Steak & Farfalle Pasta with Creamy Tomato Sauce

Steak & Farfalle Pasta with Creamy Tomato Sauce
Here is what you will need to make this tasty dish:

• 
  
  5 cloves garlic, finely minced, divided


• 
  
  1/4 cup red wine vinegar


• 
  
  1 tsp Dijon mustard


• 
  
  1/2 tsp fresh ground black pepper


• 
  
  1 lb lean eye round steak, cubed


• 
  
  16 oz whole-wheat farfalle pasta


• 
  
  Olive oil cooking spray


• 
  
  1 medium yellow onion- finely diced


• 
  
  1 28-oz jar or can no-salt-added crushed tomatoes


• 
  
  1 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning


• 
  
  1 tsp dried basil


• 
  
  8 oz low-fat sour cream
  

Marinade -

• 
  
  steak cubed


• 
  
  In a bowl, whisk together 3 cloves garlic, vinegar, Dijon, cinnamon and pepper.

Pour marinade over steak cubes in another container, cover and refrigerate for at least one hour. (You can also leave steak to marinate overnight.)

Cook farfalle according to package directions. Drain and set aside.

Drain steak cubes and discard marinade. Heat a large cast-iron skillet or nonstick skillet over high heat for 1 minute. Reduce heat to medium-high, mist with cooking spray and saute steak until browned on each side, about 4 minutes total.

Remove steak from pan and set aside.

Mist same pan with cooking spray again, add onion and remaining 2 cloves garlic and saute until brown, about 2 to 3 minutes.

Add tomatoes and reduce the heat to medium low.

Add seasoning, basil, sour cream and combine.

Cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes, then mix in reserved steak and cook for 2 more minutes, until the meat and sauce are completely warmed.

Serve 1 cup farfalle (or penne...) with 3/4 cup steak sauce. Garnish with an additional sprinkling of Italian seasoning, if desired.

Serves: 8
Hands-on time: 30 minutes
Total time: 1 hour

Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken

I found this recipe on this blog

This chicken recipe could be used for a number of meals:
You could eat it over rice,
add some cheese and tortilla chips,
eat in a taco salad,
or as an easy way to spice up boring tacos!
(which is exactly what we did!)

So, if you have a busy day ahead of you or you just don't want to go through a lot of hassle cooking dinner one night, I highly recommend this EASY, delicious recipe.
Slow Cooker Cilantro Chicken

Here is what you will need:

• 
  
  One 24oz jar medium or mild salsa


• 
  
  Juice from one lime


• 
  
  1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped


• 
  
  One package taco seasoning


• 
  
  2 jalapeno peppers, finely chopped (optional)


• 
  
  4-6 boneless chicken breasts

Yes, that is all you will need to make the chicken.
You will have to get other ingredients, depending on what you plan on making with this chicken... Such as taco supplies, nacho supplies, rice, etc.

In a slow cooker, mix together:
The salsa, juice from one lime

1/4 cup chopped cilantro, taco seasoning, and chopped jalapenos

Add the chicken breasts (either frozen or defrosted) to the slow cooker and coat with the salsa mixture. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours.
THAT.IS.IT.
That is all you need to do... then you can walk away and forget about it until dinner!

For Taco's shredded the chicken and spoon some of the salsa mixture over top. Then put the chicken in a tortilla and added our favorite toppings!!

Belle and Sleeping Beauty - Disney 2012

While Lauren and Kieran were at Disney world they got to meet Sleeping Beauty and Belle! Lauren's favorite princess is Sleeping Beauty right now so I was so happy to see these pictures (from the people at Disney). It looks like they enjoyed meeting real princesses!

Thanks Nana and Papaw for taking them!!!

18 Week Check Up - Baby #3

We are growing!

18 weeks with Lauren, Colton and Baby #3

We went to the Dr Tuesday morning for our 18 week check up. Everything looked great! HR of 158, Measuring 17 cm, weight gain of 3 more pounds (9 total so far). Dr did an ultrasound to let Kraig know the sex of the baby (Dr Reiter is so nice to us)...BUT baby was not positioned right so he could not tell. :-) Sorry babe...I know you want to know, but as much as you want to know is as much as I don't want to know.
Stats
How Far Along: 18 weeks
Size of baby: Mango (6 inches long and about 1/2 pound)
Maternity Clothes: yes as well as dresses, long tanks and leggings.
Gender: Not finding out this time!
Movement: I feel the baby a few times a week now but still not every day. He/She was moving around like crazy in the car yesterday. I was just sure Kraig would have been able to feel on the outside but he wasn't in the car with me.
Sleep: Sleeping is ok but I still have (and will continue to have) pain in my hips which makes me feel 90 years old! I have to switch sides at night to help with the pain. I get up to pee probably 2 times a night.
Symptoms: starting to feel a little heartburn
What I miss: Wine and Sushi
Cravings: Sweets!
Best Moment this week: Hearing my baby's heart beat of 158!!!
What I am looking forward to: Our ultrasound in 4 weeks.

