Pizza

I love pizza, but have found lately that I'm so tired of pepperoni and all the other blah toppings. So, next time you're in the mood for a great speciality pizza give this one a try...

Chicken and Artichoke Pizze

1 prepared pizza crust (Walmart deli has some that are yummy)
3 medium size boneless, skinless chicken breast
2/3 cup basil pesto
1 can artichoke hearts, drained
1 jar sundried tomatoes, drained and chopped
1/2 cup pine nuts, toasted
1 cup shredded mozzerella cheese
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 400. Season chicken breast with salt and pepper and cook through on a griddle, stainless skillet, or cast iron skillet. Allow to cool slightly after cooking. While Once chicken is cooled, cut into strips and set aside. Take a small non-stick skillet and toast pine nuts until fragrant...set aside.

To assemble pizza:
Spread pesto over the crust, leaving a 1" rim around the edge. Layer with chicken, chopped artichokes, sundried tomatoes, and toasted pine nuts. Spread cheeses over the pie and bake at 400 until cheese is melted and bubbly.

This really is a great alternative to your plain jane pizza...so enjoy!!

Tip for Julie: Invest in a good cast iron or stainless steele skillet. When cooking meats these type skillets help create a nice crust on the meat. The key to keep food from sticking is high heat and minimal contact with the meat. Don't put the chicken in the skillet and then try to play with it and move it around, it will stick and tear the meat. Once the meat has made contact with the skillet, let it sit. The meat will detach from the bottom when it's ready to be flipped.

I don't like to use a non-stick skillet for searing or when I'm trying to develop rich flavors. So, unless your fixing pancakes or scrambles eggs put those non-stick skillets away!

Adley on my mind...

So, it's been a while! I have been really busy lately trying to find Adley the PERFECT bedding and room accessories for her "big girl" room. She will be three soon and still has a crib in her room. She's been sleeping with Judd for about six months now, but I just have not been able to decide what to do in her room. I've been thinking simple and classic Pottery Barn Kids and even filled up my shopping cart, several times. (I love Pottery Barn...it's my fav and their stuff is great quality... ) Then Adley started putting in her two cents! I know now that God does have sense of humor because my beautiful, sweet little girl wants nothing but PINK in her room...the one color I grew up hating with a passion!! It's hilarious! She wants a pink bed, walls, bedding, you name it, she wants it! So, I have decided to paint her "big girl" bed pink and some of her furniture pink...as I begin my project I will post pictures and info as to how I went about creating Adley's Perfectly Pink bedroom.

I was not the girly-girl growing up, so she's really making me dig deep to find my girly side...and I will admit, it's been kinda fun! I didn't even know I was capable of being sooo girly. :)

Adley also has a birthday coming up soon! She will be 3 on August 22 and wants a Pink Super Woman birthday...more pink!! HA! But to see the smile on her face is worth all the pink in the world. I know some may think I'm being silly to give into her wants, but really, she's in the middle of 2 boys and rarely gets anything of her own. If I can put a smile on her face with something like a pink bed or a pink birthday cake, I will!

I know what it's like being the middle child and feeling like I got the short end of the stick...here comes that middle child syndrome! I want her to know that she matters and that is just as special as her brothers. I want her to feel like her wants and likes are just as important to me as they are to her....let's just hope I don't go broke in the process!!