I found this recipe sitting at the chiropractor's office.  I like this chiropractor and not only because he gets Food & Wine magazine delivered to his office.  Anyway, when I saw the looks of this recipe, I had to try it.  It is listed as one of the best chicken recipes of 2010.  It's from The Mighty Cone in Austin, TX.  I'd call it a wrap, but maybe wraps are cones in Texas?  Anyway, give it a try.  Steve could not stop "Mmm-ing" through the meal, and I loooove to make my man, "Mmm."

The original recipe here.

And for your convenience, and to showcase the ones I made, here we go.

HOT AND CRUNCHY CHICKEN CONES

MANGO SLAW
1/2 cup diced mango
2 large jalapenos (I completely skipped this part and was happy I did.)
2 T white wine vinegar
2 T sugar
1 T water
1 small shallot, minced
1 cup mayo
1/2 cup cilantro
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 T fresh lime juice
salt and pepper
7 cups shredded coleslaw mix (I used prepackaged kind.)

CHICKEN CONES
3 cups cornflakes
6 T slivered almonds
6 T sesame seeds
6 T sugar (I did 3-4ish)
1 1/2 T crushed red pepper
1 1/2 T kosher salt
4 large eggs, beaten
1/2 cup milk
all-purpose flour
6 boneless chicken breast halves, sliced lengthwise 1 inch thick
Vegetable oil for frying
6 10-inch tortillas

1. To Make Mango Slaw: In saucepan combine the mango, jalapenos (if desired), vinegar, sugar, water and shallot.  Cover and simmer until mango is softened, 10 minutes.

2. Transfer mango mixture to a food processor and puree.  Scrape into large bowl.  Stir in mayo, cilantro, garlic, and lime juice.  Season with s & p, add coleslaw mix, and toss to coat.  Cover and refrigerate.

3. To Make the Cones: Wipe out food processor.  Add cornflakes, almonds, sesame seeds, sugar, red pepper flakes, and salt, and pulse until coarsely chopped.  Transfer mixture to a large, shallow bowl.  In second shallow bowl, whisk eggs with milk.  Fill a third shallow bowl with flour.  Dredge chicken strips in flour, then egg, then roll in cornflake mixture.

4. In large skillet, heat 1/4 inch of oil (I used olive oil; recipe calls for vegetable oil).  Working in batches, fry chicken over moderately high heat, turning once, until golden brown, 6 minutes; transfer to rack in warmed oven (the frying part was the most time-consuming).  Set fried chicken on tortillas and top with mango slaw.  Roll up and eat right away.

Voila!  The final product.  The slaw, in my opinion, really makes it.  It has a sweetness to it because of the mango puree but cilantro, oh cilantro, makes it completely delicious.  The chicken by itself has a bite to it from the red pepper flakes so if you don't like any spice at all, maybe half the red pepper flakes.

Make it.  You won't regret it.

jordan: dad, i need new contacts.  i can't go to school.
steve: you can still go to school.

lindsey: i'm good at singing like a girl and like a boy.
me: i think you sound more like a girl singing like a boy.

gracie: whine whine whine.  let me out.  feed me.

(steve in the bedroom.  it's not risque, keep reading.)
picks up his cereal bowl on his nightstand to look behind it/under it, puts it back down and begins walking downstairs (towards that room called the kitchen where we usually put those things).  without the cereal bowl.
i politely requested that he come back for it.

william empties dishwasher.  yessss.  thank you william.

william cuts a box-top off the top the honey nut o's.
lindsey: box tops are not important.

i think about whole foods and what i need to get there today.  i also think about all the attractive one-piece suits there are.  also wish i had more granny smith granola from trader joes.  what's pineapple and yogurt without the granola?

i think too that i need to get some frames up on the wall.  have been thinking that since they day i got married.

thinking about making this for dinner.  only with chicken that was talked to sweetly before the time of its death though (for real).

no pictures for the blaahhhhg.

90% of the time, it works every time.  (Name the movie.)



