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2 Step Easy Balsamic Chicken

This week has been super hectic! I mean crazy busy! I feel like I haven't had a moment to sit down and just breath! The kids and they're activities are non stop, then they have been recovering from the colds that they had and then the baby was sick too! but she's much better now just recovering too.  Anyhow with the preface how I have had zero time this week I threw this together.  I actually did this on a Monday night and that happens to be our most hectic evening of the week!!  A helpful note for this chicken is to MAKE EXTRA! the leftovers are simply delicious for the next day!

Happy eating from my kitchen to yours! 

What You Need:

4 chicken breast

salt and pepper to taste 

1 bottle of balsamic vinaigrette dressing (I used Kens Dressing for mine)

How to:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Place your chicken in a deep baking dish.   While your oven is pre-heating take a minute to season your chicken with salt and pepper.  Then pour the entire bottle of dressing over your chicken.  Cover with tin foil allowing the sides to be partially exposed. cook for 45 minutes or until your chicken reaches an internal temperature of  170 degrees Fahrenheit.  Pour reaming balsamic liquid that, you will find on the bottom of your baking dish on top of the chicken for additional yumminess. 

Asian Beef

This weekend was a abnormal one.  Typically we like to go out and do some outdoor activities, but this weekend we were not able to due to the girls not feeling well, and my son was recovering from his cold as well.  So we capitalized on the weekend and made it a lazy one.  We decided to have two movie night! which is out of the ordinary for us.  We watched the Croods which is such a cute movie! and we watched Epic and we all passed out so I can't give you the appropriate ratings lol.  But while we were home bound I whipped up this Asian beef, it's super easy and really tasty enjoy!  

From my kitchen to yours Happy Eating!  

Adapted from: All Recipes

What You Need:

1 ( 1 1/2- to 2-pound) flank steak

1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3 Tablespoons honey
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 Tablespoons minced fresh ginger
3 scallions, thinly sliced

How To:

Place the plastic bag in a large bowl and then add the soy sauce, balsamic vinegar and oil to the bag. Whisk in the honey, garlic, ginger and scallions. Add the steak to the bag, flipping it to coat it in the marinade, and then seal the plastic bag.

Place the steak in the fridge and marinate for about 2-4 hours the longer the better though.

When ready to cook, remove the steak from the fridge and preheat your cooking surface (grill or stove top grill pan). Remove the steak from the marinade.  Boil  the leftover liquid on medium for about 5-10 minutes.  Sear the steak on each side for about 4 minutes each side. Let the steak rest for 5 minutes and then slice it against the grain and serve. Once the marinade has finished boiling add it on top of the steak for added flavor. 

Easy Cheesy Bacon Rounds

Yesterday was amazing,actually this past week was incredible! it was hectic as usual, with the kids and their activities. Both kids are in dance, my daughter is in tap and ballet, and my son recently tried out for hip hop and he loved it so there is our Monday nights and then on Tuesday nights we have boy scouts meetings and of course school but all in all it was fantastic. Yesterday we went to Sweet Frogs which is a frozen yogurt place by us, this is where I take the kids every Friday,  that's of course they do not have any behavior issues in school for that (and yes I bribe them with that! :) and it works!).  Anyhow, last night we had family movie night we watched the movie Epic and my husband was the only one who lasted through it!  the baby was already fast asleep before the movie, so he only had to carry my daughter ,son and me to bed! he said that he looked over and Jasmine and I were in a cocoon on the couch together snuggling and my son was snuggling with pups.  But then this morning we all committed that we would finish it and quite frankly we just haven't been able to get around to it yet.  For family movie night I wanted to make a really yummy snack for us and I made these yummy cheesy bacon rounds, so if you like potato skins you are gonna love these and the best part it really doesn't take a lot of work like regular potato skins, because they cook in about 30-40 minutes!  From my kitchen to your's Happy Eating!  

Adapted from: All Recipes 

What You Need:

4 baking potatoes, cut into 1/2 inch slices

1/4 cup melted butter

8 slices bacon - cooked and crumbled

8 ounces shredded Cheddar cheese

1/2 cup chopped green onions

How To:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C)
2. Brush both side of potato slices with butter; place them on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake in the preheated 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) oven for 30 to 40 minutes or until lightly browned on both sides, turning once.
3. When potatoes are ready, top with bacon, cheese, and green onion; continue baking until the cheese has melted

NOTE:  If your are in a hurry you can also use bacon bits for this recipe as well! 

Easy 5 Ingredient Rice Pilaf

Yesterday was an amazing day! I was able to go to the gym,and  wear out the baby at the kids club they have at that the gym.  When I picked her up from the kids club a little boy who was about 3 years old was singing this lovely tune "Shots, Shots, Shots", to the tune of the Aristocats DVD that they had put in for the kids!!!!  If you were there you would be on the floor laughing just as I was! kids say the most hilarious things. They are especially great at repeating exactly, what you don't want them to say also lol!.  So I arrived home and to my surprise the baby took a looong 2 1/2 hour nap for me YAY!!!!! score for mom. I was able to clean up a bit and start dinner before the afternoon crowd came home. 

