This sauce is the boss.

Exodus 14:14: "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." Sometimes simply being still is more difficult than balancing and juggling the many tasks that each day brings. I can just imagine that our sacrifice of control and time must be such a sweet gift to the Lord. He will fight for us. He has already won our battles for us. All we have to do is be still and relinquish control, to loosen our grip on our own tiny little worlds. My Heavenly Father goes before me and fights for me. And for that I am so grateful.

Sorry for the lack of posting recently. My life has been consumed by first grade to say the least, along with preparing to move. One month from today we will be on day two out of 3 days on a journey to Virginia!  But in the meantime I have three more weeks of life with 6- and 7-year-olds that keep me on my toes! Here's a little peek at how our packing is going....

Apparently we need to be featured on "Hoarding: Buried Alive...Cat Edition". I found their...ahem*treasures* while moving the chair to search for boxes we stashed when we first moved in. Disregard several points that this picture makes....

A. That we have obviously not moved the chair to sweep in a while. 

B. That we have been enjoying Hershey kisses and Starbursts from the wrapper evidence.

So that's where my aquaphor has disappeared to! I paid some good money for that no-ordinary chapstick!

And another peek...

Moving for three days with cats brings up all sorts of things to ponder. For example, litter box. In an enclosed space. Delightful. 

Well, school and life have kept me from trying out new recipes for a while and I have kinda been stuck in a cooking rut. Until this week...Spring Break 2013 baby!!! My exciting week has included...doing school work, packing boxes, laundry, etc. Highlight of the week though, in all seriousness, has to be not getting out of pajamas or putting on makeup for days on end. Poor James. I have also had the time and energy to try out some new recipes, both of which I'd like to share here. 

Queso Smothered Orzo

From: http://www.plainchicken.com/2012/10/queso-smothered-chicken.html

For chicken:

1 bottle Lawry's Baja Chipotle 30 minute marinade

4 boneless chicken breasts, pounded to even thickness

**The above chicken marinade is from the original recipe. For those of you with a grill...go for it! For those of us in a tiny apartment with a tiny mini-Weber grill and no charcoal (our only bag got soaked when left on the porch in a rainstorm...go figure.) I just cooked up some chicken in a skillet. Still good!

For orzo:

1 Tbsp olive oil

1 cup orzo

2 cups chicken broth

2 Tbsp tomato paste

2 tsp chili powder

For queso:

8 oz Velveeta, diced

1 can Rotel

1. Pour Baja Chipotle Marinade over chicken and let marinate in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Grill chicken  until done. (Or cook up in skillet!)

2. While chicken is grilling, prepare the orzo. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat and add orzo. Cook, stirring constantly, until lightly browned.

3. Stir in chili powder, tomato paste, and chicken broth; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Fluff with a fork.

4. Combine Rotel and Velveeta in a medium bowl. Heat on high in the microwave in 30 second intervals until cheese is melted.

5. Place orzo on a plate, top with chicken, smother with queso. Devour!

---------------------------

This next recipe made me never ever want to eat jarred pasta sauce again!!! Who am I kidding...I know I will but I am totally head-over-heals obsessed with this sauce! I was practically licking my bowl after my second helping. A side of bread to completely sponge off the sauce sticking to the side of your bowl is a MUST. Move over Sweet Baby Ray's bbq sauce...this sauce is truly the boss!

Roasted Pepper and Basil Pasta

From: http://pearls-handcuffs-happyhour.blogspot.com/2012/08/butta-la-pasta.html

1 lb. penne pasta (I used whole wheat)

4 cloves garlic

1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/3 cup grated Parmesan

1 cup jarred roasted red bell peppers, drained

1 cup fresh basil leaves

Salt and pepper to taste

1 cup heavy whipping cream (optional)

Roasted rotisserie chicken (optional)

*I didn't add the heavy cream - the sauce is perfect and creamy without it! I'm telling you I have an obsession with this sauce. It can do no wrong in my book, other than leaving you with some nice garlic breath. Also, I didn't add the chicken and my carnivore of a husband didn't miss it!

1. Cook pasta according to package directions.

2. While pasta is cooking, heat olive oil on medium heat and cook garlic until it is golden and fragrant.

3. In a food processor (or blender), pulse the olive oil and garlic until it makes a paste.

4. Add red peppers, basil leaves, grated Parmesan, salt, and pepper. Pulse until it makes a thick sauce. 

5. Pour sauce over hot pasta and top with more cheese, if desired.

6. Become obsessed!