What song gets you shakin'?

I watched Oprah's Earth Day special this year (and last year - remember the garbage swirl twice the size of Texas?!).  After watching these shows, I am always motivated to do my part.  Yes, sometimes that motivation wanes, but for the most part, I remain green throughout the year (confession: my showers can run a bit long).  Whether or not you believe in global warming, you must admit, our earth is a gift and we should take care of it.  It seems pretty simple.

The shows that really get me are the ones where I see that animals are being affected by our carelessness or, as the case may be much of the time, our downright evil ways.  An animal has died because it ingested a plastic bag, an animal is being strangled by those plastic six-pack things (didn't your Mother tell you to cut them up?!?).  My Mom and I are of the same mold--she sees an amazing animal story, she calls me.  She reads an amazing animal e-mail, she forwards it to me.  Nothing gets the tears pumping like a good animal story... or a bad one.  I have even claimed before, don't be offended, that I like animals more than people.  While there is some hyperbole there, the point is this: for the most part, animals have an instinct to protect, to love, and to do right.  Yes, some must kill to survive, but they don't torture, take pleasure in another's pain, or kill needlessly (at least, not that I'm aware of).  Could I say the same of humans?  Heck no.  Remember Michael Vick?  Or how about puppy mills?  How about the kid with the cats and the fireworks?  Whether or not you clicked those links, you get my point.  Humans don't always have the instinct to protect.  In fact, quite opposite for some.  Torturing something without a voice obviously brings some sort of satisfaction to many (I'm getting angry just talking about it!).  On the flip-side, remember the story of the kidnapped and beaten girl in Ethiopia who was protected by lions?!  Yes, by lions!  People were abusing her, and lions protected her!  If that doesn't scream that we have a problem, I don't know what does.

Now, stay with me.  The reason I'm writing this is the dolphins.  The Cove was an Oscar-winning documentary this year.  I haven't seen it, but I've seen enough on Oprah that my heart hurt.  It seriously hurt.  It was devastating.  In Taiji, Japan, there is a cove that is hard to get to and protected on three sides by cliffs.  Here is where the dolphins swim in, and here is where the water runs red (literally) because they are trapped and speared by the Japanese.  Here's an idea:


And here's the trailer:



I really don't intend to make this blog a place for my politics about anything, but I just felt too strongly about this to not share it, and as someone with a voice, I feel somewhat responsible. If you'd have seen the footage, I know you'd feel the same way. So, here are two sites where you can do something, anything (even just signing your name to a petition).


Take Part.
Save Japan Dolphins.


Now, am I being a hypocrite because I still enjoy a good burger sometimes?

a beautiful saturday on the charles.

boston for a beautiful saturday / saw my lovely friends kelly and laura / 

sat on the charles in the sun / had a delicious burger at b.good / 

maybe some red mango too / met kelly's wonderful fiance / 

enjoyed how beautiful the city of boston is / and so should you

almost doesn't look real, right?

but it is.

miette.

A little looksie at my old e-mail.

When Steve and I first stared dating, we wrote hundreds (maybe thousands) of e-mails to each other.  We spent a lot of time apart, me still being in school, and him being a dad of four with a full-time job, so e-mails to one another flooded our inboxes by the minute.  I am seriously grateful for the modern technology that allowed us to do that (even though sometimes I curse modern technology for its instant gratification) because we learned so much about each other through them and now we both have them safely tucked away into folders on our computers where they will last forever... or at least till our e-mail's hard drive crashes... whichever comes first.

One of our favorite little e-mail "traditions," if you will, was writing "random tid-bits" to one another.  We would just list facts about ourself, past or present, wishes and hopes, thoughts, things that make us happy and things that make us sad.  They weren't well thought-out, just top of mind little morsels of information that you thought of and typed.  Done and done.

Here's one I wrote to him:

I have been listening to Faith Hill all morning.  Namely, the song that I want to listen on your boat with you.