Later that day I  did the afternoon pick up and I noticed I had a sicky on my hands when I went to pick up my daughter from pre-school.  My daughter hops in the car and said to me "Jordan (my son) got me sick!" We all started laughing and on our way home we went.  I have a great time in the afternoon pick ups!.  My best friend and I do a carpool daily.  She takes the morning shift, because I am not a morning person by any means and then I take the afternoon shift. So in the afternoon I have 5 kids in the car telling me about their day and what they did the day before. My girlfriends daughter who is 9 just cracks me up! she tells me these mishaps that happen when they go out, and it always seems to be when they are with there dad! I'll get into details with that another day, but take it from me the afternoon drive home is literally the highlight of my day! 

I was in the mood for rice last night with dinner but I really wanted to make something more than just plain ol' rice I wanted a little something extra so I thought I would do a super simple rice pilaf that you can put together in a flash! I hope you all enjoy this as much as we did! 

From my kitchen to your's Happy Eating! 

Adapted from: www.foodnetwork.com

What You Need:

1 cup low-sodium chicken broth

1 cup water

1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 cup chopped scallions, white and green parts

1 cup long-grain white rice

Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste 

How To:

Bring the broth and water to a boil in saucepan over medium heat.

 Reduce the heat to low and keep hot .In another saucepan, heat oil over medium heat.

 Add the scallions and cook for about3 minutes. Stir in the rice, season with salt and pepper, to taste, and cook for another 2 minutes.

 Pour in the hot broth mixture and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and 

cover the saucepan. Cook until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender, about 20 minutes.

4 Ingredient Easy Ice Cream Cake

Here in Florida we really don't ever have any seasons unless you might consider a season being 1) HOT      2) Hotter and 3) Hottest, that's typically what we deal with around here.  So today while some of you may be experiencing a cool fall day we are still walking around in flip flops and tank tops.  In honor of our very hot climate I wanted to make something really special for the fam.  Wednesday nights we do dessert and we read the Bible together after dinner, so I have to make something; otherwise I will never hear the end of it from my 7 year old and 4 year old.  While the baby was napping I decided to quickly make this, and when I say quickly, I mean quickly! it took me about 5 minutes and then I threw it in the freezer to chill until after dinner tonight.  I know everyone will enjoy this, even those of you in the cooler climates, sometimes you just gotta have some ice cream!!   Happy eating from my kitchen to yours! 

What you need:

16 ice cream sandwiches 

16 ounces of Cool Whip

A bag of mini Ore cookies (make sure to crush them up)

Sprinkles

How to:

Get yourself a 9x13 inch pan (Glass preferably)

Layer the bottom with cool whip, then put a thin layer of crushed Oreo's then lay the  ice cream sandwiches flat on top of the cool whip and Oreo's.  Repeat layering. Evenly spread the remaining whipped topping, and lastly add the Oreo's and the sprinkles to finish on top. Let freeze for at least 30 minutes prior to eating. 

Crock Pot Chicken and Soba noodle soup

This week I feel like I we are living off of soups! My son came down with the flu and I think the rest of us are starting to get a little hint of hint of it also.  So with that said my remedy is well I'm sure you guessed it is Soup!  I made a chicken soup for the gang in the crock pot( which is my all time favorite way to make soup) and I realized that oops! I'm out of the long spaghetti so, as I'm on a scavenger hunt in my pantry I passed the soba noodles and I thought "I can just break these up a bit and toss em' in"  and sure enough it turned out to be incredible! Just because the soba noodles do not become super soggy like the pasta does, the soba noodles can stand up to a hearty soup and stand out in it as well!.  Soba noodles are actually a from buckwheat so it gives less carbs and more protein.  This soup is super hearty and just down right delicious! 

Happy Eating from my kitchen to yours! 

What you Need:

Crock Pot

6 cups chicken stock (if you want you can add 4 cups chicken stock and 2 cups water if you don't have enough stock)

2 cups of chopped baby carrots

3 stalks of celery chopped

1 large onion chopped

1 green bell pepper chopped

2 chicken breasts 

1 table spoon of dried basil

1 table spoon of dried oregano

1 table spoon of dried parsley

Salt and pepper to taste

1/2 lb dried soba noodles 

How to:

Add all ingredients to crock pot except for soba noddles they will go in 15 minutes prior to serving, Turn crock pot on high for 6 hours. 

Before serving you want to shred you're chicken breast so that the chicken will be bite size and nicely combined in the soup.

Break the soba noddles apart and add them to you're soup 15 minutes prior to serving.