Chicken Fettucini

I promised some of you my Chicken Fettucini recipe on Facebook, so here goes... (Wish I had taken a photo to share, but my hungry belly took over!)

Ingredients

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 small pkg fettucini noodles
1 carton half and half (I use the smaller one, 8 oz?)
1/4 cup butter (or margarine or vegetable spread)
1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp all purpose flour
1 splash milk
1 carton white sliced mushrooms, stems removed (I use the single carton found in produce)
1/2 cup chopped bell peppers & onions (I use a frozen mix so I don't waste any fresh produce)
salt & pepper
garlic powder
onion powder
cajun seasoning

**Please note, this is a serving perfect for two hungry adults with a little leftover, so double if you have some kiddos to feed!

Directions:

Cook chicken breasts in skillet (or however you like) and slice into thin strips. I'm a cooking multi-tasker, so if you can handle the heat have your bell peppers & onions with 1 tbsp butter cooking in a separate pot while the chicken is cooking or while you're slicing. Once veg mixture starts to get soft, throw in your mushrooms. Do not season until mushrooms begin browning. I usually just add a little S&P at the browning point. You'll add more seasonings later.

Now that your veggies are ready, add the carton of half and half and turn to medium heat. Once your half and half starts to bubble a little, add butter and stir well. Don't let the mixture stay on medium heat - the half and half may burn. Turn heat to medium low, around 1 or 2 on your range. Stick close to the stove at this point until dinner is done. At this point, you can take a minute to fill a large pot with water and get the noodles boiling.

Note: When noodles are done, I strain them over the sink in my strainer bowl, then add a little olive oil & toss. This keeps the noodles from sticking together and you'll be able to step away from them without worry.

Stir every minute or so, the half and half should start to thicken a little. After about ten minutes, take your tbsp of flour and slowly add to the sauce, stirring constantly. When all the flour is in and mixed well, you can decide then if you like the consistency of your cream sauce. If its too thick for your taste, add that splash of milk and stir.

Add the seasonings listed above to taste. I'm a big seasoner and use probably around a half a tbsp of each seasoning or so, then taste and usually add more of what I think it needs at the end. Its all about what your family likes - I'd hate to recommend too much and have your family guzzling water, swearing off this recipe!

Serve: I keep my cream sauce, chicken and noodles separate, then we add to our bowl in layers - noodles, chicken, then cream. I find this works best if you have leftovers to reheat and you can choose the amount of chicken you want in your bowl. My husband piles it on, I like a little less so I can taste the veggies more.

Enjoy! And please, feel free to ask questions. Unlike my crock pot recipes, this is a little more work and if you aren't a regular cream saucer, questions about technique are normal!

It's a boy!

By now, you've probably all heard that we're having a baby boy, so this post is for me, for Baber, for baby, so that I can continue to log and remember the little things about this crazy-amazing thing called pregnancy.

Baber started counting down the days prior to "The Appointment". One week! 4 more days! 2 more days! I found the closer we got to the sonogram appointment, the harder I dug my heels into Time. Stoooppp! Let's wait a little longer. I was actually jittery-nervous the day of the appointment.

The actual sonogram was a wonderful experience in itself. We walked into the room and the sweet technician introduced herself and dimmed the lights... and I swear I felt like I was in a movie, it was so... surreal? This is it, I thought. We're already here and the rest is going to fly by.

J joked about them needing a bigger flatscreen to view baby on and grabbed hold of my hand. After showing us our baby's profile and feet, she confirmed again that we wanted to know the sex.

Well there he is and he's not shy at all! says the technician. I could only see J's profile but he had the biggest grin on his face. A boy!! And then there were tissues and jokes about our son's package, sonogram photos printed and well wishes given. I hope I never forget that day.

Here's are some photos of us the day of the big appointment, 21 weeks along:

And my usual pregnancy log....

Today I am 22 weeks, 5 days pregnant. Funny enough, I started feeling the baby move right after the sonogram. For weeks J and I were laying in bed with his hand on my tummy, trying to concentrate and feel the baby. Nothing. But last week I started feeling him move around and J would rush over to place his hand on my tummy. "There! You feel it?" and disappointment would register on his face as he shook his head. Well, he finally felt him kick one night and now we lay in bed and feel the little bugger cut up before nigh nigh. Its such an incredible feeling.

Cravings: I expected to have some crazy cravings, but I still really don't crave anything specific. Just whatever I see on TV, ha! I'm wanting to crunch ice like I did early in my pregnancy, so snowcones are a favorite treat, but we've only stopped for a couple since the summer officially started. Basically, I just want food in general. :)

Names: The more we talk, the more we want to keep the name private until closer to time. We do have a couple that we are talking about, but nothing fully decided on yet.

