Chicken Parmesan Soup

I know it is almost Spring and a soup doesn't really scream Spring. However, this soup was really light and refreshing...OH and we have still had some dreary cold days here in the Midwest. I also know it is St. Patrick's Day and I should be posting some kind of Irish dish...or at the least something GREEN.  Alas, I don't really cook anything special for St. Patty...I hope he isn't offended.

Back to the soup. This is a SOUPer...hahaha I crack myself up...sorry, this is a super easy soup to make. It is a savory delight that is only enhanced more by those delicious cheesy bread type croutons on top.

Enjoy and I hope you are wearing GREEN, unless you are cheeky and liked getting pinched.

Chicken Parmesan Soup

your homebased mom

4 Tablespoons olive oil

2 chicken breasts, pounded thin

1 28 oz can diced tomatoes

4 cups chicken broth

salt and pepper

1 cup fresh basil, chopped

1 tsp red pepper flakes

1 large onion, sliced really thin

8 slices of artisan bread (I used the pre-sliced, smaller pieces of bread used for bruschetta and used about 12)

3 cloves garlic, chopped

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Season chicken with salt and pepper. Cook it in 2 Tbs of olive oil. Cook until just cooked through. Remove and set aside.

Add remaining olive oil and saute chopped garlic, onions, and pepper flakes. Cook until onions are beginning to soften...just a couple minutes. Add tomatoes and chicken broth and bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes. Add the chicken back in and cook another couple of minutes. Sprinkle in the chopped basil and stir.

Bread:

While the soup is cooking , place the sliced bread on a cooking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place in oven and broil until lightly toasted (slightly golden). Take it out, and rub each piece with a garlic clove. Then top with the cheese. Put back in the oven for about  1 1/2 minutes, until cheese is melted but before your oven is taken over by smoke.

Place one slice of toast in the bottom of the bowl. Pour soup over. Add 2 more little croutons on top. Yum, yum.

Grab-n-Go Reusable Snack Bags:Tutorial

Last week I had a crafting request from a friend of mine. Apparently she seems to think I am a creative genius or something. While her faith in me is flattering, I am not sure I deserve it! 

HOWEVER, at least this time I was able to meet her request. She asked me to create some type of reusable snack holder. I know there have been more than a few answers to the reusable snack carrier dilemma...I bet you didn't know it was a huge dilemma did you...well it is...hehehe.

Anyhoo...right after reading her request I started brainstorming. 

This is what I came up with- 

A handy dandy, super dooper, easy peasy...have I gone too far with my adjectives...well basically an altogether quite terrific reusable Grab-n Go snack bag.

 The cool thing about this bag is that the outside is made from a vinyl tablecloth. Something you can fin ANYWHERE and in tons of fun patterns. 

So do you want to make some?

Grab-n-Go Reusable Snack Bag: Tutorial

Here is what you will need:

vinyl table cloth (One table cloth will make you tons. I like to buy the largest size because the price seldom differs from the smaller ones. When you by the large one you can save the unused portion and make THIS or even THIS)

clear plastic (can be found at fabric store in utility fabric section, meant for covering things like tables)

veclro

coordinating thread

Measurements:

Outside (from pattern tablecloth)- 1 piece 7 1/2" by 6 1/2"

                                                    1 piece 10 1/2" by 6 1/2"

Inside- (from coordinating tablecloth or the same pattern)

                                                    1 piece 3 1/2" by 6 1/2"

            (from clear vinyl)

                                                    14" by 6 1/2"

First let me say that it is near impossible to see the clear vinyl in the pictures, so hopefully my written instructions will make sense on those steps.

Okay let's get started.

1. Sew the small strip (the inside lining of the top flap) to the clear vinyl. Do this by placing them right sides together...there is no right side to clear vinyl so you can choose...with top edge of vinyl and the bottom edge of the patterned piece. Sew with a 1/4" seam allowance.

It will look like this-

2. Take the outside pieces and place right sides together with the bottom edge of each patterned piece matching. Sew together with a 1/2" seam allowance.

To add a finishing touch, I sewed a line of stitches the outside on either side of the seam line. I choose a thread color that coordinated and would show.

