Blissful Life Goals

05/15/2024

Evening workout in progress

05/14/2024

4 cups whole-wheat penne (about 10 ounces)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup finely chopped yellow onion
2 tablespoons finely chopped garlic
6 cups small fresh broccoli florets
1/2 cup lower-sodium chicken broth
3/4 cup reduced-fat cream cheese (6 ounces), cubed
1/2 cup whole milk
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups shredded Italian cheese blend, divided
3 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Directions

Position oven rack 6 inches from heat source; preheat broiler. Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil over high heat. Add pasta; cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, about 8 minutes. Reserve 1 1/4 cups of the cooking water; drain the pasta.

Melt butter in a large broiler-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion; cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Add garlic; cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add broccoli and broth; cover and cook, undisturbed, until the broccoli is tender and bright green, 3 to 4 minutes.

Stir in cream cheese, milk, the reserved cooking water, Italian seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, pepper and salt. Cook, stirring often, until a creamy sauce forms, about 2 minutes. Add 1 cup cheese; cook, stirring constantly, until melted, about 1 minute. Add the pasta and chicken; cook, stirring frequently, until heated through. Remove from heat. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup cheese.

Broil until the cheese is bubbling and browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Top with Parmesan and parsley.

05/12/2024

Take care of mom today with this refreshing drink!! It is so good and everyone will like this.

1 ½ ounces vodka

½ cup frozen berries, thawed

Ice

1 12-ounce can seltzer water

Directions

Combine vodka, berries and ice in a cocktail shaker or mason jar. Cover and shake until chilled. Transfer to a glass and top with seltzer.

05/12/2024

Perfect dinner for any get together. 😋🤤
8 ounces whole-wheat penne

2 cups diced butternut squash (1/2-inch)

4 cups lightly packed chopped chard

1 cup diced smoked sausage

½ cup finely chopped shallot

2 tablespoons butter

1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 cups low-fat milk

1 cup freshly grated pecorino cheese, plus more for serving

½ teaspoon salt

Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg

Crushed red pepper flakes for garnish

Directions

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 2 minutes. Add squash and cook for 6 minutes. Add chard and cook until the pasta is tender, 1 to 2 minutes more. Drain and return to the pot.

Meanwhile, combine sausage, shallot and butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the shallot is soft, about 5 minutes. Add sage and sprinkle with flour; cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Whisk in milk and cook, whisking occasionally, until the sauce starts to thicken, about 5 minutes. Stir in cheese, salt and nutmeg; cook until the cheese melts and the sauce is thick.

Pour the sauce over the pasta mixture and stir to coat. Serve topped with more cheese and pepper flakes, if desired.

05/12/2024

05/12/2024

I love having a pitcher or bloody Marie’s for Mother’s Day here what I use to make mine. 🥂

3 cups low-sodium vegetable juice

1 ½ cups dill pickle juice plus 8 pickle spears (from a 24-ounce jar)

1 ½ cups vodka

Juice of 1 large lemon, plus 1 lemon cut into 8 slices, divided

1 tablespoon hot sauce

1 teaspoon prepared horseradish

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

8 stuffed green olives

8 spicy pickled asparagus or green beans

Ice and lime wedges for serving

8 stalks celery

05/11/2024

Think I’m going to make this for mom tomorrow!!! 😍😋

2 (6 ounce) packages uncured Canadian bacon, chopped

1 (12 ounce) package whole-wheat English muffins, split and cut into 1-inch pieces

10 large eggs

½ teaspoon garlic powder

¼ teaspoon kosher salt

3 cups 2% reduced-fat milk, divided

¼ teaspoon paprika

3 tablespoons torn fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

½ cup low-fat buttermilk

2 tablespoons cornstarch

Pinch of cayenne pepper

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (from 1 large lemon)

Directions

Place half of the Canadian bacon in a lightly greased (with cooking spray) 13-x 9-inch baking dish. Top with English muffin pieces; top with remaining Canadian bacon. Whisk together 8 eggs, garlic powder, salt and 2 cups of the milk in a large bowl. Pour over Canadian bacon mixture in baking dish; cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 4 hours or up to 24 hours.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Remove casserole and let stand at room temperature while oven preheats. Remove plastic wrap and sprinkle casserole with paprika; bake in preheated oven until set, about 35 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley.

While casserole bakes, melt butter in a small saucepan over low. Cook, swirling pan until butter turns light golden, 1 to 2 minutes; pour into a small bowl and set aside.

Whisk together buttermilk, cornstarch and cayenne pepper in a heavy-bottomed, medium saucepan until smooth. Whisk in remaining 2 eggs and 1 cup milk. Cook over medium-low, whisking constantly, until mixture comes to a simmer; cook, whisking constantly, 15 seconds. Remove from heat, and whisk in lemon juice and reserved butter. Serve warm lemon-butter sauce with casserole.

05/11/2024

Favorite Mothers Day brunch dish!!!
4 large eggs

Pinch of salt

¼ cup finely grated Parmesan cheese

1 scallion, finely chopped

Ground pepper to taste

Directions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Lightly coat with cooking spray.
Separate egg whites from the yolks, placing each yolk in an individual small bowl. Beat all of the egg whites and salt in a mixing bowl with an electric mixer on high speed until stiff. Gently fold Parmesan and scallions into the beaten whites with a rubber spatula. Make 4 mounds (about 3/4 cup each) of egg-cheese mixture on the prepared baking sheet. Make a well in the middle of each mound with the back of a spoon.
Bake the egg whites until starting to lightly brown, about 3 minutes. Remove from oven. If the well has filled in during baking, use the spoon to recreate it. Gently slip a yolk into each well. Bake until the yolks are cooked but still runny, 3 to 5 minutes more. Sprinkle with pepper. Serve immediately.

05/10/2024

Ingredients

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

3 cups (700 ml) of broccoli

1 package of shredded cheese (2 cups), any style of cheese will work

1 package of shredded chedder cheese (2 cups)

2 bags of rice (boil in a bag rice)

1 8 oz (224 grm). or larger of salsa

one package of flour tortillas,burrito size

Cooking Preparation of the Recipe:
Preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Cut chicken into small pieces and cook in pan till done.

Boil rice while chicken is cooking.

Cook broccoli; chop.

Add together chicken, rice, broccoli, and 1 package of shredded cheese in large bowl; mix well.

Lay out tortillas and put good size amount of mixture in; wrap up and place in a 9 inch x 13 inch pan.

Pour salsa on top of wraps and sprinkle 1 package of shredded cheddar cheese on top of salsa.

Bake in oven until cheese is melted.

Remove from oven and serve.