Chicken & Mushrooms in a garlic white wine sauce

Wednesday got here fast! And as I sit here and think back to Monday, I can't remember what I did! I know I went for a run, which was a bit harder than usual because I was running against 25 mile per hour winds, but that's all I remember! Tuesday was another nice day here, (sorry all those in the midwest who got your second snow storm in two weeks!) I went for another run outside, met my mom for a quick lunch, and did 3 loads of laundry. Tonight I'm heading out to my grandparent's house to spend the evening with my Nanny while Grandad is at the rodeo with my aunt. I'm sure some Lifetime movies are in our future!

Our weeknight dinners are usually pretty boring….chicken and salad. When I was dieting this past fall, we ate a lot of chicken, salad, and veggies….cooked in spray cooking oil and Mrs. Dash. We got really used to BORING dinners, which had it's pluses and minuses. MINUS- I LOVE to cook and cooking chicken and salad the same way every night, 5 nights a week is NOT fun! PLUS- Along with exercise and barely drinking any alcohol,  I LOST 30 pounds!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, since I've become the Domestic Dog Mom and I've been at home, I haven't been cooking that boring healthy everyday. A few days a week I do boring healthy, and a few days a week I switch it up a bit! Last night was one of those nights. I found this recipe on skinnytaste.com. This recipe only had 169 calories a serving, was low in fat, and high in protein…..which is great if you want to lose weight. When I was losing my 30 pounds….it was all about lean protein! This recipe was YUMMY, reminded me of chicken marsala, and Mike gave it the stamp of approval!

Chicken and Mushrooms in a Garlic White Wine Sauce

(Adapted from Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes- Skinnytaste.com)
Servings: 4 • Serving Size: divide between 4 • Old Points: 4 pts • Points+: 6 pts
Calories: 169 • Fat: 5.5 g • Protein: 22.8 g • Carb: 4.9 g • Fiber: 1.2 g • Sugar: 1.7 g 

INGREDIENTS:
8 chicken tenderloins, 16 oz total (I used 2 chicken breasts, because there's only two of us and it's what I already had!)
2 tsp butter
2 tsp olive oil
1/4 cup all purpose flour
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
12 oz sliced mushrooms (I used one 7 oz. can of sliced mushrooms since I'm not cooking for four)
1/4 cup white wine
1/3 cup fat free chicken broth
salt and fresh pepper to taste
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (Didn't have fresh, so I used dried, or you can leave it out all together)

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 200°. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Lightly dredge in flour. 

Heat a large skillet on medium heat; when hot add 1 tsp butter and 1 tsp olive oil. Add chicken to the skillet and cook on medium heat for about 5 minutes on each side, or until chicken is no longer pink. Set aside in a warm oven.

Add additional oil and butter to the skillet, then garlic and cook a few seconds; addmushrooms, salt and pepper stirring occasionally until golden, about 5 minutes.

Add wine, chicken broth, parsley; stir the pan with a wooden spoon breaking up any brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Cook a few more minutes or until the liquid reduces by half. Top the chicken with the mushroom sauce and serve.

ENJOY!

pups & kisses,

   Tiffany

3.1 down, 3.1 to go

Friday was my sister's 26th birthday! We celebrated by going to the Grotto for some yummy Italian food and then back to my parent's house for cake and presents. Only, it wasn't really cake. Tammy has never liked cake, so we surprised her with Tiny Pies. Tiny Pies is an Austin based small business who specializes in tiny pies, pie pops, pies in mason jars, and pie bites. My mom ordered an assortment of pie pops and they were not only adorable, but super yummy! I tried the Fredricksburg Peach, which was so great! It's hard to believe my sister is 26. She's gone through a lot, but continues to be a very strong young woman who has a very bright future ahead of her!

Saturday morning was my first 5K run ever. It was the Rodeo Run in downtown Houston and I ran the entire thing! Some would laugh at this and say it's only 3.1 miles…but for me, it's a huge accomplishment! I usually HATE running and have NEVER been a runner. In fact, I once had a fitness professor in college who told me I didn't know how to run and I needed to get to a track and practice! He was a jerk and also said women didn't know how to play sports……I ended up dropping the class so I didn't have to keep hearing his crap, cause he was full of it! Anyways, I didn't hate the run on Saturday at all! My wonderful husband stayed with my pace, despite the fact that he could have finished a lot sooner, but it was fun to run it together. Maybe one day I'll be able to do a half marathon WITH him.