3. Now you will attach the outside and inside pieces together. Place the pieces right sides facing, with the top of the inside lining flap (my fishy pattern) matching the top of the outside piece (my ocean pattern).

See here is where it is tricky, because you can't see the clear vinyl...I promise it is there.

You will sew the two pieces together with a 1/4" seam allowance. Then turn it out and sew a line of stitches along the top, really securing your pieces together and adding a finishing touch. This is the flap of your bag.

4. To finish of the front of the snack bag, sew a line of stitching along the top, this will attach the clear vinyl to the front of your bag. Then sew a piece of velcro  about 1 1/2" down from the top. Make sure the velcro is centered. 

5. Final assemble steps! Lay the snack bag so that the clear lining is facing up. Fold the bag up so that the top of the front outside piece just comes up to the bottom of the inside top flap.

Like this-

You will sew the side edges of your snack bag closed. Sew up one side completely from top to bottom, making sure your completely sew the bottom corner closed. Repeat on the other side. Make sure that you sew from the bottom all the way up to the top of the flap...the entire side.

6. The last step is attaching the other piece of velcro, not quite an inch from the top.

Now you have a nifty and thrifty little Grab-n-Go reusable snack bag.

Find some treats and load 'em up.

The good news is your kids will be just as excited about these bags as they are for the treat inside.

I am sure you noticed that I played around with cut-outs with one of my snack bags. It is a fun little sneak peak to the treat inside. Play around, see what you can come up with.

After rereading this post to check for errors, I noticed it could sound tricky. PLEASE ask me any and all questions. Either in the comment section or email. These really are EASY to whip out. Once you get one done you will see.

Care instructions: These bags can be cleaned with soap and water. Then allow to air dry. DO NOT put in dishwasher/regular washer.

DISCLAIMER: I know there is some debate on materials that are safe for holding food items. Both of these materials were manufactured for the purpose of eating on/nearby them, so I felt safe in allowing my children's food to touch these bags. Follow your own instincts. 

Linking up:

Show and Tell Wednesdays: Blue Cricket Design

Whatever Goes Wednesdays: Someday Crafts

We Did It Wednesdays: Sew Much Ado

Strut Your Stuff: Somewhat Simple

Tutorial Tuesdays: The Little Birdies

Friday Fun Finds: Kojo Designs

Weekend Wrap Up: Tatertots and Jello

Review and GIVEAWAY: Rachael's Handmade Natural Soap

Isn't that soap GORGEOUS!

A few weeks ago I was so lucky as to get some of this soapy deliciousness in the mail. I was so excited to receive this soap from Rachael's Homemade Natural Soap. It even comes all sweetly wrapped. 

In addition to the soap, she also sent me these homemade goodies-

beautiful wash rag

lovely bath scrubby 

I couldn't wait to give it a try. Let me just say, it was glorious! I almost forgot that I was needed in the real world. It was totally a Calgon-take-me-away type experience in my shower...EXCEPT it smelled way lovelier. Rachael sent me two of her soaps. Her top selling soap, the peppermint and her favorite citrus and sage. Can I just say DE-lightful. The smell is intoxicating. The soap is light and my skins feels so fresh after using it. I chose to use one of the soaps on my face to see if it was gentle enough. 

Was it ever. Her soap gently cleaned my face and did not dry out my skin. The great thing is that it was still strong enough to take off my stubborn mascara. My skin felt ab.so.lute.ly fabulous.

I had never tried homemade soap before, don't judge me. I am sold. It was such a great treat for my skin, and I know I have said it before, but the smell of this soap was out of this world!

Rachael's shop is filled with even more wondrous goodies.

peppermint soap

cranberry orange

black raspberry vanilla

rustic soap/lotion dispenser

bath scrubbies

AND this is only some of the stuff in her shop. I bet you want it all don't you? ME TOO!

Well guess what? Yup, that is right, you have a shot at winning yourself something delightful from her shop.

Rachael is generously offering to give aways 3 bars of her homemade soap and 1 bath scrubby YOUR CHOICE. Think of all the aromatic choices! Yippee. 

During the giveaway she is also offering  to all  Just Another Day in Paradise friends/followers  2 free bath scrubbies with every order purchased...you pick the colors.

