What's for Dinner? It Better Be Quick!

We made it!  We are at the half way point of driver's education and I am still alive and kicking!  I even rode with Cinnamon while she drove and am happy to report that there were no casualties.  All kidding aside, they are both doing quite well actually.  I, on the other hand, am definitely feeling the impact of the additional days of driving into town.  The class is right smack in the middle of the day, so I rush around in the morning trying to get a few things done and by the time I get home I am already faced with the thought of, "what in the world am I making for dinner?"  On these days it better be quick and easy!

Tonight's dinner fit that request perfectly!  We had Baked Honey Mustard Chicken, a Rainbow Vegetable Salad, asparagus, and a wild rice medley.  Quick......check.  Easy.....check.   Delicious.....double check!  Perfect!

Baked Honey Mustard Chicken

Chicken (I used boneless, skinless thighs.  You could use a whole chicken cut up, but I was going for quick and easy.)
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
3 Tablespoons of butter, melted (I used Earth Balance)
Salt and Pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Place chicken in the bottom of a 9 x 13 inch baking dish.  Salt and pepper the chicken.  Mix together honey, melted butter, and mustard.  Spoon over the chicken.  Place in the oven and bake for 1 hour.  Baste the chicken every 15 minutes while cooking.

The results are a deliciously moist chicken that combines the sweet with a bit of twang.  Yummy!

The Rainbow Vegetable Salad is  a combination of what I had lurking in my fridge waiting to be used up!    I used two mini cucumbers, several mini sweet peppers (red, yellow, and orange), grape tomatoes, and an avocado.

I chopped the avocado and tossed it with a bit of lemon juice.  I chopped the rest of the vegetables and placed them in a bowl adding the avocado.  I used a garlic sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste and then drizzled the salad ingredients with a red wine vinegar and olive oil.  Simple, quick, and healthy.  The flavors really do pop in your mouth! 

So there you have it.  Fast and furious.  I sometimes feel like all I do is run from one fire to the next, but I do take time to stop and enjoy life along the way.  Or at least pose for a dozen pictures Paprika tried to take of the two of us together while I was making dinner.  I liked the first one, but apparently Paprika was not satisfied with the first, or second, or third, or fourth.  Not really sure which number this one was, but I thought it was great, but then again, I liked all the others too.

Survival Mode and Baked Curried Chicken

Adding three or four days of driver's training a week has completely turned my world upside down.  I thought I was busy before, but now I constantly feel like I am in emergency survival mode trying to get to everything.   Let me give you an example.  I was trying to throw in a couple of loads of laundry today.  Paprika happened to walk by and ask what load I was doing, to which I replied, jeans.  She said, "Wait," only to run off and return with the jeans she had been wearing.  "I am so glad you are doing jeans.  I have been wearing these jeans for like three weeks since you haven't done that load!  I just keep waiting!"

Okay.  Now wait just a second!  First of all, I can promise you I have done the laundry and that "three" week estimate was off.........significantly off!  Second, did my precious, silently-waiting, TEENAGE daughter ever offer to do that load of three week old jeans herself?  My incredulous look must have said it all, as she quickly smiled, said thanks, and skedaddled. 

So, it is obvious by my lack of laundry efficiency and lack of posting, that I truly have been busy.  Tonight I thought I would stop and take a quick breath and post the recipe of the Baked Curried Chicken we had tonight.  This is super easy and was delicious!

Baked Curried Chicken

Chicken (I used boneless, skinless, thighs, but any kind or amount would work)
5 cloves of garlic minced
Olive oil
Salt and Pepper to taste
Basil
Curry powder

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Place chicken in a baking dish and drizzle with olive oil.  Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper.  Sprinkle chicken with a liberal amount of basil and Curry powder.  Top with minced garlic.  Bake 35 minutes.

Simple and delicious.  While the chicken was in the oven, I made a quick salad and steamed asparagus.  It was so easy, I would definitely make it again. 

I am off for now.  The dryer just buzzed and I think Paprika has some jeans to fold!

A February Daybook

Outside my window...
Jack, my big yellow lab.  He sits at the window, always watching.  When it is dinner time, he knocks on the window. Seriously.  If you ignore him, he knocks louder.  If you still ignore him, he will knock twice.  Heaven forbid you continue ignoring him at that point because he will sit back on his haunches and pound with both paws continuously.

