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5 Meals you Can Cook Tonight

October 3, 2011 By 1 Comment
Chicken Cesar Pita (3)

I have talked to so many women who would love to make a dinner plan, but have run out of ideas for dinner. If you are in that boat, here are some simple ideas to fill out your weekly menu.

 

Grown Up Grilled Cheese

Forget the white bread and processed cheese food. Try some gouda on whole wheat or garlic Havarti on sourdough. If you are watching calories you can split the sandwich and pair it with Trader Joe’s Roasted Tomato Soup and a small salad. Yum!

 

Lemon Chicken

Simple recipe, delicious results. Serve with some grilled veggies and brown rice.

1 tsp. thyme leaves

½ tsp. pepper

1 clove garlic, minced

1/3 c. lemon juice, fresh squeezed

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Mix all ingredients except chicken breasts together. Pour over chicken breasts in a one-gallon bag to marinade.

Drain marinade. Place chicken breasts in a pan sprayed with light cooking oil. Bake at 350° for 30-40 minutes.

Serves 4.

 

Pesto Chicken

½ c. prepared pesto

6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

6 slices mozzarella cheese

Pour pesto over chicken breasts in a one-gallon bag. Let marinade.

Drain marinade. Place chicken breasts in a pan sprayed with light cooking oil. Place one slice of mozzarella cheese on each chicken breast.

Bake at 350° for 30-40 minutes.

Serves 4.

 

Spaghetti and Marinara with Veggies

Health-up your pasta with the addition of some veggies lightly sautéed in cooking spray with a few herbs. Delicious and it bulks up
what can otherwise be a thin meal. For some extra protien, heat up a few frozen turkey meatballs.

 

Chicken Cesar Pita

Prep 10 Minutes

Start to Finish 10 Minutes

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 Cesar Salad Kit from the Produce Section of the Grocery Store

1 package pre-cooked chicken cut into cubes

4 pitas

Directions

  1. Cut pitas in half and open up pitas. Put pita haves in the toaster. Toast the pitas and let cool.
  2. Meanwhile, mix together the ingredients from the salad kit (except for the croutons) with the chicken
    chunks.
  3. Stuff the toasted pita with chicken Cesar salad mix.
  4. Garnish with whatever extra goodies (tomatoes, cucumbers, etc.)

 

Filed Under: Home, Uncategorized

All things Pumpkin:Muffins and Decor~

November 6, 2011 By 2 Comments
pumpkin votives

Everyone who knows me knows of my unabiding and deep love of all things Starbucks. I just can’t make my misto at home the way they do. The only thing I’m not in love with is their food.

I know they have some lower calorie options, but those are not the things I want to eat. (Plus, it doubles the cost of the trip.)

Here is my favorite fall snack, which is low on calories, super easy to make, oh and delicious.


Easy Pumpkin Muffins

Ingredients:
Serves: 24
Yield:
24 muffins

1 (18 ounce) box spice cake mix
15 ounces pumpkin
3/4 cup water
Directions

1.Mix all ingredients in mixer.

2.Makes 24 muffins.

3. Bake for 20-25 minutes at 350°F.

Continuing the pumpkin theme, here is the table decor we are going to be sporting this fall.

Pumpkin Votive Holders

Directions:

Use a mini-drill the grind out the centers of the pumpins to the side of the votive.

Use unsented votives in the pumpkins if you will be placing them on a dinner table.

You can also float several pumpkins in a shallow bowl for a great cluster effect.

(This also works with apples, and you won’t need a drill, just a paring knife and a spoon.)

How are you going to decorate this fall? Anything special this season?

 

Filed Under: Home, Uncategorized

An Organizational Milestone that Martha Stewart would Never Understand

April 6, 2011 By 10 Comments
Freezer

Today, as I was coming downstairs I heard the words that a woman never wants to hear.

“Kim thinks the freezer stopped running.”

Ugh – that is not what I wanted to hear from Sunnie, my ministry manager. Really? Had it really stopped running?

Well, the Skinny Cows that were now Runny Cows were the first indications that a mystery kid hadn’t just left a door open for a few minutes.

But I’m the kind of girl who turns defrosted lemon juice into lemonade. I thought, “Well, at least I can clean out the freezer from expired food and get a fresh start!” Lemonade.

