Team Work

Matt and I worked together to prepare one of our favorite dishes for our Valentine's Day dinner. We made Chicken and Artichoke Bake and served it with fresh steamed broccoli, comforting polenta and a mouth watering salad and it was AMAZING!!!!! This was our first time making polenta and we thought it was so tasty. I bought the polenta from Trader Joes, it is packaged just like Jimmy Dean sausage. We just sliced it up and sauteed it with EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) and butter. A little tip to cooking broccoli, steam it with chicken broth to add flavor. Hope you enjoy this dish as much as we do. Happy cooking from our kitchen to yours.

Chicken and Artichoke Bake

Ingredients:

4 boneless chicken breast halves

salt and pepper

flour

1 tablespoon butter

1 tablespoon olive oil

8 ounces sliced mushrooms

2 jars or cans artichoke hearts in brine, quartered, drained

1/2 cup drained sun-dried tomatoes

1 can (2 1/4 ounces) sliced ripe olives

1/4 cup chicken broth

juice of 1 lemon

1/4 cup white wine

Place chicken breast halves between sheets of plastic wrap and gently pound to a uniform thickness. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper then dredge lightly in flour. Preheat oven to 350°. Heat butter and olive oil over medium heat; add the chicken pieces. Brown chicken, turning to brown both sides. Add mushrooms and continue sautéing for another 2 minutes. Add remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Simmer until reduced slightly, then cover and transfer to the oven. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through.Serves 4.

Happy Valentines Day...

Meals in a hurry by Homemade Gourmet

Pecan Pie Bars

Ingredients:
1 Homemade Gourmet® Pecan Pie Muffin Mix
2 eggs
1 stick butter, melted

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350. Make pecan pie batter as directed on label. Prepare 8x8 square baking pan with Pam

2. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 20 minutes, let cool completely before cutting into small bars.

As most of you know, if not all I sell Homemade Gourmet. I decided to show you just how quick and easy it is and know you will fall in love as I have. Check out my website and find something you love that you can whip up in a heartbeat and enjoy with your friends and family. I made a homemade video but I could not get it to work.. Thanks for stopping by!

Valentines Craft!

I was so excited to wake up on Saturday morning and start my fantastic Valentines Day craft idea for my friends, family and neighbors. It is so fun when you get so "giddy" about the little things:). Not sure where I got my inspiration for this but I will have to say it came out of no where so this is what I came up with. Hope you ENJOY it as much as I did.

What you will need:

Pretzels:
Heat the white chocolate bark according to package directions. Simply dip the pretzel rod in the chocolate and turn while you are dipping to make sure you cover it well.

Place it down on a wire rack, (put wax paper under or you will have a mess if you do not)and allow the white chocolate to dry.

Heat your pink and red chocolate separately as directed (about 30 sec, then stir, then another 30-40).

Dip a fork in the red chocolate and shake back and forth over the pretzels, repeat with pink. (you can use whichever utensil you would like but I found the fork to do the trick. Keep in mind you can spread the colored chocolate over 4-6 sticks at a time, much faster that way).

Packaging:
I use Nashville Wraps to order all of my paper, ribbon, bags etc. I started using this site when I needed some items for my guest baskets for the wedding and have been in love ever since. I ordered the raffia ribbon in white, pink and red and then ordered the cellophane baggies. See below:

Labels:

Jennifer told me about the labels she found on one of our favorite blogs we follow, Fly through our window. Check it out it is so easy and fun!

Let me know how it turns out!!! A lot of you wanted to know how I did so here I am to share it with you. Happy Valentines day y'all!!! xoxo

Are you ready for some football?!?!?!

I know this is a day late but we had a busy Superbowl Sunday so I was not able to post. I made this AMAZING, REFRESHING, BEAUTIFUL and most importantly HEALTHY 7 layer bean dip to bring to my inlaws for our superbowl party!

This take on 7 layer bean dip is so great and found it on a blog I follow, ezrapoundcake.com . Who wants to buy the pre-made salsa and guacamole for this dish with all the extra preservatives? Make it from scratch an it might even save you both is carolies and cash.. which we all love.

7 Layer Bean Dip

Adapted from “Cook’s Country.” and ezrapoundcake.com

Layer 1:
2 16-ounce cans black beans, drained and rinsed
1 teaspoon chili powder
Pinch of salt

Layer 2:
1 cup light sour cream (or Greek yogurt)
2 cups freshly grated cheese (preferably pepper jack, Mexican blend or Cheddar)

Layer 3: Guacamole
2 avocados, halved, seeded and peeled
Juice of 1/2 lime
1 clove garlic, minced
Pinch of kosher salt
1/4 cup diced red onion
1 tomato, cored, seeded and diced

Layer 4: Simple Salsa
3 large tomatoes, cored, seeded and diced
2 jalapeños, seeded and minced
1 to 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

Layer 5:
6 scallions, thinly sliced

Layer 6:
Up to 1/4 cup grated cheese (pepper jack, Mexican blend or Cheddar)

Layer 7:
Chopped fresh cilantro

Directions:

1. Layer One: Combine the beans, chili powder and salt in a small bowl. Mash lightly with a fork, if you like. Transfer the beans to an 8-inch square dish or glass bowl of a similar size. (This makes a lot so if you want to prepare all the layers first then assemble so you can see what you are working with I recommend that). A clear dish is best to use so you can see how pretty the layers are.


2. Layer Two: In a small bowl, stir together the sour cream and cheese. Spread the mixture evenly over the bean layer.

3. Layer Three: Mash avocados, lime juice, garlic and salt. Stir in the red onion and tomatoes. Taste and adjust the seasonings. Spread the guacamole over the sour cream mixture.


4. Layer Four: In a medium bowl, combine the tomatoes, jalapeños and fresh cilantro. Layer the salsa over the guacamole.

5. Layer Five: Sprinkle scallions over the salsa.


6.Layer Six: Top the scallions with the cheese of your choice.


7. Layer Seven: Add as much cilantro confetti as you like.

8. Serve at room temperature with tortilla chips and carrot and celery sticks.

We L-O-V-E Treats!!

February is here!!!! Choose a treat you L-O-V-E and make it for your valentine. Guilt-free treats from Southern Living will make you and your "Sweetie" smile and feel good. I made the chocolate fudge pie (the last one) and it was amazing!!!

A Little Obsessed....

Return address labels by Letter Girl ! WOW! I can not tell you how excited I am about this find; however I can not take credit for this one, Pink Wallpaper did a post on these adorable labels and I could not resist but to share it with ya'll. I think we all have the same return label makers by PSA Essentials (although they have a new peel and stick stamp which isawesome. Check out the video), which I love but these by Letter Girl are refreshing. They are also great for wedding return address labels since they have so many different options that can be a little more formal. So Emily, my soon to be sister-in-law, this one is for you:) xoxo

Also, what adorable label maker stamps they have for gift tags for presents from baby gifts to birthdays and hostess gifts. Perfect for all ages!!!! OBSESSED!!!