To the farm.

In case no one has ever filled you in on this incredible piece of information, allow me to enlighten you:

Farm fresh milk from a glass bottle is the coldest, most satisfying milk you will ever drink in your life.

There is seriously something magical about pouring farm fresh, ice cold milk over a bowl of cinnamon Life cereal. If you've never had farm fresh milk before, come on over to my house either first thing in the morning or about 10:30 at night when Letterman's on. I'll pour you a bowl of cereal and you can see for yourself how amazing it is.

Just another great reason to wake up in the morning.

I buy my farm fresh milk from Jones Heritage Farm and Market. My weekly trips to pick up milk and eggs are one of my favorite parts of the week. John and I like to stroll around the farm and pet doggies, chase a few chickens and "Baaa" right back at the little lambs. Eventually we'll venture into the store and check out their weekly specials, then load up our basket with two gallons of milk (that's four glass bottles) and a couple dozen eggs. I plan to continue this tradition with John for as long as I can. It's just a special activity that I love sharing with him.




Love the gentle giants, Great Pyrenees.


For a trip to the farm, I always go with extra comfy. And throw on a hat, of course.

Learning how to wear a maxi dress is one of my summer goals. It seems like it would be easy, but I think this one-piece ensemble could use a little something to spice it up. Be it jewelry, a scarf, or a jean jacket.

Hat: Target. Jean Jacket: Old Navy. Maxi Dress: JCPenney

Next time I wear it I plan to try tying a button down shirt in front.

Hope your day is lovely, xoxo

Monday Lovelies: Spring is Here!

Hello all! I hope you had a great weekend. Here's a little peak into what we've been doing since Spring has officially hit Southeast Missouri!

We've been doing lots of bike riding and exercising. I could barely walk on Friday after running almost every day last week. John busted out his trike and started learning different street signs at Safety City.

My morning coffee perks me up even more with this adorable "cream cow." Moooo!






Hat: Kohls. T-Shirt: ?? Belt: Thrifted, TC Thrift Store. Skirt: JCPenney. Flats: Macy's.

My first official Spring outfit! I wore this last week to work and then again yesterday to church. The t-shirt makes the skirt a bit more casual, and I love this hat! Such a fun addition! This "mullet hemmed" skirt was fun when the breeze picked up, I felt like Marilyn Monroe!

We celebrated St. Patrick's Day at home watching movies and eating one of my favorite meals, Corned Beef and Cabbage. I dyed the cabbage, scalloped potatoes and my Boulevard Unfiltered Wheat Beer green! I think I'll keep this tradition going year after year. John loved eating the green potatoes, he kept putting them on his spoon and laughing.

Finally, my sweet Aunt Nancy shared this photo of my Mamaw Shain with me last week and I made it my facebook cover photo. That's my mom in the upper right hand corner, my silly cousin Andrew making raccoon eyes in the back, half of my sister Lauren's face on the left, and my Mamaw Shain and me sitting up front. I miss my Mamaw all the time. She was a beautiful, amazing woman and a total style icon. Seeing this picture has made me think about her a lot this week. Love you Mamaw!


Hope your Monday is lovely, friends! xoxo

Dinner Tonight: Lahmajoon Pizza + a Meal Plan

I hope you all enjoy seeing my food creations every once in awhile. I do like sharing them and honestly it is nice to have an online record of recipes I've tried! I'm also going to incorporate into these foodie posts my Meal Plan for the week. I've talked before about how important I think Meal Planning is for my family, but I'm not perfect and some weeks don't always go as planned. Having a weekly menu takes the guesswork out of dinner and the stress of deciding what to cook at the last minute. Plus, if you don't like what Mama's fixin' tonight, then too bad you're not eating! (wink wink)

Here's my plan for this week and part of next:

