Chicken and Biscuits

This is one of my favorite recipes to come out of Weight Watchers. And it's hard to believe that it's actually a WW recipe. I've made a few tweaks here and there to make it my own. Mostly veggie substitutes because hubs would rather eat rat poison than touch a pea. I made one big pot tonight that we had for dinner and leftovers will be lunch all week. 


This week, I'm linking this recipe up with Cole at All the Small Stuff for Tuesdays at the Table. Go check out her recipes...especially this week. Ranch Mac and Cheese? Yes, please.

For Stew:

1 pound chicken, diced

3.5 cups chicken stock
1 bag frozen mixed veggies

2 tbsp oil

1 small onion, diced

1 large potato, diced

2 bay leaves

1 tsp dried thyme

Salt and pepper to taste

For biscuits:

1 & 2/3 cups Bisquick Heart Healthy mix

2/3 cup skim milk

1/4 cup chopped fresh sage

Pepper

In a large stockpot, brown chicken in 1 tbsp oil. Remove from pot and put in a bowl for later. Add remaining oil and saute onion. Add potato, mixed veggies, bay leaves, spices and stock. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer for 10 minutes or until potatoes are fork tender.

Mix all ingredients for biscuits. Drop spoonfuls of dough on top of simmering stew. Cook uncovered for 10 minutes. Then cover and cook for an additional 10 minutes. 

Voila! Chicken and biscuits that doesn't go straight to your thighs.

Bonus tip: If you live in an area with a Giant Food and you clip coupons, you can get the new Knorr Homestyle Stock for $.79! It's on sale at Giant for $2.79 and there's a $2.00 off one coupon in this week's paper. Stock up! Ha - pun intended. 

I was reluctant to try this, but I used it tonight and loved it. You just boil 3.5 cups of water and add stock. Much more budget friendly than buying the big boxes because you get 4 packs which equals 14 cups!

Basement Renovation

It's been 5 months since we moved into the new house, and we're finally getting around to getting stuff done. More specifically, the basement ("man cave") is now being renovated. 


When we first moved in, it housed a small stage in the corner which took up huge amounts of room. Hubs, 2 friends, and the help of a power saw ripped that thing right out. Here's where it used to be. 

We still really haven't figured out it's purpose. The people before used the basement as the playroom for their kids, so the stage held a tiny table and chair set. Perhaps the people before them had big dreams of stardom? Broadway? Stand up comedy?

You'll also note the lovely shade of salmon carpet we're dealing with. Oof. It's U.G.L.Y. We'll be getting that ripped out and replaced when this thing is complete. 

The design of the basement is weird. It houses a fourth bedroom and has a HUGE laundry room. Way bigger than is needed. And it ate up a lot of room. So we had that whole wall taken down and new one built.

Those cabinets in the middle were all in the laundry room. We'll be reusing them for storage and a bar! 

And, although the paint color isn't too bad, it's too dark for a basement. We opted not to have the wood paneling removed/dry-walled over (to keep the budget down), so we are painting it a nice off white. Officially called "Silky Bamboo." 

This was before I got paint all over me. Hair, clothes, arms, face. I'm so messy. 

I can't wait until this reno is done, so I can banish hubs to the basement for video game playing. And I can get back to watching copious amounts of trashy reality TV. And I can FINALLY get my house back. Right now, everything is just spread out upstairs until we can give it a permanent home. 

Pumpkin Lanterns

When I decided to take two full boxes of mason jars from my grandmother's house, I just knew they'd come in handy. No, not for canning. Silly. For crafts!


Again, with the aid of Pinterest, I found the inspiration to make these "adorable" pumpkin lanterns. And I use the word "adorable" in quotes, because my that's what my husband called them. I wasn't sure to be flattered or scared. 

To make these, you'll need:

• Mason jars
• Orange paint
• Black paint
• Mod Podge
• Spray sealer
• Floral wire 
• Ribbon

Glass can be super tricky to paint. There is paint formulated specially for glass, but I found that mixing Mod Podge with acrylic paint makes it stick pretty well. I made a mixture of one part of each. 

Step 1: Paint the outside of your jar orange. The number of coats is up to you. I just did one.

Step 2: After the paint dries, paint on a pumpkin face using your black paint.

Step 3: Attach floral wire around the rim and over the top to make a handle. This is tricky and I actually ended up hot gluing it down. 

Step 4: Spray with sealant.

Step 5: Tie a bow with your decorative ribbon on the handle.

Step 6: Add a tea light and enjoy! 

