Cooking Experiment

Lately, I’ve been so busy I haven’t had a chance to run….at all. I ran on Saturday with my running group, then slacked all week. I know I should make the effort to get up early in the morning and run, but I only enjoy doing that on Saturdays (strange, I know).

SO, when the opportunity came available for me to run yesterday after work, I snagged it!!

It was a gorgeous day and I had a fantastic run! They don’t get much better than that!!

I ran 3.2 miles around the lake at a quick pace (for me), then slowed to a cool down. In total, I ran 3.8 miles and was very pleased with the run! I have a 5K on Saturday so we shall see how it goes!

After returning home, I cooked dinner and filmed a vlog at the same time! Multitasking at its finest! :0)

My last minute experiment was very tasty and my husband gave it two thumbs up! :0) (I think he mainly liked the extra kick from the addition of rotel.)

Check out the recipes from my Vlog below!

Chicken and Spinach Bake
(adapted from: Southern Food at About.com - http://tinyurl.com/2jk34p)

Ingredients:

• 8 to 12 ounces fresh chopped or baby spinach, cleaned
• salt and pepper
• 1/4 cup chicken broth
• 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
• Cajun seasoning blend or other spice blend
• salt and pepper
• 1 small can of mild Rotel

Preparation:

Heat oven to 375°.
Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish or spray with cooking spray. Put spinach in the baking dish, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add chicken broth. Sprinkle chicken with seasoning blend, salt, and pepper; arrange over the spinach. Using a spoon, divide the rotel between all four pieces of chicken, then pour reaming juice from can over the chicken breasts. Cover the baking dish with foil. Bake for 25 minutes. Uncover and bake for 10 to 15 minutes longer, or until chicken is cooked through.
Serves 4.

Sautéed Asparagus

Ingredients:

• 1 batch of fresh asparagus
• 1 tbsp coconut oil or other oil (evoo, etc)
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• 1 tsp garlic

Preparation:

If using coconut oil, melt coconut oil (either in microwave or in pan over the stove) until smooth. Over the stove (in a large pot), add asparagus to melted oil, then sprinkle salt, pepper, or desired spice. Also, add garlic. Sauté the asparagus over medium heat for 10 minutes. Lower to simmer and cover. Let asparagus simmer for 10 additional minutes. Serve and enjoy!

 

Do you like to cook and experiment with new recipes? Do you have an experiment that surprised you? Please share! :0)

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Also, don’t forget about my Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil Giveaway! You have until Tuesday to enter!

Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil Review and Giveaway

Lately, I’ve experimented with different types of recipes. I love to cook and I look for new “cooking adventures” all the time.

An item I’ve come across recently in a lot of recipes has been Coconut Oil and the wonderful folks at Tropical Traditions sent a jar of their Virgin Coconut Oil for me to try!



When I received this item in the mail, I immediately decided to take it for a test run! My recipe of choice, a favorite afternoon almond flour recipe of mine - Chocolate chip cookies!



I will share this recipe later, but the Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil was a perfect blend!



These cookies were just the way I like them…crispy and extra chocolaty!

I also decided to make an almond flour/coconut flour English muffin the following morning for breakfast!



Enter: Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil once again!



I was very impressed by the smoothness and the texture of this oil. When at room temperature, the oil is solid; when heated, the oil becomes liquid – perfect for measuring! I’ve worked with other coconut oils in the past and none have been as smooth as this one!



I really enjoyed the cookies and the homemade English Muffin thanks to Tropical Traditions Virgin Coconut Oil! :0)

Now it’s your turn!

Tropical Traditions has graciously given you the opportunity to win a jar of their Virgin Coconut Oil! See Rafflecopter below for details.





a Rafflecopter giveaway

Win 1 quart of Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil!

Tropical Traditions is America’s source for coconut oil. Their Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil is hand crafted in small batches by family producers, and it is the highest quality coconut oil they offer. You can read more about how virgin coconut oil is different from other coconut oils on their website: What is Virgin Coconut Oil?

You can also watch the video they produced about Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil:

 

Tropical Traditions also carries other varieties of affordable high quality coconut oil. Visit their website to check on current sales, to learn about the many uses of coconut oil, and to read about all the advantages of buying coconut oil online. Since the FDA does not want us to discuss the health benefits of coconut oil on a page where it is being sold or given away, here is the best website to read about the health benefits of coconut oil.

Disclaimer: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose.  Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.