Monday 2/27: Meatloaf w/Broccoli.Check!
Tuesday 2/28: Leftover Chicken Wings and Pork Steaks from Sunday (I'll cut the pork up and mix it with some eggs and rice)
Wednesday 2/29: Happy Leap Day! Lasagna, Salad and Homemade Bread
Thursday 3/1: I'm out with the girls, and Daniel wants to take John to dinner at the Bayou.
Friday 3/2: BINGO night at church, so we'll eat Crockpot Chicken Taco's before we go!
Saturday 3/3: Selling tickets for RCP, so dinner for free at Port Cape!
Sunday 3/4: Crockpot Honey Asian Chicken and Rice
Monday 3/5: Spicy Curry Pork and Rice (I'll throw in any leftovers of Honey Asian Chicken too)

Sounds like a plan! I find myself to be a pretty free-spirited person, but man I do love a good list. Sometimes it feels good to have things planned out. These recipes are all based on ingredients I already have stocked in my fridge and pantry. I won't need to shop again until probably the 7th or 8th, which is right around pay day. Perfect timing, huh?

Last week I made homemade pizza that was AMAZING if I do say so myself :) Hope you enjoy!

LAHMAJOON PIZZA

INGREDIENTS:
1 pound of ground lamb (it's expensive, but worth it!)
1 cup of feta cheese
1/2 cup of sun dried tomatoes, sliced
1/2 cup of black olives
1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese
1 cup of tomato sauce
1 pre-made pizza crust (Bertolli brand is my favorite!)
a few dashes of oregano

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 400. Cook the lamb meat thoroughly, like you would ground beef. It is pretty fatty so drain off any excess grease. Assemble the pizza, starting with spreading the tomato sauce onto the pre-made crust. Add mozz cheese next, followed by lamb meat, sun dried tomatoes and black olives. Top with the feta cheese and a few dashes of oregano. Bake until the crust starts to turn brown, about 15 minutes. **NOTE** the feta cheese does not really melt, it will become soft so make sure you don't burn the crust thinking that the cheese hasn't melted enough and needs to cook longer.

A fun, non traditional style pizza that my family loved! Let me know if you try it at home!

Monday Happiness.

I think talking about happy things on Monday's just makes the day feel not so horrible. Here's what I'm happy about today!

Yep. I made that cupcake. My inspiration came from pinterest, with the original recipe found here. We are pretty low key when it comes to Valentines day, but I wanted to make these cupcakes to show a little love to my family tomorrow.

The boys have peculiar sleeping habits, but it always makes me smile :)

Blogger makes me crazy when it uploads my photos sideways. Grrr! Anyway made this little shirt for John to wear to the Monster Truck show Friday night. We had a blast!

I'm a big fan of outfits like this lately. An oversized tunic, skinny jeans and boots are perfect for running errands and doing housework. Someone even told me I looked like Taylor Swift in this....Score!

Finishing off my Monday Happiness with a little puppy picture. Have a great day everyone!

Dinner Tonight: Avocado Fries and More!

I once read an article about the eating habits of a really famous designer from California and now I can't remember her name. Anyway, this designer said that she eats one avocado per day. I thought two things when I read this:

1. Oh that's the reason she has a great complexion!

2. She's obviously rich because that's an expensive snack.

Avocado's usually run about $2-$4 EACH. Yowza. But get this: Schnucks is having a 10 for $10 sale on Avocado's right now, score! So last night I declared it Avocado Night in the Hazelwood Household and we made Baked Avocado Fries for an appetizer and Crock Pot Mexi Mix for the main event.

Best. Night. Ever.

Now, onto the recipes!

BAKED AVOCADO FRIES

INGREDIENTS:

1/4 cup flour


1 tsp kosher salt

2 large eggs, beaten

1 1/4 cups panko (Japanese bread crumbs, found next to all the other bread crumb varieties, NOT in the Asian section)

2 firm-ripe medium avocados, pitted, peeled, and sliced into 1/2-in. wedges
 
DIRECTIONS:
 
Preheat oven to 450.


Coat avocado slices in the four, then egg, then panko. Place on a cookie sheet that has been sprayed with nonstick spray. Spray the top of the wedges with olive oil and sprinkle with salt, then bake for about 20 minutes at 450, or until they are golden brown.




