WHAT!!?? A New Recipe!!!?? No way!

So it's pretty much been forever since I last posted a recipe. I'm sorry. The last 4 weekends we have had road trips and so consequently the last 4 weeks I have been recovering from said road trips. I'm happy to say that we aren't taking the road trip we were going to take this weekend and next weekend we aren't going anywhere either! That doesn't mean we don't have A LOT of crap to do though. The irrigation water is now turned on but since the dog ruined 3 sprinkler heads and the spicket... we can't use it. So we are fixing that this weekend since it's going to be in the upper 70s to low 80s! My grass is going to need a drink! Then we get to paint the shed, fix my front flower beds (or lack there of), cut the grass, plant the garden, finish Linnea's room, pre register for the hospital, pack my hospital bag, and find someone to watch Emma just in case my mom isn't coming over when I have the baby.

My dad had back surgery this morning so he is going to be a lame duck for 3 months and then a semi functional lame duck for 6 months. He's the hardest working man I have ever known and not being able to work and having to sit all day every day is going to drive him nuts. My poor mom is going to have to baby sit him so chances are... I'm on my own with this baby!

ANYWAY... forgive my scattered brain. Back to the original point of this post which is my inability to post a recipe. I cook with chicken... a lot. It's cheap and easy to do stuff with. This recipe is called "Sweet and Spicy Chicken" and I got it from... drum roll please.... Taste of Home! I pretty much get all my recipes from there. It is SUPER QUICK and EASY and TASTY! Emma and Jacob and myself LOVE this recipe. It takes 20 minutes TOTAL to make this recipe! Here it is!

Ingredients:
3 tablespoons taco seasoning
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 to 2 tablespoons canola oil
1 jar (11 ounces) chunky salsa
1/2 cup peach preserves
Hot cooked rice

Directions: Place taco seasoning in a large resealable plastic bag; add chicken and toss to coat. In a large skillet, brown chicken in oil until no longer pink. Combine salsa and preserves; stir into skillet. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 2-3 minutes or until heated through Serve with rice. Yield: 4 servings.

I used apricot preserves because I didn't have any peach, nor could I find any at the store! It's not that spicy if you use a mild salsa. Emma eats it so it can't be that spicy.

And here's another recipe from Taste of Home that I love. It's a Strawberry Orange Smoothie. It serves 6 and tastes wonderful. I made it for breakfast the other day for the 3 of us and everyone (but Emma) liked it. I love the flavor. Emma isn't a smoothie fan which is why she didn't like it. Maybe it's the texture?

Ingredients:
3 cups orange juice
1 carton (8 ounces) strawberry yogurt
6 fresh strawberries
1 can (8 ounces) crushed pineapple, drained
1 medium firm banana, cut into chunks
Directions: Place half of each ingredient in a blender; cover and process until blended. Pour into chilled glasses. Repeat with remaining ingredients. Serve immediately. Yield: 6 servings.

I love that you don't add any actual sugar to this recipe. All the sweetness comes from the fruits/ yogurt. I don't buy the orange juice that's made from concentrate and I always buy my canned fruits packed in their own juices instead of the syrup so I don't have that added sugar.

I hope this helps satisfy your cravings for new recipes! Let me know what you think.