Chicken Enchilada Casserole with Red Sauce

July 1, 2012: (Weird that this was written a year ago- so much has changed since this!!) It's official- my status at work changed from "PRN" (as needed) to full-time! Considering I was already working an average of 36.6 hours per week anyway, not much has changed scheduling wise.  However, changing into full-time status does mean that I now get to receive benefits such as PTO (paid time off), health insurance, and a retirement plan.  Since I turned 26 on June 10, 2012, my health insurance under my dad's job at the District Attorney's Office terminated on June 30, 2012, so the timing couldn't be any better!

Wendy, me, Melissa, Holly, & Dr. Murphy representing
Cook Children's Psychiatry at the American Heart Association's Heart Walk 2012

Working full-time has been more tough than I planned, since I'm also balancing an over active social life right now with 9 of my girlfriends getting married in the span of 5 months. However, having benefits, paid time off (PTO), and an ensured 36 hours of pay each week are all well-worth it. I've also been taking on a lot of mini-projects at work, as well. For example, I was asked to be the Psychiatry Team Leader for the American Heart Association's 2012 Heart Walk. A few emails later and psychiatry was teamed up with Psychology and the Tarrant County DA's office in our fundraising efforts.  We raised around $2,000, and I am so proud of our fund-raising efforts!  The day of the Heart Walk, it was pretty chilly, even for September in Texas, but we walked and talked for the whole three miles.A huge shout-out and thank you to our team, and especially those who came out to walk that morning!

Jason, Holly, me, & Andy at the American Heart Association's Heart Walk 2012

I've started attending the monthly Mental Health Connection meetings with both our Director and Nurse Educator to learn about other mental health resources available to families in our area. I also have been representing our department both with and without our Nurse Educator at the hospital's monthly Patient Education Council meetings. I have taken on the role of Parent Education Coordinator at our Partial Hospitalization Program and have worked with a team to successfully revamp the parent education program at PHP. We have brought in guest speakers on safety, playing and relaxing with your children, and water safety. Attendance and satisfaction have both appeared to increase!

Our Cook Children's Team for the American Heart Association's Heart Walk 2012

SO, my plate has been very VERY full lately! The day I officially changed status from PRN to full-time, I made Andy and myself a little fiesta celebration dinner of Chicken Enchiladas with Red Sauce. I order chicken enchiladas a lot at restaurants, usually with green sauce, so I thought it'd be a fun one to try out. They were very spicy but were better than many restaurant enchiladas dishes that I've tried!

Chicken Enchiladas with Red Sauce
Pinterest.com
Servings: 8; Weight Watchers PointsPlus Value: 3

Filling:

• 9 tortillas
• 1 1/2 c chicken breast meat, cooked & shredded
• 1 c onion, chopped
• 1 c bell pepper, chopped
• 1/2 c non-fat Greek yogurt
• 1/2 c low-fat  4 Cheese Mexican cheese

Sauce:

•  3/4 c salsa
• 1/4 c non-fat Greek yogurt
• 1/4 c low or non-fat shredded cheddar cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Lightly spray a 9x13 inch baking dish with non-stick spray
3. Sautee onions & bell peppers in a small skillet using cooking spray until onion are lightly brown
4. Mix sauteed veggies with non-fat Greek yogurt, chicken, and cheese
5. Spread 1/4 c chicken mixture in middle of each tortilla & roll into a small burrito
6. Place seam down into baking dish
7. Mix salsa and Greek yogurt in a small bowl & spread evenly onto top of tortillas
8. Sprinkle with cheese
9. Cover with foil, bake at 350 for 15-20 min

Keep on cookin'!
-Katherine

Cowboy Breakfast Sandwiches

I recently published Andy's post on a thread on the Runners World website about his training and perseverance to complete his first half-marathon.  Now, as a sequel, here is "the other side of the story."  When Andy and I first met, he was quite the runner.  Our social life took an impact on his running schedule, and he soon fell out of his routine.  Once he was talked into training for the Cowtown Half-Marathon by a co-worker, there was no going back.

MY winner of the half-marathon

Andy was soon training on a regular schedule (the details of which are in his entry along with my Lemon Herb Chicken), and he was slowly increasing his running length, while simultaneously decreasing his time.  One morning, he woke up, ran 10 miles, and came to my house- I was still in bed asleep.  Determination had quickly replaced Lysle as Andy's middle name.  After a few short months of training, Andy was ready to go on February 26, 2012. 

Ted Brewer, 90 ran the Cowtown Marathon this year
Photo by Carolyn Poirot

We woke up at 5:30am (which I ONLY do for work days or if I'm leaving for vacation), got dressed, and headed to the race starting line.  I dropped off Andy in the dark and went to find a parking place.  Lucky me, my mom had decided to write an article about the Cowtown Marathon (which includes a fun (1 mi) run, 5k, 10k, half-marathon, marathon, and ultra-marathon).  This meant she had access to the media room, and I was designated both her and the Fort Worth Business Press' unofficial photographer.  We looked for Andy among the hundreds of starters, but we weren't able to find him amongst the many runners.  I had his phone, so there was no contacting him, so I figured I'd wait and greet him at the end.

