🙁 🙁 🙁 🙁 🙁 🙁 🙁 🙁 🙁 🙁 🙁
It’s my LAST day of work 🙁 I am really sad!! I’m going to miss my job tons — it’s been a blast! And in timely fashion, I am now 50% done with my hours needed to sit for the Certified Diabetes Educators (CDE) exam! I’m ecstatic about that!
I’ll quit my pouting and share a delicious dinner…
Lemony Orzo-Veggie Salad with Chicken from Cooking Light
3/4 cup uncooked orzo
1/4 teaspoon grated lemon rind
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1/4 teaspoon honey
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 cup shredded skinless, boneless rotisserie chicken breast
1/2 cup diced English cucumber (I just used a regular cucumber)
1/2 cup prechopped red bell pepper
1/3 cup thinly sliced green onions
1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
1/2 cup (2 ounces) crumbled goat cheese
Directions:
Cook orzo according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain and rinse with cold water; drain and place in a large bowl.
While orzo cooks, combine lemon rind and next 6 ingredients (through black pepper), stirring well with a whisk. Drizzle juice mixture over orzo; toss to coat. Add chicken and next 4 ingredients (through dill); toss gently to combine. Sprinkle with cheese. Serves 4 — about 1 1/4 cup per serving.
Nutrition Information (per serving): 275 calories; 9.7 g. fat (3.8 g. saturated; 3.9 g. monounsaturated; 0.9 g. polyunsaturated); 41 mg. cholesterol; 338 mg. sodium; 28 g. carbohydrate; 1.8 g. fiber; 18.2 g. protein
Result: This was yummy, summery, refreshing, and light! I did add a bit more chicken as I had nothing to do with leftover rotisserie chicken. Be sure to measure the lemon juice and lemon rind — don’t want to over-do it with those intense citruses!
And if you’re looking for a fun, summery adult beverage…
Watermelon Margarita from Cooking Light
2 teaspoons sugar
1 lime wedge
3 1/2 cups cubed seeded watermelon
1/2 cup tequila
3 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon triple sec (orange-flavored liqueur)
Lime wedges (optional)
Directions:
Place 2 teaspoons sugar in a saucer. Rub rims of 6 glasses with 1 lime wedge; spin rim of each glass in sugar to coat. Set prepared glasses aside. Combine watermelon and next 4 ingredients (watermelon through triple sec) in a blender; process until smooth. Fill each prepared glass with 1/2 cup crushed ice. Add 1/2 cup margarita to each glass. Garnish each glass with a lime wedge, if desired. Serve immediately. Yield: 6 servings.
Nutrition Information (per serving): 157 calories; 0.2 g. fat; 2 mg. sodium; 6 g. carbohydrate; 0.4 g. fiber; 0.2 g. protein
…apparently, Cooking Light ROCKED this month! 😀
Hi from Lil lil…
BERRIES for this kid!!
Off to my last day of work 🙁 until August 2nd when I’ll start my NEW job! 😀
Have a wonderful day!
I love watermelon! And watermelon flavored things – my favorite being watermelon martinis. 🙂
Congrats on being 50% of the way done with your CDE hours — incredible accomplishment!
Have a great last day at work. I know it is always hard to leave something, but the future holds great things too.
These recipes look good. I am and always will be a sucker for kiwi. I could eat them all the time.
You have been so good about cooking meals and creating new recipes. I can’t even remember the last time I tried a new recipe. I guess it doesn’t help that I am living out of a hotel, but still!
So I’m sure your last day was sad, but I think you are really going to enjoy your new job. I’m assuming you took the renal position. I really think you’ll like it, and it will be a new and fun experience for you! And, you’ll be our new neighbors. What’s more exciting than that?! We’ll have to get together in August.
That drink looks so so good. I could go for a glass right now. It looks like something I’d make for a party.
Have a good last day of work. I hope you enjoy your next job just as much as this one!
On to new things! Bittersweet, I know, but you have so much to look forward to 🙂
I have a bunch of recipes dog-eared from this month’s Cooking Light – both the orzo salad and watermelon margarita sound great!
Oh gosh, where to begin with my favorite summer produce… berries, stone fruits (especially cherries!), zucchini, corn, tomatoes – it’s tough to pick just one!
Aww babe…I’m sorry your last day is finally here…but excited about how many new lives you are going to touch. Love the orzo salad…no such thing as too much lemon for me, actually haha. And the watermelon margarita – so tasty! Not that I endorse drinking away your woes or anything 😛
I’ve been all about the cherries lately!
SOrry it’s your last day! You have so much to look forward to though. Dont be sad!!
I love watermelon….yum!!
Dana xo
http://happinessiswithin.wordpress.com/
That margarita looks perfect for a day like today! YUM!
