Chicken Spaghetti and 12 week pictures

 I got this recipe from pinterest a while ago and just got around to trying it the other day. It is a recipe from the show the Pioneer Woman on the food network and it was fantastic and easy so I thought I would share.

 

Chicken Spaghetti

Ingredients

• 2 cups Cooked Chicken
• 3 cups Dry Spaghetti, Broken Into Two Inch Pieces
• 2 cans Cream Of Mushroom Soup (or cream of chicken)
• 2 cups Grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese
• 1/4 cup Finely Diced Green Pepper
• 1/4 cup Finely Diced Onion
• 1 1/2 cups water with 1/2 cup chicken broth
  
• 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
• 1/8 teaspoon (to 1/4 Teaspoon) Cayenne Pepper
• Salt And Pepper, to taste
• 1 cup Additional Grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese

Preparation Instructions

Cook spaghetti in water and chicken broth until al dente. Do not overcook. When spaghetti is cooked, combine with remaining ingredients except additional 1 cup sharp cheddar.
Place mixture in casserole pan and top with remaining sharp cheddar. Cover and freeze up to six months, cover and refrigerate up to two days, or bake immediately: 350 degrees for 45 minutes until bubbly. (If the cheese on top starts to get too cooked, cover with foil).

Also, I had my 12 week appointment this week and everything looks good so far. I was surprised to get another ultrasound and it was fun to see the baby flipping around in there. I have felt a few things so far that I think might be kicks but i'm not sure. Here is the picture from the ultrasound:

And here is a picture of me at 12 weeks:

Upcoming Changes

I know I haven't posted in a while but things have been a little hectic around here. A lot has been happening in our lives lately and will continue through the year. The two biggest being a move to Knoxville, TN in July and a new baby due December 2! The army is paying for Josh to go back to school for 2 years. He will be attending the University of Tennessee and getting a Masters in Nuclear Engineering. We will then go to West Point for him to teach physics for 3 years. We are purchasing a house in a town called Powell which is just outside of Knoxville. It is a little larger than our current home which will be great to accommodate our growing family. Here is a picture.

I am around 10 weeks pregnant now and doing ok. The pregnancy so far has been a big harder than my last but things seem to be getting better now that i am nearing the end of my first trimester. I got to have an ultrasound a few weeks ago to see the hearbeat and that was very exciting. Here is a picture.

And it is true what they say, you do show a lot sooner with your second. So here is a picture of me at 10 weeks.

I have my next appointment in about a week and a half. We should be able to hear the hearbeat by doppler by then. We are hoping to find out the sex right before we move.

So that's what's been going on in our lives lately. I will try to update more frequently as the pregnancy progresses and we start the moving process! Also I have been trying tons of new recipes from pinterest lately so I will try to post some of those soon too!

It's Time To Diet

Josh and I have spent the holiday season eating, drinking, and being merry. As a result of this we have each gained about 10lbs that we would like to try to lose in the new year. We have developed a dieting plan that includes recipes from this website: 500 Calorie Dinners We are going to try the steak with carmelized onions and gorgonzola tonight. In other news, we switched Austin to a toddler bed today and I am excited to say that he is currently taking a nap in it with no problems so hopefully tonight will go equally as well! Happy New Year!

Austin is 2!

On Monday, November 28th Austin turned 2. I can't believe he is already that old! I took him to his 2 year well child check-up today and he is 32.56 lbs (91st percentile) and 34.5 in (49th percentile). He is talking up a storm now, saying tons of words as well as phrases and even sentences. His favorite thing to do is play with cars, read about cars, or watch cars on tv. He also loves to run, jump, climb, and play with other kids. He still sleeps in a crib but we plan to move him to a toddler bed after Christmas. We have tried potty training but he's still not quite ready.

Turkey-Hummus Sliders

If you are looking for a healthy meal that is full of flavor this is one you are definitely going to want to try!

Ingredients

• 1 cucumber, diced
• 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon dried mint
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 1/2 pounds ground turkey
• 1 cup hummus, preferably spicy or roasted red pepper (about a 7-ounce container)
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 16 pita pockets, preferably whole wheat, split open and warmed
• 2 to 3 plum tomatoes, sliced

Directions

Toss the cucumber, feta, vinegar, mint, 1 tablespoon olive oil and a pinch each of salt and pepper in a bowl; cover and refrigerate.

Mix the turkey, 1/2 cup hummus, and the parsley in a bowl; season generously with pepper. Dampen your hands and shape the mixture into 16 small patties, about 1/2 inch thick.

Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil in a medium cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add half of the patties and cook until browned and cooked through, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate. Cook the remaining patties in the remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil.

Spread some of the remaining hummus on the inside of each pita; fill with a tomato slice, turkey patty and some of the cucumber mixture.

Pampered Chef

I am excited to say that I have decided to start selling Pampered Chef. I love cooking and was looking for something to do as a stay at home mom to make a little extra money and at the same time do something I love and this was the perfect opportunity for me! I am having my first open house party at my house on Thursday, September 8 at 6pm. If you live nearby and would like to attend let me know. There will be great food as well as an opportunity to learn how to make an easy recipe. You will also have a chance to buy products as well as sign up to host a party in the future. If you host a party you receive free and discounted products! If you are unable to attend you can still order from me by going online to my consultant's website. http://www.pamperedchef.biz/darlenemasters, go to the Our Products section, select the link below the products you would like to purchase, and enter my first and last name in the fields provided. If you would like to hold a catalogue party, I can mail you some catalogues and order forms and you would just need to take orders from people you know and mail them in and in return you would receive free and discounted products based on the amount you sold. If you or someone you know is getting married, Pampered Chef also offers wedding registries. If you register at Pampered Chef you would also receive free and discounted products, just make sure to put in my consultant number (668773). If you have any more questions feel free to email or facebook me!

BBQ Chicken Pasta

Last weekend we had some people over so we smoked a large pork butt to make BBQ. I overestimated the amount of sauce we would need so I made way too much. While searching for something to do with the leftover sauce, I stumbled upon this recipe. I made it a few days ago and it was delicious. It also reheats very well. The recipe for my barbecue sauce is below in an earlier post, or you can use any barbecue sauce of your choice.

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size chunks
1 red onion, diced
3 cups water
2 1/2 cups chicken broth
1/2 teaspoon salt
12 ounces penne pasta
2/3 cup barbecue sauce
1/3 cup sour cream
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Directions:
In a large 12-inch nonstick skillet heat the olive oil over medium heat (you could also use a large pot if you don’t have a skillet this big). When hot, add the chicken and onions and saute, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is browned and cooked through. Remove the chicken and onions to a plate and set aside.
In the same skillet, add the water, chicken broth, penne and salt. Bring to a boil and simmer for 12 to 15 minutes, until the liquid is almost absorbed, the pasta is tender and the mixture is thick and syrupy. Stir in the barbecue sauce and sour cream. Once mixed, add in the reserved chicken, onions and shredded cheese. Stir to combine and cook until everything is heated through.
Serve immediately and garnish with additional red or green onions and shredded cheese.