After the run, we met my sis-in-law and adorable nephew for lunch. It was so fun to see them both. Reid has such a cute personality and it only flourishes the older he gets.

Uncle Mike & Aunt Tiff with Reid

Sunday morning Mike went for a 6 mile run, came home, got me out of bed, and took me to Einstein Brother's for a bagel. I used to eat Einstein's all the time when I lived in Kansas and I'm so glad one is now open only 10 minutes from our house. I had a pretzel bagel, which is my new favorite kind of bagel. From there we went to the grocery store, came home, Mike washed both cars, and then did nothing but watch DVR until it was time to go to church.

I'm looking forward to this coming weekend when I run another 3.1 miles and get some race bling at the finish line!

I hope everyone has a wonderfully blessed week!

pups & kisses,

  Tiffany

HAPPY GO TEXAN DAY Y'ALL

Today is Go Texan Day! A day to get those boots, tight jeans, and hats out and keep em' out for 3 weeks because it's RODEO TIME IN HOUSTON! Tomorrow is the OFFICIAL start of Rodeo season in Houston. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is the world's largest and richest rodeo, providing millions of dollars in scholarships each year. It brings out some of the biggest names in music, cowboys & girls, and has some of the BEST food! My first HLSR experience is one that I will NEVER forget.

We lived in Overland Park, KS (outside KC) when I was in late elementary school. To say I was obsessed with country music during that time would be an understatement. I had a subscription to Country Weekly magazine, dreamed of driving a Chevy pick-up truck when I turned 16, and wanted to grow up to be the next Reba! (Totally a phase I went through!) Originally from Houston, I knew from my extended family that Rodeo time was a big deal, but it became even bigger as I heard country music stations in Kansas City talking about it.  

So to back up a bit to the beginning of my fifth grade year……..school wasn't coming all that easy to me. Especially math!  My parents were the best, constantly working with me to make sure I succeed. When you don't always bring the best grades home, it does nothing but lower your self-esteem and confidence in yourself. There were a lot of down times and pictures of my dad and I sitting at the kitchen table working with math flashcards. 

By early January of my 5th grade year, the HLSR was already being talked about on the radio. Being discouraged in school, my parents made a deal with me.  They told me if I made all A's I could have whatever I wanted. My response shocked them! I wanted to fly on a plane by myself to Houston and attend the HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO. I made all A's that grading period and before I knew it I was on a Southwest flight to Houston to spend 4 days with my grandparents, aunts, and uncles at the rodeo.

It was pretty much all I expected it to be! We spent all day and night at the rodeo for 3 days straight, and it was the last night that was the most special! My grandparents surprised me with front row seats to George Straight! I even got to touch his hand as he rode around the Astrodome on his horse after the show. 

1995 Rodeo Houston with my Nanny, Aunt Tina, & Aunt Cindy.....check out my REALLY cool outfit and my short jeans.....I was 5'7 in 5th grade!

It was something I will never forget and I am so grateful to my parents and extended family for making it all happen for me! I came home from that trip and didn't want to be Reba anymore, I wanted to be a barrel racer! Oh the random dreams of children!

It's kind of fun to think that 18 years ago, I attended the HLSR for the first time and tomorrow I'll run in the Rodeo Run and see the 75th annual Rodeo Parade for the first time.  A lot has changed in the last 18 years, but one thing stays the same…Rodeo time in Houston is the most fun time of the year!

pups & kisses,

  Tiffany

POPCORN CHICKEN

I'm two days away from running in my first 5K…but I'm calling this one a practice run, not the real thing.The reason for this is that it's the Rodeo Run and we're doing it with Mike's office. So this is more social than anything and there's no BLING at the finish line! I've been running a ton lately and I'm feeling good! March 2nd will be the real thing!

