When I was pregnant with my little boy, I kept craving food from restaurants where we used to live - which is now ~800 miles away. Since I couldn't convince hubby to drive me back just to get something to eat (actually, he probably would have, just to make me happy), I started searching online to find something close to what I was craving. Though I never did come anywhere close to Kiko's magical 'Jim's special sauce' for sushi, (but, oh, how I tried!!) I did find this recipe that's pretty darn close to another favorite dish I was craving a lot. A favorite italian restaurant had a pesto-cream chicken dish that was SO yummy, I'd order it every time we went. After trying a few variations, I found a recipe that's pretty darn close to theirs. It's really good, and VERY easy.
Tuscan Chicken
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
4 oz cream cheese, cubed
1/4 cup water
1/4 pesto (from a jar, or homemade if you so desire)
2 cups grape or cherry tomatoes
1 cup Italian blend shredded cheese
Your favorite pasta (I use penne, linguini - whatever I have in the pantry)
1. Heat a large skillet with cooking spray on medium-high heat and add the chicken. Cover, cook 5-7 minutes on each side until cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and cover to keep warm.
2. Add the cream cheese, water and tomatoes. Cook uncovered, on medium for 2 minutes, or until cream cheese is melted and sauce is heated through.
3. Return the chicken to the skillet and cover with sauce until chicken is warm. Sprinkle with the shredded cheese and serve with the pasta.
This is so simple and easy, and yet so yummy! I made it a lot this summer when we had an abundance of grape tomatoes from our lone tomato plant in the garden, but you could use sundried tomatoes as well. You could also season the chicken however you like, I sometimes throw on some seasoning salt or cajun seasoning if I'm in the mood. But it's always a crowd pleaser!
Monday, November 23, 2009
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Time for another list...
It's time - or actually WAY overdue - for another listing of 'Things I don't want to forget about my kids - ages 2 1/2 and 8 months...
Starting with the glorious Miss S -
- One of my favorites - she is very concerned with hugs and kisses. She has to make sure Daddy has one before he leaves for work, and needs 3 or 4 before going to bed each night.
-Everytime I have a boo-boo, or say 'Ouch', she's very concerned about what's wrong, and where it hurts so she can give it a kiss and make it better
-She's using new words and phrases, some of my favorites are "Tasty!", "That's amazing!", "Delicious!" - one of my least favorites is "Are you coming or what?"
-She asks "what color it is?" for EVERYTHING. She knows her colors, but still asks the question about everything.
-When she's been told something she doesn't want to hear, she asks "what you saying, Mama?" - like she didn't hear me. Yeah, right!
-Still working on the potty training, we're in a bit of a rut. She does well when we're home, but if we're out, or she's playing with friends, she forgets and has an accident.
-When she does go on the potty, she gets an M&M. I've never seen anyone make one M&M last so long, or make more of a mess with a single piece of candy. She nibbles it to make it last, and it makes a huge mess on her hands and face
- She's entered a very independent stage, where she wants to do everything herself. Can be extremly insistant about it. Extremly.
-Still loves the WonderPets, as well as KaiLan and 'Yardagains' - and we still like Sesame Street too.
-Loves to sing, and has been expanding her song list. She still does Twinkle Twinkle, but loves Old MacDonald, Wheels on the Bus, the alphabet (in French!), the Sesame Street theme song. She also sings Tell Me Why, which melts me!
-Her imagination is blossoming. She'll come up with silly things like "I not S, I a dog", and we have discussions about what type of dog she is, or her race cars will have conversations with each other.
- She requests to say her prayers each night. I say each line, and she repeats it back, then 'blesses' everyone in our family at the end.
-She still loves the movie 'Cars' - requests it all the time. When it gets to the part where they come through the tunnel and see the big waterfall, she cheers - every time. I love it.
- She ran up and reqested that her daddy change her tires yesterday. So T got down on the floor and pretended to change her 'tires' by poking at her feet and making a few noises. She loved it, and she ran off for another lap around the house. On her next lap she stopped to change my tires for me too.
