Guest Post Recipe: Coconut Chicken Salad

I am SO excited to share a special guest post with you guys today!! We started our blogs about the same time, and I think hers is really great!! 

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Hello!  I am from The Forward Home where we take new and old ideas to create a new modern Forward Home!  I love Ashley’s blog and am so excited to be here!  I love healthy tasty meals so here is one of our families all time favorites! 

 

Coconut Chicken Salad

398 calories per serving

Serves 4 people 

 

 

Qty   Measure     Ingredient

------------------------------------------------------------

Chicken 

6       (about        12 oz) chicken tenderloins

(I use 2-3 chicken breasts and cut then to tenderloin size)

6       tbsp   shredded coconut

1/4    cup   panko crumbs

2       tbsp   crushed cornflake crumbs

2      large egg whites

         a pinch of salt

         crisco cooking spray 

6       cups  baby spinach 

1       large tomato, sliced

1       small cucumber, sliced

                 

Vinaigrette

1       tbsp   oil

1       tbsp   honey

1       tbsp   white vinegar (balsamic would work too)

2       tsp     dijon mustard

 

 

Instructions: 

1.  Preheat oven to 375°.

2.  Combine coconut flakes, panko crumbs, cornflake crumbs and salt in a bowl. Put egg whites in another smaller bowl.

3.  Lightly season chicken with salt. Dip the chicken in the egg, then in the coconut crumb mixture (I press the crumb mixture into the chicken a little so it will stick well). 

4.  Place chicken on a cookie sheet lined with tin foil for less mess. Lightly spray with crisp cooking spray and bake for 20-30 minutes turning halfway, or until chicken is cooked through (time depends on thickness of chicken, the chicken pictured was cooked about 24 minutes).

 

5.  Place 2 cups baby greens on each plate, layer with cucumber, and tomatoes. Top with warm chicken.

 

6.  Combine all vinaigrette ingredients into a microwavable small bowl or glass, microwave for 10-20 seconds to slightly melt the honey.  Whisk together and pour over ready to eat salad.

 

ENJOY!

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Looks SO yummy!! I can't wait to try it!! Until next time, stop on over and check out Stephanie at  The Forward Home!!

The Sunshine Award

Today, I received an award... Yup, I received The Sunshine Award for my blog!! Yay!! It is a fun little perpetual award that when you receive it, then you pass it on to blogs that bring you sunshine.

I am ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTED that someone felt that I gave them enough sunshine through my blog that they would give me an award for it.

Thank you!!

Yesterday, I linked up with the ALL STARS BLOCK PARTY  link party and was found by one of the hosts.  Thanks Carri @ Simply Done Wright for ALL your kind words and giving me this award. *yay*

So on to the Rules...The Sunshine Award guidelines:
1. Link the award to the person who gave it to you.
2. Answer the questions that come with it.
3. Pass it along to 10 people and let them know they have received it.

The Questions... Drum-roll Please... 

1. Favorite Color - I would have to say red, but not necessarily to wear.  I love variety and ALL colors, because what would one color be if we couldn't compare to any others, but I am definitely drawn to red.

2. Favorite Animal - My thoughts on things like this change ALL the time, but right now, I love the Koala Bear.  When we went to Australia, I was able to hold and snuggle a koala, and I fell in love.  So cute and cuddly, and they keep themselves VERY clean... which I love!!

3. Favorite Number - um... 3, I guess.  I love things grouped into threes, especially in my home.

4. Favorite Non-alcoholic Drink - Through and through I am a Diet Coke girl!!

5. Facebook or Twitter - Facebook! I don't really get the Twitter scene.

6. My passion - Accomplishing new things... this all started when my hubby and I moved back from NYC and I decided that I wanted to make GREAT bread, and become a reasonable baker, I felt I accomplished that and moved on to another wild idea.  I decided that I would make a blog about it.

7. Giving or Receiving - I LOVE to give, but it's more like receiving to me.  I LOVE to see the expressions on faces or just the thought that maybe I made someone's day a little brighter.

8. Favorite Pattern - Stripes.  I think they are adorable!

9. Favorite Day of the Week - I don't really have one... I love waking up everyday knowing that something great could happen!!

10. Favorite Flower - I LOVE flowers in general, but if I had to pick just one...daisies are SO sweet and simple, I LOVE them!!

On to THE AWARDS!!

1. Alisha @ All About Us

She is a personal bestie of mine and truly inspired me with her blog!! She is SO fun and modern, and I absolutely adore her.  I am also IN LOVE with all of her pictures.  Check out the link to her photography blog!! AMAZING!!

2. Ashley @ Lil Blue Boo

I have been following Ashley for a LONG time now, and I first started following her when it was just funky crafts and screen printing, but recently she has turned into such an example of AMAZING attitudes and STRONG womanhood.  THANKS!!

3. Shannon @ Madigan Made

She first had me hooked with her chalkboards and plates, but she has such great ideas ALL THE TIME.  Definitely a must see!!

4. Stephanie @ The Forward Home

I met her a little while ago, and we actually started our blogs around the same time.  I LOVE all that she has to offer on organizing, eating healthy and spotlights homes that I would LOVE to have.  So exciting.

