Wordless Wednesday: Summer Vacation Part I

Ten!

Things get lost in Internet space. I had this post written and published. I don't know where it went.

Our ten year anniversary was on the 7th.

We look so young! We were young!

(We still look and are young.)

Oh the many events in our ten years!

College graduations and certifications.

A major move.

Three careers.

Two new cars.

One child.

And one... house on the way.

I cannot say it has been easy. We have had our rough patches. But we came through them.

We met through high school. We hung around the same group of people but we didn't interact much. I knew he was the quiet type. He was a year older than me and was in the same graduation class as my brother. Right after they graduated, we started dating in 1997. However, I had known him since 1994.

We got married in 2003. And the rest is... history

I don't think I would be who I am without him. 

I Have this.... Thing

I have a thing for lists

I am a list maker. I thrive on writing things down. I am bombarded with things that I need to do or to remember. Writing a list helps me remember what has to be done. I take pride and joy at completing the tasks. I feel accomplished when I physically mark items off the list. It's almost a thrill seeing my pages scribbled like this. And a bunch of scribbled paper wrinkles ever-so-satisfyingly in a spiral. 

Technology is helpful in that I can have a small, legible list in my hand/pocket/purse. It's also helpful to have the gentle reminder of a chirp or a buzz on my phone. I just don't feel the sense of excitement of tapping a check box that I do with scratching items off on a pen/paper list.

The only complaint I have is that it hurts to write. I don't know what happened but my index finger on my dominant/writing hand hurts. It feels as though it is in constant need of popping.

Thinking Ahead

There are things that I want to get out of my head. Just so I can clear it out and focus on something. Today, I'm thinking about summer. It's a week away. And like every summer, I plan things out. You'll see a few lists pop up here depending on what's happening in my life at that point.

Today I'm thinking ahead about chores. I really fancy the idea of tackling chores on scheduled days. I think it would really help me out in the long run to have scheduled chores instead of one big cleaning day every month or so.

I've seen a few blog(gers) that have similar ideas or schedules. I will include my references at the end of my post. I'm also adding in blogging days as well. I'm trying to rev up my writing skills. Those are indicated with this dark blue color.

Here are my plans...

• Sunday - Laundry & kitchen deep clean; Get ready for the week ahead
• Monday - Linens & towels laundry; Bedroom cleaning; Menu Plan Monday
• Tuesday - Floors & bathrooms; Resources
• Wednesday - Public areas (living room, entry ways, etc), Wordless Wednesday
• Thursday - Wrangling day (put everything it's place);  T.C.O.Y. 
• Friday - Plan following week's menu; Process paperwork; Week in Review
• Saturday - Grocery day; Errands; Family day

• Dailies: Make beds, wipe-downs, dishes, quick pick-up and laundry as needed.

Blog Planning Explanations:

• Menu Plan Monday - Linking up with OrgJunkie on a weekly basis to share menues with others
• Tuesday Resources - A few of my favorite blog posts or videos that I think deserve a bit of recognition - as small as my blog is.
• Wordless Wednesday - A few photos without explanation.
• T.C.O.Y Thursday - Take Care of Yourself - I used to write a weekly journal of things that help me take care of myself and thought they would be helpful to others. Inspiration for me and you!
• Week in Review Friday - I guess things that happen during the week. A more personal check in.

My Resources:

• HomeEc101: Weekly Chore Schedule
• 5-Day House Cleaning Schedule

Wordless Wednesday - A Day at the Lake

Counting Chickens

House Hunting

We are looking for a house. We put an offer on one house but it wasn't accepted. We've put an offer on another house, and it was accepted. We are starting to line things up! Next up comes the inspection and whatever else is next. Appraisal. Lots of finger and toe crossing. I really hope everything goes through and we get this house. I am ready for my own home. I am ready to paint and decorate and put my own personality into my living space. I want Ivy to have her own space too! And Pinterest. Oh, Pinterest. We have a lot of quality time together. I pin all kinds of DIY and decorating ideas.