-Asks "Mommy, want to play cars/stickers/blocks with me?" - impossible to resist.
On to my sweet, cuddly little man
-He's still growing too fast for my liking. I wouldn't mind him staying a baby a little (OK, a lot) longer. But he's fighting me on it everyday.
-He started sitting up about 2 months ago. As a result, his bald spot on the back of his head is filling in nicely.
-He's also growing hair on top!
-He has 3 teeth now, 2 on the bottom, 1 on top. He's been pretty good with them, not a lot of fussing, but gallons of drool. I have to keep a bib on him at all times, or he soaks his shirt.
-He's such a good natured little guy. He's generally pretty happy, and doesn't fuss without a good reason.
- He's so close to crawling, which is slightly breaking my heart. He'll get up on his knees and rock back and forth, but hasn't made the venture forward yet. But he will push himself backwards. And he can roll, and roll, and roll
-He's so squirmy on the changing table. He immediately rolls on his tummy as soon as I lay him down, then up on his knees to rock back and forth, then usually lunging to explore the basket with the diapers and cream. Makes it ever so easy to change a messy diaper!
-He's experimenting with his voice, talking and making all sorts of noises. Usually at high volume.
-He's in a very 'Mommy' phase right now, and wants to be held all the time. He'll be pretty content as long as I stay out of view.
-He's starting to like to bounce. Just like his big sis.
-Lots of raspberries. Adds to the general messiness, and the need for bibs.
-He's a really good eater. Sometimes makes faces at the veggies, but wolfs down the fruits like they're nothing. I've started him on some biter biscuits, might move up to Poofs this week.
- Still has the most kissable head! Even if it does have some hair now, it just begs to be kissed.
-He has a wonderful laugh. When I squeeze his thighs, or kiss his neck, or blow on his tummy, he giggles and it is the best sound in the world. I recorded it on my phone the other day so I'll have it forever
-Loves to watch his sister, and Rocky too.
-Loves his bouncy chair, or anything he can get rocking. He'll kick his right leg as soon as you put him down to get it moving, then start laughing as he really gets it going. Or if his carseat is on the ground, he'll start kicking and get it rocking - he's even rocked himself to sleep that way.
-He loves to touch faces, he likes to reach out and touch my face while I'm nursing him, and just leave his hand on my cheek. Or if we're playing, he'll put his hands on my face and pull me in to him, so we touch noses. He giggles when I rub my nose up to his. Oh, how I wish that would last forever!!
Seems like there are a bigillion other things, but it's late and I"m sleepy. Nighty night!
Starting with the glorious Miss S -
- One of my favorites - she is very concerned with hugs and kisses. She has to make sure Daddy has one before he leaves for work, and needs 3 or 4 before going to bed each night.
-Everytime I have a boo-boo, or say 'Ouch', she's very concerned about what's wrong, and where it hurts so she can give it a kiss and make it better
-She's using new words and phrases, some of my favorites are "Tasty!", "That's amazing!", "Delicious!" - one of my least favorites is "Are you coming or what?"
-She asks "what color it is?" for EVERYTHING. She knows her colors, but still asks the question about everything.
-When she's been told something she doesn't want to hear, she asks "what you saying, Mama?" - like she didn't hear me. Yeah, right!
-Still working on the potty training, we're in a bit of a rut. She does well when we're home, but if we're out, or she's playing with friends, she forgets and has an accident.
-When she does go on the potty, she gets an M&M. I've never seen anyone make one M&M last so long, or make more of a mess with a single piece of candy. She nibbles it to make it last, and it makes a huge mess on her hands and face
- She's entered a very independent stage, where she wants to do everything herself. Can be extremly insistant about it. Extremly.
-Still loves the WonderPets, as well as KaiLan and 'Yardagains' - and we still like Sesame Street too.
