Menu Monday

I am slammed this week with photoshoots, so my menu for the week will be rather simple.

Monday: Pesto Chicken Pizza

(has anyone else tried it yet? My husband has been begging to have it again!)

Tuesday: Fajita Chicken Salad

Wednesday: Spaghetti and Meatballs

Thursday: Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches

(4th time on the menu... I WILL make these this week!!)

Friday: Date Night

Saturday: Grilled Cheese

Sunday: Roast Beef and Potatoes

My Scents for Summer

I LOVE the smells of summer... lemonade, fresh cut grass, chlorine (odd, I know, but I love it)

I love bringing those bright, clean smells indoors with candles!

I actually dont use candles anymore, I use a scentsy melter! But I buy all my wax cubes from Walmart! I seriously think they smell JUST as good for JUST as long! and they are WAY cheaper! Each block is like $2.00 and it has 6 cubes. Each cube usually lasts me 2-3 days, but I melt mine constantly. I just went a tad overboard buying them the other day, so I thought I'd share a few of the scents I am loving right now!

**I found all of these at walmart, but I had to go to 2 different ones. My walmart doesn't carry every product like the bigger ones do, so check a few if you dont find some of these at yours. Or you can order them on Amazon**

1. Pomegranate Passion Fruit- I immediately love anything that had the words passion fruit in it. I knew I would love this scent before I even picked it up off the shelf! It is super tart-zesty smell, which are my favorite!

2. Sugared Melon Kiwi- Melon scents are my go-to for when I am having people over. I love that they smell clean and sweet at the same time! My favorite melon scent EVER came from the Quilted Bear in northern Utah, it was called Cucumber Cantaloupe, I think. This scent is really close to it, and 1/2 the price! This one is in my melter right now.

3. Tranquil Garden Spa- Usually, I am not a fan of the 'laundry' scents, like 'crisp linen' or 'clear air', but this one is AMAZING! It is so clean and fresh, with a touch of sweetness. I am really excited to melt it on a day that I deep clean.... whenever that day is? ;)

4. Wild Island Fruit- I have talked about his scent before! I MUST love it! ;) In fact, I just bought my 4th block of it! It almost has a sour smell, not like sour milk, but like lip-puckering-fruit-sour.OH I love it! It makes me want to make a (virgin) Margarita, sit on my porch swing and boss around the pool boy I don't have, for the pool... that I don't have.

5. Guava Berry- I can't quite pin point what this one smells like, it's almost like a really yummy berry type soap. I am really looking forward to seeing if this one melts the same scent as it smells in the box, if it does, I know I'll love it!

Happy Smelling!

10 Minute Navajo Tacos

Navajo Tacos are one of my guilty pleasures. If you aren't from Utah, or just aren't sure what in the blazes I am talking about, a Navajo taco is a scone, with chili, and all the taco fixin's. And OH boy they are good! Usually they are made with roll/bread dough, (like rhodes) but I don't usually have time to let the dough thaw, then rise. So I use an alternative that makes it SO much quicker!

10 Minute Navajo Tacos

makes 4 Navajo Tacos

1 package pizza crust mix (Great Value is my favorite)

vegetable oil

1 can Nalley Chili

Shredded cheese, lettuce, onion, tomato, olives, sour cream, and taco sauce/salsa.

Prepare your pizza mix according to the directions, divide into 4 equal portions and flatten into rounds slightly larger than your hand.

In a large, shallow pan, heat about 1/2 inch of vegetable oil on med-high heat until bubbles form when you insert the end of a wooden spoon.  Fry your dough until golden brown, remove and drain on paper towels.

Top with heated chili and whatever toppings you like!

Simple Stuffed Shells

I LOVE Italian food. My first date with my husband was to the Pasta Factory, so I have a soft spot for oosey, cheesy, saucy pasta. I have to say, that Lasagna is probably by favorite dinner, however, that takes time, lots of time. These stuffed shells have all that yummy, cheese lasagna flavor, but with like 1/2 the work!