South Beach Chili

Ingredients:

Avocado Salsa:

• 1 medium Avocado peeled, pitted, and chopped


• 1 small tomato finely chopped


• ¼ red onion, finely chopped


• 1 clove garlic, minced


• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro


• Juice of 1 large lime


• ¼ teaspoon ground cumin


• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Chili

• 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil


• 1 onion, chopped


• 1 lb ground beef


• 1 can black beans rinsed and drained


• 1 can kidney beans rinsed and drained


• 1 can red beans rinsed and drained


• 1 can diced tomatoes


• 14 oz of vegetable broth


• 1 can green chile peppers, chopped


• 2 teaspoons chili powder


• 2 cloves garlic, minced


• 1 teaspoon ground cumin


• 1 teaspoon dried oregano


• ¼ cup fat-free sour cream


• 1 lime


• 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro

To make salsa: In a large bowl, combine the avocado, tomato, onion, garlic, cilantro, lime juice, cumin, and pepper. Lightly toss. Let stand for 30 minutes.

To make Chili: Cook beef. In another larger pot, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook stirring frequently for 3 minutes. Add beans, tomatoes (with juice), broth, chile pepper, chili powder, garlic, cumin, oregano and beef and simmer for 20 minutes. Serve with avocado salsa and sour cream and lime juice on top and sprinkle with cilantro.

Prayers For My Family Please

I have a special prayer request or two…(also for those of you that might see my grandma, please don’t mention any of this…my family doesn’t want to stress her out as she is in an assisted living home with Alzheimer’s).

My uncle Larry (my mom’s brother) was taken to the ER Sunday night because he was having chest pains and could no longer lift his arm. Over the past 10 years or so he has had 3 or 4 heart attacks with 3 or 4 stints put in. They did a stress test yesterday and based on those results had to do a heart cath today. They did that at 1 and at 1:30 ish the Dr came out and said he will have to have bypass surgery tomorrow. The artery that he has stints in (on the right side) is 100% blocked. All the arteries on his left side have 50-90% blockage. So with that said the Dr said his best option for long term is bypass because he doesn’t have a single artery that is not blocked some %. The good news is the ‘widow maker’ artery is the one that is only 50% blocked. If that had been the 100% blocked he would not be with us anymore. So please keep him in your prayers along with his wife Kathy and my cousins Brandy and Robyn.

The other prayer is for my mom. She went to the dr last week because she was having chest pains and they did a stress test but not the dye test…just the one where they put you on a treadmill and see if there are any irregular signs. She should know the results from that next Tuesday the 14th. I found out today that her sister and mother have also had heart issues and her sister is on medication for a heart arrhythmia. I honestly hope that the dr request that my mom do the dye test to make sure there are not any blockages instead of waiting until it’s too late.

My mom’s sister Brenda had breast cancer 3 years ago and had her left breast removed after having Chemo. She has had mammograms each year since. Last year her mammogram was great. She went yesterday for her mammogram and they want her to come back Thursday for a biopsy. She said that having the surgery 3 years ago was the easiest part of it all so if there is something there she will just have her left breast removed as well so she doesn’t have to go through all the treatment and be looking over her shoulder wondering if it will come back.

So our family (on my mom’s side) has been hit hard recently. We are all still strong and I know that what is meant to be will happen but saying a few prayers never hurt either. I also ask that you pray for me. I’ve been on my parents lately trying to get them to become healthier but they don’t seem to be listening. I get the feeling that they just don’t think anything will happen to them or if it does they can just take meds to fix it vs. eating better and fixing it naturally. I pray that God gives me the strength to change the things I can and to have peace/let go of the things I cannot change.

Thank you!

Baked Ziti

1 box of Ziti
1 24 oz jar of Giada's Tomato Basil sauce
2 rounds of fresh mozzarella (about 2 cups)
1 cup of ricotta
3/4 cup of parmesan (grated)
1 egg
S&P
Bread crumbs
Butter

First, preheat your oven to 425. Then cook the pasta to al dente and drain. In a bowl, combine sauce, grated mozzarella, ricotta, grated parmesan, egg, S&P and hot pasta. Pour into a greased 9x13 pan. Top with bread crumbs, extra parmesan and dot with butter. Bake uncovered for 20 minutes, or until bubbly and golden.

It was SUPER easy and really good! This would be a great meal to take to someone or to freeze for later!

Jenna's Journey Blog

Garlic Cheddar Biscuits

2 cups of bisquick
1 cup of milk (I use 2%)
3/4 cup of grated cheddar
1 teaspoon garlic powder (don't use garlic salt)

Mix everything together. One thing I do that mom doesn't is I refrigerate it if I have time for about 15 minutes. It makes the biscuits puffier.

Bake at 425 for 8-10 minutes.

Thanks Jenna's Journey Blog!

Disney World - Thursday

Today is the last day at Disney. They are heading out in the morning and hopefully will be home Saturday night. We miss our baby girl but am SO glad that Lo and Kiki got to go together! I think we will all cherish these pictures when they get older!

Lunch at Brown Derby

Dance Lessons

Disney World - Wednesday - Animal Kingdom

Today they went to Disney World's Animal Kingdom! I have to say I'm starting to get a little jealous! I want to go to all these places too! Maybe when I grow up I'll get to go too. Hehe.

Donald Duck

Daisy Duck

Goofy

Safari

You can take them to Disney...but this is still what they want to do! LOL

Chocolate Heaven for dessert! I think someone was EXCITED! Crazy girl!

Last night I got lots of snuggle time with this little guy! His new thing is to watch a movie in sissy's bed. He will say 'get in bed mommy' because he wants me to snuggle him and watch the movie with him. So we get his blanket and snuggie bear and snuggle up on Lauren's bed to watch a movie. We never make it through the full movie...but that's ok. I just enjoy the snuggle time!

Love these kiddos!