Cow Tails & Hay Bales

Weight Watchers Update

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 20:45:00 +0000

So since my husband and I collectively decided we were done having kids a while back I finally got with the program....no literally, I jumped back on the Weight Watchers bandwagon that I fell off of 11 years ago and busted my a...nyway....and have embarked on what will be a looooong weight loss journey.

Actually, I did Nutrisystem for a few months back in the Fall and I lost 15 lbs, but after the new year I decided to start back up with WW since I already had the Points Plus program.

I'm happy to report at the end of week four I've lost an additional 7 lbs. I'm a slow loser, but I'm ok with that.

Since my highest weight I'm down 30 pounds! I'd lost a few here and there before NS.

Oh, annnnd I jogged my first full mile today. I know that's not much but I was tickled. No one was chasing me and I wasn't running after the ice cream truck HEEEYYY!! I usually walk 3 to 4 miles every day. I can not wait to get back outside and ditch the treadmill. I need that vitamin D y'all. Cold, snow, & ice is killin' my buzz!

So here's to another week on plan. Let's get it done!

How to create a substitute teacher binder and all that jazz

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 13 Apr 2014 20:32:00 +0000

Holy skin tight shorts, Batman. I haven't posted since January?? Don't get all up in my grill. I've been busy with life...mmkay?

So I decided to get my Substitute Teaching license so I could legally spy on my kids instead of parking across the street with binoculars.

Kidding.

Maybe.

Not about the sub license. I totally got that. I'm all set for subbing in the Fall for the new school year. It seemed like the logical part time job for me. I'll have the same work schedule as the kids with all the same holidays, vacations, and bad weather days. I've actually been meaning to do this for several years, but just kept putting it on the back burner. Or maybe I was just too dang lazy. Same thing.

I've even played around with going back to school for an Associates Degree in Child Development which would qualify me for Teaching Aid and Head Start teaching. We'll see. I may be pushing 40, but I still got game.

So I did my orientation, paper work, and Cogent finger printing.....and in case you're wondering I came back clean. Shocker. I know.

Then I put together a Substitute Teacher's binder. I wanted something that would have all the paper work I needed handy. Something I could grab really quick and haul with me because I'm always organized. Ya feel me?

Thought I'd share what I came up with so you too could be an anal retentive douche and show up the other subs.

I grabbed a cheap white binder at Dollar General.

Cute "My Teacher is Missing" free lesson printables!

I found free printables around the web (credits at the end of post)

Then laminated and inserted them into clear covers for durability.

Tabbed them for easy finding.

Added in all the info given to us at the looooong azz orientation.

Like freakin' two hours long.

I also bought a pencil bag with binder rings, pens, and stickers to snap in.

I was sure to print out several lesson plans to add in just in case a teacher called on short notice and didn't have time to leave me any plans for the day. I also sectioned off areas for sub notes to leave at the end of the day. Also, emergency plans and contact info for each school and classroom.

So that's how I'm rollin'. Y'all wish me luck. If they've seen the way I'm raising my kids I may never get work.

CREDITS

www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/Esther-G

www.coveredinglitterandglue.com

www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/covered-in-glitter-and-glue

Frames:

www.ccteachfirst.blogspot.com

Backgrounds:

www.dreamlikemagic.com

www.erinbradleydesigns.com

www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/Fun-For-Learning

Emily Wean

My Teacher is Missing:

Made by J. Enns

www.laurenandjeanine.blogspot.com

Organizing School and Art Work

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 15:47:00 +0000

Anybody else suffer from a crap load of school work?

I love being organized. I can't think straight if I'm not. When it comes to my kids though, I'm a total hoarder. All of my cabinets, drawers, closets....all organized. However, my weakness is my children. It pains me to toss anything from their childhood. I have managed to greatly reduce infant and toddler items.....sold all the big things and most clothes. This one closet though, is still full of sweet reminders from the past eleven years.

One of those reminders being every piece of school and art work that has come home for the past five years. Yikes!! I couldn't take it anymore so I finally decided to tackle it. It took two days to sift through it all, but I did it. Yay!

