Notes on my new site

Sunday, August 7, 2011

BEST Creamy Chicken and Dumplings OF YOUR LIFE (my baby loved this with pasta shells)

Tripp and I recently had dear friends Sara and Michael over for dinner. I also am recently meal planning with this iPhone app, Food on the Table. I recommend downloading the app or using the website because it's free and so far we've really enjoyed the recipes. So, marrying both - I tried the Chicken Thigh and Dumplings stew. It was TO DIE FOR, which was so amusing to discover with friends as we inhaled it!

You can get the recipe from Food on the Table, or use this below with my alterations.

Time: 1.5 lazy hrs, .5 intensive chopping/cooking (yep, it's a good night before recipe)

Ingredients
    •  About 2 lbs chicken breasts (or whatever parts are on sale in the big packs)
    •  1 tbsp kosher salt
    •  8 (slices) bacon
    •  1pack of celery stalk, chopped
    •  4 carrots, chopped
    •  1 red onion, finely chopped
    •  6 peeled individual cloves garlic, finely chopped
    •  1 (teaspoon) paprika
    •  1 can condensed cream of chicken soup
    •  1.5 (cup) heavy cream (or the whole little carton)
    •  1 can chicken broth (you may or may not need this depending on how chickeny your chicken water is)
    •  1 (10.0 ounce can) buttermilk biscuits


Directions
1. In a soup pot, place chicken (frozen is fine too) fill water about half way full in pot enough to cover chicken. Add salt. Cook on medium for 30 min to warm chicken through, then boil for about 5 minutes and reduce to simmer for another 30 min until chicken is soft and could easily pull apart. Remove chicken and set aside. When cooled, chop up into bite-size pieces. Keep water for stew. (I actually used the same water to cook 2 chicken meals, so it was extra chickeny.)

2. In a skillet, cook the bacon over medium heat until nicely browned and crispy. Remove strips from bacon grease and drain on a paper towel, cool and chop for a garnish.

3. In the same bacon grease skillet, add the chopped celery, carrots, red onion and garlic. Ladle 1 or 2 scoops of the chicken water into the pan. Cover and cook on high, stirring occasionally and adding chicken water as needed, for about 20 minutes until carrots are pretty soft.

4. Dump cooked chopped veggies, chopped chicken, paprika, condensed chkn soup, and heavy cream into the chicken water. It should be pretty liquidy, if not you may need to add the chicken broth. Cook to a boil, then reduce to medium.

5. Tear each buttermilk biscuit into quarters and drop into the chicken stew. Stir occasionally until dough is cooked though, forming dumplings at the top of the stew, about 10-15 minutes. Remove from heat and serve with a garnish of crumbled bacon.

Sunday, July 31, 2011

Happy Birthday to David IV

Today is David's 1st birthday, or as we're saying he's #1! Reminiscing a year ago today, we had no idea what David was going to look like or be like at this time. Tripp and I both remember when David was born thinking, "Who brought that baby in here? Who's baby is that?" It was surreal then and there have been surprises every day since. David's brought more fun and life-changing love than we could have prayed for. We are praising God for His mercy on us in the life of David today.



All this attention on D make me laugh at what life may be like in years to come. Baby #2 and #3 may not get their birthday song posted the same day, or even the same year or that matter!

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Tub Fun

As David grows, bath time is becoming more like play time!

Friday, July 22, 2011

Whoops, July where did you go?!

I can't believe this coming week is the last of July! I guess the first few weeks were all holiday and retreat, and ever since I've been workin' my tail off to catch up on life and work. In good news, I got to meet a new potential freelance client here in Chicago this week! It was neat to spruce up my portfolio and share the pieces I'm most proud of with a new audience.

So, here's my July desktop. No guessing game this time, and to be honest, I just change it out with June. I'm going to be much more punctual with August!

Turning over a new leaf, settling into mom and freelancer now and the routines needed to accomplish the must-do's of every day. They look something like this (in no particular order unfortunately yet):

1. Read the bible and pray for God's mercy on myself and family today. How the heck else do I think I can accomplish anything else?! (Moms and busy people I have a few great ideas on how to transform your morning routines into devotional-esque conversations with the Lord. He is near and hears you no matter what time you woke up or where you're meeting Him. Glory to God and thank you RPCC friend Iva for your straight talk.)

2. Feed, clothe and play with David.

3. Email everyone asap. Catch up on any RPCC women's ministry action items.

4. Knock out freelance work, keeping time on toggle.

5. Dinner?! What to do?! Take David for a walk to Devon Market and whip something together that could yield leftovers.

6. Freestyle and sporadic cleaning.



7. Read a chapter from Give Them Grace, which Tripp got me for my birthday and I really, really love reading. Best paraphrasing of creation, the fall, and salvation of man.



What kinds of things are on your daily must-do's? Any tips as to how you do them?
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