Are you all making any Fall crafts? 

Mod Podge Madness

Do you know what happens when I have a long weekend AND unlimited access to Pinterest AND my power back? Many crafty hours, that's what. It looks like Martha Stewart threw up all over my kitchen table. 


First? I had fun with letters from Michaels, scrapbook paper, Mod Podge and my hot glue gun. 


I made this for my fireplace:

Hubs said to me after I put it up, "Thank God you made that sign. I'm always wondering what season it is. Now all I have to do is look at the fireplace." Smartass.

I purchased the letters from Michaels, along with the scrapbook paper, and single piece of plywood located conveniently next to the letters. 

To make, trace the shape of your letters on paper and cut. Apply a layer of Mod Podge to the letter and apply paper. Then cover with another generous coat and let dry. I also used the same technique using strips of leftover paper to cover the base. Then, I just arranged the letters and hot glued them to the base. Super easy.

Next up? Something for Halloween:

I had problems taking this picture for some reason, but you get the idea. I used the same technique here for the letters, tied them together with ribbon and added some ghosts. For these letters, I did paint the edges black. In hindsight, I should have simply spray painted them before starting, but since I wasn't smart enough to think of that first, I hand painted the edges. 

You thought that was all I got? Heck no! But I'm saving that for another post. 

Fitness Friday

Happy Friday! I hope you'll agree that this has been a L-O-N-G week. This time last week? We were hunkering down to deal with that beyotch, Irene. Thank goodness for this long, Labor Day weekend. I've desperately got to restore order to my life. 


Let's talk fitness. This week got a little hairy without the power...mostly because of the lack of hot showers around these parts. And the fact that my shins felt like they were on fire.


Sunday: I was called into work to deal with hurricane crises, so no workout. But this was a rest day from the 5K I did the day before.


Monday: No formal "workout." Instead? We sawed giant limbs off our downed trees. And I found out that hand-sawing gets your body sweating and your heart pumping.


Tuesday: I hit the trail near work for a 2 mile run/walk.


Wednesday: My shins felt terrible, so I headed home. Then, when the power came back, I went on a crazy cleaning spree.


Thursday: 30 Day Shred and 6 week 6 Pack


Friday: Today, I'm headed for some new running shoes, so I can save my shins.


And tomorrow? I'm planning a morning 5K for myself. The weather has finally turned lovely, and the scorching heat and humidity seem to have hit the road for a while. So I'm taking advantage of it.


How did YOU do with fitness this week?


PS - If anyone has any tips on shin splints, help a sister out, puhlease!?

Free to Breathe 5K

After over 4 days of agony, our power finally returned last night around 6:30PM! About 2 minutes after it came on, you could hear all the neighbors outside cheering in celebration, followed by the simultaneous shutting off of all the generators. Thank you, Lord for hot water, a cold fridge, TV, dishwasher, washing machine...


In other news, last Saturday, right before Irene swept the coast, my family and I participated in the Free to Breathe 5K. Yes, that's correct, I completed my first 5K. I didn't run it all, but I ran enough. I finished in 40 minutes, which I know is horribly slow, but I'm signing up for another very soon!


In addition to the glorious feeling of crossing the finish line, Team Nana had many a cause for celebration. We raised $2,393 for lung cancer research, awareness and education. We got this sweet trophy for being #1:

Me accepting our team trophy.

Julie and I before the start of our first 5K!

Left to right: Aunt Chris, Uncle Kevin, Momma, Uncle Dan, Aunt Wendy

Left to Right: My sister, Cousins Ryan, Kaylin and Keenan

Hubs after the race. Yes, that's a pool of butt sweat. Ew.

Big winners for Team Nana! Chris with second overall, Keenan with first in his age group and Kevin with third in his age group.

Kevin, the top fundraiser for the entire event.

I'm SO proud of my entire family for participating! This is our second year and I can't wait for the third!

Partying Like It's 1899

Irene is a beyotch. Because she's left us with no power. Since Saturday. 


It's Wednesday. That's 4 days. FOURDAYS!


Expected power restoration? Friday night/Saturday morning. 


To say that I've lost my shit is an understatement. We've thrown out a fridge/freezer full of food, been hacking at the 3 downed trees in our yard, taken cold showers and watched Wiggles chase his tale for entertainment. Thank God for friends that have let me have a 5PM hot shower yesterday and today.


How does this make me feel? Completely out of control and anxiety-ridden. I'm a planner and this is certainly not in my plan.


It could be worse. I know. But it still feels awful right now.