New Meal #2

I'm still working on that new meal a week thing. This week I think we have a few (so it might count for next week's meal).

Last nights meal was Creamed Chicken over Beans, Mushroom Rice and Loaf cake with whipping cream and berries.

I found these ones in a book I bough *years* ago. It's called 44 meals under $10.00. I wanted to check and see if these meals were made for under 10.00 and generally they can be!

Creamed Chicken over Beans:

1/4 cup of butter
1/4 cup of all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/8 teaspoon of pepper
1.5 cups of water
1/4 cup of milk
1 teaspoon chicken bouillon granules
2 cups cubed cooked chicken
1 package (16 oz) of frozen cut green beans, cooked and drained
Paprika (optional)

1 - In a sauce pan, melt butter. Stir in flour, salt and pepper until smooth. Gradually add the water, milk, ad bouillon. Brig to a boil; boil and stir for 2 minutes.
2 - Add the chicken and heat through. Serve over beans. Sprinkle with paprika if desired

Makes 4 servings

*** I did just what it said. I used 3 chicken breasts and cooked and cubed before starting. I also used one of our bagged beans/carrots we got from Costco. I didn't have chicken bouillon granules so I used one of my packets from Ramen noodles (we use the noodles but not the packets). I didn't get the full flavour as I would have if using the granules so next time I'll have to buy some. Otherwise it was really really good!

~~~~~

Mushroom Rice

1 can (10.5oz) beef broth
3/4 cup of uncooked long grain rice
1 jar(4.5oz) slice mushrooms, drained
1/4 cup of butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon of onion salt

1 - In a 2 qt. microwave-safe dish, combine all ingredients. Cover; microwave on high for 5 minutes. Microwave on 50% power for 15 minutes.
2 - Let stand for 5 to 10 minutes. Stir before serving.

Makes 4 servings

Editor's Note - This recipe was tested in an 850-watt microwave.

*****I did it differently. We HATE mushrooms in this house so I didn't put those in. I didn't have long grain rice (only 5 minute rice), or onion salt, and I didn't use the microwave. I put the beef broth along with even amount of 5-min rice and put in a pot along with butter ad garlic powder. Heated to a boil then put on low. This was good, but WAYYYYYYYYYY too much butter. I would totally make it again but half the butter.


Our dessert was bought at Price choppers. It's really good.

Here's some photos:

Parties, Pictures, and Plans!

Today is Jan 25th. Shocker right? ha no! Today is my Sister's Birthday. Becca is 30 years old today! Happy Birthday Big Sis!

For her birthday we started planning at Christmas. My whole family was going to go up on the Sunday and have a surprise birthday party for her. It worked perfectly. Because Arnold was gone this weekend the kids and I drove up to Cambridge. We got there a bit early so we sat around in the parking lot until Nana, Papa and Uncle Jack got there, then we went inside. We hung out and waited for Becca to show up. About 5 minutes after we got there Becca and her family arrived and we had her come in the door and yelled "SURPRISE!" It was alot of fun. We were at Kings Buffet and had a wonderful meal! After that we went back to Becca's house and while the kids played we had Becca's favourite cake. It's a family secret :)

While we were waiting for Papa's van the boys needed to have something to do. Who knew a camera, auto timer and 2 little boys would have so much fun!

Here's my favourite photo from their adventures:



We made it home about 5 minutes after Daddy and the boys were very happy, while sleepy, to see him. We watched a movie snuggled up on the couch with the kids and then had some supper. Over all a good day.

Today is the last week in Jan! Can you believe that?!? (I know, I'm full of things you didn't know, haha!)

I have finally finished up my plans. I know it sounds stupid but I gave myself some time to adjust to things. I think I'm there. Things are starting up here again (C&C started last week) and slowly but surely I'm getting there. Today I finished up my plans and here they are:



Every day I have at least one 'major' room to do and one 'nap time' job (unless it's in the boys room, then I switch it with the major job) and then one 'nice weather' job.

Hopefully I can keep it up for the rest of the year. I'm going to try it this month and see how much I can get done!

Now for the cute photos! Q wanted to be in my photos this week! Here's the a few I got today while taking a photo of my list. He is so cute.

Sweet Nothings

Do you remember that 'romantic' phase you were in? Heck you might still be in right now but yeah. This is the phase that you thought every public display of affection was so cool, so sweet and something you wanted to have in your relationship when you were older.

I've been thinking about it alot lately. I have been so blessed to have great 'displays' in my life. I'll give you some examples.

My parents. They are so cute! They always make each other laugh. Dad knows just how hard to push when he gets the 'angry' look/voice from Mom. But my favourite (and one of my most recent 'views') was when my parents where here in our house to help us move. Mom wanted to have a shower and Dad had managed to get one before her. He got out of the shower and told her where the handle would go (3 o'clock position) to be her perfect water temp.

