southwest chicken salad & malibu sunrise

hello, friday, it’s good to see you again! let the weekend begin. we’re kicking it off with a Southwest Chicken Salad and Malibu Sunrise. if you like a light meal and refreshing cocktail, then this post is for you! plus, my best buddy decided to show up for his weekly gig. it’s an indoor photoshoot as we’ve been plagued with rain for over a week. but there’s hope! the forecast is blue skies and sunshine for the next week or so. hooray!

what to wear on a rainy day? i took advantage of the cool indoor temps and hauled out my jean jacket. it’s one of my all-time favorite jackets. this particular jacket is at least fifteen years old (maybe twenty) and is light wash denim but i have a dark wash, white, and even a gingham denim jacket on hand. i guess you could say i’m cuckoo for jean jackets. they’ve been a hard-working wardrobe staple for years. if you missed this post on how to wear jean jackets now’s the time to catch up on your reading.

Southwest Chicken Salad & Malibu Sunrise

don’t you just love a light meal on a hot summer day? salads are always a good choice in my book. add some veggies and protein, and you’ve concocted an entire meal! what could be easier? Chick-Fil-A offers a delicious southwest chicken salad on their menu that i thought i could mimic at home. and i think i did a pretty good job. i even added a few extra ingredients that gave it a twist. a summertime cocktail should be light and refreshing. last week i shared a mojito. this week, the Caribbean is calling my name, so rum is the name of the game with a Malibu Sunrise. maraschino cherries add that little extra something.

Malibu Sunrise

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4.8 from 10 reviews

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Ingredients

Units USM Scale 1x2x3x

• 2 ounces white rum
• 4 ounces pineapple juice
• 1 ounce grenadine
• maraschino cherries
• ice cubes

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Instructions

1. Place ice cubes in glass.
2. Pour in pineapple juice and rum.
3. Tip glass and pour in grenadine for a layered look.
4. Garnish with maraschino cherries.
5. Enjoy!

• Category: cocktail

if you like a comfy pair of lightweight shorts, may i suggest these drawstring shorts from J.Crew Factory? they are so soft they could double as pajamas. perfect for the dog days of summer that have arrived. add a pop of color with a v-neck tee. this one is sleeveless, but there’s also a short sleeve version available. i’m going old school today, so i grabbed my jean jacket (similar here) and a statement necklace (similar here) from Banana Republic to add a little prep to my step. and speaking of shoes, these cap-toe espadrilles from Tory Burch (affordable option here) go with so many summer outfits and are a nice change of pace from sandals or sneakers.

shorts | tee | jacket | shoes (affordable option here) | necklace (similar here)

Southwest Chicken Salad

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4.8 from 10 reviews

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 4 boneless chicken breasts or chicken tenders
• 1 tsp chipotle powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tsp lime juice
• Romain lettuce
• cherry tomatoes, halved
• red peppers, chopped
• pepper jack cheese
• avocado, cubed
• 1 can black beans, drained
• 1 can corn, drained
• 1/2 red onion, sliced thin

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Instructions

1. In a mixing bowl, whisk together two tablespoons of olive oil with lime juice, chipotle powder, cumin, dried oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, and kosher salt.
2. Combine the marinade and cubed chicken tenders in a shallow dish or plastic bag. Marinate the chicken for 2-6 hours in the fridge.
3. When the chicken is done marinating, heat one tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Then sear the chicken for 4-5 minutes on each side until they're golden brown.
4. Let the cooked chicken rest for a couple of minutes.
5. In a large salad bowl, layers the chopped lettuce with beans, corn, tomatoes, red peppers, red onion, cheese, and chicken — drizzle salad dressing over the top. I used Cilantro Dressing from Trader Joe's.

• Category: Main Course

oscar, ollie and i wish you a lovely weekend!

Beth Djalali

is the Founder and CEO of Style at a Certain Age. She writes Sundays-Fridays on all topics ranging from fashion, health, wellness, home design and more.

She’s 65, 5’8, and size 8.

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