Lindsey spent lots of time during January cheering for the sophomore basketball team. Go Chargers! And please don't drop my daughter, thank you!
"This is the beginning of a new day.
You have been given this day to use as you will.
You can waste it or use it for good.
What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it.
When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever;
in it's place is something that you have left behind . . .
let it be something good."
Lindsey can remain at Dundee Crown for her Jr/Sr year. The School Board decided on the "grandfathering" part of the upcoming Attendance Boundary change. More to come Jan. 28.
I told Rachel if she stopped chewing her finger nails and let them grow out that I'd take her to get a manicure. Well, since Rachel loves a challenge, she let her nails grow and here she is getting her manicure! Beautiful nails = beautiful girl!!!
Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. --Philippians 4:6, NLT
GARLIC CHICKEN FARFALLE (This was totally delicious! The girls didn't care for the chicken which was my favorite part. Farfalle is bowtie pasta; don't be impressed. Definitely an A+++!)
16 oz. Farfalle pasta
1 c. heavy whipping cream
3-4 chicken breasts (boneless, skinless)
2 to 3 cloves garlic, crushed OR garlic salt
1 Tbsp. pepper
1/2 c. butter
1 lb. bacon, crumpled
1/2 c. shredded Parmesan cheese
1 (12 oz) Lawry’s mesquite marinade with lime juice
Directions: Crock pot chicken and bottle of marinade on low for 6 hours. Pull marinated chicken out of the juices, allow to cool a little bit, and shred. Set this aside. About a half-hour before serving, boil the pasta. In a small saucepan, melt butter, add garlic, whipping cream, pepper, parmesan cheese, and crumpled bacon. Whisk together on low heat for 3-4 minutes. In a large bowl, pour over cooked, drained pasta, add chicken and stir through. Sprinkle a little bit more shredded parmesan cheese on top.
TACO SOUP (Everyone liked this recipe. Kinda like chili w/ a touch of taco flavoring. I did make the tortilla strips w/ olive oil and parmesan cheese - yummy)
16 oz. can chili beans
16 oz. kidney beans
16 oz. can black beans
8 oz. can tomato sauce
15 oz. can diced stewed tomatoes
16 oz. can whole corn
16 oz. creamed corn
pkg. taco seasoning
1 Tbsp. chili powder
1 lb. ground beef
1 onion, chopped
1 sm. can chopped green chilies
Do not drain any of the canned foods. Add all ingredients to a crock pot and add taco seasoning to the soup. Brown the ground beef in a pan with the chopped onion and add this combination to the crock pot. Simmer for at least a couple of hours. Serve warm and garnish with optional toppings: shredded cheese, sour cream, tortilla strips (cooked in frying pan with olive oil and grated parmesan cheese). Another idea: Eat with large Fritos chips.
Shrimp, Tortellini and Spinach (I would give this recipe a B; I actually ate it for lunch today COLD and it takes better.)
1 pkg. (9 oz.) refrigerated cheese tortellini
1/4 cup KRAFT Roasted Red Pepper Italian with Parmesan Dressing
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 can (14-1/2 oz.) no-salt-added diced tomatoes, undrained
3/4 lb. cooked cleaned medium shrimp
1 bag (6 oz.) baby spinach leaves
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
2 Tbsp. KRAFT 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese
COOK tortellini in large (4-qt.) saucepan as directed on package. Drain in colander; set aside. Heat dressing in same pan on medium-high heat. Add garlic; cook 1 min. Add tomatoes and shrimp; mix well. Bring just to boil. Stir in spinach; cover. Simmer 1 to 2 min. or until spinach is wilted, stirring occasionally.
STIR in tortellini and basil; simmer, uncovered, 3 to 4 min. or until sauce is thickened, stirring occasionally.
SERVE topped with the cheese.
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Tonight's dinner is in the crockpot (my new bestfriend). It's Chicken Cordon Blue. I'll let you know tomorrow how it turned out!
"No matter how deep the valley may be, there is always a mountaintop on eitherside. The way out of the valley leads to a mountaintop- no matter which path you may choose."
Well, the girls headed back to school today after being home for Christmas Break for two weeks; I have mixed emotions about this. I absolutely LOVE it when they are home and I miss them terribly when they return to school. But, I do find myself much more productive around the house when I'm by myself though. I ran an errand to Dollar General to stock up all some paper and bathroom products and $85 later returned home. It was a long overdue trip (I think each bathroom was on it's last roll of TP!).
After I put all that away, I did something I've been wanting to do for a long time but haven't felt the motivation! I rearranged lots of things (photo frames, plants, antiques, etc.) mainly in the family room. I also redid some things on top of the kitchen cupboards which were long overdue for a change. I went "shopping" in the basement storage room and brought out some "new" things. It feels good - like something new and it didn't cost a thing. Also got some vacuuming and dusting done.
Am venturing out on another limb and making Taco Soup for dinner (a recipe from Becky Higgins, my favorite scrapbooker!); I'm sure I'll get the look from my family when I tell them what's for dinner but who knows maybe it'll be a hit.
Here's to a productive day!
things I'd like to do in 2008:
don't sweat the small stuff
attend church much more regularly!
read at least 2 books per month
work harder during the week so that Friday is SB day
eat healthier
be a better listener
try to see the positive even in bad situations
more to come ...
