Parmesan Chicken and Rice Casserole

This week's theme for the Blog Hop is recipes. I couldn't decide between 2 recipes, but finally decided to use my husband's favorite meal. I usually serve steamed broccoli (tossed with a little butter, salt, pepper, and lemon juice) and cranberry sauce (the jellied kind like you have at Thanksgiving).



Parmesan Chicken and Rice Casserole
1 lb. chicken breasts (diced)

1/2 C - 3/4 C parmesan cheese

2 cans cream of mushroom

envelope onion soup mix

2 cups rice

2 cups water

Olive oil (to cover bottom of pan)

salt, pepper, garlic powder to taste



Put Parmesan cheese in a ziploc bag along with chicken, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Close the bag, and shake until chicken is coated with cheese. In a medium skillet/saute pan, heat oil over med/med hi heat. Add chicken and cook, stirring and turning as to not burn cheese. In a bowl, mix cream of mushroom soup, onion soup mix, and water. Once chicken is done, put soup mixture, chicken, and rice in a large casserole dish with cover and put in microwave for 12 minutes. If your microwave isn't big enough, you can bake at 350 for 30 minutes. When the casserole is cooked, stir and let sit for 5 minutes.


Hope you enjoy!!!

I am writing a cookbook, so look for it in the near future (in time to give for Christmas!)

God Bless,



Alli C

A new adventure in Fitness

Since I have been blogging, I have found a LOT of great women. Some of them have inspired me to get off my lazy butt and do things - like sewing, crafting, and now a Life-style change (aka DIETING). I have been thinking about it for a while, and I REALLY need to lose some weight. I have some medical problems that would probably go away if I changed my habits. I don't think that I will be able to do this "cold turkey", meaning giving up EVERYTHING right now. I think if I make a few changes such as drinking more water, some portion control, and exercising, I will start losing weight. I don't think I am ready to give up my morning coffee with flavored creamer, but if I drink extra water, maybe it will balance out. Any how, I will post my success (or failure) on Fridays, as part of Fitness Friday.

I have tried (and succeeded) to lose weight in the past. I have used Weight Watchers as my support group. Right now, I am not able to go to WW meetings, but I feel I have a great support group online. I am hoping that eating a little better (well at least a little less), hydrating myself properly, and exercising will give me the extra energy that I am looking for. Every thing I have read and seen has said that my energy and focus will be increased. If that is the case, well bring it on!

I have weighed myself this morning, and will weigh myself each week to track my progress. While I won't be letting you know how much I weigh, I will let you know how much I lose (or gain or stay the same). Check back on my progress each week!

Happy Fitness!

God Bless,

Alli C

Deals, Deals, and more DEALS!

I have been clipping coupons for a while, trying to save a few pennies here and there. I had sort of gotten out of it the last few weeks as we were really busy with family. It is a part time job to scour all of the ads and coupons to get a good deal! Well this Sunday, I went and bought two different papers - The News and Observer out of Raleigh and The Daily Reflector out of Greenville (NC, not SC). Usually The N&O has a better coupon selection, and I buy The DR since I live in Greenville (support the local economy).

This week I felt like I had hit the jackpot of couponing. I got several WONDEFUL deals.

Target
Finish brand dishwasher packs (I chose the 40 gel packs, orange scented) were on sale for $3.49, and low and behold, there was a coupon in the paper for $2.50 off! I got the 40 gel packs for $.99! And they will last me a while, as I usually only run the dishwasher every other day. Also at Target, I got 200 flexible straws for $1.00 in their See, Spot, Save section near the front. Every once and a while, I will allow the boys to choose something out of the dollar bins as a treat. It keeps them occupied, and I don't have to quarrel with them over whether I am going to buy them a new toy. Usually, before we even walk in the door, I will tell them that we are not getting anything extra today, that we have a list, and Mommy is going to stick to it.

Kroger
Kroger had a deal this week, that if you purchased 10 participating items, you would get $5.00 reduction in your bill (it equals to $.50 an item). So I went through the list, and my coupons, and got some GREAT stuff:
Sargento cheese (I love this stuff!) - 11 slices for $.99
Quaker granola bars - 2 (10 bars each) packages for $2.25 total
Kleenex (with lotion) - 2 boxes for $.99 each
Those were my BIG deals, but I bought 15 items (including bread and milk which weren't on sale) for $20.17 and I SAVED $17.12. Their sale goes until Sunday, and you can get their ad on the web here.

