What's Cookin' Italian Style Cuisine: GIVEAWAY Plus Freezer Marinade Italian Lemon Lime Garlic Chicken Recipe

I really love marinades! Putting the chicken in a bath of delicious flavors, then into a ziplock bag, throw it in the freezer and when your ready it's ready for grilling.
Easy prep for the unplanned barbecue party ever!
Since I am on vacation starting today, here is a Birthday giveaway to all of my readers... It's not only my Birthday but while I am away my blogoversary of 4 years... I have tried to learn as much as I can in photography and have some before and after pictures at the end.

See the bottom of this post for the giveaway details.

Today I am flying to Arizona for a vacation and will be eating some great Southwestern foods in the next few days. A five hour plane ride so the next few posts will be with my absence and auto posting. I apologize in advance for not answering all my friends posts and commenting on all your
great blogs, I promise I am not ignoring you!

When I get home all the premade marinades are in the freezer waiting to be thrown on a hot fired up grill and have the most tender and I have the most tender meats in the freezer ready for us to cook! Thanks for all your support to all my readers! Hope you will find these freezer recipes as useful as I do. This is will a series of all the days I am gone! Lucky for us, my husband won this trip for his stores great performance to Arizona. See you soon!

Good luck on the giveaway winner!

Remember to tweet the giveaway and spread the word for me! xo

Italian Lemon Lime Garlic Marinade:

2 cloves garlic, chopped
4 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon fresh chopped basil
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon rosemary
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon lime juice
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 1/2 pounds boneless chicken or pork
garnish with sliced lemons or limes

Place all ingredients into a 1-gallon freezer zip lock bag. Lay flat in freezer. To thaw and cook: Take the bag out of the freezer the night before, making sure the freezer bag is completely sealed, lay completely flat in the refrigerator to thaw overnight. Remove from freezer bag when ready to cook. Warning: never thaw out chicken on counter top, as raw chicken can become contaminated.

Sauteed: Place in a heated medium size fry pan with 1 tablespoons olive oil, saute' for two to three minutes on each side with garlic, herbs and spices or longer depending on thickness add some of the marinade with some juice if dry while cooking.

Baking: Place on a piece of oil sprayed foil or parchment paper lined baking pan with juices. Bake @ 350 degree in a preheated oven. Around 40 minutes or until juices run clear.

Grill: Spray the grates lightly with cooking oil. Heat grill. Grill the chicken on each side till juices run clear basting with marinade while cooking.

Crockpot Method: Put chicken in the bottom of the crock pot. Pour liquid herb ingredients over the chicken. Cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or on HIGH for 4-6 hours or until done.

Serving suggestions: Cooked rice or boiled pasta of choice or a vegetable medley.

Ok now for the giveaways! I have two books for one lucky winner, one is photography for beginners and then an advanced book on exposure and full of tips! Excited? I hoepe so, it's so simple to enter! U.S only eligible. To enter the giveaway: Follow me many different ways, leave me a comment on why you would like these books and how would they be useful for you. Following and commenting count as two entries!
Help get the word out in my absence by tweeting, facebook, blogging about it, foodbuzz, share with your friends who would love to learn more about photography or any other way to spread the word. A big thank you to all of you who help my blog be successful for the last 4 years!! Happy blogging and good luck.. Winner will chosen at Random.Org true number match and on May 2, 2012 at midnight this giveaway will be closed.

Here are some before 2009 and after photo's 2012 of when I started and now :)

One of my beginning posts in 2009 Baked Chicken in foil.

Very Berry Italian Cream Tart in 2012

Let's get connected. You can do that by following me on google + or friend connect, blogger, become a fan on facebook, twitter or add me on your blogroll list.... Tweet away! Good luck to all will be in touch after my vacation with the winner!