I found these two bins at Walmart for $8 each and picked up some hanging file folders to go with them. I filled the bins with files and made tabs for Kindergarten through 12th grade.

I know some moms make copies of art work so the big things don't take up much room, but I don't have the heart. I like keeping originals. I tried to keep just what the kids and I really liked. Looks a little messy, but hey, that's my chitlins y'all!

I used some of my scrapbook supplies and my daughter's 1st grade picture for the front. I know there's many of you who are more talented and creative, but me....not so much. So I just spruced up the front with scrapbook paper and quotes.

On the front of each file folder I placed my child's class picture (with their classmates and teacher - which turned out great because I didn't know what the heck to do with those class photos) and small annual picture for that year.

(wook at that wittle sweet face!)

Now I'm all set for the next eleven years! Now on to the rest of the closet.......

I'm not cool anymore

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 06 Oct 2013 21:12:00 +0000

I found out I'm not cool anymore when I dropped the kids off at school Friday morning.

While the kids were getting out of the car I said, "BUH BAM! It's Friday. HOLLER!" I also added in a high pitched, "CAN I GET A WHAT WHAAAAT?" and did a two handed raise the roof gesture for good measure.

Now, I don't know if I just did it out of order or if maybe I left out an extra "whaaaat," but my ten year old son and my seven year old daughter {who were furiously glancing back and forth to make sure no one was watching} looked back at me as they were slamming the van door shut and whispered.....

"Not cool mom. Not. Cool. You are so.....{wait for it}......yesterday.....and embarrassing."

Watching them walk off I saw a brief bonding moment between siblings as they looked at each other with pity in their eyes. Shaking their heads as if mentally conveying to each other how sad it must be to be so old and not know any better.

I see this look a lot from him

I was stunned.

My children didn't want to be seen with me. When did this happen??? When did I become the object of rolling eyeballs and disown-ment? They used to laugh and think how fun and hip I was when I would do all that urban slangy stuff. True, I never knew the meaning of a single word I was saying, but that didn't matter to them. I was the crazy cool mom who they loved hanging with. I was their.....home slice. See? Total coolness.

back when they still loved me

Then, with a heavy heart, I realized. They're growing up. I'm not my daughter's BFF anymore. Even though when she was five she pinky swore she always would be. I'm not my son's best buddy or his partner in crime. They've moved on. They don't want their mom trying to be cool in front of all their little friends. I seem to have missed the signs of them slowly letting go because I was too busy desperately trying to hold on to the tiny little hands I felt slipping away. I knew they still loved me, but things just weren't the same as they used to be. I was going to have to learn to adjust.

All day I debated on what to do. Do I back off? Should I disappear when other kids their age were around?? How could I change so they wouldn't be constantly upset and anxiously waiting for what humiliating thing their mother might do to embarrass them?

On the other hand......

Didn't I deserve to act however the heck I wanted to after nine months of morning sickness and 24 hours of labor and delivery??......After endless sleepless nights pacing back and forth with sick babies? Worrying over every cough, green poopy diaper, whimper, fever, scraped knee, tree licked, yes, that happened, and countless poison control calls that could have easily ended up with DHR at our doorstep??? Wasn't this MY right as a parent?? Didn't I deserve to have some fun at their expense???

That afternoon as I walked out the door to pick them up I knew what had to be done.

I got into the van and calmly drove to the school.

This was it. The turning point in our relationship. The moment they knew how the rest of their childhood and teen years would play out in front of friends, teachers, faculty, parents, and even strangers. It all came down to this one defining moment between mother and child.

You could hear the music thumping in the car before I ever made it to the gate.

Here we go. Game on.

A sea of young faces turned to see what the commotion was.

As my kids and I made eye contact a slow smile spread across my face, and their confusion quickly turned into an expression of horror.

My eyes narrowed as I rhythmically bobbed my head up and down to the beat of the music.

Their mouths gaped open in an effort to form a slow motion, "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!"