Mandatory entry: 

Go and visit and her SHOP, peak around tell me what you love.

Additional entries:

 become a fan on Rachael's facebook page

become a follower of Just Another Day in Paradise

The giveaway starts today and runs through Friday, March 18th at 11:59 pm est.

Good Luck everyone! I am just sayin', you REALLY want some of this soap.

In a Nutshell: Saturday from _ _ _ _

I know I should be posting about the whole week. I mean isn't that what "In a Nutshell" is supposed to be about? The going-on's of our week. I should be typing about something major that took place, but I already wrote about Little  Man's Arm.  

I should be typing about a common theme during the week, but our common theme this week was illness and  I know all of you are tired of reading about Littlest Little Man being sick. 

I mean seriously I can not keep this one healthy.

Taking out all of that, it was a pretty tame week...until Saturday.

I don't often want to pack it all in. I don't often want to scream into a pillow. I don't often want to eat my weight in cookies (okay maybe I do want to do that last one a lot). Saturday was one of those days. It was me vs my kids and the kids almost won.

Really there were only two culprits...

Little Man number 1

don't be fooled by that adorable cheery grin

Little Man number 3

Little Man number 1 and I had an ongoing battle of him earning and losing video games... video games are quickly becoming the bane of my existence. We also had an rousing battle of  me yelling strongly recommending "quit crying" in which he would respond with more crying. I am convinced that even boys have a hormonal time of the month. How did only women get pegged with that? We ended the ongoing battle with the following-

him talking back

me taking away next weekend of video games (remember he only gets video games on Fri and Sat)

him crying even more and then shouting at me

him telling me "you can't do that"

me "sure I can"

him "no you can't, you aren't in charge"

me "uh yes I am"

him "no I AM!"

me "go to your room"

him "WAAAAAAAAAH"

now I take away the rest of the month

he storms to his room

I remind him to not slam his door

he says "fine I will just climb out the window"

me "ok"

Don't worry, he didn't actually climb out our second story window. He did eventually calm down. We can be friends again tomorrow.

I will say the most delightful part of my day actually came from him too. I had to rush to the store before picking up Middle Little Man from a party. In my haste to make it there and back in enough time I wasn't paying attention as he got in the car. Once we got to the store...mind you in a time crunch...he pipes up, "uh I don't have my shoes".

Say what??? For dang sure, he was not wearing shoes. And in true Mother of the Year fashion, I took my sock wearing kid into the grocery store, hid his shoe-less feet in a race car cart (which he is way to big to be in) and went about my grocery store business. He thought it was pretty funny, but was grateful he was in a cart so no one could see his feet.

Little Man number 3 spent the day clinging to me like a baby monkey. Overall that shouldn't have been bad, but he was absolutely hysterical almost the entire time...even if I was holding him. Nothing pacified him. At one point I even resorted to trying to bribe him with a tootsie pop just so he would quit screaming. It didn't work. He would demand I carry him into the kitchen, only to be irate at everything in sight. I did the family room to kitchen back to family room trip all stinking day.

Yes he is sick...but many can tell you he is also stubborn and spoiled. So it was an ulcer-creating day of trying to decide to pick him up or call his bluff.  

Some of you may be thinking to yourselves, well where the heck is that girls hubby? 

The Saturday from _ _ _ _ really all comes down to that...

Hubby had an last minute work trip. So he is not here. When he is here it is actually fun. The real fun, not the fun I sarcastically spit out as my 7 year-old is screaming at me or my baby is reaching glass-shattering decibels with his screams.

Saturdays just aren't as lovely with hubby gone.

So that is it...our week in a nutshell comes down to a single Saturday. Whew I am glad it is over.

New Hoodie Owner Is....

You guys LOVED this giveaway. Can't blame you...really who wouldn't want this hoodie?

Well one of you ladies will be the lucky owner of a new hoodie.

That lucky girl (thanks to Random.org) is...

#73

 JoyandTren said...

Following! =)

Congrats. Leave a comment or email me with your contact info and I will get you in contact with Adri.

note: Currenty Adri is in vacation from her shop. That DOES NOT effect this giveaway. For the rest of you, just hang in there her shop will be open again soon.