{She Cooks} Cheesy Chicken, Rice, and Broccoli Casserole.

Please excuse the Instragram quality photo.

 

Ingredients:

2 bags steam fresh brown rice

1-2 bag steam fresh broccoli {depends how much broccoli you want}

2 cups of cooked, shredded chicken

3 tbsp margarine

salt

pepper

garlic powder

Cheese Sauce:

4 tbsp margarine

1/4 cup flour

2 cups of low sodium chicken broth

1/4 cup Gorgonzola cheese

1/2 cup {ish} Italian cheese mix

2 cup {ish} Mild cheddar cheese {reserve some to top the casserole}

salt

pepper

garlic powder

The nitty gritty:

Preheat the oven to 350.

I took the easy way out with this meal and got the steam fresh bags. They’re easy. I threw each bag into the microwave and let it do it’s thing. Once finished, I put the rice in a bowl with 2 tbsp’s of margarine, garlic, salt, and pepper and mixed it up. This gave the rice some flavor of it’s own. I then did the same thing with the broccoli. Meanwhile I put the chicken in a pot of water and let it boil away until it was cooked through. I then shredded it with a  fork.

Once those three guys were ready I sprayed a 9×13 glass dish with cooking spray and then layered the rice, then chicken, then broccoli in the dish.

I set this aside and made the cheese sauce.

In a medium saucepan, over medium heat melt the 4 tbsp’s of margarine then slowly whisk in the flour to make a roux. Once the margarine and flour are combined, slowly whisk in the chicken broth. Keep whisking until it’s just about to bubble and becomes thick – lower the heat to medium-low to be sure the bottom of the sauce doesn’t scorch  Then whisk in the cheeses and seasoning – whisk until the cheese is completely melted through and the sauce is very thick and creamy.

Then pour the cheese sauce over the rice, chicken, and broccoli. I then lightly stirred the mixture to make sure the sauce was all the way through. Top with the remaining cheddar cheese then throw it in the oven for 25-30 minutes.

I kind of made this recipe up through a combination of different recipes I had pinned on pinterest. I love the creativity in cooking. It makes me happy. 😉

Happy hump day, lovelies!

 

Hot Tea and Happiness.

 

 

When I saw this little graphic is made me happy. Who doesn’t love catching up over a cup of hot tea?

Happiness is…

a quiet night of cuddling up on the couch and watching TV.

knowing that the political commercials, ads, mailers, etc. will cease to exist after yesterday.

a sweet little “meow” when I wake up in the morning and someone’s waiting on me to open my eyes. {ok, sometimes this airs on the side of annoyance. sometimes.}

a phone call with my brother that begins with “Talk to me, goose…” and ends with “…get green label. It’s not a cheap crap kind of weekend.” We’re special.

knowing that the baby shower honoree’s are actually excited about the shower we are throwing this weekend. Can’t. Wait.

a new workout inspiration. Thank you Missy and Nikki. I began Couch to 5k {again} tonight.

a new episode of Nashville tonight. Obsessed. But, again, we all know this.

walking into my apartment and smelling dinner that I put in the crockpot this morning. Chicken tacos get in my belly!

Starbursts. Thank you, Amy, for bringing them into work. I know they were for the bucket of candy for the kids… but… I just can’t help myself.

knowing that this weekend I’ll get to see so many old friends and family.

What happiness is not…

the sole of my riding boots breaking today. I almost cried. Super glue?

 

What is happiness to you??

Happy hump day, kittens!

 

 

 

Sunday Social: Random.

In hopes that I’ll continue blogging I’m linking up with Neely today for Sunday Social… this week we are playing catch up with life. Easy, peezy, lemon squeezy…

1. What is on my current wishlist…

I want a new pair of chestnut colored boots. A new pair of cowboy boots. Sweaters. Patterned skinnies. Some color stay lip color. I’m really digging wearing color on my lips lately but it never seems to stay on long. And I want a lot of black… I’m usually all about color but recently I’ve wanted more neutral tones in my wardrobe.

2. Share a new app that I have recently discovered:

Honestly, I don’t know. I tend to use the same apps – I did recently download Evernote, but I haven’t really used it yet…

3. What is a new fall TV show that has been added to the DVR???

Nashville. I’m obsessed. {I think we’ve been over this… ;)} I think that’s the only new show that I’m completely obsessed with. So good… if you aren’t watching it… start.

