Sunday Dinner anytime with this easy baked chicken stuffed with long grain and wild rice

chicken stuffed with long grain and wild rice

This is a family favorite on Sundays.  It's so easy though, you can make it any 'ol time!

I always make this ahead in the morning and put it in my roaster, then bake it for a no fuss meal that looks so much harder than it is!

Chicken Stuffed with Long Grain and Wild Rice

1 large whole chicken, washed (I try to find one that is 3+ lbs for our family of six)

2 packages of Uncle Ben's Long Grain and Wild Rice Packets, cooked according to package instructions

this is it!

spray butter

sea salt

cracked black pepper

Spray your roasting pan with non-stick cooking spray. 

Wash your whole chicken in cold water, inside and out. 

this is where I usually make him "dance" for the kids... but of course this step is optional!

 Stuff chicken with 2 packages of rice.

Place in roaster.

Spritz the outside of the chicken with spray butter and sprinkle with sea salt and cracked black pepper.

Bake at 375 degrees covered for 90 minutes.  For 30 minutes more,  uncover and baste the chicken a couple of times.  For a large chicken stuffed like I make it, total cooking time is about 2 hours.

*You may need to adjust if you are making a smaller chicken stuffed with only one packet of rice.

*Just use your meat thermometer, and test to see if it's done.

The breast should be about 170 degrees when chicken is done.

This always turns out good for me.  The meat is juicy and tender and the skin is crispy.

chicken stuffed with long grain and wild rice

This is a family favorite on Sundays.  It's so easy though, you can make it any 'ol time!

I always make this ahead in the morning and put it in my roaster, then bake it for a no fuss meal that looks so much harder than it is!

Chicken Stuffed with Long Grain and Wild Rice

1 large whole chicken, washed (I try to find one that is 3+ lbs for our family of six)

2 packages of Uncle Ben's Long Grain and Wild Rice Packets, cooked according to package instructions

this is it!

spray butter

sea salt

cracked black pepper

Spray your roasting pan with non-stick cooking spray. 

Wash your whole chicken in cold water, inside and out. 

this is where I usually make him "dance" for the kids... but of course this step is optional!

 Stuff chicken with 2 packages of rice.

Place in roaster.

Spritz the outside of the chicken with spray butter and sprinkle with sea salt and cracked black pepper.

Bake at 375 degrees covered for 90 minutes.  For 30 minutes more,  uncover and baste the chicken a couple of times.  For a large chicken stuffed like I make it, total cooking time is about 2 hours.

*You may need to adjust if you are making a smaller chicken stuffed with only one packet of rice.

*Just use your meat thermometer, and test to see if it's done.

The breast should be about 170 degrees when chicken is done.

This always turns out good for me.  The meat is juicy and tender and the skin is crispy.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

My Favorite Halloween Costumes

I have been a mommy for ten Halloweens.  Over the years we have collected many costumes, some original and some not-so-original.

We do have the giant orange pumpkin suit in our costume bin.  And the pirate.  And the princess.  Ah, and of course the witch.

Naturally my favorite costumes are the ones that took some thought.  They took some preparation.  I can thank my mother for 90% of the preparation, the thinking end I handled just fine.

A few years ago, LLG loved to read Where the Wild Things Are.  He still loves to read it.  With my mother's help, LLG was able to be Max for Halloween.

For one evening, he was King of Where the Wild Things Are.

He gnashed his terrible teeth and roared his terrible roar.  And he sailed back over a year, in and out of weeks and through a day, and into the night of his very own trick-or-treat paradise.

Last year, with my oldest son finally outgrowing dressing as Mario and Luigi, we were able to get a little creative with his Halloween gear.

He asked if he could be a UPS man.  With some Rit dye and some iron on letters from Michaels he was part of the UPS team.  And his box was ideal for holding candy.

My Gymnastics Queen has a severe weakness for the Costume Express magazine that arrives twenty times every fall.  While we manage to make any costume she chooses a tad unique, her most original was the 50's girl.

With black shoes, ribbon and some felt these are easily homemade.  And adorable.  And warm with leggings underneath.

Halloween is a magical time when munchkins can be anything they like, all day long.  If you celebrate, share your favorite costumes.  I'd love to see them. 

Happy costume preparations - five days and counting until the universal sugar coma.

