Mmmm, Mmmm Monday: Parmesan Okra and A Great Giveaway

I love okra.  It is a great summer veggie.  I really love it fried, but let's be honest, that probably defeats the purpose of eating it.  I found this recipe in Southern Living a couple of summers ago (along with the Chicken Enchiladas I shared last week) and it is a little bit healthier alternative to frying.  Oh, and I just so happen to think it tastes delicious!  Everyone who eats this, likes it.

Parmesan Okra

1 pound fresh okra, cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices 

2 tablespoons olive oil
 1/4 cup Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs (I actually try to do half Italian and half whole wheat, If I have both on hand) 

2 teaspoons Greek seasoning 

1/4 cup freshly shaved Parmesan cheese  ( I usually use less)

Sauté okra in olive oil over medium-high heat for 5 to 6 minutes or until crisp-tender.  Sprinkle with breadcrumbs and seasoning, and cook, stirring often for 3 more minutes.  Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, and serve immediately.
So easy and so tasty!
AND........
There is GREAT giveaway at Holy Turf this week!!! 
You can win one of two Gameday Items!!!
How cute are these dresses?!?!

.....Or this is one of the many cute scarfs..... 

...Or how about something cute for the littles?!?!

Go here to see how you can win!!!

Happy Monday!

California Getaway: First stop- Stanford

So, for the last few days Flint and I have been out in California with some of our friends.  Adults only!  How sweet it is.  

We started our trip with a little visit to Stanford.  I had been before, but it had been several years ago and it was a very quick trip.  Flint and I love visiting college campuses and seeing a small glimpse into life beyond the University of Arkansas.  

The architecture is stunning on Stanford's campus.

We rushed from the airport hoping to make it in time to go up in the tower, but as you can see in the background...it was being renovated.

We were not too terribly disappointed, though, because it just felt wonderful to be walking around in 75 degree temperatures.....not 105 degrees!  

We headed to The Quad to see the Chapel.

Which would be this beautiful building.  But, there was a wedding in progress and they had weddings booked all day.  No spectators allowed on Saturdays!

So, this was as close as we got to the inside.

The outside was all mosaics.  I know this sounds like cheese, but it was magnificent!!!!!

We were two for two for getting inside anywhere on campus.  But, there was plenty of entertainment, outside.  What do you think if you are on a college visit and there is a party in the fountain right smack dab in the center of campus?!?!  Girls in bikinis, loud music and all!

We actually saw a total of four wedding parties on campus, but this was, by far, the most interesting!  And before I get any comments about it being a Quinceanera, this girl had a ring on her finger.  We checked.  Welcome to California!

You are definitely not in the south anymore when on this campus.

After we left Stanford, we went to Slider Bar Cafe and had a little yummy goodness at Kara's Cupcakes.  Yum, yum and YUM!!!  I highly recommend the Sweet S'mores cupcake!

We checked in at home and all was well with Cilla and her Nana and Poppa which puts a mommy and daddy at ease.  We were looking forward to a nice, peaceful few days away from the responsibilities of parenting!  More to come!

Mmmm, Mmmm Monday: Chicken Enchiladas

We LOVE Mexican food at our house.  Love it!  And after trying many enchilada recipes, I would say that this is our favorite. 

Chicken Enchiladas

• 3 1/2 cups chopped cooked chicken
• 2/3 cup Onion and Garlic Mixture*
• 1 (4-oz.) can chopped green chiles
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
• 3 (10-oz.) cans enchilada sauce, divided
• 2 1/2 cups shredded Mexican four-cheese blend, divided
• 8 (9-inch) burrito-size flour tortillas, homemade if available.
• ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
• *Onion and Garlic Mixture:
• 2 cups chopped onion (1 large onion)
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 3 garlic cloves, chopped

Sauté onion in hot oil in a 3 1/2-qt. saucepan over medium heat 8 minutes or until tender; add garlic, and sauté 2 minutes.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

• Preheat oven to 425º. Stir together first 4 ingredients, 1 1/2 cups enchilada sauce, and 1 1/2 cups cheese.  Spoon about 1/2 cup chicken mixture down center of each tortilla; roll tortillas up, and place, seam sides down, in a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch baking dish. Pour remaining enchilada sauce over tortillas making sure it goes down between each enchilada. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cheese.  Bake, covered, at 425° for 20 minutes; uncover and bake 10 minutes or until cheese is melted and golden brown.

