Dijon Mustard Mushroom Chicken= Fav Find!

In an attempt to cook new things, I discovered the fabulous ingredient of dijon mustard! I never would have chosen this condiment to spice up my cooking, but I'm sure glad I gave it a try. It's delicious!

This is a new favorite and it's so simple!

Dijon Mustard Mushroom Chicken

Ingredients:

*Chicken*

• Boneless skinless chicken breasts (3-4)
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Minced garlic
• Poultry seasoning (Cumin)

*Sauce* 

(measurements are an estimate... as always with me... sorry!)

• 1/3 cup light Mayonnaise
• 2 Tbs light Sour Cream
• 1 1/3 cup Chicken Broth
• 2-3 Tbs Dijon Mustard
• 1 tsp Dry Mustard
• pinch of Dried Ginger
• Mushrooms

 

 1. Cut superficial sliced in skinless, boneless chicken breasts.  Rub chicken with poultry seasonings (I used cumin). Place in skillet with some olive oil and a dash of minced garlic. Cook on one site for about 5 minutes or until beginning to brown and turn to the other side for about 3 minutes (the chicken will continue to cook in the sauce).

2. While chicken is cooking, whisk the sauce using all sauce ingredients (except mushrooms). Add sauce to the skillet.

3. Slice mushrooms and add to skillet

 

4. Turn down the heat and let simmer for about 20 minutes.

While I waited for the chicken to cook, I roasted some green beans with olive oil and garlic and cooked up some rice!

Tada!!

The chicken is juicy, delicious and so easy! I wish I cooked more to go around for left overs...

I will now be using Dijon & dry mustard much more frequently! Give it a try!

 Andrew caught me cleaning up in my "Jenna" apron!

Happy cooking to you!

Nights

Yes, I'm back to working nights...

It's gone well so far and I definitely appreciate the pace of nights compared to day shift. I'm still trying to figure out my sleeping & eating pattern and probably will be for quite a while. For example, I'm up at 1:30 AM  on my day off right now and am not tired at all. Working nights means less time with my man (even if it means being asleep at the same time), less options for seeing friends/family, and a whacked out schedule. However, as a new nurse, it's a wonderful opportunity to learn in a slower paced environment, and there's a nice monetary differential (which is always a bonus). Most Nurses do their time on nights and I'm sure I'll adjust. Most of all, I'm just thankful for a great job and I need to keep reminding myself of that.

I think it's time to take some Melatonin or 1/2 a Benadryl to fall asleep.
These are also more mild tricks of the trade...

Goodnight all!

Turkey Day Favs

Welcome to some favorite pics/bites from our Thanksgiving Day. Meet Karl, he's the fab chef! 

 

Everyone enjoying the feast! 

 

That's us! All smiles and very full tummies! 

Karl is making one of his 3 homemade biscuits here (Regular, Pumpkin, and Pepper Parmesan biscuits).

 

ALL the food was incredibly DELICIOUS! However, this was my absolute favorite. Pictured above is Karl's Cranberry Salsa. Let me tell you, it was the ultimate appetizer and I'd probably take it over regular salsa any day! I've requested the recipe, so maybe I'll get to make some myself soon.

Isn't the table set up gorgeous? Even complete with some fancy silverware. 

Time for dessert! We had pumpkin cheesecake, blackberry pie, baklava (with bacon as a special ingredient), and an oatmeal-dried-cranberry-homemade ice cream. 

So good! So great to be with family. So thankful!

Did you have any extra special Thanksgiving eats this year? Care to share?

Thanksgiving Table

 

Welcome to Thanksgiving at my house! Fortunately, I have to do very little cooking (none actually- unless you count a little Pumpkin Pie here and there). Andrew's uncle is quite the chef and I'm looking forward to a marvelous feast this evening at family's house. 

Even though we're not having an "actual" thanksgiving at our place, I couldn't help but miss my immediate family and our wacky thanksgiving traditions (or lack of traditions). Our one and only tradition consists of writing thankful notes to each member of the family. They usually include why we are thankful for each other. Mom usually cries... my brother's are usually quite humorous. We've done it since we were small and probably able to write. We normally exchange notes at the dinner table, passing them around to and from. When we are spread out all over the country (like this year), we use the internet! This is such a sweet tradition and one that I hope we never stop doing. 

Inspired by thinking of my immediate family, I set a 'Thanksgiving Table' in their honor (It just took a couple of minutes). If they were coming over to our place for Thanksgiving dinner, this might be how the table would be decorated.

Who says robins egg blue and yellow aren't suited for Thanksgiving?

It may look a bit too christmas-y but I like the uniqueness of the colors and natural yet simple features.