In preparation for the running over the next two weekends, I've been trying to eat healthy during the weekdays. But like most of you know, we go all out over the weekends! Here's two recipes we used last weekend when watching the KU vs. UT basketball game. We used popcorn chicken in stead of wings, but you could use a number of things…wings, bites, tenders, nuggets…whatever you'd like!

Parmesan Garlic Popcorn Chicken

(adapted from Todd Wilbur's Top Secret Restaurant Recipes)

INGREDIENTS:

Tyson popcorn chicken, cooked

4 cloves garlic, peeled

1 teaspoon olive oil

1/2 cup mayonnaise

2 tablespoons light corn syrup

5 teaspoons grated parmesan cheese

1 tablespoon white vinegar

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1/4 teaspoon dried basil

1/4 teaspoon dried marjoram

1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

1/4 teaspoon dried thyme

1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Toss garlic cloves with oil in a small oven-safe dish, then bake in the oven for 20 minutes or until the cloves soften and begin to turn light brown. Cool garlic and then run the cloves through a garlic press or finely mince with a knife.

Combine garlic and remaining ingredients in a small bowl and stir well. Cover and chill for several hours or overnight before using.

Place cooked popcorn chicken bites in a bowl and pour some of the sauce over the top. Toss to coat and place in oven for 5 or so minutes to warm.

Makes 3/4 cups of sauce.

Hot Popcorn Chicken

(adapted from The Pioneer Woman)

INGREDIENTS:

Tyson popcorn chicken, cooked

12 oz. bottle of Frank's cayenne pepper sauce

1 stick of butter

several dashes of Worcestershire sauce

several dashed of Tabasco sauce

DIRECTIONS:

In a saucepan, heat the Frank's cayenne pepper sauce and butter over medium-low heat.

Add Worcestershire and Tabasco. Let it bubble up and then turn off the heat.

In a bowl, pour some of the sauce over the cooked popcorn chicken and toss to coat. Place in 350 degree oven for 5 or so minutes to warm.

pups & kisses,

  Tiffany

Spiked Shirley Temple

My grandmother was named after the actress Shirley Temple…she even had that curly hair as a little girl. I remember watching a few Shirley Temple movies in black & white, but I couldn't tell you the name of them or what they were about. All I seem to remember are the words to a song, "On the good ship lollypop."

Anyways, there was a restaurant in Overland Park, KS called Talk of the Talk Bar & Grill. We probably ate there a hand full of times and for some reason it's been the only place I've ever ordered a Shirley Temple. If you don't know the drink, it's ginger ale and grenadine with cherries in it and was created in the 1930s in a restaurant in Beverly Hills to serve child star Shirley Temple. I know this is the most random story ever and my husband would probably say sarcastically "Good story!" but there is a point!

I knew when we were at the store on Saturday that we didn't have but a few beers left in the fridge. Mike said he didn't want to get any more, so we didn't. I instead bought a 2 liter bottle of Cherry 7UP. Mike thought this was a bit strange, but I had an idea. I decided to take the Cherry 7UP and mix it with cake vodka…making a SPIKED SHIRLEY TEMPLE! It was a great concoction! So much so, Mike was making them last night too! (PS-Mike doesn't really even like cherries!!!!)

Here's my recipe for this yummy drink!

1 or 2 shot glasses full of cake vodka

Cherry 7UP

maraschino cherries

Fill a tall glass with ice. Pour 1-2 shot glasses full of cake vodka into glass. (I used 1 shot glass full, Mike used 2 and liked it better…..use you're own judgement on how much liquor you want in your drink!) Then fill the glass with cherry 7UP. Stir with a straw and ENJOY!

pups & kisses,

  Tiffany

One more day…

This weekend was great and it's lasting one more day because Mike's home with the President's day holiday. 

Saturday morning was heaven! I had a 45 minute massage and an adjustment, which was much needed! When I got home, Mike and I ran some errands and had lunch at Chuy's…which will always hold a special place in my heart, since our first date was there! We finished out the day with myself spending some good time in the kitchen getting game day food together for the college basketball GAMEDAY game, Kansas vs. Texas. It was the best we've seen KU play in a while and the food we ate during the game was pretty good too! I'll share those recipes later this week.

