Simplify the Holidays Recipe: Sweet and Spicy Picante Chicken
As we browsed the aisle at our favorite grocery store, HEB Grocery, my husband and I were kind of just walking aimlessly. With the Holidays in full swing my Momma Brain seems to be shut-off unless it has to do with Presents, School Events, Christmas Decorating, or Blogging (not necessarily in that order). I couldn't figure out what to buy, much less what to cook! Been there?Holidays can be stressful and downright busy, so I'm on a mission to find easy and budget friendly recipes and Simplify the Holidays. Will you join me?
-Do you have any low-cost recipes you'd like to share?
-What's the ONE thing you cook when YOUR Momma Brain has turned off (your throwback recipe)?
Prep: 5 min.
Bake: 20 min.
Makes: 4 servings
Ingredients:
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1 1/2 cups Pace® Picante sauce
3 tbsp. packed light brown sugar
1 tbsp. Dijon-style mustard
3 cups hot cooked regular long-grain white rice
Directions:
1. Place chicken into 2-qt. shallow baking dish. Stir picante sauce, brown sugar and mustard in small bowl. Pour picante sauce mixture over chicken.
2. Bake at 400°F. 20 min. or until chicken is cooked through. Serve with rice.
Wordless Wednesday Caught Red-Handed
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Christmas Quilted Wonderland
It's a warm & fuzzy feel here in Texas as we prepare for Christmas. This year, money is tight, weather is cold and our focus is on the birth of our Savior and family togetherness. This is the first time, in about 5 years, since we've been able to spend Christmas with our immediate family so we're relishing all that the Season brings.Especially times like this.
Last week, we celebrated with Ganee and Papa, helping them put up their Christmas tree. After stuffing our bellies with food galore, I relished her amazing Quilted Christmas scene. Take a look:
Decorating the tree is one of our favorite Christmas activities. When we lived miles and miles away, we invited over any friends we had time to muster while in that town, make yummy appetizers, turn on the Christmas music, and decorate away. We plan to do the same next year, only with our family.
Music Monday: The Motions
Life seems to get so busy during the Holidays. You have school events, parties, shopping, dinners, parade's, performances, wrapping presents, decorating, cooking, and... for me... blogging.Blogging is my personal outlet to express my life. I do it here, at My Sippy Cup Runneth Over because I simply love to write. More over, I love to write about the people I love and the experiences that result by having them in my life.
At Momma Findings I've brought the love I have for writing, with products we use every day. As a consultant, product reviewer, and brand advocate, it gets pretty chaotic with conference calls, emails, meetings, and events. I do, however, love every bit of it. It's landed me paid opportunities with companies like Label Daddy, advertising dollars with other sponsors, and a NEW endeavour coordinating Twitter Parties for select Gaming companies.
I keep telling myself I love staying home with the kids and this helps me do that, by providing an opportunity to contribute to the household income and enjoy what I do. This, however, also makes me lose perspective on the day-to-day stuff like playdates, coffee with friends, quality time with Hubby, etc.
I go through the motions, just merely trying to get it all done.
Yesterday, I had a chance to talk to one of my closest friends. She encourages me to continue blogging, even on those days where I'm ready to throw in the towel. This sweet woman has been there throughout this blogging adventure and I, simply, can't be here (in blogworld) if her support, all of a sudden, vanishes.
But yesterday, as I heard her voice, I sensed she needed encouragement after hearing her say she is in "That Phase". If you're a blogger, you know what I mean, the phase where we just want to quit. It gets to be a lot and we feel we're not up for it.
I'm here to say, if ANYONE is up for it, TONI would be the one.
So....
Dear Friend,
You are one of the most inspirational friends I have.
You've laughed with me.
You've cried with me.
You've directed me.
You've encouraged me.
You don't have to go through motions, there is an all consuming passion inside of YOU that comes straight from God. Sometimes, we break and need to fight through the nothingness of life, but there is always one definite, one all powerful, one love that take us away and helps us balance what is important in our life.
