Once a month, my girlfriends and I all get together for dinner, drinks, and to discuss international policy, culture, and dogmas women and minorities face in 2019 to talk all about the boys we always hang out with! (Sorry Ryan, Joe, and Bobby! Just trying to keep you on your toes…)

Anyway, in an effort to save some cash and change it up, we’re staying in this month and I’m making dinner! So here’s how I quickly, inexpensively, but deliciously hacked our dinner for four:

I kept it simple (mostly because we were doing dinner at 7pm and I went to ‪Trader Joe’s ‪at 5:30pm). I made teriyaki marinated chicken breasts, a huge salad with lots of veggies, and brown rice seasoned with one of my favorite Spice House Seasonings!

Ingredients:

• 1 bag of Arugula
• Cherry tomatoes
• Carrots (2 large or 4 medium)
• 2 bell peppers (I did one orange one yellow because that is what I had on hand, but anything goes!)
• Croutons of your choice
• Balsamic Vinegar (I used Trader Joe’s Balsamic Vinegar of Modena but totally up to you)
• Olive Oil (I used Ultima Pietra, but feel free to use anything fresh!)
• 2 bags of Trader Joe’s organic brown rice
• 4 chicken breasts
• 1 bottle of teriyaki sauce (I used Trader Joe’s Soyaki Sauce)
• Lake Shore Drive Seasoning
• Salt and Pepper

Directions:

Chicken

1. Place chicken breasts in a large zip lock bag and pour teriyaki sauce in. You’re just adding enough to coat the chicken, about 1/3 cup should do it for 4 chicken breasts. Marinade for at least 30 minutes, usually an hour or two is the sweet spot though.
2. Preheat oven to 400F
3. Line baking sheet with foil (Since you’re using a wet marinade this will just make clean up a little easier and protect your baking sheet from burns)
4. Bake for 35 minutes flipping the chicken over after about 12 minutes. Once your chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees its all done and you can pull it from the oven and serve!

Salad

1. This super simple salad is a go-to when I’m in a bind for time. Chop your tomatoes, carrots and bell peppers into bite-size pieces and add to your salad bowl.
2. Add arugula, for every 1 cup of everything else you want 1.5 cups of lettuce.
   1. Add 1/2 cup of the croutons of your choice. I love croutons (who doesn’t?!) but add any nuts instead if you’re going for a healthy fat instead of a carb.
3. Mix 1 tablespoon of olive oil with 1/2 tablespoon of balsamic and cracked pepper for dressing.
4. Toss and serve!

Rice

Super simple! I almost always hack rice by buying the microwavable kind from Trader Joe’s. It is totally up to you on which type you use but I bought brown rice for this dinner because brown rice has all of the nutrients that white rice is stripped of.

1. Make whatever rice you choose, place it in a serving bowl and season with Lake Shore Drive Seasoning.
2. Serve and enjoy!

 

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