The pioneer woman meets Rachael Ray

I wondered what would happen if I took two recipes from the pioneer woman and Rachael Ray-ed them. Meaning that I made them easier and faster to cook. So I took the chicken and noodles and her rosemary rolls and tweaked them a little.

Chicken and noodles

1 bag Tyson frozen grilled chicken strips- thawed and diced

2 boxes(2 quarts) chicken stock

2 carrots-diced

2stalks of celery- diced

1/2 onion- diced

1 16 oz. bag of reames frozen noodles

1 tsp. salt, pepper, and dried thyme

2 tsp. dried parsley

2 Tbl. corn starch

1/4 cup water

Pour 1 1/2 boxes of stock in a large pot and bring to simmer. Then add carrot, celery, onion and spices to stock and cook for 10 -15 min. Then add noodles and a little more stock to cover the noodles. Bring up heat to medium high and cook noodles for another 10-15 minutes. Then add chicken and cook until chicken is heated through. When mixture is boiling add corn starch that has been mixed with water. This will thicken the stock. You may need to add salt and pepper again. Then take off heat and let sit for a few minutes and the stock will thicken even a little more. This is sooooo yummy!

Dinner Rolls

1 Bag of Frozen Rhoades rolls

1/2 stick butter- melted

1/2 Tbl. garlic powder

1/2 Tbl. dried basil

Spray muffin pan with non-stick spray and put 2 frozen rolls in each muffin tin. Then spray a piece of plastic wrap with cooking spray and cover the rolls. Heat oven for 2-3 minutes on lowest setting. Mine is digital and will go as low is 170 degrees. Then turn oven off. Place muffin tin in oven and let rise for 3 hours or until doubled in size. Then take out of oven and preheat to 350 degrees. Add spices to melted butter and brush each roll with butter mix. Bake for 15-20 min. These are amazing and everybody will think you slaved over these all day!

Mushroom, Onion and Bacon Quiche

I love quiche but can't have any dairy so the milk and cheese that is normally in a quiche is a problem. so I used this recipe but added and took out some things. I will tell you how I did it and what you can do if you want the dairy in it.

1 Pillsbury refrigerated pie crust

3/4 lb. bacon- cooked and crumbled

1 large onion chopped

10oz. chopped mushrooms

8 eggs

1 1/2 cups milk( I used soy milk)

1 cup Parmesan cheese( I didn't use any)

handful chopped parsley

1/2 handful chopped chives

salt and pepper

Put pie crust in deep dish pie plate. Then cook bacon and crumble. Then in same pan saute onion for a few minutes. Then add mushrooms and cook for a few more minutes and salt and pepper. Then take off heat and let cool for 15 min. Crack and whisk eggs in a bowl and add milk and cheese, parsley, chives and salt and pepper. After onion mix cools add to eggs and add bacon. Pour in pie crust and place on cookie sheet. Cover loosely with foil and cook at 400 degrees for 1hour to 1 hour and 20 min.

Foster Care

The need for foster and adoptive parents is so huge that it is almost overwhelming. There are kids right here in our own town that are in desperate need of a mom and a dad. They are all different ages, different races, different abilities. Some are single and some are part of a sibling group. Some just need a safe place to go until their family can get back on their feet and some need a forever home. These children weigh so heavily on my heart and I hate that I can't take all of them home with me. But if ever have had even just a passing thought about what it takes to be a foster parent or how you can adopt don't let it stop there. Talk to me, research it on the web, go to a informational class but don't let the thought just pass. These kids need a loving home and if you have the ability to do that then please take that next step in faith and see what it is all about. I will put up a few websites to look at. This isn't every body's calling but for those who may be wondering please take that next step.....

http://www.moheartgallery.org/

http://www.mbch.org/

http://www.lfcsmo.org/

http://www.dss.mo.gov/

Pampering Yourself

I think as women we do for everyone else and we come last. We take care of our children's needs, our husbands, parents, friends needs and even though we love doing it, it takes it's toll. Sometimes we need to take a breather and read a book, have a cup of coffee or even have a massage or a pedicure.

I know that when we think of some of those things we like to do we worry about the cost of it. I can't see myself paying X for a pedicure but I just shelled out Yand Z for Emma's swimming equipment! So why don't I think I am just as worthy to spend a little money on as anybody else in my family? Well, I decided I am worth it and I do deserve to have someone do something for just me. Pamper and pay attention to just me. Not Chris' wife, or Emma and Izzy's mom but LESLIE! So I did it! I had my very first pedicure today and I totally loved it! Oh sure it was nice to have someone paint my nails and rub my feet but the best part was that I was taking time for me and renewing my spirit. So that I could go back into my world and help renew others! So I encourage you to take that little time and that little money and spend it on you to make a Big impact! Also, if you are in Spgfld go to Tips to Toes and see Lacey. Tell her Leslie sent you!

Amazing Brownies

Emma calls the brownies, "Emma's world famous brownies" and asks for them like that every time. Why... I am not sure because she didn't come up with the recipe and is never the one who bakes them so I still have yet to figure out why she calls them that!

1 cup flour

1.5 cups sugar

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

1 stick butter, melted

3 eggs

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1/4 cup choc. chips

1/4 cup white choc. chips

1/2 cup chopped nuts(optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 inch square pan. In a bowl sift the flour, sugar, cocoa, brown sugar, and salt. Then add melted butter, eggs, and vanilla and mix well. Fold in the chips and nuts. Pour into pan and cook 30-35 min or until knife comes out clean. I didn't have any white choc. chips so I added 1/2 cup of choc. chips.

Emma turns 10

WOW! It feels like this huge milestone to say that Emma is 10! She seems so grown up and so much more then I ever was at this age. She hangs out with kids older then her and fits right in. She talks to adults with ease and enjoys their company. She is cooking on her own and it actually tastes good! Her emotions run deep from the hardiest belly laugh to the most painful of hurt feelings. Not to mention the mood swings and temper! But that is for another blog.

She works so hard in school to make good grades, do the right thing and help out her friends and teachers. She has such a huge heart that wants to include everyone and make everyone feel at ease.

On this day 10 years ago I was holding this little life in my hands and had no idea how to care for or nurture her. I was TERRIFIED! I just knew I'd screw it up and she'd be a holy terror! But with ALOT of prayers, and wisdom from others I made it through that scary first time for everything with her.

I think she is turning out pretty great and I can't wait to see how our relationship evolves and what the next 10 years has in store for her. Gosh, she will be 20! She will be through high school, part way through college, maybe had her first boyfriend, maybe she will be living away from home!?

Parenthood is this amazing gift because you get to teach this person all you can about life and its ins and outs. But what you don't realize is how much you learn along the way too! Happy Birthday Emma! I LOVE YOU!