Mommyhood Footnote:  The Moopa has yet to ask for any particular Halloween gear.  Until she does, she will choose from the hand-me-down bin we tuck away in the basement.  That's how the cookie crumbles.

I have been a mommy for ten Halloweens.  Over the years we have collected many costumes, some original and some not-so-original.

We do have the giant orange pumpkin suit in our costume bin.  And the pirate.  And the princess.  Ah, and of course the witch.

Naturally my favorite costumes are the ones that took some thought.  They took some preparation.  I can thank my mother for 90% of the preparation, the thinking end I handled just fine.

A few years ago, LLG loved to read Where the Wild Things Are.  He still loves to read it.  With my mother's help, LLG was able to be Max for Halloween.

For one evening, he was King of Where the Wild Things Are.

He gnashed his terrible teeth and roared his terrible roar.  And he sailed back over a year, in and out of weeks and through a day, and into the night of his very own trick-or-treat paradise.

Last year, with my oldest son finally outgrowing dressing as Mario and Luigi, we were able to get a little creative with his Halloween gear.

He asked if he could be a UPS man.  With some Rit dye and some iron on letters from Michaels he was part of the UPS team.  And his box was ideal for holding candy.

My Gymnastics Queen has a severe weakness for the Costume Express magazine that arrives twenty times every fall.  While we manage to make any costume she chooses a tad unique, her most original was the 50's girl.

With black shoes, ribbon and some felt these are easily homemade.  And adorable.  And warm with leggings underneath.

Halloween is a magical time when munchkins can be anything they like, all day long.  If you celebrate, share your favorite costumes.  I'd love to see them. 

Happy costume preparations - five days and counting until the universal sugar coma.

Mommyhood Footnote:  The Moopa has yet to ask for any particular Halloween gear.  Until she does, she will choose from the hand-me-down bin we tuck away in the basement.  That's how the cookie crumbles.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Halloween Activity: Haunted Halloween Houses

My mother, who raised six kids, has long made these houses with munchkins over the years.  My mom has taught me just about everything I know when it comes to fun for my munchkins.

And what she didn't teach me came from the genes.

These houses are perfect for Halloween parties, sleepovers or just for fun on a weekend with your munchkins.

Supplies:
empty, rinsed dry small milk or orange juice cartons
vanilla frosting
graham crackers
haunted house decor (gummy worms, gummy skulls and spiders, chocolate candies, cereals, etc)
paper plates
paper bowls
plastic knives (or wooden Popsicle sticks)

The trick with haunted house making is pre-assembly.  Have cartons dry and ready for graham cracker walls the night before you need the houses.

Assemble roof and walls with vanilla frosting and graham crackers.  Set each house on paper plate, securing with frosting.

Let set overnight.

Once munchkins are ready to make their haunted houses, set out a small bowl of assorted candies and cereals next to each munchkin.  This makes all the finger licking MUCH more tolerable.

I also give each haunted house assembler their own bowl of frosting and their own plastic knife.

This goes back to the licking thing again.

Some munchkins take their time and construct a masterpiece, some slop it all on there and eat the candy.  Either way, the activity is always a big hit.

Mommyhood Footnote:  Remember to supply exciting candies.  Play Halloween tunes.  Make a house with the kids.

As with everything in life, "Halloween House Making" is what you make it.  So make it totally awesome.

My mother, who raised six kids, has long made these houses with munchkins over the years.  My mom has taught me just about everything I know when it comes to fun for my munchkins.

And what she didn't teach me came from the genes.

These houses are perfect for Halloween parties, sleepovers or just for fun on a weekend with your munchkins.

Supplies:
empty, rinsed dry small milk or orange juice cartons
vanilla frosting
graham crackers
haunted house decor (gummy worms, gummy skulls and spiders, chocolate candies, cereals, etc)
paper plates
paper bowls
plastic knives (or wooden Popsicle sticks)

The trick with haunted house making is pre-assembly.  Have cartons dry and ready for graham cracker walls the night before you need the houses.

Assemble roof and walls with vanilla frosting and graham crackers.  Set each house on paper plate, securing with frosting.

Let set overnight.

Once munchkins are ready to make their haunted houses, set out a small bowl of assorted candies and cereals next to each munchkin.  This makes all the finger licking MUCH more tolerable.

I also give each haunted house assembler their own bowl of frosting and their own plastic knife.

This goes back to the licking thing again.

