Yummy Lentil Tacos recipe

Cory and I are (more Cory than me) on a high fiber diet. This is a recipe we tried a few weeks ago and we LOVE it! So without further ado, the recipe:

Yummy Lentil Tacos:

1 cup finely chopped onion

1 garlic clove, minced (or 1/8 tsp garlic powder.)

1 tsp canola oil (I use about a TBSP)

1 cup dried lentils, rinsed

1 TBSP ground chili powder

2 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp dried oregano

2-1/2 cups chicken broth

1.)In a large nonstick skillet, saute the onion and garlic in oil until tender. Add the lentils, chili powder, cumin and oregano; cook and stir for 1 minute.

2.) Add broth; bring to a boil. reduce heat; cover and simmer for 25- 30 minutes or until lentils are tender. Uncover and cook on high for 6-8 minutes or until mixture is thickened; stir occationally. The mixture should look like this.

3.) Put mixture on taco shell with desired toppings and enjoy the wonderful taste!

NUTRITION FACTS: 2 tacos = 364 calories, 11g fat (4g saturated fat), 17mg cholesterol, 815mg sodium, 45g carbohydrate, 9g fiber, 22g protein.

With the taco shells, instead of buying them, you could (this is what we do) cook them in a skillet with oil or about 10 sec on one side, flip and cook for 5 sec on other side. It will make them warm and yummy. OR you could use this idea http://pinterest.com/pin/252975704038604092/ (we tried them, I liked it, but they didnt turn out pretty, some of them curled over eachother.)

I was worried that they wouldnt be as good without meat, but it's actually very good! I couldnt taste the difference.

I need your help!

I need your help on something. The person who lives in the
apartment above us smokes…..and that icky smell leaks through the air vents
into our closet. Yeah. Gross. I find myself spraying my closet down with smell
goods about 20 times a day. It wouldn’t be so bad if it were in the living
room, but the closet is small, so the smell has no where to go and it is strong and it gets on our
clothes. It’s giving me headaches, and it makes my eyes burn. I try very hard
not to complain about this, because I really do LOVE our place, and I wouldn’t give
it up, but, that being said, does anyone know of a more efficient way on how to
get rid of, or keep on top of smoke smell? I spray constantly to keep it off
our clothes, but I have more things to do than spray all day. If you know of a
way PLEASE let me know! I will be forever in your debt! Thanks!

Stay tuned and remember to say your prayers!

Hawaiian Baked Chicken YUM! recipe

So, as I have mentions so many times that I sound like a broken record. I love my apartment. I love cooking in my kitchen. And one of mine an Cory's favorite dish is Hawaiian baked chicken. Holy buckets, it's amazing! I will share the recipe, but I don't have any pictures.....we eat it right away.

This was the first meal I made here in our apartment, and I was so nervous it would be awful. When you haven't cooked in two years, it's nerve racking to try and make amazing food. But if I may toot my own horn, I did quite an amazing job! (toot toot) And it is super easy! It probably takes about 1 hour from start to finish (if your chicken is already thawed.)

This comes from my cookbook: The Taste of Home Cookbook

Hawaiian Baked Chicken

12 boneless skinless chicken thighs, thawed (we have also used thighs with the skin and bone, and we didn't have any problem)
2 cans (8 oz each) unsweetened crushed pineapple, undrained
1/4 cup chicken broth
1/4 cup spicy brown mustard
1/4 cup honey
2 Tablespoon butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon paprika

1.)Arrange Chicken in a shallow baking dish coated with nonstick cooking spray. In a small bowl, combine the pineapple, broth, mustard, honey and butter. Mix well.

2.)Spoon over chicken; sprinkle with paprika. Bake uncovered at 400 degrees for 35-45 minutes or until a meat thermometer reads 180 degrees (or until center of chicken is no longer pink)

Yields: 6 servings

Nutrition Facts: 2 chicken thighs with about 1/4 cup sauce = 285 calories, 10 g fat (4 g saturated fat) 118 mg cholesterol, 288 mg sodium, 22 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 26 g protein.

We eat this with rice, which is so good with the sauce. I would put salt on top after cooking, it brings out the flavors so much better. I will sometime make more of the sauce mixture, I like the chicken swimming in it. :) I hope you enjoy! It really is very good! Let me know how you like it!

Stay tuned, and remember God loves you!

Hooray for private potty time!

I can not say it enough, I love my home! You all are probably tired of hearing it, but I cant help it. We have noisy neighbors, (I guess nothing is perfect) but we have a box fan that helps with the noise. I was reminded of a Hotel story the other day. I was taking a shower and heard a bang, and I suddenly panicked. Where was I? Was this all a dream? Have the cleaning ladies come?

When I lived in hotels, I have been barged in on while taking a shower or going to the bathroom. More than once. It surprises me how many time they don't knock. There was one day, they knocked, I let them in. They cleaned, vacuumed, sprayed smell goods, and made the bed. Then they left. It was time for my shower. I jumped in, enjoying the hot water, when I hear the door opening......

"Hello?" I call out, but no one answered my call. Then I hear whistling. Can they not hear the shower running?

"HELLO?" I yell. I hear swift walking TO THE BATHROOM!

"Is there anyone in here?" Said an unfamiliar voice.

"Yup." I call.

"Oh dear! I am so sorry ma'am! Do you want me to clean up?" is she joking?

"Nope." Why on earth would I want her to clean a clean room while I'm in the shower?

"OK, well, you have a good day ma'am."

"Yeah......You too....." I hear the door shut, and before I finish the shower I ran to lock the door and put the "do not disturb" sign on the door handle and then locked the bathroom door. But it was hard to enjoy the shower after that. I kept trying to hear if anyone else was trying to come in.

It is so nice not having to worry if someone barging in while your in the bathroom. It is nice cleaning my own things. I remember watching the cleaning ladies "clean" and I wanted so badly to either taking the rag from them and me do it all, or say "you missed a spot" Not all cleaning ladies were awful. Some were very nice and patient, and knocked. But others.........wow.

Anyway, thanks for reading. Stay tuned, and remember who you are, look both ways before you cross the street, and don't run with scissors