4. Share my social media links for y’all to follow me on… Cause you know you wanna! And which is my favorite…

Twitter , Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram – I enjoy them all for different reasons. How’s the for having a favorite?!

5. What is a TV show or Movie or Song you could listen to or watch over and over and over and never get tired of…feel free to name one of each:

TV Show – Friends, Full House, Boy Meets World, One Tree Hill. Movie – Dirty Dancing, The Notebook, Legally Blonde, and chic flick really. Song – Kip Moore’s album, Jana Kramer’s album, anything Jason Aldean or Kate Voegele

And there we have – the questions you’ve been dying to know. 😉

Have a wonderful end to your weekend. I’m off to hopefully go to the gym and decide on what’s for dinner tonight… I’m thinking homemade pizza…

I may or may not have just vlogged…

…that sounded weird, and kind of dirty, huh?!

ANYWAYS –  one of my favorite bloggers, Erin from Living in Yellow was co-hosting a vlog series last week… For some reason I couldn’t get my webcam thing to work, so I didn’t get to do it then so I missed the linkup BUT for all of your viewing pleasure… I did it anyways – try to keep your excitement to a minimum. 😉

Things I’ve learned in doing my first vlog… It’s weird to talk into a camera and watch yourself. I make really dumb facial expressions when talking. The sun coming in my window makes me look way pale. Vlog’s are kind of fun to do… after the 5th or 6th take. {I could go on and on about the critiques I made of myself – but who really wants to read that?!}

There you have it kids – you either love me, hate me, or just think I’m a nerd after that. 😉

I’m off to perhaps do something productive with my Saturday, but probably not…

Have a good weekend!

About the leopard print…

Naturally, I watched the CMA’s last night {if you didn’t know that I LOVE country music… you do now} and to my Twitter followers, I apologize… I just had to live tweet my thoughts on the event. It happens… and my friend Ellie, she wrote her commentary out in a blog post… CRACKED. ME. UP. {Go read it now… then come back…}

Now, a few of my thoughts… Where was Kip Moore?? I need Carrie Underwood’s leg workout. NEED. Jason Aldean will always, always, always be my favorite. Country musicians are just sexy. Period. All of them… Luke, Jake, Jason, Erin, Jana, Carrie… seriously, share that with us, please. The Willie Nelson tribute was fantastic. Tim and Kenny are getting old. Was Faith wearing braces? The Zac Brown Band is amazing.  And sorry, Taylor… I still am not a huge fan.

And… I need to go to the CMA’s next year.

On another note –

I’m rocking some leopard leggings today {I got them a couple of months ago but hadn’t decided on them yet…}

 

What do you think? Yay? Nay? I love leopard. as much as I love country music – and that’s a lot. 

What are you up to this weekend?

Happy Friday, little Cheetahs!

I haven’t given into the T. Swift craze.

 

It’s been a hot minute since I’ve linked up for “It’s ok” Thursday… and in loo of trying to keep myself blogging… I thought I’d make it a comeback.

It’s ok…

to get completely frustrated with your computer because your webcam isn’t working. I really wanted to post a vlog… but alas, it won’t allow it.

to watch Friends, at least once… every. single. day. {I’m watching it as we speak…}

to have cereal and wine for dinner. Some nights I just don’t feel like cooking. And really want a glass of wine.

to be looking forward the election being over so I don’t hear the commercials everywhere. All the time. Even on Pandora?!

to have opted against wearing makeup all week for a few more minutes in my warm bed.

to be in love with Deacon on Nashville… and? He’s 47… he looks damn good for 47. #yum

to have not given into the Taylor Swift “Red” craze… yet.

to have already worn my fur vest like 5 times already this fall. #obsessed

See, obsessed.

 

Happy Thursday, chica’s!

 

I hope… {Happy Halloween}

 

that you haven’t stopped caring about this little ole blog.

that you aren’t annoyed too much that I go through periodic moments of MIA{ness}.

that you take a moment to be grateful for what you have in the wake of this crazy hurricane that blasted the East Coast.

that you got to enjoy a warm cup of coffee or tea or hot chocolate this morning. {I’m still working on mine… and it’s no longer warm. #fail}

that it warms up a little bit around here… I was enjoying fall… and I’m not quite ready for winter yet.

that Harper comes soon {but not sooner than she should!} because I can’t wait to meet her.

that the reading glasses I recently purchased help – and that I don’t actually need glasses.

that Nashville doesn’t get cancelled – I’m in love with that show… anyone else???

that I actually get back into the swing of things. Like now. I missed blogging.

that y’all have a fantastic Halloween… stay safe, stay warm, and eat lots of candy! {Oh! And watch some scary movies… }

Halloween ’12 – my best costume. Vampire.

