meal planning monday

 

 

Balsamic Chicken, Asparagus and Roasted tomatoes with Mozzarella (reci below)

Spinach Berry Salad with Grilled Chicken

 

 

White Bean Chicken Chili

 



Teriyaki Salmon with Sriracha Cream Sauce

Balsamic Chicken, Asparagus and Roasted tomatoes with Mozzarella
Easy, healthy, delicious!

Ingredients

2-3 boneless skinless chicken breasts (I always cut ours in half since they are usually ginormous)
1 bunch asparagus
1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
4 oz mozzarella cheese, cubed
1/2 cup + 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup + 1 t spolive oil
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp pepper


Directions

1. Combine 1/2 cup balsamic, 1/4 cup olive oil, garlic powder and pepper into a ziploc bag. Add in raw chicken breasts and marinate 30 minutes to overnight. After marinating, grill the chicken.

2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut off the end of asparagus (bend asparagus until it breaks, this is where you should be cutting off the ends). Line a cookie sheet with tinfoil. Line asparagus on the cookie sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place on top rack of oven for 8-10 minutes until tender.

3. In a pan, place sliced grape tomatoes in 1 tsp olive oil and 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar. Cook for a few minutes until tomatoes start to get soft (where you can squish them with a fork).

4. Place chicken and asparagus on a serving dish, top with tomatoes and mozzarella. Drizzle with extra balsamic mixture from tomatoes.

 

Five on Friday!

ONE
We have had fun with all the Christmas festivities this year with Hadley. She really is into it all this year - we even started Elf of the Shelf (which she named "Frank" of all things). He's been very mischievous and she loves running and looking for him every morning. Usually I am moving him around right before she wakes up, almost got caught this week!  What has Frank been up to so far?

TWO
I never blogged about Thanksgiving, but we had a wonderful weekend, away from work and spent with our dear family.  Brandon and I ran a 10K on Thanksgiving morning (around 24 degrees when we started!). I placed 5th in my age group and finished the 6.2 miles in 50 minutes (give or take a few seconds) at a pace of 8:10/mile. I was so excited! Brandon finished just a minute or so later and placed 7th in his age group. Post race pic...

Twinkies!

We took Hadley to the Fantasy of Trees that weekend. She is at the perfect age for all the activities and couldn't wait to see Santa! She decorated a sugar cookie (which she consumed in like 2.5 seconds), got her face painted, got a princess manicure, rode the carousel with her daddy, and sat in Santa's lap like a pro (soooo unlike last year - she was terrified of the man).

Me and Brandon managed an amazing date night that weekend with dinner at Blue Coast Burrito (I had the most amazing fish tacos) and then had front row seats at the Amos Lee concert. That man is so talented.

THREE
Hadley really wants a big girl bed for Christmas. Is it bad to admit she is 3 and still in her crib? She's never climbed out but I think we are all ready for her to make the move. She wakes up every morning, "MOMMYYYYY, I NEED TO GO POTTYYYYY." Counting down the days till she can do this by herself!  We ordered her furniture and bedding which should be delivered the weekend before Christmas. Here is a sneak peak!




Bed, nightstand, and dresser

Bedding from PBK

FOUR
Last weekend Hadley came down with the most terrible stomach bug (the pukey kind). We pretty much didn't leave the house all weekend so we are ready for a fun time this weekend with Christmas parties, gingerbread house decorating, and present wrapping!

FIVE
I've been working on Christmas gifts for Hadley's wonderful teachers. I ended up getting these adorable mugs from Anthropologie. I think these are so cute and I can't wait to fill them up with goodies and package them up!

I also ran across these adorable milk bottle measuring cups which I think would be the cutest little present for the cook in your life!

White Bean Chicken Chili reci

I need to blog y'all. We've been super busy at work and at home but I promise for pictures and updates soon!  For now I wanted to blog about my new go-to chicken chili. We had a chili cookoff at work today and this new recipe I tried did not disappoint! I want to have it here so I don't forget and lots of ladies were interested in the recipe at work. This is gluten-free and no weird seasoning packets or canned soups.

