My Little Turkey

Nothing says Happy Thanksgiving like my little mans footprint turned into a turkey!  A few lucky grandparents are receiving these in the mail this week!  (He does have 5 toes... He was just a bit wiggly)

"Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!"     

Psalms 107:1

Love, Our Little Family

Cheesy Chicken Lasagna

Thursday night dinner.  The Hub is very under the weather.  Our household is surviving only thanks to Lysol and mass amounts of Vitamin C.  Antibiotics have been started. 

Prayers that they work quickly.

So when I was sick a few weeks ago I was craving my comfort food, Chicken Pot Pie.  I was wondering aloud to The Hub about this and he said

"Have you not ever heard feed a cold and starve a fever?"

Ummmmmmm no I have not.  Does that explain why the second I get a cold I start craving a Pot Pie?  I dont know?  It does explain why I cooked something yummy for him tonight though. 

This is another pinterest find, of course, from Real Mom Kitchen . 

We really enjoyed it. 

We had excess lasagna noodles just like she mentioned in the original post.  We also agreed that we would probably make it in a square casserole dish next time. 

We had this chicken lasagna, bread and a salad tonight, and we decided we will be making this again!  Its a keeper.  So if you need a new idea...

Cheesy Chicken Lasagna

2 (12 oz) cans evaporated milk (not fat-free)
1 (1 oz) pkg. dry Ranch dressing mix
3 C. cubed, cooked, chicken
1/8 tsp pepper
1 (16oz) lasagna noodles, cooked (I recommend reducing it to 8 oz to 12 oz)
1 1/2 to 2 C cheddar cheese, grated
1 1/2 to 2 C mozzarella cheese, grated

Cook the chicken and noodles first at the same time.
Once noodles are done–rinse in cold water and set aside (it keeps them from sticking together). Combine evaporated milk (don’t use fat-free version) and Ranch dressing in a 3 quart heavy saucepan.
Heat over low heat, stirring frequently until dry ingredients are dissolved.
Stir in chicken and pepper.
Simmer, uncovered, 25 minutes (don’t do any less), stirring frequently.
 Layer half of lasagna noodles, poultry sauce, and cheese in well-buttered 9×13 pan.
 Repeat layers again. Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
 Let rest 10 minutes before serving.

Enjoy, The Mom



Hat Season

When I think of cool weather I cant help but smile thinking of this precious picture of my little man.  (Courtesy of our amazing photographer, Casey Sturrock, at Haute Photography) It was in the 50s today in Texas... Finally some cool weather... It feels like fall has arrived, finally, when its actually supposed to be the beginning of winter.  The second it gets a little cool I go overboard with the warm weather gear on my little guy.  He is very hot natured, but I still get scared he will get cold.  One of my cold weather weaknesses has been hats.  They have got the cutest hats ever for little people these days!  We have a couple for this winter, and yes, we live in Texas.  One would be sufficient, but if you know me then you know I have never been good at moderation.  We also recently got a fresh new hat from our sweet friend, Jane, in Denver.  Our guy will be sporting this for the next few months and I must say I think he makes it look pretty good!  

I am going to squeeze one more picture in.  Indulge me.  How much fun it is to be The Mom to a little guy... Tshirt, Diaper and some boots to go outside and play with the puppies.  Every day is such a blessing.

Love, The Mom

Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes

I love making a meal that I wouldnt ever pick for myself, but I know The Hub will love. 
On the menu this week were Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes.
Thanks pinterest... The source of every single new recipe I try lately.
This one came from Taste of Home Cooking. 
They were a success and The Hubby was happy.
This has made our rotation! 

Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes
Adapted from Rachael Ray

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound ground beef
1 softball-sized onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
2 tablespoons steak sauce
1 cup beef stock
Salt and ground black pepper
1 pkg dinner rolls
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon flour
1 cup milk
1 cup provolone, shredded

In large skillet over medium-high heat add the oil and then brown the ground beef, about 5-6 minutes. Add the onion and green pepper and cook another 3-4 minutes, until the vegetables start to get tender. Stir in the steak sauce and beef stock, season with salt and pepper, bring up to a bubble and cook about 2 minutes.

Split open rolls and remove most of the soft insides, leaving a bed to hold the meat mixture. Toast the rolls and set aside.

While the meat is cooking, melt the butter in a medium-size pot over medium-high heat. Stir in the flour and cook about 1 minute. Whisk in milk, bring up to a bubble and let thicken, about 2 minutes. Turn off heat and stir the cheese.

To serve, place a scoopful of the meat mixture onto the bottom of the rolls, then top with the cheese sauce and replace the top of the roll.

Enjoy-
The Mom

Far and Wide

My little man has fallen asleep and I have found myself with a rare few minutes of silence.  Hearing his deep breaths as he naps renews me on many levels.  It has renewed me enough that in these last few moments of "mom time" I started to think of what I needed to do next... That list is endless. 
I have laundry in the dryer that is dinging... I have a pending grocery trip... I have lists to be made (and lists of my lists to be made if I am keeping it real here)...I have people I need to call... and I have Thanksgiving and Christmas creeping up on me way too quickly! 

All of those things get pushed back daily because I am blessed to be raising the most amazing little boy.  He is the light of our lives and when I look at him and I see the little person he is becoming I am so thankful and proud and amazed.

Our families and friends are spread so far and wide.  We try our best to keep up with each of them and more often than not we never find enough time in the day or week or month.  God knew what he was doing when he put us into the families he did. He gave us another blessing by putting us with each other.   I hope by finding the time to keep up with this I can also find the time to share it with all of the people who mean so much to us....

So here is a snapshot of the quiet moment I am having, and the quiet moment our little person is having.  Thank you Lord for this peaceful Tuesday afternoon. 

Love, The Mom