Tuesday Tidbit- Easy Recipe for Tonight

It's Tuesday, and the the Tuesday before one of my very, very, very most favorite weekends of the year. While most people will be traveling over the Memorial Day Weekend, I will be holing up with about 25 other song writers at a retreat center writing my fingers to the bone and soaking up every single drop of creative goodness. It's my songwriting New Year. This weekend is completely sacred to me as a songwriter, but that's another blog post entirely.

So to keep things simple around here, I plan meals accordingly. Nothing too fancy this week, because I have a million other things to get done. Here is one recipe (found in the Kraft Cooking Magazine) that I have used that the kids LOVE and it's quick and easy. (Warning: probably NOT Weight Watcher friendly. Sorry, Karen). Here's what you need:

Chicken Italiano Skillet

2 chicken breast, cooked and diced

1 can diced tomatoes, with Italian seasonings, undrained

1 clove garlic

1 green pepper

1 cup of water

1 box Kraft Mac and Cheese dinner (Yeah, totally NOT WW friendly!)

Cook and dice the chicken. Put the chicken back in the skillet and add the green pepper (and onion, if you desire). Stir in the tomatoes, water and uncooked macaroni. (I also like to add fresh basil here). Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and cover. Simmer 10 minutes or until noodles are tender. Stir in the Cheese Sauce until blended.

EASY PEASY! Enjoy!

Melissa

Tuesday Tidbit- So What Does This Say About Me?

Here at the B House, we have had another bout with the flu. This time, it struck Z1. Poor little bear. It's not the achy, hurt all over kind, but the kind where you wretch your guts out for two days until you have absolutely NOTHING left inside of you. He was finally able to hold down food yesterday and got some of his energy back, much to my relief. It's just hard to see your little ones so miserable and lethargic.

His flu started in the middle of the night. Normally, I am the one who gets up in the middle of the night for everything. When we first had children, I was barely working, so I always got up since the Hub had to go into work the next day. And when it comes to cleaning up puke, I ALWAYS have to do it because he can't take the smell (as if it's roses to MY nose). I'm usually gagging the entire time I clean it up. I can't tell you how many times I have had to do it.

Right now I'm working seven days a week, so it's a whole different ball game. It's a busy music season for me, on top of a busy work season at The Caregiver Organizer. (Which, BTW, that book has come in HANDY the last few weeks! Lots of sitters, lots of schedules. . . ) Anyway, so when Z1 first came to me in the middle of the night, I was really groggy. Generally, I am up before he can get three steps into the hallway. It's just how I'm wired. But this night, when he came back a second time, I was still pretty unresponsive, so I've been told. All I remember was getting shook by the Hub and hearing an,"AAAACCKKK!!!! The New Carpet!" and a quick ushering of a little body to the nearest bathroom.

I promptly rolled over thinking,"He said Let's. As in Let US have a baby. US meaning both of us.Go ahead, Honey."

And I slept soundly for the rest of the night.

Does that make me a bad mom? Or wife?

Yours, not losing too much sleep over it,

Melissa

Tuesday Tidbit- Halloween List

We all know it's coming. Orange and black is everywhere. It happens the same day every single year. You would think by now I would be able to remember everything. Uh, no. Not unless I write it down. So to prevent some unwanted boo-boos and disappointments this Halloween, let's think it through while we have a few moments. And of course, I will start making the list. (What else would you expect from me?)

1. Costume-check! My kids are making something of their own from their closet this year.

2. Candy- nothin' but chocolate, baby!

3. Something to hold the candy in- a basket, a pumpkin or you can go completely old school and use a pillowcase. (Now we're talkin'!)

4. Flashlight WITH BATTERIES. It's the batteries part that usually leaves me scurrying around.

5. Camera WITH CHARGED BATTERIES. Charged would be the operative word. Yeah, I know. I will do it the night before.

6. Remembering which house to skip because it freaks out my little boy. He's never forgotten it- from three years ago. They set up their garage as a haunted house and now he won't go anywhere near that house on Halloween night.

7. An easy dinner- Doesn't have to be junky, just easy. Maybe something in the crockpot.

8. Warm shoes and coat and we are good to go.

Good thing I'm thinking about this now, while I'm not in panic mode. Let's hope I revisit this on the 29th!

Yours, trying my best to plan ahead,

Melissa