Hopefully we’re all talking about chicken. Here are a few quick tips to keep your chicken breasts juicy.

Problem:
They’re thinner at one end than at the other, causing the thicker end to need more cooking time, thus drying out the thin end.
Solution:
Lay the chicken breast on a flat surface between two pieces of plastic wrap and pound it to a uniform thickness of about 1/4 inch.

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Problem:
You took it out of the fridge right before you cooked it, causing the outside to overcook by the time the inside is done.
Solution:
Pull the chicken out of the fridge 30-45 minutes before you plan to cook it in order to bring it to room temp.

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Problem:
You followed the grocery store guideline of cooking your chicken to 180 degrees, yet it’s now the consistency of shoe leather.
Solution:
Chicken reaches a safe temperature at 165 degrees, but it will carry over cook (after you take it off the heat, residule heat will keep cooking it) so be sure to remove it from the heat at about 160 degrees.

1. Now, with these tips in mind, heat your grill to medium-high heat.
2. Fold up a paper towel in 8ths, dip it in a bit of extra light olive oil and rub it on the grill grates to prevent your chicken from sticking.
3. Season the chicken on both sides with whatever you desire (your favorite seasoning blend; fresh garlic, chopped basil, tarragon and parsley; lemon juice and chopped capers;, etc). Cook on each side 2-3 minutes, depending on how thin you’ve pounded it. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes before sliceing into it.

I recently came across an organization that’s doing incredible things for the world’s water crisis, Charity: Water. The organization was founded by Scott Harrison, a man who after years of spending his life hobnobbing with the rich and famous in NYC, decided to make a change.

A change, that now positively impacts thousands upon thousand of people in need. Of what? Water.

As Charity:Water’s mission states “More than 1.1 billion people on the planet don’t have clean water. It’s hard to imagine what a billion people looks like really, but one in six might be easier. One in six people in our world don’t have access to the most basic of human needs. Something we can’t imagine going 12 hours without.”

Check them out. See what you can do to contribute. And, most importantly know that you too can make a difference.

Your eyes have not deceived you. I actually saw an article with this title and was stunned and confused. Why would someone write an article on how to gain weight? But, I have to say, it caught my attention much more so than the millions of articles about how not to gain weight over the holidays. The article was actually meant to be tongue-in-cheek and rather points out some of our poor habits over the holidays. The tip below was my favorite:
“Cut the largest piece of pie you can fit on your plate. Add an extra dollop of whipped cream, just because. And remember that — slice for slice — pecan pie contains at least 200 calories more than pumpkin pie.”
To read the whole article, check out this link:
http://www.montereyherald.com/search/ci_11251725?IADID=Search-www.montereyherald.com-www.montereyherald.com