 

Halloween ’10 – please note how thrilled he looks. #crazycatlady

 

Halloween ’09 – I was a cowgirl. So not original.

Happy Halloween, pumpkins!

Friday, I love…

I’m stealing this from Lauren Conrad’s site this morning.

Favorite Beauty Idea: Liquid eyeliner

 

Favorite Fall Fashion Trend: Printed skinnies

 

 

Favorite Fall Hair Trend: Bangs and big curls {duh! Cause I just got them!}

 

Favorite Adorables: Kitties. {Wonder if I could get Tric to do this?! Hmmmm…}

 

Favorite Hobby {right now}: Cooking!!

 

Favorite Fall Show: Sons of Anarchy

 

What are your Friday favorites?!

Be grateful.

I know – it’s been a minute since I’ve actually been good at blogging.

Shit Life happens.

But Thankful Thursday is floating around in blog world today and I thought it was a good time to make an appearance. 😉

One of my sweet, sweet friends is dealing with something pretty huge right now. And I’m trying desperately to be there for her as much as I can – but it’s made me take a step back and look at life a little differently.

Life is fleeting.

So today {and everyday} I’m deeply thankful for the people in my life. For my family, my friends, for the core people that I have. Yes, I’ve mentioned it a time or hundred on here before but I don’t think you can ever be too thankful for those people.

You can never enjoy those little moments, too much.

I have been blessed with some of those most extraordinary people, however, I think sometimes we get so caught up in “life” that we forget to say “thank you” or “i love you” or to just bask in the simple, silly moments.

Like I said, life is fleeting – be thankful for those you have.

God knows, I am. 

I’m linking up with Mustache Mama for a Coffee Date and Thankful Thursday. And sadly, I just finished my first cup of coffee – I think I’ll have to refill after lunch. Y’all, I’m seriously addicted to hazelnut coffee… this morning I have caramel vanilla creamer in it… YUMMMMM! What are you thankful for? What kind of coffee are you enjoying this morning?

Have a good one, loves.

She Cooks {Drunken Lasagna Soup}

A few months ago I made this soup and it got rave reviews. However, tonight I made it again {without regards to the original recipe} and I think I liked it even better. A few changes were made – and to me, they made all the difference.

The best part of this meal is that it’s quick, easy, and all made in one pot. The clean up is quick – and that’s far more than you can say about normal lasagna.

Ingredients {serves 4}:

1lb ground beef {turkey or sausage would be delicious too}

1 clove of fresh garlic

drizzle of olive oil

1 10oz can of tomato sauce {you’ll also fill this up with water once you empty the sauce – to add to the broth}

1 small can of tomato paste

1 10oz can of chicken broth {or beef – but I had chicken on hand}

1 oz {or a shot} of whiskey – honestly, adds the best flavor to the beef

1/2 box of broken up lasagna noodles {bite size}

1 tbsp of sugar

garlic

chili powder

sea salt

basil

Directions:

In a large pot saute the minced garlic in the olive oil over medium heat. Once the garlic has started to turn golden brown add the ground beef. You can turn the heat up to medium high. When the beef is about 75% browned add half of the whiskey {or a splash – it’s really up to you, the alcohol will cook out and the whiskey will really flavor the beef}. Once the beef is all the way browned just add the rest of the ingredients {aside from the pasta}, stir so everything is mixed well {season to your liking}. Set the heat to low and let simmer for 20ish minutes {or however long you want}. Add the pasta, let cook another twenty minutes or until pasta is cooked through.

Once in bowls I top with a mixture of ricotta, Gorgonzola, and Romano cheese.

I do think this recipe could easily be made in the crockpot as well. {Brown the beef, add the rest of the ingredients, cook on low 4-6 hours, add pasta about 20 minutes before you want to serve}

I think the joy of this recipe is that it’s simple – you could add veggies, spice it differently, let it cook for hours or make it in twenty minutes. Its a really good, basic, fall meal.

If you try this – let me know how it turns out or any tweaks you make to it!

p.s. don’t call this a comeback 😉 I’m trying – but I make no promises, yet. 😉

Happy Thursday, lovelies.