Some munchkins take their time and construct a masterpiece, some slop it all on there and eat the candy.  Either way, the activity is always a big hit.

Mommyhood Footnote:  Remember to supply exciting candies.  Play Halloween tunes.  Make a house with the kids.

As with everything in life, "Halloween House Making" is what you make it.  So make it totally awesome.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Field Buddies

Usually, when I truck my munchkins to any practice or event there is an abundance of kids awaiting them.  These kids also are dragged from event to event because they aren't in school yet.  Or they aren't on a team yet.  Or they are watching their siblings play in a game.

Regardless of why they ended up there, I love all these kids.  They make my life easier.

Usually all the "field buddies" congregate and find each other.  They make up games to play and they run around like crazy people.  Every mom keeps one eye out for all of them and we throw down the hammer when things get out of control.

My munchkins look for these "friends" at every field.  They come to know the kids who will be at each practice.  Many of these kids are in different grades and even different schools, but they are buddies.  They forge a strong "we live a similar existence" bond.

And having these kids around makes "waiting around" so much easier.

There is no greater disappointment than arriving at a destination and finding no "friends" for my munchkins to play with.  I immediately must think of ways to keep them busy and dig out snacks from my purse.

"Field Buddies" make my life easy.  I love easy.

Usually, when I truck my munchkins to any practice or event there is an abundance of kids awaiting them.  These kids also are dragged from event to event because they aren't in school yet.  Or they aren't on a team yet.  Or they are watching their siblings play in a game.

Regardless of why they ended up there, I love all these kids.  They make my life easier.

Usually all the "field buddies" congregate and find each other.  They make up games to play and they run around like crazy people.  Every mom keeps one eye out for all of them and we throw down the hammer when things get out of control.

My munchkins look for these "friends" at every field.  They come to know the kids who will be at each practice.  Many of these kids are in different grades and even different schools, but they are buddies.  They forge a strong "we live a similar existence" bond.

And having these kids around makes "waiting around" so much easier.

There is no greater disappointment than arriving at a destination and finding no "friends" for my munchkins to play with.  I immediately must think of ways to keep them busy and dig out snacks from my purse.

"Field Buddies" make my life easy.  I love easy.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Bubblicious Bubblegum Cupcakes with Bubblegum Buttercream Frosting

bubblegum cupcakes with bubblegum buttercream frosting

So I guess I bake a lot of cupcakes. 

My kid's friends seem to think I always have cupcakes on my kitchen counter.

My daughter's friend Amelia (Aimee) LOVES to see them when she visits. 

So, how could I let her birthday go by without something baked especially for her?

I racked my brain to come up with something worthy a girl's slumber party in honor of her 15th birthday.  Then it hit me... BUBBLE GUM!!

I searched high and low for bubble gum extract, and finally found it, then the idea was born and the cupcakes were baked.

 how cute are they?? and the gift bag...it screams 15 year old girl!

Even better, the bubble gum pink frosting went so well with my cute Zak cupcake shaped tray!

LOVE my Zak wear!!

scoop your frosting on your cupcakes with an ice cream scoop for a different look!

CUTE!!

So, pull up a chair, grab your coins and see if you get your favorite colored gumball...

I always liked the pink and white...

 can you find the cupcake?

Bubblegum Cupcakes with Bubblegum Buttercream Frosting

Cake:

1 box white cake mix

1/8 teaspoon bubblegum extract

brightly colored sprinkles

Frosting:

4 cups powdered sugar

1 stick of butter

1/4 cup milk

3/4 teaspoon bubblegum extract

bubblegum balls

sprinkles

pink food coloring gel

Make cake mix according to the package directions. Add 1/8 teaspoon of bubblegum extract. Fold in brightly colored sprinkles.  Bake in cupcake liners. 

when they come out of the oven they look like they have gumballs baked right in!

To make frosting whip all of the ingredients together,  color until bubblegum pink and pipe onto cooled cupcakes.  

my pampered chef easy accent decorator loaded and ready

I have used the icing bags many times to decorate, or even just a plain 'ol plastic bag with the corner cut out, but I have to say I LOVE my Pampered Chef decorator! 

I always use it at Easter to make my deviled eggs, too!!

 I sprinkled them with "bubblegum blue" crystals. Then top the cupcake with a gumball!

the frosting smells AMAZING!



 
   

Ooooo.... and when you EAT them!?!?

yum.

