TASTY TUESDAY

CHICKEN WITH CREAM CHEESE SAUCE
4-6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 (8 oz.) pkg of cream cheese, softened
1 package of dry Italian dressing mix (in the salad dressing aisle)
2 tbsp butter, melted

Place chicken in the Crockpot (can be frozen). Melt butter and pour over the chicken. Open package of dry Italian dressing mix and sprinkle evenly on top. In a separate bowl, mix cream of mushroom soup and cream cheese. Mix until blended smooth. Pour mixture over the chicken/butter/dressing. DO NOT mix. Place lid on cooker. Cook for 7-8 hours on low if frozen. About 6 hours if chicken is thawed.

Tip: When chicken is done, remove all pieces of chicken from the Crockpot. Use a whisk and whip the sauce in the slow cooker until smooth and creamy. Use the sauce to drizzle over chicken. I usually serve chicken with baked potatoes and carrots or broccoli. (The sauce is also yummy on baked potatoes!)

FYI: This meal is great to have on hand for company. It is easy and so tasty. It makes the house smell wonderful and it looks pretty when served too! And its CHEAP!

Garage Sale Success

I decided, oh lets see...Wednesday, to have a garage sale this weekend! I started going through closets and found plenty of things that needed to go. I started toting them to the garage. On Friday, I was unsure about whether or not to go ahead with the sale because of the forecast for drenching rain and we had not advertised our sale in the paper. Jon decided we would see it through and got our permit Friday afternoon. I made a weak little sign to put on the corner of our block, just off the main road to our neighborhood. Turns out, it wasn't that bad! We made $200!

Price spent Friday night with my parents, so Jon and I got to hang out all morning, just the two of us. We had breakfast, drank coffee and had good conversation between "customers." One of my friends is having a garage sale next weekend, so the remainder of my items will go there for her sale. Overall, it was a success. Our garage is now free of clutter and swept out. Yay!!! If you know me, you know I LOVE TIDINESS!

Just on a random note, here are some pics of my guys being silly. I know I am his momma, but I think my son is so cute! I love taking snapshots of Price and Jon because I marvel at how much they look alike! Here also is a pic of Price laying on the couch watching a movie. He pulled out his sleeping bag and got comfortable. The weather this weekend has been great for lounging around at home!

Puddle Jumping!

Price might be the only 4 year old boy who gets elated when it rains! He watches from the windows in the sunroom. The more it rains, the more excited he gets. He will run into the kitchen giving me reports on what he observes..."Mom, it is REALLY raining out there! Is that great or what?" Of course it is not the rain itself that brings him so much joy, it is the puddles that the rain leaves behind!

When the rain stops, we get geared up for a "puddle jumping" outing. With rain boots, jackets and an umbrella (just in case it starts to rain again), we head out for an adventure! Today's shower left us with some awesome water to romp in. Price and I had a great time and he got very wet! Here are some pics.

TASTY TUESDAY

TATER TOT TACO SALAD
1 bag tater tots (the flat round ones)
1 lb ground beef
1 pkg taco seasoning
shredded cheese
shredded lettuce (shred by hand or buy it already shredded)
taco sauce (salsa)
1 small can sliced olives
fresh tomatoes, diced (I like using grape or cherry tomatoes and cutting them in halve)
sour cream
guacamole

Preheat oven and cook tater tots according to directions on the package. Meanwhile, brown and drain hamburger meat. Add taco seasoning (follow directions on pkg). When tater tots are done, divide them onto the plates. Top with shredded lettuce, cheese, meat mixture, and other goodies. You can also add green onion, jalapenos or whatever makes you happy!

This is a fresh take on a taco salad. So easy and kid friendly...what child doesn't like tater tots? Add all your toppings and enjoy a hearty "salad" that will fill up your man too! Enjoy and if you have any questions or feedback, email me at whitney4ou@gmail.com

Upside down apple pie

Last night I was feeling quite domestic, so I put in an apple pie to bake just after dinner. The house was filling up with the perfect aroma of warm apple pie. I cleaned up the dishes from dinner, folded some laundry and put Price in the tub. When the timer went off on the oven, I proudly walked over with mitts on my hands, opened the oven door and reached for the pie. The pie was on a baking sheet (without edges) and as I pulled the tray out of the oven, the pie slid backwards; and I swear it happened in slow motion... the pie hit the back of the oven then tipped over and dumped into the bottom of the oven!!! I stood there in shock watching the insides of my apple pie bubble and sizzle on the bottom of the oven! The racks were dripping with apple goo. Jon took the racks outside and hosed them down. I could tell the whole time he was trying not to burst into laughter. It was quite funny! I mean, what else can you do, right? I salvaged the pie pan that had just enough pie left in it for Jon and I to enjoy a few bites; with whip cream even!
I let the oven cool, then scooped up the spilled pie with a spatula and cleaned the inside of the oven with hot water and dish soap! What a mess! LOL!

28th Birthday

So yesterday was my 28th birthday! My dear husband woke me up with birthday wishes and a sweet song "On the day that you were born, the angels got together and decided to create a dream come true...." We went to breakfast and came back home to plant flowers and work in the yard. It was a beautiful afternoon. Price spent some time with grandparents while Jon and I went to dinner. We fell asleep on the couch while watching a movie (Ha! We are such a lively pair!) I don't expect pomp and circumstance for my birthday, just a simple day in the sunshine with the family works great for me!!!
Price was so cute about giving me "presents." He would kiss my cheek and say "Happy Birthday Mama, you are a real princess!!" (he did this 3 or 4 times) He gave me some of his race cars and dinosaurs as birthday gifts. I got lots of hugs too!
I can't believe the years go by so fast! I have never been someone who dreads turning another year older. The truth is, I feel more comfortable in my skin every year! I am so very blessed to have the people I have in my life. I guess that is what a birthday is all about...hearing from all the people who are thankful for the day I was born! Thank you to all who mailed, emailed, texted, facebooked and phoned in birthday wishes! I had a great day!

Summer is coming!

On Tuesday, Jon came home and was working in the backyard. He mowed the lawn and I was working the flowerbeds. Because the weather was gorgeous, we decided to go ahead and uncover the pool! I love our pool cover, though expensive to have put on every fall, it is worth it when the pool cover comes off and it looks just like it did the day we covered it!

I think I have a crush on our pool! My heart went pitter patter when the cover was pulled back! Turquoise water, the sound of the pump running and the smell of chlorine....ahhhh! Now my mornings will consist of making several trips around the pool with the net, cleaning out the bugs, pine needles and grass; sweeping the liner, turning on the pump, checking the skimmer, cleaning the filter....then sitting on the steps with my feet in the water, drinking a cup of coffee (all before Price wakes up)! Oh my goodness! I love it!

This weekend, we are planning to spray paint some of our deck furniture, get some new umbrellas for the tables, pot some flowers around the pool and maybe add some lighting for that nighttime glow around the water! Summertime is coming!