Chicken, Bacon & Monterrey Jack Quesadillas

Before I give you this recipe we have to talk bacon.  After our Bacon Talk last time, I personally, have taken Paige's advice and would like to teach you how.  Put bacon on a Pampered Chef bar pan (I used a plain cookie sheet because it is what I had).  Put it in a COLD oven.  Turn up heat to 425.  Set timer for 25 minutes.  I left mine in a tad longer because I love me some excessive crunch.  Remove it to a paper towel lined plate and use when ready.  Orrrrr you can buy a bag of real bacon bits at the store. 

Next, roast your chicken instead of boiling it.  I know you are afraid of this but trust me, it will work and you will love me forever because your chicken will be flavorful, golden brown on the outside, and perfect on the inside and you'll be the talk of the town because you roast chicken instead of boiling it.  Preheat oven to 375.  Place chicken on a cookie sheet.  Brush or rub with olive oil, salt and pepper generously.  Roast (bake) for 35-40 minutes or until cooked through.  Let rest for 10-15 minutes then dice.

2-3 Chicken Breasts, cooked and cubed

1 pkg McCormick dry chicken fajita seasoning mix

1 T vegetable oil

2 green peppers, chopped

2 red peppers, chopped

1 medium onion, chopped

10 10inch flour tortillas

1 8oz package shredded cheddar

1 T crumbled bacon (proper Southern cooks use lots more than this)

1 8oz shredded Monterrey Jack cheese

Combine chicken with fajita seasoning.  Heat oil in saucepan over medium heat.  Saute' peppers and onions and then add chicken to heat. 

Layer 1/2 of each tortilla with cheddar cheese, chicken mixture and bacon.  Top with Monterrey jack cheese.  Fold the tortillas.  Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes or until cheese has melted.

(I assemble mine different...one entire tortilla, topped with filling and another tortilla, cooked in a skillet sprayed with Pam, browned on both sides, then transferred to a warm oven to stay warm while the others cook.  I like mine golden brown on both sides)

Serve with sour cream, salsa and guacamole.

Anna's Salsa

1 large can whole tomatoes

1/2 yellow onion  (I use a whole one!)

1/2 bunch fresh cilantro

salt to taste (don't be shy)

Add to food processor and blend well.  Chill well before serving.  Slap yo' mama and enjoy.

This recipe is so simple, fresh, and addictive!

Anna's Guacamole

2-3 fresh avocados

1 diced onion

1 diced tomato

fresh cilantro, chopped

2 cloves of minced garlic

juice of a lime

salt

pepper

Cut the avocado in half.  Remove the pit and save.  Take a spoon and scoop avocado into a bowl.  Mash gently with a fork.  Mix in diced onion, tomato, cilantro, garlic, lime juice and salt and pepper to taste.  I add the pit back to the Guac because rumor has it that helps it from turning colors on you.  Serve immediately.

Life Makes You Lemonade

When life hands you a gloomy few days, what do you do?  You make lemonade ice cream sundaes.

And you post two of nearly the exact same picture because you can't decide which one is better.

Then you get the fam together and play some Uno.  Hello little colorful picture, what are you doing here?  If I delete you will you delete my pictures? 

 

Sometimes you loose.  That is hard.

 

Is it just me or can you see straight through his card?  How in the heck did I do that?  With my Master Jedi Point and Shoot Camera, that's how.

 

Oh heavens, he won, thank goodness.

 

 

Blue Bell, Chocolate Sauce, Whipped Cream, Sprinkles & a Cherry make any day better.

 

 

 

Happy December 31st Everyone.

I pray this next year leaves you finding the joy in the dailyness of life.

That you find the Ice Cream Sundae hidden in each day.

That even if you win or loose you'll try to enjoy just being in the game.

Do some fun things this year.

Step out in faith and go where God is leading you.

Have a good time with your kids.

Ask for wisdom and alertness.

Stay up late and sleep late.

Let the kids jump on your bed (you not me).

OK, I'll try to let them do that too.

You drive a hard bargain, you know that?

Paint something white, just because you can.

Make a fancy dinner and have some friends over.

Make a simple dinner and have some friends over.

Look around.

Look up.

Listen more.

Laugh.

