Grilled Mesquite Chicken Fajitas

Good Food does not have to be complicated it can be quite delicious and easy on your pocket book. Fajitas happens to be one of my favorites of all time, making them at home brings the restaurant feeling into the home with an extra kick. Today's recipe represent just that and for a single person or two people the recipe can expand into other tasty delights for you and yours to enjoy...

This can be done with various meats, shrimp, beef or pork. I also included a Peach Pico Recipe that is absolutely delicious.

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Ingredients:

Fajita Marinade (store bought)
Chicken thighs ( reasonably priced and their so good!!!!)
Onions
Bell Pepper
Tortillas
Liquid Smoke- add it to the marinade if cooking on an inside grill such as a George Foreman
BBQ Grill and needed essentials
Fixings: sour cream, guacamole, salsa, cheese, lettuce
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Directions:

Clean and dry chicken ( if the chicken is dry it is able to receive the seasoning better than being wet).

Season the chicken with salt, pepper and garlic powder.

Place the chicken in the marinade following the directions on the back of the package. If cooking on the inside add liquid smoke 1 to 2 teaspoons per 1lb of chicken. If cooking on the grill outside you can delete the liquid smoke, I don't I love the taste and the aroma it gives.

Once the chicken is done set aside and wait 5 minutes before cutting the chicken it strips.

You can place the tortilla on the grill to add crispness and a smoked flavor.

Apply your fixings as desired.

Peach Pico A little extra: I wanted to use the rest of the White Peaches that I had from my Tropical Fruit Salad, so I threw 3 peaches on the grill as well, cut the peaches in half, letting the pit determine the half point. Grill for 3 minutes on each side. Let chill for a moment. Cut and chop the  2 peaches, add 1 jalapeno, 1/3 cup of onions, 2 tablespoons cilantro, and squeeze 1 whole lime. This is delicious with shrimp or chicken.

Is that terrible being Single?

I recently spoke with an older single woman that was very depressed about her current social status - single. I listened as she began to share her heart on the lack of good men and her past relationships that did not work out. I listened and I understood where she was coming from but I had difficulties in identifying with her grief of being-single. Also I know there good men, good men regardless of color, there are good men. Believe me I don't always want to come home to an empty house but there are days when I am grateful that I do. I began to listen and question myself as she spoke this beautiful single woman recently purchased a very impressive 2 story house in a terrific neighborhood. She has completed her house in a way that images Better Homes and Gardens and I thought would you have enjoyed this process better if you could share it would someone or would you be grateful that Jesus allowed you the opportunity to complete a task such as this on your own. I began to think are we just- chicken. I want a great relationship but I will not moan or be depressed about not having the relationship of my dreams. Of course you will have those days but it can't become a habit if I desire to  be a healthy person for myself and to the individual that I will eventually meet. I will not accept anyone for companionship male or female just to suit my needs, from a sister that has done that before simply, it don't work. Instead I would rather get busy and explore the world, and yes I would like to explore the world with a companion but what if he does not desire to, what if he has already traveled the world and now desires to have a steady life. So instead of asking for someone to join me on my journey, I know ask God show me my journey and the people that I will meet along the way. So at the end of this conversation I replied let's cook it is a great way to relax and it can teach you how not to eat, drink or do anything else out of emotions.

Chicken, Chicken and More Chicken!!!

I don't know about anyone else but chicken was a main protein that my family ate on a weekly basis. I can remember my dad  making chicken a thousand ways and let's say most of them did not please everyone. So as a "Single Lady that Cookz, I always see chicken at the grocery store and sorta cringe, not knowing how to make this protein different than the thousands of times that I have had it before. On  my weekly trip to the store I came upon chicken tenders- chicken tenders are great for a single person the tenders allow so many possibilities and that is why I have learned to like this cut of chicken. So now that I am home from the grocery store what should I do with this lovely protein? I decided to make Chicken and Rice Stew- not really a stew but a play on the old southern favorite smothered chicken and rice.

Ingredients
Cooking Time- 45 minutes.

3 cups of Chicken Broth- low sodium is best since you determine your salt intake.
1 medium onion- sliced long
1 cup of rice- I will have leftovers to carry to work, yeah!!!
Chicken tenders
2 tablespoons of flour
2 tablespoons of oil
salt & pepper to taste.

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1. Season the chicken tenders with salt and pepper. I also cut the tenders in half.

2. I have a grill that I put on top of the stove to cook it is great or you can use your George Foreman Grill it is all the same.

3. Cut the medium onion into slices about 1/2 thick.

4. Pour two cups of the chicken broth into a small pot for the rice. If you have chicken bouillon you can use that instead of the broth. It is probably best that you do not add any salt to the water if you use the cubes or paste since it is quite salty.

5. Let the water boil and add 1 cup of rice. This should take from 15-20 minutes. Stir often and place a top on the pot.

6. In a skillet add 2 tablespoons of oil, let it warm before adding the flour, you don't want to see smoke coming from the skillet.

7. Add the flour to the skillet, season with a pinch of salt and pepper.

8. Add onions and stir with a spoon. Do not use a plastic spoon it is likely to melt.

9. Add the last cup of water to flour paste, please be careful the mixture is very hot.

10. Stir the gravy slowly, you may add more water. This gravy is suppose to be a stew consistency so the mixture will not be as thick as your normal gravy.

11. Add the chicken in the mixture with onions and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes.

12. Once the rice is ready you can place the sauce and chicken on top and enjoy this wonderful dish.

Add ins: I have added before mushrooms to the gravy mixture, I forgot to get them while I was at the store.