Simple Sundays

Happy Anniversary to the only person that can put up with me and all my crazy ideas. He is the most patient man in the world. Thirty-four years, five children, one granddaughter and many moons later, he has agreed to another 34 years!

Chicken and Rice (and everything nice)

 Although this is one of our favorite meals, I hesitate to even publish it for several reasons. First, the pictures do not EVEN begin to do it justice. Secondly, I tend to "doctor" this recipe depending on how many I am making it for. If I am making it for large crowds, I pour in more rice. If I pour in more rice, that means more milk. I tend to cook that way. It comes from cooking for large crowds (a/k/a big families)!

 Please let me assure you again. This tastes delicious. The pictures tend to make it look like a big gloppy mess, when in reality, it is one of those dishes that you will want to make again. And again. And again. It can be made ahead of time and put in the the fridge until ready to cook. It is wonderful warmed up for leftovers. Simply stated, chicken and rice is the bombdiggity. Take my advice and try it. 

I will include the recipe for the basic Chicken and Rice recipe. After you have made it a time or two, you can decide how to tweak it however you want. ...(Because I assure you, you WILL make it more than once.)

Chicken and Rice 

4 or 5 boneless chicken breasts, cut into chunks *uncooked

2 cans Cream of Mushroom soup

2 1/2 cups uncooked rice

1 envelope Lipton onion soup mix

2 cups of milk 

Mix Cream of Mushroom soup, milk, rice and onion soup mix in a bowl. Add chunks of chicken. Stir. Pour into greased (I use spray) casserole dish. Cover with foil. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Check frequently to make sure it is not turning the rice at the edges too brown. If you feel it needs more liquid as it is cooking, just add a tad more milk and stir gently. I have also just added the rice/soup/milk mixture over boneless chicken breasts that were not cut up. This cooks the same way. I just find it sometimes takes the whole chicken breasts longer to cook and that makes the rice more dry.

Really. The whole recipe is that simple. As I said, it can be adjusted according to how many you are feeding. 

You can tell from my pictures above, that the rice is moist (and delicious!) 

Linking with:

Foodie Friday
On The Menu Monday

Her Name Is Lola--Tell All Tuesday

 Does your family name inanimate objects at your house? Usually it is something that is hard-working. Like a car, "Come on Bessie ...you can make it to the gas station without running out." Or washing machines, "Let's go Mildred. You've can do another load." 

 Well our family does that too. Remember last week when I showed you the old wardrobe that we came 'oh-so-close' to getting rid of? Well right beside the wardrobe stands Lola. And Lola is looking FINE. 

 Lola is really a-hundred-plus-old lace slip that belonged to my Hubby's grandmother....Lola. When we were helping to clean out her house after her death we ran across it. The slip has been a part of our family ever since. For many years it hung on a pretty decorative hanger in my girls room(s). 

 Then last year on my birthday, my mother gave me the black iron mannequin. I knew immediately what I would do with it. Lola came off the hanger and transformed into a lace beauty. Perhaps they have heard this story through the years, or maybe they made it up, but my girls like to imagine that this is the slip that (the real) Lola wore under her dress when she married her husband. We like to think it is true. 

 Lola's condition is very fragile. In fact I need to get some thread and "darn that Lola" in several places. I think that is a good project for a chilly night this fall or winter. In the meantime, Lola's tiny waist and ample bosom and hips are accentuated on the mannequin. Usually I keep the simple black draping from Lola's neck.

 But for the month of July, Lola got to wear her patriotic side. I have an antique bunting given to me by a former student. I simply draped it across Lola's chest and pinned it with a (faux) old brooch. 

 Lola did not go far, but she did get to come out of our room for a month. She (very proudly) stood in front of the patriotic gallery wall that is in the hallway right outside our room. 

 She looked stunning. 

(Yes,  I promise to 'darn that Lola'.)

 She did not even seem to mind that her brooch was nothing more than a cheap imitation. You know older "people" like Lola are especially proud of our great country. She was just proud to be decked in the red, white and blue. 

 This is looking out of our room into the hallway. See she was not far away. 

Don't you love the wavy glass in the old french doors?

(By the way, that is not a hole there on the side. That is where the slip "hook and eyes" up the side.)

Now Lola is back in our room. Bejeweled once again with her simple cross. Three things Lola is, for sure: Patriotic, Godly and Beautiful. And now you know, that at our house, we name inanimate objects! 

Linking with:

Wow Us Wednesday

Metamorphosis Monday

She Sails Sea Shells (on the Summer Mantel)

 I have not made it a secret about how much I love summer. Every single thing about the season I absolutely love. I don't particularly like it that the past two summers have set (unbelievable) record high temps day after day here in Oklahoma, but I deal with it. I relish summer. But when August gets here and I have to go back to school, I am ready for the dog days of summer to draw to a close. 

 The pseudo-psychologist in me thinks it is because I am thinking 'if I can't be outside or in the pool enjoying the summer, then let it be over". The girl in me agrees with the pseudo-psychologist. The decorator in me agrees with the girl and the pseudo-psychologist! So with that in mind, all things red/white/blue and summer inside (and outside) my summer-decorated-home begin to change. 

 With that in mind, I thought I had better post my summer mantel before it is no more. In fact, I never even took pictures at the end of June and the first of July when there were little urns of flags to accompany the shells and driftwood. Just close your eyes and imagine (as you sing "It's A Grand 'Ole Flag"). 

 You saw little glimpses of the mantel when I shared our "Make No Bones About It" party for Taylor. Now you can see it minus the skeletons. And flags. 

 I used a driftwood garland I bought at TJ Maxx (in December no less!). I love that garland. Little pieces of driftwood strung with a few shells as well. It is at least six feet long. 

 I laid the garland across the mantel and began filling in with large conchs, little (faux) feather balls, smaller shells and turquoise glass balls. 

 I love all the natural elements juxtaposed with the large antique gold frame. The wicker stand is really a cake stand from Nell Hill's. I like the wicker texture in the group as well. 

 The best part about the ginormous mirror over the mantel is that you get double the pleasure of what is on the mantel. See all the different layers and textures? 

 I'll spend some time this weekend transitioning the mantel and other parts of the house to a "late summer" look. I'll pull out the bright reds and replace it with muted reds. The blues will become deeper and paired with greens. The white will become natural and even tans. I'll bring in some yellows. I love the transition to fall. Little by little the warmth comes out in the decorating. 

 The large conch shells and other small shells were picked up by the girls and me at various beaches. Our favorite ones are from San Salvador Bahamas. 

 We were willing to leave clothes...or whatever it took behind to get our conchs home in our suitcases! We are serious shell seekers! 

 The big conchs will go back upstairs to various bedrooms and a cute little "sea" themed bathroom. They are too pretty to ever actually put away! Who cares if we are land-locked in the middle of the U.S.A? 

 You know what the most stressful part of mantel decorating is?  Blogging about it and having to see if I spelled "mantel" correctly! (If you have followed along, you know it is a tricky word in my otherwise no-trouble-spelling-life!) I did not even look it up tonight to see if I spelled it correctly. I am sure I did. Maybe. 

Why does that dang word cause me so many problems? 

I'm going to go to bed and not think about it. Instead I'm going to think of what will go on the mantel (mantle??) come Saturday.

 Mantel. Mantel. Mantel. 

Linking with:

Metamorphosis Monday

Wow Us Wednesday

Simple Sundays