Long time, No see

Just the right place to find a schadenfreude

Oh my! It has been an extremely long time since I have blogged. Well, this is my come back, and that was the end of my break. Life has changed so very much for me since the last time I was here. For a while it was extremely tough, but now is regaining sanity. I am in the midst of quiet a few new projects on my plate. 

As of right now, my big one, getting back online! I know, I know, I'm a tad bit rusty but I think I shall give it a go. I think I shall post one of my favorite recipes!

This recipe is not too terribly expensive to make, but mighty delicious.
Here it is, my version of Chicken Piccata! Now don't knock it till you try it, and any of the additions are optional. If you have you're own version, let me know!

Chicken Piccata

(serves about 4)

• 4 (4-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
• Salt and ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1 tsp of crushed red pepper (optional)
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 tsp unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 1/2 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 1 (14-ounce) can artichoke hearts, quartered (optional)
• 1/4 cup drained capers
• 1 6 oz pkg of fresh spinach (optional)
• 1/2 a 10 oz pkg of mushrooms, sliced (optional)
• 1 cup quick-cooking brown rice (follow directions on packaging)

Gather all your ingredients and have them readily accessible. You can tweak this recipe to suit your tastes FYI!

Take you chicken breasts, trim the fat, and then slice into little strips. Heat your pan to about a medium to a medium high heat, with the half the oil and butter. Toss in your chicken breasts, salt and pepper to taste, your paprika, and just enough lemon juice to add some flavor to your chicken. Cook till golden. Remove from pan and set aside.Start your brown rice. Add the rest of your olive oil and butter back to the pan you cooked the chicken in. Now toss in your garlic, artichoke hearts, crushed red peppers, and sliced mushrooms. cook until a caramelized color is on the garlic. Once this happens,  add the rest of your lemon juice, white white, and chicken broth. Let simmer until it reduces. Add your chicken back in, add the capers, and the spinach. Serve with or on the cooked brown rice. 


Hope you enjoy, and let me know how it turns out for you!

Almost the new year!

Alrighty.. It's been FOREVER! However, I believe since it's almost the New Year of 2012, that maybe it's time for a new vision. A new outlook that includes my dreams, fears, ups & the downs. So, on that note, let's begin fresh.


Maybe things are suppose to change and we are suppose to change with them. Change seems to be the only perpetual thing that I have found. I'm resuming my classes online and going through many things in my marriage, as well as changing a lot of things in myself. I'm still in love with cooking and doing things creatively. My next quest is to find a way to start making a substantial income from home, while still being able to take care of my children. Keagan is officially four years old, and my daughter is officially one! It's crazy to me how many things keep going yet we let ourselves get stuck in ruts feeling sorry for ourselves. I'm done with all of the sorry feelings, and words of empty apologies. It's time for some fresh air in the world and I am about to bring it. I'm more than happy to say that this next year will be full of my experiences on everything in my life, because I am about to let you all in on the real me, as I am discovering it. So let it start!


Quote of day:
All men should strive
to learn before they die
what they are running from, and to, and why.
~James Thurber

♥ Pizza Pizza ♥

As my blog goes through a metamorphosis, and becomes whatever it shall be, you will see many posts about my interests, and things that make me feel like my own person. Through out my life, I have either been rushed into adulthood, or wanted to act as one. As I stand back and look at the last few years, I seemed to be dimming the lights on who I really was, and instead being a wife, and a mom. Granted, I LOVE being a mother of two, and a wife. Now, as it was very bluntly pointed out to me, this is not who I am, but merely a part of me. I guess you can say I am on a road to self discovery. My life is still young, and I am still growing into who I will be years from now. My motto has been and always will be, live your life without regrets, because at the moment, it is what you truly believed in. Right now, I truly believe in me, my family and my friends. I need to figure out who I am. What I enjoy, not just what my kids, or my husband enjoy, but what makes me happy.

Sorry about the rant...

Ok.. So I love cooking. Anyone who knows me can tell you. I am constantly posting something on fb about food. I mean how could I not? My family has been in the food industry for YEARS. I have a cookbook that has been in my family for ages, and passed down forever as well.

Tonight, I made pizza. From scratch. Pizza makes me happy. Cooking for others makes me happy. I do not know my measurements for sure, but this is my estimate.. but my crust directions are as follows...

makes 1 xl pizza crust, or 2 mediums

1 Packet of yeast

1 1/2 cups warm water

3 cups of flour (plus extra to roll out dough)

2 tbs olive oil

3 tbs sugar

1 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning (I prefer fresh ground)

2 TBS ground flax

Ok, so you have to put the yeast and warm water in a bowl with sugar and mix, let sit about 10 min...

Meanwhile, mix olive oil, Italian seasoning, and flax in bowl..

Next poor yeast mixture in bowl with olive oil mix.

Now, add flour slowly until it forms a ball of dough.

Next, cover with plastic wrap loosely by just setting it down in the bowl on top of the dough. Let sit for 1 hour in a warm dark place.

After one hour is up, punch dough down. Preheat oven to 350.

Now take it and roll in out on a floured surface. I prefer to use my hands for a thicker dough. Now, you make it the shape and thickness you prefer.

Next, when it is on your pan, you can leave it like this

BUT I always put olive oil on top, just enough to very thinly coat the surface, and then I take minced garlic, and rub it around on top with the olive oil..

Bake for 5 minutes, pull out and top as you please.

One of my favorite ways to top is tomato sauce, then mozzarella, Philly steak meat (already cooked), Artichoke hearts, and Jalapeños! YUMMY!!!

Well, wish you well, and I will post pictures of pizza later!

Goodnight all!