Have a sense of humor about everything that filters into your day.

Work hard.

Show interest in others and make them feel loved.

It is a rare person who can take care of business as well as taking care of hearts. (Randy Draper speaking about Joan Horner)

Take it one day at a time.

Don't worry about tommorow.  It has enough worries of its own.  Fully embrace what you are called to do today.

I do hope you enjoy this moment...for this moment is your life.

Christmas Tour Of Homes 2010

Come on in and I'll show you our Christmas decorations for this year.  I don't know where my manners are that I'm so late in doing this.  I sure do hope you'll forvive me.  This year we did a lot of entertaining at our house.  One of the series you'll be finding on my blog in January is How To Entertain.  So, first things first, my bedroom.  Words cannot describe how much we enjoyed having lights in our room.  I slept with these on every night.  Is there a creative way to incorporate a strand of brightly lit garland over your bed year round?

Christmas 2010 II

This ornament came from a very special couple to me, Kime and Tina.  Tina went to be with the Lord and every year I hang this ornament I am reminded of how precious she and her family have been in my life.

Hanging stockings from the armoire that keeps my china and decorations was born out of necessity.  In our old house we did not have a fireplace.  So, the stockings were hung by the china armoire with care in hopes that St. Nicholas would soon be there. 

Christmas 2010 III

You may remember my Jesus Skates...this is them and they make me so happy.

Christmas 2010 IV

Can you believe New Year's Eve is tommorow?

I fill the cleaning monstor settling in.

Sale ad's with photos of Rubbermaid bins on sale.

The bare trees outside.  It all makes me ready for a blank slate and a new start.

Do you wake up one day and just go, Yep, today's the day all decorations come down and we clean up and get ready for the New Year?

We are not quite there yet.  My boys are puny right now so we're enjoying our lights a lot still.  Laying low at the house, watching movies and eating good food.

Do you have big plans for New Year's?

Kohl's Cash, Pneumonia & Other Earth Shattering Thoughts

Well, only 11ish shopping months till Christmas.

Can you believe that?

It flew by in a whirlwind for us.  We had family in from out of state, my aunt and my brother and his family, and we really enjoyed fun times of eating and playing games with them.  This year it was a simple Christmas for us.  When I say simple, the boys still had great things, but nothing was over the top.  I think I've mentioned we are doing Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University.  That means we had a cash only Christmas.  And let me tell ya, the stuff sprouts wings and flies off.  Part of me felt like a failure as a mom for not spending hundreds and hundreds on my kids.  That is pitiful to admit, but it's true.  The day before the day before Christmas I left Wal-Mart and was consumed with guilt over Christmas.  I knew it was the enemy planting lies in my head.  The good news is, Sunday morning came, the boys were very happy and we had not put one dime on a credit card.

Which leads me to Kohl's Cash.  Whoever invented the concept is a genius.  It seems in the world there are 2 types of people.  Those who love Kohl's and those who could take it or leave it.  I usually fall into the second category and I don't know why.  It is a fine store with really great deals I just never think to go there for some reason.  However, the day after Thanksgiving I went in to buy some of their amazing The Big One blankets, which are the best, softest things in the world.  I may or may not have purchased a black knit shirt with the word's SANTA BABY gem-magiced and bejeweled on the front, but hey, sometimes a woman does crazy things to get that Kohl's Cash.

Anyway, it is such a great concept.  Let me get you to upsize your purchase so you can come back in and use some free cash in a week or so at which time you'll probably end up spending a little more than you anticipated.  Case in point:  Last year.  I bought an insane amount of table cloths.

Which type are you?  Do you love you some Kohl's Cash?

Our little red head has pneumonia.  He is such a sweet, cuddly thing and he gets pneumonia so easily.  We are spending a quiet next few days at home so he can get better.   We'll have the Christmas lights on and fire up the fireplace.  What?  Oh sure I'll tell you what's on the menu, I'm so glad you asked.

