Chicken Pot Pie

I'm sure it probably seems like I've let my food blogging go, but I promise that is not the case!  I've been having some technical difficulties with my computer, but it seems as though they've finally worked themselves out.  This is perfect timing since I have the perfect comfort food to share with you during this frigid weather we're currently having!  Speaking of frigid, when did I move to Alaska!?!  I know...I know...  That might be a little bit dramatic, but either I'm getting old or Oklahoma is getting colder.  Or maybe it's both?  All I know is that I need to live somewhere that only has two seasons...spring and fall.

Since I don't seem to live somewhere like that, I need to be comforted.  And I don't know about you, but there is nothing as comforting as a steaming helping of creamy chicken pot pie on a cold winter day.  When I came across this Weight Watcher's friendly recipe on LaaLoosh, I knew I had to try it.  The results were delicious, and this hearty meal has definitely earned a place on our meal planner.  Per usual, I made a few changes to the original recipe, so the recipe and nutrition information I'm giving you are as I fixed it.  Enjoy!

Lemon Rosemary Chicken

I have a confession to make.  Hopefully it won't change what you think of me.  The truth is this...I'm not a big fan of chicken.  I know, right?  That's probably un-American or something, but I just can't help it.  Don't get me wrong.  I will eat chicken, but more often than not, I end up picking another protein before choosing chicken.  But as you know, we're on a quest to live healthier lives here in my house.  This means me having to break out of my comfort zone and not only eating chicken but also cooking it (two words: RAW CHICKEN...UGH!).  I decided one of the best ways to get me to eat chicken would be cooking a chicken recipe that I know both the hubby and I enjoy.

With that, I give you Lemon Rosemary Chicken.  This grilled chicken is moist and flavorful, and I think even your picky eaters will enjoy it.  (By the way, I promise the recipe for those yummy green beans you see in the picture above!)

Spicy Sausage Pasta

In honor of our commitment to healthy living, I will be trying to cook lighter dishes with yummy, healthy ingredients.  When I post the recipes and the results on here, I will also try include nutrition information and Weight Watchers Points+ calculations for each of them.

Like I told you in yesterday's post, this commitment to healthy living is important to me AND the hubby.  So I really wanted to start us off with a dish that is not only healthy but also filling and full of flavor.  I found exactly that in this Spicy Sausage Pasta recipe.  This dish was full of flavor and completely satisfying.  Served with a small side salad, I felt anything but deprived!

I got the original recipe here at emilybites.com, but as always, I made a few of my own adjustments based on the ingredients I already had on hand.  Enjoy!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

It’s been several weeks since I’ve posted, and I made a couple of yummy things over the holidays that I want to share…eventually.  But the truth is it’s a new year, and we’re all making promises to ourselves about eating better, getting more active, etc, so I’ll save those super yummy sweets for later when we’ve all made some progress in meeting our goals. 

I have set some pretty big goals for myself in the coming year…specifically with regard to diet and exercise.   A few years ago, I worked really hard and got down to my smallest size as an adult.  Not long after that, I met my husband, and let’s just say my life has been blissfully out of control ever since.  Unfortunately, that means my diet has been out of control, too.  This year the hubby and I both want to do a better job at being healthy by eating better and being more physically active.  I’ve set a goal for myself in 2014, but the truth is I might not get there in a year.  But that’s okay because it will be worth it when I do because the rewards will be pretty awesome!

I say all that to say to you…don’t doubt yourself.  Be confident in who you are regardless of what size you wear or what the scale reads!  Our goal should be to be healthy…in body…but most importantly in mind and spirit.  This goal is personal and shouldn’t be made for anyone else.  You can only be healthy for you, and you can only do it with God’s empowerment in you.  The good news is that His empowerment ends up not only being in you but going through you and impacting your family, friends, coworkers, and everyone else you with whom you come in contact. 

So in 2014, I challenge you to a journey of becoming healthy in mind, body, AND spirit.  Take your time…one step at a time, and if you get slowed down, distracted, or even just downright lose your way, don’t be discouraged.  Keep going!  Most importantly, remember this:

“I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.  Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him.  Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully.  Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that come from God.  Now all glory to God, WHO IS ABLE, THROUGH HIS MIGHTY POWER AT WORK WITHIN US, TO ACCOMPLISH INFINITELY MORE THAN WE MIGHT ASK OR THINK.”  (Ephesians 3:16-20)

Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo

My last recipe was husband approved, but this one comes step-daughter approved!  I think her words went something like, "I don't like it.  I don't love it.  I REALLY love it!"  Any meal that gets that kind of approval has to be shared!

Honestly, I'm not a huge fettuccine alfredo fan.  I usually prefer a red sauce full of a ton of garlic and herbs, but the rest of my family are huge fans.  So...that means this wife and step-mom had to figure out how to make one of their favorites.  The goal was to come up with something yummy and creamy that would get their approval but to also try to lighten it up and make it as nutritious as possible.  I think the results did both!
The nice thing about this recipe is that you can customize it as much or as little as you want!  For instance, I chose to put chicken in mine because a no meat meal would not have gone over well with the hubby, but you could just as easily make it without.  I threw broccoli in because my step-daughter loves broccoli, and I thought this would be a great way to incorporate a veggie.  The broccoli was such a hit that she asked me to please cook twice as much broccoli next time we have this meal!  I call that SUCCESS!  I could just have easily thrown in peas, ham, mushrooms...really whatever sounds good to you and your family will work.

Husband Approved Pecan Pie

I know that technically Thanksgiving is over and we've moved on to the Christmas season, but please let me hold on to it a little bit longer!  I love Thanksgiving!  It's my favorite holiday, and I don't want to say goodbye!  What's not to love about food, family, and fun, and more importantly, what's not to love about a holiday that celebrates being thankful for all of the wonderful blessings in our lives?!?  Well, if I have to bid farewell to Thanksgiving, at least let me celebrate one more time by sharing a piece of leftover goodness.

When I met my husband, I found out that his favorite dessert is pecan pie.  I was so disappointed!  Pecan pie?  Really?  Are you sure?  I love to cook, and more importantly, I love to bake.  But never in my life had I made a pecan pie.  How can I impress this man I want to marry with my cooking skills if I don't even know how to make his favorite dessert???  Thankfully, he still married me despite the fact I had never made (and I'm pretty sure never eaten) his beloved pecan pie!

An Introduction

Some of you know I started a blog a little over two years ago.  It's purpose was to share anecdotes and lessons learned from my life.  One of the last blogs I posted was about how God had given me a promise that He had something new for me in the coming year (2012).  At the time, I didn't know what that new looked like, but a few months later I was introduced to the man who would become my husband.  Since that time, life has been a bit of a whirlwind.  Fast forward two years, and I'm now the proud wife of an amazing husband and sweet step-daughter.

Now that my life has entered a new routine, I've been trying to figure out what to do with this little hoarding issue I have with collecting recipes.  Thankfully most of them I've collected electronically, but still this "little" collection of mine has gotten out of control!  I keep collecting but not doing much with most of what I collect because it's usually easier to just stick with something I already know.