Recipe: Oven Roasted Chicken and Veggies

It's been a while since I shared a recipe, and at that I haven't posted many. Sometimes I need a nudge.  Thank you Andrea!!! So today I am sharing a recipe that is staple in our house.  It seems like lately I have made it a lot more, which might be because we live with a picky little eater.  Another reason is because it's sooooo easy and always delicious!!!

 

Ingredients:
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 lb. potatoes
2 carrots
1 envelope of onion soup mix
1/4 c. olive or 1/3 c. water + 1 T. olive oil
1/2 t. garlic powder

Directions:
Chop chicken breasts, potatoes, and carrots into bite size pieces all about the same size.  Put them in a gallon size baggie.  Add onion soup mix, garlic powder, and either the oil or water/oil combo.  Seal baggie and shake contents until everything is coated with mixture.  Pour contents onto a greased and foil lined cookie sheet spreading pieces evenly.  Bake at 375 for 30 to 45 minutes. 

The recipe is so simple.  I usually use a half a bag of baby carrots and to save on fat I use the water/oil coating and it's always just as delicious.  I know the baking time is a little crazy, but the original recipe says to bake it for 50 minutes and I have never baked it that long.  As long as you watch it, you can tell when it's done.  It should be golden and crispy. 

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do. 

Plus, if you have a picky two- year-old like mine, you can trick them into eating by giving them ketchup for dipping.  It in no way needs ketchup, but J will eat it if he can dip it.  :)

And if you are looking for more new recipes, head over to the link up at Momfessionals where lots of other bloggers are sharing their favorite recipes.

Favorite Things

I have been more on a roll here with my blogging lately. 
Here's another fun link-up that I decided to join in with Andrea and Erika.

 

As I was thinking of my favorite things right now, my mind goes toward all things to do with J. 

 

 

#1

My first thing is something you will find in my purse at all times.

 

 

 

I LOVE these wipes!!! I have been using these for the last year with J.  I am kind of germaphobic, so I use these when we are out and about and I can't get him to a sink to wash his hands.  These packs are usually about $2.50 and worth every penny.  At the very least, they give me peace of mind!!!

 

#2

Now, this one is very silly.

 

 

My son has a slight obsession with Mickey Mouse. When I found this at Party City several weeks ago, I picked it up for his Easter basket.  I didn't think it would be that great.  I mean it's only a Mickey shaped wand!  It's amazing!!!  It makes the best bubbles and even better it supplies lots of fun for this little boy--

 

 

You can't really see the bubbles in this pic, but trust me they are really big!!!  This bubble wand was

$1.70 and then you add in these-

 

 

 at only $1.50 and I call that cheap entertainment!!!

 

I hope your Monday was as great as ours. 

 



Plants, a Party, and a Tractor

We've had such a great weekend.
Before I get to that, I wanted to show off my plantings for the season.  It's really not a big deal but still something I enjoying doing in small amounts.
J and I went to Home Depot to get begonias to plant on Thursday only to have to go to Lowe's because they were out of flats of begonias.  I thought it was kind of strange given that begonias are pretty common this time of year.

I told you I don't plant a lot.  I am just hoping that get as big and pretty as they did last year. 

Thankfully, RaRa stopped by during my planting.  She and J played bubbles. 

 

Friday night we went to Smashburger and then next door to Yummilicious.  I'm still not a fan of Smashburger.  It's okay, but there are definitely better burgers.  There isn't better yogurt.  Yummilicious is the best!!!

 

 

 

Saturday morning we got up and walked 4 miles.  We walked for a fundraiser called Walk 4 Water.  It an organization that helps people in places like Africa get clean drinking water.  The idea of 4 miles comes from the fact that most people in these countries walk an average of 4 miles to get drinking water daily that is often contaminated with diseases. 

 

 

This is the small group from our church that represented.  Our church is going to host it's own walk like this in October.

I'll go on to say I am pitifully out of shape.  I haven't done anything more than a random walk around our neighborhood from time to time since before I had Jackson.  That being said.  I was so glad when that 4 miles was over.  As we were finishing up, I told Aaron I am so thankful I don't have to walk 4 miles a day to get my water.  Learning about things like this really makes you thankful for the little things in life.  Getting a glass of water from my kitchen sink never seemed so easy!!!

 

Saturday night we had a small birthday party for my mother-in-law i.e. Ali , Meema, or Mimi.

We had Papa Murphy's pizza, and I made key lime cupcakes.

 

It was a super simple family party with the most delicious cupcakes

 in honor of Meema's love for key lime.

 

Then, we played out on our court.

 

 

 

Today we went to church and lunch as usual.  When we got home, the house across the street was having some work done to their lawn with a tractor. 

 



This boy loves cars, trucks, tractors, you name it!!!

 

That's our weekend in a nutshell. 

Hope yours was every bit as great!!!

 

At the Zoo with Daddy

On Monday, Aaron had the day off, so we took full advantage.  After sleeping in until 8:30!!!  Thank you, J!  We loaded up and headed to the zoo.  My parents got us zoo passes, so it makes going to the zoo for just a couple of hours very doable and inexpensive.

As we pulled into the parking lot, we noticed a bus unloading with kids that looked to be our nephew's age.  What are the odds, right?  His grade was having their field trip that day and on his birthday.  What a fun way to spend your birthday!  Plus, we got to see him!

 J and Will

 

 Daddy and J (he wasn't too pleased with this pic)

 

 

Their is an exhibit called Gigantabugs right now.  I took pics of the grasshopper and fly.

 

 J looking at the pretty flamingos.

 

 So sweet!

 

 Yay!!! The "roars" were out!!!  And boy did he give a show and live up to J's name!

 

 Looking at the "roar"

 

Yep.  J gets distracted at times because he wants to push the stroller.

 



Not the best pic, but the only one we got of all three of us.

We ended up at my favorite place for lunch, McKinley's.  J ate really well!!!  Shocking, I know!  So he really enjoyed his "duh" (duck) iced cookie.

 

It was truly a perfect way to end a wonderful Easter weekend!!!

Our Easter Weekend: Part 2

Easter Sunday was just as great as the rest of our weekend.  We went to church, worshipped God, and remembered our Risen Savior like we do every Sunday.  We just had some added festivity because we were in our Easter outfits and hunted more candy-filled eggs!!!

Here's J's Easter basket-

 Of course, all things Mickey Mouse!!!

 And my personal favorite, the Peekawho bunny that I had monogrammed.

 

LOVE this!!!  J was clapping at the children's chorus at the end of our Easter service.

 

 

Let's take a moment and look at how cute my boy is.

 

I seriously can't get over his Easter outfit...

the seersucker pants, the vest, the bowtie = perfection

 

 Now, onto egg hunt #3...

 He's a pro now!!!

 The most important part-- the candy!!!

 

 Look at that expression!!!

 

 All the kids at the egg hunt... look at my sweet boy sitting with all the big kids!!!

 

Thanks Katy for helping J with his basket, so I could take pictures!!!

 

 

Final stop of the weekend- RaRa and BaBa's for a yummy brunch!!!

 

 Beyond blessed to have such wonderful grandparents

 

 Love my color-coordinated family!!!

 

This year was by far my favorite Easter of all!!!

Having kids definitely makes all holidays so much more meaningful and fun!!!

 

I hope you had a wonderful Easter, too!!!