The finished product! Sorry for the bad picture, it was taken with a phone. The Avocado Fries were better than I could have imagined! Crispy and buttery on the inside---delicious!!! Is it bad that I'm considering making them again tonight??



CROCK POT MEXI MIX

This is what the mixture looks like before you put it in the crockpot over the chicken. Kinda gross, but delicious!! Have I ever mentioned that I hate pictures of food? I just find it helpful when blogging about recipes. If you hate pictures of food too let me know and I'll try to be more discreet :)

INGREDIENTS:

Four Boneless, skinless, frozen chicken breasts

1 container of whipped cream cheese

1 can of corn

1 can of black beans

1 can of rotel

1 Crock Pot

Cooked Rice (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

Mix all of the ingredients except the chicken together in a bowl. Place the chicken in the crock pot. Pour mixture over chicken. Cook in crock pot on LOW for 8-9 hours. Shred chicken with fork, and enjoy over rice or as a taco. Enjoy!

Thanks for the recipes, Pinterest! And thank you Schnucks for the Avocado Sale!
 

Spicy Curry + Happy Shoes.

Funny how a great recipe and some new shoes can bring you out of your seasonal depression.

Last night I made Chicken Curry for dinner and it was delish---and I invented the recipe myself! To be fair I have seen some chicken curry recipes that call for cream cheese, but nothing quite like what I made. I wanted to make something with a container of butternut squash soup that I've had in my cabinet for ages, then I though to add the cream cheese to make the dish a bit thicker. Here's the exact recipe, try it and let me know what you think!

Crock Pot Chicken Curry with Butternut Squash

YOU WILL NEED:
1 Crock Pot
4-5 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (throw em in frozen, even easier!)
1 container/can of butternut squash soup (I used V8 brand)
1/2 a container of whipped cream cheese (reg. cream cheese will work too!)
3-4 tablespoons of spicy curry powder
a few dashes of garlic powder
a few dashes of salt

A snapshot of the main ingredients

DIRECTIONS:
Lay the frozen chicken breasts into the bottom of the crock pot. Mix the remaining ingredients together in a bowl and then pour over the chicken. Cook on low for about 8-9 hours. Shred the chicken with a fork right before you're ready to eat, and serve over couscous or rice. Enjoy!

I can't believe how great this turned out. My little man even loved it! If you're not a fan of spicy, regular curry powder should be fine. In my opinion, Indian food requires a bit of spicy-ness!

I can't wait to eat the leftovers for lunch today---yum. I'm also wearing my new shoes today, and an outfit that really feels like "me." When you wear someting unique to your specific personality but also that flatters, I think it makes the day go that much smoother.



Floral Top: Target. Wool Skirt: J. Crew. Tights: Borrowed from Peter Pan. Shoes: Old Navy.

I have been wanting a pair of flat oxfords for awhile now, I just haven't been able to commit. This pair is on sale right now at Old Navy for $13 so I took the plunge. 
Does your wardrobe choices sometimes effect your day? Are YOU having a good Wednesday so far?

Super Bowl Dreams.

I mentioned this to a few select folks, but not the blogosphere---before football season started, I had a dream that the San Francisco 49ers went to the Super Bowl.

Don't ask me where this dream originated from because I couldn't tell you. I don't even like football and I stopped naming my Ken dolls Joe Montana like three years ago. Now they're all named Ryan Gosling.

The 49ers apparently had a pretty good season, and almost actually even made it to the Super Bowl! Who's even in the Super Bowl now? I've already forgotten. See how uninterested I am? The real reason I'm telling you this has to do in part with my outfit,  but also for the fact that I'm going to share with you my favorite appetizer recipe that is sure to blow the socks off party goers watching the Big Game. Which won't be me, I assure you.



Cabernet Blazer: Thrifted, Teen Challenge Thrift Store. Sequin Tee: Talbots. Black Jeans: Target. Leopard Flats: Payless.