So I started to go through the frozen dinners I’ve made with The Frozen Gourmet, drippy chicken breasts, and frozen yogurt containers. My only consultation? At least I was clearing out all that food that was past it’s prime.

Except? There was no expired food. Not one ice cream container, not one frozen pizza, not one icy pork roast. Nothing was expired.

Nothing.

A few years ago? Half the stuff would have been older than my kids.

So, do you have an Organizational Milestone that Martha Stewart would Never Understand?

  • You found your car keys without having to pay your kids to help you.
  • You went to get your allergy medicine and it was right where you expected.
  • You fit your car in the garage.
  • You opened up a DVD case on your shelf and the right DVD was in it.

Share with me. If you do, I will choose one commenter to win a copy of THE FROZEN GOURMET. (The winner will be announced on Monday.)

Filed Under: Home, The Get Organized Project

Asian Chicken Wrap Ups

March 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment
chickenwrapups


We’ve had a sudden warm streak here in N. CA so I thought I would share one of my very favorite No-Cook recipes.

Asian Chicken Wrap Ups

Prep 20 Minutes

2 cups chopped cooked skinless chicken breast (chop up strips from pre-packaged chicken breasts)

3 tablespoons rice vinegar

1-1/2 tablespoons light soy sauce

1-1/2 teaspoons sesame oil

1/4 cup chopped green onions

1/4 cup sliced almonds

1/4 cup crispy rice noodles

Seasoned salt and pepper

1 cup shredded carrots

1 cup shredded broccoli slaw

Four to six butter lettuce leaves

1/3 cup Peanut sauce (store-bought)

1/3 cup Asian salad dressing for dipping sauce (store-bought)

 

 

Directions

In a medium glass bowl, combine chicken, vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, , green onions, and almonds. Mix well. Season to taste with seasoned salt and pepper. Cover and let set in the refrigerator for an hour.

 

Add small containers each of peanut sauce and Asian dipping sauce to platter.

On platter, arrange lettuce leaves. Divide up the chicken mixture and place a mound of it on each leaf. Top with crispy noodles, carrots and cabbage. Roll up the leaf and dip in one of the sauces.

 

Serves 4 as appetizers, 2 adults as a main course

Q4U: Do you have any no cook tips to share? I love to find shortcuts in the kitchen – any secrets you would like to divulge?

Filed Under: Home, The "What's for dinner?" Project, Uncategorized

Christmas Un-Project #3 Update Your Holiday Binder

December 29, 2011 By 2 Comments
Binder Cover

This year, my daughter Kimber was the lighting director for A Christmas Carol. Besides getting to gaze at the beautiful lighting that my little girl did, I was reminded of the three ghosts:Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Yet to Come. (As a child, I couldn’t understand why Christmas Present wasn’t giving away gifts like Santa Claus. It was implied in the name.)

If there was one thing that you, Christmas Present, could tell future you, Christmas Yest to Come, what would it be? “Remember the killer Rachel Ray roast chicken recipe you tried this year – it was the bomb!” or, “”Don’t forget you bought your Christmas cards at the 50% off sale this year – don’t go and buy more next November!” Well, that is precicely what your Holiday Binder is for.

Put all your favorite recipes, ideas, secret hiding places and gift ideas for next year in this handy binder. Trust me, Christmas Yet to Come will thank you when she doesn’t have to hunt down the artichoke dip recipe.

If you don’t already have the cover downloaded, head on over to my Facebook Author Page and download it there for free.

 

Filed Under: Christmas, Home

Feel Like Writing a Book Today? I’m Takin’ the Tom Sawyer Approach

May 5, 2011 By 4 Comments
10216658

Hey kiddos – Yes – it has been a long time since I’ve posted. Having two book deadlines and a whirlwind tour of Austin, Spartanburg, and Atlanta tends to make this blogger go underground.

So why am I writing you today? Well one, I miss you. I really do. We get each other and that is a beautiful thing…

And two? I am writing a book and would love your help. Well, some of your help….

My next book is THE GET YOURSELF ORGANIZED PROJECT and I am looking for people who have struggled with organization but have made some progress, or who are still struggling (hey, and I fit into both categories, but things are getting MUCH better around here!) and would like to try out some of the projects.