While we were idling around during the first hour of the race, I overheard the announcer say that 47 of the 50 states were represented at the Cowtown this year.  The male winner of the half-marathon set a Cowtown record of 1:09, and the female winner boasted a time of 1:24.  I took their pictures, but the one picture I wanted the most was Andy crossing the finish line.  Sporting my media badge meant I was able to go inside of the corrals, and straight in front of the finish line for my shot.  I captured some of the wheel chair "runners" as they crossed, some of the crowd, and then I saw Andy- still donning his Texas Rangers hoodie- making his way down the home stretch.  As cheesy as it is, I just got tears in my eyes as I am editing this- I'm still so proud of him!

Brothers Koby and Kolin Styles just after the Cowtown Marathon on Feb. 26
Photo by Carolyn Poirot

I asked the volunteers handing out the medals if I could have Andy's to give him as he crossed.  The lady was hesitant, but then the nice man next to her laughed and said, "Let the lady give her man a medal! Here ya go, baby! Go get 'im!"  In a few short months, Andy had set what seemed to be a far-fetched goal (no offense, Andy, but that was a LOT of training in a very short time!), persevered, and made it.  He had his days of sore muscles, frustration, and tough (cold!) runs, but he had made it across that finish line.  I snapped my pictures, and I threw that medal around his neck like it was a gold medal in the Olympics.  Andy's IT band was killing him, he was out of breath and exhausted, but he had conquered, and surpassed, his goal.  Andy wanted to finish in less than two hours, and he finished in 1:59:43.  17 seconds shorter than his goal time.  He wasn't in the media room with the first and place winners.  His blisters weren't bleeding like those on the feet of the marathon winner, and his arms weren't aching to the degree I'm sure the wheelchair runners' were, but Andy had crossed his finish line and earned his medal with he rest of 'em.  Despite Andy's initial claims that he was "done with half-marathons," I have a feeling this is just the first of many for my runner man- and I will be there, snapping pictures and beaming, at the finish line of every single race.


Runner Boy found a recipe for breakfast sandwiches one morning, and in true KITK fashion, modified it to best fit our tastes.  They were very filling (perfect for re-fueling after a run!) and had a spicy kick to them to get you up and at 'em. 

Cowboy Breakfast Sandwiches
Andy Jennings
Servings: 2

Cowboy Breakfast Sandiwches

• 4 slices Texas toast (or thick cut bread)
• Butter
• 1/4 pound breakfast sausage, cut into 2 patties
• 3 eggs
• 1/8 cup half-and-half
• Salt and ground black pepper
• 1/4 c jarred jalapeno slices
• 2 slices cheese, such as American, Cheddar or Cheddar-Jack

1. Cook Texas toast either on stovetop or toast in the oven (we buy one called Texas Toast Lite that's already buttered but otherwise you'll need to butter it before tosting).  Set aside.
2. Fry the sausage patties in a skillet over medium heat, flattening with the spatula as they cook. Set aside.
3. Mix the eggs, half-and-half and pinch of salt and pepper in a separate bowl. 
4. Pour the eggs onto the griddle in a rectangular shape. Flip to cook on both sides. Cut the rectangle of eggs into 2 squares and set aside on a plate.
5. Increase the heat, then put the jalapeno slices onto the hot griddle. Let them sizzle for a couple of minutes, chopping them with the side of the spatula as they cook. Cook until the jalapenos have some brown and black bits. Remove from the griddle, then set aside.
6. Pile the sandwiches as following:
1. 1 slice Texas toast
2. Sausage patty
3. Eggs 
4. Slice of cheese and some jalapenos
5. 2nd slice of Texas toast

Keep on cookin'!

-Katherine

Lemon Garlic Chicken

On your mark... get set... go!

The night before Andy's first half-marathon, he needed something light and healthy.  I made him lemon garlic chicken- the recipe for which I 20% based off of a recipe I found on Pinterest, and 80% made up on my own as I went.  I paired it with a long-grain and wild rice mix, and Andy added a piece of Texas toast to his plate.  The next day was the longest run of Andy's life.  Instead of me posting about his half-marathon, I figured I'd let Andy do the writing.

Sunrise over Will Rogers... reminds me of "We're Texas" commercials! but Fort Worth style

See, later that night, Andy came across a thread on the Runner's World website that was geared towards "Half-Marathons for Mortals"- a thread for first time half-marathoners or those thinking of running a half.  With his new sense of enthusiasm and still aching muscles, Andy posted his own inspirational story.  So, instead of me posting (and bragging) about Andy's amazing achievement, I thought I'd let him narrate this post through his post on the thread.  Congratulations, Andy, on your dedication and perseverance- I could not be more proud of you!

Here he comes!