My friends Jenn and Jason. They have always been the cutest couple ever. They love each other so much and it shows! One thing I always remember about them from university was how much they would laugh and giggle. I do mean ALL THE TIME! At Christmas/New Years you might remember me telling you they were visiting. They are still so cute. They had tickle wars while they were here, and my favourite, their "Rock Paper Scissors" wars to see who would do the baby's diaper.

My online friends Holly and David. Even though I have never met this couple (our chance to meet Holly in Edmonton failed when her work changed her date to come up that way), I feel very close to them. I'm lucky enough to 'witness' them on Facebook. They are the cutest couple ever. I don't think a week goes by when I don't see a FB status dedicated to Holly from David about how much he loves his beautiful wife, or a status for David from Holly regarding him as a wonderful father. It's so sweet.

So I have to ask... what kind of "sweet nothings" does your spouse do for you? Or what kind of "sweet nothings" can you do for your spouse? Sometimes it could be as simple as meeting them at the door every day with a hug and kiss, or more complex like having a romantic evening planned.

Sometimes I would love to have that "Romantic" phase I was in during high school. No one could do any wrong, no one could be mean and everything couples did was so sweet... just how I wanted to be when I was older.

I just Jokin'

Kyler has been going on his new 'phrase'. He is so funny. In just this past year it has been "I know that!" and "I'm just joking!" Generally it's super sweet and deal-able. But lately Q has picked it up. It's kinda cute again but sometimes it's annoying.

I have managed to catch the kids telling me that they are just joking.





Of Course once they know what you are taking a photo of it continues for quite some time. I'll never do that one again.




Another thing the boys have been up to lately has been building tents. They LOVE the new blocks that Papa built for us and they spin them around the floor and cover them with blankets. Today's adventure went as far as this:



Can you spot the boys?

Yummy Food!

This past weekend was a lot of fun in grocery shopping and budgeting and most of all, trying out something new! My goal for this year was to try a new recipe every week. I figure we would try about 40 to 50 new ones this year. I'm so excited about it.

Last week we didn't try anything totally new (we made a cheese sauce that my mom gave me the recipe for but I *think* I've made it before) but this past Sunday started out our newest creation!

Southwestern White Chili
Prep 20 minutes
Cook: 8 hours (low) or 4 hours (high)
Slow cooker size: 3.5 to 5 quarts

Ingredients:

3 - 15.5 oz cans Great Northern beans, drained and rinsed (I used white kidney beans)
4 cups of reduced-sodium chicken broth
3 cups of chopped cooked chicken
1 cup of chopped onions (2 med)
4 cloves of garlic, minced
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 cups of shredded Monterey Jack Cheese (I used mozza cheese) (about 8 oz)

sour cream (optional)
fresh cilantro leaves (optional)
2 4-oz cans of diced green Chile pepper (optional)


Directions:

1 - In your slow cooker, place beans, broth, chicken, Chile pepper (opt), onion, garlic, cumin, oregano, and cayenne. Stir to combine.
2 - Cover and cook on low heat setting for 8 to 10 hours or on high-heat setting for 4 to 5 hours. Stir in the cheese until melted. If desired, top servings with sour cream and cilantro. Makes 8 servings

Pre serving: 429 cal, 14g total fat (7 g sat. fat). 72mg chol, 570 mg sodium, 41 g carbo, 9 g fiber, 37 g pro.

We made this for our Landlord, Steve, when he came over for dinner. I warned him I didn't know what it would taste like since it was our first time making it but he was adventitious.

It turned out wonderfully:






Aside from that and some serious Costco shopping (which required about 2 hours of splitting things up into smaller containers when we got home) we didn't do much. I did manage to snag this photo of the boys today, totally by accident.



They are watching their new Handy Manny DVD.

Wow I'm behind!

I can't believe how fast these past few days have gone! Here are the promised photos of the boys snow days!

A Photo Tour of the New House

The time has come. I am now ready to show you our 'new house'. We have been here for just over a week and aside from some little quarks we are loving it!

Here is a photo tour of the house. The photos from 'before' are ones I took when we came to view the house. The after ones are from today once I was done cleaning up from my crazy scrapbooking weekend!

This is the front of the house. I didn't bother to take another photo because the only difference now is it's freezing cold, there is recycling outside on the porch waiting for pick up and some cute little snowmen on the ledge:



The driveway to the backyard:




The back yard:



This is the enterence to the basement suite:




ok this is the front hall closet and hallway taken before we moved in:



Now:



This is the view of the living room (from standing at the opening of the kitchen):



Now:













This is the dinning area window from our WT:



Now:





Kitchen at WT:



Kitchen now:









Boys room at WT:




Boys room now:









Bathroom at WT:




Bathroom now:








Toy area - there are no before photos of it but here's the after:



And the 'hallway' after:




The masterbedroom at WT:





Now:






Behind the doors:

Top shelf:



Main area:



Each drawer was SO big we put dividers down the middle and both Arnold and I use it:


The little desk:


In the doors above:



That's it ladies and gents. We love this house! I hope you have enjoyed seeing where we live!