One Pot Spicy Chicken Sweet Potato and Asparagus Hash

One Pot Spicy Chicken Sweet Potato and Asparagus Hash

Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Hey babes! How happy are you that it's officially spring!? I, for one, am most excited for sunny poolside days, driving with the top down, and easy one pot meals [ y'all know I love to eat! ]. A lot of one pot recipes are more suited for fall/winter, but this spicy chicken sweet potato and asparagus hash is perfect for these slightly warmer temps. It is light yet robust with flavor, and wonderfully filling.

It's been a while since I really dug into creating a recipe. With all of the renovations taking place at the condo, Austin and I have been crazy busy - my kitchen time has been zero. It felt so good to get back in the kitchen and dream up a recipe. This hash is "like mind-blowingly delicious".. or so I'm told ;)

Spicy Chicken Sweet Potato and Asparagus Hash

Prep Time: 10-12 min  |  Cook Time: 35 min  |  Serves: 4-6

This hash is light and robust with flavor. Spicy chicken melds deliciously with the natural sweetness of the potatoes, and the snap of the asparagus adds a wonderfully fresh feel to each bite.

ingredients:

for the hash //

1 bunch of asparagus 

2 large sweet potatoes

1 lbs. of ground turkey

6 spicy chicken sausages - removed from casing 

parmesan cheese - freshly grated

spices & oils //

1 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes

1/2 tsp. sweet basil

dash of turmeric

1 tsp onion powder onion powder

black pepper + salt to taste 

1 tbsp. butter
olive oil

instructions:

Prep:
Preheat oven to 450˚. Dice sweet potatoes into bite size chunks and place on a foil lined baking sheet. Toss with olive oil, black pepper, and sweet basil. Roast for 35 minutes - flip potato chunks half way through.

Snap asparagus into 1 1/2 inch pieces. Set aside.

Grate 1 wedge of parmesan cheese. Reserve 1 cup for flavoring dish, and the rest for garnishing. 

Step 1. Add chicken [ removed from casing ], ground turkey, asparagus pieces, butter, and olive oil into a large pot over medium-high heat. Season with salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, onion powder, and a dash of turmeric. Cook until meat has browned and asparagus is a warm green - about 10 minutes. Add in 1/2 warm water and simmer on low for 2-4 minutes.

Add in 1 cup parmesan cheese. Stir until well incorporated/melted. Keep warm until sweet potato chunks finish roasting. 

Step 2. Remove sweet potato chunks from oven and fold into meat/asparagus mixture. Season with black pepper and salt to taste, and a drizzle of olive oil. Toss till well combined. 

Step 3. Serve hash in a bowl or on a plate. Top with grated parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes.

Enjoy immensely!

This dish did not last long in our house! It is irresistibly spicy, sweet, and savory! This one pot hash delivers on flavor and is so simple to put together. You can cut back on the red pepper flakes if spicy isn't your thing or add more if you're feeling brave ;)

Do you enjoy making one pot meals? Are you a fan of spicy or more mild flavors? What is your favorite one post hash recipe?

Happy eating, babes!

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Finding The Good In The Midst of Trials: An Open Book On Suffering

Finding The Good In The Midst of Trials: An Open Book On Suffering

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Hello sweet friends! I am so happy to be able to share some encouragement with you today on finding the good in the midst of trials. I am not an expert on this matter, but I do have insight. I have battled chronic illness for nine years - with no solution, no real answers, and at times no hope. In the last four years I sustained a severe head injury that has left me with painful and frustrating symptoms that effect me everyday. My daily life is muddied by one struggle on top of the other. Sometimes the pain brings me to my knees, and other times the emotional toll does. Life is not easy [ for any of us ] but it can be beautiful and there is good in each day.

As I continue to weather my own trials, I want to encourage you to take on yours with grace and the knowledge that you are not alone. I can empathize with your pain, but moreover, God knows your pain and He will not leave you to be crushed by your burdens. 