If I were to attend a Super Bowl Party, this is what I'd wear. The 49ers would be proud of my gold and cabernet!

And since I'm not going to a Super Bowl party, but my husband is, this is the appetizer I'll send with him.

Smoked Salmon Toast

2 packages of ready to eat Smoked Salmon
1 tub of whipped cream cheese
1 loaf of sliced pumpernickel bread
dill weed seasoning

Cut the Smoked Salmon into little pieces (a bit smaller than the bread slices)
Spread cream cheese onto the bread slices
top with the salmon pieces
top with a few dashes of dill

Enjoy! Easy Peasy and looks so fabulous everyone will think you're a culinary genius.

Anyone else want to watch Crazy, Stupid Love instead of the Super Bowl? Come on over to my house.

Global Warming + Easy Skillet Dinner.

Whatever the reason for the strangely warm weather we've been having, I'll take it! Though I do appreciate the warning, Al.

Might have to shield your eyes from the screen. Those two stark white legs you see before you are bare. In January. No tights necessary when it's 55 degrees and sunny!




Silk Shirt: Thrifted. Wool Skirt: J.Crew Sale. Sparkly Heels: JCP, Olsenboye brand.

Since the weather is so nice, I haven't been in much of a cooking/cleaning mood. Sorry family. When I don't feel like slaving over a stove for an hour I like to cook frozen skillet meals like this little number from Bertolli.


This Chicken Florentine meal is our favorite. The only problem with frozen, processed meals like this is the HUGE amount of sodium. The bulk of the sodium content from this particular meal is in the sauce, so I always throw out some of the frozen "sauce cubes" before I add it to the skillet. I also like to add extra veggies to the meal to make it a bit healthier. Since this Bertolli meal comes with spinach, I went ahead and added extra.

What's your go-to meal on busy nights aka lazy nights?

Also, am I the only one sporting bare legs or is anyone else out there taking advantage of the amazing weather?

Hubby Surprise and Sexy Granny Gowns.

Just like a good dear, hubs knew that I had a busy day at work and wouldn't want to spend my evening cooking. He also knew that I hadn't been grocery shopping in ages. So what did the sweet man do? He went shopping AND whipped up a delicious dinner last night! Go hubs!

Slow Cooker Thai Peanut Pork from Allrecipes.com

INGREDIENTS:
2 red bell pepper, seeded and sliced into strips

4 (8 ounce) boneless pork loin chops
1/2 cup teriyaki sauce
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1/4 cup chopped roasted peanuts
2 limes, cut into wedges
Rice or Couscous for a side dish

DIRECTIONS:
1.Coat a slow cooker with cooking spray. Place the bell pepper strips and pork chops into the slow cooker. Pour the teriyaki sauce, vinegar, red pepper flakes, and garlic over the pork chops.


2.Cover and cook on Low until the pork is very tender, 8 to 9 hours. Once tender, remove the pork from the slow cooker, and whisk in the peanut butter until smooth. Return the pork to the slow cooker, and cook 10 minutes more.

3.Pour into a serving dish and sprinkle with green onions and peanuts to garnish. Decorate with lime wedges to serve. Add rice couscous on the side and enjoy!


Do you ever wonder what people look like behind closed doors, or what other folks "lounge" style looks like? Here's me, on a typical weeknight.


Flannel nightshirt: Wal-Mart. Sweater: Old Navy, last year. Leggings: Not sure. Slippers: QVC

I like to wear lounge clothes that are of course comfortable, but also can double as outerwear if I need to head to the gas station for more booze coffee. I'll let you all in on a little secret that not many people know....Nightgowns rock. I'm talking about actual GOWNS, like Granny wears. They're perfect for Summer with bare legs and then layered with leggings in the Winter.
The only slight problem is that Granny gowns aren't....well, they aren't very sexy. Men don't like to sleep next to Granny's, know what I mean? The way I've remedied the sexy vs. comfy issue is to buy gowns that are henley style, or have little buttons down the front. So you can, you know, unbutton when necessary :) Here are a few options:


Lands End Canvas $19.99



Victoria's Secret Cotton Mayfair Sleepshirt, $19.99

 Is your lounge style acceptable for going outdoors or do you wear the bare necessities? How do you bridge the gap between sexy vs. comfy lounge wear? Happy Tuesday, friends!