When Jordan has his glasses on, he reminds me just a little bit of Harry Potter.  I told him that once, saying Harry Potter in an English accent (Like this: Erry Pottah, sort of) and he definitely did not like it.

I'm not sure I've ever seen a shooting star.

I really like you.

I feel sophisticated when I have a Starbucks cup in my hand and I'm walking through the city.  It's just a front though.  I'm really not.

Last year a heel on my shoe got stuck in the grates in the sidewalk in Philly, I took a step, and the shoe came completely off still stuck in the grate.  I think it was my first day of work, and I was with some co-workers.  Embarassing.

This is short because I see another e-mail from you!

And just like that, came another e-mail from him (I told you, minute by minute).

Here was his reply:

And which song is that?

I love your ability to write in accent (to wit:  erry pottah--by the way, that's how you use "to wit")

How about the northern lights?  Satellites?  I have seen them all and the Northern lights are the coolest thing ever.  Northern MN is famous for them.

I feel sophisticated (even a bit more Christian) when I carry my Greek NT to church.

Sorry about the heel.  Did you just keep walking and pretend it didn't happen?

Note: I don't remember the song.  Maybe Sunshine and Summertime?

Additional note: We don't normally don semi-matching cowboy hats.  We were then, however, because we were at Flying W Wranglers in Colorado Springs where cowboy hats are most definitely appropriate.

One more note: He doesn't use "to wit" in everyday language - only when he is trying to impress a girl and he was definitely trying to impress me then as now I get an e-mail from him maybe twice a week.  Sure, we do live together now, but still, there are random tid-bits we've yet to discover, I'm sure!  Let the random tid-bits round 2 commence!  

First thing I fell in love with about this man?  Oh, probably his humor.  Just so you know, these are mostly tongue-in-cheek (as was my Sarah Palin joke a few days ago.  Just wanted you to clear the air on that one.  Phew, so glad I got that out.)

i like: area rugs

i dislike: wall-to-wall carpeting

i like: all seasons of lost except for the current one

i dislike: the current one

i like: erin brokovich

i dislike: duplicity

i like: my family and friends

i dislike: people who make them sad

i like: traveling

i dislike: the price of it

i like: nice people

i dislike: crabby teenagers who ingest tons of sugar because it's "cool"

i like: 1-hour massages

i dislike: the price

i like: mrs. meyers cleaning supplies

i dislike: harsh, chemical-y ones

i like: haagen dazs

i dislike: breyers (ice cream snob)

i like: being clean

i dislike: the process of showering, doing one's hair, putting makeup on

i like: my family

i dislike: distance between us

i like: mexican food

i dislike: raw vegan (tried and just craved a hamburger after i was done)

you remember ashley?

(road-side yoga in los olivos... because we can!)

my totally cool, artsy friend who works for only the most powerful woman ever (no, not sarah palin... oprah!) is getting married!  well, in keeping with her coolness, she just sent a fabulous save-the-date.  too fabulous not to show all ya'll.

the little yellow star was attached by string 

and is actually a magnet to put on your fridge.  

she's so clever.

i'm loving the posters here.

that orange bridge one is my fave. 

and the prices can't be beat either.

check check check it out.

A teenager's breakfast in bed just does not look the same as an eight year old's breakfast in bed.

It really doesn't.  It is a different thing entirely.  Look at the difference (I couldn't even put it in color.  It might be a little too frightening for you readers).

and

Not to mention, Nathaniel's breakfast was at 10 - not at 8 am like his sister's.  He ate his breakfast mostly as you see him here - with his eyes half closed, grunting from time to time if he approved of the taste.  There were quite a few grunts.  We think he approved.  Hashbrowns, eggs, and two apple fritters were on the menu.  Yum.

We went to the Museum of Science with Nathaniel's best friend and "other set of parents" as we call them.  He got hoop shoes (I will get a picture of them on here at some point - they look like they might take you to the moon.  But really, they're just supposed to improve your jumping.) and a new basketball hoop.

