2009 August — A Southern Fairytale

The Beauty of A Heart

10:58 AM ByRachelFiled UnderEverything Else

There’s this friend, this woman, this person whose heart beats with power and beauty and poetry.

It comes alive in her pictures, her words and when you meet her… she simply radiates. She reminds me of a prism.. the light hits her and thousands of rainbows dance all around it. I can’t figure out though, if she’s the light or the prism.. but she makes everyone feel like their own special, beautiful rainbow.

Mishi and Me

I’m talking about Mishi..

Mishi, Secret Agent Mama, has written a few posts about her friends and each one brings tears to my eyes because she truly sees the soul of a person and the poetry of her words captures their true beauty in ways that make my breath catch.

I want y’all to go and read her posts about Piper, Angie, Lou and Lotus. They are gifts, they are perfect examples of the power of this community and what happens when kindred spirits connect online and then in real life.

Taggedfriends, secret agent mama 4 Comments

Potty Talk

5:15 AM ByRachelFiled UnderEverything Else, Monkey

Do y’all remember when I told y’all how excited Monkey was to go on the “potty train”?

No?

Go refresh your memories.. I’ll wait.

The Potty Train(ing) has been a spectacular, dare I say, monumental failure. He has no desire to ride the potty train, none whatsoever.

sigh

We are still rockin’ the diapers.
opening diapers

Well the other day, he pulled a Ninja Monkey maneuver that entailed him getting his diaper off without first removing his shorts.
I’m tellin’ y’all he’s crafty. One day, I’m going to try to make toast and my garage door is going to start opening instead.

So while Nathan and I are sitting at the table eating, Monkey came up to us and said:
“I think I going poopy”
I told him to come back when he was done and I’d change his diaper.
He says to me:
“I not wearing a diaper
WHOOPS!
I jump up from the table, rush him to the bathroom and plop him on the toilet.

While I’m chatting with him and telling him to “push the poopy out” he reaches down and starts pulling on his p-nis (ha ha..see how I cleverly thwart those google preverts) I’m talking taffy pulling kinds of pulling.. it hurt me to look at it.
I asked him what he was doing…

Dead serious look on his face:

“I pulling it to make the poopy come out”

That’s when I threw in the towel and went and got Nathan. Then, I sat down and I laughed until I cried.

sunglasses

30 Comments

Penne Al Fresco With Grilled Chicken

11:09 PM ByRachelFiled UnderMouthwatering Monday, Poultry

There’s a certain beauty in simple ingredients. Sharp bursting tomatoes, peppery, licorice flavored basil, fragrant savory garlic, pasta and the tang of dry white wine. When you can blend these ingredients into a fresh, simple, delicious pasta dish that’s easy to make and prepared in under 30 minutes… it’s even better.

Pampered Chef sent me their Covered Baking Dish to try. I was skeptical, y’all know me. Something you make in the microwave, and I’m going to like it? Probably not.

Then, there was the garlic slicer.. I love, love, LOVE the garlic slicer, it might be my new favorite kitchen tool. Y’all know me, I rarely cook without garlic .. the only downside, they didn’t send the garlic peeler, too. ;-( (There’s always a catch, right?)

I live in the South, I’ve spent my adult life hearing about Pampered Chef… it’s as Southern as Apple Pie, BBQ, Paula Deen and Southern Fried Chicken.

Nathan and I pored over the included recipes and decided upon the Chicken and Penne Pasta.

It was better, easier and more flavorful than I thought it would be. Nathan ate two helpings.

They have entire recipes centered around this baking dish and I have to admit looking at them, I wasn’t all that impressed but now, after eating this one… I’m intrigued and looking forward to trying more.

pampered pasta1

4 garlic cloves (I used 7.. y’all know me)
2 C grape, cherry tomatoes
3 C uncooked penne pasta (barilla pasta plus)
3 C chicken broth
3/4 C dry white whine ( Barefoot Chardonnay)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper (1 tsp)
1 1/4 C lightly packed fresh basil leaves, divided
1 oz fresh Parmesan cheese, grated (1/4 C packed)
2 C diced grilled chicken (about 3 breasts)

(italicized parentheses are mine)

pampered pasta 3

Spray Deep Covered Baker with olive oil spray. Slice garlic, I used my Garlic Slicer (woot!!! this may be my new favorite kitchen toy) Add tomatoes. Cover and microwave on high for 2 minutes. Stir. Microwave another 3 minutes.
Crush tomatoes and garlic. Add pasta, wine, broth and spices. Microwave for 18 minutes, Stir at 10 minutes.
Coarsely chop basil and grate cheese, chop chicken.
Carefully remove the dish from the microwave, remove the lid (beware of steam), stir in basil, chicken and cheese. Mix well.
Top with additional cheese and garlic and pepper (if you like)

If you’re joining in the MWM linky, thank you. I love that you’re here every week, I thank you for joining if it’s your first Monday. This is a joyous place for people to share their favorite recipes, their love of food and their general desire to revel in the nom nom of good food. Please grab your tonguegasmic button, say HI, sign the MkcLinky with your Recipe URL and then visit the other MWM participants!

So here’s the deal. I am actually so impressed with the Covered Baking Dish that Pampered Chef is offering one to one of my readers, that means one of y’all! This is a huge deal y’all.. this thing is oven safe, microwave safe, freezer/fridge safe and it is fantastic quality stoneware. You want this. Trust me.

So, tell me do you use Pampered Chef products? IF you do, which Pampered Chef product has made your life easier? If you don’t , why do you love cooking and which Pampered Chef product would inspire you in your kitchen?

For a 2nd entry: Tweet this and leave the Tweet URL in an additional comment

For a 3rd entry: If you had any amount to spend at PamperedChef.com what would you buy, and why?

In case you need me to be more transparent.. YES, I received the product gratis. NO, they were not able to purchase my review and opinion. If I hadn’t like this.. you would have known. I’m as transparent as saran wrap and as honest as the day is long.. Y’all know that. I’m just blessed to be able to have this opportunity and to share this product with y’all.

You have until Wednesday, August 5th at 11:59PM CST to enter. I’ll then use random.org to pick a winner

Congratulations to our Winner: Alisha in Ohio

Submitted on 2009/08/03 at 1:16pm

If I could buy more stuff I would buy

More stoneware! (esp. the Bar Pan!)
The garlic press
and that lovely baker dish you have