I'm always looking for new recipes and I love eating/cooking chicken. So, I was excited to find this recipe on Pinterest:
I already had chopped spinach, ricotta cheese, and shredded cheese mixed together from making Spinach Rolls, so I just added garlic cloves, bread crumbs, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. From there, I spread the mixture on the chicken breasts that I'd cut in half width-wise. I rolled the edges under, topped with marinara sauce, cheese and basil then put it in the oven for 25-35 minutes at 350 degrees.
The result was terrific and my super picky dad even liked it! I really enjoyed this recipe and hope you'll try it!
White Chicken Chili is one of my favorite soup recipes, especially during cold weather. It's a healthy recipe from Spark People. I made a lot extra and put it in the freezer.
I made a couple of tweaks, I added more cannelloni beans, and more chicken stock. Here's the tasty recipe.
What's your favorite soup recipe?
While out for surgery last month, I watched The Fault In Our Stars. I'd heard of the book and the movie; I had thought it would be a sad, teenie-bopper movie.
I fell in love with the movie and the depth of the characters. Gus, the male lead character, played by new kid on the block, Ansel Elgort, was a dream of a leading man; he was sweet, funny, edgy, super cute, real and vibrantly alive. The lead female, Hazel Grace Lancaster, played by Shailene Woodley. I enjoyed watching Shailene Woodley in Divergent and this was a much different role for her. In Divergent she's strong, brave, and in charge. In The Fault In Our Stars she's sick, weak, yet brave and deep.
The movie focused on teenage cancer patient, Hazel. Hazel's life is full of doctor's appointment, medical tests, and her parents. At the request of her doctor and mom, she starts attending a therapy group for teenage cancer patients. She hates it. There she meets Gus who unabashedly starts flirting with her and spending time getting to know her. No one had ever forced their way into her life and stayed until Gus. On top of that, she finally starts living life. Seeing the pain of what the parents with terminally ill children go through was eye-opening and obviously, I felt their pain. I'll stop there, but I was so surprised by how much I enjoyed it. I laughed and I cried; it was real.
Over fall, I saw the movie, If I Stay. I'd originally thought it would be different than it was, as it featured several genres of music; interesting. Overall, I wasn't not happy with how the movie ended, but it was different. Chloe Grace Moritz the lead star is dating David and Victoria Beckham's son, Brooklyn.
One of my new favorite songs, Nothing is Wasted by Jason Gray. The lyrics really resonate with me and my hopefully healing heart:
The hurt that broke your heart
And left you trembling in the dark
Feeling lost and alone
Will tell you hope's a lie
But what if every tear you cry
Will seed the ground where joy will grow
(chorus)
Nothing is wasted
Nothing is wasted
In the hands of our Redeemer
Nothing is wasted
It's from the deepest wounds
That beauty finds a place to bloom
And you will see before the end
That every broken piece is
Gathered in the heart of Jesus
And what's lost will be found again
(chorus)
Nothing is wasted
Nothing is wasted
In the hands of our Redeemer
Nothing is wasted
(Bridge)
When hope is more than you can bear
And it's too hard to believe it could be true
And your strength fails you halfway there
You can lean on me and I'll believe for you
And in time you will believe it too
(chorus)
Nothing is wasted
Nothing is wasted
Sometimes we are waiting
In sorrow we have tasted
But joy will replace it
Nothing is wasted
In the hands of our Redeemer
Nothing is wasted
I sure hope my pain and tears haven't been wasted and that God can use it all for His good.
Not crazy about the music video, but check it out:
I made my New Year's Resolutions pretty late this year.
1. I'm not dating for at least the first four months of the year, maybe all year (it's up to God). I took myself outta the game and deleted myself from the two dating sites I was on. Some I'd been on for roughly 8 years. I realized that those sites were a continual source of disappointment and reminder that here were 5 new matches today that were also not going to work. I really felt prompted by God to get outta the game. Even if I've said in the past that I wasn't trying, I always was. I decided to stop trying. Yes, I still notice cute guys, but I've decided to not worry about things. I'm feeling MUCH more comfortable with turning 31 this year, than I did turning 30. There was something emotional about 30. Maybe it was because I realized I didn't have many/any of the things I'd hope I'd have at 30 (married, house, kids, etc.) It's actually been pretty freeing to quit trying.
2. I'm also making a conscience effort to cut down my Facebook and Pinterest time. Now this one is definitely a work in progress, but I want to be among the people living life versus living it through social media.
3. I've also trying to be careful about what I see and listen to, as you think about what you spend your time on. So, no 50 Shades of Grey or Magic Mike for me. I want to have a pure mind and heart. Definitely challenging!
What I hope to fill my time with because of these changes is 1) God; 2) actually living life through spending time with friends, traveling more, going to movies and concerts; 3) focusing more on school. When I'm not addicted to catching up on on social media every morning, I read a devotional with scriptures (Jesus Calling by Sarah Young) and have time to pray. This keeps me in a positive frame of mind heading into work. I've been making a conscience effort to not text, but call and catch up with friends; actually share life. I've started this and it's been refreshing and so rewarding.
Any thoughts? I'm feeling inspired! Are you? What are your resolutions?