Simple Stuffed Shells

10-12 jumbo pasta shells

1 cup ground beef

2 cups cottage cheese

1/2 cup + 1 cup mozzarella cheese

1 egg

1 tsp italian seasoning

1 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

2 cups Pasta sauce (I'll post my homemade recipe later, but you can use Ragu or Prego)

Cook pasta shells in boiling water according to package directions, and brown ground beef in a pan until no longer pink.

In a bowl, mix together cottage cheese, 1/2 cup of the mozzarella, egg, ground beef and seasonings.

Spoon the mixture into the cooled shells and place them facing up in a baking dish. Cover with pasta sauce and the remaining 1 cup of cheese. Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 375 for 20 minutes. remove the foil, and bake for an additional 10 minutes.

Menu Monday

Monday: Baked Sausage and Tortellini

Tuesday: Spaghetti and Chili

Wednesday: Spaghetti Bread

Thursday: Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches (Didn't get to them last week.. again)

Friday: Date Night

Saturday: Helping my Mom move, so probobly fast food.

Sunday: Baked Fried Chicken

Pesto Chicken Pizza

I wish that I could even begin to describe how amazing this pizza was! Even after it was gone, and I was stuffed beyond all belief, I wanted more! Dare I say, I liked it more that traditional pepperoni? Yes, I dare say it. Try this pizza, you will NOT be dissapointed!

Pesto Chicken Pizza

1 pizza crust (I used this recipe)

1 chicken breast

1/2 cup prepared pesto (I used the Knorr mix)

2 cups mozzerella cheese

1/4 cup marinated artichokes (optional)

additional toppings: mushrooms, green olives, onion...

Cook your chicken breast in a skillet with a little oil until the chicken is no longer pink. Shred/chop into chunks.

Bake your pizza crust about 3/4 of the way, just before it starts to brown. Mine took about 15 minutes at 425.

 Once the pizza crust is par-cooked, spread the pesto all over the crust. Add chicken and artichokes, and top with cheese.

Return to the oven for another 5-10 minutes, or until all the cheese is melted.

Want to know the secret to the brown marks on the cheese? Once the cheese is barely melted, turn on the broiler for like 30 seconds, WATCH CLOSELY!!! Turn the oven off and remove the pizza once the top starts to brown.

Here's a little cheese tip.

I used to buy the bags of cheese, you know, the pre-shredded kind? but they never really melted that well, neither did the bricks. I saw this cheese the other day at walmart and noticed that the price per ounce was actually cheaper than the big bricks (I think it was around like $3) so I thought I'd try it.

It melted SO well! It was gooey and soft and SO yummy! I can honestly say that I will never buy an other mozzerella! Kudos to you if you already knew this, but if you didn't I challange you to try it!

Asian BBQ Chicken

I have something to admit, until yesterday, I had not cooked any kid of chicken except for boneless/skinless breasts. sad I know, I am not a fan of 'cleaning' the chicken. But the other day I bought some on a whim, and they were SO SO good! I will definetly be buying more!

Asian BBQ Chicken

2 lbs chicken drumsticks, wings and thighs (skin removed)

1/2 cup soy sauce

1/2 cup water

1 TB siracha chili sauce

1 TB minced garlic

1 tsp powdered ginger

2 TBS sugar

1 tsp sesame oil

1 TB rice vinegar

1 tsp black pepper

In a bowl, combine all ingredients (except chicken) and mix well. Put the chicken into a large dish and cover with the marinade. Put it in the fridge and allow it to set at LEAST 4 hours, overnight if possible.

Preheat your BBQ on med-high. remove chicken and discard excess marinade. BBQ for 20-40 minutes, depending on the temp of your bbq and how well you like your chicken done. We like ours REALLY well done, so ours took about 40-45 minutes.

