making this for more than 2 people, you’ll want to adjust the quantities.

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • 3 limes
  • 5 garlic cloves, peeled
  • 1 jalapeño, sliced
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
  • 5 tbsp olive oil
  • 3/4 cup tequila
  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

This marinade quantity can be used for up to 6 chicken breasts.  Since I only had two, I poured what I needed and saved the rest for next time.

Start by slicing your limes in half.  Squeeze the juice of all the limes into a food processor or blender.

Add the peeled garlic.

Slice your jalepeño, with the seeds and membranes intact,

and add it to the blender.

Next add cilantro and olive oil.  I forgot to take a picture of the cilantro.  Oops!

Now it’s time for the tequila!!!!!  It’s amazing how much flavor this adds.

Blend until thoroughly pureed.

Add chicken to a Ziploc bag and pour the marinade over it.  Seal and refrigerate for several hours or overnight.

When your chicken is done marinating, grill over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes on each side.  I’m a big fan of only flipping your meat once, so make sure you cook it long enough on the first side before you flip it.

Look at those beautiful grill marks!  And you can still see some of the green marinade in the cracks!

Once your chicken is done cooking, remove it from the grill and let it rest for a few minutes before slicing it into strips.

Serve along side some Mexican rice (recipe to follow), refried beans, and some warmed flour tortillas.  I added some freshly grated cheddar cheese on the side as well.  You could also include some pico de gallo, guacamole, and sour cream.  Hope you enjoy!!

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20 Weeks Old!

UPDATE:  I’m happy to report that this blog post and my 20 weeks comparison picture of Grayson has been pinned 183,732 times on Pinterest!  Thanks to everyone who thought this picture was worth pinning. 🙂

I think in my 26.5 years on this earth, this past year has definitely flown by faster than any other year.  Since September of 2011, I’ve found out that I was pregnant, learned I was having a boy, turned 26, gave birth to my beautiful baby boy, flew to CA with my husband and son, and watched my little man grow up before my eyes.  And today, Grayson is 20 weeks old!  That’s 140 days! Or more precisely: 4 months, 2 weeks, and 3 days!

Since I have an ultrasound from when I was 20 weeks pregnant with him, I thought it would be fun to do a comparison:  20 weeks in my belly, and 20 weeks in the outside world.

If someone had told me, then, how much love and joy this little boy could bring into my life, I don’t know if I would have believed them.  But I can tell you now that I have never felt a love like this before.  I love my husband with all my heart, but there is just something so special about a mother’s love for her child.  I would do anything for him!  I look into his eyes and I can see how much he loves me, too, even though he can’t say it yet.

He has stolen my heart……and I don’t want it back. ♥

**UPDATE: Since this post is so popular, I thought I’d share my second son Oliver’s 20 week comparison here!

20 week comparison | southerndaisy.com