Project

Back at Christmas we decided to draw couple's names to exchange gifts. Unfortunately, I got sick this Christmas and I missed Christmas Eve so I did not get to give my Aunt and Uncle their gift. They live out of town so we did not get to see them until Easter which was really late! I'm very sorry if you are reading this!

Anyway, I had used my Silhouette to make a Family sign for them. I was really excited to use my Silhouette! I think it turned out really good. I painted the plaque white then used the Ralph Lauren glaze over the white to give a rustic look. I really hope they like it.

Not the best picture Sorry! :)

Summer Book List

During the school year I do not have much time to read for fun so I try to make a summer reading list that begins the day school is out and goes until the first day back. I read a lot during the summer. To me there is nothing better than finding a good book to get lost in. An extra bonus is always reading a good book on the beach. We normally take our beach vacation to Destin at the first of June and I am ready right now!!! :)

Suprisingly I am reading a book right now. I started over Spring Break and it was too good to wait and finish this summer so I am sneaking in time between my master's and teaching.

I actually really like it. I think I read a book by her last year but I cannot remember right now. I do know that I will be adding more to list for the summer. There are couple of things in the book that I are not my cup of tea. Actually I don't even like tea isn't that weird. I am consider myself a true Southern girl but I am not a sweet tea drinker. I know that is just not right! Haha Anyway, back to the topic there is one area that I thought could have been left out but the rest of the book makes up for it. I have not finished it yet so I cannot give and "official" review but I am over half way and I say go for it! :)

The book I am waiting on is Summer Rental by Mary Kay Andrews. She is my favorite author right now and has been for the last two years. I absolutely love her books! They are so funny and so different than the type of books that I used to read as a teenager. The first year I was lucky and had plenty to read to get caught up and now each June I am waiting on her new release. Check out Mary Kay Andrews Books Here! You will not regret it! She writes the perfect summer reads. She also has a great Christmas book too Blue Christmas. I loved it!

I also like Nicholas Sparks. I discovered Dorothea Benton Frank last year and I read Sullivan's Island, Return to Sullivan's Island, Pawley's Island, and Shem Creek. I love books set in the south and especially on the beach. I also read On Folly Beach by Karen White. There was also the Twilight Series and many others as well. Now to compile the list for this year.

So.... What are you reading right now? What is on your summer reading list?

My Week...

Do you ever have those days or weeks where you just did not feel like cooking? I love cooking! Caleb and I cook most of the week and some weekends. We love to try new recipes and make old favorites. There are some days that we need easy things to fix as we are low on time but we try to make something new once a week or every other week at least. During the school year I try to make easier meals when we are both going to be home late and that keeps us from just eating out. However, this week I just did not feel like cooking. I know it's terrible I just wanted to go out grab something and come home without having to clean up. Well we did our grocery shopping tonight and I plan to do much better next week. We spend way too much on groceries to not eat at home. For there to be just two of us in the house we spend a tremendous amount at the grocery store/Walmart. I use coupons as often as possible but we hardly ever get out for under $100 and normally it is more like $150 and over. I am going to have to make a better plan for that but that is a different story.

So what do you do when you just don't feel like cooking? Do you go out? Grab a freezer meal?

One thing that I have found as an easy and good side is the new Alexia frozen sides.

Have you tried these? What is your favorite fast/easy side dish? I love hearing reviews before I buy something. :)

Shepherd's Pie

Back near St. Patrick’s Day Mr. C decided he wanted to try to make Shepherd’s Pie. Paula Deen is one of his favorite people! J So he looked up one of her recipes to get some ideas he then checked around looking at others. The end result was absolutely delicious!!! This is definitely one of our new favorite meals.

Ingredients:

Bisquick

Mild Chedder Cheese

Onion optional

Corn

Peas/Green Beans (we made once with GB and once with peas I like the peas better but either will work)

Mashed Potatoes

Recipe:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Begin by browning ground beef with onion if desired.

Make mashed potatoes. We boil 6 to 8 medium potatoes and mash with 1/3 cup butter, ½ cup sour cream, and ½ cup milk. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Put corn and peas (and any other desired veggies) in with ground beef and cook on medium heat for five minutes.

You will need to mix 1 cup of bisquick using box directions.

We use a 13x13 casserole dish.

You will layer mashed potatoes, beef and veggies, layer of cheese and then make a layer of the bisquick mix on top.

You will bake for 30-45 minutes or until bisquick is brown.

I have never tried a Shepherd’s Pie with a bisquick type topping but this just added to the appeal. Now this is definitely not a low calorie dish but it is definitely high on the comfort food list. Hope you enjoy!

