Table Talk Tuesday- Spring Rice Pilaf

Hello hello!!! So good to be back after a super long 4 day weekend!! WOO!! Totally buzz kill going back to work but the countdown to summer is on!!

Tomorrow I will be sharing all things about our Easter weekend but today is Tuesday and that calls for some good Table Talk :)

Today I am sharing my Spring Rice Pilaf/Orzo.

I created this SUPER easy and delicious meal with some search of different recipes.

The original called for risotto, which I am not opposed to, BUT this combo from 

Trader Joe's was convenient and easy!

Here is what you need:

- 5 cups chicken broth or stock

-2 T olive oil

-2 T butter

- 1 zucchini, quartered

-10-12 asparagus, chopped 

- 1 shallot, chopped

- 3 cloves garlic, minced

-1 box of Trader Joe's Rice Orzo Pilaf Mix (or any of  your choice! don't add seasoning)

-2 cups cooked chicken, chopped

-1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Here is what you will do:

1. Bring about 5 cups of chicken stock or broth to a light boil. Then reduce to simmer for the
remainder of your cooking time.

2.Melt about 2 T of olive oil and 2 T butter in your skillet

3.Chop your asparagus, and quarter your zucchini.

Saute both veggies in your skillet with olive oil and butter.

4. Remove veggies and place in a bowl. Put aside for later.

5. Chop shallot and garlic and saute in same skillet.

6. Add pilaf/orzo to the shallot mixture and cook together for about 3-4 minutes.

7. Slowly add one cup of stock.broth at a time to skillet mixture.

8. Continue to add one cup at time. Each time be sure most of the liquid has evaporated 

before adding the next cup.

9. Add your 2 cups of cooked chopped chicken to the mixture.

10. Next add your 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese.

11. Finally add your cooked veggies back to the skillet.

12. Give your giant mixture one BIG mix.

13. Serve and Enjoy!

DELISH!! Super easy and super spring!!

Enjoy!

xo

Friday Favorites

HAPPY HAPPY FRIDAY!!!! Today we are off due to Good Friday. We are so looking forward to Easter celebrations all weekend long with family and friends, and also celebrating the true reason. Christ has RISEN!

As always I am linking up with Momfessionals, TabandErika and Grace&Love 

Here are some favorites from the week :) 

ONE.

National siblings day was Monday and I shared this ADORABLE picture of my brothers and I to celebrate! I have not only been blessed with them as siblings but also as best friends. #sisterwithbrothersforever

TWO.

Ok I am just going to leave this right here..... I cannot get over all these funnies.

THREE.

Lots of free nights this week have called for lots of cooking at home in my kitchen! 

Here is what I made:

1. Mini Biscuit Pizzas

2. Spring time Orzo with veggies

3. Pesto Pasta Bake 

FOUR.

This week my acceptance for grad school came in the mail! This student ID makes it official! Grad school here I come!! Very excited but very nervous! WOO!

FIVE. 

THIS. THIS IS ME!!! How hilarious and true this is, makes it definitely a favorite :)

SIX.

How amazing has this week been for the CUBS?? Am I right?? I stayed home Wednesday night, snuggled in my sweats and watched the ring ceremony! They are GORGEOUS rings and so proud of those boys for all their hard work and dedication! 

SEVEN.

As I  am typing and working on the blog I am listening to old tunes from high school and college from my itunes! This amazing song came on and I totally rocked out to it!!! 

SADIE HAWKINS DANCE!!

(sidenote: I guess there is no music video for this song, but these kids made one to it LOL!)

Have a blessed Easter Weekend.

xo

Workin it Wednesday - Spring Cleaning

Happy Wednesday!!!! Yay! Today is like my Thursday due to no school on Friday! WOO! 4 day weekend ahead and I cannot wait!

Today I am linking up with MixandMatch Mama and A Little Bit of Everything for Workin it Wednesday!

Today's topic is spring cleaning! There is so much organizing, storing and throwing away that needs to be done in our house, I think to myself where do I start?

