Pan Seared Garlic Honey Chicken

This recipe I threw together one night after searching Pinterest and not having anything pop out at me. It's the BEST!!

4 chicken breasts thawed and pounded to 1/8 inch
2 large eggs beaten
2 cups flour
1 T paprika
1 T parsley
1t black pepper

On the stove heat 2T oil in a skillet on medium high heat. Place 2 large eggs in a bowl and beat lightly. On a plate combine flour, paprika, parsley and black pepper. Take chicken pieces and dip into flour and then egg wash, place on skillet. I use a splatter screen to protect my hands. Cook chicken on both sides about 4-5 minutes until golden seared and cooked throughout.
While chicken is cooking it's time to make the sauce!!

1T oil
1 minced clove of garlic
1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
1C honey

In a small sauce pan heat 1T oil on medium low heat, add minced garlic until lightly sauteed. Add in soy sauce, honey and stir until bubbling lightly. Once it begins to bubble remove mixture from heat and pour over chicken.

Enjoy!! 

Cranberry and Cream Cheese spread

This is totally one of my winter favorites. I usually bring this to holidays where an appetizer is required and people rave over it! The recipe makes enough for 2 appetizers so if you have a big group it's great or if it's a small group save it for the next gathering!

1 bag Oceanspray Cranberries
1 cup apple cider
1 cup sugar
1t ground cloves
1t cinnamon

1 block of cream cheese

In a medium sauce pan combine Cranberries, cider, sugar, cloves and cinnamon. Bring to a boil on medium heat for about 10 minutes until cranberries begin to pop. Once you hear them pop using a potato masher, smoosh the berries into a nice jelly like consistency.
I usually cool to room temperature and pour 1/2 of the mixture over a block of cream cheese.
If you have a large group go ahead and use 2 blocks of cream cheese and pour mixture over both.
Enjoy!! Serve with crackers

Banana Nutmeg Muffins

Whip these up on a Sunday night and they will be ready for the week's breakfasts on the go! These are super easy and quick to make but I'll warn you, they are hard to resist so you may need to make 2 batches. 

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar packed
2 teaspoons nutmeg
3 bananas, mashed
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/3 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup chocolate chip morsels



Heat oven to 375*, line muffin pan with non stick spray or paper muffin liners.
Mix flour, baking soda, baking powder, white and brown sugars and nutmeg in mixer for 1 min on low (as to not spray flower in your face), add in bananas, egg and butter, mix for 1 min on medium or until thoroughly blended.
Pour ¼ cup of mix into muffin tin and bake for 18-23 minutes or until toothpick is inserted and comes out clean.
Yummy!!

3 cheese macaroni

I needed a quick meal to make during Frakenstorm before we lost power so here is what I whipped up!!
Prep time: 5 min to dice Gouda cheese
Cook time: 40 minutes

1lb macaroni
1/3 cup butter
3T flour
2 cups of milk
1lb Gouda Cheese cut into small pieces
13 slices of American Cheese
1 cup of shredded Cheddar Cheese
Bread crumbs
1 pint cherry tomatoes

Preheat oven to 365*. Spray a glass baking dish with Pam. Bring water to a boil on the stove for macaroni, while water is waiting to boil begin to create cheese sauce.

In a separate pot on the stove melt butter on medium low heat and add flour, stir until blended and then add milk to create a nice rue. Once milk and butter mixture have blended add in Gouda cheese pieces and turn heat to medium. Maintain stirring the cheese and milk mixture. Once Gouda has melted add in both American cheese and Cheddar cheese to cheese sauce. Add cherry tomatoes if desired to cheese mixture.
Add macaroni to water once boiling and cook as directed on box.

Once both the cheese mixture and macaroni are cooked pour the cheese sauce into the pot with macaroni. Stir until blended and then transfer into oven safe pan. Top with bread crumbs and cover with tin foil. Bake in over for 20 minutes or until bubbling.

I added a side of fresh broccoli steamed in the microwave which I cooked once the macaroni was done baking and cooling on the stove to eat.