I am not a believer in superstitions. I don't feel that if I announce things to the world, that everything will fall apart. If it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen. I am not at fault. Yes, I am hopeful. Yes, I am daydreaming. Yes, I am planning. But my hopes, daydreams, and plans are not solidified on the one house. I would have these hopes, dreams, and plans regardless. It does not depend on the one house. I am a planning person. I thrive on lists and having 90% of things lined up in order and planned out. Don't worry, I do have a spontaneous streak. Sometimes I like to get up and go and do without having a plan.

Favorite Food!

Our favorite meal at the moment is salisbury steak. I don't know what got me in the mood for it, but I wanted salisbury steak. I found it on Pinterest, of course! I have modified the recipe and it was delicious!

Salisbury Steak

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• ⅓ cup bread crumbs 
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp pepper
• 1 egg
• 14 oz condensed beef broth - ish, a standard can
• 2 Tbsp cornstarch
• 2 Tbsp reserved beef broth
• 1 pkt brown gravy mix

Directions

1. Mix the beef, bread crumbs, salt, pepper, and egg together and shape into 4-6 oval patties about ¾ inches thick. Cook patties in a skillet turning once until brown.
2. Add beef broth heat to boiling. Reduce heat cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove patties to a 9 x 13 casserole dish.
3. Heat mixture until boiling. Mix broth and cornstarch together to make a paste. Add to boiling mixture with a wire whisk and whisk until gravy begins to thicken. Then add the packet of brown gravy that has been mixed with one cup of water and add to the beef broth mixture in the skillet. Using the wire whisk again whisk the gravy until it is smooth and thickened.
4. Pour the gravy over the patties. Bake in the 9 x 13 casserole dish at 350 until bubbly.

(Recipe adapted from realmomkitchen.com)

Menu Plan Monday

We've been doing really well with menu planning. We have been doing what we can to reduce our food costs so we can save more money for a house. I haven't been posting every week, but we do it every week. That's what matters most.

Memorial Day is considered the start of grilling season and the unofficial start to summer. I really love having bar-b-que but since we are living in a strict apartment complex, we aren't allowed to have grilling equipment. I hope by next year that we will have a grill at a house. I also love fresh squeezed lemonade.

What are your favorite foods for summer?

Sunday - Leftover salisbury steak

Monday - Memorial Day treat - We picked up fried chicken

Tuesday - Buffalo chicken hashbrown casserole

Wednesday - Leftovers

Thursday - Ranch chicken

Friday - Salisbury steak & mashed potatoes

Saturday - Leftovers

(For more menus: Menu Plan Monday at OrgJunkie)

Blackberry Cheese Danish

Yesterday's berry picking led to today's berry-filled recipe. If you don't know this by now, I really like Pinterest and I find a lot of recipes there that I like to test out. I wanted to make a cobbler, but I don't think I will have the time to make it - unless we do another round of foraging!

Probably not the best photo of it, but we ate the whole thing, it was so good. I probably could've smashed the berries a bit but I wanted to see the berries as they were.

My recipe was adapted from http://www.laurenslatest.com/easy-blackberry-cheese-danish/

1can crescent rolls

8 oz cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 cup fresh blackberries

Icing:

1/2 cup powered sugar

2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream

1/8 tablespoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 375F.  Mix together cheese, granulated sugar, vanilla and flour. Open can of crescents and align the dough into a rectangle. Press the edges together. Spread the cheese mixture along the center of the dough. Top with berries. Fold the sides of the dough over the cheese and berries. You can get fancy and slice the sides of the dough to make pretty designs or you can be lazy and just flap it over. Either way, it gets done.

Bake at 375F for 15-20 minutes.

Combine powdered sugar, cream and vanilla. Once the Danish is fully baked, drizzle the icing on top. Then hold on to your seats because you're going to finish the whole thing before it even has the chance to cool down. 

