Morphine Hangover Chicken Patty Dinner

I know...the title is a little strange.  Just hear me out...

The other night, I thought I was having another heart attack.  So James rushed me to the hospital.  After several tests, come to find out, it was not another heart attack, but an angina attack brought on by acute tracho-bronchitis...in other words, I have bronchitis and it was shutting down my air flow, which was depriving my heart of the much need oxygen required to live.

One of the many things the hospital did was start an IV and give me some morphine.  It's great stuff...until you get a really bad hangover from it.  That is what happened today.

We got home yesterday morning around 4am and I was flying high.  James said I 'sang all night'.  I have no memory of that.   Needless to say, I slept pretty much all day yesterday.

James woke me up bright and early this morning to go to the super center to get some groceries, house hold supplies and of course, my prescriptions filled.  I do not think there is enough coffee in the world that will get rid of a morphine hangover.  We did our thing and came home.  James went off to work and I went to bed.

I woke up 2 hours later and thought to myself, "I have to fix some dinner...ugh."  So, half asleep and hungover, I took out some breaded chicken patties.  I stood in my kitchen looking at them and had no clue what to do with them.  I decided to 'wing it' and throw some stuff together and call it done.

It turned out pretty good.

Morphine Hangover Chicken Patty Dinner

3 breaded chicken patties
1 small onion, halved, then sliced
1/2 teaspoon garlic
1-2 Roma tomato, sliced thick
3 slices of turkey bacon, halved (so you have 6 slices)
3 slices of cheese (your choice, I used American)
1 1/2 cups uncooked instant rice

Directions
Heat skillet (I used my large cast iron, you will need an oven proof skillet).  Place turkey bacon in heated skillet and fry until almost done.  Remove to plate lined with paper towel.  While bacon is frying, slice onion.  After removing bacon from skillet, add onions and stir.  Turn heat to Medium and let the onion sweat for about 3-4 minutes. Add the garlic and stir. Remove from skillet.  (I put mine on the plate with the bacon)

Add the chicken patties and cook until almost heated through.  Take the tomato and slice.  Top each patty with 2 slices of tomato, 2 slices of the bacon, and, the onion/garlic mixture.  Add salt and pepper to taste and top with the cheese slice.  Heat oven to 300 and place skillet in the oven and let this cook for about 15-20 minutes. 

While the patties are in the oven, make the rice according to box directions.

To serve
On a plate, put 1/2 to 1 cup of the rice in the middle and top with the chicken patty.  Drizzle some ranch dressing, ketchup, salsa, sour cream, whatever you like, or leave it plain.  You could use buns and have a chicken patty sandwich, too.

This was actually pretty good and very filling.  I might just have to make this again, but without the morphine hangover.

Homemade Picles

I love pickles!  There is not much that is better than a juicy, ice cold pickle. 

I wondered one day, "Can I add a cucumber to store bough pickle juice and get a pickle?"  The juice already has all the seasonings...so why would it not work?

I did an Internet search to see if this idea would work.  I really didn't find anything hard set that was a YES or a NO.  So, I bought some cucumbers (they were on sale, so if it didn't work, no problem).
I cut them into spears and added to my store bought, left over pickle juice.  I placed the jar into the fridge and totally forgot about them.

The other day, my son said to me, "Hey Mom, did you forget about these pickles?"  I said, "Uh, yeah, I did.  Why?"  He said, "Let's see if it worked."  My son the food adventurer.  So, he got the jar out and pulled one out.  He took a knife and cut in half and said, "Here, this is yours...we'll try this together."  I said, "Uh, no you eat first." 

He did and his eyes got freakishly wide!  I thought he was going to spit it out on me!  Then he smiled and said, "OH MY GOODNESS!!!!  MOM!!  These are perfect!!!"  Not knowing if he was lying and trying to make me sick, or if he was being truly honest,  I picked up my half and took a bite.  One word: WOW!

It did work!!!  Only better!

They were crispy, not soggy like store bought pickles. Yet they looked like a pickle, and they tasted like a pickle.  I had done it!

