Baked Chicken Parmesan

Tonight, I made Baked Chicken Parmesan for the very first time ever.  Actually it was my first time eating it too.  And it was great!!  Everyone loved it!  It's a keeper, we will be having it again!  The chicken was moist and just the right amount of sauce and cheese.  Of course, I don't have a lot to compare it to but I loved it!

For anyone that may want to try it, here is the blog I used.

http://www.realhousemoms.com/baked-chicken-parmesan/

Hell's Kitchen Thoughts

Um, wow!  It has been a while since I have been on here.  I thought I posted from my phone at some point, but maybe not.  Time is going by fast!

So I have been a "fan" of Hell's Kitchen for a few years now.  I believe I have a love/ hate relationship with the show.  Some of the contestants drive me crazy though! I should of done this at the beginning, but I forgot.  Here are the remaining contestants and who I like and who could go!

Girls

Amanda- She is ok, it seems.  I don't see her to win it though. I don't think she gets enough TV time. But she doesn't get into a lot of trouble either.

Cyndi- She is also ok, it seems like she know how what she is doing. She also doesn't get into a lot of trouble.

Ja'nel- I actually like her.  I think she knows what she is doing.  She doesn't get into a lot of trouble either.  For the girls, she is the one that I like the best!

Jacqueline- Goodbye!!!  I can't stand her!  She thinks she is a good cook, and she sucks.  I don't see her to make it too much farther.

Mary- Bye, bye!  If for no other reason, than you have to go for your voice.  Sorry.  It's annoying!  Nor do I think she can cook.

Nedra- I like her!!  I don't think she will win it, but she is so funny!!  I hope she sticks around for a while for the laughs!

Susan- After last night, bye.  I think she is fake and likes to blame others.  I have no use for people like that, nor do I believe she can cook.

Boys

Anthony- One of my favorites!  I think he is a good cook and knows his stuff in the kitchen. I see him to go far.

Barrett- I don't see for him to make it that much farther.  I don't mind him, but I don't think he is a leader.

Dan- Don't let the door hit you on the way out!!!!  Good bye!  I can't stand this guy.  I keep saying if he sticks around much longer I am going to stop watching.  He has such a big head and screws up more than anyone!

Jon- He is ok, I don't see for him to win it though.

Michael- He is my favorite over all contestant!  I like him!  I think he is a leader and a good cook.

Ray- I don't have anything against Ray, but I don't see for him to make it much farther at all.  Each week I am surprised that he is still around.

Zack- I like him, he is one of my favorites too!  Seems like he knows what he is doing and is funny on top of it!

Those are just my opinions, and really what do I know?  :)

Chicken Noodle Soup

I will be the first to tell you that I am not a great cook.  I don't even like cooking.  I joke around and say my next house will have no kitchen, just vending machines.  But living the poor life you have to cook.  I also do NOT like soup.  I never go somewhere and think, I bet they have great soup, I think I will order soup today... no.  I do warm up canned soup for my children at times, and no, I do not eat that.  I think canned soup is pretty much gross.  I will eat soup with rice in it.  But not plan soup.  And forget about adding an extra can of water.  Yuck!  With that being said I am a pinning oholic on pinterest and I found a recipe for chicken noddle soup.  With it being winter like here (temps in the 30's as the high), I decided lets try it!!  And holy moly, it knocked my socks off!!  Some of my children will eat soup, some won't.  Samantha didn't like the soup, the boys all ate it with little complaint.  The three older boys had more than one bowl!!!  Go me!!!  And I just had it as left overs (I don't "do" left overs either), and it was still great!!!  So this is a keeper for my family!! 

Here is the recipe for anyone that wants it.

Homestyle Chicken Noodle Soup (in less than 30 minutes!)

Ingredients:
1/2 of medium onion, chopped
1 bag of egg noodles (you can use either medium or wide)
2 cans of cooked chunk chicken breast (I like the Tyson brand), strained
1 can of sliced carrots, strained
Water
Chicken Bouillon cubes
Parsley Flakes

Easy steps to homestyle, tasty goodness:
1) In a large soup pot, saute onion in olive oil until translucent.
2) Fill pot 2/3 full with hot water and add bouillon cubes (I usually use 3 or 4)- you could also use canned chicken broth.
3) Bring to a rolling boil and add bag of egg noodles.
4) Boil until noodles are tender (approx. 12-15 minutes), and stir occasionally.
5) Add carrots and chicken and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 10 more minutes. (I usually do a quick taste test here and add more seasoning if it needs it.)
6) Sprinkle parsley flakes on top and serve!!! (Don't skip out on the parsley flakes- it really adds to the "homestyle" look of the soup. I am discovering that you can put parsley flakes on an old tennis shoe and it will look appetizing! haha)

I did add more chicken bouillon cubes then the recipe calls for. 

And a link to the blog.

http://wellfeefamily.blogspot.com/2011/09/homestyle-chicken-noodle-soup-so-easy.html

Let me know if you try it and what you think!