My modifications: I halved the Danish recipe because we are just two people (Kiddo isn't into eating this type of stuff yet). We don't need that much. I just baked the rest of the dough as they were intended. Maybe I would mash the berries a bit next time and reduce the cheese mixture ratio. It's very rich. 

Berry Nice!

Last week we went to the lake. The weather had been sunny and breezy so I suggested that we take a picnic. Husband agreed so we set about our business of picking up our mostly weekly lunch from Five Guys and headed out to the lake.

I spied a mom with her two kids with plastic bags bending over picking stuff up off the ground in the bushes. At first I thought they were being awesome by picking up trash but I didn't see anything and they were still picking. My gears started turning.

So we ate our lunch, nearly being blown away by the strong gusts of wind. Afterwards, we started walking and as I was looking down, I found them. Wild blackberries. My mind wrestled with me for a moment. "Are they safe to eat?" Let's see... They're growing naturally in their season without the use of fertilizers, pesticides, steroids, chemicals, chemicals or other chemicals. What about bugs? What about them, flick them off. So I picked one, inspected it, popped it in my mouth, then proceeded to have a food-gasm. Yum!

I ran and took care of business... I threw away our picnic trash and found a bag. I started picking and just could not stop! Even Husband and Baby started picking them! Once we got home, I washed them and put them in the fridge.  I made every excuse to visit said fridge. The berries were gone the next day.

A week later, today, was a repeat of last week except no picnic. We planned to pick berries today and went out early to beat the heat. It was cloudy, a little moist from recent rains, a breezy. I was prepared with a decent bag and we just started picking. The berries this week were even better and bigger. The bushes grew and the berries ripened some more. I'm going to make a Danish in the morning with these berries. I am also sharing some with my co-worker. 

After our berry-picking, we went to the store. A single cup of blackberries is about 4 dollars! And I bet they taste horrible! Mine were free and in abundance and organic. I also saw some strawberries being grown in a planter at a restaurant. This has gotten me thinking... If they grow here naturally, can I grow them myself? I've been researching this and I plan on trying it when we get a house.  

All of this reminds me of when I was 8 or 9 years old. I was outside playing at the church I went to and I remember I picked blackberries and brought them home. My mom let me have some biscuit dough in my attempt at making a personal pie with the berries. It didn't turn out so good. I had no idea how to make a pie. I also remember picking berries at Aunt Carol's house too. Good times.

Go pick some wild berries!

Going Hunting

Alternate title: 1953

We waited until we got and signed our contracts before doing anything official. We started the pre-approval process and are on the hunt for a HOUSE! After ten years of apartment living and finally settling down, we are ready to have a housssssse.

I want a big house. It has always been a childhood dream. Brick. Pool. Ponies. Yup.

Rooms. I want rooms. I want a room for Ivy, of course. Any open space would be hers. The houses we look at have a spare space that could work as a playroom. But then extra bedrooms... I dream of my own personal space. A pseudo-chameleon of spaces, if you will. A craft room. A large walk-in closet for myself. A home office. I also dream of a guest room for visitors. That'd be nice. "That'd" looks tremendously weird. Anyway, that'd be a fourths room, counting the master of course. 

I want a largish back yard. Kid(s) and dog(s), you know? Kids now spend too little time outside. However, I know Ivy loves being outside so I want that for her. I want a pool. I love swimming and so does Ivy. It would be nice, but it isn't absolutely necessary.

Anything else, Lena? Mmm, I don't kno......

A big kitchen! I lo-... We love to cook! Storage! Organization! Appliances that work!

AAaaaand speaking of cooking.

I tried another new recipe, care of Pinterest of course. Salisbury steak, which was easy and yummy!

Recipe forthcoming.

Have a night! I am.

