#MexicanFoodTherapy: Jicama and Mango Salad with Chicken and Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette

Summer time calls for refreshing ingredients and lighter fare. I try to make salads as often as I can anyway, but warmer days and the best fruits and veggies the season has to offer are great excuses to come up with new salad creations. If you are needing some salad inspiration check out Cooking Light's Summer Salads.

This week's #MexicanFoodTherapy recipe is a summer salad with some of my favorite bright flavors. If you don't use jicama you should start. It's totally underrated. It's kind of like a turnip but with a slightly sweet flavor. It is fantastic when paired with fresh fruits and goes great in salads. In Mexico they serve it with lime and chili. 

Ingredients:
Serves 4 as an entree or 6 as a side

1 tablespoon cooking oil
1lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 jicama, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
2 ripe mangoes, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1/4 cup cilantro, minced
1/4 cup white vinegar
1 large lime, juiced
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 romaine lettuce heart

Directions:

First get your chicken ready to cook. I like to sear my chicken on both sides and then poach it for this recipe, but you could cook it any way you like -- grilled, baked, roasted - the possibilities are endless. Trim your chicken breasts of all fat, pat both sides dry with a paper towel and season with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon of cooking oil in a skillet and cook your chicken.

While your chicken cooks you'll want to cut your veggies and fruit. Jicamas are a weird shape. They are bulbous, so cut it in half to have a flat surface to work with so as not to chop off any fingers. You'll need those to finish making this dish.

I cut mine into slices and then into squares, making sure to cut off the skin. 

After cutting up your jicama go ahead and cut up your mango into bite-size pieces. Lots of tricky shapes in this recipe.

By this point your chicken should be done, so take it out of the skillet and let it rest for a few minutes while you make your dressing.

Chop up your cilantro for your dressing like so...

To make your dressing combine the vinegar, lime juice, EVOO, (extra virgin olive oil) cilantro, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. At this point I would've added queso fresco, but I forgot to buy some and my husband's store run after work was a tad too late. You can always add it at the end.

Whisk to combine and get working on cutting your chicken. Bite-size pieces is great.

Throw the jicama, mango, and chicken into the bowl with the dressing and toss to combine.

 

While the flavors combine for a few minutes cut up your romaine lettuce. Again bite-size pieces is perfect.

Add in the lettuce and toss to combine again. Take a bite and savor the refreshing summery goodness. Serve with queso fresco and crusty bread. This could make a superb vegetarian dish as well if you want to forgo the chicken. 

¡Buen Provecho! 

5 Ways to Have a Fabulous Seattle Summer

Summer is usually the time when people take vacations. Kids are on break from school and work tends to slow down. It makes sense to vacation during the summer months because of natural breaks in the calendar year, but in the 5 years I've lived in Seattle I can say without a doubt that there is no place I'd rather be in the summer time than the Emerald City. 

Anyone who's from Seattle knows that July, August, and September in Seattle are what dreams are made of. It may be that we build it up in our heads because they are so foggy from the the gray clouds that persist the other 9 months of the year, but anyone who has been to Seattle in the summer can vouch for the fact that it is beautiful. The whole city comes alive with everyone trying to soak up as much Vitamin D as possible and take advantage of the many things the city has to offer.

Whether you're a Seattle native, new to the city or just visiting for a week or two it's helpful to have a guide of some sort and so I've put together a list of some of the best summer activities in Seattle.

First, let's address the important matter of music. I've taken it upon myself to put together a summer playlist. Feel free to use this playlist as the backdrop for your Seattle summer adventures: Summer Saturdays in the Park

#1 Visit Parks and Beaches

Part of what makes Seattle such a breathtaking city in the summer is all of its natural beauty. While November through June are rainy, it's hard to complain when it lends to the lush, green scenery that comes to life in the summer months. One of the best parts of visiting the many parks and beaches scattered around the city is that they are free! 

Here are some of my favorites...

Discovery Park

This massive park is located less than a mile away from our apartment. I'll let the jealousy set in. It is by far one of the most stunning parks in the Seattle area. Spanning nearly 540 acres, there are countless trails to explore. Bicyclists, runners, and walkers alike can enjoy all that this park has to offer.  

The beach front is perfect for a picnic with friends and there are benches scattered throughout for a quiet afternoon with a good book. Dogs are welcome and there is a playground on the North end for families with young kids. 

One of our favorite things to do is take advantage of the free tennis courts located next to the Visitor Center. There is also a small basketball court and plenty of open fields for playing a game of catch or Frisbee or just laying out in the sun. 

