When anyone asks me what my blog is about, I want to say "a food blog for busy, young professionals about cooking a balance of healthy and indulgent recipes."
Instead, I usually say, "a blog about food and cooking." I write this blog partially because I'm a twenty-something who works full-time and likes good food. Of course, my blog is for everyone to read, regardless of age, profession or demographic.
The concept behind my food blog was, however, inspired by twenty-somethings and beyond who think they have no time to cook because they are busy. Or because they live alone. Or because they don't know how to cook. I have seen many friends' bare refrigerators, empty until the next time they visit their parents and can stock the shelves with leftovers and half-empty boxes of Double Stuff Oreos.
Well, last week I visiting a male friend and found myself in one of those kitchens. A kitchen stocked with little more than hot sauce, Bud Light and a Ziplock bag full of Taco Bell hot sauce packets.
I had promised to cook my friend dinner and was faced with the task of preparing a meal without a cutting board, colander, measuring cups, spoons or a sharp knife. You heard me correctly. No sharp knife.
To be fair, there was a paring knife, intended for slicing limes for Coronas. It served better than I thought it would for slicing vegetables.
So after a quick trip to the grocery store and some arm wrestling with the paring knife and a few bell peppers, we had chicken fajitas.
Chicken Fajitas with Onions and Peppers
(modified from Cooking Light)
Ingredients:
1. To prepare marinade, combine first 10 ingredients in a large bowl; set aside. To prepare fajitas, trim the fat from chicken. Combine 1 1/2 cups marinade with chicken in a large zip-top plastic bag. Seal and marinate in refrigerator 4 hours or overnight, turning occasionally. Combine remaining marinade, bell peppers, and onion in a zip-top plastic bag. Seal and marinate in refrigerator for 4 hours or overnight, turning occasionally.
Remove chicken from bag; discard marinade. Remove vegetables from bag; reserve marinade. Place reserved marinade in a small saucepan; set aside. Place chicken and vegetables on grill rack coated with cooking spray; cook 8 minutes on each side or until cooked throughout.
{ 29 comments… read them below or add one }
Ole! I love chicken fajitas. The peppers & onions look amazing!
Chicken fajitas, rice & a corona with lime is something I could eat EVERY DAY.
This sounds great and is going on my list of things to make on worknights.
I am wondering if there is supposed to be steak in your ingredient list?
Regardless, I am making this (chicken only) tomorrow night. My peppers, onions & chicken are all marinating (not together, of course) and will be delicious. This was very timely as just an hour ago, I was thinking, should I make fajitas tomorrow night? And there was your recipe.
I don’t think I tell you often enough how I love your site, even if I’m not a 20-something, but instead a 30-something w/ a job, grad school & an upcoming marathon (and dinner to make for the hubs). Thanks!
Love the idea of your blog. All too often I neglect my cooking – in favour of baking, though.
good job – I have been in far too many a kitchen like this and they are no longer twenty something -
Wow, impressive. Not even a knife? He must be happy you came along. The fajitas look great! And I not only have a sharp knife, but a fajita pan, so I’m all set.
I wonder how many people claim they can’t cook simply because they haven’t got any tools to do so? How can someone live without any basic kitchen essentials? I grew up learning to cook from the time I was seven, and when I left home I had no idea that it just wasn’t the way everyone was raised. I knew so many people in college who couldn’t even properly cook a frozen pizza, and I was making ribs, roasted chicken, casseroles etc… much to everyone’s amazement. Parents do their children a HUGE disservice by not teaching them life skills like that. HUGE!!!
Fajitas are so easy, and they’re ALWAYS delicious (and impressive!). And you really have beautiful pictures!
Its funny what we used to get by with in our kitchen. I can’t imagine living like that now
Now I can get down with this recipe.
Also? Your guy friend and I have similiarly stocked kitchens.
Wait, where the hell were the taco bell packets I was looking for those.
Yum, fajitas and tacos are a regular weeknight meal for me. Super easy to prepare. That’s hilarious about your friend’s hot sauce packets, but it’s also true for many! It’s surprising what you can throw together sometimes.
If you promise to make this, you can come and stay at my house any time! I even have my own knives.
when in doubt, make something wrapped in a tortilla….. totally my motto around here.
great looking fajitas.
I recall in college making a trip to walmart specifically for sharp knives and real glasses for my boyfriend’s (now husband’s) apartment. I was DONE with the one dull knife they had. haha!
ROFL – oh my…sounds like your friend could use a few more shopping trips, or someone like you to take care of him
Wow this looks really good! Nummmmmmm.
I always forget about fajitas as a dish that Hubs and I love, and can be modified for the wackily varied tastes of our offspring. You do have gorgeous pictures- so nice to have met you last weekend! All best.
Oh, man… Have I ever been there and done that! I’m 25, and I sometimes see my friend’s food situations and think “How do you people live like this?” Haha… Fajitas are a great choice. I think I actually made those at a friend’s house too!
Wow, this is interesting…but at the end you manage…and the fajita looks great…
Chicken fajitas are one of my favorite foods except I always seem to think they are too complicated. Thanks for this great recipe. Much easier then previous ones I’ve tried.
Delicious chicken fajita!
” a zip lock bag full of Taco Bell hot sauce”!!!Now that is classic!!!!!
Yum! We love chicken fajitas around my house. Funny how spoiled (if that is the right term) we get from all of our kitchen tools until you are faced with making a meal without them!
This looks so tasty! I too wonder how some of my friends survive on canned food and frozen meals (not that I don’t go there on occasion). Recipes like this are great when showing friends that cooking really isn’t all that bad. Can’t wait to try this!
The wonders of a chicken fajitas! Delicious meal every time and you could never get sick of these.
this looks really good. I will have to try this soon
Ryan
Pet PEEEVE. This is why I hate cookign in other peoples kitchens. Unless they are more of a food snob than me ; )
yummy!! love to try this recipe.