Happy Mother's Day

Today, and this whole weekend to be honest, has been pretty relaxing. I was able to sleep in both days (but didn't mean to yesterday). I took a big nap yesterday and had a catnap today. Saturday must be explained away as a muscle spasm requiring medication. I'm still feeing twinges today. Boo to that! We also ran errands yesterday.

My wonderful man made me my breakfast choice of strawberry and chocolate chip pancakes. Ivy gave me some sweet little gifts too! A photo book from this past year with pictures of the three of us and a new bottle of nail polish. I think someone recognizes my near-obsession.

Both days we spent some time at one of the local parks where Ivy played until she wore herself out. She sure has been touchy-feely lately. I love to snuggle with her! The funniest thing... Today she just pushed her hand through the bottom of my shirt sleeve to the neck and just stayed there. Skin on skin contact was needed, I guess. She also used to slide her hands down my "fugg" boots during the winter.

What a cutie!

Anyway, it was a nice little holiday and a wonderful weekend all-around! I hope your Mother's Day was nice!

Running Wish List

Nope, this isn't a Wish List that is continually updated. It's literally a list comprised of what I want for running. Technically, all you really need to run is a working pair of legs. I've got that. These are the things I would like to have to make my runs more enjoyable.

• An armband for my iphone - I like to listen to music while I run. It helps pace me and I like to have something energetic to keep me motivated. I have a decent pair of earbuds. But I also need to make a good playlist.
• Shorts - The Nike Tempo shorts are what's popular right now. I have one pair and they're comfortable. They have a convenient pocket in the back and are of a decent length. I like that I'm able to be comfortable and modest at the same time. I want more so I don't have to wash my shorts every other day. I'm kind of tired of that already - just 4 days in.
• Shirts - The shirts that I currently own are thick, stiff, t-shirts. They don't do a real good job of wicking away sweat and they cling to my skin making it uncomfortable. The friction of my arms rubbing up against my skin and shirt chafes me too. I'd like some lightweight shirts that cling without being tight or creating heat.
• Decent running shoes - I saved this one for last because this topic is rant-worthy. I cannot just pick up a pair of running shoes. First, I have to scour shelves and shelves of stores. My feet are small. Almost embarrassingly small. I wear children's shoes. If you want to get technical, I am pretty small and my feet are proportional. I'm okay with that. What I'm not okay with is how limited I am. Even though I'm small, I don't want to add to my childish appearance with glittery, floral, Barbie shoes. Running shoes are difficult to find. A few years ago, I achieved this by going to my local running store (Run On!) where they fitted me with some shoes that fit my feet, are made for running, and don't look like kiddie shoes. I need to get some more as the pair I have are worn out. They're 8 years old.

I'm sure there are other things that I'd like. But for now, this will do. I won't be able to make any of these purchases any time soon. We have some big plans for our money.

Running!

I did it! I finally got up off of my butt and committed myself to start running. I meant to last week. I meant to in April. I meant to start during spring break. I meant to on January first. I meant to last November. I meant to. But I just didn't. Today, that changed.

I have several reasons why I'm running.

Mental health - The proverbial 'They' aren't kidding when they say exercise makes you happy. I will mentally benefit from this because I do suffer from depression. Running in the past, I know I felt very happy. I am hoping this works for me again.

Physical health - I am not the healthiest of people. My weight has been going up and down, but mostly up. I know that running will help maintain my weight, if not decrease it. I am also hoping this will help with pain I have in general. I have scoliosis and deal with back pain and muscle spasms daily. I also have arthritis in my knees. Again, when I ran in the past, I was not suffering any pain. I really don't know how it's possible, but running helped!

Awareness - I am running for my aunt who is battling breast cancer. I dedicated my Color Run in April to her. There are other health concerns I am running for, too. Heart disease, diabetes, and anything else I believe is an important health concern. I want my runs to be charitable, to profit someone who needs it. The Color Run, while a for-profit organization, donates to causes such as the American Heart Association.