PW's Ranch Style Chicken

I love Pioneer Woman Recipes and so far I have not tried one that did not turn out delicious!

Over Spring Break I made PW’s Ranch Style Chicken. It turned out really good! I was excited that it worked out so well. I did change a couple of things such as I had chicken tenders instead of Chicken Breast. The next time if I use tenders I will just use half a piece of bacon per tender. Mr. C decided to make something to go with the chicken so he made PW's potato skins. The Potato skins were restaurant worthy. We will definitely make these again.

Ingredients

• ½ cups Dijon Mustard
• ½ cups Honey
• ½ whole (juice Of) Lemon
• ½ teaspoons Paprika
• ½ teaspoons Salt
• Crushed Red Pepper (optional To Taste)
• 6 whole Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
• 1 pound Thick Cut Bacon
• Bacon Grease
• Sharp Cheddar Cheese, to taste
• Canola Oil

Preparation Instructions

To begin, make the marinade. In a large bowl mix together ½ cup Dijon or country/grainy mustard with ½ cup honey, juice of ½ lemon, ½ teaspoon paprika, and ½ teaspoon salt and whisk until smooth. Sprinkle in some crushed red pepper flakes or cayenne if you like things a little spicy. Set aside.
Next, rinse the chicken breasts, place between two sheets of waxed paper and pound to around ½ to ¾ inch thick with a mallet. Next, add the chicken to the bowl with the marinade, cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for 1 to 3 hours.
While the chicken marinates, fry up some bacon. When finished cooking, reserve ¼ cup of the bacon grease and clean out the skillet.

When the chicken is done marinating, preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Remove the chicken from the fridge and pour off excess marinade. Heat half of the reserved bacon grease with an equal quantity of Canola Oil in the clean skillet over medium-high heat. When the grease is nice and hot add two or three pieces of chicken to it. Cook until brownish/blackish, about 1 to 1 ½ minutes per side. Remove chicken to a large baking sheet. If cooking many pieces of chicken, repeat skillet process and remove finished chicken to baking sheet. Place chicken in preheated oven and cook for about 10 minutes. Remove from over.

Lay a few pieces of bacon over each chicken breast. Sprinkle shredded sharp cheddar cheese over the top of the chicken as generously as you like. Return pan to oven for an additional five minutes until cheese is melted and bacon is sizzling. Serve immediately.

What is your favorite PW recipe?

Easy Dinner

This week I was able to find time to take pictures of some of our meals.

On Monday we had Grilled Chicken Tenders, Alexia Harvest Saute, and Velveeta with Diced Tomatoes and Green Chilies. I love to find easy side dishes that can be added to dinner.

We use Grill Mates often to marinate our meat. It works really good!

 This is one of my favorite easy side dishes. The Rotel is a great addition!!!

The Alexia Saute has green beans, potatoes, and carrots with a great seasoning. This is the first time that I have used the Alexia products and it was really good. I actually planned to buy more when we went to WalMart last night but they were out. I guess that means that others have found out about it too. :)

So this is our easy dinner. Sometimes easy is good and this was definitely good! :)

What is your easy dinner?

Camping

Well I am quite behind on my postings... Our Windstream router/modem whatever it's called decided to die and of all weeks on my Spring Break. Oh well we are back and ready for some blogging.

Last weekend we went camping. It's our tradition to go camping each year on opening weekend of trout fishing. And oh yes I go fishing that's the best part. The camping part is done in a camper. I am not a tent camper I am that much of girly girl. Unfortunately, it rained terribly on Saturday but cleared enough for us to go out that afternoon then it rained again and stormed horribly that night and then cleared for Sunday. We did get some fishing done and some sitting by the campfire time before it was time to return home.

On Sunday we had caught enough fish to cook some trout. On the normal occasion the trout are cleaned and skin is left on and then they have a fish fry. I say they because I am not a fried trout eater. Especially not the skin part. So this year Mr. C decided we would try a city trick and skin the fish and grill them. I liked this idea. :) That is as long as he was the one cleaning and skinning. So Mr. C also had bought some Old Bay blackening seasoning and we covered the fish with that and grilled it over the fire. Now this is coming from the I don't eat trout girl but that trout was GOOD! I would definitely do that again. Now I love seafood but trout has always been too fishy for me and also the skin thing but grilling it worked out great.

Here is a pic of our little fishies on the grill.

So... If you find yourself fishing maybe you could try this if not just thought I would share anyway. :)