Gigi's Italian Cream Cupcake

Gigi's Italian Cream Cupcake (http://www.gigiscupcakesusa.com/italiancreamweddingcake).  I don't like coconut, but this was a good cupcake.  The icing was very sweet and fluffy.  It was a nice cupcake and looks cute too!  Simple but cute!

Gigi's Chocolate Hazelnut cupcake

This is Gigi's Hazelnut cupcake.  (http://www.gigiscupcakesusa.com/chocolatehazelnut).  The icing is a hazelnut which wasn't bad.  I have never had Nutella before, but most people swear it is so good.  Well the middle of this cupcake had Nutella in it... and YUCK!  I am not a fan of Nutella.  I don't know what people are talking about.  It taste a lot like peanut butter but with a small chocolate flavor.  So gross.  No thanks on Nutella and this cupcake.

Gigi's Chocolate Chip Cheesecake

This is Gigi's chocolate chip cheesecake. (http://www.gigiscupcakesusa.com/chocolatechipcheesecake)  And it is SOOO yummy!  Wow, it is wonderful!  Chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting.  Very sweet and chocolatey.  Love this!  It may be my new favorite!

 

Parker Update

Little Man went to the doctor on Tuesday and at that time he was only scooting around; which the doctor said was completely normal and that crawling isn't a must at 9 months.  He could army crawl and scoot.  Even would scoot using his arms to pull him while on his butt.  And Wednesday Parker woke up and decided that he was going to crawl.  And that's what he did!!!  And he didn't decide to just crawl a little, but he crawls everywhere!  He has explored this whole living room and kitchen.  He stays near by me still, but he can get whatever he wants.  He is also cruising now too.  All along the couch, he walks around.  And when he is crawling, he wants to stand so he will stop and place both feet flat on the floor with his butt in the air and try so hard to stand.  He isn't very brave yet, but once he gets braver I think he will stand.  He is so strong!  What a busy week it has been for Parker!

He is also on some fruits.  He kinda likes bananas and apples.  He still doesn't care for blueberry, pears, or peaches.  I still have some more to try with him.  He LOVES yogurt though!!!  He has only had the banana yogurt for now and will eat it all day if I allowed him.  I am going to buy him some different flavors this week.

Parker is now saying mama... a lot!!  Especially when he is upset.  And he knows who mama is.  He will say bubba, dada, and hi.  He also claps, and we are working on waving. 

He is growing so fast!!  He needs to slow down.  I am not ready for him to be a toddler!

Gigi's Pumpkin White Chocolate

This is (http://www.gigiscupcakesusa.com) Gigi's Pumpkin White Chocolate cupcake... and holy moly it taste just like Fall to me!!  Wow.  I was very surprised by this cupcake.  I am not normally a fan of pumpkin tasting things, but this one I loved!  Here is what the description of it online is:

 

"Pumpkin cake with white chocolate chips, white chocolate cream cheese frosting, dusted with pumpkin pie spice."

 

It was wonderful!!  I need another one before the season is over!

 

 

Gigi's Peanut Butter Cup

This is Gigi's (http://www.gigiscupcakesusa.com/) Peanut Butter cup... I am not a fan.  But then I am not crazy about peanut butter.  I thought it was so cute though.  The cake was crunchy in places and then the icing is all peanut butter.  My boys liked it, but would have prefered to have a chocolate cupcake.  Samantha didn't care either way.

Gigi's Cinnamon Roll

This is Gigi's (http://www.gigiscupcakesusa.com/), cinnamon roll cupcake.  It tasted just like a cinnamon roll... I was so surprised!!  I liked it a lot, I don't even see it on their list though.  But it is a keeper if they want my opinion!

Gigi's Birthday Surprise

This cute little thing is http://www.gigiscupcakesusa.com/ Birthday Surprise!!!  This one is so cute, Samantha had to have it.  And I actually enjoyed it too.  Samantha only likes the icing... me too, honestly, but I will eat the whole cupcake.  She loved this icing.  And so did I, the light pink has a light fluffy sweetness.  Very yummy!  Good choice Samantha!

Pinkitzel's Salted Caramel

Yesterday I tried Pinkitzel's Salted Caramel.  It was interesting.  It is a chocolate cake with very running caramel in the middle of it.  With some pink icing, I am not really sure what the icing was it.  it was my favorite part of this cupcake though.  I probably wouldn't get it again though. 

Fair Day!!!

On Friday we went to the Oklahoma State Fair.  I haven't been since 2009, not a lot has changed.  It is so expensive there.  $33 for us to get in, and almost another $40 for 5 things of nachos (with stale chips), 2 corn dogs (that were hard and cold), and 3 bottle waters.  Yikes!!  We didn't ride rides, that would of been another $120 for arm bands.  No thanks!  We walked around, the kids were dissappointed that they didn't get much in the way of free things (at the Shawnee Free Fair they got bags, pens, pencils, stickers, coloring pages, water, fly swatter, candy).  I do think the fair is more geared towards adults or teens, not really small children.  The weather was rainy and gloomy, but we still had a nice time. Here are a few photos.