-Loves to sing, and has been expanding her song list. She still does Twinkle Twinkle, but loves Old MacDonald, Wheels on the Bus, the alphabet (in French!), the Sesame Street theme song. She also sings Tell Me Why, which melts me!
-Her imagination is blossoming. She'll come up with silly things like "I not S, I a dog", and we have discussions about what type of dog she is, or her race cars will have conversations with each other.
- She requests to say her prayers each night. I say each line, and she repeats it back, then 'blesses' everyone in our family at the end.
-She still loves the movie 'Cars' - requests it all the time. When it gets to the part where they come through the tunnel and see the big waterfall, she cheers - every time. I love it.
- She ran up and reqested that her daddy change her tires yesterday. So T got down on the floor and pretended to change her 'tires' by poking at her feet and making a few noises. She loved it, and she ran off for another lap around the house. On her next lap she stopped to change my tires for me too.
-Asks "Mommy, want to play cars/stickers/blocks with me?" - impossible to resist.
On to my sweet, cuddly little man
-He's still growing too fast for my liking. I wouldn't mind him staying a baby a little (OK, a lot) longer. But he's fighting me on it everyday.
-He started sitting up about 2 months ago. As a result, his bald spot on the back of his head is filling in nicely.
-He's also growing hair on top!
-He has 3 teeth now, 2 on the bottom, 1 on top. He's been pretty good with them, not a lot of fussing, but gallons of drool. I have to keep a bib on him at all times, or he soaks his shirt.
-He's such a good natured little guy. He's generally pretty happy, and doesn't fuss without a good reason.
- He's so close to crawling, which is slightly breaking my heart. He'll get up on his knees and rock back and forth, but hasn't made the venture forward yet. But he will push himself backwards. And he can roll, and roll, and roll
-He's so squirmy on the changing table. He immediately rolls on his tummy as soon as I lay him down, then up on his knees to rock back and forth, then usually lunging to explore the basket with the diapers and cream. Makes it ever so easy to change a messy diaper!
-He's experimenting with his voice, talking and making all sorts of noises. Usually at high volume.
-He's in a very 'Mommy' phase right now, and wants to be held all the time. He'll be pretty content as long as I stay out of view.
-He's starting to like to bounce. Just like his big sis.
-Lots of raspberries. Adds to the general messiness, and the need for bibs.
-He's a really good eater. Sometimes makes faces at the veggies, but wolfs down the fruits like they're nothing. I've started him on some biter biscuits, might move up to Poofs this week.
- Still has the most kissable head! Even if it does have some hair now, it just begs to be kissed.
-He has a wonderful laugh. When I squeeze his thighs, or kiss his neck, or blow on his tummy, he giggles and it is the best sound in the world. I recorded it on my phone the other day so I'll have it forever
-Loves to watch his sister, and Rocky too.
-Loves his bouncy chair, or anything he can get rocking. He'll kick his right leg as soon as you put him down to get it moving, then start laughing as he really gets it going. Or if his carseat is on the ground, he'll start kicking and get it rocking - he's even rocked himself to sleep that way.
-He loves to touch faces, he likes to reach out and touch my face while I'm nursing him, and just leave his hand on my cheek. Or if we're playing, he'll put his hands on my face and pull me in to him, so we touch noses. He giggles when I rub my nose up to his. Oh, how I wish that would last forever!!
Seems like there are a bigillion other things, but it's late and I"m sleepy. Nighty night!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Halloween 2009
OK, so it's a week and a half into November and I'm just getting around to writing about Halloween. Such is my life.
Mr. C was a giraffe, and was a big hit. One of the little girls at the party kept coming over to pet him in his costume. The both looked positvely adorable. Mom was here that week, and was a big help during the party, especially when C needed a comfy shoulder to nap on. It was a few hours of adorably dressed up kiddies, add in some sugar and high pitched screaming, and you get the idea. But it was fun, and we all had a great time.