I could make out kids mouthing the words, "No. Way."

And that's when it happened.

The mother of all humiliation.....I pulled up in front of them with windows rolled down, van shaking, singing and rapping as loud as I could to the 1980's classic, "Ice Ice Baby".....with an added bonus of every dance move I've ever learned since 1979. It was all there.....the Travolta moves, the Cabbage Patch, the Carlton, the Macarena.........

"Mama's in the hooouuussse!!" I squealed.

Their faces registered panic, then shock, and finally disbelief. They were stone. cold. frozen.

As the teacher slid open the door I got, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING???" growled out through gritted teeth. "I'm collaborating and listening. Isn't it awesome?? Got my hands in the aiiiirr like I just don't caaaarrrree....."

They looked at me and I saw their little defeated faces. Grudgingly I got a nod of ..... "Well played, mother. Well played."

Crawling into the van they slithered down as low as they could into the seats. My little girl looked up at her big brother and said, "Did that really just happen? Is this a dream??"

Sharing an understanding wink with the other moms I pulled out of the line.

Still grinning as we drove off I said, "Oh no honey, this is your worst nightmare. Welcome to the next ten years."

And that, moms, is how it's done.

"BOOM!!"

I think I'm in a parade

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 30 Sep 2013 15:33:00 +0000

Saturday my husband called me on his way home from town. This was our 1 pm convo.

Me: "Hello?"

Keith: "I think I'm in a parade."

Me: "You can't think you're in a parade. Either you are or you aren't."

Keith: "I just turned right in Eva and there's two cops riding horses in front of me
and a firetruck behind me throwing candy out to the kids on the side of the street."

Silence.

Me: "You're in a parade."

Keith: "What do I DO??? (I could totally hear the panic in his voice.)

Me: "Look around your truck. Do you see any gum or peppermints?"

Keith: "I have gum. What's that got to do with how to get me out of this??"

Me: "Nothing. Throw the gum out the window and wave. See you in a couple of hours."

Click.

Me: "BAHAAHAAAHAAAA.....Who's gettin' the house to herself? THIS GIRL!

My most requested.....deviled eggs

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 25 Sep 2013 15:52:00 +0000

I've always loved my mama's deviled eggs. However, after I got married I had to tweak her recipe when I found out Keith didn't like sweet pickles or Bama mayo. {we always had Bama mayo in the fridge when I was growing up.} So I switched things up with Kraft mayo and original dills (his preference) and I've been making them that way ever since.

Just like my mama I don't measure ingredients for this recipe. It's all to taste. Irritating isn't it? I get so frustrated sometimes trying to make some of her recipes. I'm always nagging her to give me measurements!! I did try to come up with something for you to kinda go by though....just to give you an idea. You should adjust everything to your preference.

The family LOVES them and I never show up at a gathering without them. It's always requested that I bring them along. They're always a hit!

Ingredients:

This recipe is for 6 eggs which makes 12 deviled eggs

6 hard boiled eggs

1 tsp mustard

1/4 - 1/2 Vlasic original dill pickle - chopped

1/4 cup Kraft real mayo (I use a little more than that)

salt to taste

pepper to taste

Paprika

Run water till about an inch over your eggs in your pot and bring to a boil.

Let boil 10 - 12 minutes

Drain your water out and cover with cold water.

Gently crack just the end of your eggs.

Let stand till eggs are cool (5 minutes or so)

Crack your egg all the way around.

Hold the egg under cool running water as you peel it. This helps loosen the shell.

Good luck.

Note: This is the best way I have found that works to peel eggs without destroying them. It doesn't always work though. I've tried every method, but with super fresh eggs it's tough to get those shells off!

Scoop your egg yellows into a bowl and add your chopped pickle, mayo, mustard, salt, and pepper.

I always have to adjust my ingredients as I taste test. You may want it creamier. I tend to add more mayo. If so add in more mayo, but go light on the mustard.

~ Salt and pepper to taste ~

Stuff your eggs with as much mixture as you like and sprinkle tops with Paprika.

