Reviews on recipes that we liked from the menu planning.

 I will post the ones that we actually like and the ones that arent any good in our opinion. I havent kept to the actually days that the recipes fall on, sooo...

    We have had the Simple Creamy Chicken Risotto.

    It was pretty good. I got the recipe from http://www.campbellskitchen.com/RecipeDetail.aspx?recipeId=25032&ref=%2fSearchRecipesResult.aspx%3ffilter%3d%26q%3dsimple%2bcreamy%26fbid%3d3Bk9wW3zWCT&fbid=3Bk9wW3zWCT.  It is simple to make and really good. My husband and I actually didn't eat it (tasted it) because Spencer treated me to a date night. But the girls loved it.
   I made the Spicy Pepper Steak and I am not that fond of it. The hoisin sauce had too much of something that stuck out and over powered everything. I threw the recipe card and strip of paper away. I couldn't even eat it thats how bad I thought it was. If you want the recipe you can retrieve it from http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/spicy-pepper-steak/6da5156f-e57b-4b44-808c-48e41c3c9e12.
  Tomorrow we are having Pan-seared chicken with veggies  Oven baked chicken w/ roasted taters and veggie. I dont remember where I got the recipe so I will post it if it is any good.

Recipe for Oven Baked Chicken

1tbsp butter

2/3 c Bisquick mix

1/4 tsp pepper

1 1/2 tsp paprika

1 1/4 tsp salt

1 cut-up whole chicken (3 to 3 1/2 lbs)

Preheat oven: 425*

Melt butter in a baking dish in the oven. Stir together Bisquick, paprika, salt, & pepper in a bowl. Coat chicken. Place chicken skin down in the dish. Bake for 35 mins, turn chicken. Bake for 15 more mins or until chicken is down.

Pan-seared Chicken with Vegetables

1/8 tsp black pepper

1/8 tsp paprika

2 tbsp all purpose flour

4 bone in chicken breasts

2 tbsp olive oil

2 small red onions, cut into quarters

8 oz fresh baby carrots (about 16)

1 lb new potatoes, cut into quarters

1 1/2 c chicken stock

3 tbsp lemon juice

1 tbsp chopped fresh oregano leaves

chopped fresh thyme leaves

Preheat oven: 350*

Stir together black pepper, paprika, & flour on a plate. Coat the chicken w/ flour mixture. Cook chicken in oil until well browned. Remove. Add potatoes & onions, cook 5 mins. Add carrots, stock, lemon juice, & oregano, bring to a boil. Transfer to a baking dish and cover. Cook for 20 mins. Uncover and cook for 15 mins or until chicken is done and veggies are tender. Sprinkle with thyme.

Ok, now to the review of this dish. Evidently its good or it wouldnt be here. I used thighs instead of the breast because I didnt have the breasts like I thought. I used white onion, 1 large one was plenty. I also used russet potatoes because I didnt have the new, 3 were plenty. I also used broth. I didnt have the fresh herbs, only had the ground oregano and I didnt use the dried thyme leaves. I thought the lemon juice was a bit much and will be omitting it from the recipe the next time I make this.

Asian chicken tenders


Retrieved from http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/asian-chicken-tenders-with-zesty-lemon-sauce/bc0b635b-584a-4d0e-8a03-23f93b92433b. I just omitted the lemon from the sauce. :)

Easy Italian Chicken receipe is just like my low carb chicken Parm one. so not much to say about that.

:) Happy eating!!

Day 4, 5, & 6 Pictures

Wow I can't keep up.
Day 4: Picture of your night

I tend to try to clean the kitchen up in the evenings.

Day 5: Picture of your favorite memory

Its one of my favorite memories. It was when I met my little nephew. He is the cutest little feller I know. Miss him bunches.

Day 6: Picture of the person you'd love to trade places with for a day.

I would love to trade places with my husband, especially on the days that Sam is acting out and Payton is super cranky; when I have to do some running around to drs appts and other appts on only 3-4 hours of sleep. 



