Chicken Flatbread Pizza

This is a simple meal that you can whip up anytime for your loved ones. I had purchased these multi-grain flatbreads and I wasn’t really sure what I was going to do with them. They sat on the counter for a few days waiting for the creative cooking gods to inspire me. I was determined to think of something to use these wonderful flatbreads for. I began to think of shrimp and pesto pizza that Flat Branch Brewery used to have on their menu, a place I loved to eat in college. I loved that pizza and was completely crushed when they removed it from their seasonal rotation. This dish was inspired by that delectable pizza.
Chicken Flatbread Pizza (2 pizzas)

1 boneless skinless chicken breast
3 pieces of bacon cooked and chopped
10 fresh spinach leaves
1 tomato seeded and cubed
2 TBSP jarred pesto
1 TBSP sour cream
A splash of milk
Romano Cheese Shredded
2 Multi-Grain Flatbread (I bought my at Aldi, oh do I love Aldi)
Salt, Pepper, Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
EVOO

Pre-heat oven to 350, place flatbreads on a cookie sheet where they are not touching drizzle with olive oil and kosher salt, toast in the oven for 7-8 minutes. Season chicken breast with salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper. Cook in a nonstick skillet for 5 minutes per side dice the chicken after cooking. Mix pesto, sour cream, and milk, spread on the flatbreads. Top flatbreads with spinach, tomatoes, bacon, chicken, and a little cheese. Bake the pizza for 10 minutes. Drizzle with a bit more olive oil just before serving.

Roasted Sausage and Peppers over Spaghetti

Oh man do I love spaghetti! As a kid anytime my mom asked me what I wanted for supper spaghetti is was. Even as I got older and went away to college I knew that when I came home we were almost guaranteed to have spaghetti. My mamma is that kind of mamma always thinking of the things that others love. For me it doesn’t really matter any spaghetti is great. When I saw Rachel Ray making is dish on her show I knew instantly it was going to become one of my go to dishes. I just love all the peppers and the bit of heat in it, oh wow I am making myself hungry right now just talking about it. Grab some crusty bread and make is for dinner tonight! I promise it won’t disappoint.

For the Roasted Sausage and Peppers recipe click here


For the Spaghetti recipe click here

Strawberry and Pecan Salad

This time of year the new crop of strawberries are beginning to come in, I find myself buying an abundant amount of them. This happens to me often I think that we really need four boxes of strawberries, for what I am not sure, but still I often end up with extra berries around the house. When I asked my MIL what I should bring for Easter dinner she suggested a nice salad. I knew instantly what salad I wanted to bring. I wanted to put a raspberry vinaigrette on this salad, but my local grocery store didn’t have any raspberries. Knowing I had an enormous amount of strawberries in my refrigerator I just substituted strawberries for raspberries. This salad is great for a nice refreshing side dish or you could serve a nice chicken breast atop for a more hearty summer lunch. Enjoy!


Strawberry and Pecan Salad
1 bag baby spinach
1 bag hearts of romaine
1 cup sliced strawberries
½ cup toasted pecans coarsely chopped
½ cup real bacon bits
½ thinly sliced medium red onion
½ cup parmesan cheese

Strawberry Vinaigrette
1 cup strawberries
¼ cup sugar (you can add more to make dressing sweeter)
½ cup apple cider vinegar
¾ cup extra virgin oil
¼ cup toasted pecans finely chopped
Salt and pepper to taste

Whirl strawberries, pecans, and sugar in food processor. Add vinegar mix well. Stream in olive oil. Season with salt and pepper

Cuties...

This weekend the hubs and I got the chance to spend some time with our families for Easter. The two little girls are Ashlee and Lola we got to spend Saturday evening with them at the hubs family Easter. Then Sunday we spent with my fam the little guy with the irresistible cheeks is Dexter. Also on Sunday a few of us decided to color eggs. Both days were so much fun I got to act like a kid and spoil the little ones then go home well fed, what a great day!

Checking out their loot!

Hooray I found one!

That silly Easter Bunny left one clear out here in the yard.

I this is my egg I am so sure of it. She looks so innocent!

(I took this picture shortly after she had put all her sister's eggs in her own basket)

Chocolate makes me silly.

Auntie Charlene was really excited about coloring eggs...

So was Zach Attack...

Look at those pretty eggs...

Dexter was so overwhelmed by the eggs he needed a nap.

But woke up in time to take this picture.

My Favorite Things about Easter…

I love holidays in general. Any reason for me to decorate, be with family, eat good food, and just celebrate in general is a great day for me. My family has always been big on celebrating holiday’s together the whole family and because of this each holiday holds something special for me. Today I decided to make a list of my favorite things about Easter.

People dressed to the nines

Asparagus

Baby chicks at Orschlen’s

Dinner with my family in my gram’s dinning room

Easter eggs hunts

Coloring Eggs

Reese’s Peanut Butter Eggs

My Gram’s Checkerboard Cake (the only thing on earth I eat that has coconut on it)

The pastel colors, especially yellow and pink

Watching the sun come in the stain glass windows at the church during sunrise service

Choir music during sunrise service

Knowing the promise of renewal and rebirth that was given to us

I hope that each of you has a wonderful and blessed Easter!

Norm and the Daffodil’s

It is really starting to get pretty around here, the grassing greening up, flowers are beginning to bloom, and calves are playing in the pastures. Yes I said calves, I may be a bit scared of them but I do enjoy watching them play out in the pastures, at a great distance from me. Now back to my original thought, I really like the colors of spring, especially the yellow of the daffodils. I was trying to get some pictures of these gorgeous flowers, but apparently Norm had other plans.

As I was heading out he really seemed to want a new spring picture of himself.

 

He just looked so innocent here; this was right after he had tromped through the flower bed.

Go out and enjoy the sun today!