{for me it HAS to be Kraft mayo and Vlasic original dills or it's not the same.}

Fair Day

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 23 Sep 2013 21:26:00 +0000

The county fair.

That magical place where you and your children bond over duct taped rides, cotton candy, candy apples, ten freakin' dollar games and cheap a$$ prizes.

I love it.

Every. Second.

It's never truly Fall to me until my feet cross the entrance to the fair.

I've been going to the same fair since I was 9 years old, and I love being able to take my kids to the same place.....to make those memories together that hopefully they will cherish when they get older.

As I've said before, I'm the kind of mom who will let her kids ride as much as they want till they get tired or throw up.

Usually throw up.

What? That's not how you do it??

Anyway, here's a few pictures from our day.....

Now.....it's Fall.

xxxooo

The Best Sausage Balls Ever!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 22 Sep 2013 17:08:00 +0000

I don't know why I only make these yummy sausage balls during football season and Christmas. I just don't think about them the rest of the year. Shame. They sure are delicious little bites.

I've tweaked this recipe to include hot sausage and sharp cheese because I like mine with a little bite to it. I've also added an ingredient that makes them super moist. No more dried out sausage balls!!

Ingredients:

1 lb hot sausage

8 oz cream cheese (softened)

1 & 1/4 Bisquick

4 oz sharp shredded cheddar cheese

Combine all your ingredients in a bowl and mix until well blended.

I take my wedding rings off and use my hands.

Roll them into 1 inch balls and place them on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake 20 minutes at 375* until browned.
and for the love of cheese don't overcook them.

While you're waiting for them to come out of the oven go ahead and decorate for Fall!

annnnnnd.....

If you want a little something sweet and easy to whip up for later try my Quick and Easy Lemon Icebox Pie. Only four ingredients!!

Happy eating!!

Summer Squash Casserole

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 18 Sep 2013 17:41:00 +0000

As we wistfully wave goodbye to summer and bid a fond farewell to our gardens I thought it would be nice to spotlight one of my favorite summer veggies, squash, to end the season. I don't know about you, but we get so much squash coming in I'm always trying to figure out a new way to use it.

We've had baked squash, fried squash, grilled squash, boiled squash, saute'd squash, and stir fried squash. Tell me you totally read that Bubba Gump style??

My favorite way to eat it though? Yep. Squash casserole. Anything that calls for loads of cheese and crushed crackers.....hey y'all....I'm all over that!

So I'm ready to usher in Fall after one last meal from the garden.....

There's really no way to make this look appetizing.

What you'll need:

Ingredients:

3 cups cooked squash drained
1 lg onion chopped and cooked with squash
1 lb lean beef browned
1 can water chestnuts
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup milk
1 sleeve crushed saltines
2-3 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Go ahead and slice and boil your squash and onion (I like my onion finely chopped) around 30 minutes or until tender. Drain.

Brown your hamburger meat and drain.

Pam a 1970's casserole dish.....What? That's not how you do it??.....and mix together squash, onion, hamburger, soup, and water chestnuts.

Cover with crushed crackers and cheese. Add as little or as much as you like.

Bake at 350* for 30 - 35 minutes.

Dive in!

Orange Drizzle Pound Cake

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 17 Sep 2013 17:24:00 +0000

I totally wish my blog had a scratch n sniff. Y'all have no idea how good my house smells right now. I have an orange drizzle pound cake in the oven and it's heavenly in here!

I'm a chocoholic. When I have to choose a dessert at a restaurant it's a sure thing whatever they bring out will have, at the very least, three layers of chocolate in it. Y'all can keep your Apple Strudels and Brown Betty's. Give. Me. The. Chocolate.

However, there is one cake I make that will trump my chocolate obsession. That's how good this is. Next time you're in the mood for a pound cake this is your winner right here!