What to wear? To a chili supper.

I want to share my chili recipe with you guys because (not to brag) everyone usually loves it and it's SO easy to make, as long as you know how to use a can-opener you're good to go! The only thing is, I hate taking pictures of my chili-making process because it honestly looks disgusting. Just trust me on this one guys, it's delicious.

Leslie's Crazy Throw Everything In To Make It Taste Good---Chili.

INGREDIENTS:
1 Crock Pot
1 LARGE can of Chili Beans or two small cans (I use the hot variety, but mild is good too)
1 can of corn (yes, I said corn. Remember, I said trust me!)
1 can of low sodium black beans
2 cans of diced tomatoes
1 can of tomato paste
2 chopped up jalapeno peppers
a few dashes of Tobasco Sauce (DON'T SKIP THE TOBASCO!)
a few dashes of chili powder
a few dashes of cumin (for those who don't know, a few is about three and a dash is one "shake")
1 pound of ground TURKEY OR VENISON, browned in a skillet.

DIRECTIONS:
Toss everything in the crock pot. Cook on high until bubbly and warm, about 2 hours. OR cook on low heat all day if you want. Garnish with guacamole or sour cream---enjoy!

I'm telling you this recipe never fails for feeding a crowd. You can also use beef if your wary of any other type of meat. I use turkey and deer because it's heart healthy and WAY leaner than beef. I did snap a quick pic of the chili so you could see the finished product. Be warned, it's kind of ugly.

We had chili Sunday evening at Daniel's aunt and uncles house, and here's what I thought would be appropriate to wear to a chili supper.

The boots look a bit western with this floral print dress, and I love the mix of navy and maroon with the tights.




Dress: MNG by Mango for JCP. Tights: Target. Boots: Target. Belt: Thrifted, Annie Laurie's Antiques.

Don't forget, TOMORROW starts the 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway!!! I can't wait!!

An Asian-Inspired Menu, At Home!

Sometimes I just feel like a good old fashioned Chinese buffet, don't you? Who doesn't love corn nuggets and crab rangoon?? When you're craving take-out but can't get-out, here's an option for a night at home. (that's healthier, too!)

Main Course: Asian Pork Tenderloin with Rice

I bought a pork tenderloin that comes already seasoned with pepper and garlic. I simply sliced the loin and threw it in the skillet, marinating it in low-sodium soy sauce, rice vinegar, curry powder and some ground ginger. Cook until meat is no longer pink.

My handy little sauces and spices.

I added a bag of broccoli florets, which is one of my favorite veggies for stir-fry because the little trees absorb so much flavor. I let everything simmer for a few minutes and then I added a bag of steam and serve white rice. I love these bags of rice because they're the perfect amount for two people and only take about 4 minutes to cook in the microwave!


Side Dish: Poststickers w/Ginger Dipping Sauce

These Poststickers can be tricky to cook. The package has a few different recommended cooking instructions, but I like to do  my own thing :)

Tai Pei brand chicken potstickers from Wal-Mart. Postickers in the pot during the boiling phase.

I first boil the potstickers in water for about 10 minutes, or until they start to float. This heats up the meat on the inside of the potstickers. I then drain the water and transfer the potstickers to a skillet with a dash of EVOO. I brown the potstickers a bit on each side, tossing them in the skillet frequently so they don't stick. For the ginger dipping sauce, mix a few dashes of ground ginger with soy sauce and wasabi.

You're now ready to eat!

Oh, and P.S.....do you like my bangs???

This is my "hurry up and take the picture already" face.

Have a good Tuesday, friends!