Couch to 5K - I walked a 5K four years ago for the local zoo. I didn't participate in any more running events because I was pregnant and life got busy. Once I found out about The Color Run, I signed up to be notified when the registration opened for the local event date. I signed up and participated and had so much fun. Life is still busy but I am making time for running. I signed up for The Color Run in November. Since TheThree-year-old seemed to like the finish party, I plan on taking her with me - especially since her birthday will be right around the corner. It will be like a giant birthday party!

Goals - I have a list of goals I want to complete (it needs to be revised) and I think doing a marathon is on that list. So, shortest of the long-term goals is to participate in more 5Ks. The next goal would be to fully run a 5K. Next would be to run a half marathon. And then the longest long-term running goal would be to run a marathon.

There you go! I hope you're in for the long haul with me!

Run for My Life!

I'm all over the place today!

It is a good morning. Is it going to be a good day? I'm in a good mood right now and I hope it sticks around. I know I'm in a good mood because I am planning. Excited planning! I'm feeling motivated. It all started last night. My only complaint is that I'm in some pain - neck and back.

• I cleaned - I just haven't been motivated (I'm taking that as a sign of a low). But I did all the dishes, cooked dinner, put all my clothes away, made the bed, did laundry and vacuumed. And, I'm planning a thorough cleaning either this weekend or during next week.
• I'm starting to plan for the annual girls' beach weekend with my girlfriends. I play host/chef/bartender. I really want to do some more recipes and some "activities".
• I'm really wanting to run. I participated in The Color Run 5K and I've signed up for the fall run. I need to get back into running. I ran a few years ago and that was the best I have ever felt - physically and emotionally. I was rarely even in any pain. I have also done some side research about being physically active and depression - I know I will only benefit from it. Plus, I would really like to start doing 5Ks on a regular basis.
• Vlogging - I know I'm not great at it. And I really dislike sitting around editing clips. I would love to just sit and do a one-take kind of thing. I have some ideas.

Another cycle

I cannot figure out what may have brought this on, but I am experiencing another mood swing down. Teeth clenched and scowling. I woke up like this. I would have thought that taking a half day and being away from work would benefit my brain, but no.

Because it is just sitting there in my brain, I am going to get this out there. I am not exceptional at anything. I'm okay at things, but not extremely talented. I live in the real world, okay? I have realistic expectations of myself. I've said that if I had tried harder, I would be taller. What am I good at? Mediocrity. I feel bad about this. I tend to make a joke out of it, but I really do wish that I had been really great at something. Dance? Flute? Cooking? Sewing?

I want to run. I'm stuck in this rut of feeling lack of motivation. And I feel ashamed that I am placing the blame on my mental instability. There are days that I want to just stay in bed. For months. However I know that if I actually got off my lazy, unmotivated, depressed ass, it just may help my brain. Is this to be my motivation? Run for my sanity? It certainly couldn't hurt.

Should I plow into the running scene with my mediocre gusto?

Stupid, but interesting dream...

Aliens (Giger's aliens) were taking over the universe. Earth as we know it is still green, rock, water and humanoid races living in houses. Technology is upped - hellooww flying cars! And I was piloting an awesome jet-car that looked like Batman's rambler. Monsters big and small walked peacefully among us, but were rare. I was stealing money and guns. I absorbed my loved ones, changed shape and could fly. At the end of this dream, the aliens were infecting humanoids and it came down to a complete shooting fest at my deceased aunt's house and I was wearing some weird prison/space suit. Saving the planet while simultaneously evading the law... WAKEUPTIME!

They're just getting progressively more vivid and strange.

Menu Plan Monday

Menu Plan Monday Here We Go!

We have been pretty consistent with our weekly menus. Husband is in on the action and helps me plan for the week. Surprisingly, we don't have any Pinterest recipes this week. I am getting back into couponing and saving money where I can. Our favored market had a BOGO deal on two types of meat - pork loin and ground beef. So I got in on those deals. I had to repackage all that meat because it's just too much for 2.5 people. So in essence, I picked up about 10 meals for pretty cheap. Our menu this week features two of those meats. This week's BOGO was on chicken tenders. We eat mostly chicken so we saved for those dinners too.

