Chicken Pasta Primavera

Chicken Pasta Primavera

Ingredients

• 4 cups uncooked pene pasta
• 11/2 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts and thighs, cubed
• 3/4 cups chicken stock
• 1 tbsp dried minced garlic
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 2 packages frozen stir-fry vegtables
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Directions

• Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, saute chicken and garlic in butter until chicken is no longer pink. Add the vegetables, stock and milk; cook until vegetables are tender. Drain pasta. Add the pasta, salt and pepper to the skillet; cook and stir until heated through.

Oh My...

As I am sitting here at this late hour helping my adoring husband finsh up some last minute work items, I decided to take a break and check out what has been happening in the blogging world in which I follow, when I came across a good friend of mine (Rachel)'s posting abou the Joys of Motherhood.  I started laughing because she can find the most positive things out of life when I tend to see a lot of the negative. Anyways, she explains how the joys of motherhood have given her two nice guns (bicepts) and a single white strand of hair.  I have to say I love her for this.  She has been a mom for 4+ years and can still find the time to laugh at and find the positives in being a mom.  I on the other hand struggle on a daily bases with my two lovely children.  I have been a mom for 9+ years and as I commented on her posting, I have more years under my belt... and I do mean UNDER my belt, which has expanded to include the entire North Western portion of the United States. (And yes that was a fat joke.) I have also accumulated several sparkling silver hairs that are bright enough to blind someone if the sun hits them just right. And circles so dark under my eyes you would think I was one of the walking dead. 

The whole thing makes me laugh! But the truth of it is that I applaude her for her positive outlook on it all. I still struggle with just the idea sometimes of being a mom.  Its not as easy as some make it out to be, and some days are just so much more than I can handle.  I applaude all of those out there who have the patience, the sanity and the gracious additudes that you have.  I struggle to find the balance.  When I look at my two beautiful children I know that I am lucky to have what I have with them and that I love them unconditionally! But some times, I don't like them very much.  I know that someone just gasped at that comment, but it is the honest truth.  Their behaviors drive me up a wall.  Both of my children are very head strong, independant, and smart! However, when they get into a room with each other, forget it, all brains go to mush and the boxing gloves come out.  They both have a will and a mind of their own, and when they want something, they get it or heaven help me all HELL is UNLEASHED UPON THE EARTH! My daughter has the additude of a 16 year old... (we all know the kind I am talking about... I AM ALL KNOWING... MOM AND DAD ARE STUPID AND DON'T KNOW ANYTHING, I WILL DO AS I PLEASE AND KISS MY BUTT IF YOU DON'T AGREE! yeah, that additude...) My son is the same way, only his outbursts are more covert.  He will destroy something or take something and doesn't care about the consequences.  OR he will just down right throw a temper tantrum (let me just say, he is 6 not 2 or 3), banging his head on the wall, throwing toys, or whatever. 

It is all just so exhausting.  And well it doesn't help that it is winter and the temperatures and weather haven't been agreeable so they are cooped up in the house all afternoon when they get home from school.  Which is a whole other headache and topic for another day...

SO... My hat goes off to all of you out there who truly have the patience and dedication to be that SUPER MOM! (I mean that honestly!)

Picture of a tired mommy...

Strawberry Squares

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup canned strawberry pie filling
• confectioner's sugar for dusting 
• baking spray

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°.  Spray Baking Pam in a 13 x 9- inch baking pan.
In a large bowl, on the medium speed of an electric mixer, cream the butter with the granulated sugar until smooth, about 2 minutes.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the vanilla. Add the flour and mix thoroughly.
Spread the dough evenly in the prepared pan.  With a small, sharp knife (or toothpick), score into twenty-four 2-inch squares.  Place a teaspoon of pie filling in the center of each scored square.  Bake for 30 - 35 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted in the center of the pan comes out clean. Cool to room temperature, then sprinkle with confectioner's sugar before cutting and serving.

