Pink Gerbera Daisies: September 2012

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Chicken and Black Bean Casserole

Things have been busy around here! I don't have nearly the same amount of time to blog as I do during the summer. *sigh* Not a lot is new around here. Our days are filled with work, dog park visits, and football. It is starting to get darker earlier and the weather is cooling off. Adapting all of my classes to the new Common Core standards of study is time consuming, but rewarding. One bit of exciting news is new living room furniture is on its way! Hoping we will have it next weekend. I will share some photos. Our hand-me-down sectional we received 5 years ago when we first moved to Charlotte has seen it's last day! (YAY!)

Here is a yummy recipe I tried out last week for dinner. It was a hit! But come on, when are they not? ;0)

Chicken and Black Bean Casserole

You will need:

left over rotisserie chicken (this is not cheating, this is time saving. LOL)

1/2 tsp. ground cumin

1/2 tsp. ground coriander

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

2 tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro

1 15 oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained

1 4.5 oz. can diced green chili peppers, drained

1 10 oz. can enchilada sauce

8 6 in. corn tortillas

2 cups low-fat shredded Mexican cheese

1 8 oz. container low-fat sour cream

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken, cumin, coriander, and garlic powder. Cook until it is heated through.

Transfer this to a mixing bowl and add in the black beans, cilantro, and green chili peppers.

Using an 11 X 7 in. casserole, spread half the enchilada sauce along the bottom. Place four of the tortillas over the sauce. Spoon half of the chicken mixture over the tortillas and top with half of the cheese and half of the sour cream.

Spoon the rest of the enchilada sauce over this and repeat the layering process with the rest of the chicken mixture.

Cover your casserole with foil and bake for 30 minutes.

Remove the foil and top with the rest of the cheese and sour cream. Place back in the oven and bake, uncovered, for an additional 5 to 10 minutest.

ENJOY!

Linked to:

I Should Be Mopping The Floor

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Slow Cooker Chicken and Cornbread Dumplings

I am keeping true to my word and am using my slow cooker more this school year. There is nothing better than coming home after a long day to dinner ready and the house smelling wonderful! I made this recipe even easier using a rotisserie chicken. Earlier in the week I used it to make yummy quesadillas. We will be having these again this week, because they were so good and took a whopping 10 minutes to get on the table. I saved the rest of the chicken for this recipe.

Slow Cooker Chicken and Cornbread Dumplings

You will need:

About 2 cups rotisserie chicken

2 medium carrots, thinly sliced

2 stalks celery, thinly sliced (I also added in some of the leaves)

1/3 cup frozen corn kernels

1/2 medium sweet onion sliced thin

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp. fresh rosemary

1/4 tsp. ground black pepper

1 1/2 C. reduced sodium chicken broth

1/2 C. 1% milk

1 tbsp. all-purpose flour

Directions:

In your slow cooker, combine chicken, carrots, celery, corn, onion, garlic, rosemary, and pepper. Pour the broth over the mixture. Mix the flour and milk together and stir into the mixture. Cook on low for 7-8 hours.

To make the dumplings you will need:

1/4 C. flour

1/4 C. cornmeal

1/2 tsp. baking soda

dash salt

1 egg white

1 tbsp. 1% milk

1 tbsp canola oil

Directions:

Mix together dumpling mixture until all ingredients are mixed thoroughly. Using two spoons drop them on the top of the chicken mixture in the slow cooker. Continue to cook for about 25 minutes.

Enjoy!

Monday, September 17, 2012

Fall DIY Ideas

I don't know about where you live, but here in NC, it feels like fall! The days are in the low 80s and the nights are in the mid 60s. Air is off and windows are open. I will admit to you, that I have already put out my fall decorations...last weekend. I couldn't help myself! So, in the spirit of fall, here are some DIY ideas I have found.

This adorable chevron painted pumpkin is from Feeling Lonesome.

