14 weeks

     Tomorrow I will be 14 weeks pregnant. It's still so very hard to believe. So far, I have been blessed with an easy pregnancy. No morning sickness. Only a bit of fatigue that I manage to battle very well. But this pregnancy has given us deadlines for projects that didn't exist before. For example, when we bought our 2 bed, 1 bathroom house over a year ago, it was with the stipulation that the attached garage be converted into a master bedroom. Later we decided to add a master suite as well. Why not? We live here and plan to for quite some time. My husband and a few of his buddies are helping with the renovations but it was a slow process. We were in no hurry. But now, we need a nursery for the little bundle of joy growing inside my belly. So now it's crunch time. And my husband has been working hard. He poured a new concrete foundation for the bedroom, put up exterior walls, and last night, he started building our new pantry. The old pantry is right next to where our master bathroom is going to be and we wanted to make it just a bit bigger. I am so excited about all the projects but at the same time very nervous. There is so much to do:

Build the master bedroom
Build the master bathroom
Fix the hole in the wall behind the tv
Build the pantry
Fence in a portion of our yard (the dogs need outside space badly!)
Install new flooring and paint the nursery
Purchase and install blinds in the bedrooms to block the morning and evening sunlight
Baby proof everything

    On top of this list, is my worry list about all the things the baby will need. I have been blessed so far with a few free items or cheap items. I have a crib with bedding, a diaper champ, a changing pad, toys, high chair, newborn bottles, calming swing and a few other items. But I still have mounds of diapers to purchase, clothes for baby and for me, and so many other items.

    But today I am grateful for the progress my husband made on the new pantry last night. Here is a sneak peek!

Its been a while, but I promise to make up for the time lost!

Let's start with some amazing recipes.

First: Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy Shrimp Broil


I've made this many ways but have found that the shorter way tastes just as good as the longer way.
Here's what you will need:

10 russet potatoes ( this will be way to many but that's ok because we will use the leftovers to make a great side dish for another meal)
1 lb shrimp
5 ears of corn (halved or cut into thirds, your choice)
Tony Chachere's Original Creole Seasoning (to your taste)
McCormick Perfect Pinch Fiesta Citrus Seasoning (also to your taste)
butter (to your taste)
olive oil (to your taste)

Boil potatoes until soft, boil corn until soft.
In a separate pan sauté shrimp in olive oil.
Drain water off potatoes and corn and leave in pot. Add shrimp to pot. Add seasonings, butter, and olive oil.

It's just that simple, inexpensive, and delicious.

Second: Creole Mashed Potatoes


Here's what you do once you have eaten all of the shrimp and corn and are left with just potatoes.
In a large pot rewarm your potatoes. Transfer to stand mixer. Add 1/2 cup to 1 cup of milk, 4 tablespoons of butter and 2 tablespoons of sour cream. Mix until smooth and creamy. Add additional salt and creole seasoning to enhance the flavor

Third: Tortellini Pasta Salad


Here's what you will need:

2 pkg (9oz) refrigerated cheese tortellini
1 lb fresh green beans cut into 1 inch pieces
1 small red onion diced
2 tomatoes diced

dressing:
1/2 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon garlic minced
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon oregano

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add tortellini  and cook for 3 minutes, add green beans and continue to cook 5 minutes or until tortellini is tender. Drain well and cool. Place in a serving bowl with tomato and onions.
In a jar, mix all the ingredients for the dressing. Shake well. Pour over pasta salad and refrigerate at least one hour but preferable 8 hours. This helps the dressing to soak into the veggies and the pasta.

See I told you I would make up for lost time. 3 amazing recipes and all are very easy and rather inexpensive. I hope you enjoy these!

Tuscan Lemon Chicken

Being the mother of a six year old often means that we sacrifice eating the foods we love so that she can eat the foods that she loves. Although she loves things like lettuce, broccoli, and celery, she refuses to eat anything potato except for French fries. So dinner can often be a challenge. On most days, I can make any type of chicken and she will eat it as long as she can dip it in ranch. My husband does the same. They never appreciate the taste of the chicken. They just slather it in ranch dressing.
Well my friends, I got a standing ovation for last nights creation. Not only did my husband love the chicken, but my daughter told me for over an hour how yummy it is. She helped me to make this delicious chicken because that is how simple it truly is. Here's what you will need:

8 chicken breasts
olive oil
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
2 tsp rosemary (crushed)
2 lemons to be squeezed
1 Tbsp minced garlic

On a baking dish, cover chicken with olive oil. Add salt, pepper and rosemary. Squeeze two lemons over the chicken breast and add a bit of minced garlic to each chicken breast.
Place in the oven at 375 degrees for 40 minutes. Once the chicken is cooked through, transfer each breast to a pan of hot olive oil to brown. And Voila! Family Friendly Chicken.

This really is a must try recipe! Hannah suggested we make it again today she loved it so much, but I suggested that we wait until maybe next week.

Bon Appetit!