More easy recipes

So I'd never really thought to share any of my own recipes primarily because I really didn't feel like sitting down to write them out.  1 1/2 cups of this, a teaspoon of that...yeah, I just don't have the patience honestly.  So here's MY version of a recipe for what we call "Cheesy Southwest Chicken & Rice" at our house.

Ingredients: 

1 package G.V. Steamable Southwest Vegetables with Cheese Sauce

1 large chicken breast (if you buy the enormous boneless breasts from Sam's Club, I promise 1 breast will easily serve 2 people)

Cajun seasoning (it's not "Southwestern" but hey, Taco Bell isn't Mexican either...)

Directions:

1.  Chop up chicken and season.

2.  Saute chicken in a large pan while microwaving cheesy vegetables and rice according to package directions.

3.  Pour vegetables and rice into pan of sauted chicken and stir.
4.  Serve and enjoy!

Serves two hungry adults (with a side of veggies).  Nutrition information: um... 

*******************************************************************


Now for a Whitehurst family favorite.  When my Mom makes this we call it "Shells," (that's just the noodle she always used) but Chris somewhere along the way dubbed it "Chicken Stuff."  I guess it would technically be penne marinara al forno?  Whatever, it's just yummy.  This recipe writing is even worse, I'll warn you.


Ingredients:
Penne, ziti, or shells (I use two big handfuls of whole wheat penne)
Chicken breast (Remember the big Sam's Club ones?  Yeah, just one will do for the entire dish.)
Marinara sauce (I'm at a loss here...um, "enough" I guess)
Shredded mozzarella (Again, I'll have to say "a handful")
salt and pepper
red pepper flakes (optional if you're you know, a wuss)


Directions:
1.  Chop up the chicken and season with salt and pepper
2.  Saute the chicken and cook the noodles
3.  Drain the noodles, then add cooked chicken and marinara.  Stir.  (Add red pepper at this point if  you wish.)
4.  Pour all ingredients into a casserole dish and sprinkle cheese on top.
5.  Bake at let's say...400° until bubbly and slightly browned on top.


Serves 2 hungry adults, a toddler, and if you measure pasta as poorly as I do, probably enough for one person's lunch the next day.
Nutrition information:  If your portion sizes are reasonable I'd guess it's pretty good for you.


Well, tomorrow night we're eating at my in-laws and Thursday night I'm doing a taco soup recipe I borrowed from a friend.  I'll probably share that one too...

Playtime, coupon clipping, and quick easy dinners

Enjoying how independently Gavin can play these days.  It's when it's quiet and I don't see or hear him that I sometimes worry (he's usually not doing a single thing I need to worry about thankfully--just playing very intensely somewhere in the house).  Point being, it always nice now to be able to accomplish the little things like paying bills online, loading up the tax software, and clipping coupons with very little neediness on his part.  The medium- sized tasks, like laundry, he actually likes to "help" with.  The big stuff?  Well those organizing and cleaning projects happen when he's asleep or with Grandma.

Last night after posting on Facebook about the evening repast, a friend suggested I start sharing some of my recipes via blog.  Great idea I thought, though I'm no recipe writer.  I messaged her my "recipe" for loaded twice baked potatoes (the actual first time I'd put it in writing) and used words like "dab," "handful," and "baked until sizzling."  So, I'm no recipe writer I guess.  So tonight's dinner's not really mine--it's a Campbell's Kitchen recipe I first enjoyed at Chris' mom's house.  We'll be having Cornbread Chicken Pot Pie with peas for a side.  (And whatever the recipe calls for in cheese--yeah, I'm not measuring it.)
http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/cornbread-chicken-pot-pie/Detail.aspx

Oh Gavin why...

...have you started making your way into Mommy and Daddy's room every single night since we converted your crib into a toddler bed, after sleeping through the night for several months now?  Once in our bed we are all quite miserable, including you.  If space is what you desire as you're squirming for hours on end, your bed has plenty of just that.

...do you change your food preferences nearly daily.  I know you like what I fix you, but some days it's like pulling teeth to get you to eat more than a couple of nibbles?

...do you feel the compulsion to climb up on EVERYTHING now.  We don't have dental coverage and I'm so scared you're going to mess up that cute little face when you lose your footing.  It scares me to death buddy.

Okay so these are just a half a day of Mommy quandaries.  Thank the Lord I love him so incredibly much, with a selfless, sacrificing adoration for him.  He loves me back I'm pretty sure too--that helps me get through.