Sunday - Chicken with couscous
Monday - Pizza
Tuesday - Tacos
Wednesday - Chicken parmesan with penne pasta
Thursday - LOs
Friday - Honey Apple Porkloin
Saturday - LOs

Tacos this week feature a non-packaged taco seasoning that is laden with extra chemicals or preservatives. I made my season myself. It's a recipe I've used before when I taught culinary arts. It was a success so I saved it. Look for that recipe here soon. Honey Apple Porkloin is a recipe that Husband found. There will most likely be a post on that later too.

The Color Run FUN!

So you read the story, now here are the pictures.

(The official starting line)

(After I stopped running the first time)

(The first color: Yellow!)

(After orange, they spayed us with purple)

(You can't really see it but there are a TON of people in the background. High-fives the entire length of this!)

(For Aunt Wanda)

(The colors are amazing!)

(A better side?)

(Another stretch of oncoming traffic. More High-fives!)

(Awyeeeah!)

(Blue haze - people were crazy here!)

(More art.)

(Fat Amy quote!! XD - Finish line home stretch)

(At the finish line!)

(Claiming my finish line medal!)

(She went into the paint pit with me and threw my yellow pigment.)

 One of the best times of my life!

Happiest 5K

They don't boast about it for nothing. It is the freaking happiest 5k on the planet.

Rewind! Prior to my last post, I had really considered transferring my registration to someone else. I didn't know who but I knew it would be troublesome. I made the promise to my aunt that I was doing this in honor of her. I can't not keep a promise. The day before the race, I felt better. The day of the race, I wasn't thinking at all. Autopilot. Eat. Dress. Get out of the door. Get to the race on time. Try not to be too cold.

There were a few completely unnecessary frustrations before getting out of the car. But once I got into the crowd, I only thought of the journey - just a short distance of 3.3 miles - and why it was so meaningful. As the sun grew higher into the sky and the upbeat music pulsed, it hit me that I was alone in this. Yes, I was walking and running with so many other people, but I had no one to personally share this experience with. And this is a reflection of my depression. Sure, there are people with me, but really, I experience this alone. But it is something I can do. I thought of giving up, quitting and losing interest. But I can't do that. I have to fight.

Our wave was ushered through the start and I just started jogging. I did pretty well for not having run in a while - about 125 yards. However, my legs were already sore and I decided to walk most of the race. The first color I received was yellow, followed by orange. I was not impressed with the lacked amount of paint I received. Then I walked to a sprayer and got purple. Then, the length of the course was about a mile of white going and coming. It was amazing to see so many people doing this! I veered to the inside lane and started high-fiving on-coming racers - and a happy birthday shout-out.

The next color was pink. I skipped through to get my honorary color for Aunt Wanda. As I got my pink, I had special healing thoughts for my sweet aunt winning her own battle. And then blue. Another course of high-fives, especially for the kiddos doing the race. I got so much blue. There was a thick, blue haze and it was amazing. It is my favorite color.

The finish line was a short distance away and we heard encouraging words to finish with. Green was then sprayed. Before I crossed the finish line, I met up with my husband and he gave me my color packet. Ivy climbed through the partition and I picked her up and carried her through with me. I opened my pigment packet (yellow) and she got to throw it multiple times. She also put her little handprint on people's shirts. She had a bit of color run fun too.

I vowed to fully take her through the course in November for her 4th birthday. Oh I am already planning this out. Im going to be more involved in the fun aspect of it all - and more prepared.

But look at this. I think I am really happy here. This was just before going through the finish line. Yes, the sun was shining in our eyes. But that smile. Can't beat it. And that was how it was for the rest of the day. Achy but happy.