My super cute gameday socks...thanks Mom & Mike!

KU dish ready for some yummy food and the girls and I cheering on the JAYHAWKS!

ROCK CHALK!!!

Sunday morning, the dogs let us sleep in until 8 am! GASP! For those who know us, you know our dogs are notorious for waking up on the weekends at the crack of dawn…or sometimes way before dawn! We then pumped up our bike tires and biked through the nature preserve in our neighborhood that runs along a big creek. We came out on the other side of the creek and continued our bike ride over to Starbucks. We enjoyed our favorite drinks while sitting out on the patio there and regained some strength to make the trek home.

We relaxed a bit, caught up on DVR, and then took the basketball to the courts in our park. We're used to working out 5-6 days a week, but with the biking and basketball….Monday morning we were feeling sore in some new places!

I spent this morning in the Apple store learning how to better use our macbook pro. I signed up for another one-to-one class next week and I'm looking forward to becoming an Apple pro…..well, maybe not quite a pro! We may go see a movie later today, but I think we're both looking VERY forward to cooking the Lou Malnati's pizza I got Mike for Valentine's day. It's our FAVORITE Chicago deep dish and I'm so happy they ship! It may be the most expensive pizza we've ever eaten, but it will be WAY worth it!

I hope you all have a blessed and wonderful week!

pups & kisses,

  Tiffany

Friday Pizza Night

Friday turned out to be a good day! I had lunch with my parents and did some home decor shopping with my mom. She's still looking for a few more pieces of furniture and accessories for their new house. We had more luck than usual, as she found and ordered a bright colored rug for her home office and a few picture frames and topiaries for the shelves in the same room. Her home office is such a cute space. It's like a little dead end to a hallway next to the master bedroom, with beautiful shelving and cabinets and two beautiful mini-chandeliers. I can't wait to help her find more accessories to fill in her space!

Yesterday was also our first Friday of Lent, so of course we went with a meat-less pizza. I've always loved California Pizza Kitchen's Pear & Gorgonzola pizza. I don't eat there often, but when I do, I can't wait to get the crisp, sweet, and creamy pizza. I was able to find an easy recipe for it on chron.com.

I was a little worried that Mike wouldn't like it because of it's unique flavors, but he loved it…and so did I!

Pear & Gorgonzola Pizza

(adapted from Chron.com)

INGREDIENTS:

Your favorite crust (I used another 'just add water' mix)
1 ounce Fontina cheese, grated
1/2 cup plus 1/3 cup grated mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup Caramelized Onion (recipe follows)
1/4 cup Caramelized Pear (recipe follows)
2 tablespoons Gorgonzola cheese, divided
1 tablespoon chopped hazelnuts (I actually used walnuts instead, because I already had them)
4 cups mixed greens
1 ounce ranch dressing

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees (or whatever temperature your dough requires.) Brush oil over entire top surface of dough, including rim. Bake in oven for 5 minutes.

Sprinkle Fontina cheese over the dough to within 1/2 inch of the outer edge. Layer 1/2 cup mozzarella over the Fontina. Layer Caramelized Onion over mozzarella. Layer Caramelized Pear over onions in the shape of a pinwheel with the skins facing the same direction. Add remaining 1/3 cup mozzarella over pears. Top with 1 tablespoon crumbled Gorgonzola and hazelnuts. Bake 8 minutes on pizza stone or pan.

In a large bowl, combine greens, remaining 1 tablespoon Gorgonzola and dressing, and toss to coat. Put salad on top of pizza and serve.

Caramelized Onion
Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a nonstick sauté pan over high heat. Add 1 yellow onion, sliced, and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook about 15 minutes, tossing as needed to prevent scorching. Onion should be limp and slightly browned. Transfer to a paper-lined plate to drain and cool.

Caramelized Pear
Remove stems and bruises from 1 pear. Cut pear in half lengthwise and then in 1/8-inch-thick slices. Separate pieces and gently remove seeds. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in nonstick sauté pan over medium heat. Add pear slices, tossing and stirring to completely coat with butter. Cook about 6 minutes until pear becomes limp and translucent. Do not brown. Transfer to a plate in a single layer and chill.

