Friday Fare!

After 3 snow days... the boys went back to school!!!  Bruiser may rock the snow dance, but I have been groovin' to the BACK TO SCHOOL dance all day.  A friend of mine even took Sweet Pea for a play date this morning.  Ahhhh, some sweet, sweet silence was had by this overworked mom!  I got to clean the house and IT STAYED CLEAN! 

(Of course, the kids are all home and it is trashed now...)

I love a good routine, so snow days are always bittersweet.  I love the break from all of the running around, but it can also be even more work when we are all trapped inside.  None of us are homebodies, so we all get a bit stir crazy.  Hopefully this blizzard was the worst of it.  If not, my kids might be in school well into July.

Well, it is Friday and I am going to keep posting some recipes for those of you who are all out of ideas.  I have some recipes that our new to us that I can't wait to post.  Today, I am going to post one of my go-to recipes.

It's no secret that we eat a lot of chicken around here.  I also have Italian blood running through my veins, so I love a good pasta dish.  Plus, I like to make use of all of the leftovers around here.  And, let's not forget that I am a bit of a lazy cook.  As a result, I have developed a basic recipe that I make a lot around here.  I love it because I can change the veggies, cheese, pasta, or even meat and the dish is completely different.

Since you can adjust this recipe to your family's liking, I thought I would share it with all of you.

Playful Pasta

1 bag of whole wheat egg noodles
1 bag of frozen peas
6 Tablespoons of butter (and it isn't even a Paula Dean recipe!)
1 1/2 cups of mild cheddar cheese
2 cups of cooked and shredded chicken
1/2 teaspoon of garlic (or more)
2 Tablespoons of dried parsley

1.  Cook both the pasta and peas according to the packaging and drain.

2.  Place the pasta and peas in the pan you cooked the pasta in.  Add the butter, garlic, and parsley.

3.  Add (warm) chicken and cheese.  Mix well. 

4.  Serve immediately!

Remember, you can change up the meat, the type of pasta, the vegetables (fresh or frozen), and the type of cheese.  I have even been known to use fat free Italian dressing or olive oil in place of the butter.  It just depends what I have in the pantry on any given night.

Another pointer?  Buy those rotisserie chickens that they sell for $5 in the deli section of the grocery store whenever you can.  I pull the meat off and place it in a freezer bag in my freezer.  I always have shredded chicken on hand when I am in a pinch!  This one tip keeps me sane when it's been a long day and I don't want to end my evening slaving over the stove...  Which is pretty much EVERY night.  (Throw wrestling raw chicken into the equation and you just might find me on the phone ordering a pizza to be delivered!)

Am I the only one who often feels like Cinderella?  I'm NOT talking about the Cinderella with a magical Fairy Godmother, a beautiful gown, and glass slippers.  I am talking the one with disheveled clothes, endless chores, and some rather talkative and demanding children  mice.  Thank goodness I DO have a Prince Charming!

Yep, I'm living the good life.

Actually, I am.  It just isn't as glamorous or as stress free as I once imagined, but I wouldn't change a thing... most days.

Have a wonderful weekend!!