It is easy to do.  If you have a garden, it costs you nothing.  IF not, find some/buy cucumbers, give them a good washing. Slice them into rounds, spears, whatever shape you want and place them inside a pickle jar with left over pickle juice.  Place in the fridge and leave for about 2 weeks.  You will have fresh, homemade pickles.  What's better than that?

You Are Not Alone

  I am sentimental about things.  For example, the Grandmother clock my Mom gave to me, my Great-grand mother's pie safe (why are they called a 'pie-safe', anyway?), photos I have, jewelry from my Mom, my granny's salt and pepper shakers.  I am sentimental about people.  My children, my husband, my grand daughter, my dad, memories of my Mom and granny.  What does this word mean?
According to the dictionary, "Of or prompted by feelings of tenderness, sadness, or nostalgia."  Yup, I'm pretty sentimental about life.

Sometimes, in the scheme of things, life will through you a super bad curve ball.  You may have lost your job.  You may be trying to start a new life.  You may have had some bad news at the doctor's office.  You may have experienced a death in your family or of a close friend.  You may have unexpected expenses and are unable to meet your obligations.  That is life.  It sucks! 

When, after almost 8 years of no active retinopaty in my eyes, I woke up and was like, "OH CRAP!", Okay, that is not exactly what I said, but it's close.   Then, after my doctor visits and not getting my way, I was resolved to live a life of a blind person.  I know it's going to happen.  I've known for a long time, but until now, my doctor has been able to keep that from happening.  It's closer to happening now than ever before. 

The last few weeks have not been easy.  I'm not able to go to my dad's on my scheduled weekend and give him a hard time, translated, take care of him.  So, my sisters are having to trade off.  That bothers me and I miss the time with my dad.  I'm not able to do a lot of things, like work in my garden.  The weeds have pretty much taken over.  I have to rely on my son and husband to do a lot more around the house, like lifting, bending, moving things.  It's just second nature to do those things.  However, right now, I am on super alert to not.

For example, hubby and I went to do our laundry (washer died) last night.  After all the laundry was washed, folded and packed up, I was going to pick up a basket of towels and put them in a cart and pull the cart to the car.  I thought James was going to have a heart attack right there!!  It wasn't real crowded, but there were enough people to hear him tell me, "You even think about picking that basket up and you will regret it!"  Not that he would beat me up....but meaning, my eye would start to bleed again, regret it.  While cooking some dinner one night last week, my son walked in just as I was about to pick up a iron skillet and place in the oven.  He was like "MOM! What are you doing?  Here, let me do that."  After recovering from being scared half to death, I walked into the living room, sat down and cried.

I decided that I was not needed around here, so why bother.  Thoughts and ideas began to circle around inside my head.  Thoughts that frightened me.  Thoughts and ideas that should never, ever be inside one's head.  I can't do the things that allow me to feel like I am contributing to our little family.  I can't pick up my grand daughter, or nephew and play with them.  I get confused and disoriented in dark rooms or outside in the dark.  I decided to have a really good, for me only, pity party.

I sent a friend a email.  I poured out my heart.  I explained every thought, feeling, idea, and plan that had entered my mind over the last few weeks.  My friend sent me back an email that said only this:

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. Deut. 31:6

WOW!  Is that not one great big promise?  I began to pray.  I asked God to give me comfort and strength to accept whatever He has planned for me.  Then I began to thank God for all He has blessed me with. In the end, it was a LOT!!!  And, what God has blessed me with was a lot more than what I was going through.

I have lived, so far, 45 years.  I have seen the ocean, from both coast lines.  I have seen the snow capped mountains, the desert, I've seen caribou, elk, eagles flying on the breeze.  I have seen the sun set and the sun rise.  I've seen the falling snow, and a rain storm.  I've seen children laughing and playing, I've seen grown men cry.  I have been rich, and I have been poor.  I have worked hard and taken it easy.  I've struggled for what I want and I've had things given to me.  I have seen life and I have seen death.  I've seen a lot in 45 years.  I have a mind, with a pretty good memory card.  I have felt the wind blowing through my hair, the rain on my face, the sun warm my shoulders. I have seen my daughter walk down the isle.  And, I have no regrets. I have made choices in life that may not have been the best, but it was the best at that time. 

