Recipe, Rain, Research

And the Pioneer Woman does it again. 

We've been eating these this week and they are delish.

I took about 9000 shortcuts on this recipe and it was still pretty majorly great. 

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I did not grate my own cheese. I did not cut up my own pineapple. I did not put a skewer through my pineapple. I did not pre-toast my tortillias. I did not use fresh jalapenos. 

And they were still the bomb. Try em!

In other news, the weather in this part of the country has gotten downright depressing. I can fully embrace a few cold and rainy days. I like to snuggle up with hot chocolate and be sleepy just as much as the next guy but after about three of those days I have reached my limit and currently we are pushing two weeks. 

It took me exactly one hour to get to the grocery store Monday because apparently when it rains people get into their cars and lose their minds. There was no danger involved in my taking this picture because I was going exactly 0 miles per hour... for a very long time.

We attended our first prenatal class last night. It was technically the second class but we missed the first one and are making it up in March. I was by far the least pregnant person there and the one taking the most notes. Five pages. Zeal is one of my best qualities. It was information overload and I am glad I have all of my notes to go back and do some research of my own on all the options for delivery. I am an information junkie and I want to know everything about everything that MIGHT happen to my body and baby. 

At the moment I feel like things tend to get a little over-medicated but I'm not ready to make any bold statements about that here on the blog. On the flip side, I am extremely grateful to be living in an age where we can know exactly what is going on with babies in delivery and have so many options for their health and safety. Amen? 

Best of Pinterest Recipes

I noticed recently that my food board on Pinterest, lovingly entitled Food Glorious Food (Oliver!, anyone?), is by far the most pinned board I have. We are talking 193 pins. A full 92 pins more than the second place holder, my Home Sweet Home board. Go figure. 

I counted it up and so far I have actually tried 33 of the 193 pins. Almost exclusively entrees, appetizers, and side dishes. Rarely desserts. I have no idea why. Lord knows I have a sweet tooth. 

I also have no idea if this is normal. Do people actually put Pinterest ideas into practice? Am I going overboard? Underboard? Does it even matter? 

Probably not. 

Either way, I made a list of some of mine and Andrew's favorite recipes found on Pinterest. Of the 33 I've tried, about 8 have really stuck out. Those aren't great odds. Maybe I'm pinning the wrong things? Or maybe I'm not a great cook?

Or maybe I am asking too many questions? 

So here they are. In no order, our  top 8 Pinterest recipes... so far. 

Baked Potato Rounds

These were made exclusively to please my man and they did the trick. But really, who doesn't love potatoes, bacon, and cheese? (Other than Autumn, Kyle, and my stepmom Nancy.. they don't like cheese).

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No Bean Chilli

Again, exclusively to meet Andrew's anti-bean requirements. But it was for realz good.

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Easy Chicken and Dumplings

I've devoted a whole post to this one. 

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Ham and Swiss Sliders 

Gracious merciful heavenly buttery cheesiness.

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Sour Cream Chicken

Y'all, I make this over and over and over. Sometimes I mix sour cream and mayo and add Parmesan cheese. Easy peasy weeknight cheesy.

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Chicken Divan

Another frequent flyer in my weeknight repertoire. Great for leftovers too!

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Crockpot Tomato Basil Parmesan Soup

Tomato soup might be my favorite food on earth. Also, I don't like the taste of crock pots very much. I know that's blasphemy, forgive me. But this soup is to die for and can be done on the stove as easily as the crock pot so I take that route. Of the probably 5 or so tomato soup recipes I have tried, this is my fave. 

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Santa Fe Chicken Salad

I probably made a batch of this for lunches 7 times last year. I actually made myself stop so that I wouldn't burn out. However, it is definitely time to bring it back!

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So tell me, do you put Pinterest to practice in real life? If so, how does it usually turn out? Am I a total weirdo? 

Wait... don't answer that. 

And if you want to see more of my pins come follow me. And I'll follow you. And we will be a family. Amen.

Easy Chicken and Dumplings

Ya'll. I haven't posted a recipe in quite a while. Heck, I haven't had a recipe to post in quite a while. Unless basic instructions for pouring a bowl of Raisin Bran count. 

But lately, I have been getting back in the kitchen and last night we had a meal that was too good and too easy NOT to post. 

It was a really shortcutish, mostly boxed and canned, version of chicken and dumplings and I really had very low expectations that it would be good, much less something  I would share with anyone.

I mean chicken and dumplings is one of those things that is usually only good when someones grandma uses a century old biscuit recipe and a 19 hour stock making process. Or when it comes from Cracker Barrel. 

I don't claim to be a chicken and dumplings expert, but these seemingly rudimentary ingredients made for a fast, bang-up meal on a cold winters night (of 63 degrees because we live in South Louisiana remember?).

I didn't take pictures because, duh, it wasn't supposed to be that good. But here is the picture from where the recipe was originally posted, MyRecipes.com. However, this is my tweaked version based on some recommendations I read in the reviews and our preferences. 

MyRecipes.com

Easy Chicken and Dumplings

32 oz reduced sodium chicken broth

2 cans cream of chicken soup (we used low fat kind)

2 tsp Better Than Bouillon reduced sodium chicken base (or reg chicken bouillon)

3-4 (or more) carrots sliced into coin sized pieces

1 rotisserie chicken, meat pulled off the bone 

1-2 tsp. dried thyme

pepper ( lots!)

