Finger Lickin' Good!

Came across a recipe the other day on Pinterest, claiming to taste *just like* KFC's fried chicken.

Baked 'Fried' Chicken. 

Yummo!

But being the closet KFC lover, I found it hard to believe.... So I decided to give it a whirl. ;)
We had gotten some chicken legs SUPER on sale a while back, so what better occasion to use them up? The recipe comes from a blog called Our Life Uncommon, and the post  about it can be found here!

The only thing I changed about this recipe was that I only used legs, because that's what my family likes (and also because that's what we had in the freezer ;) )

You will need:

-Thawed Chicken 

(I used 10 chicken legs, and had some coating mix 

left over, so the recipe could make more)

-9x13 Pan

-1/2 Stick butter

-Milk

-1/2 Tsp Salt

-1 Tbsp Season All (I used Garlic Season all)

-3/4 Tsp Pepper

-1 C. Flour

-2 Tsp Paprika

Directions

Place Thawed Chicken in a bowl of milk to soak, for about 20-30 minutes

(I just put in enough milk to mostly cover them)

While they soak, mix together your salt, season all, pepper
flour, and paprika in a Gallon Ziplock Bag, or in a mixing bowl. I used a Gallon bag.

Check out my fancy Ziplock! Classy! ;)

Preheat your oven to 400 Degrees before you begin the coating process
Cut your 1/2 stick of butter into several pieces, and place them in your pan.
Then place the pan in your preheating oven to melt the butter!

I'm *melllltttiiinnnngggggg*!!!

When you butter is melted, snag the pan out of the oven, and make sure the whole bottom of the pan is coated. You don't want your delicious chicken to stick!!!

Alright. Keep your pan handy, grab you ziplock, and your bowl of milky chicken.

(Regretfully, I don't have any pictures of this process as my professional photographer/hubby was working else where this particular evening!) 

As you pull each piece of chicken out of the milk, shake off the excess, than place into your ziplock or mixing bowl, and cover it entirely in  the coating.  I did two pieces at a time in my ziplock, then placed them in the pan. 

Once all your chicken is coated, place it in your 400* oven and set your timer for 20 minutes.

When the timer goes off, turn your chicken and place it back in the oven for 20 more minutes. 

Check the center of one of the larger pieces to be sure that it is cooked through. 

I actually put mine back in for about 5 minutes just to be safe ;)

Let cool, and serve! I served mine with broccoli and french bread with butter.

I think the only things I would change with this recipe after making it would be to use a bit less butter in the pan, and to use just a little more coating on each piece. 

There was a LOT of butter in my pan, and I think I might just use enough to coat the bottom next time. 

Also, I think with just a little more coating, the skin could be a little cruchier, which is always good with me! ;)

Feel free to share you baked "fried" chicken recipes or tips!! 

Thanks!!

Jennifer

My First Stuffed Peppers!

Now this is what I've really been looking forward to, sharing my foodie pictures and recipes I've tried!

                              

Last night's dinner was a first for me! The boys and I stopped by the local farmers market last Saturday and found some tasty looking bell peppers! (Unfortunately our bell pepper plants haven't done well in this heat!). We were inspired! We brought them home and I started searching for a good recipe.

Having never made or had stuffed peppers before, I wasn't sure what even went in them! I quickly found this recipe from All Recipes. However, as I usually do, I made a few switches in the ingredients. I replaced the plain (and not super nutritional) rice with quinoa (high in protein and *super* nutritional!). Also, I only made four peppers, rather than six, and replaced the Worcestershire sauce with Soy sauce (as my Worcestershire sauce has mysteriously disappeared!).

Ingredients

1 lb ground beef

Dash of salt

1/2 C quinoa

4 green bell peppers

16 oz tomato sauce (split in half)

1 tbsp soy sauce

1/4 tsp garlic powder

Salt and Pepper 

1 lb Shredded Cheese

1 tsp Italian seasoning

Directions

Preheat your oven to a toasty 350*

Rinse your quinoa, then set it to boil on medium heat

Toss your salt into a pan, followed by your beef, set it on low heat and cover, mixing occasionally until thoroughly browned.

                                      

While those are cooking up, cut off the tops of your bell peppers and remove the seeds and membranes.

                                      

Place your peppers in a baking dish of your choice, open end up. (I preferred one that held them tightly together so they helped to keep each other standing.)

                                      

In a mixing bowl place your quinoa,

                                       

Beef,

                                                 

8oz tomato sauce, soy sauce, garlic powder, salt and pepper.

                                        

and spoon the mixture into your peppers. Sprinkle shredded cheese over the top of each full pepper to your liking, (as far as I'm concerned, the more cheese the better!). 

Mix your last 8oz of tomato sauce and Italian seasoning, and pour it over the top of your peppers, making sure to cover the bottom of the baking pan. (So the peppers are sitting in the  sauce as well).

                                

The recipe I found called to cook them for an hour. Well. Its August. In Kansas. Not happening. I went about 45 minutes instead, which was all it took at 350 to cook the peppers through and tender, (and make my house smell AMAZING!).

And Voila!! 

A tasty dinner for my family! Everyone really loved them, though I think I may look for smaller peppers next time, the "filling to pepper" ratio was a lil heavy on the pepper side. ;)

Do you have a recipe for stuffed peppers that you prefer? Feel free to share! I'd love to try this tasty meal again!

Jennifer

"No 'Poo" Day One - Completed!

What? Whats that?...

Could that be a hint of the clean, natural shine I've been hoping to receive from this No 'Poo solution?! See for yourself!