Enjoy!

pups & kisses,

  Tiffany

Ashes & Love

Ash Wednesday started the Lenten season. It's a season of penance, reflection, and fasting, which prepares us for Christ's resurrection on Easter Sunday. As Catholics, we're all supposed to fast from meat on Fridays during Lent.  It's also a time of year to make sacrifices and give something up or try to be a better person, hence the penance and reflection. To be honest, I have no idea what to give up and according to our Deacon during his homily yesterday, it's really no one else's business. Whatever you choose to sacrifice, it's between you and God. You're giving something up or sacrificing for him, no one else. 

I met my mom and grandparents at church yesterday evening to get our ashes. There are new music directors at our church and it just so happens to be the couple who sang at my parent's wedding over 33 years ago. It's also the daughter of my grandparent's very good friends, so it was great that they all got to see each other. After church we went to Landry's for a meat-less dinner. No meat on Fridays is not going to be fun, but we'll make it work and it's about sacrifice after all!

My grandparents and me on Ash Wednesday, after dinner at Landry's.

A print I bought on Etsy from FullerWords

Valentine's day should NOT be the only day of the year you show the important people in your life LOVE. But, it is a day to maybe go a little overboard with showing them how much they mean to you. Each year we do something different. Mike reminded me the other day of our first V-day together over 6 overs ago. I was in the hospital with a terrible case of mono for 4 days, just a week before Valentine's day. He had definitely seen me at my worst.....no make-up, no shower, throwing up constantly...and he still stayed by my side. He'd come straight from work and spend the evening by my side. So by the time V-day came, I was finally up to eating solid food and felt close to my regular self. We had planned to eat at Chuy's, where we had our first date. I got more dressed up than was necessary, but I didn't care..I wasn't in a hospital gown anymore! However, he got stuck at work and by the time he got to my house, it was late. We ended up at the hole in the wall Mexican restaurant that was a family favorite. Needless to say, I was over-dressed! It may not have been what we had planned, but it didn't matter. We both knew we were meant to be and that there would be many more Valentine's days ahead to make up for that first one....this year being one of them. I can't wait to spend a nice dinner out with my wonderful husband. 

Mike's in for a yummy surprise!!!

I came home from the gym and these beautiful yellow roses were on the porch from my great hubby!

Happy Day of Love to All!

pups & kisses,

  Tiffany

Valentine's Day Cookie Bars

I had planned to meet a good friend for lunch today at Grimaldi's Pizzeria. However, she caught what her kids had over the weekend and had to postpone until next week. I was up and ready to go anyways, so I got out in the drizzly weather and ran some errands. I picked up a birthday present for my sister, some running gear for me, and one more V-day gift for Mike. All in all, it was a very productive day!

I came across a recipe for Monster Magic Cookie Bars on SomethingSwanky.com. Very few ingredients sold me on the recipe! I added more graham crackers and butter to cover of my 13 X 9 pan better and Valentine's day colored M&M's. Since my friend was home sick instead of being able to meet for lunch, I packaged some of the bars a cute bag and dropped them on her front porch. Hopefully something sweet will help her feel better!

Valentine's Day Cookie Bars

(adapted from SomethingSwanky.com)

INGREDIENTS:

• 13 & 1/2 full graham crackers
• 6 tbsp. butter
• 1 can sweetened condensed milk
• approximately 3/4 c. oats
• approximately 3/4 c. M&Ms
• approximately 3/4 c. chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a zip top bag, crush the graham crackers using a rolling pin.
2. Once crushed, add the 4 tbsp. butter to the bag.
3. Place in the microwave and heat up for about 30 seconds.
4. Remove from microwave, let out the air and make sure the bag is sealed (maybe let it cool for a second or two!), and “mush” the butter and graham crackers together until fully incorporated.
5. Press the graham cracker crumbs into a well-greased and parchment lined 9×13 baking dish.
6. Evenly pour the sweetened condensed milk over the graham cracker layer.
7. Sprinkle the oats, M&Ms, and chocolate chips evenly over the sweetened condensed milk and gently press in a little.
8. Bake at 350º for 30 minutes or until browned and pulling away from the edges.
9. Let cool and serve.