Ingredients

for the cake:

1 box yellow (or orange) cake mix

3/4 cup orange juice

1/2 cup vegetable oil

4 eggs

1 tsp lemon extract

1 pkg instant lemon pudding mix

Lightly grease a 10 inch bundt pan and preheat your oven to 325*

Stir cake mix and pudding mix together.

Add your 3/4 cup orange juice, oil, eggs, and lemon extract

Beat on low speed with mixer until blended. Now beat 4 minutes on medium speed.

Pour into pan.

Bake 50 minutes.

Let cool for 10 minutes.

for the orange drizzle:

1/3 cup orange juice

2/3 cup white sugar

1/4 cup butter

In a sauce pan heat orange juice, sugar, and butter for two minutes until blended well.

Punch holes throughout your cake and drizzle juice over and into cake.

I hope you enjoy this recipe. It's one of my favorites!!

The Hub's Country Style Ribs

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 16 Sep 2013 01:51:00 +0000

My hubby decided he wanted his ribs to go with another round of football today. He's a big NFL fan. Me? Meh. I could care less. I'm a college football girl, but I'll hang with him just to chow down on these! He makes some mean ribs y'all.

I wanted to share this recipe with you guys so I asked him if I could snap some shots while he was working on them. All I got was some eyeball rolling and mumbling under his breath.

I heard yes.

He meant no.

He should really work on vocalizing his feelings more.

I did manage to get in a couple of blurry pictures before he shoved me out of the way though.

Ingredients:

4 lbs country style ribs

1 cup BBQ sauce

1 cup white vinegar

4 TBS Worcestershire sauce

2/3 cup brown sugar

1/2 tsp salt

(I think I saw him throw in a little honey at the last minute)

Mix all ingredients in a bowl and set aside. Place your ribs in a large pan. You're going to bake these at 400* for 30 minutes. Next, take them out and pour off the fat.

Pour your BBQ mixture over the ribs. Cover with tin foil. Bake at 300* for 2 hours.

Enjoy!

Quick and Easy Lemon Icebox Pie

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 13 Sep 2013 14:09:00 +0000

I wanted to get a quick and easy dessert done today for the games tomorrow. I can't be in the kitchen cooking during football. Ain't nobody got time for that! Bama takes on Texas A&M and my booty plans on keeping the recliner warm for a big chunk of the day.

This little pie right here is a "go to" of mine for any gathering and it's always a hit. I picked up this recipe ten years or so ago. Super fast to make and so yummy!

Lemon Icebox Pie

What you'll need:

2 graham cracker pie crusts

1 bottle of lemon juice

1 (12 oz) container of Cool Whip

1 can of sweetened condensed milk

{You haveta lick the condensed milk off your finger. It's a rule.}

Using a hand mixer whip milk, lemon juice, and Cool Whip together till blended and fluffy.

Spread into two pie crusts. Refrigerate. That's it! Don't need two? Freeze one for later!

ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!

Fall Favorite Hamburger Soup

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 12 Sep 2013 22:54:00 +0000

I went by the bank to pick up our mega passes for the fair yesterday. These passes get the kids in free and let them ride as much as they want for the low low price of $22. Y'all know what it costs to ride those super glued death traps. I mean, crazy right?? So, for sure, mama's gonna buy those mega deals! Anyway, I'm the kinda mom that'll let her kids ride and eat as much as they want till they get tired or throw up. Usually throw up. What? That's not how you do it??

All that got me thinking about Fall. I am so excited about Fall y'all! It is my absolute favorite time of the year with Christmas coming in at a close second. I say Christmas instead of Winter because on December 26th I'm over all that jazz, and by jazz I mean anything below 65 degrees and not flip flop weather. Unfortunately, in Alabama the really cold stuff doesn't even get here till January. Bite me, Jack Frost.

I love everything about this season. I met the hubs in October of '95 which makes it sentimental. I love college football, crunchy colorful leaves, and the cool crisp air. Both the mastermind and the actress have birthdays in October and November. We love Halloween and pumpkin patches! I enjoy snuggling up with a Pumpkin Spice latte from Starbucks and watching orange throw up all over Pinterest.....and omigosh, the food!!