No matter what life throws your way, no matter how desperate you may become, God will never leave you alone.  When everyone else is talking about you behind your back, when everyone else is saying horrible untrue things about you, when the doctors give you the worse news imaginable, when you see no way out of whatever situation you are in, God is right there with you, hands stretched out, waiting on you to take hold.

I'm not one to 'preach'.  God knows I'm not perfect.  But sometimes, we just need to be reminded that we are not alone.  No matter what we are going through, or experiencing, God is right there with us.


YOU are not alone.

Mexican Casserole

I've not posted many recipes.  I’m attempting to fix that.   

We had a lot of appointments this morning.  Got some pretty good news at one, not so much, at the other.  So I guess you could say it was balanced.   By the time we got home, my head was about to split wide open.  It’s just so hot and so humid.  Thank God for my air conditioner!!!

After hubby left for work, I went into our bedroom and laid down for a while.  My son came in a few hours later and woke me up.  I didn’t want to wake up.  But, I did.

Before I laid down, I boiled some boneless, skinless chicken breast.  Now I had to figure out what to do with it.  I wasn’t in the mood for anything in particular, so I was open to any suggestion.  My son began talking about a recipe I had made a few years ago.  Like I was gonna remember it!!!  He did.  So, we began searching the kitchen for the ingredients.   I was in luck, I had it all.  So, we began to do the prep work and assembly.  

This recipe is really good.  I’m not sure what to call it, so my son just calls it “Mexican Casserole”.  It works.   If you make this, let me know how it turned out and any changes you made.

Mexican Casserole

2 large boneless, skinless chicken breast

2 large fresh ears of corn, cooked and cut off the cob (Can use frozen, about 1 1/2 cups)

1 small white onion, diced

2 T. minced garlic

1 package of taco seasoning

1-15 oz. can tomato sauce

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 package flour tortillas

3 cups Fiesta Blend Cheese (or cheese of choice

Salt

Pepper

Onion Powder

Garlic Powder

Lettuce

Tomatoes

Sour Cream

Process:

Boil chicken breast in the salt, pepper, garlic and onion powders, to taste.  Let cool, then shred.  Set aside.  Cook corn on the cob, let cool, then cut off corn, about 2 large ears.  Combine, chicken, black beans, corn, onion, and minced garlic in a large skillet.  Add a little olive oil to coat mixture.  Let this cook for about 5-10 minutes. 

In a bowl, mix together tomato sauce and taco seasoning.  Pour over chicken mixture and simmer for 10 minutes.  If the mixture is thick or dry, add a little water to thin.

In a spring form pan, or a casserole pan, place flour tortilla in the bottom of pan.  Add 1 cup of the chicken mixture and spread, and a thin layer of cheese.  Continue adding layers, pressing down as you add a tortilla until pan is almost full.  Top with cheese and place in a 350 degree oven for 20 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.  

Remove from oven and let rest for 10 more minutes.  Top with lettuce, tomato, black olives, sour cream, salsa, and any other goodies you can think of adding.

French Bread Pizza

It's hot!  No, it is beyond hot, and just getting hotter.  Who wants to run their oven when it's 100 degrees outside?

Normally, I do not.  But, I was craving some pizza and didn't want to spend the money on restaurant type pizza.  I made the list and sent poor hubby out in the heat to gather the needed items.  It was much cheaper than buying a frozen one or one at a restaurant.  And the cost included the salad.

If you do a search for French Bread Pizza, you'll get a ga-zillion hits!  If you ever made it before, which I have not, you will see that everyone's is the best.  I'm not saying it isn't.  Nor am I agreeing with them.  I think pizza, in any form, is designed for one's taste.  It's personable.  It's individual likings. And that is what makes it so perfect and the best.  And, if I even thought about trying all of them to see whose reined supreme, I'd be as big as the side of a barn!

