My favorite, quick recipe

I like when I can make something that both Ryan and I like that lasts a few meals.  One thing  I recently found is a recipe for Turkey Chili.  It's fabulous!  It's got some kick to it and it takes about 15 minutes to throw it together.

Today Ryan when back to work after being off for the holidays.  Since we got back from NE on Monday night, had a NYE gathering on Tuesday night and when to Ryan's parents yesterday, I haven't had time to really get some food made for his lunches.  Well, after making waffles this morning, Ryan came down and asked what we had for lunch.  I told him just go to the Prairie Dog today and that I would have stuff for him for lunch tomorrow.  As I was looking at the recipe for meatloaf (his favorite), I realized that I could throw this chili together while he ate breakfast and he would have some lunch.  So I did.  Kind of.  I didn't have the beans, but I had everything else for him. I cooked the turkey, mixed everything together and put it in a bowl for him for lunch.  

I'm working really hard on saving this year.  One way I know we can save more is to eat out less.  I set that as a goal for myself and then on January 2nd I was telling my husband to go eat out for lunch.  Face plant!  This recipe is definitely one of my go to recipes and I will be stocking up on the ingredients for it so we can make it regularly.

I made this recipe card to share with you, my dear blogger friends.  The actual recipe is pinned on my Yummy board on Pinterest, and came from AllRecipes.com .  If you follow the link, it will take you to the original.  The only thing that I've changed from the original is that I do not use the olive oil.

What We Ate Monday

I wish I had taken the time to take pictures of the amazing-ness that we ate on Monday, but I didn't think about it until now, but I wanted to share the recipe because it was super easy and quick!

I found the basis of the recipe online, but I don't remember where.  I kind of "tweaked" it to make it work for us, so without further ado, I present Yummy Chicken Penne Pasta

8 oz of Penne Pasta
2 Chicken Breasts (I grilled ours, the original recipe said to fry)
2 Zucchini
Baby Carrots
Broccoli 
8 oz SHREDDED Parmesan Cheese
3/4 Cup of Heavy Cream
1/2 Tbls. Oil

Boil pasta, in the last 4 minutes of the boiling process add your veggies. Drain.

In a saucepan mix oil, cheese, and cream.  Heat until cheese is melted.  

Grill or fry.  (If you fry it, you can use 1 Tbsp. of oil and then put your cream and cheese in there after you're done cooking the chicken.)  Cut chicken up.

Combine chicken and veggies and then pour melted cheese mixture over the whole dish.  I think I used too many veggies and too much chicken because ours wasn't super creamy, but it was still very yummy!  And it made a lot!  We froze 6 containers of it and left 3 out for lunches.

Enjoy!

It's Over...

...The last movie of the Harry Potter series has been released.  A bitter sweet ending to an exceptional series. A series, I must admit, I was reluctant to read in the first place.  I remember finally picking up the first book my senior year of college.  Once I got through it I was hooked.  I couldn't wait to finish it and at the time J.K. Rowling had only written the first four books!

To celebrate this momentous occasion, Ryan and I had a Harry Potter Party.  We invited some friends over to watch Harry Potter, 7.1 (the last book was so thick that they broke it into two parts when making the movies).  We had some Harry Potter inspired good eats, watched 7.1 and then four of us headed to the movie theater to watch 7.2 . 

Below are some of the pictures that were taken at the party--Colleen was the photographer. 

Colleen & I enjoy some ButterBeer

Cyndi likes the magic wands made from pretzels.

Sisters!

Tank supervises the set up.

MMmmmm....cheeseball

"Wands"

Bulgers--Used in playing Quidditch (it's a wizard sport)

The Golden Snitch(es), also used in Quidditch.

Butterbeer--one shot of butterscotch schnapps, and cream soda.  Top with whip cream if you want.

US

Lyssa and Ryan

The Schredls

Somehow the Wilson's avoided the camera.  Oh well.  It was requested that I put the recipe to the cheeseball on here, so here it is:

2, 8 oz. packages of softened cream cheese
1 packet of dry ranch seasoning (for making dips)
Chopped Olives (I buy the smallest can and use about half of them)
Chopped Bacon (I like bacon, and so does Ryan, so we usually put 4-6 slices in it)
8 oz block of Shredded Cheese (I use colby jack.  I put most of it in the mix and then roll the ball in what's left)

Mix together and then form into a ball.  Refrigerate 2-4 hours, serve with Triscits. :)