White Chicken Chili

Tonight is the BIG BCS National Championship game. Bama v. LSU (again). Pat is very anxious and Ryder is standing up trying to eat his Bama hat haha.
Tonight, I made White Chili for the first time to eat during the game...WINNER WINNER WHITE CHIKEN CHILI DINNER!!!!
Ingredients
pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 medium onion, chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder or 2 cloves fresh garlic, finely minced
1 tablespoon oil
3-4 cans (15 1/2 ounces each) Great Northern Beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (14 1/2 ounces) chicken broth
2-3 cans (4 ounces each) chopped green chilies (if you like less kick, add just one can)
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2-1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup whipping cream

Directions:

1. Place all but last two ingredients in crockpot. (Chicken can be frozen).

2. Cook on low for 6-8hours

3. 30 minutes before serving, remove the chicken and shred it and then return to crock pot. Then add sour cream and whipping cream and stir...let simmer cook remaining 30 min

4. Serve with cheese and tortilla chips

Project 365-Day 7 and Day 8

January 7, 2012

So for day 7, I took a picture of Ryder's new, 3-in-1 car seat. We had 2 infant travel systems, one Chicco and one Baby Trend. Well, we never used the Chicco one. We tried to return it to get a giftcard, but the color is "discontinued", so they wouldn't take it back. We "sold" it to some friends in Virginia who are expecting a baby girl this year...SOOO EXCITED FOR THEM... I went to Babies R Us with Ryder tonight and got him one I can use from now until he is 100 lbs in a booster...I'll keep this one in my car (YES- I FINALLY have my car and I am able to drive it!! woot woot) and Pat will keep the BabyTrend in his truck for the days when he picks Ryder up from daycare.

Well, while mommy and baby went shopping, daddy went shopping, too!!! Look what I came home to!!

January 8, 2012

Today, Ryder and I went and tried a new church. It is called Coastline Church and is in Carlsbad, CA. It is a little bit of a drive but so worth it! It is connected with ARC, a program for establishing churches that Church of the Highlands started. It is the only church that, when I walked into it, I didn't compare it to COTH. It was a lot smaller, but everyone knew everyone. Ryder did GREAT in the childcare. There were only 4 babies there and he was the only one who didn't cry. I was so proud.
These are pictures of daddy getting Ryder ready for church.

Shrimp and Grits

Ladies and gentlemen...I give you one of the most amazing shrimp and grits recipe ever. Of course it is from Paula Deen...LOVE LOVE LOVE her! When we were in Birmingham, Big T made this for us one day and I (who am not a big sea food person) LOVED it...Enjoy!

Ingredients

2   servings cooked grits
2 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup diced tasso ham
2 tablespoon diced leeks
2 tablespoon diced onion
2 tablespoon diced green peppers
20   medium to large shrimp, peeled and de-veined, with tails on
1 tablespoon white wine
1 cup heavy cream
salt and pepper to taste
green onion tops, chopped

Directions
1.Cook grits according to package directions; set aside and keep warm. 
2.Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add tasso and saute until crisp.
3.Add diced vegetables and saute until onions are translucent.
4.Add shrimp and saute for 30 to 45 seconds, or until pink.
5.Remove from the pan and set aside.
6.Deglaze the pan with a little white wine.
7.Slowly add the cream and let reduce until thickened. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. 
**Divide grits among 2 serving plates. Line plate edges with shrimp (10 shrimp per serving). Pour sauce over grits. Garnish with green onion tops. **

Project 365-Day 6

I love watching Pat with Ryder. I love them both so much and seeing my two favorite people in the whole world play together and laugh together is the most amazing thing in the world.

I love the picture of their two feet. Ryder, though he clings to me right now, will soon look at his daddy and want to be just like him. He will want to wear his daddy's shoes and walk the same road his daddy does. He will watch EVERYTHING that Pat does. I pray that he walks a straight road that will help lead our baby boy to Christ, our Savior. As mommy and daddy, our number one job is to share/show Christ's love to that sweet gift that God sent us. I will forever be thankful for my baby bear!

Project 365-Day 5

So, I'm a little bit behind. Of course I am. Would you expect anything otherwise? haha. Anyway... These next few posts will catch you all up on what has happened...all through pictures.

I have found a perfect cage for my child!! Haha. Ryder has learned to crawl (as of yesterday officially) and before that, he was doing an army crawl. Now he is EVERYWHERE!!! Everything everyone tells you about your child...all the cliches...they are all so, well, cliche...Until you have a baby. Time really does go by so fast and they really do go everywhere and get into everything.

But I LOVE IT!

Project 365-Day 4

We left bright and early on the morning of the 3rd. GranJan and Big T met us at the airport, after Michael dropped us off, to say good-bye. It was sad because we don't know when we will see them next.

I also posted this picture as motivation for myself. 8 lbs gained over the holidays=NOT OKAY! I didn't work out like I wanted to (not at all while we were in Birmingham) so now I have to work extra hard...

My goal is to look back in 12 months and be able to say "Who is that girl?!"

Project 365-Day 3

So these are some cutie patootie babies, dont ya think? Nickole Byrom did such a great job!!! It was so cute to see my son and nephew play with each other and to see their different personalities come out. Carter had tended to be the alpha while we were at GranJan's. Which makes sense, GranJan's house is his house...he is usually there more than Ryder (obviously) and hasn't had to share it with Ryder. Well, when we put those babies in the frames, it looked like Ryder was trying to push Carter out of the frame. He was trying to take over and be the alpha.
The swing made both mommies a little nervous. We were trying to make sure the boys didn't fall and every time the swing would move, they would hold on for dear life...
The pictures are priceless!!!

Make sure to check out Nickole and Beautiful Treasures Photography