-Chicken, Bacon & Monterrey Jack Quesadillas
-Spaghetti & Garlic Bread
-Stromboli

Do you ever make Stromboli?  You get a package of the Rhode's 3 loaves in the frozen bread section of the store.  It takes a little over 3 hours to thaw a loaf out at room temp.  but once it is thawed you roll it into a rectangle.  You fill the middle with Ragu Pizza Sauce and your favorite pizza toppings.  Then you bring the sides up and pinch them closed.  Flip it over so the seam side is on the bottom of the pan and bake it according to the bread baking instructions.  Then you slice it and dip it into the extra pizza sauce (warmed up first).  It is so easy and fun and it makes your house smell like fresh baked bread.

My Mullet

Define Mullet: The mullet is a hairstyle that is short at the front and sides, and long in the back.

Mr. Camera Man, cut it out.

What, pray tell, am I supposed to do with THESE? 

My hair is so big it won't even fit in this last shot.

We'll see if big earrings and a smile will buy me some time.

Notes to Myself:

-when you are at a restaurant and the hostess with cute hair gives you her card and says she does hair throw it away immediately

-think about it, she's not the one who cut her hair

-the only option is to throw it away because it is against southern etiquette to ask for her friend's card

-when you keep the card and call her and she has a plethora of openings, hang up immediately

-when people call you Billy Rae own it, you did this to yourself

-be thankful your super cute, fun hairdresser is back to work after having a baby and she actually listens when you tell her you don't want to look like a van-drivin mom with 3 boys who play soccer even though that's exactly what you are

-or is it you are what you eat?

-i'm a party bean burrito?

-that's what i thought

What do you like?

To Whom It May Concern,

Lately I've been thinking about what I want my blog to look like in 2011. It got me thinking, who exactly reads my blog?

If you read my blog would you leave me a comment and tell me what you like to read most? Leaving a comment is very easy. If you have a Google account you can sign in that way. If you don't, sign in as Anonymous (but don't forget to tell me your name).

Serious stuff

Funny stuff

Family stuff

House stuff

Cooking stuff

Spiritual stuff

Don't be afraid to leave a comment and tell me who you are. Stalkers are so 2009. Last month 1,749 people stopped by.  That includes you.  So, this is your chance to tell me what you like to talk about. 

Because I don't want to start an entire sob series about how I just got a horrible hair cut and give you a play by play about how my mullet layers are growing out if you don't care about that kind of stuff.  Which by the way is why I have a picture of Barry's mother from The Bee Movie.  I am very fearful that my new hair looks like hers, only I have a side part and she unfortunatly parts hers down the middle.

So spill it, you like it wordy or short, sweet and to the point. 
Hugs,
Bugs

Milk & Cookies Party

This year we held our 1st Annual Milk & Cookies Party. So, how exactly do one host a Milk & Cookies Party?

You start with a guest list of little ones, you know, your kids friends from church. You invite them to come in their pj's for a night of eating cookies, drinking milk, and watching The Polar Express. You tell them to ask their Daddies & Mommies to come so they can drink coffee and hot cocoa and be in the Big Kid Room.

12 minutes before they arrive you have an Aw Nuts I Forgot To Wash The Cups Moment and you quickly wash em' up.


You make lots and lots of Sugar Cookies that you and your boys rolled, cut, baked and decorated together. Throw in Sugar Plums, Candy Canes, Gingerbread Men with no decorations because you suck at cookie decorating but it's the thought that counts, and some good cheer.

Smile that your 2 year old has friends who come from godly families and thank God that he has surrounded you with such precious people to live life with. You remember how a couple of years ago you felt like you didn't have family friends to do life with and laugh at the fact that tonight your driveway looks like a Mini-Van car lot. Swagger Wagons if you will (Click Here) (pause music on my blog and turn up the volume).


Robes, Jammies, House Shoes AND Spiked Hair...too much cuteness for one picture.

Did you know that if you suggest to sweet little girls that it would be really cute to rest their little faces on their hands they will do it?

Every one got to take home a Happy Birthday Jesus cup. Every party needs a Happy Birthday Jesus cup, ya know what I'm sayin'?

Nary a crumb left behind, girls amaze me.

Living life with other families is something that doesn't just happen. You gotta make time for it. We love these people.

Aww look, the Bugs & Sunshines getting their baby fix.

Do we need one or two more? One says yes one says no.

Who is in need of refreshment? That's what we thought. Hot, hot yea we got it, hot chocolate.

Merry Christmas!