Saturday T finished carving the pumpkins (he carved the kids' pictures into them - they looked pretty darn good!) and we all headed downtown for lunch at Mike's. After naps, we all dressed up headed to the mall for trick or treating. Unfortunately, so did the rest of the county, but once we got started all went well. We met up with friends, so the kids all held hands and went store to store to get their candy. S would go up and say her "twick or tweat", then watch carefully as they placed something in her bag (to make sure it was really something good) before saying Thank you and moving on. They seemed to really enjoy it, and one trip around the mall was about enough to tire her out. C didn't make it that far, he fell asleep in the stroller about half way through. I was able to fit into my old Space Camp flight suit (15 years later - yeah me!!), so I went as an astronaut. T was very proud of the whoopie cushion costume he found - at least it didn't come with sound effects!
After the mall, we headed home for dinner and more trick or treating in the neighborhood, but we couldn't talk S into going back out. We hunkered down for the evening to pass out our candy - and check out the stash from the mall - but were disappointed in the lack of visitors we had. Only a handful of groups, and we were left with way too much candy to test my willpower. We closed up shop around 9, so it was a pretty quiet evening.
The other highlight of weekend was that Daddy is now officially retired!! His last day of work was October 30th, so he headed down here to spend the weekend with us (Mom was already here helping out while T was out of town). 35 years with the same company - quite an accomplishment. He has always been an incredible provider for his family, and has always worked very hard to give us whatever we wanted or needed. I'm so happy that he's taking this time for him, to relax and do what he wants to do with his time. So far, his plans include reading more, studying physics (big surprise!!), travelling and spoiling his grandchildren lots and lots (which he's already an expert at). :)
Halloween was a success this year, with S mastering 'Twick or Tweet' phrase pretty darn well. The festivities started on Thursday with our MOMS club Halloween party. S was pretty adamant about not putting on her costume, so when we got there I wrestled the dress on her, and she was a happy camper. As long as she could run and scream at the top of her lungs with her friends, she was happy. She was a goreous Cinderella, complete with her favorite sparkle shoes.
Mr. C was a giraffe, and was a big hit. One of the little girls at the party kept coming over to pet him in his costume. The both looked positvely adorable. Mom was here that week, and was a big help during the party, especially when C needed a comfy shoulder to nap on. It was a few hours of adorably dressed up kiddies, add in some sugar and high pitched screaming, and you get the idea. But it was fun, and we all had a great time. 
Saturday T finished carving the pumpkins (he carved the kids' pictures into them - they looked pretty darn good!) and we all headed downtown for lunch at Mike's. After naps, we all dressed up headed to the mall for trick or treating. Unfortunately, so did the rest of the county, but once we got started all went well. We met up with friends, so the kids all held hands and went store to store to get their candy. S would go up and say her "twick or tweat", then watch carefully as they placed something in her bag (to make sure it was really something good) before saying Thank you and moving on. They seemed to really enjoy it, and one trip around the mall was about enough to tire her out. C didn't make it that far, he fell asleep in the stroller about half way through. I was able to fit into my old Space Camp flight suit (15 years later - yeah me!!), so I went as an astronaut. T was very proud of the whoopie cushion costume he found - at least it didn't come with sound effects! 
After the mall, we headed home for dinner and more trick or treating in the neighborhood, but we couldn't talk S into going back out. We hunkered down for the evening to pass out our candy - and check out the stash from the mall - but were disappointed in the lack of visitors we had. Only a handful of groups, and we were left with way too much candy to test my willpower. We closed up shop around 9, so it was a pretty quiet evening.
The other highlight of weekend was that Daddy is now officially retired!! His last day of work was October 30th, so he headed down here to spend the weekend with us (Mom was already here helping out while T was out of town). 35 years with the same company - quite an accomplishment. He has always been an incredible provider for his family, and has always worked very hard to give us whatever we wanted or needed. I'm so happy that he's taking this time for him, to relax and do what he wants to do with his time. So far, his plans include reading more, studying physics (big surprise!!), travelling and spoiling his grandchildren lots and lots (which he's already an expert at). :)
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