Ingredient of the Week: Tuesday

Today I made,

  Jalapeno Chicken!

 http://allrecipes.com/recipe/jalapeno-chicken-ii/detail.aspx

I wanted to keep it more healthy so I change things around. 

 

Here is my version :)

Ingredients:

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, halved and pounded

1/4 cup lemon juice

Season salt

2 fresh jalapeno peppers, diced(I left seeds in)

1/2 package cream cheese, softened

toothpicks

Directions:

1. Season chicken breasts with season salt to your liking, place in a dish with lemon juice. Cover and let marinate for 2 hours.

2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F

3. Mix diced jalapenos and cream cheese, stuff into chicken and close up with toothpicks.

4. Cook chicken in preheated oven for 30 minutes or until done. Serve with rice and enjoy!

We both loved this recipe so it's definitely a keeper!

Ingredient of the Week: Monday

It's Monday! 

Enough said.

Today I decided to try

Jalapeno Soup

Ingredients:

4 cups chicken broth

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1 1/2 cups milk

2 cups chopped celery

1 onion, chopped

2 cloves minced garlic

2 cups cheddar cheese

1 to 2 Jalapeno peppers diced.

Optional- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts diced.

Directions:

1.In large saucepan, over medium high heat, saute celery, onion, garlic and jalapeno pepper with butter or oil. Remove from pan and cook diced chicken when done add vegetables back in.

2. Turn to high heat. Mix cornstarch in chicken broth and pour over vegetables and chicken stirring until thickened. Add milk.

3. Remove from heat, stir in cheese. Serve!

On a side note: If you like your soup more thick you can add extra cornstarch to milk before pouring into soup mixture. AND if you don't want chunkies, place soup into food processor or blender after cheese is added.

This recipe is very flexible and you can add and delete to your liking! 

I Used two Jalapenos and that was pretty dang spicy :) If you don't like spice try it with green chilis.

If you try this I would love to hear thoughts and any changes you made to suit you!

Ingredient of the Week

I have decided to challenge myself this week.

Dinner in our house has become, same old, same old and it's time to spruce things up and get creative!

One ingredient used for every meal...for a week

(well, work week that is. Monday through Friday).

For this week I chose the JALAPENO.

Let's do this thang!

Cornstarch

Being on the thrifty side of things, a household remedy for things like makeup are so welcome!

A friend of mine was talking about the bags under her eyes, and I had to ask,"What bags!?". She then told me that after she applies her foundation she brushed on cornstarch under her eyes to prevent makeup from melting into all those lovely lines and to help keep a fresh look all day.

Yup. Plain old cornstarch you find at the Grocery store.

Genius!

I always have a problem with my mascara and eye shadow building up in the lines above and below my eyes. So I look like I'm wearing yesterdays' make-up. Yuck! 

Now I apply the cornstarch around my eyes and t-zone(where I have more oils) after applying foundation. 

I must say it has done wonders!!!

Peek a boo!

Update

I have fallen behind with my blog these past two months but have every intention of getting right back into it. :)

This past December Isaac and I were able to enjoy much more time together with the holiday work hours, frequenting a few Christmas markets and enjoying the delicious food!

Unfortunately we did not receive snow for Christmas this year but growing up in Phoenix...I was used to it!

Two days after Christmas we celebrated our 3rd anniversary by cleaning house and running errands! lol! Starting to feel like an old married couple!

New years was calm and quiet for us. Watching a few movies and eating a heavy meal before our 2012 diet began.

Isaac is taking two classes this semester and I'm desperately trying to get everything in line so I can start full time this semester as as well.

Other then school and a healthy lifestyle for the year 2012, we hope to travel to a few more European locations.

Christmas!

We are so excited for Christmas!

Celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Christmas Markets(with photos to come), decorations, good food, and my new favorite....SNOW(but none yet)! 

Last year the bottom half of the tree had no decorations. Lucky ate them...this year we're keeping a close eye and hoping that he's done with that puppy faze. Right buddies?

baby shower cake

Another addition to my cake collection.

I have wonderful ideas for decorating and find myself very limited with the supplies I have(and can find in this small town). These challenges are good but one day, I hope to work in a real bakery and receive training in cake decorating....one day :)