I created a yummy crock pot recipe by mistake last night! I didn't have the right ingredients for another recipe so I adapted and came up up with this. It's so easy and so good. It's also very versatile. I'll call it...
Enchilada Chicken
(unique, I know, huh?!)
1-2 lbs frozen chicken (boneless)
salt
pepper
Large size Cream of Chicken soup
Hidden Vally Fiesta Ranch dry dip mix
2 blocks of cream cheese
1 T diced onion (shallots, dry onions also work well)
1/2 c chicken broth
In a large crock pot, dump several pieces of frozen chicken. I used about 8 tenderloins. Breasts would be great, too. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Dump a large size can of Cream of Chicken on top. Then sprinkle a package of Hidden Valley Fiesta Ranch dry dip mix. (I think it's called that. I looked through the garbage this morning and didn't find it!). Cover and cook on low for about 6-7 hours. Then about 30 mins before serving, melt together 2 packages of cream cheese, some minced onions (I used dry ones...about 1T) and about 1/2 cup of chicken broth. Pour this into the mixture, stir it all up, shred the chicken as you are doing this, and after 30 mins, you're done! This can be made into Chicken Enchilada soup by adding 1/2 pound of velveeta, can of Rotel and maybe more broth...
Slice avocados into it when serving along with Monterey Jack shredded cheese and jalepenos, if you like it spicy!
I served it over egg noodles. Jerry ate it over rice. We also wrapped some into tortillas with a little rice and shredded cheese. YUM!
Let me know if anyone makes it!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Lie #12: I knew Sister's Day was in August
Well, okay actually I had no idea about Sister's Day until reading about it on one of my friend's blogs! But I was so inspired by it that I HAD to write an ode to my sisters! I have many, many women in my life that I consider to be like a sister to me, but only two that grew up with me and know me better than all the others. I know this is long, but it will be worth your time.
Mindy - Mindy is almost 10 years older than me and because of this, we were able to bypass the normal sister rivalry that occurs when sisters are closer in age. She has always been someone I absolutely adored and loved from my earliest memories. I remember when I begged my mom to chop my long, thick brunette hair off the summer after my kindergarten year. I hated it! It just made me too hot, that's all... I will never forget the look on Mindy's face when we picked her up from her job and she saw my hair. I don't know if she ever forgave our mother for that!
When she went to college during my 3rd grade year, I was devastated. I watched her board the plane, then my mom took us to school in spite of my desire to stay home and mourn. I walked into my classroom and just stood there for a minute. My teacher said something to me but I didn't acknowledge her. I remember my ears were ringing and I had no idea what she said. I went behind the wall of cubbies and put my bag away and then I just stood there. I didn't know what to do. Mrs. Campbell came around the corner and asked if I was OK. I broke into tears and she knelt beside me and hugged me for a long time.
Life without Mindy was tough. I missed her so much, it hurt. I had 5 older brothers to contend with! I remember silly letters I wrote her all the time and she would always write me back. I cherished each letter and read them over and over again until I had them memorized. When Mindy came home for a visit, it was what I imagined it would be like to have your beloved Queen come visit! We all adored her! She took us to the lake with her, she taught me how to french braid, she brought me to her apartment to spend the night. She was never embarrassed or ashamed of any of us and always made us feel special. I remember always being able to tell her how I felt and she never, ever judged me.
I remember her wedding day. I hated her husband for taking her from me and I sat on the stairs at her reception and cried. Then I remember having this wonderful idea of saving my tear drenched tissues and giving them to her on her one year anniversary! Thank goodness I lost those tissues but we had a good laugh about that when I told her about it years later! And Jeff proved to be an okay guy!
