It still hurts so much

Destiny and I a year ago

When will it not hurt so much anymore? When will the tears stop flowing when I’m wide awake late at night? When will I be able to come home and not feel the extreme hurt when she’s not there to greet me, with the other dogs? 

She was so much more than a dog. She was a major part of our family. I remember the day we got her, just as vividly as I remember the births of my human babies.  

I also remember the feel of that tumor, the sounds she made when breathing, the way she had such a hard time moving around….

I remember everything.  I still hear the noises she made, from time to time.

It’s hard to feel this much sadness, all the time. Often trying to hide just how sad I feel. Saying goodbye to her was one of the hardest goodbyes I’ve ever been through, and I’m still trying to get through it. I’m just not doing a very good job of it yet I guess.

Shredded Italian Chicken Recipe

This is a recipe that is so good, works for many things, and once cooked - it freezes extremely well too! You have to plan in advance for this one, and possibly wake up early to get it started – depending on how early your day starts regularly. The day this is made, we always have it on buns as sandwiches. Leftovers get used in various ways – including more sandwiches! And of course, freeze some of those leftovers for another day down the road, since it does make soooo much!

Shredded Italian Chicken

·         3c chicken broth

·         1t salt

·         1t ground black pepper

·         1t dried oregano

·         1t dried basil

·         1t onion salt

·         1t dried parsley

·         1t garlic powder

·         1 bay leaf

·         1 (.7oz) pkg Dry Italian-style salad dressing mix (or use homemade version)

·         5lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts

Combine chicken broth with all the seasonings (including dressing mix) in a saucepan. Stir well, and bring to a boil.

Place chicken in slow cooker, and pour salad dressing mixture over the meat.

Cover, and cook on low for 10-12hrs.

When meat is cooked through, remove bay leaf. Shred meat with forks or mixer (I prefer using my hand mixer over using forks! Much quicker!)

Pesto Ranch Chicken Recipe

Time for another freezer meal recipe! This one is so simple and good!

Pesto Ranch Chicken

·         8 boneless skinless chicken thighs

·         6oz pesto (homemade, jarred, whatever you want)

·         1pkg ranch dressing mix (or homemade!)

·         1/2c chicken broth

Put all ingredients in a labeled gallon size freezer bag, lay flat to freeze. Store upright.

Pull out of freezer the night before you want to cook it, to allow it to thaw.

Cook in slow cooker on high for 3-4 hrs or low for 6-8hrs. Goes well with mashed potatoes and a salad.

Jobs jobs jobs!

Sorry I haven’t been able to post as regularly as I was! I had gotten a job and that completely threw me off. I’ve since left that job.  However I’ve started a new one! One that I know well, since I’ve worked for this company before doing the exact job I was just hired to do. 

As to why I quit the other one? It was a horrible fit for me. I don’t “fit” well with fast food. Some do, and that’s awesome. But me?  Nope! That incredible fast pace is too fast for me. And since I was working lunch rush almost every day – it was very little down time.

With my new job, I’m able to work at a pace that is more comfortable for me.  This is a job I know I can stick with long term. The only reason I didn’t stick with them before was because there was that opportunity that made it so I could stay home with my kids when we moved a year ago.  Now my stay at home mom days are done, but that’s okay! I’m willing to do what it takes to help make sure we survive. If that means I work, then that’s what I’ll do!

More posts will be coming, with recipes and other stuff! Be on the look out!

Saying goodbye

This past Saturday we had to do something that was incredibly hard. We had to say goodbye to Destiny, our Black Lab/Irish Setter mix. She was such a good girl! We finally decided a week ago it was time. So we called the vet and set the appointment for Saturday. Giving us time to say goodbye.

She was battling cancer, and the cancer was winning. She had a large inoperable tumor on her throat.

Now she’s gone, but never ever forgotten.

Chicken Alfredo "Muffins" Recipe

These are such a hit at my house! It’s what my 11 year old requests almost any time I ask what we should have for dinner! We don’t make them as often as she’d like, but that makes them all the better! Perfect for leftover chicken, and I know they taste great with steak as well since we tried that once too!

Chicken Alfredo Muffins

• 1pkg Wonton wrappers
• 1 jar Alfredo sauce (we use garlic flavored)
• 2c cooked and cubed or shredded chicken
• 1-1/2c shredded Italian cheese blend
  

Using 2 greased cupcake/muffin tins put 1 wrapper in each spot. Yes, they likely won’t fit perfect, that’s okay! Then put a little chicken in each. Top that with a small spoonful of alfredo sauce. Repeat the layers, putting the next wonton wrapper opposite of how you had the first. So if you had the first one so it looked square, put the second so it looks more like a diamond. Top with shredded cheese. Bake at 350 for 18-20 minutes.  Let set for a few minutes then remove from the pan.

You can add mushrooms like the post I linked, but we can’t do that due to an allergy. I think chopped up steamed broccoli would be amazing in this though!


Serve with a salad and garlic bread/toast/sticks.

Chicken Crescent Bundles Recipe

I love those little refrigerated crescent roll dough tubes! They’re awesome for so many different recipes. Though I’d prefer a croissant for plain eating :)  Recipe originally found at The Virtuous Wife

Chicken Crescent Bundles

• 1 (8oz) package cream cheese, softened
• 1c shredded cheddar cheese
• 4T butter, melted and divided
• 2T green onions
• 2T milk
• 1/2t salt
• 1/4t pepper
• 4c cubed cooked chicken
• 2 tubes crescent rolls
• 1c crushed chicken stuffing
  

In a large bowl combine cream cheese, 2T butter, green onions, milk, salt, and pepper. Stir in chicken and shredded cheese.

Open and unroll crescent rolls. Do not separate. Pinch the diagonals closed, and separate so you have 8 total rectangles.

Spoon 1/8 of the filling onto each of the rectangles. Take opposite corners, twisting together at center. Take the other set of opposite corners and twist to fully enclose. You may need to pinch together some on the sides too. You want them sealed up.

Put bundles on baking sheets, brush with remaining melted butter, top with a bit of crushed stuffing – pressing down to secure.

Bake at 350 for 20-25min or until cooked completely.

You can also freeze these before baking them. Instead of putting them on a plain baking sheet, line the sheet with parchment paper. Once assembled put into the freezer until they are frozen. Then transfer to labeled freezer bags.