Chicken Recipe

I usually share recipes and homemade things in March as part of a Made in March theme, but so far I've only been blogging about the deck so today I have a great baked chicken dish for you.

You can call this whatever you wish.  It was just something I threw together as a variation on cordon-blu and it stuck as a new favorite.

Chicken breast, plain or dipped in bread crumbs
spaghetti sauce or even pizza sauce
deli pepperoni (3 or 4" big circles)
sliced provalone or other favorite cheese

Put a small bit of sauce in the baking dish.  Add chicken breast and top each with pepperoni slice(s) and a cheese slice.  Dump the rest of the sauce over the chicken.  Add olives, mushrooms or other favorite add-ons.  Bake at 350 until the thickest chicken breast is done.  Sprinkle with more cheese like parmasan and serve with salad, your choice of veggies, pasta, and warm crusty bread.  Also, if you have really picky eaters, you can throw in some frozen meatballs to reheat with the chicken cooking and this recipe can be made in a skillet or crock-pot too.

Day 10: Spring Break Projects

FINAL DAY!  We are on the final day and we had hoped to finish the deck, but nope.  We got 1/2 of the 3rd side done.  The third side is all above our heads reaching.  It is really a workout!...especially when it is 85 degrees out!  The last side requires a ladder on uneven ground so we are dreading it. 

No matter...we are pleased with our efforts for the week and we can work on the deck a little each night.

Day 9: Spring Break Projects

Its amazing what a day of sunshine can do for building a deck!  In fact it got down right hot on the deck.  We worked until after 10pm last night so it was too dark for a photo.  Hubby took this one today before we started working again.

Day 8: Spring Break Projects

Rain, rain, REALLY go AWAY!  Tomorrow is supposed to be dry.  Slow progress today, but progress! 

Day 7: Spring Break Projects

I can actually walk out onto 1/3 of my new deck!  The support posts are all in place and the decking is done in an area big enough that I can wheel out onto it, turn, and come back inside!  And I FORGOT to get a picture today!  I was so focused on keeping the kids off the deck and out of daddy's way that I forgot to take a picture.  The twins, Nate & Matt are wanting out on the deck so bad.  I have a feeling that it will get lots of use!  We had about 4 hours without rain and things really came together fast during the dry morning.  Tomorrow maybe dry all day so we could get a lot done if it is!

Day 6: Spring Break Projects

Digging holes for posts in the rain.



Well, another wet day.  More mud.  However, despite the mud, progress was made on the deck.  Obviously not as much as we had hoped, but progress.

Corrine modeling today's bracelet.

Day 5: Spring Break Projects

Well, today marks the 1/2 way point in Mr. Workman's Spring break time off.  Of course, it rained most of the day.  The afternoon was an on and off light rain so Mr. Workman could work outside.  However, the yard is too muddy and mushy for my wheelchair so I helped from the back door.  It was a cold experience just sitting in the doorway so I'm sure Mr. Workman was VERY chilled by this crisp 1st day of Spring! 



The bracelet.



Corrine got her school work finished around 1:30pm so she suited up in her pink rain poncho, pink snow boots & a big pink and burgundy bracelet that had me trying hard to hide laughter.  What can I say, she and Vanessa our are girly, girls!  I wouldn't think of wearing jewelry to go help frame a deck, but then again there was a time that I wouldn't have gone outside without my make-up....oh so long ago!  At any rate, I loved watching her help her dad.  It was the highlight of my day!  By the end of the day, all the wire ties had been removed from the chain link fence that we taking down, and we have a basic and LEVEL frame for the 12x16 portion of our new deck. 

  

Tomorrow originally called for SEVERE thunderstorms with wind so I'm praying that goes away.  Hopefully by tomorrow night, the frame will be finished and maybe even some deck boards will be in place.