My wonderful son being the 'model'.

In my search for a 'how-to' I noticed a lot of photos and the bread was soaked in sauce.  Again, some might like that.  I do not.  So, I searched for a way to prevent this.  I found many more sites that have great suggestions.  I took a couple of them and combined them and came up with a wonderfully crusty-on-the-outside-soft-on-the-inside-not-soaked-bread.   Is it the best?  To me, and my boys, it is!

Here I will attempt to explain how I did this.

Cut your french bread in half.  Take a large cookie sheet and smash the bread down.  In a sauce pan, combine 1/4 cup of olive oil and butter.  Melt the butter.  Once it's hot, turn off the stove and add about 2 tablespoons of minced garlic and 1 teaspoon of oregano.  Let this sit for about a minute, swirling the mixture to combine.  Take a brush and brush the mixture onto the bread (you will not use all of this) and then add a small amount of cheese (your choice).  You just want to cover the top lightly with the cheese.  Heat oven to 500 degrees.  I know, but it works.  Place your bread on a cookie sheet side by side and place in the oven.  Cook until the edges are just beginning to brown and cheese is melted.  Remove from the oven, but leave the oven on.  Add the sauce, and some cheese. Then, add whatever toppings you like.  We added bacon, pepperoni, hamburger, tomatoes (from the garden) red pepper, mushrooms, and red onion.    We had a red theme going on.  Top with a LOT of cheese.  We used Fiesta blend.  Place inside the oven and let this cook for 5-7 minutes.  Turn off the oven and let the pizza sit inside for about 5 minutes.  Remove the pizza, cut and serve.

This was just amazing!  The inside of the bread was soft and not soaking wet with sauce and the outside of it was crusty.  The flavors were prefect, too.

Some hints:
Smashing the bread will prevent the edges from curling too much.
Adding the butter/oil/garlic mixture and cheese helps the sauce stay on top and not soak too much into the bread. And it adds a nice flavor. :)

This is also a great recipe for a family to do together.  From the choosing of the toppings, and cheese, to the preparations, to the cooking and of course, the eating.

I would love to hear what you have done with French Bread.  Let me know. 

A Recipe For A Better Outlook

It's time for some positive thoughts.

I'm not sure if this will apply to everyone, but it sure does for me.  As a stay at home mom and wife, I value what little time I get that is just mine.  Whether it is early in the morning with a hot cup of coffee or late at night after everyone is in bed sleeping.  I make the most of that time.  Here lately, it's been far and few between.  I haven't had time to myself in a very long time.  So, when my son asked if he could go out with his friend on a Friday night, my first thought was, "I'm gonna be here all by myself?"  Then, my eyes got HUGE!  My heart began to beat faster!!  I got really excited!!!  And I said without (much) hesitation, "YES! YES! YES!"  James would be at work.  Jacob would be with his buddy.  I had, dare I say it, 6 hours of ME TIME!!!!  Wonderful, glorious, begged for, and now I got it ME TIME!!!  It was almost too good to be true!!  But it was going to happen.

After James went off to work, and Jacob was off doing whatever 17 year old boys do, I turned off the TV, put on some soft, relaxing music and surfed the Internet for some "good for you" dinners.  I cooked a very healthy, light, flavorful dinner (recipe at the end of this post).  Then, I warmed up some olive oil, took it to the bathroom, popped a towel in the dryer and ran that hot oil all through my hair.  Got my HOT towel and wrapped up my hair.  Then, I got out the OLAY "face stuff" and proceeded to give myself a much needed facial.  I slathered on some thick face cream, sliced me a couple of ICE COLD cucumbers and kicked back in my chair for about 20 minutes.  It was nice, with just my CD of soft, relaxing Celtic music playing in the background, for the first time in a very long time, it was just me and I was relaxing.  I did some deep breathing, and just let my mind stop for that 20 minutes.

