Yummy Chicken Bundles

In my house it's easy to get in a rut when it comes to the menu. I like to cook, love to cook actually but when I'm tired and busy which is most days then I prefer to stick to something I already know how to make instead of venturing out and trying a new recipe that I need to study before hand. 

Why study?  Because I don't like to just follow a recipe, I like to study a recipe, figure out how I think I can make it better for my family's taste buds and add my own jazz to it.  So when you're tired who wants to study right?

Well I'm pushing myself to eat better, stick to a schedule, don't procrastinate, exercise, and a few other little kicks in the behind.  So this week I tried 4 new recipes.  I'm pretty impressed that I stuck with the plan but glad I did.  One was Chicken Parmesan Bundles.  If you're looking for a way to jazz up boring chicken and add vegetables so the kids may not notice then here you go.

Ingredients

4 oz.Neufchatel Cheese Softened
Frozen chopped spinach, thawed, well drained
1-1/4 cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, divided
6 Tbsp. Grated Parmesan Cheese, divided
6 small boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1-1/2 lb.), pounded to 1/4-inch thickness
1 egg
10 RITZ Crackers, crushed (about 1/2 cup)
1-1/2 cups spaghetti sauce, heated

HEAT oven to 375ºF.


MIX cream cheese, spinach, 1 cup mozzarella and 3 Tbsp. Parmesan until well blended; spread onto chicken breasts. Starting at one short end of each breast, roll up chicken tightly. Secure with wooden toothpicks, if desired.

BEAT egg in shallow dish. Mix remaining Parmesan and cracker crumbs in separate shallow dish. Dip chicken in egg, then roll in crumb mixture. Place, seam-sides down, in 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray.

BAKE 30 min. or until chicken is done (165ºF). Remove and discard toothpicks, if using. Serve topped with spaghetti sauce and remaining mozzarella.

Something about using ritz crackers for the breading just made this so yummy.  I served this with Sweet Potato and Snap peas.  It was a filling meal that even my 19 month old enjoyed.

Random Thoughts For The Day

A good friend of mine sent me this list and I chuckled and thought it was too cute not to share, so here are your random but thought provoking thoughts for the day.  Enjoy.

Random Thoughts for the Day:




1. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.
2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.
3. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.
4. There is great need for a sarcasm font.
5. How the heck are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?
6. Was learning cursive really necessary?
7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on #5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.
8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they always told you how the person died.
9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.
10. Bad decisions make good stories.
11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.
12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again.
13. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page research paper that I swear I did not make any changes to.
14. "Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this -- ever.
15. I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello?), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voicemail. What'd you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run?
16. I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.
17. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.
18. My 4-year old son asked me in the car the other day "Dad what would happen if you ran over a ninja?" How the heck do I respond to that?
19. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.
20. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night, more kisses begin with Miller Lite than with jewelry.

Get Your Green For Your Little Monkey

Wow it's been a crazy busy few weeks lately not that I'm complaining or anything I just haven't had much time to update the blog with news, projects, and of course adorable pics of my own little monkey, who really isn't little at all, I keep telling her to stop growing but she doesn't listen.  Wow that was a very long run on sentence.  :)

I just wanted to share a few new items we have in now and things I'm working on.

First are infant Kufi hats.  These fit newborn to a year and can be worn plain or adorned with flower, bow, puffs, you name it.

Next we have Marabou and Ostrich Puffs, these come in a rainbow of colors and really just add uniqueness and jass to any outfit.

We also have coming soon our Zebra Print Daisies, these are super duper cute and come with a rhinestone in the middle.

And of course with St Patrick's right around the corner I've been working steadily on cute bows so those little girls don't get pinched for not wearing green.

I do have some other home projects I want to blog about but need to take pics, that's the hard part for me, I guess I better get busy.

Advertising

At the current time, the rate for advertising on Texas Monkey is:


A Sponsor Button at the top of my sidebar is $5 a month.

To sponsor a giveaway, it costs $5 plus the item that you are giving away which includes a write up about you and your shop.

Both a button and a giveaway is $8.

A Write up promoting your site or shop is $15 which includes a sponsor button for 2 months.


I will consider doing reviews of products in exchange for the product (if it is something that interests me.)

Sometimes, in exchange for payment, I will consider trading for a product.
 
Any questions email me at texasmonkeyboutique@gmail.com
 
If you are interested in advertising on http://www.nedallas.macaronikid.com/ please email me for rates at shaynam@macaronikid.com

A Valentine for You

I saw an idea somewhere where a mom did something similar for Mother's Day except the child was holding a flower.  I'm sure these have been done for Valentine's Day but this is what I did for my monkey's Valentine's to hand out to her school tomorrow and mailed out to family and friends.  However she has an ear infection and pink eye in both eyes so she won't get to go to her school party tomorrow so we'll do our own little party here at home.  Not to mention we got hit with a snow storm so they may not even have school tomorrow. 

If you can't read it, the card says "I'm just a sucker for a Valentine like you, Love Casey Marilyn." 

Hope you enjoy your Valentine's Day and weekend.