5. Melinda @ Under My Umbrella

She GETS me!! I LOVE her style, and the things she makes are AMAZING!!   Wood, and burlap, and subway art and, and, and...   I would have her as a neighbor, I totally would!!

6. Ashleigh and Kathryn @ Bee in Our Bonnett

I LOVE their sweets and treats and everything yummy. One day I will find the courage to tackle sugar cookies and their blog will be right by my side through it all. 

7. Ashley @ Make It and Love It

My bestie, Alisha, introduced me to this site while I was trying to figure out how to sew things for my precious nieces.  I CANNOT get enough of this blog.  A definite must follow!!

8. Disney @ Ruffles And Stuff

Disney is AMAZING.  She has brought SO MUCH sunshine to me!! She was the first blog that I started following that was not a friend or relative.  She ran away for a while, and I was SOO sad, but then she made my day and came back to blog some more.  Thanks Disney!!!

9. Halsey @ Spunky Junky

She has such GREAT ideas, and I LOVE the stuff she makes.  Her stories are great too, definitely keep me coming back!

10. Tammy @ Homespun Happenings

This is a new blog (to me) but I recently found it and FELL IN LOVE.  Her ideas are so great, and I am truly glad that I found her.  What amazing things!!
 

Oops!! A Little Correction

There was a problem with the 4th of July Subway Art... 

I misspelled a word!!

Oops!!

It is fixed now... but if you printed it off, please reprint. :)

Click HERE for updated printable

Father's Day Free Subway Art Printable

Coming up on Father's Day, I recollect three of the greatest men in my life.

My AMAZING father!!

He is smart, generous, kind, loving and would do ANYTHING for practically anyone, especially his little princess.  I definitely grew up as daddy's little girl, and nothing has changed much in that respect.

My dad has always been there when I needed him, with band-aids and ice cream, and ALWAYS knew how to make me feel better.

Thanks Daddy!!

My FANTASTIC father-in-law!!

He is SUCH an AMAZING man!! Funny, smart, spiritual, hard working and I especially love how much he loves all of his wonderful family.  Even more than that I LOVE how much he LOVES his amazing wife.

She is absolutely the love of his life, and you can tell.

What a great example to all of us!!

Thanks Dad!!

My FABULOUS husband!!

So loving, generous, smart, kind, funny and the most amazing man in my life!!

He is such a great uncle to all of the little munchkins in our life, and when we are blessed with children of our own, he will be the BEST DADDY EVER!!

You are the greatest!!

In their honor, I came up with this fun Father's Day Subway Art, (I LOVE Subway Art, can you tell?) for all the GREATEST men in our lives.

Click HERE for your free printable.

Thank you SO much to all the men in our lives who make us great!!
Who would you print yours out for?

I linked this up at 

In the Old Road: All Star Block Party #2

Sparkler Flower Hair Clip

I decided to share with you a slight variation of the Korker Flower Hair Clip Tutorial.

I think it captures the essence of summer fun, patriotism and fireworks all mixed up into one little package.

I am SO excited for the 4th.  It will be here before we know it!!

Super Quick How-To:

1. Make the double flower as in the Korker Flower Hair Bow Tutorial.

2. Take patriotic wire garland and cut about a 2-3" piece off the end.

Through the center of the garland you will see 2-4 wires.

Take the ends and twist the wires firmly so your little pieces don't fall off, then kind of roll up the end of the wire so it will hold.

3. Glue the garland securely in the middle, and attach a lined alligator clip to the back.

Voila!!
 Happy 4th of July!!!!

PHOTOS: ROME, ITALY

I was blessed to visit Rome, Italy for the second time. The first time really was just a preview, as we were on a cruise, and the stopover was only for about 16 hours.

Rome in a day is just not enough, and I REALLY wanted to go back.

I made SURE to throw my coin into the Fountain of Trevi, and we went back!!

Here are a few of the photos that I took of Rome, a city so FABULOUSLY rich with history and culture.

I LOVED every minute we were there!!

LOVE this place!!

RECIPE: CHERRY PIE PANCAKES

One of the things that I LOVE about summer is the amazing fruit and vegetables that are available!!

I also LOVE pancakes, and different kinds always makes my day.

Here's a recipe that I conjured up today, and they turned out DELICIOUS!! 

Click Here for Printable Recipe Card!! 

Cherry Pie Pancakes

                                                   1 1/2 C all-purpose flour

                                                   3 1/2 tsp baking powder

                                                   1 tsp salt

                                                   1 Tbsp brown sugar

                                                   1 1/4 C Milk

                                                   1 egg

                                                   3 Tbsp melted butter

                                                   approximately 1/4 C finely chopped cherries, pitted

                                                   1/4 tsp almond extract

1. In a large mixing bowl, mix flour, baking soda, salt and sugar.

2. Make a well in the center of the dry mixture and add milk, egg and room temperature melted butter. Stir well.

3. Gently add in cherries and almond extract.

4. Cook on greased griddle or in frying pan over medium low heat until golden brown and easy to flip.

Turn over and cook other side until golden brown.

5. Serve with desired condiments.

(I served mine with homemade cherry jam that was heated until syrupy and whipped cream.)

6. Enjoy!!