Menu Monday

Monday: Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches (we didn't get to them last week)

Tuesday: Beef Stroganoff, green salad and garlic bread

Wednesday: I have a photoshoot... so it will probobly be a frozen pizza kinda night

Thursday: Stacked Enchiladas and chips & salsa

Friday: Date night

Saturday: Beef and Bean Tostadas

Sunday: Lasagna and green salad

Roasted Vegetable Tortellini

So, recently I have developed a deep and abiding love for brussel sprouts, resulting in the always being in my fridge! The other night I got out the tortellini to try a new recipe, and little by little I changed it, until it evolved into this! I was SO happy with how it turned out! SO good! My husband loved it, which is a BIG deal! In fact, he just passed by, looked at the screen and said "Mmm. that was good. I liked that." See what I mean. BIG deal.

Roasted Vegetable Tortellini

1 lb. frozen tortellini pasta

1/2 lb brussel spouts

1/2 lb asparagus spears

2 TBS olive oil

salt and pepper

1/2 cup Pesto (store bought, fresh, or from a packet)

1 chicken breast, cut into chunks

Preheat oven to 400. In a large pot, cook your tortellini pasta according to package directions. Cut the brussel sprouts into quarters and the asparagus into 1 inch pieces, toss in olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place on a cookie sheet and roast in the oven for 20 minutes, flipping half way through. In a skillet, cook your chicken chunks for about 10 minutes, or until no longer pink.  Prepare your pesto, if needed, and toss with the cooked tortellini. Add chicken and roasted vegtables and serve.

The Versitile Blogger Award!

Carol from Are we there yet? awarded me this sweet award!

Thank you Carol! I love getting these kind of awards and hearing the kind things that other bloggers have to say!

 

So, here are the rules -

1. Add the award to your blog. (check)

2. Thank the blogger that gave it to you. (check)

3. Mention seven random things about yourself. (below)

4. List the rules. (check)

5. Award to 15 bloggers. (below)

6. Notify the 15 of the award by leaving a comment on their blog. (we'll see if I can get that done before the little man's nap is over)

Hmm... 7 random things...

#1. My Husband is cleaner than I am... sad, I know... but true. Don't get me wrong, I clean all the time, but he is the master.

#2. I would rather have a second helping of dinner rather than dessert. I'm not huge into sweets. Give me doritos over m&m's any day.

#3. I LOVED being pregnant. I feel so blessed that I was able to have a healthy and enjoyable pregnany and I really hope the next one will be just as awesome. I really can't wait to be pregnant again!

#4. I am a cheap-o. My sister in law laughs at me because I have such a hard time spending money. I buy my clothes on sale, groceries with pricematch, and my DIY projects at yard sales. Unless it's something I really want... then I have no problem forking over the cash.

#5. I lose things. Easily. I cant even count the number of times I have lost my keys, or my phone. I was SO glad when we got a car that had a keyless start/lock system. that way I can bury them in my purse and never have to take them out.

#6. I am super duper nostalgic. I love traditions, heirlooms, anything that has to do with linking generations.

#7. I have a hard time remembering to pay bills. 99% of our bills I've had to set up as automatic withdrawl, or I totally space it and we have to pay late fees. And somehow I still forget to pay that 1% of the rest of them!

Hopefully those were random enough!

Now here's my 15 bloggers! (ps. somewhere along the line this got changed from 10 to 15... so I'm going to change it back.)

Joy is at Home- I love Suzy's blog! She makes the cutest stuff! She also recently found out that she has a little mister on the way! Yay for mommas with little boys! ;)

Sunny Side Up- I am secretly obsessed with this blog. My cute friend Hope told me to check out her friends blog a long time ago, and I have been hooked ever since! I would KILL for her organizing skills!

Peggy's Pantry- This is my Husband's Aunt, I LOVE her recipes, they are those homemade-downhome-yummy-wannamakeittonight kind of recipes!