I always make a Tomato Avacado salad with this dish and it is delicious.  I use whatever greens I have available.  Usually a mix of Romaine and Spinach.  I cut Cherry Tomatoes in half , cut 1 or 2 Avocados, cut a Red Onion into small slices and toss everything with Paula Deen's Garlic Vinaigrette Olive Oil Salad Dressing.  Top with New York Texas Toast Chipotle Cheddar Tortilla Strips right before serving.  This salad and some black beans are the perfect finishing touches to your yummy enchilada dinner!

Don't Forget...

We have had a busy busy couple of weeks.  But, I wanted to make sure and post some of these pictures so I wouldn't forget.  These are some some random pictures of some random things that having been going on in the Harris house!
We love Slim Chickens, a little local chicken place in our town.  Kids eat free on Monday so Cilla and I have a standing lunch date every Monday!  This past Monday, our friends Laci and Candice joined us.  We love spending time with them!  These are two of the craziest two year olds that I know!

We headed to the yogurt shop where kids basically eat free on Monday, as well!  Cilla always expects Cherry Berry after Slim's on Monday and that is A-okay with me!
And yes, she is just picking out the topping and eating it.  I may quit getting the yogurt and just start getting her Gummy Bears and Kit Kat!  How is that for a combo!?

 This girl loves her puppy dogs and has taken a new interest in feeding them...all throughout the day.  And I must mention that puppies love this eating plan!  However, their little waistlines don't!

 Flint and I had a nice anniversary.  Low-key, but nice.  We actually went out to eat with a group for our anniversary!  That is what happens when you have been married nine years!
This little cookie monster wanted to help her mommy and daddy celebrate nine years by eating some cookie cake!

 To end the week, Cilla had a long overdue haircut!  We have a cute little place called Pigtails and Crewcuts and they do the best job keeping the kiddos entertained and happy while snipping on their hair.

 The finished product.  This was the best picture I could get!

I have lots more to catch up on, but this is my first attempt!  Hopefully things will slow down and I will not get so behind again!  Who am I fooling?!?!

What I'm Loving...

I am lov'in this man.  

Yesterday we celebrated nine years of marriage.  NINE!

Life has not been perfect.  We have had our fair share of problems.  We have had some wonderful highs and some low lows.  But because of Flint, I am who I am today.  I am where I am today.  And I wouldn't trade that for anything.  Life is much sweeter doing it with Flint and I love having him by my side.  I love him more today than I did nine crazy years ago!

We are living our own little version of an imperfect fairy tale together.

Oh happy day!

A little glimpse into the our first nine years of marriage.

Our little family before Cilla joined us.

Without Flint, my life would not have looked like this.....

.....I probably wouldn't know nearly as much about sports as I do today.....

.....I wouldn't have this little blessing in my life.....

.....I wouldn't have this smile to brighten my days.....

.....We wouldn't have these big brown eyes looking to us for wisdom.....

.....I wouldn't have laughed nearly as much as I have.....

.....I wouldn't have seen some of the things I have seen.....

.....I wouldn't have been where I have been.....

.....And I wouldn't be where I am today.  

I am so thankful for Flint.  He works so hard to support his family.  He loves his family and friends so deeply and he is so loyal.  He is such a good dad to Cilla and such a great husband to me.

I love you, Flint Harris!

In honor of our anniversary, I thought I would share a few of my favorite pictures from our wedding that I recently came across on a CD.  It is fun, even after all these years, to look back and remember how fun that special day was! 

Humor

Nothing says 104 degree highs and 76 degree lows like wearing some doggie slippers to bed!  However, with a two year old, you do lots of things you swore you never would to promote peace in your house.

 A couple of nights ago I went in after Cilla had fallen asleep to turn off her bathroom light (because that is how we roll these days) and to take off about four of the blankets that she insisted on covering up with.  When I walked in to see this.....

 my heart melted.  

Every doggie owner's dream.  You see, Flint had I have two puppy dogs that were in our lives about ten years before we had Cilla.  So, to see a bond between them is so sweet.  Our animal lov'in stinker has loved the dogs about all of her life.  But it is so sweet to see the dogs be affectionate toward her and protective of her.

And finally for the humbling part.  Do any of you remember Monica's Closet?  I may date myself a little by saying this.  But 'Friends' is one of my all-time favorite shows.  Monica, the neat freak, had one closet that was piled to top then some more crammed in and she forbid anyone to open her closet.  Well, I had one, too.  BUT NOT ANY MORE!

Check it out.  

This is Cilla's playroom closet.  I am finishing up some labels for the bins and then I will be completely finished.  I feel so much better having that project behind me!  I so wish I had a before picture to share even it is completely humiliating!!!