So why is this the Tom Sawyer approach. Well if you remember the book, Tom has to white wash a fence but wants help in doing it, so he tells his friend Ben how much fun it is, and how much he is enjoying it, until Ben BEGS Tom to let him help.

So all I have to say is that writing a book is SO MUCH FUN and I bet you wish you could help me write this book.

(Did it work?)

So if you are interested, would you be willing to drop me a note at books@kathilipp.com ? I would love to include you in this project, get your insight, and trick you into writing my next book. have you help me write my next book…

Filed Under: Home

Getting dinner to the table

February 21, 2012 By 10 Comments
dinner

“What’s for dinner mom?”

“Where’s dinner, honey?”

Sound familiar?

Dinner: The anticipated or dreaded question of the day. The thing we agonize over not long after breakfast.

What are you cooking for dinner tonight?

 

 

 

Hopefully, we can help each other out and make it a bit easier most nights of the week.

If you love your crock pot or need more ideas for your crock pot here are two blogs you need to check out!

Recipes from the Crock Pot Girl

A Year of Slow Cooking

Another time saver is cook a few meals once a week or many meals once a month and put them in the freezer. Make sure you label them well and all you have to do is grab one out of the freezer in the morning and then pop it in the oven.

Fabulously Frugal has some great freezer meal recipes.

Life as a mom also has great recipes and she even points you to posts to help you get started if you have never done freezer cooking before.

Other quick tips can happen as soon as you unload your groceries. When you buy chicken before you place it into the icebox go ahead and prepare a few dinner options. Place desired amount of chicken in a gallon Ziploc bag and add a marinade then pop them into the freezer. As they thaw the chicken pieces will soak up the flavors and all you have to do it grill or bake.

Here are a few marinade options:

  • Italian dressing
  • Ranch dressing and 2 Tablespoons minced garlic
  • ½ c Olive Oil, ½ c Lemon Juice and 3 T Italian Dressing
  • Barbecue sauce

Now all you need is a salad, veggies and/or fruit.

Did you know I was once a single mom? Yes, I had a time in my life where living on budget was more of a necessity than a plan and time was short each day; between, work, shuffling kids around, homework checks and doing the cleaning and cooking solo. On Monday Nicole Bean, a single mom, featured me on her blog 180 Degrees: Turning your life into a new direction She asked to interview me about the time in my life when I was a single mom. Go over and check that out, you will also find a great recipe as well!

Sharing time! What are your tried and tested tips for making dinner delicious, easy, and stress free.

Tell me all your great ideas in the comments below and you could be entered to win a $25 Starbucks gift card.

One winner will be chosen from all comments posted for the entire week.

Please, be sure to link to your blog or provide an email address so we can get in touch with you!

Filed Under: Home, The "What's for dinner?" Project Tagged With: , ,

Getting Out the Door: Breakfast on the Go

February 19, 2012 By 11 Comments
30 Breakfast Ideas

Getting Out the Door

Breakfast on the Go

Do you have breakfast on the go, or do you go without breakfast? How many of you skip breakfast? I am guessing most of us, or if you do not skip breakfast than you might fall into the eat the donut with your coffee as you walk into work or drive the kiddos around category. Let’s face it our mornings are rushed and tackling the days tasks can seem  more important to us than sitting down to eat breakfast.

All this week we are going to be focusing on getting out the door in the morning and one of the best ways to do that is to have some Breakfast on the go ideas.

But,whether it’s sitting around the table, or  breakfast on the go  it’s so important! It provides the energy we need to start the day, it gets our metabolism going and we all want that to work right. Nobody likes putting on extra pounds or buying a larger size. So how do we start the day off on the right foot, make it quick, easy and healthy and stay on time?

 

Below are a few links to give you some ideas about breakfast on the go. Many can be made ahead or take little to no time at all to prepare.

If you have kids there is plenty you can do to set up the night before.