Read on for 3 encouragements to help you find the good in the midst of trials.

Accept What You Cannot Change

I firmly believe that God does not give us more than we can handle. It will feel like the weight of the trial is crushing you, but our Heavenly Father has made a way of escape from the burden and pain, through Him. He will not allow the trials to completely crush you, no matter how heavy it feels. 

I have learned through my own suffering that the good cannot be truly appreciated or cherished without the bad. Pain makes us appreciate relief, a questioning heart makes us appreciate peace, and trials that test our resilience make us appreciate inner strength. 

The beauty of the good things in this life is in the pain that we have weathered to get to them. Trials make peace all the sweeter.

Accepting what cannot be changed and choosing to acknowledge what is good will help you find the peace that we all yearn for in life. Until we accept the things that we cannot change, we cannot begin to move forward and prepare ourselves to bear the weight of that burden.

 Be More Than Your Suffering [Choose Joy ]

Suffering of any kind can overshadow who you are. When we battle daily it is easy to become our suffering. You are so much more than your pain and you are more than heartache. We are complete people with loves, talents, unique perspectives, and wonderful creativity. Hold onto who you are - Utilize your talents, explore your creativity, and enjoy the things that you love!

Do not allow your suffering/trials to become all that you are. Choose joy today. Dig down deep inside of who you are, and live. These trials will not overtake you, nor will they overshadow you. 

You are more.

Everyday Is A Fresh Start [ Make The Most Of It ]

Waking up every morning knowing that 'today is a fresh start' makes weathering life's trials or personal suffering a little easier. Instead of tackling the trial or the pain all at once, take it on a little bit at a time - day by day. Yesterday's pain is gone, yesterday's fear is gone, yesterday's struggles are gone. So live today with renewed strength! Face today, and only today.

It is easy to say God is good when there is no suffering. The heavy reality is that we live in a fallen world. God is still good when we are suffering and when we feel like we are crumbling. 

Part of living in the present moment rather than the past or the future is finding strength for the moment. I find my moment by moment strength in Christ. On my own I could not bear the weight of chronic illness, the fatigue, or the uncertainty. Some may not agree with this point of view [ I'm okay with that. ] but there is great strength in the Lord. Seeking Him daily for your moment by moment strength with bolster you like nothing else can. God is good in the pain. God is good in the relief. You will not be crushed

Outfit Details:

Jacket // Banana Republic [ similar ]
Top // Doe & Rae
Denim // American Eagle [ similar ]
Boots // c/o Sole Society [ similar ]
Sunnies // RayBan
Bag // Michael Kors

Life can throw trials our way that often seem too difficult to weather. Finding the good in the midst of suffering or heartache will feel impossible. From one who has suffered [ and continues to struggle daily ] let me just tell you - it is not impossible and there is good to be found and cherished in the midst of those hardships. Seek God's strength, make the most of today, and be more than your suffering.

What trial are you weathering? Do you ever feel overshadowed by your suffering? What is a burden on your heart? Share your heart in the comments. I would love to connect with you and your story.

With so much love,

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5 Do's and Don'ts of Caring For Your Engagement Ring

5 Do's and Don'ts of Caring For Your Engagement Ring

Thursday, March 9, 2017

You have spent years dreaming of the perfect engagement ring. Now that you're engaged and that dream ring is a permanent fixture on your finger [ that's seriously exciting right!? ], you will want to make sure that it stays as sparkly and shiny as possible - for many years to come!

Austin proposed this past December and it was just as special and magical as I hoped! I baby that beautiful diamond. After we got engaged I did a little research on the care of diamond engagement rings and there were a few things that I didn't think about or realize. So today I am sharing 5 tips that have helped me take better care of my engagement ring and I hope they help you too!

Read on for 5 simple tips for keeping your engagement ring as safe and sparkly as possible.