I have a few projects in the works I would like to tackle:

1. Organizing my closet by color. I have it now but style (long sleeve, sweaters, tanks, etc) but I am finding this is just not working for me! 

2. Storing holiday decorations. Each time a holiday rolls around I like to add little touches around our home. Even though our condo is not super large, I still like to decorate but I am need of storing all the little odds and ends.

3. Pictures and frames are always on my to do list. We love capturing the memories we share with friends and family but we need more frames around our home. I have a huge giant wall I want to create something fun on but just not sure what I want up :)

Here are a few of my tips and tricks I have been following the past few weeks.

1. Clean out the fridge. With two people in our home you would THINK our fridge would be empty. Well on most days its jammed packed with leftovers, lunches and meal ingredients for the week.

Throw out anything that is expired, smells bad, or is rotten. It is just taking up that free space for your leftover pizza :) 

2. Try it on. Does it fit? Do you still like it? Have you worn it in the past year? Ask yourself these questions as you go through your closet and decide what needs to be donated and what needs to be kept on the hanger. Free hangers doesn't justify a shopping trip. OR does it? :)

3. Counters. UGHH mine are light colored so at times it is near impossible to see spills, crumbs and a messes. Wipe down your counters daily. A little TLC every night will keep the mess away and have your kitchen smelling fresh.

4. Invest in cutting boards to keep out at all times. The amount of chopping, dicing, prepping we do is a lot. Always have an easy to wipe down cutting board out for your convenience. Wipe it down at the end of your cooking experience :) 

5. Vacuum or sweep or pick up each night. I have been using our vacuum like crazy lately. Again we have dark floors so you see EVERYTHING. I am a messy cook so I know every time I cook there are crumbs all over my floor. Sweep it up or vacuum at the end of the night. Our vacuum is light and easy to use. Invest in something that will help keep your home balanced and clean! Don't dread lugging out the heavy vacuum! 

6. 1 year mark. Any papers you have that are older than a year toss. Do you need it? Is it relevant in your every day life? Is is a keepsake or garbage? Throw it out! 

These are just a few I am finding work me :) What works for you? How do you keep your home clean for spring time?

xo

Table Talk Tuesday- Biscuit Pizzas

Yum yum! 

These little pizza biscuits I made last night were divine and super delish! 

They were easy and made a TON! 

The little pizzas are enjoyable and you can always add your favorite ingredients to 

your pizzas! Here is what we did and we loved them :)

Sausage & Feta Mini Pizzas

What you will Need:

1 lb. Italian sausage 

Buttermilk Biscuits (in the can)

Fresh spinach 

1/2 red onion, chopped

Feta cheese crumbles

Pizza sauce 

What you will Do:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees (or the temp on the biscuit package)

2. As your oven is preheating, line a baking sheet with foil and spray. (I used my silpat and I would HIGHLY recommend investing in one!)

3. Take the biscuits out of the can, and flatten with your hands.

4. Lay biscuits flat on baking sheet

5. Place biscuits in oven and bake for 16-18 minutes.

6. Meanwhile, brown sausage in a skillet on medium-high heat.

7. Remove sausage from skillet when done, but leave remaining fat/oil. (I placed my sausage pieces in a bowl)

8. Chop your red onion and saute in the remaining oils in your skillet.

9. Rinse your fresh spinach.

10. Pour about 1/2 c. of pizza sauce in a bowl and heat in microwave for about 20-30 seconds.

11. When biscuits are done, take out of oven and flatten with a spoon. (This will help all your toppings stay on)

12. Top with sauce, spinach, sausage, cheese and onion

13. Serve and Enjoy!

So so easy and delicious! You could always use the toppings you love on pizza! 

