Author: Lois Houston

I'm a sweet tea drinkin' southern gal who loves to cook, bake, crochet, and read. Check out my blog for posts about parenting, faith, books, crafts, planning, baking, cooking, and life in general.

Spinach Artichoke Pasta with Grilled Chicken

This was one of my recent recipe experiments thanks to Pinterest. I stumbled across the recipe and thought it was worth a try given that we all love Spinach Artichoke appetizer at restaurants.

I have to say, this one didn’t disappoint.  It was really, really good. So much so that Big Girl decided to have leftovers for dinner the next night instead of what we had already planned for dinner… and she ate two helpings. of leftovers.

Yeah, it’s that good.

This makes A LOT of food. So much so that I shared a healthy portion with our neighbors for their dinner the night I made it and we still had some leftovers.  So, save this for a meal when you’re having folks over or make it and give some away like we did. Your friends will love you if you do.

I don’t have a picture – it didn’t last long enough for me to get one – but here is the one on the Pinterest link:

I used ziti pasta instead of the bowtie you see here.  I don’t think it really matters. You could even use linguine if you wanted. Whatever you have on hand. It’s merely a vehicle to get the luscious sauce into your mouth. Smile

I also added some grilled chicken that wasn’t in the original recipe. I marinated it in some Italian dressing and then grilled it, cut it up and added the bite-sized pieces to the mixture as I added the pasta.

It was a hearty and filling dinner, a one-stop cornucopia of goodness for your mouth and your body.

Spinach Artichoke Pasta with Grilled Chicken

Ingredients:

2-3 large boneless skinless chicken breasts
1/2 cup Italian Dressing
Houston House Seasoning

1 12 ounce box of pasta

1 tsp butter
2 Tbs minced garlic (about 2-3 cloves)
1 8 oz package reduced fat cream cheese
1/2 cup milk (I used 2%)
1/2 cup reduced fat sour cream
1/2 lemon, juiced (I used about 1-2 tsp of lemon juice)
1/2 tsp salt
pinch of red pepper flakes
1 14 oz can artichoke hearts (packed in water) drained & chopped
10 oz chopped frozen spinach, thawed, with as much water squeezed out as possible
1/2 cup parmesan cheese, shredded
Additional parmesan for serving

Instructions:

  1. Marinate chicken breasts in Italian Seasoning & sprinkled with Houston House Seasoning for about 1 hour.
  2. Cook pasta.
  3. While pasta is cooking, grill chicken. (or sauté in a skillet)
  4. Cut cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces and set aside.
  5. In a large skillet, over medium heat, melt butter and add garlic. Cook for about 30-45 seconds, being careful not to scorch garlic.
  6. Add cream cheese, stir until melted and combined with garlic.
  7. Slowly add milk, whisking it gently into the cream cheese.
  8. Add sour cream, lemon juice, salt & pepper flakes. Combine, being careful not to boil the mixture as the sour cream can curdle.
  9. Add in the artichoke hearts, grilled chicken, parmesan cheese. Mix to combine – you can turn off the heat here.
  10. Drain pasta.
  11. Add the pasta (if your saucepan is big enough) and stir to combine.
  12. Season with additional salt & lemon juice as desired (I needed both)
  13. Serve topped with additional parmesan.

Scrapbook Tuesday

I have a confession to make.

I’m way behind on my Project Life album.

Way, way behind.

I seem to have lost my drive for working on the album.  I’m sure I’ll get it back – right now I’m only behind for the month of August – but for right now the thought of working on it seems like a chore, not a pleasure. So I will let it sit for a few more weeks until I find the desire to work on it again.

But –

I have done a wee bit of scrapbooking – I seem to have found the desire to digitally scrapbook.  Interestingly, I did the same thing last year; lost my drive to work on the Project Life stuff around the time school started and then wound up working on digital pages for a while. So, maybe there is a trend here? Maybe it has to do with the hectic first weeks of school, I don’t know.

Regardless, as long as I’m doing something creative, I’m happy.

Here are two of the pages I’ve created recently.  They’re focused on the first day of school for the girls:

2012 Family Album - Page 006

The journaling reads:

Your first day of school –  always a little scary for kids and a little more so this year for you… you started a new school, your sister was not at the same school as you anymore and you didn’t know any of the kids who would be in your class. But, in your typical fearless style, you were rarin’ and ready to go that first morning, up way before it was time to be awake and ready to leave almost a half an hour before we had to! I walked you into your classroom – our yearly tradition – although you didn’t want to hold my hand just in case people might mistake you for a “baby” that way. But we all know you are most definitely not a baby. You are a big girl. A third grader. And you are ready to tackle whatever your new school throws your way. I’m so proud of you and can’t wait to see what you do this year – whatever it is you decide to do, I’m sure it will be fantastic. Everything you do is!