I frosted the edges of cinnamon-scented pine-cones with some paint for the place settings. I originally made these for a Christmas garland, but in the meantime, they make great place card holders! I also just found some extra fabric in my craft box to use as a table runner. It doesn't take much to add a little pizazz to your Thanksgiving table!

What great decorating ideas did you find this Thanksgiving?

Happy Thanksgiving to you!

 Jordan & Richard, you have a place too! You're sharing a pine-cone in between Dad & Jensen. Love you all, miss you all, so thankful for each of you!

Give Thanks: Day 3

 

In this time of thanks, I consider how grateful I am for my education. I feel very blessed to have had the opportunity to attend college, pursue further education, and use my degree in my day-to-day work. Though it was tough, long, and completely exhausting, now that I am finished with undergrad, I realize how thankful I am to have that part of my life completed.  Most of all, I am thankful to have gotten through it and come away with a great education. It's very odd not to be in school for the first time in 17 years. It's odd not to be counting down the days until Thanksgiving break, Christmas break, & even summer break. I am in a new phase of life, a new chapter. As I am still adjusting to this (wonderful) change, and just finished spending hours cleaning the house and doing laundry, I am encouraged by this passage found in Proverbs 31.

This woman works vigerously. She prepares the home and makes earnings from her work. She provides food for her family and she speaks with wisdom. She is strong and opens her arms to help the needy. Her husband praises her and her children call her blessed.

Basically, she is super-woman and I want to be more like her.

Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character (Proverbs 31)

 ¹⁰ A wife of noble character who can find?
   She is worth far more than rubies.
¹¹ Her husband has full confidence in her
   and lacks nothing of value.
¹² She brings him good, not harm,
   all the days of her life.
¹³ She selects wool and flax
   and works with eager hands.
¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships,
   bringing her food from afar.
¹⁵ She gets up while it is still night;
   she provides food for her family
   and portions for her female servants.
¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;
   out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷ She sets about her work vigorously;
   her arms are strong for her tasks.
¹⁸ She sees that her trading is profitable,
   and her lamp does not go out at night.
¹⁹ In her hand she holds the distaff
   and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
²⁰ She opens her arms to the poor
   and extends her hands to the needy.
²¹ When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
   for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
²² She makes coverings for her bed;
   she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
²³ Her husband is respected at the city gate,
   where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them,
   and supplies the merchants with sashes.
²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity;
   she can laugh at the days to come.
²⁶ She speaks with wisdom,
   and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
²⁷ She watches over the affairs of her household
   and does not eat the bread of idleness.
²⁸ Her children arise and call her blessed;
   her husband also, and he praises her:
²⁹ “Many women do noble things,
   but you surpass them all.”
³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
   but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
³¹ Honor her for all that her hands have done,
   and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

 

Bonus: Going to school with my hubs. Don't think I could have made it through without him!  

PS- In my short time in Portland, I've run into quite a few fellow LUTES. Wearing a PLU sweatshirt or even my key lanyard catches fellow Lute's attention. I've been so touched by random strangers initiating a conversation with me because we both went to PLU. 

Give Thanks: Day 2- DIY Welcome Home Wreath

 Nothing says 'welcome home' during the holiday season more than a Christmas wreath!

I'm so grateful for not only a roof over my head, but for a home that is perfect for Andrew and I in this stage of our lives. As we have both moved an average of 2-3 times a year (being in college seems to mean that you move all the time!), it's such a blessing to be able to stay somewhere for even just an entire year.

DIY Holiday Wreath

 

Supplies needed. 

Wrap yarn around hoop securing it by tying the first loop in a knot around the hoop. Continue wrapping yarn around hoop until completely covered (this takes a while, watch a movie or tv shows while wrapping). Stick adornments on hoop by sliding stems through yarn. That's it!

 Check out these wreaths by ItzFitz on Etsy! I found these after I did my wreath and I like them much better! Maybe I'll re-vamp mine a bit to look a little more impressive like these!

Give Thanks: Day 1

If there was ever a week to be reminded of all I have to be thankful for, this is the week. So, welcome to a week of Thanksgiving. Give thanks, share thanks, spread thanks. 

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
        And into His courts with praise.
         Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

Psalm 100:4 

A year ago today, Andrew proposed to me at Discovery Park in Seattle, WA. It was such a sweet day and he even got photos! It was freezing & bitingly windy (& Andrew is still in shorts as always), but we enjoyed a little hike to the beach where Andrew found a nice spot to set up the camera on timer so we could get a photo. Before I knew it, he was on his knee proposing.

I am such a blessed woman to have this man in my life. I am thankful that he chose me to be his wife.

I did not intend that to rhyme, but it did. Even better! 

  

 

Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart

Psalm 37:4

What are you thankful for? Who are you thankful for? So much to be thankful for! Spend some extra time this week to frame your thoughts and actions with a heart of thanksgiving (I'm going to try to do the same).