RECIPE: Quick Chicken Bake

Okay so here's the deal.  I would have loved to post a really amazing, creative, and ultra-delicious recipe from my "Best Of" collection for my very FIRST RECIPE blog post.  However, time is short and this is what I made for dinner because I made chicken stock, needed to use the meat, and frankly I'm tired and worn out from...today's terrible two's tantrums.  So, instead you get one of my "quick" dinner dishes that I will confess--has processed food in it (GASP!).  Yes, I know.  I am a sinner!  I freely admit it.  Hey, I cook from scratch most of the time!  This recipe though--it doesn't meet those standards.  But hey, feel free to from-scratch this baby to your liking.  Whole food it up!  I applaud you if you do! 

Quick Chicken Bake
1 c. sour cream
1 can cream of chicken soup 
  (or use a homemade version)
1 c. grated cheddar cheese
1 Tbsp. dried minced onion
1 Tbsp. dried parsley
Salt & Fresh Ground Pepper to taste
1 c. frozen corn
1 c. chopped cooked carrots
  (or other veg of your choice)
3 c. cubed, cooked chicken
1-2 boxes Chicken stovetop stuffing, prepared
1 c. french fried onions (optional)

• Mix sour cream, soup, and grated cheddar til smooth.  
• Add in seasonings, chicken, and vegetables and stir gently to combine.  
• Pour into greased 9x13 pan and flatten out evenly with a spoon.  
• Top with the prepared stuffing (if you like a lot of stuffing, use 2 boxes). 
• Sprinkle french fried onions on top.  

Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes until bubbly and golden brown.  Serves 4-8
**Instead of stuffing, you can mix in 1 box of prepared Rice-a-Roni, put all in baking dish, and top with an additional 1 c. of grated cheese.

Soothing Winter Skin

This cold weather has my skin Angry-- looking sad and feeling dry!  Of course, this happens every winter, but this year the single digits hit us fast and I didn't prepare myself (oh who am I kidding I am a shameful procrastinator).  The past year I've been experimenting with creating my own skin-soothing creams, balms, salves, and oils for me, the kids, and my family. Focusing on good quality, natural, effective, and soothing ingredients has been my priority because I want to know exactly what is going on our faces and bodies and soaking into our skin!  I use organic ingredients whenever possible and infuse my own herbal base oils.  Having used essential oils for over half my life (no numbers nosey nellies) I blend them in healthy amounts to suit our needs.  So far the products have been above my expectations--even family members approve!! 

Here are a few recipes to help dry, wintery skin (trust me it's simple and fun!!).
First up is Coconut Eye Cream.  I will admit I've been a skeptic of ALL the purported benefits of coconut oil which range from eating it to slathering it all over your body and hair to using it with your pets.  I'm not sure I buy into all that, but I've done enough reading to know that Coconut Oil DOES have plenty of benefits.  So I admit to using it.  Here's what you do:
Coconut Eye Cream
1-1/2 Tbsp. Organic Coconut Oil
1/2 tsp. Organic Honey
1/2 tsp. Vitamin E Oil

Warm the coconut oil until liquid.
Separately, warm the honey until it runs thin. (I used microwave for both since it only takes a few seconds).  Combine oil and honey, whisk rapidly to blend well.  Pour into clean container.  SOME of the honey will separate so stop pouring once you get to the separated honey! Then cool.

That's it!  Use this under/around your eyes twice daily and in a few weeks you should notice that the area is not only well moisturized and more supple, but the dark circles might just be fading!  Why?  Both coconut oil and honey are healing and moisturizing, and Vitamin is VERY good for your skin.  So whip up some of this and enjoy!!