Do Keep Your Ring Clean

To keep your diamond sparkling, clean it regularly to remove everyday dust/dirt, skin oils, and lotions. All of which cloud your diamond. You can soak your ring in warm water and mild dish soap, and scrub gently with a soft bristle toothbrush. Any brand name jewelry cleaner is a great option!

Of course, you can always take your ring to a jeweler to have it professionally cleaned if you're not comfortable cleaning it yourself. Once every 6 months is a good timeframe. 

Don't let your diamond lose it's sparkle! The Jewelers Mutual Comprehensive Cleaning and Care Guide is a great resource with time-based checklists to help keep you on track cleaning and caring for your ring all year long! Download you own checklist guide here.

Do Purchase Insurance 

Your engagement ring is an investment. It is important to protect that investment in the event that it gets damaged, lost, or stolen [ heaven forbid! ]. Getting the right jewelry coverage for your diamond ring is so important! Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company specializes solely in jewelry, so you can have peace of mind knowing that you get an extra level of protection that goes beyond what may be covered in typical homeowner's or renters's insurance. 

Bonus Tip: Have your ring appraised every five years or so as the cost of precious metals and diamonds goes up. The value of lost ring that was appraised 10 years ago would be far less than the actual replicant cost. So make sure you have your ring appraised!

Do Schedule A Maintenance Appointment

It is so important to have regular maintenance done on your ring. Schedule an appointment with your jeweler at least once a year or every three months if your ring sees a lot of wear and tear. Your jeweler will make sure the prongs of your ring are tight and the diamond isn't loose, as well as, checking for any hairlines cracks in the shank of the ring.

Don't Remove Your Ring [ And Set It Down ] In Public

Removing your ring and setting it on top of the sink can be tempting when washing your hands in public, but this is a recipe for disaster. The chances of you walking out without your gem are very high. Steer clear of this temptation! If you must remove your ring, place it in the pocket of your purse. If you do forget to put it back on before you leave, your mind can rest easy knowing that it is still in your possession.

Don't Expose Your Ring To Harsh Chemicals

Remove your ring whenever you perform tasks that require interaction with harsh chemicals [ often found in household cleaners ], scrub the bathroom, or wash the dishes. These tasks erode the setting and dull the finish of the ring.

Bonus Tip: Before you wash the dishes, remove your ring and put it in a safe place. Setting your ring on the windowsill or the counter can result in a heartbreaking slip that sends your ring tumbling down the drain! Don't take the risk.

What is your number one do or don't on taking care of your engagement ring? Was your proposal magical? Tell me all about it in the comments! 
Be sure to download the Jewelers Mutual Comprehensive Cleaning and Care  for more helpful tips!

Have a beautiful day,

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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Pattern Mixing: Neutral Leopard x Stripes

Pattern Mixing: Neutral Leopard x Stripes

Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Happy Wednesday! I hope your week is off to a spectacular start! Austin and I hit the town this past weekend - which really means that we got milkshakes + mochaccinos, played around in some palm fronds, and wandered downtown. We're such party animals ;). We have been so busy knocking out renovations at the condo. A relaxed weekend was just what we needed to recharge and get back in the renovation game this week.

The temps are very up and down lately. This weekend was a chilly one and I jumped on the opportunity to get in one last cool weather outfit. The clothes say fall but my heart says spring! I really love pairing contrasting patterns together, and this combo has to be the most fun to wear. I snagged this leopard long sleeve tee and this cropped stripe jacket a few seasons ago from LOFT. Pieces that you can wear for several seasons are wardrobe essentials in my book. 

These exact oldies but goodies can't be found in the shop now but I have linked some similar pieces below that are just as cute!

Outfit Details 

Jacket // LOFT [ similar cut  |  similar pattern ]

Leopard Tee // LOFT [similar  |  similar  ]

Denim // Blanc NYC

Booties // Clarks [ similar   |  similar ]

What patterns do you love pairing together? What's been going on in your life lately? Tell me all about it in the comments!

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