Twenty Something's Guide to Thanksgiving Side Dishes

Hey friends! I'm excited that Thursday is my favorite holiday, Thanksgiving! I haven't quite made it to the stage in life where the entire Thanksgiving meal is up to me. In my family that comes with grandbabies! So until then I'm concentrating on mastering my side dish recipes for optimum enjoyment. This year I'm in charge of the pumpkin pies, and an appetizer or dip. I have decided to go with one classic pumpkin pie, one pumpkin-pecan pie, and a spinach and artichoke dip served with pita chips. All of these recipes are found from various sources, including good old Martha and on the back of the pumpkin can! What are you in charge of cooking this year?

Classic Pumpkin Pie


INGREDIENTS
1 cans of Libby's Pumpkin Puree (and actually, this entire recipe is on the back of the can!)
1 can of evaporated milk
1 tablespoon of pumpkin pie seasoning (or a few dashes of ground nutmeg, Cinnamon and salt)
2 eggs
3/4 cup of sugar
1 unbaked deep dish pie crust. I use Pilsbury Brand.


DIRECTIONS
1. Mix everything together except the evaporated milk (and the pie crust, duh!). Slowly stir in the evaporated milk. Pour mixture into pie shell.
2. Bake in a preheated 425 degree oven for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350 degrees and continue baking for 40-50 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Cool for a bit, and serve with whipped cream topping. Enjoy my friends!




Me and my "test pie." Everyone loved it so much we were just digging into it with spoons haha!

Pumpkin Pecan Pie

INGREDIENTS:
1 cans of Libby's Pumpkin Puree (and actually, this entire recipe is on the back of the can!)
1 can of evaporated milk
1 tablespoon of pumpkin pie seasoning (or a few dashes of ground nutmeg, Cinnamon and salt)
2 eggs
3/4 cup of sugar
1 unbaked deep dish pie crust. I use Pilsbury Brand

FOR THE PECAN TOPPING:
3/4 cup Brown sugar
3 tablespoons all purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
pinch of salt
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small cubes and chilled
1 1/2 cups pecan halves

DIRECTIONS:
1. Make the pumpkin pie just like above!
2. Make the topping: In a large bowl, mix together brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and salt. Mix in butter with your hands until mixture is crumbly. Add the pecan halves and mix to combine.
3. When your ready to reduce the heat to 350 (15 minutes after the pie has been baking at 450) remove the pie and add the pecan topping. bake until pie is finished and topping is dark golden brown. Enjoy!

Ok, for those of you who aren't into pumpkin pie, aka the crazies; here's my recipe for Spinach and Artichoke Dip. Not to brag, but friends who have tried this dip say it's awesome, and I have to agree!

Leslie's Spinach and Artichoke Dip

INGREDIENTS:
2 cups of mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
few dashes of pepper
3 crushed garlic cloves
1 can of quartered artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
2 blocks of cream cheese
1 pkg of frozen chopped spinach (thawed, drained and squeezed dry)
Tortilla Chips for serving, or Pita Chips

DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat Oven to 350.
2. Combine all of the ingredients except 1/2 cup of the mozzarella and 1/4 cup of the Parmesan. Spoon mixture into 1 1/2 quart baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan on top of the mixture.
3. Bake for 30 minutes until bubbly and golden brown. Serve with the chips and enjoy!

I hope you all have a blessed Thanksgiving!

What's all the fur about?

I might be a tad obsessed. With a vest. Obsessed with a vest.

I know I usually talk about food on Tuesdays, but I haven't really cooked anything this week, nor do I plan to. My hubs is away and so that means mostly salads for me and chicken nuggets for John. On paper plates. In front of the TV. Yes, we're taking it easy this week. I'm not stressing about my upcoming trip, work stuff, school stuff, or any other "stuff" that could come up. Just playing board games and building Lego towers with my little guy. Life is good.

