Chicken Goodness... {And a secret}

In my quest to cook from scratch, I have been trying to find a chicken nugget/strips recipe the whole family loves. 

In my MANY attempts I would hear things like 

"They are good mom, but I like Chick-Fil-A better"

or

"Yummy, but McDonalds are better"  {GASP!!!}

I NEVER want to hear that one again!  

So I have been working hard to create the perfect picky-eater-proof chicken strips.

I'm calling it "You-will-never-eat-McDonald's-chicken-again-so-better-learn-to-like-my-chicken"

Kidding

 (sort of)

We call it:  Ranch Chicken Strips

Dredge chicken in ranch dressing (seems to be the secret for this family)

Dip in Drake's fry mix (I really pat the mix on to create a good coating)

Fry in oil

Salt

That's it!

Note:  I find for best results I use a big enough skillet to cook all I am planning to make.  Seems that when I make multiple batches, the oil gets icky and the strips aren't as tasty.

Secret:  They are even better (in my opinion) when you hide a couple in the fridge and eat them cold when no one else is looking and the rest of the family thinks they are gone.  (hee hee)  

Hugs and Happy Cooking From Scratch!

Winter Blues...

Vitamin D a WONDERFUL winter-blues buster!

Think about it.

Mid-winter.  Unless you have spent a whole MONTH on a beach recently, you are probably lacking this amazing vitamin.

I notice A HUGE difference, ESPECIALLY in my overall mood, when I stop taking it.  (Like when we run out)

Vitamin D aids:

Mood elevation
Boost Immunity
Helps prevent lots of diseases
and lots, lots more

The best articles I have found are Dr. Mercola's, very informative and gives dosage recommendations.

Hugs and happy-beating-winter-blahs!

Christmas Card Tries

At certain points throughout the year we try to capture a good family picture to use for our Christmas cards. This year we just didn't seem to pull it together and Christmas came and went without a card.  Next year we will try harder.

  Our attempts are quite funny now that I look back, and I want these for our blog book :)

Love.  My.  Family.

What makes a meal?

This is a picture of one of my most favorite meals/snacks.

One I eat ALL THE TIME.

I could eat this for breakfast (like I did today), lunch, dinner or a snack  (Although I for lunch or dinner I would add more avocado and more cheese to make it more filling.)

Walnuts (or cashews), avocado, pear slices (or whatever fruit) and some Parmesan cheese (imported from Italy because we are Parmesan cheese snobs), 4 of my favorite foods

It doesn't look much like a traditional meal, but coupled with a nice glass of iced tea (or hot) this is a tasty treat for my taste buds.  

Filling (lots of wonderfully satiating natural fats), full of flavor,  healthy (CRAZY good vitamins) and no simple, refined carbs (which make me VERY moody - insert blood sugar swings)

Its fun to pair together different foods, thinking outside the meal-box.

Hugs :)

Igloo

Inspiration

I L.O.V.E. this picture.

This is one of my precious grandmothers (forefront), her brother and his wife.

Both of my grandma's have passed away, but they continue to inspire me.

I love the simplicity of this picture.  

Life was slower back then.  

Distractions weren't so plentiful. 

Hosting family and friends was a true event.

Love that grandma brought out her china to serve dessert and coffee.

I shared dessert with my grandparents all throughout my growing up years in this very kitchen.

I have alot of my her mixing bowls and baking dishes.  Could it be that I serve my family pie in that very same pie-plate?  I think so.

Simplicity simply inspires me.

Ninja and a Gentleman

If you ask Logan, he will say he is in training to become a Ninja. 

If you ask me, I will say he is in training to become a gentleman.

I love it when I see a boy (or man), show his mom love by treating her like a lady and making her feel special.  

So

When we enter a building (and Tommy isn't with us) Logan opens the door for me.  I will stand there and wait until he remembers that that is HIS job.

When we cross a street, he holds MY hand to keep ME safe from cars.  

I  hear Tommy say to Logan "Doesn't momma look pretty?"  and now when I come downstairs after getting ready I often hear him say "Momma, you look so pretty."

We have talked at length this winter about speaking only words that encourage others.  How it is ok to NOT say everything that comes into your mind.  Especially if it doesn't build the other person up.

SO

While we were looking through an old photo album, Logan commented:

"Momma, you were so pretty when you were little..."  

{I'm thinking, "How nice!  learning to compliment from his dad"}

then he added ".... and then you got glasses".

{sigh}  :)

Love my little Gentleman.