Chicken Carbonara

I love the Betty Crocker website.  They have lots of yummy recipes to try and I found a new one to try for dinner last night.  It's not necessarily in line with my lower calorie eating ideas but it was really delicious.

Here's what you need:

1 package (12 oz) spaghetti

8 slices bacon, cut into 1/2-inch squares

1 medium onion, chopped (about 1/2 cup)

2 cups cut-up cooked chicken

1/2 c grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 cup whipping (heavy) cream

Not too many ingredients which is the kind of recipe that I like!

Here's what you do:

1.  Cook and drain spaghetti as directed on package.

2.  While spaghetti is cooking, cook bacon in 3-quart saucepan over low heat 8 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until crisp.  Remove bacon from saucepan with slotted spoon; drain.  Drain fat from saucepan, reserving 1 tablespoon in saucepan.

3.  Cook onion in bacon fat over medium heat about 3 minutes, stirring frequently, until onion is tender.  Stir in spaghetti, chicken, cheese and whipping cream.  Cook, stirring occasionally, until heated through.  Toss with bacon.

This was supremely yummy and it reheats very well. 

Enjoy <3

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Feta-Topped Chicken

Like many of you I have opted to embrace some goals (resolutions...whatever you want to call them) for the New Year.  2011 was a good year and I expect 2012 to be EPIC!  Since epic doesn't happen by accident I've decided one of the things I was going to do was eat a little healthier.  Here's a dish I made for dinner this past week.  Let me tell you, it turned out yummy!

Here's what you need:

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (not pictured)

2 T balsamic vinaigrette dressing

1 t Italian seasoning

1 tomato cut into 8 slices

1/4 c crumbled feta cheese

Now I substituted lemon pepper seasoning for the Italian seasoning because it's what I had on hand.  I also used a little more feta cheese than the recipe called for because gosh darn it, I love cheese.  And I don't always measure things but use the measurements as a guideline or a suggestion if you will.  Much like the speed limit on the highway...but that's another story.

Here's what you do:

1.  Heat the oven to 350.  The recipe said to brush both sides of the chicken with dressing but with my bottle you could squirt it out so that's what I did.  I figured less mess that way.  Sprinkle both sides with the seasoning and place in baking dish. 

2.  Bake for about 22 minutes on one side and turn over.  Bake for an additional 17 minutes and then top with tomato and cheese.  Bake for an additional 5 minutes.

I served it with dinner rolls and a pre-made lettuce and spinach side salad and added cucumbers and carrots.  Super easy and definitely going into my recipe box.

Enjoy <3

 

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Quick Stop In Hot Springs

Back on the road again we made a little side stop at Hot Springs.  It was a hot day and I was ready to get back to the Casa but it seemed silly to be so close to it and not stop. So stop we did.

One of the first things we noticed was people carrying empty jugs to these things that looked like water fountains.  As it turns out you are able to take fresh HOT spring water and that's what these folks were getting.

We had never been to Hot Springs and like I said it was a really hot day but we made our way to Bath House Row and was thinking that we might get a massage or something while we were there.  We actually couldn't find a place with any openings so we just walked down the street sightseeing.

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We stopped at the Visitor Center to tour inside.  Here are some of the pics:

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I love this bottle.  It is a very pretty Cobalt Blue.

Warnings, such as this one, never fail to crack me up.

Prepare to be amazed.  Here's a photo of an actual hot spring.

Do you ever take the time to read the directions on things?  Well I do and when you take the time to read like I do you'll find out that the hand dryer also doubles as a hair dryer.  How handy is that?

We stopped by and took a pic of M in front of the Post Office. Yea for photo ops!!

We were hungry so we walked down the street just a bit and found The Porterhouse.

The place was empty so we had the pleasure of the undivided attention of the server which was nice.  I'm so bad about getting names and pics but he wants to be a professional singer.  It's so cool all the interesting people that we get to meet on our trips.

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Love it that there are step by step instructions for washing your hands as found in the ladies restroom. 

I did see a couple of bathrooms...I'm just fascinated by bathrooms.

