Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Chicken Garlic Pizza....a new{ish} recipe

Before Cooper was born, I had really figured out how to meal plan and grocery shop according to that meal plan.  I would do it weekly and make my grocery run on Mondays.  It had become a routine for Braden and I, and it was working out great.  We were doing much better on our finances since I was only buying items needed to make the meals.  Well, Cooper came and it all went out the window!  Finally, 6 months later, I'm getting back into the meal planning groove.  It doesn't always work out like I plan it but I'm at least starting to get a little more organized!

As I was planning our meals for the week on Sunday, I came across a recipe that my boss at my previous job gave me a long, long time ago.  It was Chicken Garlic Pizza.  I remember making it a couple of times and really liking it.  We are huge pizza lovers in my house and usually have it once a week.  This is not helping me lose those pesky last 10 pounds of baby weight!  So when I saw it, I decided we would try it again.  It seemed way more healthy than Little Caesar's!  It was delicious!  I really loved it, just how I remembered, and didn't feel quite so guilty after eating. 

So I thought I would share the recipe:

Chicken Garlic Pizza


3 Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 cup sliced green onions (use slender white parts)
2 cloves garlic
2 Tbsp white vinegar
2 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp olive oil
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper (more or less depending on how spicy you want it)
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 Tbsp cornstarch
1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1/2 shredded Mozzarella cheese
Boboli pizza shell - I used the 100% whole wheat thin shell

Cut raw chicken into cubes.  Combine onion, garlic, vinegar, soy sauce, oil, and both peppers.  Mix together and add chicken.  Marinate for about 10-15 minutes.  Take chicken out and save marinade.  Cook chicken in a second tablespoon of oil for about 3 minutes.  Add the cornstarch to the marinade and pour into the pan with the chicken.  Allow the sauce to thicken (about 1-2 minutes).  Spoon marinade and chicken on shell.  Put both cheeses on top.  Bake at 400 degrees for 12 minutes, with the shell directly on the rack to make it crispy.  Sprinkly additional sliced green onions on top of pizza and back for another 2 minutes.  Let it set for about 5 minutes before slicing.  Makes 6-8 slices.

DELICIOUS!!


For all you Weight Watchers peeps out there, I used their recipe builder to find out how many points each slice is and it came up with 7 per slice if you cut 8 slices.  So maybe not as healthy as I thought.  Bummer.  But still yummy!

Let me know if you try it and what you think!


Thursday, July 12, 2012

a pinterest project...


With Braden's Mother's Day Out program taking a break for a couple of weeks, I have been trying to keep him entertained during these long hot days.  Since it is SOOO hot, we have been having to find most of our entertainment indoors.  I have seen a really cute idea for snacks on Pinterest, but have not found a good time to make them.  Well, today was the day!  It was our turn to bring snacks to his t-ball game tonight so I thought it would be a fun project for him to do during the day and a yummy, healthy snack for the kids to have after their game.  Luckily, I had all the supplies already in my craft closet. 

So here is what we did:

BUTTERFLY SNACKS


Materials:
-Clothes pins
-Paint
-Wiggly eyes
-Adhesive dots (or glue)
-Pipe cleaners
-Snack size baggies
-Grapes
-Goldfish (or snacks of choice)

First, I let Braden paint the clothes pins to the colors of his choice.  He picked out a paint set with blue, yellow and red.  Then, we used adhesive dots to put the eyes on the clothes pins.  Glue would have worked better but I decided the painting was a big enough mess and the dots would be quick and easy, and less mess!


Then, we got our grapes (washed, of course) and goldfish.  I took about a handful of goldfish and handful of grapes and put them in the baggies, keeping them on separate sides.  I folded the zipper down to the back side of the baggie so it wouldn't be seen and gathered the baggie in the middle.  Clip the clothes pin to the middle of the baggie.  To make the antenna of the butterfly, take the pipe cleaners and cute them in half.  Bend in the middle to make a "V" and then curl the ends.  I just clipped the antenna with the baggie.  I wish I had glued them on, though, because when the kids took the clothes pin off the antenna fell to the ground.   

Here was the final product:



Braden was so proud to pass out his "butterfly snacks" to his teammates tonight.  The kids loved them and they were super easy to make!  And they gave us a fun project to do together while little brother was napping!


Friday, July 6, 2012

4th of July....Texas Style


Happy 4th of July....a couple of days late!  We have been having a blast down here in Texas with my family.  When my sister told me a little while back they would be home for the 4th I was on a mission to find a way to come home too!  Luckily, I have an awesome hubby who understands me and my love for my family and so graciously took personal days off work so I could come home!  Hooray!  He even drove all night so we could be there for the 4th of July barbeque! 

On the morning of the 4th we decided last minute to go to the parade in the community where my parents live, Bentwater.  They decorate golf carts for the parade since the community is centered around 3 golf courses.  It was so fun to see all the creativity.


Braden totally rocked his kicky pants jammies for the parade....I said we decided last minute, no time to change!






Later that afternoon we headed over to the Lancaster's, our family friends' and my sister's in-laws, for a barbeque and pool party.  We had not told my sister that we were coming for sure and wanted to surprise her.  I missed seeing the big surprise when Braden walked in but I heard it was great!  It was such a fun afternoon!  My brother-in-law met Cooper for the first time and my parents were so proud to have all 3 grandbabies together. 







We are so thankful for all of the freedoms we get to enjoy.  We love our country and are appreciative to those who have fought to keep our country free.  God Bless America!