My best 2010 creation

I don't create crafts, art, etc. I totally admire it, but it's not my thing. But I did create something pretty darn cute this year:

Best 2010 creation

What is the best thing you have created so far in 2010? Post pics if you wish!!

Wednesday Weekly

What are two of your favorite sports teams?

Best advice

What is the best piece of advice you have received so far in 2010?

Favorite 2010 Recipe

This one is YUMMY! We look for any opporunity to share it with friends and neighbors too.

BAKED CREAMY CHICKEN TAQUITOS

1/3 C (3 oz) cream cheese
1/4 C green salsa
1T fresh lime juice
1/2 t cumin
1 t chili powder
1/2 t onion powder
1/4 t granulated garlic, or garlic powder
3 T chopped cilantro
2 T sliced green onions
2 C shredded cooked chicken
1 C grated pepperjack cheese

small corn tortillas (and actually, flour ones are really good as well)
kosher salt
cooking spray

Heat oven to 425. Line a baking sheet with foil and lightly coat with cooking spray.

Heat cream cheese in the microwave for about 20-30 seconds so it's soft and easy to stir. Add green salsa, lime juice, cumin, chili powder, onion powder and granulated garlic. Stir to combine and then add cilantro and green onions. Add chicken and cheese and combine well.

You can prepare up to this step ahead of time. Just keep the mixture in the fridge. Work with a few tortillas at a time and heat in the microwave until they are soft enough to roll without cracking. It helps to place them between damp paper towels. Usually 20-30 seconds will do it. If you find yours are cracking when you roll them or are coming unrolled right away, just try heating them longer and try the paper towel thing.

Place 2-3 T of chicken mixture on the lower third of a tortilla, keeping it about 1/2 inch from the edges. Then roll it up as tight as you can.

Place seam side down on the baking sheet. Lay all of the taquitos on the baking sheet and make sure they are not touching each other. Spray the tops lightly with cooking spray or an oil mister and sprinkle some kosher salt on top.

Place pan in oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until crisp and the ends start to get golden brown.

Wednesday Weekly

Do you consider yourself more of a cat person or a dog person?

Turkey Tortilla Soup

This was a great recipe to use with leftover turkey. The tomato and avocado garnish really made it super tasty. Tortilla chips too. Here's the recipe from allrecipes.com

Best of 2010 Jerk Chicken

My Mom tried this for a Sunday dinner and it was an instant classic!!

1 cup bottled jerk sauce, DIVIDED

2 cups sliced yellow onion

1/2 cup fresh lemon juice

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. fresh ground pepper

6 cloves of garlic, chopped

8 skinless chicken breasts (with bones)

8 skinless chicken thighs (with bones)

vegetable oil cooking spray

1 cup beer (we used grapefruit juice-get creative! :)

6 Tbsp. ketchup

2 Tbsp. tabasco

garnish-green onions

Combine 1/2 cup of the jerk sauce with the onion, lemon juice, salt, pepper and garlic in a large plastic bag and add chicken. Marinate chicken in fridge 8 hours to overnight, turning occasionally.

Remove chicken from bag, discarding marinade. Lightly spray both sides of the chicken with cooking spray. Combine remaining 1/2 cup jerk sauce, beer/juice, ketchup and tabasco. Grill chicken until no longer pink, turning several times, frequently basting with sauce.

This was so tasty!

We served it with Cilantro Lime Rice

1 Tbsp. olive oil

1 cup basmati rice

2-3 cloves garlic, minced

Saute 2 minutes on medium heat

Add:

1 1/2 cups chicken broth

1 tsp. salt

2 Tbsp. lime juice

Bring all to a boil.

Cover and cook on low 15 minutes. Serve with zest of lime and 1/2 cup cilantro chopped.

Best new recipe you've tried in 2010

Please share in a comment or post!

Wednesday Weekly

If you could be a spokesperson for any product, which would you choose?

May the "Best ofs" begin!

What is the best movie you've seen this year (rental or in theatres)?

Sibling Rivalry

Help! My children are ages 3 yrs 9 mos. and infant. My daughter (the three year old) was initially so excited about her baby sister. She still talks adoringly about her, and to her. However, in the past week or so I've noticed some newfound aggression. She has been a lot more rough with her, including most recently, biting her finger...hard. So hard that my poor baby screamed the loudest, most heart wrenching scream I've ever heard from her. For a few moments I saw red when I realized what my daughter did. I am at a total loss about what to do. It's pretty obvious that it's for attention, but how can I not give her attention when she does things like that? Biting obviously called for a punishment. I've tried talking to her about how it's her job as a big sister to protect her, not hurt her. I've tried the usual time-outs and taking away privileges. I know this is not a rare problem. Does anyone have a solution that works?

Halfway through the year!

Hey spice sistahs--

We're halfway through 2010 already. It feels kind of crazy to me, especially since I started out the year with a newborn baby and now, all of a sudden, I have a huge almost-6-month old.

Anyway, in the coming weeks, look for posts asking you to share some of your best and most successful ideas that you've used so far in 2010. You can respond in a comment or (if you are a contributor) in a post if you would like more space to share your idea.

Do you have some ideas for me to use in these "best of 2010 (so far)" posts? Here are some examples of ideas that I have:

Best Family Home Evening activity idea
Best new recipe you tried out
Best Rainy Day Activity

Please add to my list! And watch out for upcoming "Best of" posts!

Linz

Wednesday Weekly

List five things you are really good at!!