Recipe: Chicken & Avocado Enchiladas

One of the things that always seems to work for me (when I'm ready) to kick the nasty old blues away is throwing myself into a project of some sort. Being a creative soul by default, using my hands and mind in unison to create something always eases my soul as it momentarily distracts from my woes. Last week I was randomly inspired to start cooking again when my favorite cookbook literally fell out of one of the boxes I had yet to unpack (I know, not even the act of unpacking and organizing was doing the trick!) and that led me to pinterest which led me to this particular recipe and then...

>spark<

 ...something went off in my little brain and I just had to make this! Cooking through depression sounds like the sort of thing you might find in the self help section at the local bookstore, but it's actually something I'm attempting. Creating yummy and healthy(ish) foods for the soul, mind, and stomach. Hubs laughed (in a playful, you might actually be crazy but that makes me love you all the more, kind of way) and then counted his lucky stars that I had finally decided to grace our new kitchen with some sort of love. I'm pretty excited too!

Closet Cooking Recipe (which I adjusted), makes 8

Ingredients
for enchilada filling

• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 cup salsa verde
• 1/2 cup reduced fat sour cream
• 2 avocados, cubed
• 1 jalapeno, chopped with seeds removed (for less spice)
• 1 garlic clove
• 1 tsp. cumin
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/8 tsp. pepper
• 1 handful of cilantro, chopped
• 1/2 a lime (juice)
• 4 cups shredded chicken (cooked)
• 2 green onions, sliced
• 2 avocados, diced
• 2 cups shredded skin cheese (I used the mexican store blend)

for topping enchiladas with  

• 2 cups shredded skin cheese (I used the mexican store blend)
• 8 tortillas (7 inches)

Directions

• Using a blender or food processor, puree the first 11 ingredients until smooth.
• Separate the sauce in half. Mix in the chicken, green onions, diced avocados, and cheese to one half. Make sure to mix well.
• Divide the chicken and avocado mixture between the 8 tortillas and wrap them up nice!
• Coat the bottom of the baking dish you are using with the other half of the sauce. Feel free to use more than one baking dish if they don't all fit (I had to) and also aluminum foil works but remember to build little walls to prevent leakage.
• Place the filled tortillas on the baking dish(es) and top with remaining sauce and cheese.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until the cheese has melted and the exposed tortilla pieces are slightly browned. 
• Serve with sliced avocados (can't get enough!), chips, and salsa... enjoy!

***Today I am thankful for avocados... man I love them soooo much!***

Sand Between My Toes...

sunglasses: mossimo (target) / cardigan: sparkle & fade (urban outfitters) / top: madewell / bracelets: madewell, mint julep, & anthropologie / nails & toes: essie (cocktail bling) / shorts: new haven (madewell) / sandals: madewell

Nothing beats the feeling of warm sand between your toes except for maybe fresh chocolate chip cookies baking in the oven... or that fresh out of the shower clean baby smell... or the sound of rain falling against the window on a particularly wet and rainy day. Ok so maybe there are a few great things that can't be beat but right now the sand between my toes trumps all in my book. Any time I am down by the shore, my shoes (regardless of what style they might be) somehow end up in my hands and I look down to find my toes squirming and digging themselves deeper and deeper into the sand. Even my cute new sandals didn't stand a chance! The sea salt blowing my hair in the wind (despite it's need to make my hair grow in frizziness) is tied for second place with the sun warming my smiley cheeks. What are some of your favorite things?

***Today I am thankful for... the sand between my toes (duh!)***

Rocket Fizz...

