OOOOOPS....A little late!

It has been awhile since I last blogged. I will try and get back on track.

We have been exploring this new area of ours. On Easter we visited Mother Cabrini Shrine in Golden CO.

Mother Cabrini started an orphanage in Denver in the late 1800's. Yes for those that don't know this is a Catholic shrine. There are 373 steps leading up to the cross at the top of the hill. Symbolic? Yes, that's how many steps Jesus took while carrying the cross to his crucifixion.

There is a church that holds services on Sunday mornings. A museum that houses Mother Cabrinis bed, clothes, items that she used and timeline boards that not only are relevant to Mother Cabrini but Colorado itself. Very interesting. Also there is a meditation garden, a grotto, gift shop, and another garden area for picnicking. Plenty of parking. And its FREE. Donations are appreciated. Great place for a picnic. Small children may have to be carried up the stairs but the incline is not that bad.

Homemade Bread Crumbs

I hate to waste anything. We usually only cook what we are going to eat at that time. We are not to keen on leftovers.  So when I was throwing bread away, the thought crossed my mind...Why are you wasting that bread?

 Hmmmm, maybe I could make bread crumbs since I'm out of Panko crumbs.

After about 2 mins on Pinterest, I found out how to do it! What would we do without that site? Only wish I had invented it....ugh!

I tore the bread in one inch pieces, placed on metal pan and baked at 275 degrees for 15 min. Let cool. Poured the bread in the blender and pressed the crumb button. VIOLA! Homemade bread crumbs. You can add your own spices and seasonings at this point or later. One Pin said to add your old crackers...it is bread after all.

                                                                 *store in freezer

Chicken Curry and Rice

I made this a few weeks ago but it didn't last long enough to take pictures! So I shot a few before serving this delish meal.


1 can coconut milk
3 tbs curry powder
2 chicken breasts
onion
rice
*double the ingredients to serve more. This serves 2-3.

I always forget to lay out meat to unthaw. But, did you know you can put frozen meat in crockpot?!?!? Amazing invention that crockpot is!

Add frozen boneless skinless chicken breasts to crockpot. Add half or a whole chopped onion. I used half of a large size onion. One can of coconut milk and about 3tbs of curry powder (add more for more spice) I cooked mine on high for about 6 hours. Shred the chicken (it should be tender).

Again, I used the rice cooker to make my rice...LOL. Without it my rice is mush!
Serve with Indian bread :)

New Kitchen Products = New Recipe!

I had a Pampered Chef party for a friend
1. so someone would cook a meal for ME and
 2. so I could earn FREE stuff.
I got the new RockCrok, salad choppers, mix n chop, knives and...well you get the picture. For my first recipe in the new Crok I made Chicken Broccoli casserole.

First I baked the chicken in the crok at 400. My chicken was still partly frozen so it took a little longer to cook. When it is done shred the chicken with salad choppers (this is a MUST in every kitchen)

Next, steam some broccoli in the mini chef steamer (I think that's the name) for 2 mins in the microwave. Add to chicken. Add 1 can of Cream of Broccoli soup. Stir really well. Cook 1 cup of rice and 2 cups of water in Rice Cooker for 5min then turn power to 50% and cook for 10 min in microwave. I can not make decent rice without my rice cooker. It has save my life...and so EASY!

 

While you wait for the rice to cook, enjoy a glass of Pink Moscato.....delish!

 

 

 

Add the rice to the chicken mixture. Stir well again. Place in oven at 350 for about 10 minutes. I did add a splash of milk to make it creamer.

 

 

ENJOY!

What's on your plate tonight?

The BIG move

I haven't written on here in 2 years! I loved keeping up with my blogs (just did a few) and sharing my recipes and crafts. Well, life happens, and as you know, you get distracted from things you enjoy because you are working, making dinners, running kids to activities, grocery shopping or MOVING across the country! Yep, we moved to Colorful Colorado in August.

It happened so fast like a whirlwind. Crazy how things happen that you did not expect to happen EVER! So my first trip to Estes Park CO happened when I was 11 years old. Fell in love since then, always dreamed of living here but never thought it would REALLY happen. Well never say never!

I miss my family and wish my oldest daughter and mother would move here! My mom always wanted to live here and now that she has the chance she has chickened out.
12 years in nursing, many deaths in my family and friends and terminally ill friends I've learned life is to short and we are not guaranteed the next day.

 So do things that make you happy EVERYDAY, whether that is meditating, exploring the beautiful outdoors, praying, yoga, crafting, journaling, cooking whatever makes you smile and warms your heart. I'm relearning who I am and what I enjoy doing in life. Its a journey to happiness and wholeness and I treasure every moment. Here in Colorado the culture is different. Its not what you do for a living to put food on the table but what's on your table. What makes you YOU? What are your hobbies? Talents? Desires in life? I'm learning to rewire myself from the thought of "working to live to loving to live"

What are you going to do today to "live"? Be adventurous, go explore! I look outside to those majestic mountains and realize how blessed I am to be living!
Peace and Love,
Me

Spring is in the air and on the door!

I love those deco mesh wreaths everyone is making. But my goodness there is nothing cheap about this craft! This wreath cost me $34. Now I know why they are so expensive to purchase. I got the idea off, of course, Pinterest!!

We love mexican food in our house! I try not to buy processed foods. All the chemicals they add to the cans and you never know they could have roaches flies etc grounded up with the beans....gross! Heres my recipe for refried beans.

HOMEMADE REFRIED BEANS

Boil beans till soft. This took a couple hours on the stove top. You could use pressure cooker or put them in a crockpot all day. When beans are soft drain off water. Grab a skillet (I used iron) and pour some vegetable oil just to coat bottom. Add some beans and start mashing. Your beans will not be mushy like the cans. Some will still be whole. I added some cumin powder for a little mexi taste.

Family comments:

My 17 yr old thought the beans werent mushy enough. So next time Im going to put them in the processer. But they were tastier more bean like flavor. We ate them as burritos tacos and I made a mexican lasagna Yummo!