Another wonderful moisturizer I concocted is oil-based and fluid.  However, I LOVE it--so much that I use it at least twice daily!  It is great all year round, has a soothing scent, and absorbs nicely!  I use Grapeseed oil as the base oil because it has been proven to be SO GOOD for skin of all types.  Feel free to use whatever essential oil combination you prefer--this is just my personal preference (and you will notice I put Lavender oil in almost EVERYTHING I make...I have a real love affair with Lavender...sigh..........Anyway, on to the recipe:

Jen's Facial Serum
3 oz. (1/3 c.) High Quality Grapeseed Oil (I use my Chamomile-Infused--more on that another post)
2 tsp. Argan Oil
1 tsp. Rosehip Seed Oil
25 drops Lavender Essential Oil
8 drops Ylang Ylang Essential Oil

Put all ingredients into a small cobalt or amber glass spray bottle (these colored bottles help keep out light which increases the longevity, smell, and effectiveness of oils).  Cap and shake well to combine everything together.  Use 4-6 sprays in your palm and apply to face as a healing moisturizer.

This is what facial serum looks like

I know this is backwards, but bear with me.  Give yourself a little winter facial ...BUT FIRST--give your face a prep with a simple oatmeal and honey mask to smooth skin and boost moisture.  You deserve it!!  So:

Oatmeal & Honey Mask
2 Tbsp. Organic Honey
2 Tbsp. Ground Oats (I grind oats to make Eczema oatmeal baths for my little one--just throw them in a food processor or mill, and whir until powdery)

Heat honey until thin and fluid, then mix in oats until you have a thick mixture.  Apply to a clean face, scrub around a bit to exfoliate, then let sit for about 5 minutes and rinse off with warm water--don't use soap! I find this mask easiest to use in the shower as it is messy--but worth it! 

Now, to your newly soft face apply your Coconut Eye Cream and Jen's Facial Serum.  Then sit back and enjoy the fact that your face feels like this:

Autumn Bliss

Is there anything so warming to the heart as Autumn, the season of Fall?  Maybe it's because I'm a November baby that this time of year brings me SO much joy, but so what if I'm biased!  There are so many things to love about fall, and I feel compelled to list off some of my favorites!  Here goes:  
Cooler weather, leaves changing from verdant green into deep, beautiful, and warm reds, oranges, and yellows.  Bringing my crockpot out to slow-cook warming meals for my family and enjoying the smell while they simmer and permeate the house.  An excuse to put up at least one or two strings of twinkle lights before the holiday decorating begins.  Sweatshirts, slippers, cozy clothing, layering, scarves, and comfy pj's (acceptable at ALL hours of the day and night)!  Enjoying everything pumpkin, from savory to sweet--muffins, pies, cookies, soups, and the like.  Cooking up big batches of steaming cinnamon applesauce from the harvest bounty.  An excuse to drink cocoa daily--you know, because it warms you up from the inside!  Perfuming my house with the oils of cinnamon and clove, so it smells like the holidays, everyday.  Excuses to cuddle up to my loved ones under a thick blanket and watch a good movie together.  Excuses to dress my chihuahuas up in adorable sweaters, sweatshirts, and coats because they're cold and they look super cute in their doggy clothes.  More time for laziness on the weekends as the yardwork and gardening comes to a halt for the year.  Lighting as many candles as I want and watching them twinkle and flicker while they warm the house and the ambiance.  Going for a relaxing drive and enjoying the mountainous country landscape that surrounds my home--and reveling in the beauty and magic of nature's flora and fauna.  Buying big bags of birdseed and cakes of suet to feed the birds (and more selfishly, to watch the birds as they munch on the welcome meal).  Raking leaves into piles and then falling into them with my kids, while wistfully bringing me back to childhood memories of destroying huge leaf piles with my siblings.  Staying under the covers extra long in the morning just to blissfully enjoy a warm bed piled with blankets.  Seeing the already snow-covered mountain tops glistening in bright morning sunlight from afar.  The fun of spending hours planning holiday get-togethers, Thanksgiving, and for me especially, the ever-changing listof Thanksgiving dishes I can't wait to cook up each year.  Bundling the kids with ridiculous extra layers (despite their protests) before they go out and enjoy playing in the crisp air and snow.  Making special handmade gifts for family and friends and enjoying every moment of doing it!  The SPIRIT that is in the air this time of year--the gratitude, happiness, love, family, joy, and togetherness.  There really is nothing quite like Fall.  Don't you agree??