And the second page:

2012 Family Album - Page 007

The journaling reads:

Middle School.
Such a big step for you… a milestone you have waited so long to finally reach. And now it is here for you.  After a couple of weeks of worrying and fretting this summer – about all of the changes that were coming, especially your locker! – you are finally ready for the big step… right across the threshold of your new school experience. In spite of the summer jitters, you were ready to roll on the first day of school. You’d met your teachers, practiced opening your locker, walked the halls and found out the friends you’d have in your classes. You knew the drill and you were ready to go. I dropped you off in the front of the school – no more walking you into class on the first day – and as I drove away I couldn’t help but remember the first day you started Kindergarten and how you had a lot of the same worries that had plagued you during this summer as you thought about Middle School.  Just like then, you met the challenge head on and came through with shining colors. I can’t wait to see the things you’ll do and the places you’ll go in the next three years. Whatever they are, I’m sure you will shine – you always do.

Menu Plan Monday ~ 20 August 12

 

Hello, and Happy Monday to you all!

It was another busy weekend at our house, filled with Saturday baths for the puppies, car washes and grass cutting.  And some great times with great friends on Saturday night.  The weekend was capped off by the very best part – Picking up Big Girl on Sunday from her Boot Camp weekend.  It’s a weekend retreat the church does just for sixth graders – to focus on them for one whole weekend as they transition to middle school.

IMG_1926[1]

Little Bit has been sick with a cold.  And has tried to share it with us big people. I have been running a low fever today so I think she may have been somewhat successful. Big Girl sent me a text at 1AM on Sunday telling me she was all stuffy and had a sore throat. I guess she got infected before she left us on Friday. Sad smile

Regardless, it was a good weekend.  And I think she had a good time as well at her retreat.  Sunday was the best day of the two – of course – because Big Girl came home.  I couldn’t wait to see her!

IMG_1931[1]

She was exhausted (of course) and ready for a hot shower and some peace and quiet.  We were all in bed by 7 last night! The power went out because of storms so we just all decided to turn in early.  I think we all needed the rest.

This week, I’ve got some comfort food planned for the first part of the week – at least until we kick this virus to the curb.

Here’s what’s on my menu plan this week:

I’m also making some homemade bread – trying this new recipe out.  Big Girl is making some brownies for lunch snacks and I’ll probably make some other lunch snack/sweet later in the week.

What’s on your menu this week?

Related articles

 

Out of Sorts

I’m feeling all kinds of weird today.

Totally discombobulated.

You see, last night I dropped off my Big Girl at church for a weekend retreat.  Her first multi-night sleep away without any family along with her.

IMG_1924[1]

Now, don’t get me wrong… if she is going to be going away without me, there aren’t too many other places I’d rather her be. I know these folks; I know how serious our church is about the kids’ safety and well-being.  I know she is in good hands and I’m positive she is having a blast.

But still.

She’s my baby.

Okay, okay, maybe not technically a baby anymore, but to me, she will always be my baby.

And so today, I’m checking Facebook a thousand times looking for pictures that the church is posting of the kids’ retreat.  I’m checking my phone justincase she thinks to send me a text or a picture.

IMG_1926[1]

My friend, whose son just left for his freshman year of college told me last week that she kind of felt like she did in eighth grade when she was waiting and hoping and obsessing about some boy calling her.

Yeah, that’s how I feel.

I kinda feel that way combined with feeling like someone took half of my heart and ran across the state with it and I’ve got this hole where it should be.

Thank goodness she is home tomorrow.  I’m also REALLY glad she’s not college age yet.  I am definitely not ready for that.

So, for once, I’m kind of looking forward to the drama and heavy sighs, stomping feet and slamming doors I have when she is around.

I’m sure that’ll change by next Friday, but for right now, I’m really missing my girl.

So, tonight, I’ve planned a little get-together with some friends – those same families whose boys have just gone off to college. I figured we can all be discombobulated together.

Here’s what I’m planning to serve – it’s a Mexican themed night:

 

I can’t wait for everyone to get here… just so my house will feel less empty.

Not ready for the fledglings to start flying out of my nest just yet, that’s for sure.

Bourbon Street Chicken

 

With the new schedule for the girls’ schools and after-school activities, I’m on the hunt for some new, easy recipes to cook. The after-school schedule is different enough that I’m having to get creative with some dinner routines. I’m shooting for 6:00 for suppertime, but that doesn’t work on the nights that Big Girl has dance classes because they are later in the evening. I think she and Super Man will be eating late dinners together those nights and Little Bit and I will eat together earlier. It’s a juggling act and we’re just going with the flow for right now.

