Come Follow Me at a Simply Klassic Home!!!

I keep seeing comments and new followers to Betty Crocker Wannabe, which is great! I'm thrilled you are still loving this blog. However, I won't be adding new content, so I would love if you would change your link to www.asimplyklassichome.blogspot.com.

I'm currently sharing a 31 Days of Simply Homemade recipes series, and in December, I'll be hosting a 12 Days of Christmas Printables party!!

So please click on over and A Simply Klassic Home. I promise you won't be disappointed!!!

Balsalmic Chicken Tenders

I'm back with another yummy recipe! Balsamic vinegar used to be one of my favorite condiments but it's been ages since I've cooked with it. I decided to try a new recipe and of course had to share it here!

Balsamic Chicken Tenders
10 (or so) chicken tenders
1/3 cup chicken broth
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp italian seasoning
1 Tbsp oil
salt to taste

1. Mix all of the ingredients and pour over chicken in a zipped plastic bag.
2. Marinate for 30 minutes
3. Heat olive oil in a skillet.
4. Fry the chicken over medium high heat until no longer pink inside.
5. Serve with noodles or a salad.

I served these with buttered noodles sprinkled with Parmesan cheese. Yum!! I made a double batch and saved some for chicken salad lunches this week at work.

A Chicken Recipe and New Blog & Etsy Design Services

It's been ages since I posted, but I wanted to share a quick recipe with you.

I love things that are easy. Who doesn't? One of my favorite recipe jumpstarts is the store bought rotisserie chicken, and it's even better when you get them half off which happens at my store after 8 pm! One chicken usually gets us at least two meals.

I just searched my pantry to come up with a great meal.

Chicken Roll-Ups

1 rotisserie chicken, shredded
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 Tbsp minced garlic
1 cup chicken broth
2 Tbsp chili powder
1/2 - 1 cup sour cream
2 cups shredded cheese (we like it cheesy around here!)
Corn tortillas (about a dozen)

Heat a small amount of olive oil in a skillet and saute onions until clear and soft. Add garlic and saute for a couple of minutes. Add shredded chicken, chili powder and chicken broth and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer on low for 20-30 minutes. Uncover, and simmer 10 more minutes, or until liquid is reduced. Remove from heat.

Wrap a stack of tortillas in a clean towel and microwave for two minutes. This will make the tortillas soft enough to roll without hardening them.

To the chicken, add the sour cream and half the shredded cheese and stir. Place a generous spoonful in the center of a tortilla and place in a 9"x12" pan, seam side down. Repeat until the pan is full.

At this point, you could cover with salsa or enchilada sauce, but I didn't have either on hand, plus I actual prefer them "dry."

Top with remaining cheese, cover loosely with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 5 minutes.

They turned out a little like taquitos, a bit crunchy on the ends. This got a thumbs up from my picky eaters, I'm sure your family will love it too!

{Linking up to the parties you see in my sidebar.}

I wish I could be spending more time here at Betty Crocker Wannabe, but my real life is taking me away from blogging more than expected. I am, however, expanding my Blog Design Shop. Have an Etsy shop in need of a new design? In the market for a new business card? Just need to freshen up your blog design? Stop by Simply Klassic Designs and see what's new!

Life Can Change In the Blink of an Eye

(This post was also published at Simply Klassic Home.)

Things are changing in our household and I'm going to be putting the blogging thing on hold for a little while.

Most of you know that I adopted my son as an infant. This past week I found out he has a two year old sister, and we have been asked to bring her into our home, with the intention of adopting her. We said yes, and were informed today that the placement should take place by the middle of next week. They prefer the process to move quickly as it is in the best interest of the child.

I have not yet told Cooper, as I don't think he will understand exactly what it means and it would just confuse him, and I don't plan to tell him until after we meet her this weekend. But I know that he will love having a sister.

So, with that said, I will be taking a hiatus from blogging, while we all settle into our new roles as brother, sister, and mother of TWO little ones. If you are so inclined, I would love your prayers during this time of adjustment.

I promise I will be back, I just don't know how soon. I will, however, be continuing with blog design so if you're interested in blog makeover, please visit me at Simply Klassic Designs and read about the specials I have going on right now.

