Oh, YUM!

This weekend I decided to finally step it up a notch and make some of my favorite recipes.  This past week I've been fighting a cold, so it was difficult to stay on task.  Doesn't it always work out that way? You start something and then have every obstacle you can imagine to overcome.  Anyway, this weekend I pulled it together! 

Saturday evening I made bruschetta.  It was amazing!  I used the method of Julia Child's where I put olive oil in a pan and then sauteed 1 inch slices of french bread until golden on each side.  Then I took a half piece of garlic clove (while the bread was fresh out of the pan) and rubbed it over the bread.  I topped the bread with a mixture of diced tomatoes, coarse salt, and  Italian parsley.  I didn't have any basil, which is usually recommended.  But, do not underestimate the freshness and flavor of  flat-leaf parsley! 

The girls really like it!  Notice how they cleaned their plate pretty well.

Angelina liked it.

Aubrey wanted more...

 That, believe it or not, was the appetizer! 

Then I made Deluxe Divine Chicken Divan by Rachel Ray.  Very tasty and it was a huge portion.  Needless to say, the leftovers will be lunch for today!  You can find the recipe on January's Menu Calendar.

Here, I sauteed the chicken:

Cut up my veggies:

Made my rice:

Plated the food:

   As always it was very good, very easy and a hit with everyone!  "Everyone" includes my twin 4 yr. olds, so you know it has to be good when they're gobbling it up!