Cheesy Chicken and Rice Skillet Dinner with Bacon

 Who doesn't like Chicken and rice?  I found this recipe about a year ago and it is seriously one of my very favorite dinner meals.  It has all my staples - easy, quick and SO yummy!  And the best part is it's even better reheated and warmed up.  I'm usually a leftover snob but this meal I think, get's better after it's chilled and reheated!  

No need to wait any longer!  Check out Cheesy Chicken and Rice Skillet Dinner with Bacon by picky-palate.com.  

Ingredients:
1/2 pound Applewood smoked bacon
4 Tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1-2 tablespoons hot sauce (optional)
2 cups cooked shredded chicken
4 cups steamed white rice
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:
Render bacon, drain and set aside.  Reserve 2 tablespoons bacon drippings.

Place butter into a medium saucepan over medium heat.  Once melted whisk in flour, and pepper until smooth and bubbly.  Slowly whisk in chicken broth.  Increase heat to high whisking broth until thickened.  Reduce heat to low and stir in 1 1/2 cups cheese.  Stir in hot sauce.  Reduce heat to a simmer and set aside.

Place reserved 2 tablespoons bacon drippings back to cast iron skillet (or large skillet).  Stir in cooked rice.  Add chicken and cheese sauce, mixing to combine.  Top with 1 cup cheddar cheese then top with crumbled cooked bacon.  Place under oven's broiler for 3-5 minutes until cheese is melted.  Serve immediately!

Makes 4-6 servings

Two Peas in a Pod

 

I made these pea in a pod cookies for a twin shower this past weekend!  I saw this design awhile back from Bridget on Bakeat350.blogspot.com.   Such a cute cookie!

And these are my two cute peas in a pod!

Love them so much!  

They are such a delight - even though they fight ALL DAY LONG!!! Love them!!!

Weekend Wrap-up

 

We had a great weekend around here!  Saturday morning we made a family trip to Whole Foods.  Lately Matt and I have both felt convicted with Ryan's eating habits.  He is super picky and if he is only going to eat chicken nuggets, hot dogs and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches then we need to give him the healthiest options.  So we headed to Whole Foods to see what we could find. We found chicken nuggets, hot dogs and a few other things.  

Thankfully Ryan has had both this weekend and loved them.  Success!

After naps I took the boys to get their haircut.  They both just had a haircut last month but it's grown out so much and I don't think the stylist cut it well last time.  The boys got fresh cuts and look SO handsome!

Colton did pretty good.  I let him watch Barney for the first time so he was pretty distracted.  He did keep shaking his head and saying "no".  

Sunday we went to lunch at McAlister's with our friends the Krafts.  Their girls are absolutely nuts over Ryan and Colton and they equally love Jillian, Natalie and Ava.  We will save this picture of Ryan and Jillian for the rehearsal dinner in 20 years! ;)  

Everyone ate well and had a great time.  And of course we enjoyed the best sweet tea.  Yum!

Sunday night I had a Mops book club meeting so Matt took the boys to Uncle Steve and Aunt Teresa's house to visit their new 12 week old chocolate lab puppy.  His name is Jack and apparently he is quit cute.  Matt said the boys had the best time chasing Jack around the house or it might have been Jack chasing them.   

It was such a great weekend full of fun memories!  

TGIF

 

So last night I had a girls night out.  I went to get my hair cut then met my sweet friends, Laura and Jayne, for dinner.  

The last couple weeks my patience has been tested and I've just felt a little overwhelmed in the parenting department.  Ryan is in a "I want to do it" stage which drives me bonkers but I know he will get over it soon and be agreeable again.  And Colton has started some of these same strong willed traits.  Fun times!

When I'm in those frustrating moments I just try to take a minute, pause and pray God would give me the patience I need.  When I stop, I remember how patient God is with me.  Lately I've been hitting the snooze button when my alarm goes off early in the morning and bypassing my quiet time.  I have felt the lack of a quiet time over the last few days.  I'm snappier and not very much fun to be around. 