White Bean Chicken Chili

 

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil  
1 yellow onion, chopped  
3 cloves garlic, minced  
2.5 cups chicken broth (I used 2c to begin, and probably added another ½ cup once everything was cooking to thin it out a bit)
16 oz jar of good salsa verde (I used Archer Farms)
2 cans Rotel
7 ounce can diced green chilies
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano  
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander seed  
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
¾ cup frozen corn
1.5-2ish pounds diced, cooked chicken meat
2 cans white beans (I used navy and cannellini)  
Salt and pepper

 Directions:

1. Heat oil over medium-high heat, and cook onion and garlic until soft.

2. Stir in spices, green chilies, salsa verde and tomatoes. Stir until well mixed and almost boiling.
3. Add broth and bring mixture to a boil.
4. Add corn, cooked chicken, and beans; simmer for 30-60 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
 

*Next time I’m just going to put everything in the crockpot and shred the chicken at end.

 

meal planning monday

 

 

Sunday: Fish Taco Bowls via

 

These were really good. Unfortunately I lost my avocado between Kroger and the house, but was good even without.

Monday: Crockpot Greek Chicken Pitas via

 

new recipe, in the crockpot now

 

 

Tuesday: I have a work dinner, so Brandon is taking Hadster to Chick-fil-a for free kiddie meal Tuesdays :)

 

 

 

Wednesday and Thursday: Veggie Soup with Crusty Bread via

 

 

 

 



fall fun

We had so much fun at a dear friend's house on Halloween - complete with games, a hayride for the kids, food, and good company!

 

Got to hold the Plummer's newest pumpkin!

 

Still pulling out birthday gifts. Most recently the Doc McStuffins dress up outfit. The doc is in!

 

Brandon cleaned out our garden and look what was hiding!

One of my girlfriends is having her first little baby - went to a lovely shower for her - they had the cutest decorations to go with the theme of the nursery...

Sneak peak from our photo session at a local Christmas Tree farm, dying to see the rest!



photo cred: Amy Larson

 

Getting ready for Thanksgiving now, so much to be thankful for! Excited to try a new dish or two this year!

 

 

 

Our Elf arrived last week, I am so looking forward to starting this tradition this year with Hadley.

 

 

 



Happy Halloween Week

Looove Halloween week....the weather, fall treats, parties, dressing up!

We were going to hit up Boo at the Zoo on Sunday evening, but had a crazy busy weekend and decided to enjoy some family pumpkin carving instead. Hadley's favorite part was definitely throwing the pumpkin seeds at Riley.

I made these pumpkin pancakes and veggie egg white muffins for dinner last night. I personally had gluten free waffles but I was told the pancakes were delish and the house was smelling delightful when they were cooking. Would definitely make again. Note this recipes makes enough to feed an army, so you may want to halve all the ingredients.

Lots of dress up days at Hadley's school this week. Today was PJ day. Score for getting toddler out of bed already dressed for the day!

Halloween party on Thursday night with some dear friends. Can't wait to see all the little kiddies all dressed up.  Hadley is going to be Dorothy this year - even found her some red ruby shoes at Target a few weeks ago.

I would totally be eating this jack-o-lantern pizza from Papa Murphy's at some point this week if I could. How adorable is this?!

Five on Friday!

ONE
We had so much fun last weekend at Oakes Farm as a family, and then at Foothills Milling Co. for an amazing anniversary dinner date later that night with just the mister. We had never been there and I'm so glad we tried it - one of my all time favorite meals! Can't wait to go back to Oakes Farm and Foothills Milling Co!

 

 

TWO
You know how good Chex Puppy Chow is, right? Well the Halloween Puppy Chow is even better....I made some this week and shared at work.  Hadley was my little helper!  Here is the recipe and the finished product!

THREE
I finally bit the bullet and ordered the Hunter boots I've been lusting over. I'm actually looking forward to the next time it rains so I can sport these puppies!

FOUR
Someone I know is turning 32 tomorrow! Excited for a sushi lunch date today to start the celebration off right!

Okay, this is SO funny and I know others can relate - I hope :)

FIVE
It's finally fall y'all. Like as of yesterday.  I'm rocking my Frye boots and long sleeves today.  I stopped at starbucks for my pumpkin spice latte on the way to work. Fallelujah!!