Enjoy!

pups & kisses,

  Tiffany

FUN

Saturday Mike went on an 8 mile run, while I did a measly 2! I'm joking when I say that, because anyone who has known me a while, knows I don't like to run. I have my first of two 5K's at the end of the month and while my training didn't start when it was supposed to, I know I'll be ready! We then did some shopping and ate a late lunch/early dinner at Bar Louie to watch the KU game….even though it was another loss, at least they played better! I'm hoping for a HUGE comeback tonight as they play K-State.

Sunday was a little different. For the first time ever together, we went putt-putting! There's a place close to our house that is an indoor, black-lit putt-putt course. I of course lost, but I did have a few good putts in there! After that we grabbed another late lunch/early dinner at Willie's and then headed home to get ready for church. We LOVE our 6pm mass on Sunday evenings. It's such a positive way to start our week, always with great homilies and music! When we got home we watched the Grammy's. I have to say, it's been a while since I've watched that awards show all the way through, but it was a good one…or should I say a FUN. one!

I hope you all have a blessed week and make sure you let that special someone know how much you love them….not just this Thursday, but EVERYDAY!

pups & kisses,

  Tiffany

BBQ Chicken Pizza

This week flew by, especially the past 2 days. I took both girls to the groomer, but on separate days. I know those of you with human children will laugh, but it's a little difficult to take both pups to the groomer at the same time, while I'm by myself. Pasha gets very anxious in the car and won't sit still, then as soon as I park and open my door, she has the urge to jump over the center console, over me, and out of the car….all the while, I'm trying NOT to let her leash fly out of my hand and to not allow Carly to claw me to death as she climbs up my neck because she's nervous! THOSE reasons are why it's BEST to get them groomed separately. Once we have human children, I WILL be paying extra for a mobile groomer to park in front of my house and groom the dogs.

Neither of the pups looked like the same dog when I picked them up! Needless to say, they were VERY furry and in desperate need of a haircut!

Today is Friday, so that means another FRIDAY PIZZA NIGHT! I'm not a huge BBQ fan, but I do like BBQ sauce. I've had several BBQ chicken pizzas in my lifetime, but one always stands out as the best. That's the one I had when working in Salt Lake City over 5 years ago. It came from a place called The Pie Pizzeria. Before I was a teacher, I was VERY BRIEFLY in medical sales. I had to do a month of training in Utah, which my entire family can attest to, as the WORST month of my life. I think everyone was ready for me to come home just so my complaining would stop. Anyways, since that miserable month was so long ago, I can now look back and focus on the positive from my experience there……the BBQ CHICKEN PIZZA! I think the 2 ingredients that made it so good were the smoked gouda cheese and cilantro.

Here's my own version, made simpler by using Boboli pizza crust…..ENJOY!

INGREDIENTS:

1 Boboli pizza crust

your favorite BBQ sauce (HEB was out of my fav, so I settled for one instead…..had I planned this better, I would have made Bobby Flay's bbq sauce with chipotles in adobo)

shredded smoked gouda

shredded mozzarella

roughly chopped cilantro

1 seasoned, cooked,  & diced chicken breast

DIRECTIONS:

Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees.

Season and cook the chicken breast how ever you choose. You can bake, grill, panfry…..whatever is easiest for you! I'm just seasoning with garlic salt and pepper and cooking in a skillet. Once the chicken is cooked and cooled, dice and set aside.

Spread BBQ sauce over the pizza crust.

Sprinkle shredded mozzarella over sauce and add diced chicken.

 Add shredded smoked gouda over chicken and cook in oven for 10 minutes.

Take pizza out of the oven and sprinkle the cilantro over the top of pizza.

*If you'd like to add a crunch to the pizza, add crispy fried onions to the top of pizza before serving!

**Mike stopped at the store on his way home to get beer. He also surprised me with a bottle of cabernet sauvingnon . He chose this bottle because it had a nice label! However, when he read the back, he found out this winery had partnered with Dave Matthews for the Dreaming Tree. It was a good wine that reminded me of a merlot.

Hope ya'll have a great weekend!

pups & kisses,

  Tiffany