What's for Dinner? Part 3

Since I got a pretty good response from the last recipe I posted, I thought I'd post new (and good) recipes as I try them out. I get most of my recipes from http://www.recipezaar.com/, but I almost always tweak the recipes to make them healthier and easier/quicker to make. If you want to see the original, non-Amy-ized recipes, go to recipezaar and enter a search for the title of the recipe.

Health Nut Brown Rice Recipe
3 cup instant brown rice
enough reduced-sodium chicken broth to make the rice as listed on box
1 cup carrots, shredded (I use handy chopper/food processor)
1 cup zucchini, shredded (also food processed, I peel mine as well so that the kids can't see the green!)
2 cloves garlic, minced
palmful or 2 of sunflower seeds (unsalted)
palmful or 2 of sliced almonds
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2-3 teaspoon olive oil
palmfulfresh parsley, minced or 2 tablespoon dried parsley flakes

1. Make the rice in the broth according to package
2. When the rice is almost done, cook the carrot, zucchini, and garlic in olive oil for 2 minutes.
3. Add sunflower kernnels, almonds and pepper flakes.
4. Cook over medium-high heat until the almonds are browned.
5. Add rice and parsley; stir until heated.

I hope you enjoy!

free cloth diapers

I'm entering a contest to win 12 free cloth diapers. You can to: http://babycheapskate.blogspot.com/2008/07/giveaway-12-bumgenius-30-diapers.html

I hope one of us wins!

What's for Dinner? Part 2

A few months ago I wrote a post asking my reader's for ideas on what to make for dinner. Now, I've got a easy recipe for all of you. I made this last night for dinner and everyone at it up. Ava was even trying to drink the sauce out of her bowl!!

Crock Pot Chicken W/ Black Beans and Cream Cheese
SERVES 4
4-5 boneless chicken breasts
1 (15 1/2 ounce) can black beans
1 (15 ounce) can corn
1 (15 ounce) jar salsa, any kind
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese (I used fat-free)
Take 4-5 frozen boneless chicken breasts put into crock pot.
add 1 can of black beans, drained, 1 jar of salsa, 1 can of corn drained.
Keep in crock pot on high for about 4-5 hours or until chicken is cooked.
Add 1 package of cream cheese (just throw it on top!) and let sit for about 1/2 hour. Stir in the cream cheese to make the sauce creamy.
All done and enjoy!

We ate this over rice, but I think if you shred up the chicken, it would make great filling for tacos.

Beating the Heat

Today, JG, Ava, and some of our neighbors kids spent the morning and early afternoon staying cool by playing in our inflatable pool. The kids love playing outside but it is SO hot in our backyard since we have no shade. So today, in order to really beat the heat, I washed our little tikes climbing/slide toy and brought it inside. Now the kids have appropriate place to climb on inside the house, and I get to watch from couch. :)

Happy 1st Birthday Ava!

Yep, my baby girl is 1. Today we celebrated with breakfast and swimming with great-grandparents and dinner with Mimi and Tay-tay. Ava loved playing in the pool and even started saying "go" and "yeah" when JG was jumping off the diving board. She also enjoyed her first taste of chocolate cake and LOVED it. For some reason, I'm not too surprised! Happy Birthday Ava!

Our Walking Wonder

Ava took her first step the Saturday before Father's Day, and now she is a full blown walker. She is having so much fun trying to chase JG and laughs like crazy when she is chased. Now I've got 2 kids to chase, but luckily I've got 2 hands to hold on to them with as well.