And that, my friends, officially closes birthday season at the Hunt's.  Phew.  

How was your weekend?

Also, a belated thanks to all the comments and e-mails I got about Italy!  This blog-world rocks!

This white chaise lounge is where I sit while William rubs my feet, all the while remarking at how lovely my painted toenails look, and Lindsey brushes my long, flowing hair (like the Pantene commercials).  Meanwhile, Nathaniel, who begged to cook dinner tonight, is making a delicious coq au vin recipe for dinner.  The aromas of the chicken and butter stewing with the onions and mushrooms tickle your nose and sit on your tongue enticing you to come to dinner.  The afternoon sun shines on my face as I read the latest best seller.  Streaming softly through our surround sound is "Take Five" by Dave Brubeck.  Jordan enters in his pressed linen shirt and says,
"May I get you some chilled San Pellegrino?"
"Why yes, Jordan!  I'd love that," I say.
"Lemon or lime slice to accompany?"
"Oh, how about lime this time!" I exclaim.
"Coming straightaway!" he says in his sudden perfect English accent.
Then Steve walks in the open door from work and says,
"Darling!  Hello!  And children, hello!  We got our tax rebate today."
"Oh, hello my dear!  And how much was it for?" (Not like we need the money.)
"A million dollars!  What a tax-man we have!"
We laugh heartily then hear Nathaniel call us sweetly in for dinner at the table.


Is the pretending getting old yet?
{photo, thank you rockstar diaries}

Steve called me from work yesterday to tell me about a dream he had the night before.

See, we watch Oprah here at the Hunt house, and we saw the one about genealogy and how Brooke Shields discovered she's basically part-princess.

So that got Steve-man thinking...

His dream went like this.  He was walking in the mall (it was very specific) and his iPhone (we don't even have iPhones, but for the sake of the dream, he did.) started ringing.  He looked at it and it said, "You're walking by your fourth cousin right now."  Meanwhile, someone near him had a ringing iPhone as well, saying the same thing.  They look up at each other and are united in an embrace.  Or something like that.

So, he plans on patenting "Family Finder" and having you submit your blood sample to iPhone - if you want this app of course... no mandatory blood drawings - and maybe a picture and then you'll be notified every time you walk past someone you're related to because your info is now in the phone.

Fancy that!  My man's always thinking!

Don't steal his idea!  It's going to make him famous!

I've been bitten by the travel bug.

This is nothing new.  I was bitten years ago and have had the good fortune to do some traveling.  But the idea that I won't get everywhere by the time my life is up makes me sad.  The idea that there will be soooo many places I will never see because it would be impossible to see them all hurts a little.  I want to go everywhere.  Walk along the Great Wall of China, go skiing in Vail, take a picture of Lake Louise, go on a boat down the Amazon, listen to Spanish guitar in Barcelona, touch the water of Victoria Falls, see the queen in England, work a farm in Montana, camp in the Patagonia, eat at a pub in Ireland, go hiking in the Grand Canyon, lay on the beaches of Tahiti, take a yoga class in Mumbai, snap pictures of the white buildings of Greece, drink wine in Tuscany, have a picnic in front of the Eiffel Tower, appreciate the beauty of Machu Picchu, ride a camel through Morocco, and see an elephant in its own habitat in Kenya.  I could go on and on and on.  I think my desire for travel is pretty universal.  And I think it's among the very best ways to spend your money.  It is so rewarding to learn about different cultures, what affects them, how they speak, think, what they eat and drink.  You can't help but have an open-mind if you travel--and, lets be serious, an open-mind is always a good thing.

If you're still with me, having suffered through this little soliloquy of mine, then here are some pictures to hopefully give you the desire to travel to one of my very favorite places.  Israel.

Speaking of travel, 

does anyone have tips on Italy?  

Where to go, where to eat, where to stay?

things requiring money:

{the gap}

{happy tape}

{sseko designs}

{rustic cake plate}

{peck of posies pillow}

{frye}

{book}

{a trip to greece?}

things not requiring money:

-that my family lived closer (well i suppose this would cost them something.)