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY Aimee!!

my daughter and Aimee on "Neon Out" night at the football game

bubblegum cupcakes with bubblegum buttercream frosting

So I guess I bake a lot of cupcakes. 

My kid's friends seem to think I always have cupcakes on my kitchen counter.

My daughter's friend Amelia (Aimee) LOVES to see them when she visits. 

So, how could I let her birthday go by without something baked especially for her?

I racked my brain to come up with something worthy a girl's slumber party in honor of her 15th birthday.  Then it hit me... BUBBLE GUM!!

I searched high and low for bubble gum extract, and finally found it, then the idea was born and the cupcakes were baked.

 how cute are they?? and the gift bag...it screams 15 year old girl!

Even better, the bubble gum pink frosting went so well with my cute Zak cupcake shaped tray!

LOVE my Zak wear!!

scoop your frosting on your cupcakes with an ice cream scoop for a different look!

CUTE!!

So, pull up a chair, grab your coins and see if you get your favorite colored gumball...

I always liked the pink and white...

 can you find the cupcake?

Bubblegum Cupcakes with Bubblegum Buttercream Frosting

Cake:

1 box white cake mix

1/8 teaspoon bubblegum extract

brightly colored sprinkles

Frosting:

4 cups powdered sugar

1 stick of butter

1/4 cup milk

3/4 teaspoon bubblegum extract

bubblegum balls

sprinkles

pink food coloring gel

Make cake mix according to the package directions. Add 1/8 teaspoon of bubblegum extract. Fold in brightly colored sprinkles.  Bake in cupcake liners. 

when they come out of the oven they look like they have gumballs baked right in!

To make frosting whip all of the ingredients together,  color until bubblegum pink and pipe onto cooled cupcakes.  

my pampered chef easy accent decorator loaded and ready

I have used the icing bags many times to decorate, or even just a plain 'ol plastic bag with the corner cut out, but I have to say I LOVE my Pampered Chef decorator! 

I always use it at Easter to make my deviled eggs, too!!

 I sprinkled them with "bubblegum blue" crystals. Then top the cupcake with a gumball!

the frosting smells AMAZING!



 
   

Ooooo.... and when you EAT them!?!?

yum.

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY Aimee!!

my daughter and Aimee on "Neon Out" night at the football game

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

A 32nd Birthday

Today I am 32. 

Birthdays, for me, are much like any other day.  The munchkins need breakfast.  Everyone still needs clean underwear and dirty floors still drive me insane.

But this morning my munchkins showered me with birthday love.  My boys each gave me earrings they chose at the store.  My girls gave me slipper socks because my feet resemble icicles on any given evening.  Hubby presented me with my favorite candy store chocolates and lotto tickets. 

The sun is shining outside my windows and the air is crisp.  There is a cold Red Bull waiting for me in the fridge.  This morning I will watch my daughter at gymnastics and this afternoon feasting on cake and chocolate.

And tonight I will be freezing on the sidelines as my son quarterbacks in his football game.

Life doesn't get much better than that.  Happy Birthday to me.

Today I am 32. 

Birthdays, for me, are much like any other day.  The munchkins need breakfast.  Everyone still needs clean underwear and dirty floors still drive me insane.

But this morning my munchkins showered me with birthday love.  My boys each gave me earrings they chose at the store.  My girls gave me slipper socks because my feet resemble icicles on any given evening.  Hubby presented me with my favorite candy store chocolates and lotto tickets. 

The sun is shining outside my windows and the air is crisp.  There is a cold Red Bull waiting for me in the fridge.  This morning I will watch my daughter at gymnastics and this afternoon feasting on cake and chocolate.

And tonight I will be freezing on the sidelines as my son quarterbacks in his football game.

Life doesn't get much better than that.  Happy Birthday to me.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

The very last Banana Bread recipe you will ever need.

grandma's banana bread

How does that saying go?

"when life hands you lemons...make margaritas??? er...uh... I mean lemonade?"

Well what do you do when life hands you overly ripe bananas??

Make banana bread,  of course!

I just have to ask a somewhat unrelated question.... am I the only one who thinks of Gwen Stefani's "Hollaback Girl" song when I spell Bananas?!!?

"This shhhh is bananas... B-A-N-A-N-A-S!!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kgjkth6BRRY

Figured I would add the link to her video, in case you wanted to listen to it while you baked bread...

but don't blame me the next time you spell bananas as a "cheer!" ;)

I have always liked banana bread since I was a kid.  But when I grew up, for some reason it just never turned out right when I made it. 

