• Tried a new recipe from a low-glycemic index website last night and it was surprisingly yummy!
  

Chicken Hash
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 tbsp olive oil
1 medium red onion, diced
3 cloves minced garlic
10-12 small new/red potatos, quartered
1/2 cup black beans, drained and rinsed
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp paprika
1 tbsp tomato paste
salt/pepper to taste

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Season chicken with thyme, basil and salt on both sides. Bake for 20 minutes or until no pink. Dice the chicken into large cubes and set aside.

Boil the potatos for approximately 10 minutes and drain.

Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Cook onion and garlic until browned and soft. Add the potatos and cook for another 10 minutes. Add black beans and cook for 2 to 3 minutes.

Add chicken cubes, paprika, salt, pepper and tomato paste to skillet. Combine well and heat through.

*Editor's note: This recipe didn't call for any additional liquid, but I easily added over a cup of water because while stirring, it felt very dry. I also added a little extra tomato paste, but it all worked out well. Just use your best judgement and add liquid (water and/or oil) until it feels right. Shredded sharp cheddar and sour cream made great toppers.

• Madison's Bistro update: The owner, George Argue, is facing criminal charges on selling booze sans permit, and now the investigation has caught up with its distributors, Bonbright and Arrow Wine. The citation against the distros aren't criminal charges, but could results in "administrative actions." I sure hope the Ohio Department of Public Safety is nothing like my middle school, otherwise these guys are in for a paddlin'!
  

• Currently, there is a peanut butter pork loin a-brewin' in my crock pot. It smells delicious, but I'm apprehensive. I rarely cook with loin because it can dry out so easily due to the lack of fat and marbling. Full report tomorrow.
  

• Soda, Pop, Coke? Sodapopcoke? Pop vs Soda painstakingly took the time to create a map of how your geographical vernacular contributes to how you refer to soft drinks. I always said "pop," until I hit about 19, when I suddenly started using "soda." Maybe I secretly long to live on the coast.

• Starbuck's new Skinny Cinnamon Dolce lattes are the BIZ. I'm normally hesitant to pay $3+ for a cup of coffee, but when you're expensing it for a business meeting, it takes the sting out. This soothes the heartache from when they took away my precious sugar-free mocha syrup and I could no longer order a skinny mocha latte. My preciouses!