One Pan Dinner - Pan Roasted Chicken

I found the following recipe on someone else's blog.  At the time, I didn't think or take the time to follow the blog, so I can't really give credit where it's due.  I promise I'm not a stealer! Plus, I changed the recipe a little bit based on my & hubby's likings.

I feel like I've said this a million times but since I'm pregnant, I'm always looking for recipes that take little to no time to prepare.  What I love about the following recipe is that it super easy and only requires one pan.  I love a home cooked meal but I don't want to cook 3 individual things in order to bring an entire meal to the table. Plus, I'm not about to get fat ankles slaving over the stove for an hour.  I have enough problems with them as is.

Pan-Roasted Chicken

6 tbsp. olive oil

1 lemon, juiced

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

1 lb. trimmed green beans

8 small red potatoes quartered

4 chicken breasts, thighs or drummies (bones left in, with skin)

Preheat oven to 450* F. Coat a large baking dish or cast-iron skillet with 1 tbl. of the olive oil. In a large bowl, combine the remaining oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt and pepper, add the green beans and toss to coat. Using a slotted spoon or tongs, remove the green beans and arrange them on the bottom of the pan. Add the potatoes to the same olive-oil mixture and toss to coat. Using a slotted spoon or tongs, arrange the potatoes along the inside edge of the dish or skillet on top of the green beans. Place the chicken in the same bowl with the olive-oil mixture and coat thoroughly. Place the chicken, skin-side up, in the dish or skillet.  Pour any of the remaining olive-oil mixture over the chicken.

Roast for 50 minutes. Remove the chicken from the dish or skillet. Place the beans and potatoes back in the oven for 10 minutes more or until potatoes are tender. Place a chicken breast on each of 4 serving plates, divide the green beans and potatoes equally.

Even if you don't like beans or potatoes, the marinade that everything is coated in is super delicious so you could just use it for the chicken.

Enjoy!



29 Weeks

Things that happened this week:

1. I got kankals (is that how you spell it??) a.k.a. fat ass feet/ankles.  Where does one end and the other begin?
2. I missed my doctor's appointment
3. I can no longer fit into my bridesmaid dress
4. I can't zip my winter coats

This week has been grand. 

I should have known it would happen at some point but I was on my feet from the time I got home on Tuesday night until I went to bed.  On Wednesday, I wore a pair of flats that I wear on occasion to work to which my feet & ankles boycotted and then puffed up.  They didn't return back down to size until Friday and haven't puffed up since.  Note to self, get rid of those flats and stick to heels.  Heels don't equate to fat feet..yet.

I missed my doctor's appointment and not on purpose.  I was off a week.  I swear that I made my appointment for this coming Friday but nope, it was this past Friday at 9:40 a.m.  I realized at about noon that I had missed it and was lucky to get rescheduled for Monday.  Thank god I have a flexible work schedule.

If you all recall, I'm the matron of honor in my sister's wedding that's taking place next month.  I ordered my dress last September, pre-pregnant and in my normal size.  After I found out I was pregnant and received my dress, it was too big.  I've been trying it on about once every month or so and finally this past week, we can't get it zipped up due to the boob region of my body....apparently that's the only thing that has grown un-proportionate in size during this pregnancy.  I found a lady who does alterations as a side job and thought she might be able to help but no such luck.  She said she'd be nervous to do it.  That's a really quick way to lose business lady!  Also, she asked why I didn't order the dress a size up...ummm, well I thought it would be a fun challenge to squeeze into a dress that probably wouldn't fit 7 months down the road and then be uncomfortale and big bitch because of the uncomfortaleness on my sister's wedding day??   I guess I should consider myself lucky that I couldn't fit into clothing in my regular size at 7 months prego and not sooner.  So I had to do what I didn't want to do all along and take my dress to the store I bought it at for alterations...$90 later, I won't be naked at a wedding.   Now about that speech I have to make...

Lastly, it's been super cold this past week (with the exception of today).  I never thought I would be needing a winter coat at the end of April but apparently I do and none of mine zip up.  Who's really ready for spring or July?! 

I promise I really don't complain this much about pregnancy.  I'm ready for nice weather where I can wear flip flops, one layer of clothing and no coat everyday, then I'll be happier.

Since it was actually nice out today, the hubs & I went fishing.  Just kidding...the hubs went fishing and I took a book.  This of course was after we took part in Easter festivities at my Grandma's. 

 One fish, two fish...you finish the rhyme

 Nature at it's finest.

"Really lady?  You wanna put down the camera and help a brother out?!"



Maternity Clothes ~ Still in a mix of maternity and regular clothes. 

Sleep ~ Still going fairly well besides waking up 1-2 times a night.

Best Moment This Week ~  besides everything listed above?!  My best moment is all the time I got to spend with my hubby this weekend.  I also did yoga today from not doing any exercise all week.  I was way to tired for exercise and my feet were far to fat for it.

Cravings ~ Fruit, chocolate milk, pretty much anything sweet.

Gender ~ GIRL!