1 can Pillsbury grands jumbo buttermilk biscuits 

Mix every thing except the biscuits in a stock pot and bring it to a boil.

While you are waiting on it to boil, flatten each biscuit with your hands and use a pizza cutter to cut them into dumpling sized pieces (or you can  just tear them with your hands). Once everything in the pot is boiling, start dropping the dumplings into the pot a few at a time. They will puff up and it will get crowded, don't worry. Just stir it every few times your put dumplings in to make sure they are not sticking together. Once they are all in, give it a good stir and reduce it to a simmer. Cover and let simmer about 15-20 minutes. Stir a few times throughout. While they simmer, the dumplings will shrink back down and everything will thicken a little more. Taste it for flavor... I ended up adding more pepper and thyme at the end. 

I'm linking up today with Kelly's Korner, probably one of my favorite bloggers on the planet. She is just the sweetest cutest wife and mother EVER. Of course I don't know her in real life but I secretly wish we were friends! 

A Time of Rest and a Salsa Recipe

… for God gives rest to His loved ones. Psalm 127:2

PTL! I read this verse yesterday and the timing could not have been more perfect.  A time of rest is coming for Andrew and me this week and I think it is just what we need to get us over the hump before moving time. We will be leaving tomorrow for the beach with Andrew’s family for four glorious days. Wahoo! I will be off work an additional two days because I have to have a minor medical procedure (no worries, nothing serious!) and as much as that stinks, I am kind of grateful for additional days off. Is that strange? I hope not.

I had the most delightful birthday weekend with my family. I got to spend Friday and Saturday with my mom, Don, and William Paul and Sunday with my dad and Nancy. The whole weekend involved a lot of really good food and family time. I told my mom yesterday, I’m not sure my blood sugar has come down yet from all the sweets I ate. We will probably celebrate again at the beach with my in-laws so I am trying to be super healthy before we leave. When it’s all said and done I think my birthday will have rounded out to about three cakes, two pies, and a bucket of ice cream. Of course I didn’t eat it all myself, but I feel like I did. Yikes!



My mom said she would kill me if I ever put her picture on the internet, but who wouldn't share a pic of a mom as cute as mine!?



One of the food highlights was this AHHHHHmazing homemade salsa, made by my not-so-evil stepmother Nancy. The recipe was created by her friend Becky who blogs here. Enjoy my friends; this might be the best thing that will ever hit my blog.

8 Roma tomatoes, chopped
1 med Vidalia onion, chopped
2 tsp chopped jalapenos, chopped (you can use pickled)
4 tbs fresh lime juice
4 tbs fresh cilantro, chopped
4 tbs fresh parsley, chopped
1/2 tsp salt
Mix well and chill.... the salsa and yourself!

Anywho, I will probably be MIA for about a week. My vacation plans do not include blogging; however, they do include playing with my precious niece and nephew, savoring every moment with my beloved in-laws, enjoying more good food, finishing Mockingjay, and squeezing in at least 1 run on the beach (hold me to it!). Our family is already down there and as you can see, Caleb is thoroughly enjoying himself!

I hope to return to you tan and relaxed. Until then, hasta la vista baby!  

Updates and Rosemary Olive Oil Bread

HAPPY FRIDAY WORLD! 

I gotta say all Fridays are blessed events but this one is particularly good for me because it marks the last day I will be flying solo without my boss at work. He has been gone on an amazing adventure out West and I have been acting as his stand-in now for 2 weeks. I'll tell you what I told him... Boss, I'm definitely not after your job. Whew, being in charge is not my cup o tea but thanks be to GOD, I've gotten through it!

We bought the dresser I mentioned in this post. It was originally marked at $65 and we got it for $60. Woohoo! Not the most impressive negotiating, but it's a start. After getting it into our house we think we probably overpaid but it was our first big thrift item so maybe we made up for it in education. I think we will make much better deals in the future.  We are planning to overhaul it this weekend and I'll hopefully post all about it next week. Here is a pic now that it is an official member of our home!

Now for a couple of miscellaneous updates:

1. Our official moving date is July 28th. T-58 days until we become true Cajuns (but not LSU fans).   I couldn't be more ready! 

2. I added a new little feature to the blog that you can use to drop me a line. It's fittingly called "Contact Me." It's at the top, under the big title and again on the right toward the bottom. I would love to hear from you so please say hello!

3. Last but most importantly, I baked a ridiculously easy and delicious bread and it must be shared. I found it on Pinterest but it is originally from Real Simple.

{This is a sweet and savory bread. It has a dense/cakey consistency. We had it with spaghetti for dinner and again for breakfast the next morning... bon appetit!}

Rosemary and Olive Oil Bread

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (I didn't use any nuts)
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons dried rosemary
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• grated zest of 1 lemon (1 tablespoon)
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 3/4 cup sweet white wine or apple juice
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1. Heat oven to 350° F. Lightly coat loaf pan with vegetable cooking spray.
2. In a bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, walnuts, baking powder, rosemary, salt, and lemon zest.
3. In another bowl, blend the eggs, wine, and olive oil; stir into the dry ingredients.
4. Transfer the batter into pan and smooth surface. Bake 55 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean.