Chicken Cacciatore Skillet

I tried this recipe for dinner--minus the mushrooms.  It was very good!  I will definitely add this to my recipe collection!

INGREDIENTS
  • 1/2 pound boneless skinless chicken breast halves , cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1/4 cup chopped onion
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth, divided
  • 3/4 cup chopped green pepper
  • 1 (4 ounce) can mushroom stems and pieces, drained
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 3/4 cup uncooked long grain rice
  • 1 cup meatless spaghetti sauce

DIRECTIONS

  1. In a large skillet, cook the chicken, onion and garlic in 3 tablespoons broth until chicken juices run clear.
  2.  
  3. Stir in the green pepper, mushrooms, bay leaf, oregano, basil, pepper and remaining broth. 
  4. Bring to a boil. Add the rice. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20-25 minutes or until the rice is tender. Add the spaghetti sauce; heat through. 
  5. Discard bay leaf before serving.


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Weekend Recap in Photos

We spent the weekend dong things around the house. We have decided to not move until we know we have an internet installation date.  Hopefully we set that up this week... with someone... and we can move in this weekend.  But if we don't set anything up, then we'll just wait.  We're really not in any hurry because as soon as we move we have to pay a mortgage.  Boo!

But here are some updated house photos!  :o)

My wonderful office/the spare bedroom! 
It not completely set up yet... I still need to get another table from IKEA, but it's pretty close.


The dining room.


Hannah's room!  
I hung the butterflies up on the wall and I absolutely LOVE how they turned out!  :o)

While I was hanging things and putting things away, Hannah was very content playing in her activity center.  This was the first time we put her in it because we had no room at the other place.  But with our new living room I finally had enough room to put it together. 

And after a weekend of doing things out at the house, we welcomed a relaxing Sunday evening!  I love it when she falls asleep on my lap!

Doesn't she look so big...  :o(


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Family Portrait Outfits


So I have been wanting to get family portraits taken for quite some time, but I am still trying to convince Nick into getting them taken.  With Hannah turning 6 months old in a month, I think it would be a perfect time to get pictures taken! Don't you? I think so... so hopefully Nick will finally agree to them!

And being the over planner that I am, I am already looking for family portrait outfits. :oP  I have come up with two options that I really like. I'm not sure how I am going to make up my mind on which one to go with...I love them both!


OPTION 1--Nuetral:

Hannah's Outfit
My Top probably paired with Khakis

Nick's Top also probably paired with Khakis

OPTION 2--Bright:


My Top paired with Jeans

Nick's Top paired with Jeans


Maybe I should just get both outfits and do an outfit change at our portrait session...  :oP

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Our Couches!


We ordered our couches!  They set to arrive on April 11th!  YAY!  

They are much more comfortable than the ones we currently have.  They are really deep so there is a lot of room to lay and they have soft chenille fabric.  Ah, so comfy!  The accent pillows are a little much (yes, we do get every pillow that is included in the pictures) but we might use a few as they match our living room...   :oP




In other news... our  Direct TV gets set up on the 2nd so we'll have tv in a week.  :o)  I think we are going to be moving our king bed this weekend and start sleeping in our new house!  Eeeee!  Although, we are having a heck of a time finding internet service for our new place since it is a new subdivision and a new house... so we have no idea what is going to end up happening with that.  I am going to call around tomorrow to try to figure out what is going on.  I don't think we'll be able to last very long without internet so we need it ASAP!  :oP  


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Happy 5 Month Birthday, Little Butterfly!

At first, my little stinker of a daughter didn't want her 5 month pictures taken...she wanted to eat the paper instead.

Man, what a look!

Yum!

But once I managed to pry the paper from her hands, I took a photo.  Mommy wins!  :oP


Happy 5 month birthday, little butterfly! I love you!


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5 Month Photo Shoot


I did a 5 month mini photo shoot with Hannah today.  

Tomorrow she turns 5 months old! 


Happy Easter!  How cute are those bunny ears!?




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I Can't Decide!

I have to make something to take to my family Easter and I'm not sure what to make.  I like to try to take something that I have never made before... 

For Easter this year I have found 4 recipes that could work, but I can't decide on which one to make.  So I need your help... which one would you like to eat at Easter?

I have made a poll... it is in my sidebar to the right.  Please vote and help me decide which one I should make!  Thanks!

Cheddar and Cranberry Cheese Ball
Roquefort and Walnut Cheese Ball
Goat Cheese and Scallion Cheese Ball
Cheese Balls Three Ways

Shrimp Salad Canapes with Endive

Lemon Tassies

Salmon Dip





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Almost There!


The storage unit is empty!  Now we're just moving all of the smaller things that we're currently using at the house. Plus, we're still kind of getting everything set up at the new house.  I want to unpack boxes before we move in... one, so I don't have to do it once we're already in and two, I don't feel like looking or walking around boxes ANY MORE!

We could have stayed there last night if we wanted but we go back to that box issue and we don't have cable yet.  Although, if we can't get it installed by this weekend we're just going to officially move in and we'll just have to watch movies!  :oP

We're almost there!  :o)  The inspector comes today!  We should get our occupancy permit!  :o)

The master closet is finished!  :o)

Hannah's room is pretty much finished. (Yes, our closets will have doors... they're just not up yet!)

I'm so tired of looking at/living out of boxes! I can't wait to get this stuff put away!

I am in love with my kitchen!  I can't wait to entertain!  May 23rd needs to hurry up!  :o)

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Happy 1st Day of Spring!

Today is the first day of Spring and I couldn't be more excited!  Winter is over and warmer weather has finally replaced the crappy cold!  Granted its not yet 70 degrees outside, but I will take the 50 degree weather over snow any day!  

In honor of today being the first day if Spring, I have changed my blog header to include nice spring flowers!  :o)  Doesn't it just put you in a good mood!?  I can't wait for the flowers to start blooming and the trees to start budding!

Happy 1st Day of Spring everyone!

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Pretty Girl/Big Girl-UPDATE!


My little girl will be 5 months old in exactly one week... I can't believe it.  She is starting to look more and more like a big girl, not just a baby.  Although, she will be my little baby, well, probably forever!  :oP

Here are some photos I took yesterday.


Hi!

Mom, what are you doing???


She hasn't quite mastered rolling from her back to her tummy.  She gets stuck on this position. She's so close though! 

UPDATE-- Hannah finally figured out how to roll from her back to tummy... she has done it twice now in 5 minutes.  YAY!  Go Hannah!  :o)

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