I am loving this DIY pumpkin punch artwork from My Blessed Life. Now, where can I find a pumpkin punch this size?

Crumb-topped Apple Slab Pie - if apple pie and apple crisp had a baby, this would be it! Recipe is here via Better Homes & Gardens.

Owl lanterns from Pottery Barn. Um, mom, didn't you used to have one similar to this? If you do not use it anymore, I think I could find someone willing to give it a good home! ;0)

Homemade pumpkin dog biscuits. Recipe from Simmer Til Done.

I love this blog and these fabric pumpkins are adorable. She has a great tutorial. Find it at Thompson Family.

This one inspired me last fall when I made my own yarn candy corns. I found it at Thrifty Decor Chick.

This would be an adorable Halloween center piece using seasonal peeps and candy corn. I found it at Fresh Cut Flours.

Happy Fall, Ya'll!

Friday, September 14, 2012

Thrift Gawker 3

1. 1950's Argus C3 Matchmatic

2. Miscellaneous Vintage Political Buttons

3. Vintage Floral Fabric

4. Brass Horse Bookends

5. Metal Storage Drawer

6. Pyrex Casserole

7. Squirrel Planter

8. Fondue Pot

9. Tote

10. Borden's Cheese Storage Box

Monday, September 10, 2012

Crock Pot Southwestern Steak with Cornbread Dressing

We are back into the full swing of things these days. Summer is officially over, as this will be week three of back-to-school. Brad is getting adjusted with his new job and is really liking it. It always feels like such an adjustment to go from 0 to 60 when school is back in session. I have resolved to use the crock pot more this year, so it can do all the work for me while I am gone. Here is a new crock pot recipe I tried recently and received rave reviews and seconds from the hubs. Also, picture was taken with my new iphone! Yes, we have now joined in with the year 2012 and updated our old school slide-out texting phones. HA! I am still getting used to all of its capabilities.

Crock Pot Southwestern Steak with Cornbread Dressing

You will need:

About 2 lbs. sirloin tip steak

1 box cornbread stuffing

1 can mild Rotel, undrained

1/2 stick butter, melted

Directions:

Place the steak in the bottom of the crock pot. Mix together the cornbread stuffing, Rotel, and melted butter. Place this mixture on top of the steak.

Cook on low for 5-7 hours.

ENJOY!

Linked to:

Brassy Apple

Craft O Maniac

Whipperberry

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Dog Shaming

I found this hysterically adorable website and I have to share it with you! It is called dog shaming. Owners take a picture of their pet along with a caption of their dog's undesired behavior. The result is too cute and sometimes very funny. Here are some of my favorites.

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

DIY Dog Toy

Ms. Maggie Mae is always so busy. She loves to play...and play...and play. Literally, all day long. NO NAPS!! Her favorite toys are ropes and she loves to tear out the knots and rip them to shreds. Hence, my need to vacuum every day...sometimes more than once a day. Obviously, she is in puppy play mode all the time and is still in the phase of destroying all her toys. She loves textures and sounds, so as I was cleaning out the fridge today, I had an idea.

To get started, you will need an empty plastic container and old socks. For my plastic container, I used an old grated Parmesan cheese container. I removed the lid and plastic wrap and cleaned it out.

Next, I squished the plastic container down as much as I could without breaking the plastic. I wanted to preserve the crinkly plastic sound that it made...she will love it!

After the plastic was squished to my liking, I slid the socks over the plastic container and knotted it up tightly.

Finished! Here is her evidence of enjoyment.

I love this picture, because, this is when she figured out how to get it to make the crinkly sound on her own. So inquisitive!

She played all morning...at least until she got that knot out and exposed the plastic. Don't let your dog eat the plastic. You can just put another sock over it. I did this for a little bit, then I took the plastic out and knotted all the socks together into a ball. For her, that means it is time to play fetch!

Linked to:

Brassy Apple

Craft O Maniac

Whipperberry