So with all that going through my head I had to drag out my all time fave Fall recipe. My Aunt Joyce's hamburger soup. Mom got this recipe from her twenty plus years ago and we've been making it every year since. I can't even tell you how much I love this stuff, but if I coulda put a ring on it I would have.

Fall Favorite Hamburger Soup

{hamburger too shy to be pictured or forgotten. Whatever.}

My pepper looks like he's not feeling well, but he's fine. He just knows what's about to go down.

(this is a double recipe!)

1 bell pepper

1 white onion

2 lbs lean hamburger

2 (15 oz) cans pork and beans

2 (8 oz) cans tomato sauce

2 (5.5 oz) tomato juice

1 can of Rotel

2 cans or (16 oz) water (more if you need to thin it up)

chili powder (to taste)

salt & pepper (to taste)

Tums

First, you need to dice your onion and pepper then saute' them in a little butter. (I never use quite a whole onion)

Brown and drain your hamburger meat.

Combine all the ingredients (except seasoning) in a large stock pot and add the onion/pepper mix and beef. Stir well. {if you need more water just add a little more in}

Now it's time for the salt, pepper, and chili powder.

Here's where it can get a little tricky. Until this soup comes to a boil and simmers 30 minutes or so you aren't going to taste the full effect of the chili powder. I like mine really spicy so I add a lot and I know when to stop. You need to taste test every ten minutes or so. Don't be afraid of it. If you don't use enough it'll just taste like pork and beans and tomato juice. Gag me. If it needs more flavor add more spice, but until you figure out what's right for you go slow. I may or may not have accidentally scarred the hubs esophageal lining the first time he tried it. Baby.

Like I said, bring everything to a boil then simmer for around thirty minutes.

While you're waiting, go wash that load of clothes you forgot to put in the dryer. Again. For the third time.

Now run get the kids from school before you forget. Cause yeah, that's happened. Just don't burn your house down cause, ya know, that would suck.

We love our soup with crushed saltines on top!

FYI: Hamburger soup is WAY better the next day after everything has blended together overnight!

Remember the Tums in the ingredient list? Yeah. You're gonna need that.

Finish the sentence with Jake and Holly

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 11 Sep 2013 18:27:00 +0000

I found this super fun link up over at Where We Can Live Like Jack and Sally. I've never done a link up before, but after reading everyone's answers I knew I had to join in!

Finish the sentence......

My happy place... is in the mountains or right here at home with my sweet family.

Whatever happened to... the hamster that escaped his cage back in '86? Mom??

So what if I.... theoretically forgot to pick up my kids from school because I was ~~asleep~~ distracted, and I totally made up for it with ice cream and money. Ok, maybe it did happen, but it was a lot of money and it was requested that I "forget" them again. Frequently.

E! needs a reality show about... a Duck Dynasty spin off. In fact, let's just put Duck Dynasty on every channel in place of all the crap they put on TV.

My go-to fast food meal is.... Arby's but I never eat it because, uh, have you seen those prices?! Like hello?? Did y'all miss the fast food price meeting?

You might not know that I... pee at least four times a night and I've almost always made it to the bathroom. J/k. Except that one time.......

The hottest quarterback in the NFL is... anyone who whips the daylights out of the Saints.

If I could... keep my kids little and with me forever I'd do it in a heartbeat.

My personality is awesome because... I'm completely medicated. True story and 100% recommended.

Twerking is.... something that I will threaten to embarrass my kids with in public when I figure out what the hell it is. Sounds promising though.

I think it's super gross when... someone wears shoes inside my house. Yeah. I'm that freak.

Someone needs to tell Miley Cyrus.... she should've gone country.

It's also Wednesday, shot day. My baby girl started taking allergy shots back in June. She is one tough little cookie. Nothing bothers that girl. I hope I grow up to be like her!

Chicken Casserole

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 11 Sep 2013 00:29:00 +0000

This afternoon I decided to make a chicken casserole for supper. It's one of the hubs favorites so I thought I'd be a sweetheart and whip one up for him.