So I couldn't leave without taking some of the free water with us.  The only type of container we had was a bottle of water.  I couldn't "mix" the waters so I quickly gulped down what was left ::chug:: ::chug:: ::chug:: and gave it to M to go and get the water.  Now if you read the earlier part about folks getting water from the fountains and you remembered the name of the city we were in then you'll know the temperature of the water that he went and got.  In that plastic water bottle.  With no potholder (like why would I have a potholder randomly in the car while on vacation). 

So yeah, the Park Ranger that was there looks at M and says, you're going to get water in that?  M: Yes sir. Park Ranger: You do know the water is hot, don't ya?  M tests the temp of the water and agrees that it is indeed hot.  Park Ranger: That's why they call it HOT springs.  hahahaha!!! 

Well I had to let the water cool down and then I tested it and guess what?  It tasted just like water.  I absolutely felt rejuvenated and refreshed from drinking it. ;)

We were nearly home but saw two more noteworthy things before it was all over.

Yea for Post Offices!!

And LOOK!! It's Air Force One!!

Super fun trip and considering we spent a total of 10 days together 24/7 and didn't get into any disagreements or quarrels I think we did pretty darn good.  I am so thankful that M makes my life so awesome. <3 live <3 laugh <3 love <3

 

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The Little Rock in Little Rock

The next morning we enjoyed the buffet at the fabulous Capriccio Grill and we had a really great waiter.  I wish I had remembered to write down his name and/or get a pic with him.  We also had the pleasure of meeting the executive chef who is from France and again I failed to get his name or a pic.  What kind of blogger am I?  Good thing I'm not relying on this as my only source of income.  ;)

And of course we had to toast to our wonderful life.

No trip through Little Rock would be complete without having the opportunity to see the "Little Rock" for which the city is named. 

Here we are and it's not the actual "little rock" but a chunk of it.  The pic below us is a pic of the "official" Little Rock. 

From Helium.com

"Today's travelers can get a first hand glimpse of the rocky outcropping that gave birth to the city's name. By visiting the north end of Rock Street (in Riverfront Park) in Little Rock, travelers can look out over the Arkansas River, where they will see "La Petite Roche," the "little rock" discovered by a French explorer in 1722.  

The Discovery of "La Petite Roche"
The first known explorers to the territory that eventually was to become Little Rock, Arkansas, came in 1673, where they encountered the Native Americans then inhabiting the area, the Quapaw Indians. Some years later, the famed LaSalle Expedition also explored this area of the Arkansas River.
However, it was not until 1722 when French explorer Jean-Baptiste Bernard de La Harpe (1683-1765), sailed up the river and, upon sighting the first rocky outcropping since leaving the Mississippi River, took note and named it "La Petite Roche" (Little Rock). A trading post was subsequently established there.

Later expeditions of both French and Spanish explorers came to the area, but it was not until 1819 that the Arkansas territory was officially established. Even then, the land that would become Little Rock was still wilderness, with its graceful bluffs and flowing river. In 1821, Little Rock would officially become the new territory's government seat. It became a real city (incorporation) in 1831 and the capital of Arkansas in 1836."

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We did see a pretty cool submarine.

And we some other cool things as we walked back to the hotel.

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We got back to the hotel in time to see the duck parade again.  Not quite as awesome as the Memphis Peabody but we enjoyed it just the same.

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I headed downstairs and had to take a moment and get a shot of this vintage phone.

Here's M waving from the floor our room was on.

Back on the road again and heading towards Hot Spring.

<3

 

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Peabody - Little Rock

On our way home we passed a couple of water towers.  I do love water towers although I don't have a specific reason for that love.  I used to have a strong recurring dream about one falling but haven't had that dream in a long, long time.

Here we are...passing into Arkansas.

We made it to Little Rock where I again booked us a fabulous room at the Peabody.  The front desk greeted us warmly when we arrived and had the bellman bring up our bags to our room. 

We were given a room with a river view and it was awesome!!

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We must have looked pretty ragged because we had changed and went back downstairs and asked the front desk to recommend a place to get a drink and a quick bite to eat and the same front desk attendant that had greeted us earlier asked if we were staying in the hotel...haha!!  He recommended we try a place that was called I think, Big Whiskey's. 

We headed that way and since it was a weeknight it was pretty empty.  We settled ourselves in a cozy corner booth and ordered some drinks and something to eat.

Fun times with my man... <3 live <3 laugh <3 love <3

 

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