Sometimes, it's sweet time with friends.
Sometimes, it's time in The Word.
Sometimes, it's a day with the Laptop closed.
Sometimes, it's snuggle time with your husband.
Sometimes, it's a morning on your knees in prayer.
Sometimes, it's simply listening to what God is saying, silently.
Today's Music Monday reminds us to give everything, instead of going through the motions.
Album: Something To Say
This might hurt
It's not safe
But I know that I've gotta make a change
I don't care If I break
At least I'll be feeling something
'Cause just ok
Is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of life
Chorus
I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
Without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking
What if I had given everything?
Instead of going through the motions
No regrets
Not this time
I'm gonna let my heart defeat my mind
Let Your love
Make me whole
I think I'm finally feeling something
Take me all the way
Take me all the way
Take me all the way
Wordless Wednesday The Nutcracker
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Music Monday: Boston
Want to get away?Yeah.
It's not a commercial for me today, since yesterday I DID want to get away, somewhere far away, where no one knows my name.
As a Mom, I sometimes feel under appreciated, but it was different yesterday. That under-appreciation felt as if I was a doormat, each child cleaning their feet on my very weary body, my husband dusting off his work boots on my weakening soul.
After a day of sweeping, mopping, laundry, dishes, cooking, and cleaning out our SUV, I relished the 5 minutes of quiet, as my husband took our three children to the corner store. My daughter had Tooth-Fairy money and wanted to buy an ice-cream for her and her brothers. When they returned I asked, "Did you bring me something?" Their answer was so cold and uncaring as they said, "Dad said we didn't have to get you anything, but you got a few minutes to yourself."
I thought to myself A few minutes to clean up the dinner dishes doesn't really count as relaxation and then a flashback went streaking through my head from last Christmas. The Christmas I woke up and everybody's stockings were full ............ except mine.
Unappreciated yeah.
Tired Yeah.
The music that runs through my head today is an older song, but new all over again as I contemplated my "Get-Away" from Motherhood yesterday. It's called Boston and what I love so much about it is how heartbreaking this sweet girl is, how she feels like nobody else understands her... or worse... even cares.
You don't know me and you don't wear my chains
This line can be spoken to just about anyone you feel can never fathom what you go through on a day to day basis, however, I take comfort in knowing that there is One that does know me.
One who shed his blood when the crown of thorns was placed on his weary head.
One who was beaten and forced to carry MY cross on that day.
One who's last words were Forgive them, for they know not what they do.
One who was so beautiful and pure.
One who died on the cross and bore MY sins.
He wears my chains every day and today, as life keeps me moving with mundane tasks, I can take heart knowing it wont' always be like this. The kids will grow up, marry, and move away. I'll wish there was laughter down the hallway and hand prints on the TV.
One day I can face The One who took my sins away, saved me, and loved me through it all, a place where everyone knows my name.
Album: All The Stars And Boulevards
In the light of the sun, is there anyone? Oh it has begun...
Oh dear you look so lost, eyes are red and tears are shed,
This world you must've crossed... you said...
You don't know me, you don't even care, oh yeah,
She said
You don't know me, and you don't wear my chains... oh yeah,
Essential yet appealed, carry all your thoughts across
An open field,
When flowers gaze at you... they're not the only ones who cry
When they see you
You said...
You don't know me, you don't even care, oh yeah,
She said
You don't know me, and you don't wear my chains... oh yeah,
She said I think I'll go to Boston...
I think I'll start a new life,
I think I'll start it over, where no one knows my name,
I'll get out of California, I'm tired of the weather,
I think I'll get a lover and fly em out to Spain...
I think I'll go to Boston,
I think that I'm just tired
I think I need a new town, to leave this all behind...
I think I need a sunrise, I'm tired of the sunset,
I hear it's nice in the Summer, some snow would be nice... oh yeah,
Boston... where no one knows my name... yeah
Where no one knows my name...
Where no one knows my name...
Yeah Boston...
Where no one knows my name.
Wordless Wednesday Yummy on the Go!
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