If you had your heart set on a recipe, I'm sorry. But I will tell you the ABSOLUTE BEST CHEESE EVER is Provel Cheese, especially the Imo's Brand. It's very popular in St. Louis (where Imo's Pizza originated) and not only is amazing on pizza but also salads as well! This cheese will be on my salad tonight! It's available at Schnucks in Cape.

Even though I'm not going out much this week, I have been sporting my furry vest to the office and to outside meetings. The weather has been simply amazing lately, but I still need an extra layer to keep the wind chill out.

What's all the fur/fuss about anyway? :) I'm just taking it easy and being myself this week. Getting things accomplished and relaxing at the same time.

How's your week going? Are you taking time to relax and take care of yourself?

Here's a little challenge for you: Today, even if it's only for 10 minutes; don't do anything. Take a break, put your feet up, and breathe. Thank the Lord for this 65 degree weather, and be blessed. And eat some provel cheese. Trust me you'll love it!

Dinner tonight: Halloween Chicken and Dumplings

Chicken and Dumplings are obviously not limited to Halloween night. They're a warm and satisfying "winter-time" meal that is easier to make than you think. My mom makes Chicken and Dumplings every year on Halloween because she's a pro at making them and it's a feast that can feed several people. Here's her recipe, I hope you'll try it out!

Easy Chicken and Dumplings
Cook and prep time appx 4 hours.

INGREDIENTS:
* 1 package of Mary B's brand frozen dumpling strips
* 1 whole, fresh chicken, insides removed (there's a little bag inside the chicken with the gizzards and stuff you just remove it and throw it out! Unless you are wanting to eat the gizzards and in that case you're on your own there!)
* salt and pepper
* water

DIRECTIONS:
1. Place the entire chicken in a big ol' pot and cover with water. Season with salt and pepper. Bring the water to a boil. Turn the heat down to med-low, and let the chicken cook down for a couple hours.

2. About two hours before dinner time, take the chicken out of the water and start removing the meat from the bone. It should come apart easily. Throw the meat back into the pot of water and discard the bones. Bring to a boil again, aka turn the heat back up.

3. Separate each frozen dumpling strip and throw them into the pot of chicken meat and water. Your water should be straight up chicken broth by now. Test the flavor of the broth to see if you need to add more salt or pepper. Let the water come back to a boil and then turn the heat back down to low. (I know, there's a lot of turning the heat up and down, but you don't want the dumplings to get mushy.)

4. Let the dumplings cook in the broth for those two hours or so until dinner time. Serve and enjoy!

Mary B's brand is available at Wal-Mart.

When we were kiddos, my Mom would make the dumpling strips from scratch. According to my mom, Mary B's dumpling strips are just as good if not BETTER than the homemade ones. They're also a lot less messy and time consuming.

Does your Mom have a "tried and true" family gathering recipe? Please share!

Since Thanksgiving is coming up, I'll be featuring recipes on Tuesdays that will work as either side dishes for your holiday meal or main course dishes that aren't your average cooked Turkey. I'd love to hear some recipes from you guys too!

Yummy Cilantro Lime Chicken Quesadillas

Just reading the title of this post should make your mouth water. This was a delicious and super easy recipe...that I actually just made tonight! Tuesday's are my busiest day of the week, so I'm always on the hunt for easy recipes that won't take up my entire evening. I will say that John was not a fan, but the hubs liked it. Daniel had mentioned that he was in the mood for quesadillas so I found this recipe and tweaked it a bit to fit our needs. Basically I just added a can of corn since John loves corn and instead of making tacos I poured the chicken mixture into burrito shells and grilled them on the skillet. Another easy meal to add to my Tuesday rotation!

Cilantro Lime Chicken Quesadillas

INGREDIENTS
1 jar of salsa
1 can of corn
4 chicken breasts, cut into bite sized pieces
a few sliced mushrooms
a handful of fresh chopped cilantro
1 lime, sliced in wedges
1 taco seasoning packet
Soft taco shells

DIRECTIONS:
In one skillet, sautee the mushrooms with a bit of butter. Add the salsa, corn, and cilantro. Squeeze the lime juice into the mixture.Turn heat to low. In a second skillet, cook the chicken until done all the way through, then add the taco seasoning packet. FYI, I never use the entire packet, just maybe like half. Once the chicken is finished cooking, add it to the salsa mixture. Use the now empty skillet to cook your quesadillas.