The bluffs at Discovery Park

Green Lake Park

Located in the family-friendly neighborhood of Green Lake, the 3 mile loop surrounding a glistening lake is one of the most popular summer spots on the North side of the city. The park welcomes walkers, runners, bicyclists, and you may even spot someone on roller blades. The park also draws athletes who want to take advantage of the basketball courts and open fields that usually host soccer players.

A large playground invites families with kids and there's no shortage of space for dogs to run around. With the lake smack dab in the middle of the park you'll often see rowers in the water and some are even brave enough to cool down by jumping in the water. Here's a little Seattle local tip for you: Don't do it. The lake has "green" in the title for more reason than one. It's pretty gross.

Green Lake Loop

Another reason to hang out at Green Lake park is that the lake is surrounded by a number of eateries and other shops, so after you run your three miles you can grab a bite to eat or you can do a little shopping after a leisure walk around the park. I like to park my car near Starbucks and grab an iced coffee before I make my way to the loop.

Golden Gardens Park

I always associate Golden Gardens with bonfires. Maybe it was because my husband and I had one of our first dates there, snuggling up to a fire pit while he serenaded me with his guitar, (I know, he's pretty dreamy) or maybe it's because of the numerous birthday parties we've celebrated around bonfires with friends. Needless to say, Golden Gardens is one of the best spots for making memories on cool summer nights.

With one of the biggest play structures I know of, Golden Gardens draws families from all over the city. At any given time you'll find volleyball nets set up for pick-up games and groups of people enjoying the BBQ pits scattered along the beach front.

Alki Beach

Located in one of our favorite neighborhoods, Alki Beach in West Seattle is a major tourist draw during the summer. We almost always take visitors to this popular spot. There is never a shortage of activity or beauty to soak in. The path along the beach front is usually busy with bikers, walkers, runners and of course roller bladers. You can also pay by the hour and take a bike tour of the area. The view of the city from West Seattle is breathtaking, with the space needle and downtown area in clear view from the beach.

Another perk to hanging out in West Seattle is all of the dining options. One of our favorite pizza places, Pegasus Pizza is right across the street from the beach.  There's also an outdoor patio at the Starbucks on the main strip where you can sip on your Frappuccino and enjoy a good book or conversation with a friend. Alki has a uniquely beach-town feel and it almost seems like a different city entirely when you visit. 

Cal Anderson Park

Located in the undisputed quirkiest neighborhood in Seattle (Capitol Hill), Cal Anderson Park, is always booming with activity. The main area, surrounded by housing and businesses, serves as a field for a variety of different activities from soccer to capture the flag. Two tennis courts at the park host the most unusual of events from roller blading competitions complete with a D.J. to pick-up dodgeball games. 

One of the most serene areas of the park has a couple of big fountains surrounded by benches for a quiet day off with a good book.

 
And we can't forget the most important part of visiting Cal Anderson Park, making a trip to Molly Moons. Enough said. 

#2 Go to a City-Sponsored Event

The city of Seattle does a great job catering to the crowds of people who explore the area in the summer time. There is a wide variety of city-sponsored events that can be enjoyed for free.

Seattle is very neighborhood-centric. Each neighborhood has something unique to offer and most neighborhood's organize events during the summer time that are enjoyed by each respective community but open to the whole city. Starting in July you can go to a different neighborhood on any given weekend and enjoy everything from festivals to fairs. 

Here are some notable events to put on your calendar...

West Seattle Summer Fest, July 11th-13th (free)
Urban Craft Uprising, July 12th & 13th (free w/ suggested donation)
Outdoor Theater Festival, July 12th & 13th (free) 
Bite of Seattle, July 18th-20th (free admission)

Magnolia Summer Festival, August 1st & 2nd (free)
Seattle Street Food Festival, August 8th & 9th (free admission) 
The Zombie Run, August 9th ($40 advance registration fee)
Seattle International Beer Festival, August 22nd-24th (free admission)

A few more activities you don't want to miss:

Zoo Tunes, July 2nd-31st ($25-$34/person)
Freemont Outdoor Movies, July 12th-August 30th ($5/person)
Seattle Center Movies at the Mural, July 26th-August 23rd (free)

And many more... Seattle Event Calendar

#3 Find a Farmer's Market

The Farmer's markets in Seattle deserve to be in a category all their own. There are 39 different Farmer's markets in King county alone! Each neighborhood market varies in size and offerings, but you can spend the good part of a morning or afternoon browsing the market, picking up fresh produce and grabbing a bite to eat. 

Friends and Organic Asparagus straight from the farm!

Most Farmer's markets around the city only set up during the summer months, but there are a few that stay open year-round: University District, Capitol Hill, Ballard, and of course the ever popular Pike's Place Market.