When my mother died, Mindy was on vacation in British Columbia. We could not contact her for days. We even called the Coast Guard because we knew she was probably on a boat somewhere. We were asked if we wanted to go ahead and set the funeral date, and have the funeral without her. Every one of my siblings were there but her and we all looked at the funeral director like he was mad. No way. We would have frozen our mother's body if that's what it took to make sure Mindy was there. We would have done that for any of our siblings, but she was the one we had to wait for. Ultimately, it was 7 days before we buried Mom. When Mindy did get the news and was in town for the funeral, I remember sitting on the floor in my room the day before the funeral quietly talking and getting things ready. I leaned into her, started to cry and told her that she was my mother here on earth now. She knew what I was trying to say and she agreed. I have always told her that it was no mistake she was the older sister in our family. She had a lot of heartache and pain to overcome, more than I could ever imagine. She's also very good not to paint negative pictures of my parents the way she, at times, knew them.
Mindy is one of my very best friends and the times that we have spent together have been chock full of good conversations, lots of tears, many laughs and dozens of learning experiences on my part. I think of Mindy and I think of heaven. Mindy is wisdom. Mindy is close to God. Mindy is mothering. Mindy knows who she is. Mindy is forgiveness. Mindy is virtue. Mindy is humility. Mindy is about her family. Mindy is goodness. Mindy hates the pedestal Mom put her on. Mindy is patience. Mindy is prayerful. Mindy listens to the Spirit. Mindy is preparedness. Mindy is a vault. Mindy is love. Mindy is my sister.
Elizabeth (aka Betsy)- Betsy is my younger sister. She is almost 4 years younger than me. Betsy wants to go by Elizabeth but I have informed her that she will always be Betsy to me! I love my baby sister so much. She is one of the funniest and wittiest people I know. When I read her facebook comments or her blogs, I often find myself laughing out loud! The earliest memory I have of Betsy was of her soft round pink face after she was born. I don't remember much more about that time except this feeling I had come over me as I looked at her wiggly body and recognized that someone I loved very much had finally come home. I remember how we loved it when Mom showed up with a pretty set of matching dresses for her two little girls! I remember when my oldest brother was married and we were flower girls or Jr bridesmaids and we were standing together in our fluffy gray dresses and she reached out and took hold of my hand. That was Betsy. Always wanting to hug or cuddle.
She was with me everywhere I went for a lot of my childhood. One time, Ben, Betsy and I walked up the street to the Circle K to buy a treasure trove of jolly ranchers with our handful of change and there she was, bouncing along behind us! Ben and I couldn't resist teasing her! She was so mad and stomped off ahead of us as we mercilessly laughed at her silliness! But the beautiful thing about her is that she is so quick to forgive. She knew we did it only because we loved her so much. I like to think that when she remembers her childhood days with her two older siblings she remembers feeling loved by us.
I know she loved to wear my clothes and use my makeup, and even though I complained and fought with her about it all, I really didn't mind it. She was the best little sister a girl could ask for. We shared secrets, we giggled late at night. I scared the doodoo out of her by telling her china doll stories until she begged to come sleep in my bed, and I only relented because I had succeeded in scaring myself too! She knows the most embarrassing things about me and loved to tell them all to anyone who would listen, but when I told her that they really did embarrass me and that I wished she would never never ever tell anyone any of them, she didn't. She knew my pain and has always been considerate of me - no matter how funny they actually are!
When our mom died, I was the first one at the hospital (because I lived closest and I had been the one designated to take her to her dr appts, and that morning we called an ambulance instead). I was their contact. I also had the task of finding my little sister at her job and telling her about our mother. I will never forget the look on her face, the quiet "what?" that escaped from her lips and the crumbling way her body fell speechless into my arms and then onto the ground. At that moment, we were closer than any two sisters could possibly be. She was my baby Betsy once again.
We did have the blessing of being close in age and of fighting and bickering. But even though I lack Mindy's wisdom and patience, Betsy still loves me. As we have grown older, we have become very close and she has been a sounding board for my vents, frustrations and worries and I know she will always keep my confidences. I have tried to be a good big sister to her and have failed in many, many ways. I made some ignorant and hurtful mistakes when it came to Betsy, but she must have some of that awe towards me that I have for my big sister because she always forgives me. Betsy and I are always going to be sisters and that knowledge is what keeps us forgiving and loving one another.