Day 4: Spring Break Projects

Today could best be described as "FRUSTRATING!"  We did some work inside first thing this morning and we got outside and put the first support for our new deck in place AND RAIN...HEAVY rain!  So Mr. Workman grabbed the "weed n feed" and the tick treatment and went to work with the speader since these are supposed to be spread when it is going to rain.  He got done and it stopped raining, but the yard is supposed to dry after the treatment before being walked on again. 

Over the last few days, we had discovered a small list of new supplies we are needing and we went to get those at Lowes, but by the time we returned home, it was REALLY raining again.  We sorted stuff in the garage until it was time to go meet my mom and get Matt and Corrine.  I took Grace for her turn at Grandma's and when I got home, it had rained the whole time that I was gone!  Its STILL raining as I write this and there is a chance of rain everyday this week.  When we planned this week, there was only a small chance of rain on Thursday and Friday!  Frustrating....I'm sure we can work in the rain, but who wants to?! I'm praying for dry days!

Ugh! Gotta love do-it-yourself projects on a tight schedule!

Day 3: Spring Break Projects

It seems Sunday is here just in time!  Mr. Workman seems to be a bit sore from keeping up with little Mr. Workman (David) yesterday.  However, since he has translating to do on an adoption (which he also hopes to finish over Spring Break), then today was a quiet day of trying to translate with the twins and Nate determined to get and keep his attention too.  Oh what a day tomorrow should be!

BTW-Grace watched the kids after we got everyone in bed and Mr. Workman and I went out for dinner together.  It was SO nice!

Day 2: Spring Break Projects

Day 2 (Saturday) of 10: 

We are coming to terms with how badly we have neglected our yard, especially the dog pin area.  Mr. Workman and little Mr. Workman (David) worked all day today and there is still more to do!  However, at the end of the day, only the dog pin needs more work and one stubborn bush that we really need a chainsaw or saws-all to tackle it due to its closeness to the neighbors' (both of them) fences.

David was so proud that he could "pick up huge, heavy trees, just like a Super Hero!" Therefore, he had to "show off" his muscles by carrying the branches and such over his head and throwing them on the pile to be burned.  Its so cute to see a little boy want to do everything his Daddy does. 

I however feel SO smoked.  We burned all yesterday afternoon.  Then David asked for smoked bacon for breakfast.  Then we burned all day today.  I'm SO ready to wash my hair!  I'm sick of smoke smell!

Mr. Workman also got all the family room ceiling tiles replaced except two so hopefully the rest of that project will go quickly.

Day 1: Spring Break Projects

DELAYS

Well, our day started with hubby's eye appointment and me watching the kids while I tried to work on reports.  Then about the time hubby got home, the school called and said that Hannah was sick with the flu so he took off to get her; armed with extra clothes, a towel and a bag.  Hannah got home and comfortable, just in time for the next "round".  Therefore our projects didn't get started until 2pm.  I took the babies, Grace & David to get a part for the Prius in Joplin that I had ordered after Mr. Workman blew a tire on his way to work on Thursday.  That tire did ALL kinds of body damage when it blew and the tire was LESS than 90 days old!  I already spend $50 on fixing the blinker and the tire and this broken lens cover part that had me in Joplin instead of helping at home.  (Plus I still need a side mirror and am hoping ebay can help me save some money.)

WORKING



L to R:  Mark and Luke
with "their" flags.



So I got back with the kids who immediately started being helpful....um, sort of...David was being helpful until a friend invited him to play, but we appreciated his 5 wagon loads of leaves that he collected for us.  The twins were playing while we worked and found these neat orange flags marking the AT & T lines in our yards and the decided these were the perfect toy so when I looked up, Luke had one in each hand and was declaring, "Un fer Mark and un fer me!"  They were very happy with their finds!  Daddy is glad he took "before" pictures so he knows about where DigRite had the flag placed!

Not exactly a romantic evening by the fire.

We were able to get 3 side of the house free of leaves and cut out two overgrown bushes.  Ed also trimmed the hedges.  We had hoped to get all the leaves burned and two more bushes removed, but considering the unplanned flu and errand to Joplin, we are pleased.