Victory is sweetest when you’ve known defeat. ~ Malcolm Forbes

How much more do you appreciate reaching your goal or completing something when you have tried multiple times to get there?  If you just got up one day after being a couch potato, signed up for a marathon and completed it, the victory wouldn't be as sweet as if you trained for months, ran one and couldn't quite finish it or finished it close to last.  Hopefully, you wouldn't give up on ever running another one but would train more for the next time. 

No one gets up off the couch who has never ran a marathon before and just completes one.  Much training is required.  Many hours of running and stretching.  It is a lot of self discipline.  Mornings when you would rather stay in bed or times when you would rather have a nice steak and potato dinner, these are changed a bit. For many years, I worked for a pair of doctors who have both run marathons.  I remember when he would run 20 miles at lunch training for an upcoming marathon.  Since then they have both ran several full marathons. 

This is the way we are in life.  We are in training a lot of the time for something.  Many times for a new job or class that we are involved with, church training is also very important.  If I ever stop learning or training, I will probably be dead ~ Right now, I am learning several things.  I am training to be the best photographer,  accountant, writer and instructor that I can be.  Never give up on yourself ~ always open your mind to new training and education.  Keep your mind fresh and functioning : )

This is a great recipe for grilling chicken.  Marinate the chicken for no longer than 4 hours.  You will really like this recipe.  Try it and tell me what you think.

Happy Wednesday !

Charlene


Chicken Marinade   
INGREDIENTS:
2/3 cup olive oil
2/3 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 tablespoons liquid smoke flavoring
2 tablespoons spicy brown mustard
2 teaspoons ground black pepper
2 teaspoons garlic powder
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
DIRECTIONS:
1. In a large bowl, mix the olive oil, soy sauce, lemon juice, liquid smoke, mustard, pepper, and garlic powder. Pound chicken breasts flat to about 3/4 to 1" thickness with a meat mallet .  Place chicken in the bowl, and coat with the marinade. Cover, and allow chicken to marinate a maximum of 4 hours in the refrigerator.
2. Preheat the grill for high heat.
3. Oil grill grate. Discard marinade, and place chicken on grate. Cook 6 to 8 minutes on each side, until juices run clear.
****Allow chicken to marinate for no longer than 4 hours, because the lemon juice will begin to cook the chicken.****