When I think of what my little sister is, lots of adjectives come to mind. Some of them seemingly conflicting. But she has borne a lot of pain throughout her life and we can't help but be flavored by life's lemons. So, without further ado, let me introduce you to my Betsy. Betsy is strong. Betsy is pained. Betsy is lonely without her mother. Betsy is a leader. Betsy is generous. Betsy is vulnerable. Betsy is able to make good come from bad. Betsy can hide her pain to make someone else feel better. Betsy is so much better than many people I know. Betsy is softness. Betsy is love. Betsy is my sister.
I am always so sad when I hear women tell me they are not close to their sister(s). It makes me all the more grateful for mine.
Image from the following website ©2000 Denise Van Patten - http://collectdolls.about.com
Mindy - Mindy is almost 10 years older than me and because of this, we were able to bypass the normal sister rivalry that occurs when sisters are closer in age. She has always been someone I absolutely adored and loved from my earliest memories. I remember when I begged my mom to chop my long, thick brunette hair off the summer after my kindergarten year. I hated it! It just made me too hot, that's all... I will never forget the look on Mindy's face when we picked her up from her job and she saw my hair. I don't know if she ever forgave our mother for that!
When she went to college during my 3rd grade year, I was devastated. I watched her board the plane, then my mom took us to school in spite of my desire to stay home and mourn. I walked into my classroom and just stood there for a minute. My teacher said something to me but I didn't acknowledge her. I remember my ears were ringing and I had no idea what she said. I went behind the wall of cubbies and put my bag away and then I just stood there. I didn't know what to do. Mrs. Campbell came around the corner and asked if I was OK. I broke into tears and she knelt beside me and hugged me for a long time.
Life without Mindy was tough. I missed her so much, it hurt. I had 5 older brothers to contend with! I remember silly letters I wrote her all the time and she would always write me back. I cherished each letter and read them over and over again until I had them memorized. When Mindy came home for a visit, it was what I imagined it would be like to have your beloved Queen come visit! We all adored her! She took us to the lake with her, she taught me how to french braid, she brought me to her apartment to spend the night. She was never embarrassed or ashamed of any of us and always made us feel special. I remember always being able to tell her how I felt and she never, ever judged me.
I remember her wedding day. I hated her husband for taking her from me and I sat on the stairs at her reception and cried. Then I remember having this wonderful idea of saving my tear drenched tissues and giving them to her on her one year anniversary! Thank goodness I lost those tissues but we had a good laugh about that when I told her about it years later! And Jeff proved to be an okay guy!
When my mother died, Mindy was on vacation in British Columbia. We could not contact her for days. We even called the Coast Guard because we knew she was probably on a boat somewhere. We were asked if we wanted to go ahead and set the funeral date, and have the funeral without her. Every one of my siblings were there but her and we all looked at the funeral director like he was mad. No way. We would have frozen our mother's body if that's what it took to make sure Mindy was there. We would have done that for any of our siblings, but she was the one we had to wait for. Ultimately, it was 7 days before we buried Mom. When Mindy did get the news and was in town for the funeral, I remember sitting on the floor in my room the day before the funeral quietly talking and getting things ready. I leaned into her, started to cry and told her that she was my mother here on earth now. She knew what I was trying to say and she agreed. I have always told her that it was no mistake she was the older sister in our family. She had a lot of heartache and pain to overcome, more than I could ever imagine. She's also very good not to paint negative pictures of my parents the way she, at times, knew them.