Enjoy!!

Front door welcoming bench

When you come in my house through the front door there was an empty space so I decided to make it functional!

I refurbished an old coffee table from my parents,
bought a foam pad from JoAnn's for cushioning, fabric that was on clearance
 2 plastic bins and 3 coordinating pillows from the Christmas Tree Shop ... here we go!

I didn't make the fabric permanently attached to the foam pad for the reason that I may want to change the pattern for future decor and I want to be able to wash the fabric if it gets dirty.
I also purchased the two plastic bins so that if they get splashed with muddy shoes I can easily wipe them down.
So simple:
Place the foam on top of the coffee table and cover with fabric as you would a flat sheet, you could probably also use a fitted sheet for a more taught look. Place the pillows on the bench and bins underneath to hold mittens, hats, scarves!!
Enjoy!!

Creamy veggie chicken skillet with biscuits

Yummy! I made this recipe one night on a whim and it takes about 30 minutes to prepare... super easy and creamy!

2 cooked and cubed chicken breasts
1 bag frozen veggies
4oz chive cream ceese
4oz garden veggie cream cheese
1 pkg flaky dinner biscuits

Place biscuits in the oven as directed and cook
In a skillet turn burner to low and put cream cheese and chicken in the skillet, stirring until chicken is coated
While chicken is warming put frozen veggies in a microwave safe bowl for 5 minutes to heat
Once veggies have cooked drain water and stir into chicken and cream cheese mixture

 Serve and it and enjoy!!

New kitchen decor!

I saw this idea on Pinterest so here is our take...

I used

1 pack of sharpie markers mini from Joanns which were $12
2 plates from the dollar store and 2 mugs that are microwave safe
1 2 year old
2 1 year olds

Wash the plates and mugs, remove stickers on the bottom
Let them color but not eat the markers
Bake at 350* for 30 minutes
wa-la!

Baby room

When we moved into our forever home I decided to paint my daughter's room with a giraffe theme, I searched the net and didn't find many ideas that were geared towards soft baby themes so here is what I threw together...

I painted her entire room a soft lavender and then I used one wall as the accent wall where I then used the Gobi Dessert paint color from Home Depot to add in the spots. I found it was best to start with a piece of paper and practice drawing the spots until I was comfortable, and believe it or not it was worth it. Notice that the spots have soft edges and are somewhat more square than circular in shape. I then drew the spots on the wall in groups at a time and went back and filled them in once I thought they looked nice.
 On the opposite wall I used a wall decal from etsy Janey Mac that was a mother and baby giraffe in the sage green color and then once I received the decal in the mail I took that to Home Depot and used that to match accent paint colors for her dresser, book case and bought sheets to match.

MMMM I made these last easter and they were a hit at daycare and at our family holiday celebration!

Cupcakes:

• 1 3/4 cups cake flour, not self-rising
• 1 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
•  
• 1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line cupcake pans with paper liners; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine flours, sugar, baking powder, and salt; mix on low speed until combined. Add butter, mixing until just coated with flour.
  2. In a large glass measuring cup, whisk together eggs, milk, and vanilla. With mixer on medium speed, add wet ingredients in 3 parts, scraping down sides of bowl before each addition; beat until ingredients are incorporated but do not overbeat.
  3. Divide batter evenly among liners, filling about 2/3 full. Bake, rotating pan halfway through, until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 17 to 20 minutes.
  4. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat process with remaining batter. Once cupcakes have cooled, use a small offset spatula to frost tops of each cupcake. Decorate with sprinkles, if desired. Serve at room temperature.
   This recipe is from Martha Stewart's website!

Frosting:

Home made vanilla butter cream frosting, directions are on the back of the confectioner sugar bag. 

Decoration:

2 cups of shredded coconut 

1 Large Ziploc bag

4 drops green food coloring

Once cupcakes are frosted dip into the bag to top cupcakes with coconut then garnish with candy, I used cadbury mini eggs.

Enjoy!!