Last night, we tried something relatively new for dinner.  I’ve made it once before, but no one seems to remember eating it and I can’t remember if everyone liked it or not!  As I cooked, I was wondering if I was making something I was just going to throw in the garbage because of this, but it turned out to be a success and everyone loved it.

This will definitely go into my list of regularly-cooked menu items, I think.  It’s a sweet and tangy glazed chicken dish – reminiscent of some of the chicken dishes I remember having at the quick-cook Asian restaurants when I worked downtown.  It’s not technically Asian in origin and I think the original recipe hails from Bourbon Street in New Orleans.

Regardless, it is really good and worth a try!

(sorry for the grainy cell phone picture – I forgot to take a “real” one before we ate!)

img_1909

Bourbon Street Chicken

4-6 servings

2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts; cut into bite-sized pieces
1-2 Tbs olive oil
1 heaping tsp minced garlic
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1 pinch red pepper flakes (more if you like it spicy)
1/4 c apple juice (I just used an apple/grape juice box I had in the fridge for kids’ lunches)
1/3 c brown sugar (or 1/4 c Splenda brown sugar blend)
2 Tbs ketchup
1 Tbs apple cider vinegar
1/2 c water
1 Tbs corn starch (to thicken sauce)

  1. In a large skillet, sauté the chicken pieces in the olive oil.
    (I seasoned mine lightly with Houston House Seasoning)
  2. While chicken is cooking, whisk remaining ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
  3. Once chicken is browned, pour in the sauce. Stir to coat chicken and bring to a rolling boil.
  4. Reduce heat and simmer on low, uncovered, for about 15-20 minutes. (Until sauce thickens)
  5. Serve over rice.

I also served mine with some steamed veggies.  It was a huge hit – Big Girl even ate two helpings!

I think next time I might even toss some sesame seeds on the chicken right before serving.

 

Pesto Palooza

Happy Monday!

I hope you all had a good weekend. We did. It was full of friends and fun – and a little date night for SuperMan and I as well. So nice.  We went to a local German restaurant and the food was incredible.  We enjoyed our dinner so much, lingering over our food with just one more glass of wine and some great conversation, that we totally missed our movie!  It was just as well. I told SuperMan I’d rather sit and talk with him than watch a movie any day.

img_1930

Sunday afternoon the girls and I spent a few hours with our good friends – they invited us over to make homemade pesto!  Cindy and I both have prolific basil plants and we had been talking about making some pesto with the leaves.

img_1952

I had never made pesto, so Cindy offered to give us a lesson.  Our other good friends joined in on the fun and we had PESTO PALOOZA!

img_1932

All of the kids got involved, from mincing the garlic to loading up the food processor, measuring the ingredients and spooning the finished pesto into the storage containers.

img_1945

Many helpful hands make small work …

img_1953

Our junior chefs –

img_1956

img_1933

The house smelled SO GOOD – one of Cindy’s sons came home as we were in the middle of a batch and he said the house smelled like spices. And it did! Such good spices…

img_1941

I think we ended up with ten or eleven cups of pesto by the time we were finished.  Each family took a batch home to freeze and enjoy this fall – and I know whenever I take a container out of the fridge to use for cooking this winter I’ll remember the fun we had on that Sunday afternoon.  Good friends and good times.

img_1959

We enjoyed our first batch last night for dinner. I grilled some chicken and served it with some sun-dried tomato pesto pasta. SO good.

Here is the recipe in case you want to make some of your own:

Basil Pesto

from Family Fun Magazine

Makes about 1 cup of pesto

2 c firmly packed basil leaves (fresh)
1/3 c walnuts of pine nuts
3 Tbs grated Parmesan cheese
2 small cloves garlic (or 1 large)
1/4 tsp each salt/pepper
1/2 c extra-virgin olive oil

  1. In a food processor, combine all ingredients except the oil. Pulse until a thick paste forms.
  2. With processor on, drizzle in oil in a slow stream until mixture is well combined. You may need to clean the sides of the processor to ensure all ingredients are mixed in.
  3. Transfer to an airtight container. Cover with lid, refrigerate up to 4 days or freeze up to 2 months.

I did my Round Up!

I started earlier this year doing a monthly round up like Katie the Scrapook Lady does. I loved the idea of a recap of what I did during the month – something that would would make it easy to look back and see a highlight of the month all on one page.

I did great the first few months of the year and then sort of fell off the wagon as the last month or two of school rolled around. Life got crazy and this was not high on the priority list.

Well, it’s August and time for the roundup from July – I’m determined to stay on track from now through the end of the year. Heck, I may even get around to scrapbooking the pages, too!

So, here is my round up!

image

What reading/learning did I do this month? (books, blogs, magazines, ebooks, podcasts, classes, etc.)

What entertainment did I watch/listen to this month?(movies, tv shows, plays, music, concerts, etc.)