Mindy is one of my very best friends and the times that we have spent together have been chock full of good conversations, lots of tears, many laughs and dozens of learning experiences on my part. I think of Mindy and I think of heaven. Mindy is wisdom. Mindy is close to God. Mindy is mothering. Mindy knows who she is. Mindy is forgiveness. Mindy is virtue. Mindy is humility. Mindy is about her family. Mindy is goodness. Mindy hates the pedestal Mom put her on. Mindy is patience. Mindy is prayerful. Mindy listens to the Spirit. Mindy is preparedness. Mindy is a vault. Mindy is love. Mindy is my sister.
Elizabeth (aka Betsy)- Betsy is my younger sister. She is almost 4 years younger than me. Betsy wants to go by Elizabeth but I have informed her that she will always be Betsy to me! I love my baby sister so much. She is one of the funniest and wittiest people I know. When I read her facebook comments or her blogs, I often find myself laughing out loud! The earliest memory I have of Betsy was of her soft round pink face after she was born. I don't remember much more about that time except this feeling I had come over me as I looked at her wiggly body and recognized that someone I loved very much had finally come home. I remember how we loved it when Mom showed up with a pretty set of matching dresses for her two little girls! I remember when my oldest brother was married and we were flower girls or Jr bridesmaids and we were standing together in our fluffy gray dresses and she reached out and took hold of my hand. That was Betsy. Always wanting to hug or cuddle.
She was with me everywhere I went for a lot of my childhood. One time, Ben, Betsy and I walked up the street to the Circle K to buy a treasure trove of jolly ranchers with our handful of change and there she was, bouncing along behind us! Ben and I couldn't resist teasing her! She was so mad and stomped off ahead of us as we mercilessly laughed at her silliness! But the beautiful thing about her is that she is so quick to forgive. She knew we did it only because we loved her so much. I like to think that when she remembers her childhood days with her two older siblings she remembers feeling loved by us.
I know she loved to wear my clothes and use my makeup, and even though I complained and fought with her about it all, I really didn't mind it. She was the best little sister a girl could ask for. We shared secrets, we giggled late at night. I scared the doodoo out of her by telling her china doll stories until she begged to come sleep in my bed, and I only relented because I had succeeded in scaring myself too! She knows the most embarrassing things about me and loved to tell them all to anyone who would listen, but when I told her that they really did embarrass me and that I wished she would never never ever tell anyone any of them, she didn't. She knew my pain and has always been considerate of me - no matter how funny they actually are!
When our mom died, I was the first one at the hospital (because I lived closest and I had been the one designated to take her to her dr appts, and that morning we called an ambulance instead). I was their contact. I also had the task of finding my little sister at her job and telling her about our mother. I will never forget the look on her face, the quiet "what?" that escaped from her lips and the crumbling way her body fell speechless into my arms and then onto the ground. At that moment, we were closer than any two sisters could possibly be. She was my baby Betsy once again.
We did have the blessing of being close in age and of fighting and bickering. But even though I lack Mindy's wisdom and patience, Betsy still loves me. As we have grown older, we have become very close and she has been a sounding board for my vents, frustrations and worries and I know she will always keep my confidences. I have tried to be a good big sister to her and have failed in many, many ways. I made some ignorant and hurtful mistakes when it came to Betsy, but she must have some of that awe towards me that I have for my big sister because she always forgives me. Betsy and I are always going to be sisters and that knowledge is what keeps us forgiving and loving one another.
When I think of what my little sister is, lots of adjectives come to mind. Some of them seemingly conflicting. But she has borne a lot of pain throughout her life and we can't help but be flavored by life's lemons. So, without further ado, let me introduce you to my Betsy. Betsy is strong. Betsy is pained. Betsy is lonely without her mother. Betsy is a leader. Betsy is generous. Betsy is vulnerable. Betsy is able to make good come from bad. Betsy can hide her pain to make someone else feel better. Betsy is so much better than many people I know. Betsy is softness. Betsy is love. Betsy is my sister.
I am always so sad when I hear women tell me they are not close to their sister(s). It makes me all the more grateful for mine.
Image from the following website ©2000 Denise Van Patten - http://collectdolls.about.com
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