Z's Fiery Guacamole Dip

Ingredients: 

3 ripe avocados
1 can RO*TEL (use HOT Rotel to kick it up a notch)
Kosher salt & pepper to taste
1 lime

Directions:

Combine avocados and strained Rotel tomatoes and mash up the avocados. You can use a couple spoonfuls of the Rotel juice if you want your dip a little more soupy. Squeeze the juice of one lime into the mixture and add salt and pepper to taste.



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Lindsey's Rotel Chicken Pasta Recipe

Since I am often asked what my recipe is for my Rotel Chicken Pasta, I've decided to go ahead and share it here.

Ingredients:

1 can of Cream of Chicken soup (I use the Campbell's Heart Healthy version)
2 cans of Rotel (if you like it spicy, opt for the HOT Rotel)
2 12 oz cans of chicken, drained
1 lb linguine
16-20 American cheese singles
1 bell pepper, diced

Directions:

1. On low heat in a pan, combine the Cream of Chicken soup, 2 cans of rotel, American cheese singles, and drained chicken until cheese is melted and creates a thick sauce.

2. Boil the linguine.

3. Microwave the diced bell pepper for 1 minute.  Drain the leftover juice and add bell pepper to cheese sauce.

4. Combine the cheese sauce and the linguine in a 9x13 dish and bake for 20 minutes at 325*.

5. Impress your family and friends.

6. Enjoy!

FYI- this dish actually tastes better on day 2, after it has had time to sit and "marinate."

Fresh, clean, and light alternative to traditional spaghetti

If you want to try a simple, yet light- and healthy alternative to your everyday spaghetti, look no further.  Spaghetti checca (pronounced "check-cuh") is your answer.  It features fresh tomatoes, basil, garlic, scallions, olive oil, Parmesan and fresh mozzarella.  Your entire prep and cook time is less than 30 minutes and you can chow down without the guilt of indulging in a calorific bowl of spaghetti- and all you have to actually cook is the pasta itself!

I have included the recipe that I use from FoodNetwork.com thanks to Italian-born chef Giada de Laurentiis.

Give it a try on a hot day or after a long day at work and let me know what you think. 

Ingredients

8 ounces spaghettini or angel hair pasta

• 4 scallions (white and pale green parts only), coarsely chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 (12-ounce container) cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 (1-ounce) piece Parmesan, coarsely chopped
• 8 to 10 fresh basil leaves
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente, tender but still firm to the bite, stirring often, about 8 minutes. Meanwhile, combine the next 7 ingredients in a food processor. Pulse just until the tomatoes are coarsely chopped (do not puree). Drain the pasta, reserving some of the pasta water. Toss the pasta with the tomato mixture and fresh mozzarella in a large bowl. Add some of the reserved pasta water (about 1/4 cup) if the sauce looks dry. Serve immediately. 

Reworking of Amarillo By Morning - "Victory By Morning"

Victory by morning, one up on San Antone.
Every win that we've got is just why we grind on.
When that sun is high in that Texas sky
We'll be growlin' like a Grizzly bear.
Victory by morning, Victory we'll be there.

We kicked some tail in Houston, broke the Thunder the other day.
Lost a couple to the Clippers and a game to OKC along the way.
Well we'll be flyin' in late at the Wilson Air Center gate,
And I'm hoping that ref ain't blind.
Victory by morning, victory is on our mind.

Victory by morning, two up on San Antone.
Every win that we've got is just why we grind on.
We ain't got much time, but we've got is prime.
We ain't, but y'all will see.
Victory by morning, Finals's where we'll be.
Victory by morning, World Champs is what we'll be.

Memphis Grizzlies version of Don't Stop Believin'

Just a small market team

Ballin' in a lonely world

They took the vict’ry train goin' anywhere

Just some city boys

Even got one from Detroit

He took the midnight train from up there

A player in a crowded room

The smell of bbq and beer does loom

For a win they can steal tonight

The streak goes on and on and on and on

Spurs are waiting

Up and down the Riverwalk

Their old bones achin’ in the night

Grit grind people

You’ll never find more devotion

Cheerin’ somewhere in the night

Grinding hard, the Grizz got the skill

All the fans want a thrill

Beatin’ them would sure be nice, just one more time

Some we’ll win, some we’ll lose

Some of us sporting Beale Street blues

Oh, the grinding never ends

It goes on and on and on and on

Spurs are waiting

Up and down the Riverwalk

Duncan and Parker can’t sleep at night

Grit grind people

Faith runnin’ deeper than the ocean

Tony’s tweetin’ something late at night

Don't stop believin'

Hold on to that feelin'

Grit grind people

Don't stop believin'

Hold on

Grit grind people

Don't stop believin'

Hold on to that feelin'

Puzzles and Soulmates

If you believe in soulmates, you believe in puzzles that are comprised of only two pieces. It's the world's tiniest puzzle but it sometimes takes the longest to put together, and sometimes the pieces are not even in the same box but they turn up when you least expect it. Sometimes the puzzle has no image to match the pieces, so you have to try several different pieces before you find the perfect fit. And if you truly believe in soulmates, you know that there is only one piece that fits with the other and once those two pieces come together, the image they create is far greater than any work of art. Sometimes puzzles work in the way of how your fingers interlock, or in the way your lips meet theirs, or how you fit into their arms, or how you fit into their life, their soul, their head, their heart, their friends, their family, and their world. But at some point you will find the missing piece to your own personal puzzle and it will be one you'll want to keep together and frame- the hard part comes with figuring out the "glue" that will keep it together. But if it's meant to be, it won't be difficult keeping it "glued" together; it will stay together forever.