 ^^^duff beer!^^^

 ^^^peanut butter, ranch dressing, & buffalo wing sauce?!?^^^

 ^^^hers & his picks^^^

One of my favorite past times ever is weekend dates with hubs spent aimlessly wandering around this new city of ours and discovering neat things together... that is when he can peel himself away from the office long enough! On just such a lucky occasion, we happened to be walking back from a Target run... which by the way, was the WORST Target run of my life and probably the only time I'd rather go somewhere without hubs because he didn't let me buy anything... we stumbled across this crazy little place called Rocket Fizz (the Westwood Village location) and just had to pop in for a quick look. The place was impressive with never ending rows of all the soda pops you could possibly ever imagine and then some! They had all kinds of brands and limited edition collectors bottles... which the geek in me secretly loved. On closer inspection, I realized that they didn't just have your every day, standard flavors... oh no. When I actually started reading the labels I was amazed and slightly in awe at flavors like peanut butter and jelly, sweet corn, and bacon! But get this, they had a whole section devoted just to bacon flavored things... I'm talking soda, candy, gum, toothpaste... you think of it and it was probably there. Not going to lie, I was little grossed out.

That was the other thing, not only did this place have pretty much every soda in the world (or so it seemed), it also had all of the candy I could remember from childhood pasts. Vintage sweets and treats as far as the eye could see. The expression like a kid in a candy shop came to mind... only remember I'm not a fan of the sweets so much. Still, this place had me feeling like a kid in a candy shop regardless and so we just had to pick out a drink and treat each to try. Hubs was a little bit daring with his selection I think... unfortunately he wasn't a fan of his raspberry ginger brew bt he did like his carbonated grape candy. I decided to play it safe with flavors I was more familiar with like orange soda (I mean who doesn't love orange soda?!? Is it true??? Mmmmhmmm... I do, I do, I dooo-ooooh) and dark mint chocolate m&ms. While the orange soda was little more sugary tasting that I would have liked, the m&ms on the other hand... well let's just say I bought a whole bag (the big kind) and ate it all by myself during last weeks hiatus it was so good.

I'm already looking forward to our next trip back and if I'm being completely honest, I will probably pick a safe flavor again and be persuaded by the packing... because these cute soda bottles are just perfect for holding a few hand picked flowers, don't you think? I'll just let hubs be the daring one again which works well for me because I can always have a taste of his crazy pick.

***Today I am thankful for little places like this one... they will be an ever lasting memory for hubs and I***

Happy Father's Day!

To the man that has helped me with each and every single one of my crazy moves in life... never doubted but always encouraged... asked "when do you arrive and I'll be waiting at the airport"... has insisted on exploring each new city I've called home to make sure I didn't end up in a shady neighborhood... supported all of my dreams no matter how wild or outlandish... gets worried when we don't talk every night and asks if I've eaten (yep even at nearly 30 years of age)... and still to this day insists that what the world really needs is a Lugo clothing line... thank you!

Words can't even begin to describe the amount of gratitude and respect I have for you. I am proud to be your daddy's girl, always and forever.

***Today I am thankful for this man above... you can't pick'em but I'm sure glad he's mine***

A Lovely Week 6.14.13

1. take it as a sign? 2. mint dark chocolate m&ms 3. a little me time 4. i'm turning into the succulent lady 5. waving from up high 6. looking down 7. nature's purple carpet 8. target is the devil ;) 9. debut of my new apron 10. the return of the domestic goddess! 11. real men drink through fancy straws 12. my comfort breakfast 13. oh hello santa monica 14. my first run in l.a. 15. a runner's view 16. arrested development snack with hubs 17. because everyone needs a miniature pink gnome 18. another mile, same view 19. looking for an angel 20. they make me smile

Awkward-
Well lets just be honest here... not really in the mood to talk today so I think I'll just sum it up with life... particularly my mid to late 20's. Can't wait till my 30's (there's something I never thought I'd say!) because I'm hoping by then I'll have things figured out more... yea 30's will be my prime!

Awesome-
Because I'm a serial hopeless optimist (there is no cure, I've checked) I'm going to say life... I know, I know... glass half full and rainbows and unicorns... blah blah ugh!

***Today I am thankful for the return of my instagram inspiration... guys I was seriously worried for a bit***