BBQ Chicken & Veggies + Bach Party Weekend Recap (spoiler alert: I survived)

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

First off, things are going to be a little sparse around these parts for the next week or two as I settle into a new schedule and figure out how to balance a bunch of new things that have popped into my schedule this fall (new programs kicking off at work, new volunteering position, dog training classes, small group, online classes etc etc).

Second off, I made this really simple Barbecue Chicken with frozen veggies the other night and it was so good for some reason:


Servings: 5
Prep Time: 10 mins + 7 hours marinating (I marinate while I'm at work)
Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients:

  • 1.5 lbs chicken thighs (I used this organic free-range chicken I got at our neighborhood farmer's market (PS has anyone seen Food Inc on Netflix? After watching, we decided we're only eating organic/grass-fed/etc which is expensive which means we eat less meat)
  • 1 bag frozen broccoli and cauliflower mix (no seasonings added, no butter, nothing, just the straight up bag of frozen veggies)
  • 1/2 Cup cooked quinoa
  • 1 Cup chickpeas (I use them from the can)
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 Tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 Tablespoon salt + pepper
  • 2 Cups Trader Joe's Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce , divided
Before you leave for work in the morning, place the thawed chicken in a giant ziploc baggie with the seasonings and 1 Cup of the BBQ sauce, seal the bag and put it in the fridge.

After sufficient marinating time: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Put your chicken into a baking dish and top it with the juices from the bag. I added some extra salt, pepper and garlic powder to the dish too. Cook for 25-30 minutes.

Heat up your bag of broccoli and cauliflower and mix the veggies, quinoa, chickpeas and chicken together, top the chicken with some extra BBQ sauce and enjoy! Also, play around with the seasonings and let me know if you find a good combo, I've been experimenting.


And now onto the bachelorette party weekend! I mentioned that I hate typical bachelorette party stuff, and my friends did a great job accomodating this. I'm going to do a post Friday about all the ideas they came up with that were perfect for the not-so-basic-cheesy-bride. For now, here are some pix:

Beach bar:


Some of our group at the beach bar:
Atlantic City is full of great sites:


They made me a poster of my Bridesmaids Invites, aka a poster of me as Beyonce which made the week:



Providence Night Club (the nightclubs and all the restaurants we went to were in our resort- the Tropicana- so it was 10 x easier to do a 20+ person bachelorette party)


Giant jaccuzzi IN our suite (not in the bathroom, in the bedroom. Why? Because Atlantic City)


And nothing says classy like a faux fireplace with slow-motion flames


And loved loved loved this dress I got from Rent the Runway







11 comments :

  1. I haven't seen Food Inc. but I'd really like to!

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  2. I so have a bathtub picture like that from my girls weekend this summer!! Only, I can't publish mine as we look a little...well "altered". lol
    And, thank you for that recipe chick---bc guess what? I have chicken thawing and frozen veggies in the freezer!! You just made my boring chicken and veggie dinner a little more exciting!!! Thanks boo!!

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  3. That dress is fabulous!!!! Looks like you guys had a great time!! I was thinking about making BBQ chicken tonight! Yum!

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  4. Looks fun! Love the dress. So glad to hear your had a grea time!

    ~Ashley @ A Cute Angle
    acutelifestyle.blogspot.com

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  5. Your dress is so dang cute and it looks like you had a really fun bachelorette party. Yay! Tropicana looks really awesome. I know I said that in the last comment but I really want to go now that I've seen your pics.

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  6. Beach bar looks like it as fun! Glad you made it back!!

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  7. Ahhhh it looked like so much fun!!!! I love love love your dress!

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  8. What a perfect party!! I'm dying over the beyonce poster - too cute!

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  9. Definitely going to try that recipe. I can't believe the hot tub was in the room- that's so awesome! I've been to Providence before- usually they have great DJs. Looks like a great time!

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  10. hot damn girl you look amazing! that dress is fabulous. yay! it looks like you had a ton of fun, and that poster is the best thing ever ;)

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  11. What a fabulous dress! And I don't like the cheesy bachelorette parties either. You have some awesome girlfriends! BTW you look amazing girl!!!!!

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Love to hear your thoughts and opinions, let's chat!