Late Night Ramblings on Music

Music can truly center you and keep you grounded (not like can't leave the house or play with your toys grounded :P). Here I am, sleepless not-so-much in Seattle, listening to all these songs that were popular in high school and all the memories come flooding in. I'm reminded of blaring "Angel of Mine" by Monica on those early drives to school in the mornings, the feelings I had over that silly high school crush who I never managed to snag until 5 years after graduation ;), the dreams I had, etc- and to sit here at 31 and hear those same songs knowing how I see, think, and feel about things, it's amazing to see how much I've grown, how much I've changed, how much I've stayed the same, and how much I still dream of those same things now that I'm twice as old as I was when these songs were part of my every day routine. And as wonderful as it is to reminisce, it's made me feel incredibly OLD. LOL

The tunes play on on this lonely sleepless night and "I Will Always Love You" is sung into my ears by an angel now in Heaven. So many times did I (and still do) belt this song out in my car and on those coveted days when I was left home alone and didn't have to subject anyone to the God awful sound that my once vocally trained voice has morphed into. Sadly there were MANY days where I thought I could sing as well as Whitney and Celine Dion- that was until I recorded myself and played it back in utter horror. I may or may not still do that. ;)

Music has ALWAYS been a HUGE inspiration in my life- and I still occasionally kick myself for not transferring to Belmont back in college and pursuing music business. I used to play in my grandmother's backyard on Graceland Drive, no less, and just sing my little heart out. I sang true Lindsey originals- most of my work I made up as I went along. Funny, I feel like that's the approach I've taken with the way I'm living my life these days. :) I would sing for hours. Perhaps that's why my mother finally hired me a vocal coach. My claim to fame is performing at the highly acclaimed center stage in the former Hickory Ridge Mall. You might have heard of me- I almost had my remake of "I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing" hit the Billboard charts. Or maybe I made that part up? ;) I remember imagining myself growing out of that 6 year old version of me and into a famous vocalist. Ha! I retired my "professional" appearances after performing "If They Could See Me Now". I was also like 11. The music business was incredibly cut throat at that age. Do you realize how hard it was to get a solo act in a recital?! LOL

Music was also a big part of my family memories. My mother and I took many a trip to Nashville to go to Opryland. Generally a trip to the GEO Theater was in order to catch every single Lee Greenwood show that was offered. Let me tell you how much that thrilled me at such a tender, young age. Haha. I managed to end up knowing the lighting guy in the amphitheater, who ironically used to work in the arcade that was in the food court of one of my well frequented venues- the Hickory Ridge Mall. I know- small world, right? So this guy hooks me up with a backstage season pass where I got to run around the Opryland concert venue and help with the on-stage fog machines and more importantly, walk across the stage before the shows, wave to my mom and pretend to have a taste of knowing what it felt like to be on that same stage as people like Mr. God Bless The USA himself, Travis Tritt, and Vince Gill- all whom I met over the course of that summer. I knew what a green room was at the age of 12. I was "in the know" and was learning how to network at an early age. All these years later, I still keep up with some of Lee Greenwood's former band members. It was back then where I began to have a deep rooted, and still there to this day, huge crush on Nashville.

Occasionally we would stay at the then Opryland Hotel. In between the Cascades and Conservatory in the hotel used to be a large iron spiral staircase. Many nights I would escape to the game room to engage in a little Ms. Pacman action and aimlessly wander around the huge indoor jungle that IS the now Gaylord Opryland Resort. I would often find myself on the top of that spiral staircase pretending I was a star entering the stage for my concert. Every step I took down that staircase, I felt important, confident, and 100% positive that music was my calling. Keep in mind, I was 12 at best.

Nineteen years later, that memory lives with me like it happened yesterday, and while I may not be a famous country artist, I have a huge passion for music, the music industry, and for memories. And that's what music does for me- it reminds me of specific people, specific places, specific times- all like they were yesterday. I get lost in the lyrics, I find myself identifying with someone else's verbal emotions set to music- a talent I truly wish I had, I look for the meaning for the song. Best of all, I get inspired. I get inspired to still belt out a Mariah Carey song that still reminds me of my first ever love and try to improve the sound that comes from deep within and echoes through my car; I get inspired to put my own thoughts on paper; I get inspired to love and be loved; I get inspired to follow my dreams; I get inspired to reflect more on the past and cherish times gone by; I get inspired to remain true to myself- no matter how alone that may make me feel.

"Ain't it funny how a melody can bring back a memory."
-Clint Black