Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Weekly Recipe: Stuffed Salmon

This week's recipe is one of many I've recieved as a postcard from some local realtors. Since I'm pregnant I substituted the feta cheese with grated parmesan. I also served it with lemons and Rice-A-Roni. Get your healthy fish oil and spinach veggies all in one meal. Pretty quick and easy.
In case you can't read that tiny image, here it is:

6 salmon filets (4 oz. each)
2 T olive oil
salt & pepper
STUFFING:
1 c baby spinach (chopped fine)
1/3 c feta cheese
3T red onion (chopped fine)
1 garlic clove
1/3 c fresh basil (chopped)
salt & pepper

Combine stuffing ingredients in a bowl or food processor. Salt and pepper to taste. Slice each filet horizontally, stopping 1/2" from the edge. Open filets and divide stuffing mixture evenly between them. Close filet and brush with oil. Season with salt and pepper. Saute in non-stick skillet and/or grill. Cook each side 5 minutes. The stuffing can also be used uncooked as cracker spread.

From Robyn & Ray Parker. Your recipe for success in Real Estate. Pin It

Monday, March 30, 2009

Bloch shoes


Ok seriously how adorable are these? Reason enough to want a baby girl (though lately I think I may be having a boy--I'll find out May 4th).
Via Design Mom. Pin It

Thursday, March 26, 2009

A Little Yummy

We had a bridal shower for a friend at work, and here's a little glimpse of my gift. I gave her an Olive Garden gift card (the theme was date night) attached to a cutesified bottle of alfredo sauce. I used the stamp set "Yummy" which is for sale in the Stampin'Up Sale-a-bration catalog.
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Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Empty Frames

So this isn't exactly a new idea, but it's one I like and I spotted a nice post (with more pictures & links) over at Dwellings and Decor. I did a wall of empty frames in my last house in the spare bedroom and was pleased with it. They can also add a fun pop of funky color without a large financial investment, and when color trends change, just repaint them! This is what I had in mind when I painted this frame (though I never finished the rest of the set). Pin It

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Weekly Recipe: Kings Ranch Chicken

This one is a one dish meal. I halved the recipe when I made it, since there are only two of us. The middle part of my directions are missing, so I'll just fill in the gap with how I made it (seemed to work fine).

Kings Ranch Chicken

2 chicken breasts, cooked & shredded
2 pkgs corn tortillas
1 onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1/2 lb. sharp cheese, grated
1 T chili powder
1 can tomatoes & green chilies
Monterey Jack cheese

Soak tortillas in chicken broth until soft. Line baking dish with soaked tortillas, overlapping on sides and bottom of dish. Mix chicken with cream soups. Saute onion and green pepper and layer over chicken mixture. Sprinkle with chili powder and grated sharp cheese. Top with tomatoes and green chilies. Bake 35-40 minutes at 375 degrees. For the last 5 minutes put monterey jack cheese on top to melt. Serve with sour cream and perhaps iceberg lettuce. Pin It

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Prego Pants Conversion

I hate anything tight around my waist or my guts. So gaining just a couple of pounds has made sitting all day in my old pants a little less than comfortable. I went out one evening and tried on about 25 different maternity pants, to see if they might fit already and give me more comfort. It was a total failure. I still have no hips, and that is proving to be a challenge.
So I took an old, unfavorite pair of Ann Taylor pants I had and decided to convert them myself. Combining an old cami with the pants, I turned them into maternity pants that fit me. The pictures on the floor make the pants look short and wide, but they aren't really. Due to an uncooperative husband, I am not smiling.

See my growing belly? Pin It

Friday, March 13, 2009

Big News

Those of you who visit regularly may have noticed a real lack of creative projects on my blog lately. Sorry. The reason why is because I've been dreadfully tired lately. Too tired to do any projects after work. The reason why is because I'm pregnant. Hooray! As of this post, I am 12 weeks along, that is 3 months in case you can't do the math.
Hopefully I get my energy back soon. I'm just happy I haven't had morning sickness, knock on wood.
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Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Weekly Recipe: Chicken Bundles


This is a pretty simple recipe, and I've added a few things to it that I think make it better.

Chicken Bundles

2/3 c stuffing mix
2 3oz. pkg. softened cream cheese
4 T butter, soft
pepper to taste
2 c cubed chicken, cooked
1/2 c drained mushroom pieces
1/2 c frozen broccoli or chopped spinach, thawed and drained
2 cans refrigerated crescent rolls
6 T butter, melted

Set aside melted butter and stuffing mix and crescent rolls. Mix all other ingredients. Roll out crescent rolls and fill with chicken mixture, and close up. Roll in butter and stuffing mix. Cook at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

As you can see, I didn't roll all of mine in the stuffing mix. No particular reason why.
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Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Weekly Recipe: Turkey (or chicken) Gyros

Sorry I forgot to post a recipe last week. But this week's recipe is delicious.

TURKEY GYROS
1 turkey tenderloin (8 oz)*
1 1/2 tsp Greek Seasoning
1 cucumber
2/3 c plain nonfat yogurt
1/4 c finely chopped onion (I leave this out since I hate raw onions)
2 Tbsp dried dill weed
2 tsp fresh lemon juice
1 t olive oil
4 Greek pita breads (a thicker softer kind that you just fold in half)
1 1/2 c shredded romaine lettuce (sadly I had none tonight so it's missing from the photo)
1 tomato, thinly sliced
2 Tbsp crumbled feta cheese

Cut turkey tenderloin across grain into 1/4" slices. Place turkey slices on plate; lightly sprinkle both sides with Greek Seasoning. Let stand 5 minutes. Cut 2/3 of cucumber into thin slices. Finely chop remaining cucumber. Combine chopped cucumber, yogurt, onion, dill and lemon juice in small bowl. Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium heat until hot. Add turkey. Cook 2 minutes on each side or until cooked through. Wrap 2 pitas in paper towel and microwave on high for 30 seconds or until warmed. Repeat with remaining pitas. Divide lettuce, tomato, cucumber slices, turkey, cheese and yogurt and cucumber sauce evenly among pita breads. Fold in half and secure with toothpicks.
Makes 4.

*I can no longer find unseasoned turkey tenderloins locally, but if you can find one, it's much more tender than chicken breasts, which is what I use now. If you can find them they are worth the money.


Sorry about the bad photo.

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Sunday, March 1, 2009

Kasia Skirt Project

So I finished my Saturday project, thanks to lots of help from my mom! I never could have done it without her.
I found the pattern at Burda Style (link here). It's a free pattern, but as I got into it I discovered it was hard to understand, and was more complex than I wanted it to be. So with Mom's help, we changed a few things, including putting the zipper in the back instead of in the front under the flap (like who wants that extra bulk on their belly?). Also the pattern had these pockets in the back as well, which I thought would be wierd, so I eliminated those.

From now on, I'm only making loose flowy clothing with elastic fabrics, 'cause this was kinda hard for me. I finished at 11:00pm. Oh, and if I were to do it over, which I never will, I would make the front panel a little narrower and the waistband taller.
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