Keeping Summer Supper Simple

It’s no secret by now that I am a passionate Catholic believer. When you truly believe, everything changes. You cannot help but to see the world differently.

I’ve talked before about having a prior life. It was nothing like the one we have today. Filled with glitz and glamour – jet setting and pretty distractions. God said “I’m glad for you that you are having such a wonderful time. But now you need to get serious.” And so it was that when the world’s economy collapsed our world imploded. Everything gone in the blink of an eye.

With the help of family; a lot of soul-searching and prayer, things began to turn around. Life was still a struggle, but that was okay. We were okay. Hubby, Kiddo and I all worked for the same company. How convenient. We car pooled together and had lunch together every day. We lived from pay check to pay check, with a little left over. And then almost without warning the company closed its doors. I remember that day so well. We drove home in silence. Hubby and I sat together at the kitchen table and prayed. We decided to take a vacation – drive up to Oregon for 10 days. While I know that sounds like a crazy thing to do when your entire household is suddenly unemployed, we knew it was the right decision. There was nothing we could do to change what had happened. The only thing to do was to trust God. He would provide. Midway through our crazy vacation, Hubby got a phone call from someone he had once worked with who was now in Modesto at another event rental company. Essentially the same job, just at a different company in a different city. Would he and Kiddo be willing to relocate? It was more money, in a town with a lower cost of living. Call it a double raise. That was 8 years ago.

Our faith is stronger, deeper and more fulfilling. We were guided by the hand of God to a parish where we can make a difference. Our landlord is amazing. He says treat the house like it’s your own. And so we do, fixing up the landscape and making it truly our home. I haven’t felt a sense of “home” since we lost everything all those years ago.

While we’ll never be rich again in a worldly sense, we are rich beyond measure in the ways that count. Sometimes I wish we had turned our lives over to God fully from the beginning, I don’t regret what was because it made all that follows that much more special. Amen.

---

Today’s recipe is one that I created after having had the Southwest Chopped Salad as is – just the kit and nothing else. Kiddo actually prepared the supper following my instructions. I had taken quit a tumble while working in the yard and was temporarily out of commission. I fell on the concrete driveway, bent my wrist back to the point that the fingers were touching my arm, scraped up one knee and split the top of my head open just enough to cause it to bleed. The fact that nothing was broken, no stitches required and no concussion to worry about is further proof that angels are all around us. Something cushioned my fall, of that I have no doubt.

This salad really is tasty. Perfect for a quite summer evening spent watching the garden grow.

---

Southwest Chicken Chopped Salad
1 lb Chicken Tenders
Mesquite Seasoning to taste
Pinch Cayenne Pepper
Spicy Olive Oil as needed
2 cups Grape Tomatoes
2 bags Southwest Chopped Salad Kits

Lay chicken tenders out on a cutting board. Season generously with Mesquite Seasoning and a kiss of Cayenne. Slice tenders into thin strips. Set aside.

Heat oil in a flat skillet over medium-high heat. Stir-fry the chicken strips until cooked through, stirring often, about 5 or 6 minutes.

Cut tomatoes in half. On a platter, spread out the chopped salad from the bags. Scatter tomatoes over the salad. Add the dressing packets from the kits. Toss to coat salad in the Cilantro Dressing.

Lay chicken over the salad, sprinkle with the tortilla strips and sunflower seeds from the kit. Toss again to blend. Serve and enjoy a spicy yet refreshing salad for supper.

---

Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.