Unfortunately, there's not a whole lot you can do to skinny this up. I mean, hello, Ritz crackers and butter y'all. You can tweak a few things though to lighten it up a touch. ie... reduced fat crackers, light sour cream, 98% fat free soup, chicken breasts instead of a whole chicken. However, completely clean it will never be.{sigh}

It took me a few tries before I got this dish exactly like I wanted it. It was either too much chicken, not enough soup, or too many crackers. My mother in law gave me her recipe and just like all the others, I'm pretty sure she's leaving out an ingredient or direction on purpose so I can't replicate hers exactly. I NEVER get it right when I make one of her dishes. Yeah, I'm on to you woman!

Chicken Casserole

3 boiled and shredded chicken breasts

3 cans 98% fat free cream of chicken soup

1 (8oz) container light sour cream

1/4 c chicken stock

2 sleeves of crushed reduced fat Ritz crackers

1 & 1/2 c melted butter

I use chicken breasts simply because it's quicker than messing with a whole chicken. Bring your chicken to a boil and reduce heat and let cook for around 30 minutes or till it shreds easily.

Make sure to drag out that old 70's Corningware casserole dish cause, ya know, you're cool like that.

Go ahead and mix your soup, sour cream, and chicken stock together until well blended. I use the stock because you don't get much flavor when you boil chicken breasts. Add your shredded chicken to your casserole dish then pour in your mixture and mix everything together.

Crush your crackers and top the dish. Finish with the melted butter. Mmmmm. Butter.

Bake at 350* for 30 - 35 minutes.

All my recipes have a happy little home here in this Gooseberry Patch blank cookbook. I bought this a few years ago for all my family recipes I've collected over the years. So stinkin' cute!

Egg White, Ham, and Cheese Breakfast Sandwich

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 09 Sep 2013 14:54:00 +0000

So there's this sandwich that makes me happy. I eat it almost every morning. Should I be eating steel cut oats? Probably. I do love oatmeal, and no disrespect to the almighty oat but I love me a hearty breakfast sandwich! It keeps me full till lunch with all the protein and carbs. It's not the "cleanest" meal but my mouth and tummy ain't caring you guys.

So without further ado.... I present to you.......

Egg White, Ham, & Cheese on Whole Wheat

2 Egg Whites

1 Slice Sharp Borden's Fat Free Cheese

4 Slices 98% Lean Ham

1 100% Whole Wheat Sandwich Thin

Schlotzsky's Moderately Hellacious Hot Sauce

So obviously this doesn't take a rocket scientist to put together, duh, but I'll tell you how I like to make mine. First things first. Go out to your chicken coop and swipe an egg out from under a chicken's rear end.

What? That's not how you do it?? Look guys, if I could recommend one thing to y'all it would be to invest in some laying hens. Ain't nothin' more organic than washing poop off your breakfast! No added hormones, antibiotics, or crap hen feed, and plenty of room for them to run around. A healthy chicken is a happy chicken! Also, nothing, NOTHING, compares to your own eggs. From color to taste they can't be beat.

See? Chicks!

So anyways, I use two eggs whites and just a touch of the yellow to give it some color. Remember, this is just how I do it. The yolk has good for you nutrients so unless you're watching your Cholesterol or don't want the added calories cook those bad boys up too if you want. Whip em' up fluffy and fry. I use a touch of EVOO spray to coat my pan.

Next, I take either an Arnold's or Nature's Own 100% whole wheat sandwich thin and top each side with the ham and cheese and toss it in the toaster oven for a couple of minutes. Then, top with your eggs and there ya go!

Now the most important step. Schlotzsky's hot sauce!! Hello you hot thang you! I drink this stuff like Koolaid y'all. It totally makes the sandwich for me.

And....in case y'all are wondering..... 214 calories for the whole stinkin' thing. (if you use egg whites only)

Enjoy!

disclaimer

"clean" - NO

gluten free - NO

unprocessed - NO

do I care?