Crockpot Chicken Tacos

   Ingredients

• 6 skinless, boneless chicken breasts and or skinless boneless chicken thighs
• 1 Packet of Taco seasoning
• 1 Packet of Chili Seasoning
• 2 cans of chicken stock
• 1 can of Chili Beans
• 1 can of Kidney Beans
• 3 green onions chopped
• 1 chopped jalepeno pepper (with or without seeds and ribs, optional)
• 8  (6-inch) flour or corn tortillas or tortilla chips
• 1  cup  chopped tomato (optional)
• 1/2  cup  (2 ounces) preshredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup (2 ounces) preshredded reduced-fat mozzerella cheese
• 1/2  cup  Salsa of your choice (optional)
• 1/2 cup shredded iceburg lettuce (optional)
• 1/4 cup guacamole (optional)
• 1/4  cup  fat-free sour cream (optional)
• 1 small can sliced black olives (optional)

Directions

In a medium bowl, wisk together Taco seasoning, Chili seasoning and 1 can of the chicken stock. In your crockpot, place chicken and second can of chicken stock.  Add the green onions, jalepeno pepper.  Pour in your seasoned stock.  Place lid on crock pot, cook on low for 6 to 8 hours, high for 3 to 5 hours.  One hour before serving, shed chicken with a fork, add in chili beans and kidney beans.  Cook another hour.  Then serve with your favorite taco toppings in a flour or corn tortilla shell or over tortilla shells.  (Can also be made as a soup as there is a lot of liquid in this dish)

Mexican Taco Soup

Mexican Taco Soup

Ingredients

• 2 pounds ground beef
• 1 (1.25 ounce) package taco seasoning mix
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1 (15 ounce) can mild chili beans
• 1 (15.25 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
• 1 (15 ounce) can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can stewed tomatoes
• 1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chile peppers
• 1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chilies
• 1 (1 ounce) package ranch salad dressing mix

Directions

1. In a Dutch oven or large kettle, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Add taco seasoning and mix well. Stir in remaining ingredients. Simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes or until heated through, stirring occasionally.

Birthday

 

Another year has come and gone;
The sands of time keep trickling away.
Another year has come and gone;And I am truly blessed.

Today was my (33rd) Birthday.  And I am still trying to decide what kind of a day it was.  I had a Fabulos lunch with a good friend (Rachel), I recieved many bithday wishes from those I am friends with on Facebook, and spent the evening watching tv (Chuck) and playing around on the computer.  I think it was an alright birthday.  Thanks you to all of you! 

2011 Solutions, Not Resolutions

I know that we are already well into January and that everyone has been talking about their New Year's Resolutions.  Well, I have decided that instead of resolutions, I am going to think of some solutions to a few of my issues that plague me in my life and in my home.  

1. ORGANIZATION: What the crap does that even mean?  Well for me, it means simply this... A Place For Everything and Everything in its Place.... I have sooooo much crafting stuff that I have decided to try to get it all put away neatly and somewhere where I can actually find it when I need it... Along with a list of what I have and how much of it... (I don't know about some of you, but when I go to the craft stores, I end up picking up items that I already have a ton of, but I can't quite remember where I stashed it...) 

I have also decided that i am going to try to organize my life a little.  Being a stay at home mom, leaves me with stuff to get done everyday, and somedays, I can't remember what I have or haven't done... So I am going to try to put together something to help me accomplish my daily goals and keep my life in order instead of living in chaos.

2. DIETING/WEIGHT LOSS/EXERCISE: Well, what can I say... I have become frumpy over the years and I honestly can no longer use my kids as an excuse for the "Mommy Belly" I have... (son is 6 and daughter is 9)... I have tried many things over the years to help lose the weight, but nothing has worked.  So I gave in and went to the doctor and said "HELP ME"... Well, they did and because I haven't really been taking good enough care of my self, I have made my body go crazy and say ok you are now diabetic... Type 2, so the effects are reversable... So the doc has put me on a very strict (extremely LOW carb diet) I am allowed only 30 carbs per major meal (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and 15 carbs per snack... Later this week i will explain what carbs are and how they work in your body.... I am also suppose to exercise for 30 minutes a day... (I have to work slowly to get to these levels because if I start out with all of this at once, I will just quit, and then, i will never get healthy...

3. PROJECTS: Getting crafty is a fun and relaxing time for me... I am hoping that this year I will be able to get my craft on... I will start posting the items I am creating along with pictures.  Hopefully I can get my buisness slowly working to start making some money on some of the things I create. 

So I will keep you all up to date on my progress with all of this...