Taking a recipe break....

To share that we are starting the Home study process for adoption.(ahhhh=) I wanted to blog about it! So that we have an outlet to share how we feel through this process and also so that we can look back and see how it all started. So i should start at the very beginning......

 Eli and I had went to an information meet in Albany with New Hope Family Services in Nov. We went and enjoyed the meeting and felt this is the place we should work with. They had opened the meeting up praying and reading from the Word. I felt how cool that was and God was so present at that meeting. We gathered a lot of info and were also told that we wouldn't most likely be able to start the home study process until march. I was bummed but knew God knew best and hadn't given it a second though. i knew it would start when it started...

 Well in the beginning of December we received an invitation to start the home study process and we were so thrilled until we looked at the date and it was during our Florida vacation that we have had planned for months and months. we were shocked and feeling why God  would  have it when we couldn't be there..I was thinking we would have to wait till this home study finished and then we would be invited again. I decided to call them and they were so kind and said we would work it out so that we would be able to start in Jan. There are many other couple going through the same process as us and they all agreed to start in Jan. I was in shock and humbled that they would all do that for us. So here we are now...Going to Syracuse for a day filled with classes and meetings on monday (Jan.9th) and we're so so so excited to start this journey and so so so anxious and nervous. This is going to be an amazing, hard and truly unbelievable journey. Its going to test our marriage,and how we live. And I hope that you all who read this will start praying for us. Just the paper work and questions going into this first meeting has been since a blessing getting to know Eli even more then i thought was possible. I pray that this continues to be a joy!

Crockpot creamy chicken and broccoli

Amy Facchiano inspired me to make a week of crockpot dishes when I noticed on facebook she was doing one..which I will try soon!

Ingredients:

• 1 can Cream of Broccoli Soup
• boneless chicken breasts (as many as you need) - I buy the frozen ones with 6-7 in a bag - approx. 3 pounds
• 1 bag frozen broccoli
• salt and pepper
• 1 cup milk

Preparation:

Place chicken in the crockpot. Cover with frozen veggies and cream of broccoli soup. Add salt and pepper to taste. Cook on LOW 6 to 8 hours or HIGH 3 to 4 hours. (Boneless chicken breasts might be dry if cooked too long.) Add milk about 45 minutes before done

 

I made some adjustments...i put TWO cans of cream of broccoli and i added some garlic powder also.  i also sprinkled some cheddar cheese on top when it was plated.

Over all is was just an okay dish..very very very easy but not the most tastiest dish. Eli and Cousin Josh both said they liked it but would have liked the chicken thinner..(i used thick breasts) i might make this one again sometime and add more stuff=)

 

Southwest Zucchini Boats

"I love this meal!"This is what my husband says as he eats almost the whole pan of zucchini! These are a pretty quick yummy meal!  

The ingredents are:

 4/5 med. zucchini

1lb of ground beef

3/4c of salsa

1/4 c of bread crumbs

1/4c of minced fresh cilantro

1tsp chili powder

1/2tsp ground cumin

1/4tsp salt,

1/8tsp pepper

1c shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Sour cream optional

Cut Zucchini in half lengthwise;scoop out the pulp,leaving 1/4 in. shells.

Place the shells in an ungreased 3. quart microwave-safe dish. Cover and microwave on high for 3 mins. or until crisp-tender;drain and set aside.

Meanwhile in a large skillet,cook beef over med. heat until no longer pink;drain.

Remove from the heat and stir in the salsa,bread crumbs,ciltrano,chili powder,cumin,salt ,pepper and 1/2 c of the cheese.

Spoon into zucchini shells.

Microwave ,uncovered on high for 4 mins. Sprinkle remaining cheese.Microwave 3-4 mins longer or until cheese is melted and zucchini are tender. Serve with Sour cream if desired.

* i added salsa to dip in as well!

Parmesan Pork Chops & Mac&Cheese

This dish is a great finale of the week. It was so good. And I just mixed parmesan, dried parsley,dried italian seasoning,and pepper in a big ziplock bag...I melted butter in a bowl (in the microwave) I dipped the prok chop in butter and then placed in zip lock bag..(coat well) and then place in a med hot pan with olive oil..7 mins per side and its a yummmmmmmy pork chop. I wasnt in the mood to cook anything that was time consuming... so i just decided to add kraft mac&cheese to the meal, I havent have that in some time now. It was a yummy meal, that everyone loved! I will definitely do that one again!



here's our friend maria cutting away!



Tortellini-Shrimp Caesar Salad

This was a fun dish...not really for me but I loved how excited the boys were! Why? because i absolutely HATE seafood and never never never cook it! I decided I want to learn how and thought this was the simplest way to start...

Ingredients:

2 cups of breaded popcorn shrimp

1 package (9 oz) refrigerated cheese tortellini

8 cups of torn romaine

1 med tomato, chopped
1/2 cup of caesar salad dressing
Prepare shrimp and tortellini according to package directions. In a large salad bowl, combine the romaine and tomato; drizzle witth dressing and toss to coat. Drain tortellini; Toss with salad. Top with shrimp
(I  doubled everything ; except for the dressing bc it was still plenty)

he looks serious about this dish!

The boys LOVED this meal..so quick and they kept going back for more and more. It was a HIT! def. try!

Family Dinner Night~March 22nd,2011

For "family dinner night" I made chicken stir fry.
Gabe cut 3 pounds of chicken into 1-inch pieces for me (thanks gaby) and I got him to season them with salt and pepper and brown them in the pan. I was out and when I got home. I got 2 big bags of frozen veggies. I added some water in a big pan and I sauted the veggies and I added a little teriyaki sauce to start flavoring it..then when the veggies are tender add cooked chicken and more teriyaki sauce..mix till coated well....Cook rice and serve with the stir fry.

Everyone loved the stir fry...=)

Debbie's Chicken Wings (as an appetizer)

Everyone REALLY loved these!!!! Actually Cousin Josh and Jess are eating them right now as dessert haha
Oh, u want the recipe..sorry its a secret!
Just Kidding! all it is ...is DUCK SAUCE (half jar)...mix with chicken and bake  350 degrees  for 1.5 hours..mix a couple times to crisp up!

 

Zucchini~I took left over herb butter and sauted it in a pan..yummy! 

Wagon Wheel Supper

This hearty pasta meal is very quick and easy.
I doubled it because there are a lot of hungry
 boys in my house, but you can leave as is.

Ingredients:

1/2 pound uncooked wagon wheel pasta

1 pound ground beef( i used ground turkey)

1/2c chopped onion

1 jar of sauce~any kind u like (i used tomato basil)

1 bag of frozen corn and peas

1/8 tsp pepper

shredded cheddar cheese

Cook pasta according to package directions,meanwhile in a large skillet cook beef and onions over med. heat until meat is no longer pink.,Drain!
Stir in sauce and then add drained pasta..stir in peas&corn and cheese and pepper.

See very easy and its nice on a cold rainy day like today! Enjoy and let me know what you think!
(i know i went off my schedule again..im soo confused..tomorrow us herbed chicken stir-fry! Can't wait!)