Wednesday, November 07, 2007



My Creative-Every-Day for 11/6 was this yummilicious dinner dish:

KING RANCH CHICKEN (ALSO CALLED CHICKEN TORTILLA CASSEROLE)
4 chicken breasts
12 corn tortillas
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 cup milk
1 medium onion, chopped
1 can Ro-Tel tomatoes
1 lb. Cheddar cheese, grated
jalepenos or other hot peppers, sliced (optional)

Boil chicken breasts. Cool and debone. Tear into bite-sized pieces; set aside.
Cut tortillas into quarters; set aside.
In a bowl, mix soups, milk, onion and tomatoes. Butter a large baking dish. Put a layer of tortillas in dish bottom, then a layer of the soup mixture, then chicken, and then cheese. Repeat, ending with the cheese on top. Bake uncovered at 300-325F for 45-60 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly. Serves 4.
The Hubster fried up some extra tortilla quarters in "his" big chicken-fryin' cast iron skillet (seriously, it's his exclusively because he loves it so; I get to touch the small one to make corn bread in). We topped it off with some sour cream, a salad and some guacamole, and called it Texas Heaven. Try it on a chilly evening when you need something to stick to your ribs, as they say. Good comfort food.

I Was RAK'd!
Started out innocently enough. Went by Sherry's blog, noticed her pretty blog banner and left her a comment. Last night, I find an email from her with {gasp} a banner for me! She'd made me one. How sweet is that? Sherry, you rock, seriously! Anyway, what do ya'll think? Isn't it pretty? THANK YOU!!!!! I just love everything about it.

I really admire the talent to scrap digitally. I've been scoping out trying to learn it and I decided yesterday that I need some kind of mentor cuz I suck at figuring out some parts of the software. I'm hoping I can find someone who could answer questions if I get stuck.

I checked out Sherry's gallery at 2peas, and you should see her first digital LO: Go here and leave her some praise...that was her first one and it looks so good, it just amazes me!

http://twopeasinabucket.kaboose.com/layout_images/1248688.jpg
I can only pray that my first digital layout looks 1/4 that good! If I can ever get through one, that is...

Well, it's another hump day. I am really feeling pressure in every area of my life lately. Have you ever felt jazzed and excited about life, yet depressed and dreadful about it, too? (I know, right? You're going "what???") Well, I have been. I think I'm really over-committed again. The Creating Thing every day is bearing down on me like a balloon made of lead. I think I'm going to have to slow it down to only a couple of times a week, because I have to do my Christmas gift-making, that was the deal I made with myself, and I've about run out of things that can be made in a day. Which of the two is more important here? I mean, "uh, sorry little Johnny and Jenny, Auntie Aimes couldn't get your gift finished because I was too busy creating a finished product every day" or "Here, you get a card or journal page, cuz it only took a day to make."

Not. So, you see my dilemma. Yeah, should have never signed up, sorry, Leah. I really thought it could work. I definitely will be creating every single day, but nothing to show for it except for every so often. That challenge is really more suited to art journal pages and such.

Well, great, now I get to feel like a failure for not being able to do it even a whole week. Man, can I ever set myself up? I guess I could try and just do a 30-minute doodle or drawing every day, pure fluff at the busiest time of the year, and call it a therapeutic break. We'll see.

So now, do you see, my attitude blows. Like, nothing to live for, even though that isn't anywhere near the truth. And, I am jazzed about learning digital and scrapping some layouts again the old-fashioned way, too. I'm burned out on cards, though. I needed a break and got a bit of one, but family birthdays are starting up again. Plus the few I make for Christmas. Back to the card factory grind.

I think I just want to be a curmudgeon. Just for that, I'm making chocolate chip cookies today. Oh, and I thought I was going to be gaining some weight (under the it-figures rule of Murphy's Law), but I actually lost 2 pounds. Didn't even walk a lot this past week, either. Must have been the yogurt and cereal. Maybe that Special K ad is correct!

10 comments:

Gina said...

Woo hoo!! There you are! That chicken dish looks awesome - just the thing to inaugurate my new cookware. Aimes, don't stress about creating every day. It's supposed to be fun, hun! I think the fact that you update your blog so regularly is enough creativity for a day, no? I wish I could be as dedicated.

So.... - vous parlez Francais, huh? J'ai oublie beaucoup de Francais! So sad - I need a refresher course. :)

Heather said...

That chicken casserole looks yummy!

Linda said...

I wouldn't worry too much about creating every day if it is stressing you out. Keep it fun!

I saw your comment about the MM paper. The paper I used came like that and is in the Halloween collection. I haven't thought about tracing that bracket paper and keeping a template of it. For me it would be one more thing to jack up and get annoyed about. But if I was to do it I would use a piece of chipboard that comes with cardstock packs or my online orders.

Congrats on losing 2lbs! Remember to keep creating fun!

Lynn said...

I just love your new Banner! That is just awesome! It must be nice to be that talented.

I also, have no clue on the digi-scrapping front. I'm not so sure I want to know right now either.

Now that casserole looks like heaven! I might have to try it out before wrestling season approches in full force. Once that starts we only eat home cooked meals about 3 days a week, ugh.

How have you been feeling lately? I've been in quite a bit of pain, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed for my treatment tomorrow to kick in. I truthfully don't think its going to, but I'm hopeful. I go back to the dr next Thurs. for my check up and we will discuss what needs to be done now. I hate change, but if I have to I will.

As for the Creating Thing everyday, I wouldn't worry about it too much. You blog just about everyday and that right there is creative enough for most people. Like Linda said, Its suppose to be fun. Its not suppose to feel like a dreaded chore.

I hope everything is going well by you, If you every want to chat send me an email mystry77ldy@aol.com anytime.

Anonymous said...

Boy that food looks so goooood! I shouldn't have waited until dinner time to come look! I'm copying that recipe down - I think everyone in my family would love it!

Sherry said...

Yummy, that looks good. ;) Your welcome about the Banner, the banners are easier than a page.

I hope your stress goes away! :)

Linda said...

Back again to let you know that I fixed my profile, just for you! I had no idea that my main blog wasn't showing up there so thanks for letting me know.

Linda said...

Back again to let you know that I fixed my profile, just for you! I had no idea that my main blog wasn't showing up there so thanks for letting me know.

csimmers said...

Love the new banner. I'm with you about learning to digi-scrap. I have PS Elements. Just haven't made the time to sit down with it.

Your recipe and meal looks absolutely yummy. It's the kind of meal I like to make ... easy and plenty of leftovers. LOL!

As far as the project a day thing goes ... I think you should just be happy that you're able to be creative each day whether you complete the project or not. I think for me it's about having any time to be creative. It always makes me feel better. If I force deadlines in, then it takes away some of that joy.

Oh, and by the way, the projects you've been working on are great! I love 'em.

Heather said...

Aimes... you don't need to post a picture of what you create everyday. Just write about what you did! You create something everyday and it doesn't matter what it is! Okay, it does. Don't post about poo. That's just not right. But hey, everything else is good!