Ok. So yes this actually looks kind of nasty, but when you add this to the quesadilla....delish!

The finished product!

What's your favorite dish for your busy nights? Tomorrow I'll be posting an outfit photo with my new TRIPOD! Holler. I'm excited :) Sweet dreams, friends.

Dinner: Ready Made Chicken Cordon Bleu

Good Morning! Hope you're having a productive week so far. Just when I thought I would be able to slow down a bit...things are picking back up already! I've got tons on my plate today, but I still wanted to share with you last night's dinner. If you're in a pinch and haven't planned anything for dinner tonight...stop by Schnucks on your way home and head to the poultry counter. One ready-to-bake Chicken Cordon Bleu is waiting for you, for only about $8.00! Bonus--some of you might not know this, but Schnucks was founded in 1939, in St. Louis MO! So you're supporting a local Missouri business by shopping there.

Look at that chicken in all it's bacon wrapped glory. Yum!

I just threw this baby in the oven, baked it according to the directions on the label, and that's it! Dinner was ready in about an hour and my sides were fresh greens from the Farmer's Market and velveeta shells and cheese...a favorite of the Hazelwood Men.

Something I've recently discovered thanks to Daniel's Grandpa Hazelwood is putting Apple Cider Vinegar on my greens....so delicious! If you like sour tastes, you should try it. I'm telling you I don't know how I ate green veggies before now.

I do prefer to try new recipes vs. a ready made dish...but this Chicken Cordon Bleu is such a delicious treat for my family, and at a great price--I couldn't pass it up! I probably could not have made it better myself anyway!

Here's a Chicken Cordon Bleu recipe that sounds easy enough, I might have to give it a go sometime.

Tell me, do you prefer ready-made deli items, or do you like to create them yourself? What's your favorite dish for a busy night?

P.S....Who wants to go to the Vintage NOW Fashion Show? I have ONE FREE TICKET AVAILABLE at a VIP table...If you want to go please either respond below or text me if you have my number. The event is TONIGHT AT 6:30! Formal wear preferred. Love ya ladies, hope I can bless someone with this ticket!

Eat This, Not That: Green Spaghetti.

We've been trying to eat a bit healthier around our house, but it's not easy. I'm trying to take one not-so-healthy ingredient from every meal and swapping it with something healthier. I love to swap! :) Last night I tried Spinach Spaghetti instead of the regular old stuff, and it turned out great! Actually the hubs didn't even realize it was spinach--win!

I picked this up from Natural Health Organic Foods here in Cape for $2.39. That's over $1.00 more than the Schnucks brand spaghetti that I usually buy, but I think it's worth it for the organic and spinach factor.

It looks kinda funny cooking, huh? I promise it tastes great though!

See? Once you add the sauce and meatballs it just looks like regular ol' sketti. Tastes just as yummy too!

Have you heard of the book, Eat This, Not That? This book compares different restaurant menu items and chooses healthier options to help you make better decisions. It's also a cookbook and an iPhone App! Once I get the iPhone that'll be one of the first apps I buy.

Do you try to eat "healthier" menu items when you go out to eat? Do you have any healthy ingredient suggestions for me?


also, p.s.....we got a new puppy! Picked her up yesterday from the humane society.




What's different about this puppy is that John is SO proud to be her owner. She's very tiny (only 6 weeks old!) so John has no problem picking her up and carrying her around. He's learning to "be easy" and hold her softly. He held her in his lap in the car yesterday the entire way home--so sweet!

Don't forget! Tonight is the HOW? Jewelry Soiree. I'm in charge of the wine and will be pouring selections from South Africa as well as some local Missouri wines. Come, browse the jewelry, eat some yummy appetizers and try some new wine! Hope to see you there!