For me, this was a great deal week! I hope that I will be able to continue the great savings. I am finding that since we are post-4th of July and pre-Back to School, not a lot of stores are having absolutely terrific sales. I am going to keep scouring the internet and the papers for great deals. I will keep you posted!

Here are a few websites that I have found recently that give great tips:

Super Jenn
Mommy Savers
Freebies 4 Mom

God Bless!


Alli C

3 things you didn't know about me...

I have to admit, that this has been a hard assignment this week. I have been thinking about it since it was announced earlier this week. If you read my blog, you know that my life is an open book (or open blog).

3 things you didn't know about me:

1. I was laid off from my job as an accountant in May 2008, and have been unable to find a new accounting job. I have enjoyed my time at home with the kids, but I could really use a job right now.

2. My husband and I met in an online chat room in late 1997. We "met" in person in early 1998, and have been together since. In November, we will celebrate 10 years of marriage!

3. I have an ebay store - Best Friends Collectibles with my mom. If you click on the link to the right, you can see all of our items for sale. I am in the process of uploading the Christmas items, as well as other seasonal items.

Well, there you have it. I finally came up with 3 things you didn't know about me. If you do have a question for me, please let me know.

Happy Hopping!

God bless,

Alli C

Life is a Banquet

"Life is a banquet, and most poor fools are starving to death." ~ Auntie Mame

This is a quote from one of my mom's favorite movies, and it seemed to fit as to what I want this blog to represent. Life IS a banquet, but most of us don't take advantage of all that is given to us. I want to use what has been given to me (talents, family, opportunities etc.).


I also want to force myself to sit down and write the cookbook that has been in my head for 4 years. God gave me a talent to cook, so I am going to share my recipes (good, southern recipes passed down from my mom and grandmother).

I also want to treasure time with my family. ALL of my family, not just the ones that I live with. My sister has leukemia, and it has returned. She starts chemo again today, and she will also need a bone marrow transplant in the near future. I really hope that I am a match. What greater gift to give someone, than a second chance.

Thanks for reading, and join me again for more!


God Bless,

Alli C

This and that

Today, the world said good-bye to Michael Jackson. While I was a fan of his, I have to admit that I am EXHAUSTED from all of the coverage that the media has been giving to him. I did however, see most of the memorial service today. It went past 3 PM, which is when Barney comes on, so naturally I had to change the channel. Back to the memorial service. I thought that it was a beautiful service, and truly a celebration of his life. But now, let's PLEASE let the man rest in peace.

Changing gears -Yesterday, Daddyman took the boys outside after their dinner so that I could get our dinner going. Jack wanted to play soccer. Apparently, Hemi did not. Arguing pursued, and Jack got in Hemi's face. Hemi slapped Jack across the face, and Jack screamed, "Look, Bi**h, I told you, we're not playing that game!" Hemi hauled off and slapped Jack again. Daddyman busted out laughing, and sent Hemi in the house for timeout. Jack was told that Bi**h is not a word that should be used EVER.

Over the weekend, the boys and I went to Richmond to visit with Mom and the kids. I was able to secure some Silver Queen corn (THE BEST corn in the WORLD!). We cooked it on the 4th to go with our hamburgers. Drew (my 4 1/2 yo nephew) ate the corn, and couldn't stop talking about how good that corn on the COG was. I tried to explain to him that it was corn on the COB, but he still liked calling it corn on the COG. I am still chuckling over that one!

God Bless,

Alli C

My Favorite Photo

Whatcha thinkin'?

Alli C

Blog Hopping!

***Hi! I am Alli, and I am a SAHM mother of 2 boys - Jack and Hemi. I am also a wife, daughter, sister, and follower of God. I am in the process of finding out WHO I am. I sort of lost myself along the way. I do know that I LOVE to cook, and LOVE music. I am also attempting my hand at creative arts. I have been inspired by other creative people in the blogger world to find something that I enjoy!***