 I mean, SERIOUSLY how hard could it be, right?

Well, I was over my friend, Tonja's house when our oldest were knee high and she had made banana bread. 

It was SO GOOD!!  She looked at me like I was nuts, I mean it's banana bread right?? 

Well, Tonja, is an incredible baker, so I am sure my "wow factor" to her was like...

"gee...ok...it's pretty good...it's just banana bread."

So, needless to say I got the recipe from her.

Banana bread at my house hasn't been the same since.

I guess I wasn't so crazy, because I have had many friends say they don't have a good banana bread recipe either and I have shared it with them, and they think the same thing. 

This isn't your average banana bread, folks.

When my kids were little, we would make this together. 

I mean what kid doesn't like mashing bananas with a potato masher?!

We would follow the recipe, and mix it together and I would say

"There's one ingredient that isn't on the recipe."

I told them it was "my special ingredient" and I would whisper that they needed to keep a secret. As I looked over both shoulders to make sure that no one was watching, I sprinkled in cinnamon to the batter.

Ok... I'm not so cool to you guys, but my kids thought I was telling them something very top secret!

Well, my secret is out...and it's safe with you right?

This amazing recipe only gets better when you add the cinnamon.

Thank you, Tonja, from me, and from all of the others who had banana bread recipes that were just "okay." 

This one is a treasure!

Tonja's Grandma's Banana Bread

The Last Banana Bread Recipe You Will EVER Need

3 ripe bananas, mashed

1 cup sugar

1 stick butter, softened

2 eggs

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 cups flour

6 Tablespoons milk

(shhhhh....) 1 /2 teaspoon of cinnamon

Combine all ingredients and bake in a prepared loaf pan at 350 degrees for one hour.

You can add nuts if you desire

grandma's banana bread

How does that saying go?

"when life hands you lemons...make margaritas??? er...uh... I mean lemonade?"

Well what do you do when life hands you overly ripe bananas??

Make banana bread,  of course!

I just have to ask a somewhat unrelated question.... am I the only one who thinks of Gwen Stefani's "Hollaback Girl" song when I spell Bananas?!!?

"This shhhh is bananas... B-A-N-A-N-A-S!!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kgjkth6BRRY

Figured I would add the link to her video, in case you wanted to listen to it while you baked bread...

but don't blame me the next time you spell bananas as a "cheer!" ;)

I have always liked banana bread since I was a kid.  But when I grew up, for some reason it just never turned out right when I made it. 

 I mean, SERIOUSLY how hard could it be, right?

Well, I was over my friend, Tonja's house when our oldest were knee high and she had made banana bread. 

It was SO GOOD!!  She looked at me like I was nuts, I mean it's banana bread right?? 

Well, Tonja, is an incredible baker, so I am sure my "wow factor" to her was like...

"gee...ok...it's pretty good...it's just banana bread."

So, needless to say I got the recipe from her.

Banana bread at my house hasn't been the same since.

I guess I wasn't so crazy, because I have had many friends say they don't have a good banana bread recipe either and I have shared it with them, and they think the same thing. 

This isn't your average banana bread, folks.

When my kids were little, we would make this together. 

I mean what kid doesn't like mashing bananas with a potato masher?!

We would follow the recipe, and mix it together and I would say

"There's one ingredient that isn't on the recipe."

I told them it was "my special ingredient" and I would whisper that they needed to keep a secret. As I looked over both shoulders to make sure that no one was watching, I sprinkled in cinnamon to the batter.

Ok... I'm not so cool to you guys, but my kids thought I was telling them something very top secret!

Well, my secret is out...and it's safe with you right?

This amazing recipe only gets better when you add the cinnamon.

Thank you, Tonja, from me, and from all of the others who had banana bread recipes that were just "okay." 

This one is a treasure!

Tonja's Grandma's Banana Bread

The Last Banana Bread Recipe You Will EVER Need

3 ripe bananas, mashed

1 cup sugar

1 stick butter, softened

2 eggs

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 cups flour

6 Tablespoons milk

(shhhhh....) 1 /2 teaspoon of cinnamon

Combine all ingredients and bake in a prepared loaf pan at 350 degrees for one hour.

You can add nuts if you desire

reade more... Résuméabuiyad