I am thankful for...

Companies that are making my life easier by making GOOD gluten-free foods.  I just discovered that Glutino makes Apple and Blueberry breakfast bars.  Dan used to take a Nutrigrain Bar with him to work if he was in a hurry and the kids loved them for snacks, but that was before the gluten-free days.  I am so glad my friend happened to have ordered the Glutino bars and had them sitting on her counter when I visited!  My order just arrived.  I think everyone here is thankful!

I am thinking about...
Lent starting next week!  This is actually one of my favorite times of year.  I try each year to think of the things that take me away from spending time with Jesus and then I try to give some of those things up.  I also try to find ways to spend more time in prayer and try to simplify my life concentrating on the most important things, the things that really matter.  It is a real time of reflection.  I want to end the Lenten season becoming a new and improved version of myself; one that truly reflects my love and belief in Christ.

Learning all the time...
Well, we entered into the frightening realm of driver’s education for Paprika and Cinnamon.  We have actually put this off for a year, but figured it was probably the time to do it now!  Plus, the driving school is offering a class during the day for homeschoolers, which is perfect because it doesn’t conflict with anything else.  I hear from Dan that his practice time with Cinnamon and Paprika is going well.  I have yet to get into the car with them.  Perhaps one too many memories of a certain someone steering a shopping cart for me has me a bit petrified.  Give me time, it is only the first week!

From the kitchen...
Paprika decided to make a gluten free pineapple upside-down cake.  She has been eyeing the recipe in The Cake Mix Doctor Bakes Gluten Free cookbook for quite some time.  I must say, it was delicious.  Yes, it tasted as good as it looks!

I am creating...
New Menu Night recipes!  I am really trying to come up with some new recipes.  The old menu has become a bit boring.  I am trying to spice things up a bit.

I am working on...
learning more about nutrition while being gluten-free.  I am studying The Gluten-Free Nutrition Guide by Tricia Thompson and the Complete Gluten-Free Diet & Nutrition Guide written by Alexandra Anca.  I have already learned I should be hyphenating gluten-free.

I am going...
To a musical production of Snow White.  It is being put on by the Knights of Columbus at our parish in order to raise money to build a green house for the local food bank.  Dan and Allspice are stage hands for the all male cast.  Hmmm.  Should be fun!

I am hoping...
For sunnier days.  We had snow again yesterday and I really am in the mood for some sunshine!  I am just ready.  I am hoping the snow has seen better days and is making way for sun and warmer days.

I am reading...
The Bungalow by Lisa Jio.  I am only about 100 pages in, but I am not enjoying it all that much.  I had such high hopes based on her first novel.  We’ll see.

I just picked up The Wilder Life by Wendy McClure and Left Neglected by Lisa Genova the author of Still Alice.  I plan on spending some time reading while I am waiting for the girls.  Right now, I am spending nine hours a week waiting in the car or the local coffee shop while they dance and learn to drive.  Seems like a good time to read!

I am praying for...
Sarah.  That labor goes smoothly and that she has a quick and easy delivery.  I am also praying for her sweet baby girl!!!!!

I am hearing...
Nothing.  Right now it is absolutely silent.  Everyone is off doing their thing and I am here just relishing the bit of quiet and peace.  It seems like I am always running, so this is welcomed. 

Around the house...
It smells like coffee.  I just received my package of assorted coffees from The Mystic Monks.  These are Carmelite monks who make and sell coffee to help sustain their monastery in Wyoming.  Their coffee is delicious and it goes to a good cause!  I can drink to that!

One of my favorite things...
The theme song from Charlie Brown.  I didn’t realize how much I loved it until Valentine’s Day when Dan gave me a stuffed Woodstock that plays the tune.  I absolutely love it.  It makes me want to dance.  It makes my heart smile. I even asked Allspice if he could help me use it for my ring tone on my phone.  He half smiled and shook his head.  I’m not sure what that means exactly.


A few plans for the rest of the week...
More running around!  The next several weeks are crazy busy!  Most of all, I am hoping to meet a certain bundle of joy!

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

Can you hear the music cuz I pressed the button....again!