Silver Boxes- I think I have awarded this blog an award before, but I cant help it! Love her blog! And I feel like our names kind of gave us an instant bond! ;)

Life should Cost Less- Sara had amazing ideas to save money in your home. I love looking through her ideas! Now if only I had the time to put them all to use!

Over the Big Moon- Pam and Lisa are amazing! I am constantly in awe of how much time and love they pour into their blog! I love all their preschool packs and I cant wait until my little buster is old enough to use them!

Healthified Kitchen -I am a sucker for a healthy blog, but this one... I actually would make and EAT the recipes! They all look SO yummy!

Domestic Imperfection - I LOVE Ashley's blog, she is seriously hillarious! All of her projects are so amazing!

Cooking on Clover Lane- Can you ever have too many great recipe blogs? the answer in no. I spent like an hour looking through all of her recipes the other day and found so many to drool over!

My Yellow Sandbox- I love looking through all of the fun hairstyles that Abby posts on her blog! Makes me want my hair to grow faster :(

 

Eyelash Extensions by Jodi {product review}

I have a things for lashes... I never, not since I was allowed to wear it, leave the house without mascara.

So when Jodi moved to town and I found out she was offering them, I HAD to jump on the bandwagon! And, can I just say... that I am obsessed! I am totally, completely, 100%, over the moon in love with them! I will never go back!

This is photo is no mascara (just a tad on bottom), no liner, no nothing. They are AMAZING for those who don't like a lot of makeup, or those who do!

(umm... sorry for the SUPER close up of my eye)

Here is my before & after... can you believe the difference!?

I was afraid they would look fake, and I wouldn't like them for all the time, but they are perfect for everyday! Here's a photo a little farther away... 

If you are in the Southern Utah area and want to get a KILLER deal on a FULL set of Lashes, Jodi has informed me that she will be offering lashes for $35!! That's HALF PRICE! Umm... HELLO!? Call her! NOW!

Lashes by Jodi

Lashes by Jodi on Facebook

***UPDATE***

so  I just passed the 3 week mark of having my lashes and I still love them! Yes, they have grown out and thinned, but I think I can still go at least another week! I love not having to worry about mascara, or really any makeup at all! I will definetly be making another appointment!

Smoky BBQ Chicken Sandwich

I was craving a chicken sandwich the other night, and oh man this hit the spot!

I am obsessed with these Weber seasonings by the way, they work so well for all meats!

Smoky BBQ Chicken Sandwich

makes 2 sanwiches

2 crusty burger buns

1 chicken breast

2 Tsp Weber Smoky Mesquite Seasoning

lettuce

tomato

onion

1 TBS miracle whip (or mayo)

1 tsp BBQ sauce

Butterfly your chicken breast in half lengthwise and pound out until 1/4 inch think. Season the chicken with the mesquite seasoning and grill on the BBQ until no longer pink.

Mix the miracle whip and BBQ sauce together and spread on toasted bun.

Add the Chicken to the bun adn top with lettuce tomato and onion.

Giveaway from Sugarsnap Photography!

I am currently doing a giveaway on my Photography website! Be sure to enter before Sunday!!

Enter here

Sugarsnap's Blog

Sugarsnap's Facebook

*You must live in, or be willing to travel to the Southern Utah area.

Roasted Brussel Sprouts

I had NEVER had brussel sprouts until I got married, actually not even until 3 years AFTER I got married! And guess what I LOOOVE them! I crave these every day now! They are sweet and crispy and SOO good!

Roasted Brussel Sprouts

Serves 2-3

1/2 lb. fresh brussel sprouts

2 TBS olive oil

1 tsp kosher or sea salt

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Rinse your brussel sprouts well and remove and discolored leaves. Cut them into quarters, leaving the ends intact.

In a gallon sized ziploc bag, add the brussel sprouts, olive oil, salt and red pepper. Toss well to coat.