What I look forward to ~ I'm looking forward to my sister's rehearsal dinner where I get unlimited hot dogs and water and get to take in a minor league baseball game.  I watched a Rachael Ray special Friday night (that was taped back in 2004) on ballpark food and it has been making me crave ball park dogs and popcorn and I will definitely be satisfying that craving.

Milestones ~   Baby is the size of a squash.  Baby can be nearly 3 pounds and 17 inches long now.  Baby is long enough that her kicks and jabs are more noticeable.  Baby's bones are maturing but not hardening as it's important for baby's bones to be flexible in the uterus and during delivery.  Baby's bones in her head are not yet formed together, creating the infamous "soft spot".  This is necessary to be able to push the baby through the birth canal.  If the bones were fused together, making them hard and unmovable, it would be impossible to deliver a baby through the relatively small opening in the cervix.

10 1/2 weeks to go...but who's counting!

We call it her little pimp ride!

Nusery decor sneak peak...can you guess what they are or will be used for?

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter!  Until next time kitty cats!

28 Weeks

I've been super tired and unmotivated this week/weekend.  I had a period of nesting where I wanted and made every room in my house organized and clean.  Now, I'm just tired and I hope it passes.  This week has been the first week in I don't know how many that I didn't have to go to the chiropractor for my back.  It's still not back to normal and won't be until I have the baby, but the pain is no where near what it initially was.

Last weekend, I had my first baby shower.  It was thrown by my sister and sister-in-law and they did such a great job with decorations, food and games.  Baby girl girl received so many great things and cute clothes.  I can honestly say I've never seen so much pink in my life!  Barney, while looking through baby girl's closet says that now both mommy and baby each have more clothes than he does! 

Diaper cake!

Maternity Clothes ~ Still in a mix of maternity and regular clothes. 

Sleep ~ I'm waking up more frequently but once I lay back down, I'm out like a light. 

Best Moment This Week ~  staying home, relaxing and taking long naps.  We finished cleaning up the flower beds and yard today.  Our house looks so much better but we have a long ways to go with planting, transplanting and adding mulch to make the landscaping look great. 

Cravings ~ Twinkies & fruit.

Gender ~ GIRL!

What I look forward to ~ I'm ready to relax for another weekend.  I'm going to make more time to read and hopefully finish "The Girl Who Played With Fire" this week.  I want to read "Something Borrowed", "Water For Elephants" and "Eclipse" so that I can see the movies.

Milestones ~   Baby is the size of a eggplant.  Baby is approximately 2 1/2 pounds and 16 inches long.  Baby is practicing blinking this week.  Baby could possibly be dreaming about mommy (and maybe daddy?) thanks to the REM sleep she has started getting. 



Buttered Rosemary Rolls

Ever since I found out I was prego, I've been doing less cooking.  I really, really enjoyed cooking before because I was super good at it and everything came out tasting like Rachael Ray was actually living in my kitchen.  Now, I could mess up and overcook a pan of scrambled eggs.  I apparently don't understand time in relation to how long each item on the menu for a meal takes or how to cook two things at once. 

Don't get me wrong, when I do cook, everything can turn out really tasty, if I put all my effort and concentration into it or cook one item at a time.  The latter is unpractical and a waste of time, time I could be spending watching the Real Housewives.

Last night we made chicken covered in Thai Peanut Sauce from Pampered Chef (delicious and not something I would normally use but I think my buds are changing....like the time the only food made from ground beef they liked was taco meat and now they love cheeseburgers) on the grill with mashed potatoes, applesauce and Pioneer Woman's Butter Rosemary Rolls.  Healthy-ish.

Have you guys met The Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond?  If not, you need to go promptly to her website and check her out.  You can thank me later. 

Ree is my kind of lady.  She doesn't cook with overpriced, hard to find, tastes like shit ingredients, but normal things you would find at your local supermarket.  She makes the kind of food that everyone loves.  It's hearty and probably not that great for you.  But if you're reasonably smart, you can always tweak the recipes. 

Anyways, back to the Rosemary Rolls.  Holy heaven!  Seriously, these babies are super delicious.  I've been meaning to make them for months now but every time I think to add them to the menu, I have about an hour to do so and the rolls need 3-5 to rise.  Moral of that story, think about these in the morning and give the yeast ample time to work it's magic. 

Dinner was delicious.  I was so wrapped up watching the chicken, that I didn't get the rolls started timely and thus all three items weren't ready at the same time.  The rolls were late to the party.  Then I was too wrapped up in making sure the rolls didn't burn and getting the potatoes done, that I let the chicken cook a little too long and was a wee bit dry.  Nothing that a little ranch couldn't cover up solve.

FYI:  I used Kosher Salt instead of Sea Salt and dried Rosemary instead of fresh because that's what I had.  Always use what you have...it'll save you lots of random trips to the grocery store.

27 Weeks

I'm so excited that I'm finally into the third trimester.  It's been a long but short 27 weeks if that makes any sense at all. 