Little man was pretty good.  I did have to carry him a lot.  A 19 pound baby, plus a camera that is pretty heavy, made me sore!  LOL!  It's my old age getting to me.  :)

The only two photos I got of the kids.  They are out of focus.  :(  And I didn't get one with all of them.  :*(  And none with me.  :(  Maybe next time.

Eat Your Veggies!

Little man is now on both cereals (rice and oatmeal) and 4 veggies (carrots, peas, green beans, and sweet potatoes).  He isn't a huge fan of anything.  He will eat the oatmeal (sometimes), carrots (sometimes), peas (rarely), and the sweet potatoes (often).  The rice cereal and green beans, forget!  What a picky little eater!  I guess sometime in the next few weeks I will start either meats or fruits.  I am thinking about starting meats first since I know he will hate them!  He may never want to eat anything again once he starts fruits. We will see.  I am not in a huge hurry.

Gigi's Raspberry Cupcake

I am actually not sure what the name of this cupcake is.  There wasn't a label on it when I bought it.  The cupcake lady told me that it was a raspberry cake with a chocolate icing.  I wanted to try something that I didn't think I would like.  But unlike the two that I got that I figured I would like, I actually loved this cupcake!!!  It is a pink raspberry cake with chocolate icing with a white chocolate drizzle and a raspberry drizzle.  It was so good!!  I would love to get this one again.  I am not sure how often they sell these though.

Gigi's Smore Cupcake

This is Gigi's Smore Cupcake.  It looked so cute in the display and I love smores that I make at home, but this cupcake isn't the same.  I actually wanted to return it for a refund.  The cake was a chocolate cake, that was completely dried out.  Then I guess they "toasted" the top of it.  Then the marshmallow icing on top with a tiny hershey bar.  The Hershey bar was the best part.  I like marshamallows but the icing was too much especially since the cake was so bad.  I wouldn't get this one again. 

Gigi's Kid Kraze Cupcake

Today I had to go to the doctor, which made today not so great.  So after the appointment the little girl (and little boy), and I went and got a couple of cupcakes.  Too bad the little guy didn't get any cupcakes, he was just along for the ride.  But this is the one the girl picked.  Of course!  It's pink!  Pink icing, with sprinkles on the inside and out, with a gummy worm.  She only ate about half, she LOVED the icing.  I got a tiny bite before she licked the icing off of the whole thing.  The icing was very good!!  The cake was pretty good too. 

Cereal Time!!

Little man started cereal three days ago.  The doctor keeps telling me to give him cereal so he will sleep better at night.... LOL!!  ummm no that isn't happening.  He is STILL getting up every 1-2 hours... I am TIRED!!!!!  He is tired.  I am lost on what else to do now.  He hates sleep.  I don't need a lot of sleep, but 4 hours without interruption would be AWESOME!!  I use to get 5-6 hours every night and be fine.  But now I am getting 4-6 hours hours but that is more like an hour nap then up for 30-60 minutes, then another nap.  Ugh!  So he has had cereal every night, just Rice Cereal.  Nothing special.  And he doesn't like it at all either.  He makes awful faces and spits it out.  My little picky guy.  Hopefully he will get better.  I started my younger two between 7 1/2 -8 months on cereal and they are my best eaters!  And little man will be 8 months old on Friday.  So hopefully with time he will like the cereal and learn to SLEEP!  Or at least one can hope.  :)

A Trip to Dallas!!

Yesterday I woke up at 4:30 AM and left the house at 6AM with 6 small kids and we drove 200+ milesto Dallas. While there we went to Legoland Discovery Center in the Grapevine Mills Mall. We at the Rainforest Cafe inside the mall. And did some shopping while we were there. After that we went and ate at In N Out (my favorite!). And then drove 200+ miles back home. We got back home at 10:30 last night, it was a full day, but a lit of fun!!! As for the Rainforest, wow, that place is expensive. We got 4 kids hamburgers and one kid mac and cheese and two adults hamburgers, and drinks for us all and it was $80 dollars. And honestly the food wasn't very good. Not $80 dollars good! The restaurant is a lot of fun though. Every 10 minutes the animals move around, and every 20 minutes the lights start flashing and all the animals go crazy because of a "storm". My 3 year old had a blast in there! Legoland was great!! It costs us $97 in get in, and I had an online special. There was 4 rides for the kids, Samantha was too little for 2 of the rides. But she still had a lot of fun. The boys had a blast! I wish the lines weren't go long. We waited 30 minutes for rides. The mini city was the most fun for me, it was really neat! And of course In N Out was wonderful!!!! So yummy and I LOVE the palm trees! We all slept well last night, even Parker did, which is rare for him!

 

 

We arrived in Texas!!! 

Happy baby in Texas!  He did great on the drive there, on the way home he wasn't pleased at all.  He cried a lot even though I stopped often to try and make him happy.  :(

Each kid with a pole.  :)

Grapevine Mills

Tigers in the Rainforest Cafe

The Rainforest Cafe

Dallas Mavericks Player at LegoLand

Mini City...

Texas Rangers Stadium in Legos!

Mini City

Legos!

The airport in legos!

Great Wolfe Lodge in Legos

One of the rides...

Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Legos!

In N Out!!!