My Mama’s Roasted Chicken

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My mom makes the greatest, most delicious roasted chicken on a bed of vegetables. One of the best parts about making this chicken is getting to pick the extra-crispy vegetables off of the tin foil, a privilege we all vie for. David even calls this chicken “food for the soul.” And he’s right. This is one of the foods that can put me back at home as soon as its smell starts to fill the kitchen.

Not only is this chicken delicious, but it’s also very easy to make. First, heat your oven to 400ºF. Then, chop up some vegetables and spread them out on a tin foil-lined baking sheet. I used potatoes, carrots, and onions. Now, you’re ready to put your chicken on its bed of vegetables. You can use whatever pieces of chicken you like. I used a whole chicken cut into eight pieces. Just make sure to space them evenly.

Get ready to season your chicken and veggies with the spices and herbs of your choice. I used salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, rosemary, and thyme. Sometimes my mom uses garlic powder or paprika, but it comes out delicious no matter what you add. Then, put your chicken in the oven and let it bake for about one hour or until the chicken is nicely browned and cooked through. 

I think those browned, caramelized veggies are the best part of this meal. I got the tin foil mostly to myself this time too, hooray! Your kitchen will smell so good from this meal that even your puppy will want to dig in!

Her nose knows! Enjoy! Also check out this recipe over winter vegetables.

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Re-hydrate Me, Coconut Water!

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What do you do when you turn in your last final for your second year of law school and drink one too many beers (and drop one too many hot wings on your pants and your boyfriend’s new shoe)? What do you do when your friends convince you to do yogalates, a class that focuses mostly on abs, for the first time in four years? What do you do when you’re out in the heat with your best puppy for too long? DRINK COCONUT WATER! Not only does coconut water taste delicious, but it’s full of electrolytes and is incredibly hydrating.

Whenever I’m desperately in need of hydration, I turn right to coconut water. Instead of letting my best friend/roommate toss me a huge bottle of water that hits me in the face and gives me a black lip after drinking too many margaritas, I turn to trusty coconut water! It prevents me from waking up in the middle of the night feeling parched. I also turn to coconut water after exercising because it’s incredibly refreshing and re-hydrating. I’m not sure if it also helps with muscle soreness after a particularly strenuous workout, but I think it might. It’s also great to give to your little puppy after she’s been out in the sun too long. Just make sure she doesn’t carry it throughout your apartment, spilling it all the way, so she can drink it while being closer to you. That would be cute, but it would also give you a mess to clean up.

It seems like every store carries a different brand of coconut water, and they all taste differently.  Don’t get discouraged if you buy one you don’t like because it will probably be different somewhere else. I bought a few bottles in Paris to remedy my excessive sangria drinking, but it tasted oddly like coconut scented body lotion. Not my favorite…shocker!

I also think coconut water tastes best when it’s served cold, over ice, in a glass. That may seem like it takes a little too much effort, but you should try it and see what I mean. It’s so much better than drinking out of the carton! Do you drink coconut water, and what’s your favorite hangover remedy?

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Walking Mosquito Bait

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If it was possible to be a professional mosquito attracter, I’d lead the industry. But the job would have to be extremely lucrative to compensate for the never-ending itching, pain, and splotchy bruising I’d have to endure. For the past few years, my physical reaction to mosquito bites has elevated from a petty nuisance to outwardly embarrassingly, and I’ve pretty much suffered through all of those symptoms without earning a cent. Don’t worry, I’ll spare you the pictures on this one…just be sure to avoid looking at my legs once swampy July and August hit.

My initial reaction to mosquito bites is pretty normal, but then the bites swell up and turn red. The swelling goes down after a few days, but the color stays behind for weeks…and gets darker! The splotches look and feel like bruises, full of broken blood vessels. When I started having to apply concealer to my legs in the morning, I knew I needed a way to prevent myself from getting bitten in the first place. But I didn’t want to turn to traditional mosquito repellant that would poison Stella when she licked my legs (yes, I have to worry about these crazy things).

Then I found this plant-based bug spray made with lemon eucalyptus oil. It doesn’t have the worst smell (it’s unfortunately nothing like lemon or eucalyptus), but I always make sure to apply it once I’m outside so it doesn’t linger in my apartment. I also find that it does a really good job keeping the bugs away…as long as I remember to put it on! For those times when I don’t have access to the spray or just forget to use it and get some bites, I slather tea tree oil all over them for instant relief. Tea tree oil seems to fix everything, and it smells like a spa!

What methods do you use for repelling mosquitos or soothing bites?

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