Chicken Panini Recipe

Chicken Panini is a super easy, yummy, hot meal. We LOVE them our way, but there are endless ways to make them. Here is the recipe from our menu from this week (Jan 26th- Feb 1st).

Whole wheat bread
olive oil
shredded mozerella
feta cheese
roma tomatoes
garlic & herb chicken (skinless, boneless), sliced at an angle
mayo

I don't have an official panini machine, so I just go with my George Foreman grill. You can also use a skillet & just press another skillet on top.

I spread a teeny bit of the olive oil on one side of each piece of bread. Then make a sandwich with the rest of the ingredients. I only use a little feta, because it's strong & Corey just likes a little kick. Add a little mayo on the last piece of bread. Then press it on the George & it takes... ehhh... 5 minutes & it's perfectly grilled, cheese melted. Yumm! It's great with soup, chips, or salad (depending on your diet).

I also love to add basil & spinach, but I didn't have any fresh though.
You can do anything really. It's best to experiment with your favorite ingredients!

One great thing I love (not everyone does) is brie & chocolate. It's a great snack or dessert. I would use italian bread though, not whole wheat. A few slices of brie (without the rind, for me) & some chocolate chips. Talk about addicting!!!

Menu Plan Monday- 26Jan- 01Feb

Wow, it has been a very long time since I posted a planned menu! I have been menu planning, just not getting around to posting it.

I decided to increase our grocery budget, I actually doubled it. It was too small & then with the prices going up, something HAD to be done. Not to mention the fact that we eat out about once a week (weither for lunch or dinner).

Before I post, can I share some good news? I am eating better throughout the day. Not craving as much fast food & junk. Although chocolate is still a fave, I go for two pieces of dark chocolate (rich in antioxidants) rather than endless amounts of cookies & candy bars. lol. Yaye!

Okay so here is my menu for this week:

Monday: Chicken Paninis with broccoli cheese soup

Tuesday: Steak, baked potatoes, & green beans

Wednesday: Minestrone (we can't get enough!)

Thursday: Spaghetti w/mixed green salad & garlic bread (ohhh I can't resist)

Friday: Salisbury Steak, mashed potatoes, corn (Corey's fav)

Saturday: Fettucine Alfredo with Broccoli

Sunday: Chicken Ceasar Salad

If you want ideas on how to menu plan or if your in need of fresh menu ideas visit the Organized Junkie's webblog.

34 weeks!

I don't have too much to write, except that I am so stuffed with this baby, that I think he should come soon. hehe I'm sure it's not comfortable for him either!

Okay, so I make my dear sweet husband take millions of pictures of me, so I can find a few useable ones. He's getting really good at photography & directing me into poses he knows I'll like. He is so good to me. So here are the latest pictures or as he likes to call them Pic-toe-so-s.

I can't wait

I can't wait for my little man to be born.
I can't wait to get to my prepregancy size (or smaller)
I can't wait to feel sexy again
I can't wait to have an hourglass curve again!
I can't wait to be able to sit without my ribs hurting.
I can't wait to see his little face!
I can't wait to see Corey hold him.
I can't wait to run again.
I can't wait to jump into the hot tub (like an extremely hot, hottub).
I can't wait to not sweat in the middle of the night (even though the heater is practically off, I still sweat!!).
I can't wait to sleep on my tummy.
I can't wait to try this breastfeeding thing.
I can't wait...

What about you?

33 weeks!!

So, It's been awhile since I wrote on the blog. I didn't really feel like there was a lot of things happening, but OH that is not the case ANYMORE!!

I had been praying for snow all winter (not in SC everyone said) & guess what I woke up to this morning?? The blessing of SNOW!!! There is about an inch or two on the grass! YAYE!! If I talked to you about my desire for snow, you know how much this means to me!!! hehe

I'm like a giddy little kid! I know this might sound a little crazy, but I really feel like this is a love gift from God. A little gift showing me I am loved by him. I love it. Thanks God.

Okay, so here's a picture Corey took through the window (he refused to come out & play, I guess he's too used to waking up to snow).

This was Molly's first time in the snow. She didn't love or hate it. She actually rolled around in it, I couldn't catch it on camera, it was funny.

William Update:

He's growing well, perfectly according to "fundus height" I'm not sure what that means. lol. He is starting to kick a teeny bit less, because he is getting very cramped in there.

Actually, the other day I was cleaning & he pushed a heel or elbow or something out. My whole belly was round except one area there was a very defined bump sticking out a lot! It was crazy, unfortunately he was too camera shy to let me catch it on film. hehe

We started Childbirth preparedness class a couple weeks ago, we have a class tonight. It is such a great class, the RN teaching it is sooo FUNNY! Totally frank & we love that. It's also good in that I feel a lot more confident & prepared for labor, motherhood, breastfeeding, & etc. A lot of the stuff we go over, I've already read, but it's more reassuring hearing it from an RN. lol.

God has really comforted me that I am made for this. That children are my passion & that will roll over in a lot of great ways into parenthood. PTL!!

The Church Search

So, not sure if you all know, but Corey & I have been searching for a church since we got here. It's been pretty hard to not have a church & the churches here are very different from what we are used to. On top of that we've had some obstacles even getting to churches. Corey's work schedule, visiting family & friends, helping family & friends move & etc., getting sick, & missing times have all kept us from trying some churches. The first 5 churches, not really for us.

Today, however, we went to Harmony Church. It was awesome. It's very much like what we are used to. Contemporary music & a great message. The people were very nice. It was a good mix of age groups. It was relaxed, casual, & it really seemed like the service was based on beliefs & convictions, not just traditions (tradition is very very "important" in the south, i've gathered from the other churches we visited). One other thing I like about it, is that it seems like the Lord is working in the body.

Anyways, we are very excited to learn more about this church & make friends. Please keep praying with us, that we will know if this is where God wants us or not.

Thanks to everyone who has been praying for us!! Praise the Lord!

Check out this Belly!!

Look at that belly!! oh yeah I'm so pregnant! I am having a hard time believing I still have 9 weeks left. I think he's comming early, but I'm sure every pregnant woman thinks that. lol.

We are ready for him to be here already, but we do still need to get a few things first. I want to have everything ready for him before Febuary (because, like I said he's coming early, lol).

ah, I'll keep this short, I'd rather be taking a hot shower, lol. Hope you all had a wonderful New Years!!

*Did you make any Resolutions?

None for me, I'm just going to keep with what I've got going on, trying to be healthy & responsible.