I'm Breaking Up With You

Ok, not really, let's just call it a trial separation.

When I started this blog a year ago, it was for the purpose of sharing recipes. It has since become a clutter of topics, and I've been having a bit of writers block since I'm not really sure of it's direction.

So I've decided to split my two loves...home decor/crafts and recipes/mom stuff. I've started a new blog, that I can devote to my home; a place where I can share my journey as I am learning to find my style and create a home that we love. The majority of the blogs that interest me are about just that, and really, that's where I'm at in my life.

I will still be posting here at Betty Crocker Wannabe, but will most likely limit posts to recipes and parenting antidotes. Don't worry, I'll still keep the printables coming!

Thank you for being such loyal followers of Betty Crocker Wannabe, and I hope you will come visit me at A Simply Klassic Home, where I will share my journey as a home owner, the trials and triumphs, remodels and redecorating, organization and crafting, and the attempts to create a simply beautiful home that we love!

Homemade Egg (Mc)Muffin

I'm always looking for ways to make our morning routine go smoother, and breakfast seems to be the thing we never have time for. Soooo...drive-thru it is!

I LOVE McDonald's Egg McMuffins, but I also know that they aren't the healthiest thing we could be eating for breakfast (or the cheapest). So what to do when you want something quick and easy and inexpensive for breakfast? You make them at home! It's so easy...you cook the egg right in the microwave!

I first tried this recipe out on a Sunday morning. Rick called me at work the next day (on my cell) three times until I finally called him back. I asked him what was wrong. He said "How did you make that egg in the microwave?" Yup, that's why he called THREE times in FIVE minutes. I gave him the instructions, and could hear my boss laughing in the background. I told Rick my boss thought it was funny, so ten minutes later I got a text from him saying "I'm texting so your boss can't hear...but that was so cool!"

Try it for yourself.

Breakfast Sandwich
One whole wheat english muffin, toasted
One slice of cheese
One egg

Spray a coffee mug with cooking spray. Crack the egg in a coffee mug and scramble with a fork. Cover with a wet paper towel and microwave for about 40 seconds. Place the cheese slice on one side of the english muffin, top with the egg, and the other muffin half and enjoy! You could also add Canadian bacon, a sausage patty, or bacon...although those don't exactly make it "healthier."

Chewy Oatmeal Yogurt Bars & A Special Blog Makeover

It's amazing how in the blog world, things can so unexpectedly touch your heart. I just completed a blog design makeover, that Kate of Salvage Dior had given away, for Deanna of It's Just Me. The day after she won, Deanna was diagnosed with Stage 1 Cervical Cancer. She has a husband and two girls, and for her eight year old daughter, this will be especially frightening. She is ready to fight, but could really use positive thoughts and prayers. I was blessed this week by meeting her, and I was thrilled to be able to give her something fresh and new, amidst the pain of her diagnosis. If you have a moment, please go by and check out Deanna's blog and make sure to show a little love while you're there.

Click on her button to visit Deanna's blog.

I tried out a new recipe the other day. It's satisfying for the sweet tooth and good for you and filling too!

Chewy Oatmeal Yogurt Bars
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 (8-ounce) carton yogurt (vanilla or fruit flavored)
1 egg, lightly beaten
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
2 Tbsp milk
2 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
3 cups oats
1 cup add-ins (diced dried fruit, raisins, cranberries, chocolate chips)

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a large bowl, combine sugars, yogurt, egg, oil, milk, and vanilla; mix well. In medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; mix well. Add to yogurt mixture; mix well. Stir in oats and add-ins of your choice (I used cranberries and chocolate chips; 1/2 cup of each).
3. Spread dough onto bottom of ungreased 9x13 baking pan.
4. Bake 28-30 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool completely on wire rack. Or just do what we do and cut into them as soon as they don't burn your fingers when you touch them.
5. Store tightly covered.

Makes about 24 bars.

I have more recipes to share later this week as time permits...we are beginning a remodel of our enclosed patio on Friday...which happens to be the playroom and laundry room, so we will be living for two weeks without either. Pray for me.