Reconnection

Crazy, that describes my life as of late. I am a full-time office manager and paralegal and recently took on a second job at Dillard's department store at night and on the weekends. Needless to say, I haven't been at home, haven't seen my husband unless I am stumbling out the door to work or dragging myself in at 10 p.m., and I DEFINITELY haven't been able to do any cooking.

Today was a day I just couldn't do it. I missed my home - the cleaning, cooking and decorating.
I missed having time to spend with my Mom drinking coffee and chatting. I desperately missed my husband. So, I decided to reconnect with my life, the life I love. Shame on me, I called in. I treated myself to a much needed appointment with my hair stylist. I had a wonderful breakfast with my Mom and Aunt along with much needed chit-chat. I then wandered home, put on one of my favorite John Wayne westerns and took a Saturday afternoon nap curled up on the couch with my hubby. How wonderfully perfect! Later this afternoon I enjoyed cleaning and decorating a little and had a cup of coffee in my favorite cozy chair in my breakfast nook. Jealous?! We all need to take time and enjoy our lives - however you choose to do that, slow down, breathe, reconnect & enjoy!

Tonight I was able to make a new recipe I had been dying to try out of my new Southern Living Christmas Cookbook - Roasted New Potatoes, Onions & Fresh Green Beans, along with baked Lemon Pepper Chicken Breasts. How enjoyable! I love to cook and be in the kitchen & it makes it just that more enjoyable that my dear sweet husband of mine turned up Frank Sinatra, poured me a much desired glass of wine, lit every candle in the house and just let me cook and enjoy myself to my little heart's content! Here is my new recipe I hope y'all will enjoy trying. Take time to reconnect, remember what truly matters & ENJOY your life!



Roasted New Potatoes, Onions & Green Beans


2 medium onions, quartered
2 lbs red new potatoes, cut in 1/4 inch slices
1 1/2 lbs fresh green beans, cut tips off & leave whole
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

In a small bowl stir together olive oil, sea salt, black pepper & garlic and set aside.

Drizzle the bottom of a roasting pan with olive oil. Place potatoes and onions in roasting pan and drizzle with olive oil mixture, but reserve 1 tablespoon. Stir gently. Roast potatoes and onions at 450 degrees on the top shelf of your oven for 30 minutes, stirring frequently. Add in green beans and drizzle with reserved tablespoon of oil mixture. Return to oven and cook for an additional 20 minutes.


Note: I added in a cup of sliced portabella mushrooms when I added the green beans & it was delicious!



Lemon Pepper Chicken


2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
Sea Salt
Mrs. Dash Lemon Pepper Seasoning
Olive oil

Heavily sprinkle each side of your chicken with lemon pepper seasoning. Sprinkle each side with sea salt & drizzle each side with olive oil. Place on baking sheet & bake at 450 degrees for 35 minutes turning halfway through.

Note: I placed the chicken in the oven when I added the green beans to the potatoes & they cooked in the same amount of time.

Also, I wanted my potatoes & chicken a bit more golden without overcooking so when the cooking time was completed, I switched my oven over to broil and browned the tops for a couple of minutes. Delicious! Let me know how you like them!