I am definitely prepared in my personal life to have this baby, but not on the work front.  I have so many things to get done in the next 12 1/2 weeks, give or take, that it's not even funny.  I have training to give, testing for projects, writing audits around projects, implementations, SOX testing and then the normal mumbo jumbo that goes on.  I could use a good six months but nope, I have 12 weeks.  This is what scares me.

Not birthing, not having an infant around who could be up at all hours or who could be the chillest being on the planet, no the only thing I'm scared of is that all my work shit won't be in order and everything is going to bomb while I'm out of the office.

Speaking of work, Barney started his new job last weekend and has been working every day since.  He is busy!  Don't get me wrong, while I will enjoy his paychecks, I would love to see him more than 15 mins in the morning and maybe an hour at night (doesn't every "farm widow" feel like this?!).  Good news, he doesn't have to work the weekend!  The only weekend this month where I have plans and he's off...go figure!  At least he won't be super busy when the baby comes.

Last night, season 4 of The Real Housewives of New York premiered.  I don't know if it's my obsession with New York in general, but I love to watch these ladies and I am so glad they're back!.  I wish Bethenny was still a part of the show (I love her show as well - I'm a Bravo junkie), but non-the-less, the previews indicate it will still be good and juicy, filled with drama and a side of hot messes.  I do have to say though, these ladies are probably the classiest of all the housewives.  It's turtle time!

Maternity Clothes ~ Still in a mix of maternity and regular clothes.  I lost another pair of jeans to my expanding belly.  It's just not worth messing with a rubber band all day in order to get into my flattering jeans.  The belly band really doesn't do the trick either.

Sleep ~ No problems in this area, just getting up more frequently during the night.

Best Moment This Week ~  Taking Monday off to relax and recuperate.  I just wasn't feeling that great and thought that spending the day at work would only make it worse.  I watched Tangled this week.  Yes, I'm 25 years old.  It was really cute!  I recommend to anyone with kiddos or if you just want to watch it yourself because that is perfectly acceptable.

Cravings ~ breakfast foods, grapes, chocolate & Twinkies.  I crave a Strawberry Margarita all the time.

Gender ~ GIRL!

What I look forward to ~ We have a busy weekend ahead of us.  Tomorrow, I'm hosting a jewelry party in the afternoon (I'm making Sangria and can't wait to taste test it. It's also supposed to be 80 degrees out!!) and then we have a friend's 30 1/2 birthday party Saturday night.  Sunday is my first baby shower, hosted by my sister and sister-in-law.  I'm ready to get all the necessary things to take care of this baby and I think it will make me even more excited for July to be here!

Milestones ~   Baby is the size of a eggplant.  She is getting chubby as fat deposits accumulate beneath her skin.  She relies on these deposits for energy and to insulate her against cold.  By the end of week 27, she will most likely weigh more than 2 lbs.  In the third trimester, baby enters a phase of weight gain and developmental maturity.

Week 27 prego pics:

Throwin It Back Thursday (vol. 4)

I'm leaving it to Salt N' Peppa to throw it back for me...can I get some fries with that shake, shake baby?

Want to know what song I'm currently obsessed with?  It's Kanye!  I still think he's sort of a douche for the way he's acted in the past but the man can produce records.  It's hard to hate on someone who has talent.  At least he's not freaking out like a baby, breaking windows..ahem Chris Brown.

*** WARNING: This video has been identified by Epilepsy Action to potentially trigger seizures for people with photosensitive epilepsy. 

26 Weeks

Maternity Clothes ~ My shopping trip was very successful last weekend.  I got a couple of dresses, a pair of jeans, a couple of shirts and a maxi skirt.  I am so excited to wear the maxi skirt! I'm wearing a mix of regular & maternity clothes.  I still have a couple of pairs of jeans that can be worn with a rubber band but for the most part I'm having to wear maternity pants. 

Sleep ~ I would say I have no problems in this area considering I got 10 hours last night!

Best Moment This Week ~  I mentioned it above but that was the best 10 hours of sleep I have gotten in a long time...I knew it was bad when I starting to fall asleep at 7. 

I made wall decorations for the baby's room.  I can't wait to put them up and show you all!.  I also got the mattress bought for the crib...now all I need is the bedding.  I wonder who's going to get me that?! :)

Cravings ~ Gummy worms, Ritz Bitz & pizza.  I've been getting a lot of indigestion lately.  It seems that my body no longer likes spicy foods like I loved in the past.  Anything now triggers a burning sensation in the back of my throat.  I wouldn't consider it heart burn since it's nothing like I was going through before I got pregnant.  Tums usually cures it when in the past I would have to take Prevacid which I'm thankful for.

Gender ~ GIRL!

What I look forward to ~ Next weekend is my first baby shower and I'm super excited for it!  I'm sure baby girl will receive lots of cute things!

Milestones ~  Baby is the size of a eggplant.  Baby is at about 25 percent of her expected birth weight.  Baby is now capable of inhaling, exhaling, and even crying.