Size of the baby: A little over a pound and 10 inches or so in length.

Changes in me: I feel really, really good these days. Besides a little lower back pain after a long day of work, I'm fine. Balance is lost as is my memory. I weeble wobble down the halls in the morning, I think I need to bumper pad the walls. I'm always in a great mood. My skin looks healthier... and so do my thighs. *snicker*

Changes in husband: What can I say? He's... everything I could ask for and more. Supportive. Helpful. My best friend. Tells me I'm pretty every single day, laughs when I gawk at my belly in the mirror, brings me to get snowcones even when he doesn't want one. Consoles me when I fuss about my fluffiness. Tucks me into my pillow fort at night. Rubs my belly before bed, a great comfort that lulls me into sleep.

He and I both have been working insane hours, so considering the stress and lack of time spent together, its a wonder we haven't bitten each other's heads off. Instead, we get into bed as early as we can and talk. About work. Life. Our son. On the rare day he gets off early, we sneak off to the river with our puppy monster and a towel to sprawl on for some lazy family time. Mini loves these rare occasions best, she squeezes in between us and begs for pets. Runs circles around us and through us, trying to see how sandy she can get us. She knows something is up.

That's it for today. Until next time... xo

Hungarian Chicken

This recipe is one we've made for years in my family. I'm not even sure where it came from really. Usually I slow cook this in a skillet, but needed an extra hand from my crockpot due to my crazy schedule right now. It turned out great and I even had less clean up!














Ingredients

4 chicken thighs
1 medium bell pepper
1 medium yellow onion
2 heaping tbsps paprika
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
About 2 cups water, adding more later

Place all ingredients in crock pot - add water halfway up the chicken thighs. Cook on low for about 7 hours. Check occasionally, adding water as needed. The "sauce" should get thicker as it cooks.

Serve over rice. Enjoy!

Pregnancy Thoughts and Observations: Part 1

Earlier this week I posted a facebook status update that says: "I can physically feel my belly stretching. If one more person tells me they just loooovvedd being pregnant, I'm going to smack 'em!"

Baber gets my notification, reads it and starts laughing. Just moments earlier he asked me if he could get me something while I was huffing and puffing, to which I replied: my allergy medicine, eye drops, some lotion... After I took care of my new, obnoxious allergy issues, I sat back down and was convinced my belly was going to pop. Hurled myself up and literally spread my entire body across the length of the sectional to get some relief, which made J laugh again.

I am forever uncomfortable and I'm only halfway through this. *sigh*

Baber came over and said that someone suggested getting me a maternity massage. I scrunched up my nose. He told me Yeah, I knew you wouldn't like one of those. (I love that he knows me so well.) I told him that he was the only one who could touch the belly right now and get away with it. I then had violent images of karate chopping people in the neck as they reached towards my ever-growing belly. And then J gave me his own belly massage, basically him just rubbing the budda belly, which I actually enjoyed.

I told him that while I loved watching my belly grow and imagining the miracle taking place inside it, I missed my body. I miss being able to just throw myself around and be silly with him like I used to. Being active. Before, I had this thing I did before getting into bed. He would be ready before me and already be in the bed. Towel drying my face, I'd peek in at him in the bed, hang up the towel and literally run and throw myself at him in the bed. As in, leap and hurl my body through the air into the bed beside him, slamming into him. Not very feminine, but it always sent us into giggles.

Middle of my belly rub I tell him how I miss that. He laughed and said he didn't realize how physical we were with each other until now, now that we can't be.

These are just thoughts, just observations... I know I won't be pregnant my whole life. Still, its funny the things you think of while pregnant.

And the dreams! If I could hold onto something from pregnancy, that would be one thing I'd vote to keep. They're so incredibly vivid. Not always good, but I remember so much when I wake up.

One more thing... I believe I'm feeling the baby move around now. Little bumps, flutters and such. The Baberhusband and I now have a ritual every night: He tucks a gazillion pillows around me and I settle in, then he cups his hand over my protruding belly. It's so incredibly soothing for me, his hand so warm - I swear it helps me sleep better. And we just lay there like that for a while. We concentrate and I tell him when I feel the baby move. He laughs at me when my face lights up and tells me he wishes he could feel it. Soon, I tell him, you'll be able to feel and SEE it move.

When I'm watching him while we're like that, I almost believe that he would have willingly carried the baby himself if he could and I just have this feeling, this amazing feeling that he's going to be an incredible daddy.

That's all for now.... just a few random thoughts circulating that I needed to let loose. I'm hoping to have some updated bump photos soon and a pregnancy update after we find out the sex of the baby, which is this Monday!