We thought this combo tasted divine :)

See you tomorrow for Workin it Wednesday!!

xo

Weekend Recap- Spring Time Ediition

Hello hello! Well here are we back at it on this gloomy Monday! Rain is in the forecast all week on and off and UGHHH I do not like it one bit! 1. Because I am not a fan of rain at all. I don't like driving in it and it makes my hair all wavy and frizzy lol 2. The CUBS!!!!!! The Cubs have their home opener tonight and ring ceremony Wednesday so I hoping and praying the rain is CLEAR for tonight and Wednesday :)

We had no rain this weekend, so here is a little recap! (I once again FAILED taking lots of pics! I am still getting used to snapping pics during weekend time!)

Friday

I was home and in the door by 345!!! This RARELY happens and lately I am trying to get home at a decent time and leave work at work and focus on our home and meals together!

We headed to the gym to get a quick little work out in!

Pat had a pasta party for Water Polo so he was out and I started 13 Reasons Why on Netflix.

Now all the kids at school have been bugging me and asking if I had started it yet. Friday evening called for a good time to start! 

(I have a little over 4 episodes left before I am done. I took one episode at a time giving myself mental breaks in between.) It is a pretty heavy show to watch all 13 episodes at once, so I broke it down over the weekend.

I watched and graded all Friday night! Easy and relaxing night staying in :)

Saturday 

Was ALL THE WATER POLO for Pat! He was up and out early for their tournament! 

I woke up and of course the cooking shows were calling me.

I made cinnamon spice oatmeal from Trader Joes, and added some almond butter and sliced bananas to the mix! I am normally not a huge oatmeal fan but this was Good!

I then headed to the Fremd Craft Fair with my mom! We are two peas in a pod when it comes to shopping! We had the best time. We both looked at the 31 bags and decided we are going to host a party! WOO! So be on the lookout soon for that. 

ALSO for months and months I have BEGGED my mom to help me find this meat browning tool. She said she would have to find a pampered chef rep to order me one! I couldn't find one anywhere I looked. 

ANDDD guess what we stumbled upon at the craft fair!?!?!? A pampered chef rep!!!! I was OVER THE MOON excited! I picked up my browner and a few other trinkets for my kitchen!

We both stopped a cute boutique booth and grabbed cute spring tops!

We got some lunch and then headed home for of course more 13 reasons Why.

Pat and I decided to try Ciao Baby in downtown Barrington for dinner and here are my thoughts on the place!

1. Cute little restaurant that has a cafe feeling.

2. Good bread, dipping sauce and salad to start!

3.Service was just OK. Blahh to say the least.

4. My dish was great but Pat's was just OK as well.

Don't know if we will go back but it was yummy for the night!

We picked up a redbox and headed home!

SO we picked up MoonLight thinking it would be worth our time since it won best supporting actor and best film, but we were disappointed. The movie started slow and was not what we thought it would be. Just not a movie for us.

SUNDAY

Slept in, watched Fixer Upper and made breakfast to start this warm and sunny day :)

Got some more 13 reasons in and then we headed out on our bikes around town,

We road all over talking and looking different types and styles of homes! 

(Probably due to all the HGTV I make Pat watch LOL)

It was beautiful, warm and windy!

A nice little ride around town to get us out to enjoy the weather!

Lunch and of course more 13!

Then Costco and Trader Joe's were calling our name for some easy weekly shopping.

We LOVE the rotisserie chicken from Costco. It is such a good price and you get so much chicken for the week!

Well yesterday they were OUT of chickens! I was so sad until Pat told me their was only 6 minutes left on the cooking time. So we saw one person and decided to finish our shopping then head back. WELL when we got back there was A LONG LINE forming. We were dying over this. People were picking up 1, 2 chickens to take with them. HILARIOUS!!! Just chicken at Costco!

We picked ours up and headed to Pat's parents for a cook out! 

We sat outside and enjoyed GREAT food with a side of wind ;) LOL

Family walk was up next and then we headed home to get ready for the week.

We had a fabulous, busy and relaxing weekend! We both cherish our time together on the weekends. Cooking and relaxing together!

Next weekend is a 4 day weekend for me and a 3 day weekend for Pat! Can I get an AMEN!!!

Easter Celebrations and family gatherings are on the agenda! 

Have a wonderful week and GO CUBS GO!

xo