Rants, Recipes, and Running

It's been a good 48 hours for this little Nastase family! As I write this blog, I am sipping a celebratory glass of Canelo Hills Cabernet (the best wine on the planet - seriously), as Ryan creates/edits his class video for his "Drop Night" next Friday. (More to come on "drop night" next week). We have a few happy things to thank God for today. First and foremost, I have to make a big shout-out to my husband, Ryan. He passed his check ride yesterday. Heck, he didn't just pass it, he got rated an 'Excellent' on it (which is the highest you can get). I can't even begin to describe how hard he's worked. Being a rated pilot for the Air Force is a dream Ryan has held since he was a little man, and passing this check ride means he will be getting his wings on October 4. The second awesome piece of news is I got offered a contract today with a hospital for the rest of my time here in San Antonio! I've tried keeping quiet about this in my b...

One thing cooking trick that's become a ritual in our Hotel Habitat is shredded chicken. In fact, this is my favorite way to eat chicken! Have you ever made a bomb-tastastic chicken soup/stew, but been disappointed that it was a tad too dry? SHRED IT! More surface area to marry the juices and herbs = more flavor! A few variations of shredded chicken I've made over the past few weeks: Hot-wing style shredded chicken (hot wing sauce + shredded chicken + salad = serious party in your mouth) Shredded chicken tacos BBQ shredded chicken wraps (shredded chicken + BBQ sauce + honey, wrap in tortilla with spinach and jack cheese -- delicious!) Shredded chicken with carrots, celery, and chicken broth for a noodle-less chicken soup You get the point. But my most winning recipe is my Chicken Tortilla Soup. It is hands-down Ryan's favorite thing I make. (It's probably my favorite thing I make, too). It is our favorite comfort food. Also, a staple on camping trips! Th...