What I’m reading….
The Happiness Project. I’ve been working on this book since Christmas in my downtime and I love it so far. It’s a nonfiction book about her journey through a year of the ways she tries to find happiness. Each month she focuses on a new goal and builds on each one as the year progresses. It’s very uplifting.
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I haven’t started my own happiness project (yet) but I did make weekly goals and also goals I want to achieve by the end of my semester in May. Having weekly goals has been really motivating because they are small, simple, easily attainable goals that enrich my life. I put a number with each one so for example I want to call a friend from home once a week, study 2 chapters for the ACSM certification, go out at least once a weekend with friends, do crossfit 2 times per week, talk to my mom everyday, and a few others that focus on family, blogging, and my job.
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The other book I picked up from the library this week is…
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Evolutionary Aspects of Nutrition and Health. Nerd Alert, I know. But I find this topic captivating and even though I can read about all of this on the internet I think absorbing a whole book cover to cover offers a lot more depth. This book is part of a large collection, recommended at many nursing colleges, all pertaining to chronic disease, nutrition, and biology that I’d like to get through several of.
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I’ve been listening to….
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Florence and Machine- Shake it Out and You’ve Got the Love. Love her voice and these songs have been on perpetual repeat for days.
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And since this is a food blog after all, I’ve been eating….
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Chicken Thighs with Olives and Dates
The best decision I made all week was picking up chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts. Seriously, the darker meat and extra fat adds so much flavor and fills me up so much more. Serves 3-4. Adapted from this recipe.
- 4 chicken thighs
- 1 Tbsp water
- 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1/3 cup olives and some olive juice
- 8-10 pitted dates
- olive oil
- salt, pepper, dried parsley, dried thyme (or any other herbs and spices you prefer)
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Wash chicken thighs and pat dry with a paper towel. Place chicken in a baking dish and drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper on the top.
In a bowl mix together water, apple cider vinegar, garlic, herbs, olives and juice, and dates. Pour over chicken.
Place chicken in the oven for 20 minutes. Turn heat down to 350 and continue to cook for an additional 20 minutes or until juices run clear and the chicken is fully cooked.
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I ate 2 for lunch plus the skin (the best part) off the other two. Oops!
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I wanted to eat the other two for dinner that night but I refrained and saved them for the next day. The olives and dates contrast perfectly and the dates become sticky, chewy, and caramelized. If you’re sick of chicken, like I was last week, give chicken thighs a try to mix things up.
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What are you reading, listening to, and eating lately?
This is going to sound dumb…I always hated buying chicken thighs b/c removing the skin is one of the grossest tasks I can imagine in this world. Why I never thought to just leave it on blows my mind. Duh.
My frozen package of thighs is destined for this meal
oh man send those skins this way
kidding that’d be gross. But no really, they are the best part all crisped up in the oven!
I loved The Happiness Project. I read it while I was working in a crappy 9-5 job, and although the book isn’t ground-breaking, it helped me to write out some goals and set some things in motion. I sometimes re-read section of it as little reminders.
I agree, nothing ground breaking but it does show you have control over every situation in your life to make it a positive one. I plan to reread sections as well, glad you also liked it!
The Happiness Project was a great read – glad you’re enjoying it too!
I had the same thing happen with chicken skin the other day! I roasted a whole chicken, and ate all the skin and one thigh right away. The next night, I wished I’d portioned it out a little better, the skin is the best part
yes it IS the best part!
I love crispy chicken skin, even if it’s bad. But I am gonna be giving chicken thighs a try soon since I’m focusing on less expensive but still healthful foods/proteins. I’ll just have to remove em!
ohh the skin isn’t bad for you! I would definitely recommend keeping the skin on.
I’ve always wanted to read the happiness project since I read about it in some magazine. I think it sounds like something that would inspire me in so many ways! I’m a total nutrition nerd too, so I’d actually love to flip through that other book as well!
I looooove Florence and the Machine. Shake it out is an amazing song. Nerdy exercise books like that intrigue me too. Such interesting info!
YUMMMMmmmm Love chicken with olives. It’s a favorite of mine, too. I especially love it with a little white wine and artichokes. If you want a really tasty skin, try broiling the chicken for five minutes after cooking. It makes the skin a bit crispy and brown while keeping the meat moist.
I’ll try broiling next time. The skin is my favorite part so that sounds really good.
I absolutely love using chicken thighs – sooooo flavorful! This is a great recipe to use dates in…I must try it.
Yum! Its like chicken marbella with prunes instead of dates right…? Sounds delicious! Yay for chicken thighs (and skin!)
oh I’ve never heard of chicken marbella actually, is that with prunes maybe? And yes- your post was the one that inspired me to give them a try, thanks!!
Nerd alert here too – that book looks super interesting. And the dinner looks good too!
I love chicken thighs so much more than breasts. They are meatier, more flavorful, and cheaper. Definitely a win win if you ask me. Lately I have been reading Bossypants, listening to Valencia (best pop pink ever!), and eating chili with couscous.
I’m eating a lot of nut butter
I love the chicken skin too, and that book looks RIGHT up my alley. I’ve been reading: Swamplandia, a new fiction that’s up for all the prizes this year. It’s AWESOME. I’m eating a LOT of almond butter and most recently a cup of tortilla soup topped with chicken. I’m listening to Fleet Foxes. Man, I love them, esp. in the winter.
Fleet foxes are great, good taste! And I want that soup, especially right now, I’m a little under the weather.
The Happiness Project sounds so good! I will have to pick it up! Also, I have GOT to purchase some chicken thighs STAT! Between your post and Emmy’s I am craving chicken thighs! Yummmo!
I have been reading nothing but graduate paper 24/7 which has put a damper on my “fun” reading. However, I have been diving into old issue of Food & Wine and Bon Appetite when I can.
I have been listening to Vanessa Carlson and The Band Perry on repeat for days. I will have to load some Florence and the Machine onto my ipod–I loooove her too!
yes Emmy’s post pushed me to buy them and I’m so glad I did. Probably never going back to chicken breasts to be honest.
Florence and Machine – we have on repeat as well!!!
and Happiness Project sounds like a great book.
always looking for a new good book to add to our to read list!
Oh I LOVE the addition of the dates in the chicken dish! I definitely want to give that a try!
I just finished The Alchemist and Cutting for Stone (both of which I LOVED!)
heard both are fantastic reads! The dates were amazing after being cooked, highly recommended!
Love the idea of combining olives and dates – salty sweetie goodness! Apparently thigh meat has a lot more nutrients in it too, and I find when cooking it for my boys, you don’t need to add much extra fat to the pan as it kind of self-lubricates (ew gross that sounds disgusting, but you get what I mean, no?!)
That chicken looks fancy!
I’m reading The Night Circus, listening to CNN and eating burgers. So many burgers.
your blog header is a beauty, btw
This looks delicious. I don’t like dark meat so I plan to try this with chicken breasts. I found your blog on pinterest and there are so many great recipes. I don’t eat sugar so it’s nice to see that you have a whole section dedicted to paleo. Thank you!
thanks I’m glad you like the look of it
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