  1. Before bed set the table with the bowls, spoons, napkins and cereal choices. Add any fruit or bread items needed…anything that does not live in the fridge.
  2. Have a list in the kitchen of your current breakfast choices so you do not waste time hunting for food. I have a friend who types up breakfast choices for her kids and before she sends them to bed the kids initial what they want the next day. The list changes as her food choices change. This save several minutes each morning for everyone in the house.
  3. Set your coffee pot at night so by the time you wake up you have hot, fresh coffee.
  4. Use your Crock Pot for breakfast; it’s not just for dinner.
  5. Go ahead and chop the fruit or peel it and place it in a Ziploc bag. If you are prepping apples toss with lemon juice to prevent browning.
  6. Have  breakfast on the go choices ready: cheese sticks, yogurts, nuts and homemade breads sliced and in a container as well so you can grab it on your way out the door.

Below are a few sites you can visit to get great crock pot breakfast on the go recipes.

Crock Pot Breakfast ideas

10 Easy Breakfast Crock Pot Recipes

Here are a few places that list great, quick and easy breakfast options.

Top 10 easy breakfast recipes

9 Fast and Healthy Breakfast Ideas

You have to love this next list of breakfast ideas, if only the website address… “Dumb little man” But it is also good to get a man’s perspective as well as a lot of us are taking care of his needs too!

5 Quick & Simple Breakfast-On-the-Run Ideas

 

And be sure to head over to my Facebook Author Page to download our list of 30 On the Go Breakfast Ideas!

 

So let’s help each other out. I want to hear what tips and tricks you have to make breakfast simple and healthy and getting out the door on time with little stress.

 

Tell me all your great ideas in the comments below and you could be entered to win a $25 Starbucks gift card.

One winner will be chosen from all comments posted for the entire week.

Please, be sure to link to your blog or provide an email address so we can get in touch with you!

Filed Under: Home, The "What's for dinner?" Project Tagged With: , , ,

How to Keep Your Purse Clean and Make Your Butt Look Smaller at the Same Time

April 12, 2011 By 11 Comments
handbag napkin

I have a giant purse. Huge.

I was even given the cocktail napkins at a retreat after people heard me talk about my undying devotion for oversized bags.

I remember one time telling Roger that I needed a purse with wheels to lug around all my stuff.

Roger told me, “That’s called a suitcase and you have a problem.”

I will always have a giant purse (because I love them and see the napkin above…) but I don’t need to have the back and shoulder pain that go with an overstuffed purse.

So once a week I do my three step method (I use this all over the house, but here it will apply to handbags,) to keeping my bag from overflowing.

1.       CLEAR IT OUT I simple take my purse and dump it out in a grocery bag.

  • Anything I want to keep (but doesn’t belong in my purse) gets put away. (This is when I go through receipts in my wallet – or the ones that have been thrown in my purse, pieces of paper, etc.)
  • Anything that is garbage stays in the bag and gets thrown away.

2.       PUT IT BACK Anything that belongs in the purse, stays in the purse. This includes

Wallet (I like the kind that has a place for a checkbook because I still have to write a couple of checks a month, plus, it keeps my business receipts better organized.

Make-up bag

  • Lipstick and gloss
  • Eye liner
  • Powder
  • Sunscreen stick
  • Blush and brush
  • Eyeglass cleaner wipes
  • Hand sanitize

 

Sunglasses case

Cell phone
Keys
Emergency kit

  • Hollywood Tape
  • $20
  • Needle and thread
  • Nail glue

3.       KEEP IT UP If I do it once a week, it really is easy to stay on top of it.

Also, have a small bag for makeup, and an emergency bag, it makes it easy to transfer the contents of the purse into my computer bag.

So tell me – do you have any fab tips for keeping your bag clean and light?

Filed Under: Because Sometime? I'm Just All Shallow - You Know?, Home, The Get Organized Project, tips and ideas, Travel

Join me for My 2011 Chirtmas Project (Starting Monday, November 21!)

November 17, 2011 By 18 Comments
My 2011 Logo

Yes- it’s that time of year and Christmas will be here before we want it to be.

But there is no reason to fear! With a little planning and a few steps along the way (OK, 21. But I promise they will be easy…) you will have a saner and more sacred celebration this year.

All you have to do is sign up for the blog here: http://feeds.feedburner.com/kathilipp/KUHK and you will join all of us to get your Christmas under control, and be able to focus on Christ this season!

Wait for that first email to show up in your inbox on Monday to get started!

 

Filed Under: Christmas, Home, Uncategorized
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