What fun things did I do with my family and/or friends? img_1727

  • We took a family mini-vacation to St. Augustine
  • We visited family in Savannah
  • Many trips to the pool
  • The girls had sleepovers with friends
  • We celebrated Little Bit’s birthday

What gifts did I give and/or receive?

  • Birthday goodies for Little Bit, including a new iPod Touch

What special or unusual purchases did I make?

  • school supplies!

What illnesses or health concerns did I have?

  • Overall, a healthy month. Trying to get back on track with my eating and exercise.

What were my accomplishments this month?

  • Back on more healthy eating
  • Back to school shopping completed with plenty of time to spare

What were my disappointments this month?

  • not so good on the exercise front – although it was so stinkin’ hot, it was hard to get motivated here

Overall, a busy but productive month!

Related articles

First Day of School

Well, it’s official.

I am the mother of a middle-schooler and a third grader. 

The morning went well. Little Bit was awake about 20 minutes before I had planned to wake her up (think she was excited?) and Big Girl got up on time as well.img_1920

I made chocolate chocolate chip muffins for Little Bit and a strawberry-banana smoothie for Big Girl’s breakfast.  It was the smoothest morning we’ll probably have all year. (hee hee)

img_1922

I’m not sure who was more excited (or nervous) of the two of them. I walked Little Bit into school and got a cute picture of her with her teacher.  Big Girl, of course, needed no such escort and I dropped her at the door. 

I’ve got dinner started in the crock-pot and I’m thinking about baking a cake or some cookies so the girls have a yummy after-school treat today.

And now, I’m off to wade through the emails and meetings of my day – at least until it’s time to pick up the monkeys this afternoon…

T-minus One Day…

The countdown is on…

This time tomorrow, my girls will be in school. 

Hopefully, happily making new friends and learning new things.

and

This time tomorrow, MY HOUSE WILL BE QUIET.

I am not sure which of us (me or the girls) is more excited.

I mentioned the other day that my only concern was the carpool line –Image

Well, I think they got that one covered. At least for one school.

We made it to both open houses – one on Monday, one on Tuesday.  Big Girl has visited her locker a few times to practice opening it and to drop some more things off.  I honestly had no idea that lockers were such a big deal to middle schoolers – and that they held such an allure.  I can’t remember being so excited about a locker – maybe I was (Mom? was I?) I have no clue. 

We also ran into lots of people that Big Girl knows at the open houses so she is feeling pretty confident about not being all alone with no one to talk to.  Little Bit ran into a couple friends as well, but she is not really as worried as her big sister. Of course, she is so gregarious that she would make friends with anyone so being alone with no one to talk to will probably never happen to her. Like never-ever happen.

I’m so excited for both of my girls and I’m hopeful for great things for them this year. Big Girl has a lot of changes in the coming weeks, but I know she will handle it like a champion.  She’s my girl, after all.

And so now, we pretty much just wait. Lunches are waiting to be made – backpacks are packed. It’s all good to go. Well, except for haircuts. Those are happening today.  But other than that, we are done. 

We’re ready. 

Bring it on, school. We’re ready for you!

Total Randomness on Monday

Woo hoo, it’s Monday!  And it is the last Monday of the summer for us – school starts this Thursday for the girls. I have been vacillating the past two weeks between trying to get them in bed early and up early in the mornings and trying to squeeze every single moment of summertime fun from our final days. I’m hoping I’ve not done them a disservice but I figure getting up at the crack of dawn is going to be painful for all of us regardless what we do in the days leading up to the first day of school.

The weekend was a busy one – Saturday was “boot camp” for Big Girl – her first foray into the world of Middle School.  We got to meet her teachers and get her schedule – and more importantly (to her) – load up her locker!

img_1854

Quite a rite of passage – and now we’re all set for her first day on Thursday.  Today is open house and she’ll get another chance at practicing opening that combination lock…

Tomorrow, Little Bit gets to meet her new teachers and go to her open house.  She’s pretty excited, too, I think, although not quite as obsessed as Big Girl has been (understandably)

And me? Well, my biggest worry is a silly one – where the carpool lines are.  The girls are both starting new schools this year, so I wonder how the new lines for school will work. I’m sure I’ll figure it all out – and since that is my only “major” worry, I think I’m doing pretty good.

And with the new school year starting, I’m getting back on the menu planning bandwagon. This week we need it especially. We have afternoon appointments on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and then school starts Thursday. And, of course, Thursday is my busiest work day. I need to be organized and somewhat “put together” so that I can accomplish all the things I need to this week.

Here’s what I have planned:

The leftovers from the baked ham will be for sandwiches for lunch and I’m planning to make some veggie chili for lunches as well.

I hope you have a great week – and that you’ll stop by again soon!