CHILI LIME CHICKEN TACOS #Recipes @vmburns

 VMBURNS: It's summer and as Mama B from my RJ Franklin Mystery series would say, "it's hotter than east hell." I don't know for sure, but I'm guessing West Hell must have a bit of a breeze. Regardless, when it's hot, I don't like to cook. I long for an outdoor grill (it's on my wish list), so maybe one day. In the meantime, I am thankful for my gas stove, which I use to grill vegetables. I found a recipe for Chili Lime Chicken Tacos at Carlsbad Kitchens a few years ago and its become one of my favorite summer meals. I also like their grilled pineapple salsa. Maybe I'll include the recipe for that in a future post. For now, I hope you'll try these chicken tacos. They are yummy.

CHILI LIME CHICKEN TACOS

INGREDIENTS

• Chili Lime Chicken Rub

• • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder 
  • 1/2 teaspoon chipotle chili pepper 
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin 
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika 
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder 
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 teaspoon brown sugar
  • fresh-squeezed lime juice from 1 lime (about 2 tablespoons)

Tacos 

• • 1 lb chicken breast
  • 4 flour tortillas 
  • 1/2 cup cheese
  
  
• 
  
• INSTRUCTIONS

1. Mix the ingredients for the chicken rub together and rub evenly over the chicken breasts. Allow chicken to marinate for 30 minutes at room temperature or refrigerate for up to 8 hours, and then bring to room temperature before cooking.
2. Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook for 3-5 minutes, or until nicely browned. Flip the chicken over and cook for approximately 5-7 more minutes until cooked through. If you have a grill, then by all means, grill the chicken.

   

   
   
3. Grill your tortillas until they start to char (about 1-2 minutes). OPTIONAL

   

   
   
4. Melt the cheese or, assemble your tacos and allow the heat from the chicken to melt it.

   

   
   

READERS: Do you have a favorite summer recipe? Let me know in the comments for a chance to win a $10 gift card for Bookshop.org.

V. M. Burns is the author of the RJ Franklin Mystery series which includes soul food recipes. 

A house fire is extinguished to reveal the body of a choir director. The smell of gasoline points to murder. Thomas Warrendale was employed by First Baptist Church, where Detective RJ Franklin Jr. is a parishioner. Recovering from a car accident, RJ is on leave from the police force in St. Joseph, Indiana, when this puzzling case calls him back. His insider's knowledge makes him the obvious choice to lead the investigation. The congregation doubled after Warrendale revamped the music to appeal to a more youthful crowd. RJ's godmother, Mama B, gives the detective an earful about the choir director's non-musical activities. Warrendale was also an accountant and a "fancy pants" seducer. His clients believe the man was stealing from them. Warrendale turns out to be an alias; his real name was Tyrone Warren, once a highly paid CPA in Cleveland. Was Warren in hiding? From his stone-faced wife? A disgruntled client? Now someone is breaking in to the dead choir director's office and the homes of his former clients. Believing the vandal to be the killer, RJ is particularly concerned about the safety of one client, the striking owner of two hair salons. Book 1 in the RJ Franklin Mystery series. Soul food recipes included.

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Valerie (V. M.) Burns

Valerie (V. M.) Burns is the author of the Mystery Bookshop Mystery series. Her first book, The Plot is Murder, was nominated for an Agatha Award for Best Debut Novel. She is the author of the Dog Club Mystery Series, the RJ Franklin Mysteries, a three-time finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards, and an Edgar Award nominated short story. Valerie’s newest series, Baker Street Mysteries, will release later this year. And her Pet Detective Mystery series will release in 2023. Valerie is on the board of Sisters in Crime and the Southeastern chapter of Mystery Writers of America. She is also a member of Dog Writers of America, Crime Writers of Color, and International Thriller Writers. She is a manager for a fortune 100 company and a mentor in the Writing Popular Fiction Program at Seton Hill University in Greensburg, PA. Born and raised in northwestern Indiana, Valerie currently lives in the Southeastern United States with her two poodles. Readers can visit her website at vmburns.com.