Holiday Wish List for Cooks: Tequila-Seared Lime Cilantro Chicken with Chimichurri and the Microsoft Surface 2

 

My kitchen is my hub. It’s my HQ for work, family, food and the many, many small scraps of paper that constitute my To Do Lists/Recipes/Book Ideas. Right now, I’m operating off a laptop, standing at my island running my (very) small media empire, fact-checking homework, and ordering gifts online while simultaneously making enchiladas and emptying the dishwasher. It’s only a matter of time before the laptop ends up in the sink.   I’d like to digitize the whole operation and get mobile so I’ve been in the market for a tablet that a real tool, not a toy.

That’s why I jumped at the chance at an invitation from Red Tricycle to check out the all Microsoft Surface 2 and a cooking demonstration from Simple Gourmets’ Melanie Barsuk and Tajie Marie. who whipped up Tequila Seared Chicken with Chimichurri. (Recipe Below!) Wait, what? This is my life: working and making dinner at the same time.  And it comes with chimichurri sauce? Even better.

Loved the Microsoft Surface 2. Sleek, super light and user -friendly. And it comes with 2013 Microsoft Office RT ( with Outlook)  pre-loaded onto the device, so it fits my definition of “tool.”  You can get work done with this tablet and the get dinner done! There’s a  fantastic app the makes recipe searching and organizing really easy. Plus, there’s an incredible feature that every home cook will appreciate: simply wave your hand in front of the screen to get to the next step in the recipe.  No more sticky hands on the laptop!

I wave; the recipe moves to the next step. No sticky hands on the tablet.

Melanie and Tajie whipped up a super-tasty weekday dinner and while we played around with the Surface. I love watching real chefs work up close because they are so smooth in the kitchen and full of great ideas.  I am a ‘sear before bake’ convert now (see recipe) and have been inspired to stop up my sauce-making since the demo. Why? Because Melanie provided my favorite line of the day: Sauce is love.  It’s the extra step that tells your family you love them. Amen.

So I’m saucing it up these days, in hopes that my husband, Santa Baby, gets the hint and puts the Microsoft Surface 2 in my stocking. Because that’s love too!

 

Thanks, Red Tricycle, Microsoft and Simple Gourmet.

For More Information, Please Click on the logos below: 

 

A great resources for parents of Toddlers and kids of all ages

 

 

 

 

 

Make plenty of sauce because you want to drink it!

Tequila Seared Chicken with Chimichurri

Serves 6

For the chicken

 

1/2 cup tequila

2 limes, zest and juice

2 oranges, zest and juice

4 garlic cloves, finely minced

1 bunch cilantro, with stems

1 tsp red chili flakes

1 tbl ground cumin

1 tsp salt

1/2 cup olive oil

4-6 chicken breasts, boneless, skinless

 

For the chimichurri

1 cup parsley leaves

1/4 cup mint leaves

1/4 cup chopped white onion

1 tsp red chili flakes

1/4 cup white vinegar

1/2 cup olive oil

salt and pepper

 

For the chicken

In a food processor, combine the marinade ingredients. Process until well chopped. Place the chicken on a baking sheet

and pour over the marinade, turning to ensure the chicken is thoroughly covered.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Heat a grill pan over high heat. Once hot, grill the chicken until well-marked on both sides

and place onto a clean baking sheet. Place in the oven and bake for about 10 minutes or until just cooked through.

Remove, cover with foil and let rest for 10-15 minutes.

 

For the chimichurri

Combine the parsley, mint, onion, red chili flakes, vinegar and olive oil in a food processor and pulse until it is a chunky

mixture (don’t process until smooth). Season well with salt and pepper.

Serve chimichurri drizzled over the chicken or on the side.