I told myself I would train so I could run this race. Oops, I didn't train. But now I intend to train. I want to do more 5Ks.

Challenges

I have been thinking lately about dedicating a blog or possibly a vlog about depression or being so pessimistic. Maybe even include some morbid junk to liven things up a bit.

This week has been super challenging and I cannot fathom why. I have some good hunches but I am not an optimistic person to begin with so I don't know if those would actually be valid. One thing is for sure, I miss my family terribly. It is completely tragic that the area formerly known as out hometown is such a lack-luster area or I am sure we would move back. I know our marriage would survive it at this point. However, this is not what I wanted to talk about.

I have been having daily headaches. That's all they are, are headaches. They aren't debilitating or nauseating, so I know it isn't a migraine, but the sure are annoying. Maybe it is a fluctuation in my brain chemicals or hormones. Who knows? I sure have been terribly low this week. I passed over a train track yesterday at the same point the train was passing me in the underpass. I thought that would have been awfully convenient. It is very difficult to accept all of this. These are the lowest points I have ever been. My doctor has said there would be days like this, but that doesn't make it any easier.

Today was a tad better though. I didn't have to force myself to smile today. I was actually pretty chipper.

Another thought... Ryan asked me if I was still planning on running/walking my 5k this weekend - The Color Run. I signed up for it as soon as the Dallas date had opened registration. I had been planning on doing this for at least a year. I will be pushing through my anxiety and depression to do this. I dedicated it to my dear aunt who is battling cancer. Hell, if she can do what she is doing, I am going to battle too. For her. For my mind.

I picked up my race packet and bib this evening. I even got a few other things. As well. Ivy came into the store with me and saw someone donning the head of a unicorn costume. She needed a picture with the unicorn. Whatever Lola wants, I guess. Oh and the shirt I was wearing had unicorns on it too.

Today was a better day.

Pinterest Kitchen

This post has been sitting as a draft since February. Apparently I was using my phone to write this post and it never published. Well, I'll be!

The story behind this recipe. Of course, I was on Pinterest again and it was originally posted as a lower fat recipe for the health conscious of a certain dietary following. Not naming names here but my inner fat child was poo-pooing to low fat suggestions and said just make what I have. 

A former student was coming over to discuss her future career and education options because she is interested in becoming a teacher. And as my husband and I are both educators, we had a lot of information for her. I decided to cook that evening for all of us. 

The culinary and food science teacher in me was strangling my neck because we all know that you're supposed to test a recipe before feeding it to <s>the animals</s> guests. I have grown rather confident with the recipes I had been finding on Pinterest and just went with it. And it was another success.

The below recipe provided enough to feed 3 people and offer 2-3 more leftover meals. Even the baby enjoyed it. Not gonna lie, it was an involved recipe but I'm sure it would be easy enough if some things were leftovers from previous meals. But it is rich and yummy. 

Cheddar Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta

Ingredients:

• 1/2 lb penne pasta
• 4 slices bacon, diced
• 1/2 Tbsp butter
• 1 lg chicken breast, boneless & skinless, cut into bite sized pieces
• 1 Tbsp all purpose flour
• 1/2 pkg ranch dressing mix (1/2 oz)
• 1 c fmilk
• 1/2 c  shredded cheddar cheese
• salt & pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Cook pasta according to package directions in boiling salted water; drain, return to pot, and keep warm.
2. Meanwhile, cook bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp. Drain on paper towels. Drain all but 1/2 tablespoon of bacon drippings from the pan.
3. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Add the butter to the reserved bacon drippings, then add the chicken to the same skillet. Cook until tender, no longer pink, and slightly browned
4. Sprinkle the flour and ranch dressing mix over the chicken, stirring to coat evenly. Stir in the milk, and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened and bubbly. Stir in the cheddar cheese and half of the reserved bacon; cook and stir until the cheese is melted. Taste for seasoning and adjust as needed.
5. Serve each plate of pasta with more bacon sprinkled over the top.