"Funny, I would find this post a few hours after running my first half marathon.  My goal was actually under 2 hours, and I barely made it at 1:59:43. 

Crossing the finish line

I'm so glad I did it now, but the last 3 miles of the race and the first couple hours after running it made me think it would be my last.  I had to use every ounce of determination and will to keep my legs churning after 10 miles.  Right hip flexor, right knee, right ankle, left hip, both feet..everything was tightening up.  I wanted to walk so bad, but I knew if I did, I would not only kill my chance at meeting my goal, but also put myself in jeopardy of even finishing the race. 

I ran a handful of CC races in high school 10 years ago, and ran 2 5Ks in 2010, when I decided to give running a chance again after gaining some unwanted pounds after joining the real world, and sitting for 10 hours a day, 8 at a desk and 2 in the car.  I trained for those races the only way I knew how, run 2-4 miles 3-5 times a week, and run them fast.  I tried to run every training run pretty much as fast as I could.  I was lucky to stay injury free, training 8 weeks for my first, which I ran in 20:30, and following it up 7 weeks later with my second, ran in 20:40.  Most of those training runs were outdoors, as I've always dreaded the treadmill.  1.  It always seems to make me run longer to achieve same miles as outside, and 2.  The treadmill causes more impact on my joints.  Those 5Ks were so much fun, the second one got me 3rd place in my age group, and most importatnly, I loved running again...or so I thought...

I got to give him his medal!

Done and done!

Over the next 20 months I went in and out of training, didn't enter any races, and lost what I had momentarily regained.  The longer you're out, the easier it is to stay out.  In December 2011, a friend at work suggested I run the Cowtown Half Marathon with him in late February.  I have always had dreams of running longer races, as my father ran marathons and was a member of the local running club for almost all of my adolescent life.  But, I hadn't even run a 10K before, and I was considering 13+ miles?  It seemed ridiculous when he suggested it, but after a few days of giving it some thought, being completely sick of being lazy, and making a rash decision, I told him I was in. 

So, after I got my feel of indulging in holiday fun, food, and drink, I started training on December 27, 2011, when I went out for a 5 mile run.  It took me 49:02.  Mind you, I had not run at all since July 6th, and had logged a total of 83 miles in all of 2011, 68 of those miles completed January through March.  I did not walk, I felt good during the run, and I told myself, "Hey, I can do this."  I stuck to a Runner's World beginner HM training plan in about an 85-90% capacity, mostly skipping an easy run some weeks so I could have more rest and not run back to back days.  This included a 5K in week 3, which I ran in 24:37.  Man, had I gotten slow(er) over the last two years. 

Finished sub 2 hours- beat his goal!

I went through ups and downs, had some IT band trouble, fell in love with using a foam roller and taking ice baths, began seeing a chiropractor because of back and neck pain caused by running, broke in my first double digit run (10 miles, twice) in training, and lost my Grandmother on Tuesday night before the race.  She was a sweetheart for holding on until the taper week.  So, after beginning recovery today, I already know that today was not my first and last half marathon.  It was my first, and the next time I run one, I'm going to set a PR. 
I know that some who read this may not identify with running a sub 2 hour HM their first time out, or ever expect to run a sub 2 hour half.  But, I just wanted to share my experience for anyone who gets out of the groove from time to time or finds something or someone or some excuse to keep them from accomplishing something they want to do.  Make a plan, stick to it, and believe in yourself!  And I'm sorry this was so long.  God bless anyone who reads it all.  Have fun and follow your dreams."   -Andy

Lemon Garlic Chicken
Servings: 2; Weight Watchers PointsPlus Value:
Pinterest.com; modified by Kate Strickland





Lemon Garlic Chicken, Texas toast, and long-grain/wild rice mix


• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 lemon, cut into 6-8 wedges
• 1/4 c fat-free chicken broth
• 8 cloves minced garlic
• 1/3 c white wine
• zest from 2 lemons
• 2 tbs lemon juice, plus a bit extra for bottom of the pan
• 1 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp ground thyme (or 1 tsp minced fresh thyme leaves)
• Salt & pepper

1. Preheat oven to 425°
2. Dry chicken breasts
3. Place chicken in a 9x13 lightly greased baking pan
4. Squirt a bit of lemon juice in the bottom of pan- just enough for the chicken to sit in it
5. Sprinkle the breasts on both sides lightly with salt & pepper
6. Place lemon wedges around the chicken breasts
7. In a small sauce pan, warm the chicken broth over medium-low heat
8. Once broth is warm, add minced garlic- stir constantly for 5-8 mins
9. Turn heat off of the pan and add the wine, zest, lemon juice, oregano, and thyme
10. Stir ingredients to combine well
11. Pour mixture over the chicken breasts in the pan
12. Bake uncovered for 30 mins- flip, continue baking for 15 more mins
13. Allow to rest for 10 mins before serving
14. Serve with sauce mixture spooned atop the chicken

Keep on cookin'!
-Katherine and Andy