Wednesday - What's for Dinner?

I'm going to cheat a bit today and just link you to a recipe that I really love. All-Recipes is one of my favorite recipe sites out there. This Spicy Garlic Lime Chicken is very versatile. I made it for my brother-in-law's birthday once and everyone enjoyed it. I also just make it for a regular weeknight supper with a green vegetable and rice and it's very easy. My children aren't huge fans of spicy things, so I omit the spices for their chicken breasts and fry in a separate small skillet. Yes, I do use my old-fashioned heavy iron skillets.
I think they work the best for this meal. Hope you like this dish!
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Wednesday - What's for Dinner?

Truthfully, I am having one of those "I don't want to make dinner" nights. I woke up with a migraine (which is now, thankfully, gone thanks to the miracles of modern medicine), have carted children back and forth to swim lessons (twice) and to piano lessons. Miraculously, we did learn a lot about the Water Cycle today and my son had a great time with his Five In A Row activities this morning. It is also 91 degrees, which means we are all hot and crabby. I think my husband will be late tonight - a State of Georgia Capital police officer was shot today and this happens to be just across the street from my husband's office, hence many of the roads are closed. And did I mention that I forgot to thaw the chicken for tonight's recipe? (I guess I'll do that part in the microwave.) So, there's my pity party for the day.

After reading that last paragraph, I realize a lot of things. Someone was shot today and their family is suffering right now. I have the means to give my children swim lessons, piano lessons, and homeschool them. I don't think there's much to complain about in my world, so I'm going to make a nice dinner and have a peaceful ending to our day.

My family all likes chicken noodle soup - but it has to be hearty. This recipe is kind of like a chicken noodle soup, except it has tortellini instead of noodles. I've never made this recipe before, but it looks good to me, so if you try it and don't like, please don't blame me. I warned you.

Chicken-Tortellini Soup

1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked and cubed
9 oz. package cheese tortellini, uncooked
46 oz. can chicken broth
1 cup carrots, peeled and chopped (I'm going to use baby carrots)
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1/2 cup celery, sliced
1/2 t. dried thyme
1/4 t. pepper
1 bay leaf

Combine all ingredients in a stockpot; bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until tortellini is tender. Discard bay leaf. Serves 6.

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Sweet Sunday - Cookie Dough Cheese Ball

I love sweets! It is a huge weakness, and I'm afraid I have passed this along to my children. Yesterday I made a Cookie Dough Cheese Ball for snacking on at an outdoor theater production we we attended of Le Mis (what a GREAT story, by the way). The cheese ball was so large that we only ate about half of it.

So, this afternoon, while it was storming and everyone was just laying around watching our Atlanta Braves wipe the floor with the Milwaukee Brewers, I brought out the leftover cheese ball. It was one of those moments where I think the children (and maybe their dad, too) would have wrestled each other to the floor if their share of the cheese ball was endangered. It was THAT good. In fact, Miss B said, "Mom, you have made a magic cheese ball. Once you take a bite you never want to stop eating!"

I neglected to take pictures, but trust me - it is very very good!

Cookie Dough Cheese Ball

8 oz. package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup powdered sugar
3 tablespoons brown sugar, packed
1 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup pecans, finely chopped

Blend together first 3 ingredients until creamy; add powdered sugar and bron sugar, blending well. Fold in chocolate chips; cover and refrigerate 3-4 hours.

Shape dough into a ball; wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm. Roll in pecans before serving. Makes about 3 cups.

Enjoy! I hope you're having a "sweet" Sunday!