Today during nap time I spent time in The Word and it was so good for my soul.  Last night spending time with dear friends and just getting out of the house and getting a break from cooking dinner, cleaning up and putting the boys to bed was so nice a very needed.  

I'm hoping to get my focus back and doing my quiet time in the morning.  It makes such a huge difference in my life.  Thank you Lord that tomorrow is a new day!

Breakfast Casserole

 A few weeks ago our church held a men's breakfast on Saturday morning to launch some new men's groups that are starting soon.  Our men's ministry has been lacking so I'm really excited for Matt that they will have a lot more ministry opportunities for him and other men in our church.  

Matt was telling me about the awesome food they had and kept talking about this breakfast casserole.  I told him i've never really made a sausage and egg casserole.  

I found this easy and simple recipe on all recipes.com and thought I would give it a try.  It turned out great and the best part was Matt loved it.  I don't always love to cook but I get such satisfaction when I do make something and Matt really likes it.  What can I say, I'm a people pleaser!

If you are looking for a easy and good breakfast casserole check it out! 

Sausage and Egg Breakfast Casserole

by allrecipes.com

Ingredients:

1 pound ground pork sausage

1 teaspoon mustard powder (I left this out and it was still great)

1/2 teaspoon salt

4 eggs, beaten

2 cups milk

6 slices white bread, toasted and cut into cubes

8 oz mild cheddar cheese, shredded

Directions: 

1. Crumble sausage into a medium skillet.  Cook over medium heat until evenly brown, drain.

2. In a medium bowl, mix together mustard powder, salt, eggs, and milk.  Add the sausage, bread cubes, and cheese, and stir to coat evenly.  Pour into a greased 9x13 inch baking dish.  Cover, and chill in the refrigerator for 8 hours, or overnight.

3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

4. Cover, and bake 45 to 60 minutes. Uncover, and reduce temperature to 325 degrees.  Bake for an additional 30 minutes, or until set.  

Ode to the Pancake

 

Tonight Matt had class so I decided to take the boys to IHOP to celebrate National Pancake Day!  You  got a short stack of pancakes for FREE!  I heard about it this morning and told Ryan that if he ate a turkey sandwich for lunch and was good the rest of the day we would go get pancakes for dinner.  

Ryan was so excited and of course Colton felt the enthusiasm as well.  

Someone enjoying his pancakes.  

Ryan is the pickiest eater on the planet but he loves pancakes and chips and salsa.  We went to a super bowl party at a friends house on Sunday and Ryan inhaled some homemade salsa.  Hey, it's veggies right!

This little cutie enjoyed some pancakes as well, not as much as his big brother but her liked them.  This is his "cheese" face.  Cracks me up!  As soon as I pull out the camera he pulls out this face!  Love him. 

And did I mention that I am SO excited about my favorite favorite show's season premiere is tonight!! Oh I'm so excited.  

I loved, loved, loved Smash last year and season two starts tonight.  

I LOVE broadway and it's a drama based on actors performing on broadway.  Love the music, the acting and the storyline.  

Snow and Thank You's

 

We woke up Saturday morning to beautiful white snow falling.  It pretty much snowed throughout the day.  It let up a little bit before lunch so Matt and Ryan went out and shoveled the driveway.  

Ryan loves to go outside and help daddy.  Colton and I stayed in and made lunch for everyone.  

We hung out at home most of the day.  Matt had to study some and the boys and I played.  

We went to church Saturday night and stayed for our annual meeting.  The kids got to have a pajama and popcorn party.  I think it was a big hit because the whole way home Ryan kept repeating "that was so much fun".   So thankful to have a great church that loves on our babies!

I made these "Thank You" cookies for a friend who just had a baby and have been so blessed with people bringing them meals they wanted something to give as a thank you.

I think they turned out really cute.