NOTE: I will no longer be sharing my updated post links on Facebook. Unfortunately a handful of sourpusses like to take things I say and run with them, giving me their unwelcome negative advice and thoughts on my pregnancy. I figure, I'm allowing them to purge their thoughts because I'm technically sharing mine with them. While a lot of my friends have been amazingly encouraging and supportive in this first pregnancy of mine, others feel the need to remind me that "its a blessing to have children" when I make an offhand comment about a rare bad day. We're all human, learning along the way. These posts are for me to remember this pregnancy by, to update and share with those that love and care about me and my family. So, if you want to receive my updates I'd be more than happy to send you the links, just let me know.

Jillry Trunk Show April 13th-15th

Hi Jillry fans! As you all know by now, I'm holding my second online trunk show this week. For those of you who have never participated and would like to, here's how it works:

Tuesday through Thursday I will be posting photos of new pieces and marked down oldies from my collection in a folder called Trunk Show on my Facebook Fan Page. Keep an eye out for status postings with the link to my folder (you will also see photos). Simply click on the images and scroll through - if you see pieces you must have, just comment!

Mine!
I want this!
Add this to my shopping cart!

Any of these exclaimations will do, really. ;) The first person to comment on an item receives it, so its pretty much first come, first serve. Keep an eye out for new items posted to the folder all day!

How to pay for and receive items: I accept Paypal or check by mail. I will contact you at the end of the day on Thursday or sometime Friday to check you out. Or, if you are ready to close out before then, simply say so on my page, message my personal account "Jill Lamonte Corkern" or email me at JillryLove@gmail.com.

Once payment is received, I will immediately pack up your new pretties for the mail.

Please note: PAYMENT MUST BE RECEIVED WITHIN 72 HOURS. If you do not plan to pay for the items, please do not comment on them. If you do not pay within 72 hours, your order will be cancelled and the items will go to the next person who commented to claim them.

Questions? Just ask! This is a really casual online shopping gig, so just have fun with it!

Thank you, everyone, for your continued support. I love my job and still wake up pinching myself. Thanks to you, I'm able to do what I love, and I so enjoy bringing you all new pretties!

((Big squishy prego hugs)) xo Jill

April Fools Day

I didn't sleep a wink last night, so I had a lot of time to think. This time of year always brings back fond memories... April Fool's Day reminds me of my Maw Maw, and then of course Mother's Day reminds me of Mom. I'll save Mom memories for a post closer to Mother's Day.

My Maw Maw and Paw Paw were soulmates, to say the least. Paw Paw spoiled the hell outta her and she took care of him every day of their life together. I remember her saying that she laid his clothes out to wear on the bed every morning for him, now that's love! They both had a great love for pranking each other and their loved ones, especially on April Fools Day.

When my Paw Paw died 11 years ago, my grandmother was shook up to say the least. I suggested moving in with her, told her someone needed to take care of her for a change. (My Maw Maw cared for my Paw Paw through his years of diabetes, up to the last moment of his life.) Well, it still ended up the other way around, she's a natural care-giver at heart.

The short year I lived there with her, we made a lot of hilarious memories. At night, she would sit in her lounge chair, me on one end of the couch. As soon as she'd turn off the tv, signaling bed time, it was ON. We'd have a race to see who could get ready for bed the fastest. Wash face, teeth, brush hair, change into pjs, jump into bed and turn the light off. The light was the "finish line". "I BEEEEAT CHUUUU!!" She would squeal at me from the other room, or me to her. I let her win a lot, just so I could hear that.

I can't remember what we did to one another for April Fools, but I remember that day triggered our pranking. Sometimes I would feign tummy aches just before bed to leave the den before her and hide behind her bedroom door while she turned the tv off and made her way in the back. As she passed through her doorway I would scare her; sometimes it would be a low growl, sometimes I would laugh real high-pitched in a ridiculous baby voice, sometimes I would just say Boo!

I know, its a HORRIBLE thing to do to a then mid 70's-year-old woman, but it always ended up in this huge giggle fest. As soon as she would shriek, I would fall out from behind the door to the floor in one of those laughing fits you nearly cried from, her laughing and cursing me, threatening me the whole time. Oh, believe me, she got me back. Don't you feel sorry for her! :)

So yeah, every year around this time I think of her. I've run out of pranks for her, but on the rare occasion I have a good one to call her about on April Fools, I'm sure to get an earful about past pranks her and Paw Paw played on each other.

April Fools will always remind me of those memories. I think I need to call and tell her so this morning.

Hope everyone has a great day! Anyone have any great prank stories from April Fools? Please share if so!