I went into my bathroom and started the shower...just the hot water at first, to steam up the room.  I sat in there, looking at a new magazine I had bought and let the steam cleans me.  After my shower, I got out the 'good' lotion.  You know you have it.  The kind that is only used on special occasions?  Yeah, that one.  I got that one out.  It was wonderful!

I decided to watch a little TV so I found a nice show "A Haunting" (DON'T judge me) and made a ice cold glass of lemon water.  I sat back and watched my show for a while and just relaxed.

It was glorious.  It was wonderful.

Most of the time, in our busy hurry up and wait mentality, we don't stop and take time for ourselves.  After having a heart attack, it is important to spend time with the ones we love, our family and friends.  But, it is also important to spend time with just us.  There is nothing wrong with a few hours to pamper ourselves, read a book, go for a walk, watch the sunrise or set.  There is nothing wrong with spending time with just YOU!  As a matter of fact, it is quiet important and any doctor will tell you to take that time.

For most women, having a family, job, and all the activities we over load ourselves down with, we need this time to ourselves.  We deserve a few hours to ourselves.  It allows us to recharge.  It allows us to better cope with what life throws at us.  It allows us to clear our heads.  When women are allowed this time, it not only is healthy for them, but it also allows for healthy relationships to develop and already existing relationship to deepen.  When we let our bodies slow down, it lets our mind and our heart to slow down, to relax. So go ahead, take some time for just you.  You need it.  You deserve it.  You'll be happier for it.  And, your heart will thank you.


Pasta, Ham, and Tomato Salad

8 oz of any pasta (cooked as directed)
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 T. dried basil
1 T. olive oil
1 small white or red onion, sliced
1-2 oz. deli ham
1-2 oz. deli turkey
1 large tomato, diced
1/2 cucumber, peeled and diced
1/4 cup Italian Dressing
Salt and Pepper to taste

In a skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add the garlic, basil, and onion, add a pinch of salt and saute this until the onions are tender crisp.  Chop up ham and turkey and add to the skillet, stir to combine.  Turn heat to low.  Once pasta is cooked, drain. ( You can use day old pasta, just cover with hot water to warm up, then drain).  Put the pasta in a bowl and add the onion mixture. Add the diced tomatoes and cucumbers. Toss.  Add the dressing and salt and pepper to taste.  If you like, you can top with Parmesan cheese and serve some crusty bread with this.  Light, easy and tasty.

What's Your Favorite?

Hey everyone!  I have been neglecting my blog lately.  I'm so sorry, but when you only have one eye and even that one is bad on a good day, it's hard to get into the blogging mood.

Since my eyes have decided to act up on me and yes, I have an eye appointment tomorrow, the boys (that would be James and Jacob) have been doing the majority of the cooking.  This has been a hard thing for me because 1. I love to do the cooking and 2. they just don't do it right.  Okay, maybe that is not a fair statement.  They don't do it like I do.

It's a control thing.

I'm trying to get over it.

We have one package of chicken in the freezer and my pantry is about as bare as it has been in a very long time.  I haven't went to the store and bought much food lately.  The lights really bother my eyes, even with sunglasses.  Yeah, I get some strange looks.

I'm sick of chicken.  I know, it is good for you, if you cook it right...meaning, not fried.  But, seriously how much chicken can one eat before they begin laying eggs or growing feathers or clucking?

I looked inside my pantry yesterday.  I had great intentions of organizing it.  I think I did pretty good.  Mostly, I condensed everything.  It is amazing how many open bottles of coffee creamer I had open!!  I even found an unopened box of pancake mix!  It was put into the canister.   I did good not to dump it all over my clean cabinets.  I can't say that about the beans.

This morning, I was thinking about what we should have for dinner.  My choice was biscuits and gravy OR pancakes.  I asked the boys what they wanted and biscuits and gravy won hands down.  James went to the store and bought some sausage links and said, "These aren't cooked so the grease will make for some good gravy."  I can't argue that.

So tonight, we're having biscuits and gravy with sausage links.

What is your favorite thing for dinner?  I'd LOVE to hear!