Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Low(er) Fat Banana Pudding
Banana pudding is one of my husbands absolute favorite desserts, so I like to surprise him with it every now and then. One of those times being this weekend, until I went to the pantry to find I didn't have everything I needed. I took this an opportunity to improvise and come up with something that might be a little easier on the mid-section. I passed on the condensed milk it called for in my recipe and opted to just stick with the basics. Vanilla pudding (made with 2% milk), Cool Whip, Nilla Wafers and bananas. Now you could really trim off some calories if you went with the lighter versions of the Cool Whip and cookies, but I just used what I had on hand. The end result was fantastic and my husband didn't even miss the normally rich, decadent version I make.....and we all know he didn't miss the calories :)
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Italian Chicken with Summer Vegetables
This chicken recipe is one that I have gone to for years that is easy to prep ahead of time and low maintenance while cooking. My mom taught me if you put your chicken in a Ziploc bag with Italian dressing before you freeze, it self-marinades while it thaws out. I have used this concept well past Italian dressing, but this one still stands above the rest. Throw this with some summer veggies sautéed in a little olive oil and butter and you have one easy meal.
First, I put 5 chicken breasts (bone in) in a large Ziploc with enough Italian dressing to coat all the pieces. I used Kens Steakhouse Italian dressing, it definitely delivers the most flavor. I prefer bone in, it gives the chicken another dimension of flavor and keeps it super juicy. You are more than welcome to use boneless if you like though :) I pulled these out of the freezer in the morning before work, so by the time I got home they were ready to go straight into the skillet.
I don't use any oil or cooking spray when I cook these, there is enough oil in the dressing to keep things from sticking. I put them all breast side down on medium heat, then covered and let it do its thing. I think the key to cooking breasts in a skillet is to take your time and keep the fire low with the lid on. All the steam inside does miracles for keeping them nice and juicy.
After I got the chicken breasts going, I started the veggies. I had corn in the fridge along with a zucchini and a squash. Oh, and of course a little onion and garlic...because I add it to everything :) As much as I love fresh garlic, I was on a time crunch so jarred did just fine. My kids LOVE this dish, so it's always a no brainer for me to throw this combination together.
First thing to do is shuck the corn. It seems like a daunting task, but it really isn't that bad once you get it over with :) I got this awesome little gadget from Pampered Chef that cuts the kernels right off the cob, GENIUS! If you eat corn like we do, it is a must have.
I threw all the kernels into a large skillet that I'd had heating with a couple of tablespoons of olive oil. I let it fry for a minute so it could get a good crunchy texture to it.
While the corn is sautéing in olive oil, I go back and flip the breasts. At this point I turn the heat to low and continue to let simmer, covered of course, until the other side dishes are finished cooking. The breasts should have a nice brown color once you turn them over.
My corn has had plenty of time with the olive oil, so now I throw in 4 tablespoons of butter. I know this seems like a lot, but remember we haven't put all the other goodies that go into this dish.
While the butter is melting, I cut up the rest of the veggies. Once your done chopping, toss them all in (zucchini, squash, onion and garlic) and stir it all together. Leave it on a medium to low heat and sprinkle with a little salt and pepper. Continue to stir these every couple of minutes to ensure that all the veggies get some exposure to the heat to get nice and soft.
Time to go back to the chicken. At this point, its probably been on the stove for a good 20-25 minutes and might be done, depending on the size of breast you're cooking. I always throw a little salt and pepper on right at the end before I turn the heat off, just for a little flavor. Once the chicken is cooked through let it rest for a good 5 minutes, and they are ready to serve!
I added some 5 minute rice along with these dishes and that is one complete yummy meal! The whole thing took maybe 30 minutes, which you can't beat on a weeknight :) ENJOY!!!
First, I put 5 chicken breasts (bone in) in a large Ziploc with enough Italian dressing to coat all the pieces. I used Kens Steakhouse Italian dressing, it definitely delivers the most flavor. I prefer bone in, it gives the chicken another dimension of flavor and keeps it super juicy. You are more than welcome to use boneless if you like though :) I pulled these out of the freezer in the morning before work, so by the time I got home they were ready to go straight into the skillet.
I don't use any oil or cooking spray when I cook these, there is enough oil in the dressing to keep things from sticking. I put them all breast side down on medium heat, then covered and let it do its thing. I think the key to cooking breasts in a skillet is to take your time and keep the fire low with the lid on. All the steam inside does miracles for keeping them nice and juicy.
After I got the chicken breasts going, I started the veggies. I had corn in the fridge along with a zucchini and a squash. Oh, and of course a little onion and garlic...because I add it to everything :) As much as I love fresh garlic, I was on a time crunch so jarred did just fine. My kids LOVE this dish, so it's always a no brainer for me to throw this combination together.
First thing to do is shuck the corn. It seems like a daunting task, but it really isn't that bad once you get it over with :) I got this awesome little gadget from Pampered Chef that cuts the kernels right off the cob, GENIUS! If you eat corn like we do, it is a must have.
I threw all the kernels into a large skillet that I'd had heating with a couple of tablespoons of olive oil. I let it fry for a minute so it could get a good crunchy texture to it.
While the corn is sautéing in olive oil, I go back and flip the breasts. At this point I turn the heat to low and continue to let simmer, covered of course, until the other side dishes are finished cooking. The breasts should have a nice brown color once you turn them over.
My corn has had plenty of time with the olive oil, so now I throw in 4 tablespoons of butter. I know this seems like a lot, but remember we haven't put all the other goodies that go into this dish.