-that i was less controlling (it's true.  i have control issues.  that's for another day.)

-that gracie didn't shed so much.  the vacuum is always going.

-that i could be more grateful for what's going right and less annoyed with the things that aren't.

-that i had some fabulous idea for a novel and could then just start writing (tips, anyone?)

-that there was more time to just sit and talk and that life was less go-go-go all the time.

-that i see it through on my new year's resolution to work out more (not really working thus far).

what's on your wish list?

On Saturday, I went in to Boston to meet my good friend from high school.  The sun was shining and there were so many gorgeous flowers speckling all of Beacon Hill.  I couldn't stop snapping pictures.  Where I live, there's a lot of maple, oak, pine... those provide you with two colors: green and brown.  The reds, yellows, blues, oranges, and pinks that were soaking up the sun were definitely picture-worthy.  They were just as happy as I was to have sun shining after all this rain we've had.  It was lovely.  We stopped by BoYo (I'm trying to recapture my Pinkberry experiences.  Did I?  No.  Sadly, it's not the same.  Red Mango, you're next.), ducked into Liberty Hotel quickly (I will stay there one day!), and finished off with some treats from Tealuxe.

And then, it was William's birthday!  I haven't told you, but you've probably already discovered, that we celebrate a lot of birthdays this time of year.  It's true.  Including Gracie (as if I even have to write her, obviously we'd include Gracie), we have four in the span of about two weeks.  So, now we are three down, and one to go.  Here's the birthday boy who is now TEN.

His birthday-in-bed breakfast complete with a W out of bacon strips.  That clever Dad of his.

Probably less pleased about this purchase.  It's one of those Mom-pleasing gifts, however.   And check out the  happy teenager in the back!

Lindsey is riveted.

gracie is one today! this is good news seeing as at least 5 times during her first year, i was convinced she was going to die of kidney failure or being punctured by a bone she swallowed.  but alas, she has made it to her first year of life and i think it should be a smoother journey from here on out.

she requested breakfast in bed, which she got, and some gifts from her favorite store ciao bow wow.  she is chewing on a treat right now.

memories of gracie's first year (good and bad): steve in ER getting stitches on his ear (sharp puppy teeth and ears do not mix), her sleeping on her back with her legs up in the air, being a clumsy slow runner who can now lap us 50 times if she pleases, investigating poop in the toilet (need i say more?), trying to be the alpha leader of the house (we squelched that quickly), stealing our socks, underwear, shirts and bringing them to her bed to lay on, playing hide-and-go-seek, loving being chased when she has something she shouldn't, playing with her retriever friend larry, going from 9 lbs. to 50 lbs. so fast, being obsessed with fetching, completely and utterly obsessed, learning to swim at lake winnipesaukee, and being our lovely gracie-girl whom we're really glad to have.

happy birthday gracie!

Here's the scene where the perfection takes place.

Would you just look at that?

Here's where the kids beg for more broccoli, where my husband constantly remarks how sexy I am in pajamas, where not only are the bills always paid, they don't even arrive (some mysterious do-gooder has taken our bills upon himself--thank you, kind sir!), the floors are always free of dust and hair, and the dog walks on her hind legs, therefore allowing her to actually do some sort of manual labor (and she asks all the time if she can help fold the laundry) with her front paws that are no longer necessary for walking.  

Again, so realistic.

{via}

Remember the pom-pom wreath I was going to attempt?

I did!

Me likey.

It's on the time-consuming side, but I made the poms while watching TV so I hardly noticed what I was doing.

Also, you remember Lindsey's forgetfulness (I was thinking of linking to a past blog-post but I realized there are about three having to do with Lindsey's forgetfulness so I decided to skip it)?

This morning was maybe the first morning ever that I didn't ask her before she left if she had her lunch.

Guess where her lunch is?

On the kitchen counter.