While you'll spend more money at the market versus picking up your produce at the grocery store, you are supporting local farmers when you shop at the market and the produce is SO fresh and delicious. It is by far one of my favorite places to be during the summer. Especially since we have one right down the road.

#4 Enjoy Al Fresco Dining

Seattle does food right (that's a whole other blog post in the making). And so I personally like to combine two of my favorite things: food and sunshine. Many Seattle restaurant owners have done just that. There are a number of prime spots to dine in the sunshine, but here is Seattle Met's own list of top-rated places for patio dining. I can vouch for a few of these, but I'm still dying to cross some of them off my list.

While it's always nice to go out to eat and not have to worry about cooking, it wouldn't be summer time without overcooked burgers on an outdoor grill. Even outdoor grilling has a Seattle twist when you consider the fact that very few people in the city own large houses or big back yards for grilling. City-living has it's perks though. Check out this stunning rooftop view where JD and I barbequed with some friends in downtown:

#5 Plan a Day Trip or Weekend Getaway

For those of you who are not familiar with Seattle and the surrounding area, you may be surprised to know that we are only a ferry ride away from some beautiful islands. Some of the best places to enjoy the summer is a few hours outside of Seattle proper.

Here are a few islands to check out just for the day or a weekend away:

- Bremerton or Bainbridge Island
- Whidbey Island 
- Lopez Island 
- San Juan Islands 

There are also a number of places within driving distance that are worth the trip. For an extended stay on the East side of the state check out dreamy Leavenworth or Lake Chelan.  

There are some hidden gems on the peninsula as well like the small town of Sequim where I spent my birthday last year at the Olympic Game Farm, home to waving bears and yaks as you can see in this picture of mine and JD's trip last August.The drive (or ferry ride) alone to these places is well worth the travel time. Washington state has a wealth of beauty no matter where you find yourself in the state.

If you're still not convinced that Seattle is the place to be during the summer check out Seattle Dream Pt II by F-Stop Seattle. Simply amazing. Very grateful to call this place home for this season of life.

Do you have any favorite Seattle summer activities? Tell me about it in the comments below!

10 Things I Learned at My First Job out of College

Technically my first job out of college was at Nordstrom Rack. I started working as a Sales Associate at the original Nordstrom Rack store in Downtown Seattle exactly one day before I started my internship with a Digital Marketing Agency based out of New York City. While it's a good fit for some, retail is not my cup of tea. 5 AM shifts and standing on my feet for hours at a time around beautiful clothes that I couldn't afford to buy. No thank you.

Retail and food service jobs right out of school has become the norm for many of my peers. The harsh reality of life after graduation can be a hard pill to swallow. Due to a number of reasons outside of my control, my contract with my job is coming to an end this week and sadly, will not be extended.

I am still very much on the journey and learning as I go, but as I reflect on my first full-time gig after college I want to share a few reflections and insights. Granted, my experience has been very unique... working primarily from home, with flexible hours with one co-worker who I love, and a team based out of NYC who are some of the most talented people I have ever met. So pretty much the coolest first job ever. But it wasn't all a walk in the park. Here are some takeaways from my experience:

1. Relationships are Key

If you are reading this and you are still in college, get off your hiney (right after you read this post and leave lots of interesting and thought provoking comments) and get involved in something. It can be anything, really. Campus clubs, on or off-campus jobs, church groups, volunteering with an organization, etc. Ideally you would get involved somewhere of interest to you that could lead you down a career path that you enjoy. But the key is to get out there and meet people. Relationships and networking are invaluable when it comes to finding a job and the more relationships you can develop now, the better.

My job came about by a friend and two of my husband's jobs out of school came from existing connections that he had. When you are looking for a job and even after you settle into a job, keep building raport with people. Even if you are not a "people person" or you consider yourself introverted, taking those first steps towards getting to know different people in different contexts will result in a huge pay off later. I personally hate networking. Networking events are a breeding ground for awkward situations, but more often than not it is a lot scarier in your head than in reality. In case you're still not convinced check out these tips for networking as an introvert.

 2. Entry-Level Tasks are Character Building

Let's face it, even some of the best first jobs require monotonous tasks. Part of "proving yourself" as an employee is demonstrating that you can take on those tasks with a good attitude. You don't have to love the task itself, but getting it done without complaining always bodes well. The age-old piece of wisdom is true: if you can be trusted with little, people will notice and will trust you with more. 

I didn't love sending 400 emails every week and getting a 2% response rate, but the discipline it took to sit down every week and send those emails, (from the comfort of my home office no less!) taught me a lot about discipline and perseverance.

