Monday, July 30, 2012

Give with All Your Heart

Give everything you're able. The things God has blessed you with aren't yours to keep, but to give away as he wishes. Trust that God will provide for you and give all that your are able to those who need it. You can never "out give" God. :)
 

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Maple Brown Sugar Banana Blueberry Oatmeal

Maple and Brown Sugar Banana and Blueberry Oatmeal - only 212 calories! Low sugar maple and brown sugar, half a banana-sliced, 1/4 cup fresh blueberries. So easy and yummy!!

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Skinny Mocha Frappe

1 1/2 cup black coffee
3 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp unsweetened cocoa
2 tsp sweetener
1/2 cup skim milk

Freeze coffee in ice tray over night. Put everything in a blender. Blend it up. Top with whip cream!

Makes 2 cups with only 44 calories! :)

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Our first home shadow box

I got the basic idea off of Pinterest (where else?) and made it a little more simple! I've been looking around for a shadow box that I like and found this one at Fred's for $5! I removed the back, replaced the picture with a map of our town that I printed off of google and a star showing where we live, added a key to our first (and only so far haha) place, and presto! My very own "our first home shadow box" for only $6 :)

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Vinegar for Longer Hair

So a few weeks ago while I was getting my hair colored, my hairstylist and I got on the subject of ways to make hair grow faster. While I was sitting under the drier, we both looked up various ways to make hair grow faster and one of the most popular things was vinegar. I've been wanting to try it for a while, but I was having serious doubts about putting vinegar in my hair. I definitely didn't want my hair to smell like vinegar, so I opted for the apple cider vinegar instead. I simply used it as a final rinse (after shampooing and conditioning) this morning before I got out of the shower. Thankfully, all of my hair didn't fall out like I was expecting!! My hair doesn't feel any drier, either. I'm not sure about the "growing power" of the vinegar yet, but I figured it's worth a shot! I'll keep ya'll updated on how well it works!!

Here's a link to the best info my hairsylist and I found:
Hair Care Tips

What do you use to make your hair grow faster?? I would love to hear some other ways! :)

Monday, July 2, 2012

Crunchy Cheddar Chicken Casserole

Crunchy Cheddar Chicken Casserole
Chicken:
  • 4 large chicken breasts (or 8 chicken tenderloin strips)
  • 2 sleeves Ritz crackers
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1/2 Cup milk
  • 1 egg
  • 2 Cup shredded cheaddar cheese
  • 2 Tablespoons Toney's
Sauce:
  • 1   14 ounce can cream of chicken soup
  • 2 Tablesppons sour cream
  • 2 Tablespoons butter
 
1. Cut each chicken breast into 2 strips (or simply trim tenderloins). 
2. Pour Ritz crackers into gallon size zip lock bag and pound until crumbs. 
3. Pour the milk and eggs into small pan and beat like scrambled eggs.
4. Add salt and pepper to cracker crumbs and shake until mixed.
5. Spray 9x13 pan with cooking spray and spread thin even layer of cracker crumbs.
6. Spread thin even layer of shredded cheese in pan.
7. Dip chicken in egg/milk mixture and lay the chicken inside the pan.
8. Continue layering cracker crumbs and cheese over chicken until you run out or the pan is full.
9. Sprinkle Toney's over top of casserole. 
10. Cover the pan with tin foil and bake at 400 degrees for 35 minutes. Remove the tin foil, bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the edges of the casserole are golden brown and crispy. 
11. Into a medium sized sauce pan combine the cream of chicken soup, sour cream and butter with a whisk. Stir it over medium high heat until the sauce is nice and hot. Serve over the chicken.

Chicken Penne Rosa

Chicken Penne Rosa

  • 12 ounces whole wheat penne
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 medium tomatoes (about 1/2 lb.) chopped
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 4 cups fresh spinach
  • 2 large chicken breasts cubed
  • 1/2 cup marinara sauce
  • 1/3 cup 0% plain Greek yogurt
  • 2 cups grated parmesan cheese
  1. Mince garlic cloves, cube chicken breasts, chop spinach, and chop tomatoes. Set aside.
  2. Cook penne according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain and set aside.
  3. In a large skillet with a lid, heat olive oil over medium-low heat. Add in garlic, cook for 2 minutes or until garlic begins to soften.
  4. Add in tomatoes, salt, and pepper. Cook for 5 minutes.
  5. Turn heat up to medium-high and add in chicken. Cook for 1-2 minutes, or until chicken is white.
  6. Remove from heat, add in spinach and cover skillet. Let spinach wilt for 2 minutes.
  7. Remove lid and place skillet back over low heat. Add the penne, Greek yogurt, 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, and marinara sauce. Stir until sauce is mixed well and everything is well coated. Heat until just warmed through. Divide into pasta bowls and serve topped with parmesan cheese.