Success, Projects, and Almost Pot Cooking

I am so excited about my first giveaway since my blogging vacation. I realized that sometimes you need a fresh start to make things even better.

I have gotten many requests to see the finished product of my daughters hair. My oldest daughter has a hair dilemma (of her own doing), so I am not going to be able to show you her picture because she is camera shy. My youngest was gracious enough to let me snap a shot.

 This will last her until the start of school. We already have a style picked out for the first day of school. Stay tuned for that picture.

Besides doing things with the girls, I have also been working on the nursery. I realized that no matter how hard I try the my entries will be family, baby, and food focused. Hope every is okay with that. I have been painting, cleaning, and organizing baby supplies for the last two weeks. Dad on the Run has also been a great help with my crazy nesting spree. Here are some progress pictures:

Before Picture of the wardrobe                  After Picture of the wardrobe

   Before of the Dresser                                        After of the Dresser

A picture of the finished Crib

I am very pleased on how things are coming together. I have some finishing touches to complete and the changing table is on its way, but I will be able to go back to school with a majority of the work done. I am feeling such relief.

After all of this work I decided I needed to create a meal that was easy but tasty. I am a big fan of one pot cooking, so my recipe inspiration came from that thinking.

Almost One Pot Chicken and Sausage Gumbo

Ingredients:

• 1 package of Instant Brown Rice or Frozen Brown Rice
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour or Gluten-Free Flour
• 3 tablespoons of butter (I used Earth Balance)                                         
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1 cup chopped green bell pepper
• 1 cup frozen cut okra
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 1 teaspoon fresh minced garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
• 1 teaspoons of Cajun Blend Spice
• 2 cups chopped skinless, boneless chicken breasts (about 2 breasts)
• 8 ounces turkey kielbasa, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 2 (14 1/2-ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 2 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth

  Cook rice according to package directions, omitting salt and fat.While rice cooks, combine flour and butter in a Dutch oven; saute over medium-high heat 3 minutes. Add onion and next 7 ingredients (onion through cajun spice); cook 3 minutes or until tender, stirring frequently to prevent burning.

While onion, pepper, celery mixture is sautéing, cook chicken pieces in small skillet. Once chicken is cooked. Add sausage to the pan and brown sausage. Set aside.  

Stir in chicken, kielbasa, tomatoes, and broth scraping up brown bits at the bottom of the pan; cook 6 minutes or until thoroughly heated.

Serve over rice.

I am going to be quite honest. I was not too sure how my children were going to like this dish. My fear came to a rest when they both made the clean plate club. In fact my oldest asked for a second helping. Dad on the Run could not stop raving about it. I love when such a simple dish is such a big hit. This will be something I will definitely keep in the recipe file a freezer dish for when the baby comes.

Hope everyone has an amazing weekend! We have a few things planned. Not sure if I will be able to post until Monday.