Saturday, September 19, 2009

Herb Rubbed Chicken Meal

I do not always have to time to cook fabulous meals for my family (contrary to popular believe). When I feel like I don't have time or effort to cook a whole meal, I go for the frozen food isle. The recipe I'm reviewing today came from a box. While shopping at Wal-mart, I saw these pre-packaged meals that say they cook in less than twenty minutes and feed 4 people. The Herb Rubbed Chicken one was on sale for $5 and the rest were their their usual price at $8.

It was pretty simple to prepare; thaw the chicken and then heat in a saucepan, bake the potatoes for 20 minutes in a 425 degree oven and microwave the vegetables for 4 minutes and BAM! You're finished!
Here's the box it comes in:
And here are the results:


It was super Yummy! The herb rubbed chicken was a little too "herby" for my taste but it tasted really good overall. My only complaint is that it says it feeds 4 but really it would feel 2 nicely. Just to show you what I mean, I took a picture of the whole plate so you could see the serving size. AND keep in mind, we fed three adults lunch with this:


See what I mean? But if you don't want to spend hours making a home cooked meal, try them out, this one was really good!

To Have or To Hold

To Have or To Hold by Josi Kilpack was a really fun read. Here's the description off of the author's website:
"Emma Blair Tribol seems to have a knack for doing things badly. She married her high-school sweetheart just days after graduating from high school to hide an unplanned pregnancy from her family and to finally live her own life. The pregnancy ends in miscarriage, and the marriage doesn't work out the way she had hoped.
Three years later, divorced and with a 15-month-old baby, she moves to Utah where she has family to help her through this transition in her life. Though she tries to find her place in the LDS church again, she feels she doesn't fit. When her employer, Andrew Davidson, offers her a marriage of convenience in order for him to receive a substantial inheritance, she doesn't see any reason not to accept. But as with everything else in Emma's life, things don't go exactly as planned. Before she can blink, she's made a mess of things all over again. She's fallen in love with Andrew,but holds no illusions that it's a good thing.
However, Andrew is also caught up in the conflicting feelings, and when he finds himself faced with everything he never wanted, he desperately seeks answers of his own."

MY REVIEW: I was pleasantly surprise at this book which seems to combine the movie The Bachelor and a Cinderella type story. This book is definitely a love story, but entertaining at the same time. I'm looking forward to reading some of her other books.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Chicken Low Mein

Another FABULOUS recipe from Leanne Ely and Saving Dinner. It was very tasty and fairly quick.

I'll post a picture just to make you salivate.

You're welcome!

A Modest Propsal

A Modest Proposal by Michele Ashman Bell. Here is the description as found on her website:

"All my life I had dreamed of changing the ordinary girl’s world of fashion by designing modest formal gowns—ones that you’d actually want to wear. With my super-hero stitching I would save you mothers and daughters crying in dressing rooms over yet another “the straps are just too small” prom dress. Don’t worry, I even thought of a catchy tagline for my brand: “Modest Is Hottest.” I told you I was good!

So I moved to New York and am finally living that dream . . . well, almost. I am at one of the top fashion companies, and my designs are definitely modest— but let’s face it, when it comes to outerwear, would you want to buy a skimpy trench coat? Didn’t think so.

Even though I don’t have my dream job, my family is a mess, and my love life stinks, I have a feeling things are going to change. I mean, they have to soon, or I’ll be forced to marry Jace. I did promise to become his wife only if I turned thirty and was still single, but I honestly didn’t think it was possible. Now twenty-nine, I’m cutting it way too close.

Right now I’m flying back to Utah for our Butterfly Girls reunion. And since it is the Mormon Mecca, I might find myself a modest proposal. Utah engagements can take mere weeks. Never mind, I’m not that desperate.

Really.

But maybe the girls can help. We’ve been best friends since high school. We Butterfly Girls are not the typical Pink Ladies, although we’ve definitely had our share of drama. We’ll laugh and cry over memories, from pageant glory to tragic endings, but the ones stored inside our butterfly box will surprise you most. We only open it when we’re all together, and our lives never seem the same after."

MY REVIEW: A cute LDS fiction book that I listened to while driving in the car. I heard it was a long book, but it went pleasantly fast while listening to it. The whole "meet me at the temple at noon on this date" thingy was a little too sappy for me and overall, the book wrapped up a little too nicely for me. I feel there wasn't ever a real conflict, sure she has a few job issues but nothing huge. I think this will be part of a series as I never found out what her friend put in the box. A good read for listening to in the car.



Blackberry Peach Smoothie

My husband decided to buy some blackberries from a farmer's market the other day. Great. What do I do with blackberries? When in doubt- throw them into a smoothie! Since we're not fond of the seeds, I pressed them into a wire colander thingy and juiced them. It was VERY tasty!Here's my approximate recipe:

1 C blackberry juice
2 peaches sliced
1/2 cup drinkable strawberry yogurt
1 C ice

Blend together and enjoy!

Here are the results:

Monday, September 14, 2009

~MY NEW APRON~

I just bought the CUTEST apron I've ever seen! I bought it online tonight at Etsy. Here's the link to see it: The original Aunt Jessie's Vintage Black/White Parisian Fashionista Full Apron with a twist.
I'm so excited! I'll post pictures when I receive it.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Vanished


One of my favorite LDS adventure series growing up was Emeralds and Espionage by Lynn Gardner. I was was disappointed when the series was over because it was everything I thought a book should be; action, romance, comedy. And now it was all finished.

Imagine my joy when I found out Lynn Gardner had started writing another series. Vanished is the first book in her new series.

Here's the books description:

"There is a saying that everyone has a double. In Maggie McKenzie’s case, the saying is not only true, but the starting point for a troubling—and deadly—mystery.

Maggie has just begun her first job as a full-fledged newspaper reporter. It’s a dream come true. But soon the young journalist finds she is captivated by what should be old news—a girl who vanished years ago. Intrigued by what she has heard about the missing girl, Maggie takes advantage of her travels for another assignment to try to solve the mystery of Alyssa Lawson’s disappearance. While on her cross-country quest, Maggie meets psychologist Dr. Flynn Ford, who is interested in helping her solve the puzzle—and in getting to know Maggie better. But as the pair inches closer to the truth, witnesses begin turning up dead. And it appears Maggie and Flynn could be next. Could the woman Maggie thinks might be her sister be trying to kill her?"

MY REVIEW: I LOVE this book! Maybe not as suspenseful as the Emeralds and Espionage series, but still kept me wondering the whole time. I love the (sometimes cheesy) romance. I can not wait until I get my hands on the next book!


Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Debbie's Giveaway

I'm pretty sure everybody know of my love of reading by now, but I also love to win things. I guess you could count that as a hobby?? My friend Debbie has an awesome blog that just celebrated it's 3rd Birthday. She's celebrating by holding three seperate contests. She's giving away a book that I'm dying to win! Check out her blog and enter to win! cranberryfries.blogspot.com.