Spread out into an even layer on a large cookie sheet. Bake for 10 minutes and flip them over with a spatula, continue cooking for 15-20 min. or until they are brown and slightly crispy.

Serve with Parmesan cheese.

Menu Monday

Okay Okay, I know, I missed a week, now I'm late :( Sorry!

Monday: Beef Enchiladas

Tuesday: Lemon Chicken Tortelini

Wednesday: Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches (I'm going to change them up from this version)

Thursday: Potstickers and fried rice

Friday: Date Night

Saturday: Pretzel Chicken Strips

Sunday: Beef Stroganoff

Hot Deli Chicken Sandwich

This was SUCH a simple sandwich, but I LOVED it! So I'm going to share!

2 Sandwich Rolls

4 slices good quality lunch meat chicken

2 slices cheddar cheese

lettuce

mustard

In a dry skillet, slightly brown your lunch meat over medium heat.

Split rolls and add cheese, place under broiler until cheese has melted

Add chicken, lettuce and mustard.

Enjoy.

GREAT Bow Giveaway!!

My Sister in Law is doing ANOTHER awesome bow giveaway! Enter here!

Look at all those super cute bows! Just in time for spring! Makes me want a little girl!

BIG News!

Lovely Little Snippets has partnered up with The Dating Divas website!

The Dating Divas have created these two AMAZING E-books and I get the opportunity to offer them to you! These are great book for everyone to have! Take a look....

Here's what the dating Diva's have to say...

Do you love your spouse but miss that excitement you had back when you were first dating? Are you feeling more like roommates instead of husband & wife? Wishing you could reconnect with your best friend?

Are you ready to take things from good to GREAT (or should we say from luke-warm to HOT)?!?

We know marriage isn’t easy…in fact, we know it’s one of the hardest things any of us will ever be a part of! It’s quite a ride, isn’t it!! We have had SO much fun providing fun date ideas for our readers but the emails flooding in asking for our advice indicated that you all wanted a little more…..perhaps a “blueprint” of sorts? We came up with a brilliant idea!

Why not offer something that will hit upon tried & true marriage tips WE use….and DATE NIGHT!?! We sprung into action and we are so excited to offer TWO perfect e-books to get your marriage sizzlin’ once again, just in time for the HOLIDAYS! We are offering a special PRE-SELL price JUST for you – our current readers! This offer won’t last for long, so hurry up and grab your copies at the killer discounted prices!!

THE A to Z GUIDE: 26 Ways in 26 Days to a Happier, Healthier Marriage

(Digital e-Book)

Since we can’t come to each of your homes & have a FUN Girl’s Night Out…..we decided to do the NEXT best thing! We’ve gathered our BEST marriage tips – the secrets behind the success in our own marriages and compiled them into a book to share with all of you! A collaboration effort by us, the Divas, we share touching, enlightening, and humorous stories to demonstrate each marriage tip. You will get to see a glimpse inside the marriages of a few of the divas. {Hang onto your hats!} By applying these simple, yet valuable tips, you will start to experience a different, happier marriage right away. This ebook will give you practical tools to literally transform your marriage. We are confident you will:

• Realize you’re not alone
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• Communicate more effectively
• Begin to get that “twitter-pated” feeling back

The ULTIMATE Date Night Book

(Digital e-Book)

You asked for it AND we delivered!! We gathered all of our TOP dates (voted by readers and Divas) plus fresh, never before seen or published date ideas…..and compiled them into our first DATE ebook! This is the perfect book to have on hand for planning date nights! We pretty much have your Friday Night Date Nights planned out for you! We did all the work, you can enjoy the results. Make a 2012 resolution to spice up the date nights for your marriage! {We also thought this would be the perfect book to give away as a wedding present!}

• All printables included
• Gorgeous photos
• Easy-to-follow “Date Night” outlines

These are both amazing books for everyone from newlyweds, to marriage veterans!

I HIGHLY reccomend them!