3. Develop Work Rhythms

This was especially vital for me since I worked from home most of the week. There are a lot of schools of thought on productivity and a lot of research and resources to back those theories up. Some of the most productive people I know or know of have a routine. Some days my routine was as simple as making my morning coffee, working for two hour increments, taking an hour lunch, two 15 minute breaks, and wrapping up my work day.The days I wasn't at home I worked at a co-working space downtown called The MAKERS Space. It was inspiring to be around other creative people and helpful to get out of the house every once and a while so that I didn't lose my mind.

Much of my work rhythms and productivity efforts were based on an incredibly helpful and FREE (music to a recent college grad's ears) e-book developed by Marketing guru, Matt Heinz. After a careful read-through of the E-book, I took what applied to me and left the rest, but at the end of the day it really helped me stay on track and not lose focus each day. 

4. Immerse Yourself in Industry Best Practices

There are people out there who have been doing what you do a lot longer than you have and then wrote a book, gave a talk, or wrote an article about it. Even if you are working at a job just to pay the bills and you are unsure about whether you want to stay at that company or in that industry, it is smart to find out as much as you can about what thought leaders in your industry are saying. One great resource for industry thought leader resources are TED Talks. You can find expert's speaking on a variety of topics on their website.
 
Generally speaking, the knowledge that you gain in one industry can transfer in some form to another, and actually knowing what you're talking about in your place of work lends to people perceiving you as competent and a fast learner. 

5.  Glean as Many Learning Opportunities from Your Role as You Can

As you settle into a new role it is helpful to identify one or two people who are receptive to your questions and who are willing to function as a mentor in your place of work. I was very fortunate to be able to directly report to someone who cared about my professional development and invited my questions. 


Even if you don't have an opportunity to develop this type of relationship with anyone at your work, observation can be very powerful. Being attentive to the work styles of the people around you is a great way to be intentional about learning what makes a good employee.

6. Take Initiative and Show You Can Solve Problems

It takes time to become an expert in anything and so it is unlikely that co-workers will be coming to you at your first job out of school asking you for direction or insight. As you dig in and learn more about your industry though, it is totally appropriate to voice your opinion about things and offer up your perspective.


Taking initiative and solving problems are desirable qualities in a new employee. I have been told this by numerous employers and Forbes confirmed this in an article they published called The 10 Skills Employers Most Want in 20-Something Employees.

7. Learn from the Best!

In an interview with Seattle Startup, Mixpo, serial entrepreneur and CEO of Rover.com, Brent Turner, talked about the importance of a professional mentor. There is something uniquely valuable about meeting on a semi-regular basis with an industry veteran to ask questions and gain wisdom. Taking a humble posture when you start anything new is a smart idea, but particularly when it comes to your career.

In the first few months of my job I started actively seeking out a professional mentor. We have been meeting on a monthly basis and it has made a world of difference.

8. Be Prepared

As you learn over time and develop new skills it is super helpful to keep track of everything you are learning by updating your resume and Linkedin profile on a regular basis. That way as you advance in your career you can look back and see the specific ways you have grown as a professional. Important things to keep track of are times when you were given more responsibility, quantitative shifts in your role, (like managing budgets or a team of people that grew over time) and any title changes, no matter how slight.


Linkedin is an increasingly important tool for professionals. Recruiters also use Linkedin to prospect for new employees. The professional landscape is always evolving and unfortunately there is no guarantee that any job is permanent. Keeping your Linkedin profile up to date is important for networking purposes and allows you to be prepared in the unfortunate event that you lose your job.

9. Take Chances

Have you been mulling over an idea that you think would really improve your department, but haven't brought it up to your boss out of fear that it might get shot down? Maybe you've thought up a better system for organizing client information but you assume you won't be heard because of your limited experience. If there's one thing that I've learned in the past year it's that it can't hurt to take chances! When done in a respectful way, proposing a new idea that will increase revenue or suggesting a new and more efficient way of doing something is never a bad thing. The worst they can do is say no!


When I pitched the idea to feature a small business in Seattle on my company's blog every month, I wasn't sure how our Senior Content Editor would agree to it, but she ended up loving the idea and started featuring my write-ups every month. The opportunity gave me a chance to get published and helped me to grow as a writer.

10. Your Job is not the End-all Be-all 

Your first job is probably going to be overwhelming. There are going to be days when you get home and just want to pass out on your couch because you're so exhausted. There are going to be days when you feel undervalued or unappreciated. But there is one important and comforting fact in the midst of all that. 

Your job does not define who you are. 

It is just a small part of your life and it will not lead to your ultimate happiness. Your job is important and your first job out of college is a big deal, but it is just one step on a long road ahead. 

For those of you who have been in the professional world for a while, what insights do you have to add? 

What kind of experiences have you had in your first job out of school? I'd love to hear about it in the comments below!