Trader Joes, I Heart You.

I have been on hiatus mode.  I don't know why except for one little excuse:  Life gets freaking busy! So I apologize, I will be better about blogging.  I swear.  I do have a few excuses though, and I am sure you can all relate that when;

* The husband was working 24/7 (which means I was in single mommy mode), life gets crazy.

Baby daddy.

* Spring break for Mr. Delicious (aka no break for mommy), life gets crazy.

* Nasty Cold (think Rudolph-red  nose, sniffle central, and blood shot eyes).  On a bright note, my voice did however sound pretty raspy and sexy. My hubby liked it. life gets crazy.

I told you it wasn't a pretty picture.  And please excuse our messy playroom and my 2 inch roots ;)

Ok, enough of the blabbering.  Here is the reason for my post.  Simply put, I have an extreme love affair with Trader Joes.  Where else can you go grocery shopping for some awesome organic produce, score fun and unique treats, and all the while your little munchkins are perusing along side you with their own little cart and balloon in tow?  I love it.  My boys love it.  It makes for a happy shopping experience for all.  Boo-ya.

So, with that being said, I am on my way to this phenomenal Grocery store this afternoon, so that I can make some fabulous Greek Gyros tonight.  Oh, by the way, remember when I said I wish I was Italian ? Well, I also wish I was Greek. If you haven't yet noticed, I am sort of bi-polar and it has been brought to my attention more than once, that I seem to want to live several different lives.  True.  Who doesn't wish they were a cat with 9 lives?!  I certainly do. That would awesome. Artist in NYC, Hippie in SoCal, Fashion Designer in Paris...
So yes, I would love to be Italian and also Greek.  Remember the movie "Mama Mia"?  I wish I lived in a house like that over the crystal blue water in Greece.  Ah-maz-ing.

Greece

Anyways, this awesome recipe was emailed to me as part of this recipe exchange thingy (thanks Bekah).  I thought I would share. Enjoy.  I know I will. Oh, and if you love trader Joe's as much as I do (thank goodness my husband knows that Trader Joe's is a grocery store and not a real man named Joe...) than you need to pick this up: It won't disappoint and you will love me for sharing this with you.

Find it Here :)

Greek Lemon Chicken Gyros

Lemon Chicken (place in Ziploc overnight)
• 1/4 cup good olive oil
• 3 tablespoons minced garlic (9 cloves)
• 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest (2 lemons)
• 4-5 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme leaves
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 4 boneless chicken breasts, skin on (6 to 8 ounces each)
Pepper/Onion Skewers
Sweet mini peppers (Trader Joes sells a bag of yellow, red, and orange)
Wash and cut off tops
Chop a red onion into chunks
Add peppers and onion to a bag with olive oil, salt, pepper and garlic

Marinate for up to 12 hours.  Skewer.


Taziki sauce (best made one day ahead to let flavors blend)

1 C sour cream
1 C plain Greek yogurt
Juice from 1 large lemon
1 T minced garlic
Salt and pepper to taste
2-3 mini cucumbers grated

Mix together, refrigerate.

Heirloom Tomato relish

Trader Joes heirloom tomatoes
About 10 tomatoes cut in half
Splash of balsamic vinegar
Salt and pepper to taste
Let blend for at least 20 minutes


Grill Chicken Breasts and pepper/onion skewers. Serve sliced chicken in a Trader Joes flat bread (or wheat Pita) with grilled veggies,Taziki sauce, tomato relish and fresh spinach.  Enjoy!