Delish Chicken Dinner

I am a huge fan of trying quick and easy recipes. I will share some I find that are worth passing along. A plus with these recipes is that I have almost every ingredient at my house! Don't get me wrong, I love grocery shopping, but not after work. I go when I can spend a lot of time checking things out. Nate absolutely hates shopping with me because I take soooo long. :)

I do change up most recipes to what I have on hand or swap things out to make them healthier.

{I can't take credit for this beautiful photo, but it was pretty similar. I didn't add the parsley :P}

Pan-Seared Chicken Breasts with Shallots

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - pounded thin
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 shallots, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/3 cup dry white wine
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 
  

Directions

1. Melt 1 tablespoon butter and heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper, and brown on both sides in the skillet. Cover, and continue cooking 10 minutes, or until chicken juices run clear. Set aside, and keep warm.
2. Mix shallots and garlic into skillet over medium heat, and cook until tender. Stir in wine, and cook until heated through. Stir in broth, and continue cooking 5 minutes, or until reduced and slightly thickened. Mix in the remaining butter until melted. Serve the sauce over the chicken.

---I added a couple handfuls of mushrooms with the garlic and onions (didn't have shallots at home) to get more veggies

---I added a tablespoon or two of flour to the sauce to thicken it a bit. 

---Did not use all the butter they called for. EVOO instead and a tish of butter

Sauteed Green Beans

Ingredients

• 5 slices bacon
• 1/2 cup slivered almonds
• 1 (16 ounce) package frozen cut green beans
• 1/4 cup butter
• 
  

Directions

1. Place bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook until browned on one side, then turn over to cook on the other side. Add the almonds to the skillet at this time, and cook, stirring until light golden brown.
2. Remove the bacon from the skillet, leaving the bacon drippings. Crumble or chop bacon, and return to the skillet. Melt the butter in with the drippings. Add the green beans; cook and stir until tender, about 8 minutes.

--I used turkey bacon instead of regular. Doesn't produce grease, but flavor is still in pan.

--I did not use the amount of butter it called for. I used EVOO instead (eye ball pour) with about .5tsp of butter

Mashed Cauliflower

Ingredients

Cauliflower

skim milk

spray butter

salt & pepper to taste

Directions

1. Chop and steam cauliflower

2. Put cauliflower and 1/4ish Cup milk in food processor and puree

3. Add butter and salt & pepper to taste

---this is my version of mashed cauliflower. Quick, easy, & delish!

Happy Cooking! Enjoy!!!

Snow Day

Everyone in Montana may think this is odd, but I absolutely love it and take full advantage of ..... a SNOW DAY!!!! Snow days happen in Seattle with 1-2 inches of snow. Midwest folks may find it hilarious, but actually, there are a lot of hills out here and TERRIBLE drivers. Seattle doesn't have many plow trucks - not much use for them.

I woke up nice and early Monday morning and saw the skiff of snow :D

7:00 AM

Noon

The dogs were SOO excited, hence Bridger's tail

They did not want to come in.

Too cute not to post! He was eating the snow.

Meanwhile, Nate was passed out on the chair. He had a tooth implant procedure done and couldn't enjoy the snow with us.

Dogs took a snooze after the running around outside. 

9:00 pm

Then, we used a leaf blower to shovel. :D I don't think our shovels made it out here with us. 

{----}

It's amazing what the snow did to me. I woke up feeling so refreshed, in a really great mood, motivated, and I took the dogs to the park for an hour or so...in the cold & snow!! My brain must have thought I was back home because I loved every minute the snow was here. 

Phil called me Monday night and said not to go in because it would be a mess on the freeway. He had just spend 2+ hours getting his son unstuck on a side road. I wasn't going to argue. More time at home with my pups and Nate! Nate and I feel we can drive in the snow out here. We just don't because out of fear of the other drivers. It really is scary! They just don't think!

Since I was in a great mood or more like "Suzy Homemaker", I baked chocolate chip cookies! I was craving my friend's, Kim, cookies. Luckily, she taught me how to make them. Still not the same, but really delicious! {they sure beat my cookies that included powdered sugar instead of flour, oops!}

This is Bridger's new trick! He stays out of the kitchen while I cook!! I got so tired of tripping on him or him pushing my leg aside so he could get a bread crumb. He does so well. All I say is "out" with my hand pointing and he goes to the carpet. :D 

And there ends my perfect snow day! 

{Little did I know it was actually going to last all week!!!!!!}

Cats for the Win!!

Yippee!!! We win! It was a great game and so fun to watch. The nice, warm bar and a mimosa might have had something to do with it :) The bar was super packed this year. 

attempt to show one side of bar...

...other side

Dave -{ on the right,  duh!} is a griz fan and I made him be a Cat fan for the day :D

Nate wore his blue shirt so we didn't match...again. I just love my gold shirt! 

{maybe it wasn't too warm in there, my sweatshirt didn't come off}

As you can see, Nate and I are the only ones who care about photos. :)

3 MSU grads working for Clark Nuber plus me!

We are going to Bozeman this weekend to see the playoff game!!! Super excited to see both families! It has been far too long without family time.

GOOOOOOOOOOOO CAAAATTTTSSSS!!!!!

ESG, Go Cats Go!!!

It's are favorite holiday in the month of November!!
ok, ok. After Thanksgiving, Tia's birthday (20th) and Joan's birthday (25th).

CAT/GRIZ BABY!!!!!

I know Glendive will be cheering for the Bobcats. Mike Person is Glendive's standout senior Bobcat and is determined to beat those Grizzlies! Billings Gazette wrote an excellent story about him today. click here!

Mike with his proud family!

{from hannah's facebook, Thanks :)}

Here is a YouTube video to pump you up! Staring Mike as well :)

We are so proud of Mike and the rest of the Bobcats. Get us a 'W'!! We will be cheering nice and loud from the Renton bar, "The Spot"


Go Cats Go! Beat the Griz!!

Sad day for the Knutsons

Today is the day the Knutsons did not want to think about. Bunker went to doggie heaven today :( 


Here are some thoughts from the boys missing their childhood dog.


Jake:
A DOG doesn't care if you're fat or thin, rich or poor, smart or dumb, male or female, old or young... they lack the ability to judge which is why they are man's best friend

BUNKER - Thanks for being part of our family and sharing your life with us. We'll never forget you're crazy quarks, crunching chips, horrible swimming, consistent scratching, consideration w/others, and joyful self. WE'LL MISS YA BOY!!

Nate:

Bunker - second best brother I ever had, always up for boating, walking, playing, and showing us how to have a good time. You'll be missed big boy!!!

Jeter and Bunker

Singing with the piano :)

Bridger, Jeter, Bunker

We will miss you Bunker!!