While the butter is melting, I cut up the rest of the veggies. Once your done chopping, toss them all in (zucchini, squash, onion and garlic) and stir it all together. Leave it on a medium to low heat and sprinkle with a little salt and pepper. Continue to stir these every couple of minutes to ensure that all the veggies get some exposure to the heat to get nice and soft.
Time to go back to the chicken. At this point, its probably been on the stove for a good 20-25 minutes and might be done, depending on the size of breast you're cooking. I always throw a little salt and pepper on right at the end before I turn the heat off, just for a little flavor. Once the chicken is cooked through let it rest for a good 5 minutes, and they are ready to serve!
I added some 5 minute rice along with these dishes and that is one complete yummy meal! The whole thing took maybe 30 minutes, which you can't beat on a weeknight :) ENJOY!!!
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Bridesmaids Gifts....Meaningful and Inexpensive
After speaking with my sister this morning regarding the last few details of her upcoming wedding, she mentioned she already had gifts for her bridal party, but wanted to get them something special for the day of the wedding. I told her I would do some research and see what I could find, and of course blog about it! So I reached out to my fellow Etsy shops and found some great options ranging from $1 - $50.... so here it is :)
Let's start with the most expensive....
1. CLUTCH WITH PERSONALIZED MESSAGE SEWN INSIDE - $35 to $49
I absolutely love this idea! The clutches come in so many styles and you can coordinate them with the entire bridal party...hello functional! But of course that comes at a price, so I guess it all depends on your budget :) Most shops let you choose the inside and outside fabric, and some even have little accessories you can choose to liven up the exterior. You can have a personalized message sewn on the inside to say whatever you like, which is quite sentimental and something the bridesmaids would cherish forever. Overall, there are so many ways you could go with this gift to make it a lot of fun and something the girls would use for years to come.
2. PERSONALIZED BRIDESMAID WEDDING TOTE - $10
Once again, super functional, and something the bridesmaids would get lots of use out of. Several different styles and all are cute and affordable.
Let's start with the most expensive....
1. CLUTCH WITH PERSONALIZED MESSAGE SEWN INSIDE - $35 to $49
I absolutely love this idea! The clutches come in so many styles and you can coordinate them with the entire bridal party...hello functional! But of course that comes at a price, so I guess it all depends on your budget :) Most shops let you choose the inside and outside fabric, and some even have little accessories you can choose to liven up the exterior. You can have a personalized message sewn on the inside to say whatever you like, which is quite sentimental and something the bridesmaids would cherish forever. Overall, there are so many ways you could go with this gift to make it a lot of fun and something the girls would use for years to come.
$42.00
$48.00
$35.00
$49.00
2. PERSONALIZED BRIDESMAID WEDDING TOTE - $10
Once again, super functional, and something the bridesmaids would get lots of use out of. Several different styles and all are cute and affordable.
$10.00
$10.00
$10.00
3. PERSONALIZED WEDDING HANGERS - $10
I have seen these a lot and am still drawn to them every time :) The hangers and the wires come in all different colors so you have the choice to not be so boring if you like. Don't know how much use they would get after the wedding, but sure is something sweet for the girls to hang onto to be reminded of that special day.
$10.00
$10.00
$10.00
4. FOR THE DRINKERS :) - $10.00
If your girls are into having a good time, these are cute and I'm sure will get lots of miles. I also found a wine bag that you can personalize...after you drop a bottle in there as a bridesmaid gift! Not a bad idea :)
$10.00
$10.00
$10.00
5. ETERNITY BRACELET OR NECKLACE - $1 TO $10
If you are on a real tight budget, this is something that is not personalized but can be turned into something special. Etsy has a ton of these eternity bracelets, in all different fabrics, colors and the hardware comes in gold and silver too. I think these along with a heart felt note to your bridesmaids would be something you couldn't put a price tag on. Aside from being cute, the girls could wear them all the time while thinking of your special day every time they glance at their wrist :) I also found a great eternity necklace that was a little pricier. Both are fantastic options!
5 for $1.00
5 for $1.00
$10.00
I am passing this blog onto my sister in hopes it will give her some ideas for her last minute bridal party woes! Can't wait to see what I get, haha!! :) Love you Nat!
Sunday, July 14, 2013
The Sprinkler Stands the Test of Time
There is something about a sprinkler in the Texas summer that is irresistible....especially to fully clothed children, lol. Grandpa was visiting Saturday night since Grandma is out of town. We put the sprinkler out in an effort to keep the grass green, and their little sprinkler radars went off. You can tell by the pics the older two had a blast, especially Alex's back side. He's a 3 year old boy, what do you expect? Eventually Dad moved it up against the house to water some other grass, so they lost interest and got in some Big Wheels time. The neighbors behind us came over for an evening visit, and you should be able to tell which photo is of the kids watching as they drove off in their golf cart. Sometimes I wonder if I have exposed them to enough civilization, because this dead stop stare seems to be their reaction every time someone passes our house or leaves the driveway, lol. Then as usual, I made them all pose for a sweet picture, which usually never happens. But what kind of mother would I be if I didn't torture them at every possible chance to say "cheese"...all together....at the same time :) I'll post my efforts, you can pick your favorite.
Fast forward to this morning, JR went out to plant a rose bush Grandpa brought us, and his little
helper got the shovel and quickly followed. Who knew you needed rain boots and a long sleeved Superman t-shirt in the dead of summer to get some shoveling done :)
Fast forward to this morning, JR went out to plant a rose bush Grandpa brought us, and his little
helper got the shovel and quickly followed. Who knew you needed rain boots and a long sleeved Superman t-shirt in the dead of summer to get some shoveling done :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)