                                  



Its a little frizzy, but that's nothing out of the ordinary for my hair! And it's CLEAN! It feels clean and *doesn't* smell like vinegar, like I was afraid it would! And those curls! I'll have you know that I went to bed with wet hair last night, which usually results in this...


                           

But these are nice mostly formed, not a rat's nest, curls! Or at least the beginnings of them! :)
My hair feels soft and HEALTHY! I must say that so far, I am nothing less than ecstatic to keep this up and get the healthy gorgeous hair I was meant always meant to have!

And PS: Those recipes are entirely too easy to even make excuses about! The ingredients are almost entirely household items, and if you toss them in an old water bottle like I did, its a breeze to shake it up to mix, as well as it makes a great applicator! (Similar to a home hair dye squirt bottle, and Lord knows I've had enough run ins with those! Though not recently! Its been nearly 9 months since I've dyed my hair!)

I didn't take pictures during the washing process, A) because I was busy trying to avoid getting vinegar in my eyes, and B) I didn't want to blind you! XD. But here are my day one pictures of my cleaned and slept on hair. No products added other than the ingredients listed in the last post! I almost caved and reached for my leave in conditioner (which is a lifesaver when it comes to brushing out my tangled mane!) but I was brave, and took on the battle, to prove that these recipes work all on their own!

                        

I hereby declare that it is completely necessary that anyone who has thought about this route, (and even those who haven't!!!), go wrangle up these ingredients and get the results you've been looking for!! Whats stopping you?! And don't you *dare* say time, honey, I'm a busy gal and I worked it out! ;)

Good Luck!

Taking the "No 'Poo" Plunge!

Alright...

I've been thinking about it for awhile now, and I can see why it all makes sense. So I'm just. going. to do it.
After being sick of my frizzy, curly-ish, wavy-ish, mop on top, and doing much research (Thank GOD for Pinterest!), I discovered Reformation Acres (a blogger with very similar interests to mine!) and her post of when she took the plunge as well. My hair is incredibly like hers, frizzy, not quite curly, and definitely not straight. (What in the world is it about pregnancy that does this to womens' hair?!) Regardless, I am ready to find out if "No 'Poo" will do the wonders for my hair that it has done for hers!

Frizzy messes turned into beautiful, natural, soft, silky curls! Down with the stripping of natural oils! Down with having to use 5,827,869,274,999 different products, and various heat treatments to achieve average "normal" hair!

These are her recipes of choice -

Baking Soda Cleanser

1 quart boiling water
1/4 cup baking soda

Add the soda to the water and mix or shake until dissolved. Cool prior to use. Apply liberally to hair and scalp, shaking first if necessary. Massage into scalp and hair, then rinse well.

Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse

3/4 C of water

1/4 C apple cider vinegar

2 Tbsp Aloe Vera Gel

1 Tbsp Honey

Combine all and shake well. After cleansing, squirt all over scalp and hair. Allow it to sit f or a few minutes. Rinse well. 

In her rinse recipe, she also includes 8 drops peppermint oil, as well as 8 drops tea tree oil to fight the strong aroma of the vinegar. However, as I am broke, and these oils are not in my budget, I am going to skip this step for my first try and my hubby will just have to deal with the smell! ;)

And, I'm off... 

to the store to collect my ingredients! Have you taken the "No 'Poo" plunge? What cleansers or rinse recipes have worked well for you? What has NOT worked for you? I want to hear any experiences you have had!

Thanks so much!


Jennifer 

Music room, ho!

     Now that we're no longer renting out our third bedroom, we are finally able to set up hubby's drumset for the first time since we moved in, and are finally going to be able to start our music room! Yesterday we painted the walls back white, moved the drums in and set them up! Today we moved our desk and computer in as well!
     Previously, when it was in our bedroom, our desk was a massive 'catch all'. So as we moved it into our music room, I have been setting it up in such way that will (hopefully!!) discourage the clutter! I added two baskets for L and I's school work, so that it doesn't end up strewn across the desk (and the bed, and the kitchen table.. ;)...) as well as creating some file boxes for our bills and envelopes out of cereal boxes and decorative laminate paper from the dollar store. :)

     Hoping to get some pictures up soon!

Jennifer

“There is a woman at the beginning of all great things.” -Alphonse de Lamartine ;)

     I have hopes that this will be the first post of many, as I start the blog I have been wanting to begin for several months now! I sure hope de Lamartine is right! ;) Let me introduce myself a bit to get started!

     My name is Jennifer, I am a Jesus loving, stay at home wife and mother, full time online college student, part time (night time) working, somewhat of a tree hugging, trying to be fashionable, music loving, gal in NE Kansas. I am starting my (first) senior year in my degree of Family Studies and Human Services, with a Secondary Degree in Gerontology and a Minor in American Ethnic Studies.

I believe in:
- Jesus and his teachings of love and acceptance
- Intact babies (see DrMomma.org, and www.Facebook.com/peacefulparenting)
- Taking care of the planet for future generations
- Whole foods and clean eating as often as possible
- Raising my child and future children to live Christ centered, loving, respectful, passionate, responsible    lives.
-Sharing the world and power of reading with my children. (And anyone else I can get my hands on!)

     In this blog I plan to share my adventures in being a stay at home wife to my wonderful husband Logan, and homeschooling momma to our three year old son Gabriel, including (hopefully many) DIY projects as my husband and I create and organize our home, learning to make several household items myself, my craft and home-school activities with Gabriel, and my musings as the sometimes whimsical and .... let us say... Unique, individual that I am. ;)

     I look forward to creating a following of readers, so that we may all inspire each other, and share our tips and tricks for surviving this roller coaster of marriage, parenting, college, and life in general!