Back at Atkins!

After the moving stress is all but gone, I am able to finally get the motivation to get back on the diet. I havent gain any of the weight I lost back. I did put back on inches in my bust, waist, and hips. Just an inch each. Probably some bloating from the carbs I have eaten. I lost half an inch in both my upper arm and thigh.

Measurements:
weight: 208
bust: 47
waist: 37
hips: 45
upper arm: 11
thigh: 24.5

Im kinda impressed that I didnt gain any of the weight back since I heard that stopping this diet you gain all the weight back and then some.
:) Tata for now!

Menu Planning Day

I have created a menu card basket and every Friday I will pull 7 strips of paper that will have dinners on them. I have included restaurants as well. I am hoping to make my dinner planning simplier as well as my grocery shopping. From these cards I will make my grocery list.



Menu for this week

Sunday: Smothered pork chops w/mashed taters and bacon green beans

Monday: Simple creamy chicken risotto

Tuesday: Asian chicken tenders w/ rice and stir fry veggies

Wednesday:Spicy pepper steak

Thursday: Easy Italian chicken w/ pasta & zucchini

Friday: Pan-sauteed chicken w/ vegetables

Saturday: Oven baked chicken w/ roasted taters & veggies

A lot of chicken this week, thanks to my little Samantha who picked the cards.  Well see how well it goes over. This menu can make it easy for me to sub in extra veggies for myself where there is high carb foods.  I will eat an extra portion of the veggie or a salad.

Family Friday Update

Every Friday I will be doing an update on my family, especially the girls.
Samantha:
  Her vocabulary is exploding and she is a motor mouth. She tries so hard to be a big helper.
Payton:
  She is full blown crawling now. She is also self feeding. My littlest princess is trying so hard to catch up to Sam. She has slept in her own room for I think 3 nights.

Spencer:
   Not much with him. Always working.
Me:
   I plan on getting back on my diet Phase I of Atkins for the 2 weeks then I am going to add in more low carb things like low carb tortillas and stuff. Ill probably allow for myself to have one serving of rice, pasta. or potatoes a week. Not sure yet. I have maintained my weight within a pound or so without dieting. Will update with current measurements and weight Mon when I restart the diet. I am hoping for no difference.

Other stuff:
   Almost completely out of the old house. I still have stuff to do and put away at the new house. We got our new furniture and I dont like getting up from the couch now :D. The bed is comfy too. I got some new sheets but they irritated my skin so bad I couldn't go to sleep. I am going to try washing them a ton of times to see if that works.

Day 2 & Day 3 of Picture Challenge

Day 2: a picture of you and the person you have been close to for a while

This picture was taken December 2008. Samantha's 1st Christmas. I have been with my husband, Spencer for almost 10 years.

Day 3: a picture of the cast from your favorite show

The cast of Bones. I love this show. Have seen ever episode except the one from last night.







30 Day Picture Challenge :)

For the next 30 days, I will post a picture for that days challenge.

DAY 1:  a picture of yourself with 15 facts.

1.) I am the mother of 2 girls, Sam and Payton, both born in August (2 years apart).
2.) My father was murdered when I was 7 years old.
3.) My mom is disabled from a stroke that happened when I was 11.
4.) I am currently on the Atkins diet.
5.) I am 9 years younger than my husband, Spencer.
6.) I have a dog, Sasha and a cat, Harley.
7.) I thought I wanted to move back to my hometown, Jacksonville, but once I was there, it didn't feel like home.
8.) I am looking forward to my 30s.
9.) I will finish my Bachelor's degree for Business Administration with a focus in Health Care Management in July.
10.) I secretly want to cut my hair, but promised I will leave it long.
11.) I am looking forward to Sam going to school.
12.) I love crocheting, but it gets boring after a while.
13.) I think I may have an allergy to elastic.
14.) Payton and I have the same initials, PDR.
15.) I wish my husband was more romantic.