Reading Challenge 2015 Kickoff

Over spring break I had the sweet treat of indulging in some serious reading for fun.  I have decided to take on the 2015 Reading Challenge {found here} and checked out library books beyond what I normally read. 

My favorite vaca read was by far, The Spy Wore Red.    It checked off four of the boxes on my Reading Challenge!  Here is my recommendation for why it should be on your 2015 Reading List.

The Spy Wore Red is a memoir by Aline Griffith that documents her work as an undercover agent for the United States in Madrid during WWII.  I oftentimes found myself forgetting I was reading a true story!  The writing is superb until you find yourself truly believing you are in the nightclubs of Madrid.  Knowing the story is a portrayal of real life events and happenings of an undercover agent made it even better.  There was enough James Bond espionage (without the gadgets and bikini clad women) to keep me intrigued without feeling as if I was reading a fantasy novel.  Overall I give the story five stars.  It was intellectually stimulating (lots of code-names to keep straight), filled with intrigue, based on actual events & historical.  What beats that?

As the school semester winds down I am looking forward to more regular library visits, new books & afternoons lost in different worlds.

Always read something that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it

--PJ O’Rourke

Just Add Butter: Recipe 4

I adapted this great weeknight recipe from Kristen at the Yellow Bliss Road.  You can find her original recipe here!  Full cans & boxes are easier for me to measure out on a weeknight, so I tweaked the ingredients to work for us. 

One Pot Cheesy Sausage Pasta

Olive oil

One package of Hillshire Farms Smoked Sausage

1 cup diced onion

Minced garlic (2 cloves)

1 can chicken broth

1 can diced tomatoes

½ cup milk

1 package Colby-Jack shredded cheese

1 box bowtie pasta

--Slice sausage & sauté in a large saucepan with olive oil and onion until browned

--Add garlic and cook for a quick minute

--Add chicken broth, milk, diced tomatoes, pasta and bring to a boil.

--Cover and reduce heat.

--Allow to simmer for 15 minutes or until pasta is tender

--Stir in ¾ of the package of cheese and turn off heat.  Allow the cheese to melt and top with any extra.

It was an easy one pot dish that I paired with some steam green beans and thick, crusty French bread for a quick, scrumptious weeknight meal.  And a great way to convince Coach to do clean up with only one pot!

Just Add Butter: Recipe 3

First and foremost my apologies for neglecting a Mrs. and a Miss the past two weeks!  The Lord has taken us on a crazy ride this month that does not seem to be stopping anytime soon.  Once I am able to publicly share how God is moving and shaking our lives trust me, I will disclose it all.  In the meantime let me share another new recipe I ventured to try.

We whipped this recipe out one day last week & it is an instant classic in our house.  I took the basic idea of a veggie chicken bake and really attempted to make it my own!  Coach has requested it twice since we ate it the first time.  It is quick, easy and healthy, all good things in my mind!

Veggie Chicken Bake

Skinless, boneless chicken breasts: chopped into chunks

1 yellow bell pepper sliced into pieces

1 red bell pepper sliced into pieces

½ cup baby carrots

1 lb. red potatoes chopped into chunks

½ cup broccoli florets

½ cup onion, thinly sliced

½ cup chicken broth

½ cup fresh basil

2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

1 ½ tablespoon olive oil

Ground pepper to taste

--Preheat oven to 400 degrees

--Add ingredients to a 13x9 Pyrex dish

--Sprinkle with pepper if desired

--Bake for about 45 minutes, turning every now & then until veggies are tender.

It’s so yum!

April Goals: Mrs. Edition

We start month four of the year today.  Good gravy, where is time going?  There are only 44 days left with my littles before summer is here and we are working hard to finish the school year strong.  There are several events I am looking forward to this month and I am so excited to indulge full force.

Looking back at March goals…

decorate mantle for spring/Easter

enjoy a mini-vacation with Coach over Spring Break

read all about our vacation here

finish mortgage application

scariest document I have ever signed,  but so excited about what the Lord has next for us

try out 5 freezer meals

make/try my own laundry detergent

I still want to attempt freezer meals & my own laundry detergent but it just did not happen this month. I am thinking these will both be summer projects.

April Goals

train for my first 5K

participate in marriage 3d at church

buy a new sofa

clean make-up brushes

make my list of needed Eric Carle books