Sorry about your last day of work. Enjoy it 🙂
Have a great last day of work! Its always sad to leave, but think about all the fun you will have at your new place! And that watermelon margarita looks aaaaamazing! yum!
That looks like a wonderful, refreshing dish…much needed to relieve the sadness over your last day. The good news is that being sad means that it was a wonderful, meaningful experience 🙂
The Lemon Chicken Orzo looks fantastic! I have all the ingredients, I may just make it today!
I love tomatoes right now, can’t get enough of them!
And…good luck today. It must be bittersweet 🙂
Goodluck on your last day today! I know it will be sad but think about the amazing future you have in front of you! 🙂
Enjoy your last day at work!
Blueberries right now – I’m eating them by the pint! 😉
Have a wonderful last day!
I’ve made watermelon margaritas before!!!!!!! They are so yummy and refreshing!! 🙂 I first heard about them from a friend and then became obsessed with them the following summer.
I can’t get enough of our Georgia peaches this summer!!!!!! So good!! 🙂
Enjoy your last day at work, i wish you get lots more than you expected in future & All the best for everything….salad looks lovely and watermelon margaritas looks refreshing…
Have fun at your last day of work!
Your dinner looks great – I love orzo.
I cannot get enough blueberries – I would eat a pint a day if I could afford it.
Have a great last day!
I can’t get enough blueberries lately. I’m on mission to get them at Costco tonight!
Watermelon is my BFF during the summer, so darn good. And I agree that Cooking Light WAS very good this month.
Good luck on your last day! I know it is bitter sweet, but think about alllll of the people who you will continue to help. Good-byes are so hard….at least there is always some type of party involved, right? 😉
I can’t get enough of cucumbers right now! And canteloupe, but I just haven’t been very good about buying it. But I’m seriously thinking of trying to grow my own cucumbers next year in a big pot. I would eat them all right up!
Congrats on being 50% done with the CDE hours! I’ll have a beautiful watermelon margarita to celebrate with you! 🙂
Have a great last day of work and enjoy the break in between jobs! 😀
I’ll have to make that orzo salad, I love citrusy things in the summertime.
Watermelon! 😀
Thanks for sharing the watermelon margarita recipe! I’ve been wanting to try one with my endless supply of watermelon in the house.
You are using all the good recipes from the Cooking light magazine 🙂 I have made so many from the same magazine lately too. So darn good! I made watermelon mojiotes the other day and they went over so well! Hope things are going good Nicole!
I can’t get enough cherries! I’m slightly obsessed. 🙂
That might be my fave pic of Lily (I know I say that all the time lol)…
That salad looks amazing!!!!! I can almost taste it =)
I’m sorry that you are sad but I am sure this change is for the best and hey at least you get a nice summer vacay! woohoo
I think I just sat and stared at the screen in longing for that margarita. Being pregnant in the summer and not being able to enjoy margaritas is a crime!
I love CookingLight!! I’m a big fan of lemony anything and recently made meloncello cocktails with watermelon, so good. I need more berries too! Best of luck with your new job, it will be great 🙂
Tomatoes! I’m always a tomato fiend!
The orzo looks delicious! Can I come over for leftovers?
Congrats! I can’t get enough of berries, peaches, and watermelon! Love the stuff! 😀
Nicole, the orzo pasta is just right for this hot weather …and the watermelon margarita looks absolutely refreshing 🙂
Today I ate the best watermelon I have ever tasted in my life. Seriously, it was beyond perfect. I still have half of it left too so now that margarita is looking pretty fantastic!
I LOVE that picture of Lily! She looks so adorable!
I’m the same…berries!
I really like orzo. It brings back childhood memories when my mom would pick up orzo salad from the market. Now watermelon margaritas on the other hand…I’d like to make that one of my adult memories!
That salad looks perfect for summer. I love orzo in salad, good size 🙂 Lily is looking good, she’s such a cutie.
That chicken orzo salad looks amazing. Pretty margarita, too, but I know I’d like looking at it more than drinking it, lol.
Is pineapple in season? I can’t get enough of fresh pineapple. 🙂
Jenn
Oh my goodness that marg looks heavenly!!!!!
My favorite in season fruit I tough…it’s a tie between melons of all types and PINEAPPLE!!!
I really can’t get enough of strawberries. When I find organic strawberries in the grocery store, I get all excited(inwardly of course, don’t want the other customers to think I’m strange!) b/c organic berries arenot easily found in my town.
I used to not be a fan of watermelon, but I’ve had it several times this summer and I really love it:)
You’re dog is really cute:)
I’m not a fan of watermelon but I have a hunch I’d like it if it were mixed with some tequila 🙂
I made this last night! http://www.pickleypear.com/2010/07/simple-life.html
Lovely summer salad!