Amy's Chicken Cacciatore

Well, just had another yummy dish the other night. I love to cook, but pretty sure I have mentioned that once or twice on this blog. This was a recipe I found, but added a few seasonings and veggies to the recipe. It turned out delicious.....A Must Try Recipe

Ingredients:
4 Chicken Thighs
1/4 cup Celery, Carrots and Onion (sliced)
1 tsp minced garlic (fresh or in jar)
dash of salt and pepper
14.5 oz Diced Tomatoes (I used the one with basil and oregano)
6 oz Tomato Paste
2/3 cup of Merlot, wine (or another dry red)
1 1/2 tsp of sugar, white
dash of red pepper
1 tsp Italian Seasoning

 I diced my celery and carrots, but sliced the onion.

 Pour about tablespoon of EVOO in skillet. Heat skillet. Cook chicken on both sides, with skin. Let it get nice and brown. I did about 15 minutes total, flip half way through. Add a dash of salt and pepper to chicken on both sides.

 Remove chicken, set aside. Add your onion, carrots, celery and minced garlic. Stir and cook for 5minutes.

 Add chicken back to skillet. Remove skin before adding.

 Mix the tomatoes, paste, wine, sugar, red pepper and italian seasoning in a separate bowl. Then pour over chicken. Bring to a boil for five minutes, then turn to simmer for 45-50 minutes. Chicken should be 175 to 180 degrees.

This chicken tastes delicious served over fettuccini. I added a little fresh parmesan

and Viola !!!!!



Happy Valentine's Day

I love to make cake balls. I love to cook and bake. These two things are my true passion. I just recently opened a shop on Etsy. If you are interested, please check out my shop. You can also leave a comment if you are interested in ordering. This would be a great treat to send your love one or that special someone from Valentine's Day !! Thanks and God Bless........

                             http://www.etsy.com/listing/90049168/valentine-dessert-valentine-gift

Fish Parmesan

Fish Parmesan?

I like to take recipes and make them my own. I mean who doesn't? So I was in the mood for fish and pasta, so I thought chicken parmesan, but with fish. So I came up with fish parmesan. I used two tilapia filets (not frozen, fresh is best). They were very inexpensive ($6 for two). I didn't want to top fish with sauce and cheese, but I did serve with a side of pasta. I forgot to take a picture, but I just did ziti noodles and used my favorite jar of spaghetti sauce with some mozzarella melted. It was a nice meal.....

Ingredients:

2 Tilapia Filets

1 Egg

Salt-n-Pepper, dash of each

Water (about 1/4cup)

I slice of a bread (I used the hill)

10 Ritz Crackers

2 Tablespoons of fresh gradted Parmesan

1 teaspoon Garlic, minced

1 tablespoon of EVOO

1 teaspoon of Lemon juice ( fresh is best)

Directions:

Beat Egg, pour in water. I grinded bread and crackers in processor (Or my Ninja, which I love). Mix that with salt, pepper and parmesan. Dip Filets into egg mix, then into bread/cracker mixture - coat both sides. Place into an 8X8 (greased baking dish). Then, mix Garlic, EVOO and Lemon. Pour over filets and bake in the oven for 30min at 350 degrees.

Yams Gone Mashed

I am always looking for new recipes, so I created my own. I love sweet potatoes or some call them yams !! I had one left and needed to use it, plus I get sick of mashed potatoes all the time. So my yams went smashed tonight. It was super easy, but oh so yummy. Just in time for Christmas too. Great new Christmas treat to make for Christmas dinner. A twist on same old yams. This recipe is for one. 

One Yam............

I boiled for 30 minutes and they turned our perfect. 

Drain potatoes, beat potatoes with the following: 3teaspoons of sugar, 1 tablespoon of brown sugar, 3 teaspoons of butter, 1 tablespoon of cinnamon and 2 tablespoons of milk. 

 I hope you enjoy just as much as we did. It serves two. Totally delicious. I could have eaten all by myself. 

Tis the Season......

We tend to forget the true meaning of CHRISTmas. I capitalize CHRIST because he is and should be the center of Christmas. I was given a special book a couple of years ago and decided I would read it again this year. I plan to start a tradition and read it every year, so I too don't forget the real reason we celebrate Christmas. It is called "The Purpose of Christmas" by Rick Warren. 

First, let me start by sharing the original Christmas story: 

There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." (Luke 2:8-14)

Christmas isn't just stringing lights, putting up trees and spending hours wrapping gifts. We rush around trying to find the perfect gift for that special someone, parent, friend, child, spouse, etc. We fight lines, traffic and some fight each other to get that PErfeCT gift.  WHOO, it all adds up after awhile and actually causes a lot of anxiety for some. I assure you that was not Gods intent. Christmas is a time to CELEBRATE Christ's birth and everything he did while on earth. His gift of dying on the cross is priceless and lasts forever. It is a one size fits all who believe. That is the most awesome gift anyone could receive. So I encourage everyone to take a few minutes and reflect on why we celebrate what has become a "commercialized" holiday. I know it is hard sometimes to look beyond the lights, presents and tree.........but try and focus on the CENTER ! 

Aim for the MOON

Life isn't about just being......it is about being what God wants you to be. We may fall and stumble and make mistakes, but as Christians we trust that God is always with us. I just read the story of Peter and Jesus when Jesus walked on the lake. The people thought Jesus was a ghost and couldn't believe their eyes. Jesus said "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid" (Matthew 14:27) Peter knew it was him and wanted to go to him, so Jesus told him to come and Peter walked to him. When the wind came Peter became frightened and began to sink. Peter called out to Jesus to save him, Jesus caught and saved him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" (Matthew 14:31). This story is important for us going through life. No matter what we are going through or where we are headed, Christ is always with us. We are going to fall and we are going to stumble, but Christ is always there to pick us up and put us back on our feet. We don't need to be afraid. We can choose to live an average life or we can choose to aim for the moon and live a life full of God's blessings. Don't let other people influence you or keep you from your dreams. Do God's will for you and be the best you can be, he won't let you sink.

Don't Take Me For Granted

I hope everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving. I hope you didn't take the moments you shared with family and friends for grated. I know I didn't. It's that moment when you get a phone call, none of us want to get, that your heart drops. Wednesday morning one of my best friends called me at work and said her cousin (who is another best friend) is in the hospital, in critical condition. WOW. My husband and I had went back home hoping to see all our friends & family and all would be great. Well, you never should assume. In that moment when I got the call, I was thankful to be able to go to the hospital and see him. He was in bad shape and all we could do was PRAY. My husband said a prayer with him and his parents by his bed. It was touching. He is still in critical condition. He is on a ventilator and improving (little at a time). However, it will be a long road ahead. This whole experience reminds me that Life is Short. Never take God for granted. He is the ultimate power. He gives us so much, everyday. Instead of worrying about what is to come, thank him for the present.

During this terrible time, friends and family have immediately started coming together. It is powerful to witness situations like this and be apart of it. God hears our prayers and loves us. When they weren't sure he would make it, prayers from all over started pouring out for him. He has been in the hospital for almost a week, but I have FAITH (along with everyone else) that God will heal and use him as a testament. When someone touches your life, you need to let them know. Don't take one day or one second for granted. We don't know Gods plan, but rest assure he has one and it is a perfect one. Trust in him.