Baked Chicken Alfredo

I haven't posted in a while, over a month to be exact.  I promise, there is a good reason for this.  You see, there was this guy, a prince charming of sorts and he convinced me to marry him.  Being the type of woman that I am, I spent time fretting over details, tying up last minute ideas, and worrying over every possible thing imaginable. I did not spend much time cooking.  Terrible idea.  While I enjoyed the break from the dishes, I never enjoy a break from making a homemade meal.  We ate at lots of wonderful, delicious restaurants.  I did NO dishes. Yet, with all these delicious, care-free meals I still wanted to get back to normal.  Back to cooking.

On September 17th at 6:00 pm, I married my prince charming and continued on the journey to my happily ever after.  It was a beautiful day with LOTS of wonderful food and great times spent with family and friends.  It is a day that will forever remain bittersweet to me, a day that is precious, a day when I married the man who forever changed my life.

We've been back home for a little over a week now, and I wasted no time getting back into the kitchen...with new gadgets, no less.    So here is my apology for being gone so long.  I made you one of my family favorites, Baked Chicken Alfredo.  I hope you forgive me.

Mushroom and Mozzarella Stuffed Chicken Breasts

All you mushroom haters go ahead...say it...Yuck, gross, ewwwwwwwww.  Feel better?  Ok, for the rest of us "normal" folks, let's control our urges to lick the computer screen.  I wasn't always a mushroom lover but now it seems I can't get enough.  I want to put them on everything. 

My family had quite an adventurous outing yesterday with wedding shopping.  On the way home, with the mini me quietly snoozing in the back, I got a familiar craving.  Mushrooms.  And Cheese.  Like, I've said before, my family is only a few chicken dinners away from growing feathers and clucking, so it was only natural for me to want to pair this insatiable craving for mushrooms and cheese with some chicken.  Don't anyone dare to tell me it's "too cheesy" or I will put you in a straight jacket myself.

Bacon Parmesan Asparagus

Not many things shock me anymore.  I've either seen it, heard it, or done it.  We sat down last night to a lovely dinner of Chicken Florentine Quesadillas and Asparagus.  It was a typical night in a small apartment.  My husband on the couch and me on the floor with my plate on the coffee table.  This is the way we prefer to eat...not conventional, I know.  But, hey, we're not a conventional family.  My toddler, who had already eaten his dinner, was happily playing with the Shrek 3 DVD box.  As I was eating, this darling child came over and helped himself to my asparagus.  I was already sticking out my hand for what I knew would follow, I call this the "ick, yuck, and spit it out" response.  However, the exact opposite happened!  He looked at it, stuck it in his mouth, chewed and...wait for it, wait for it....SWALLOWED!  The most shocking part of it all?  He reached for more.  Yes, my friends, I DO BELIEVE there is a vegetable GOD out there.  Last night, he smiled on me.  Glory!

Firecracker Fried Shrimp

As a child, we can't wait to get older so we can drive, date, get married and have children.  Then, we wake up one day, and realize that we have achieved most of what we set out to do.  Some of us complain about getting older, and reminisce about being younger.  Some of us long for those carefree days when all we had to worry about was what to wear to school tomorrow.

Well, I guess I'm a little different, because getting older has been treating me well so far.  Of course, I could certainly do without some things, like bills.  Overall though, the most enjoyable thing about getting older is finding newness in established relationships.  My little sister is visiting.  The same "little girl" that laughed til she couldn't breathe when I walked in the room.  The same little girl who was terrified of frogs and police sirens.

That "little girl" is 17 now and we still laugh together like we did when she was 2.  The conversations have changed a bit, but the relationship is deeper and more profound.  She's no doubt related to me, she carries the same sarcasm and quick-wit that I consider some of my most enjoyable qualities.  Yet, when I'm around her, I feel a little more than sisterly-love...she has quickly become one of my best friends.  This, is absolutely one of the most beautiful things about growing older.  Tonight, we shared one of my favorite meals, and she vows to make it when she gets back home.  She has a love for cooking and baking that is quickly growing, and I couldn't be happier.  She's always asking for someone to write a blog about her.  Little sister-friend, this is all for YOU.

Very Strawberry Cupcakes

I like to do things the hard way.  I know at least one person who is currently agreeing whole-heartedly with this statement, but I'm sure he's smart enough to keep it a silent opinion.  So, when these little beauties were in the brainstorm stage, I was thinking of every way to make it harder than it really had to be.  I knew one thing for sure...I had a pint of strawberries that I really needed use.  Then I remembered that Duncan Hines makes a Strawberry Supreme cake mix, and the rest is cupcake history.  So, if you're interested in death by strawberries, I encourage you to indulge.  I'm eating one now and thinking about the 4,557 sit-ups I'm going to have to do to burn it off.

Caramel Coffee Cupcakes

Coffee used to be part of my morning ritual, everyday.  I have really cut back in the last few years, but every now and then I get a craving for Caramel Macchiato which can only be satisfied by waiting in line at StarBucks.  One particular day, as I was growing more and more impatient ( I know, what you're thinking...sweet innocent me being impatient?  No way, not this angel.) I got the urge to combine coffee with cupcakes.  Lucky me, StarBucks had a special on their Caramel Via packets.  Now, fast forward about 6 months (Me...procrastinate?  Not in a million years.).  Husband?  Out of town.  Baby?  Fast asleep.  Dog?  Upside down and drooling on the couch.  Mama?  Battling a sweet tooth from the underworld.  This, my friends, is when I remembered that glorious purchase 6 months ago.  I love me for thinking ahead.  Almost as much as I love cupcakes.....almost.

Easy Peach Cobbler

Peach cobbler.  It's a beautiful thing.  It makes me happy in the warm and...follow me here...ooey gooey inside kind of way.  You know, that true happiness that emanates from some place deep inside you.  The type of happy that makes you smile stupidly at passers-by and skip around humming sickeningly annoying songs.  The type of happy that I need on some days, like days when I feel like ripping the heads off of pretty pink stuffed bunnies.  No, don't hide your children from me,  just use this recipe and make me some peach cobbler.  I'll be hearing blue jays singing in no time.