Basil Pesto Mozzarella Stuffed Chicken

OH- EMM- GHEEEEE guys! This recipe isn't crazy healthy but I found this in a cookbook and decided to try it for dinner tonight since it was so stinkin' easy! It is ooey-gooey, cheesy goodness! We recently went on a mini getaway to Williamsburg, VA with my Aunt and Uncle...if you guys haven't at least visited there once, you should, it's packed with history and really beautiful. We actually closed on a vacay home there (Mr.Hooah is a SUPER NERD, so of course he was stoked to do so!) and this was our second trip up. We all went exploring and shopping (there are SO MANY little shops there that you definitely do not want to miss out on!!!), which led us to our favorite store there... The Wythe Candy Store! Not only is it filled with wall-to-wall candy, they have gourmet goods there as well. We are samplers, if there is a sample out, heck yeah we'll try it! And one of those samples happened to be their Basil Pesto. All I can really say is OH MY DAMN! The first bite I was SOLD! Mr.Hooah, however, said he didn't have sophisticated tastes like I do...?... Like, what does that even mean?! I said, "IT'S JUST PESTO!"...Lol. 

Ok, but no, really....THAT BASIL PESTO THO!!!!

 Sheesh, enough of my rambling!!! When I saw this recipe I knew this pesto just HAD to be involved! And boy was it a great idea...THIS WAS AWESOMELY DELICIOUS! Even Mr.Hooah was on board the pesto train. I lightened this up as much as I could, the recipe below is my own version. (I really just changed the cheese and instead of leaving the chicken unseasoned, I spiced it up with some Cajun seasoning! POW!!! haha!) Anyways, this recipe is quick, easy, and you honestly can do NOTHING to mess it up! And it actually comes out kind of pretty too.. You all know that this is my kind of recipe! ;)

-XO

Basil Pesto Mozzarella Stuffed Chicken

1 pk. (3-4pieces) of boneless, skinless chicken breast, butterfly-cut

4 (1 per piece of chicken) WeightWatcher Mozzarella cheese sticks, cut each in half

4 TBSP (more or less to suit tastes) Basil Pesto

• Preheat oven to 375'... Rinse chicken and butterfly each chicken breast. Spray a baking dish (or a foiled baking sheet) with a little non-stick and spread your chicken out on it. Now is the time to season it if you are going to do so!!! 
• Spoon 1 TBSP of the pesto onto on side of the chicken, add your mozzarella sticks, then fold the chicken up and bake for 20-25mins or until chicken is cooked through and juices run clear.

Groupon/Fandango DEAL!!!!

Guys, this is just a little quick MUST SHARE!!! If you guys are movie goers, this is a goodie! 

Groupon has a new deal for TWO Fandango Movie Tickets for ONLY $16 (up to a $26 value)! Plus you can use code FUNTIMES for 15% off and pay only $13.60 at checkout!

Valid through 12/31/15.

This make for a great date night!


$16 for Promotional Code good toward two movie tickets from Fandango ($13 per ticket, up to $26 total value (the “promotional value”).
Your Promotional Code must be redeemed online at Fandango.com or via the Fandango app by December, 31 2015 to receive the promotional value.
If the actual cost of the movie tickets plus Fandango’s convenience fee is more than the maximum value of Promotional Code, you’ll need to pay the remaining balance.
If the actual cost of the movie tickets plus Fandango’s convenience fee is less than the maximum value of the Promotional Code, you will not be entitled to use the balance in a subsequent transaction, or to a refund of the difference.

Guest Room Makeover

  

I am a little behind on getting this posted, but since my sister recently moved out, I have been wanting to turn her room into our new guest room because I just love the color! (Our old guest room was yellow and bright. I felt like the new guest room needed to be more like: chillin' out maxin' relaxin' all cool....haha!) Plus, it is one door closer to the bathroom. I have been so busy right up until the point of my family coming in, all the way up until the time they left. So this post was put on the back burner. Needless to say, I am still exhausted from all this and I need a vacation from vacation! Does anyone else ever feel like that? Or is it just me? Oy Veyyy! So let me just tell you a little bit about how this room was put together and how I do things... I'm not one of those "matchy-matchy" type of people. Most people are all like, "Oh, I love how you bought everything to go together so well! You planned it all just right!"...NO, PEOPLE...THAT IS NOT WHAT I DID AT ALL! Haha! I actually don't really plan at all. I also don't buy it all at the same time. Man, if you only knew! Ok, you don't so I'll tell you! Lol. Hobby Lobby is seriously my favorite place to shop, aside from Lowes of course! Yeahhhh Boiiiii, ADULTING for the WIN! Am I right?! I have had some of the decor for this room for almost a year....some of it purchased from Hobby Lobbys semi-annual sales and then the rest from here and there. Also, a few pieces, the chandeliers and the white medallion over the bed for instance, are pieces  that are actually meant for a future nursery. I told Mr.Hooah that when the time comes, all we've really gotta do is move that bed out and push a crib in! LOL! Speaking of the bed, it was brand new and we actually scored the whole thing off of a yard sale site for $200! And it is actually from Ashley Furniture, yeah, I couldn't believe it myself! It was a total steal! GO ME, saving Mr.Hooah some dollas! Haha! The bedding was ordered offline for $25 on clearance and those ADORBS little throw pillows were bought out at a gorgeous little barn sale at Sage & Twine...if any of you guys who are local are reading this, oh my goodness, PLEASE make it a point to head out over and buy something gorgeous there! She has antique, distressed furniture and everything that  gorgeous implies! If she would let me, I would hitch that little barn up to the back of Mr.Hooahs truck and just bring it all home with me! Seriously, her beautiful shop WILL NOT disappoint! I honestly should have been a designer, I mean, not to get cocky or sassy, but this was just all thrown together and it exceeded my expectations and turned into such a beautiful guest bedroom!

Of course, Kizzie & Tonka had to come upstairs to check it out!

Tonka says that everything checks out OK!

My flowerless planter...........

And here is my most favorite part, the lit chandies and the lopesided picture taking at its finest LOL.

Almost Homemade Banana Pudding

This is an oldie but a goodie so I decided it needed a repost! My mom makes her banana pudding from scratch with eggs, milk, and all that good jazz. Her banana pudding is awesome, don't get me wrong... but I, myself, prefer making banana pudding my way and I can honestly say this is as close to homemade as it gets without doing all that cooking and waiting for it to set to eat! This is one of my favorite desserts to make for our little Army Family BBQ's and it certainly is a hit! It is easy, doesn't take many ingredients at all, and sets quickly. I will say this though, it is most definitely better if you make it the night before and let it sit in the fridge over-night...you know, let those awesome flavors marry together! Trust me, I wouldn't steer you guys wrong, have I ever?! Make this for your next gathering, they will absolutely love you for it and ask you to make it time and time again! Enjoy you guys!

-XO

Almost Homemade Banana Pudding

5-6 Ripe Bananas (you can slice before or as you go!)

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 Family size vanilla pudding

2 c. cold water

2 boxes vanilla wafers

1 (12oz) tub of cool-whip

1/2 a block of cream cheese softened

• In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add in the water, condensed milk, & vanilla pudding mix. Blend until combined well & mixtures thickens. FOLD (do not stir, it will break the mixture up!!!) in the tub of cool-whip until combined.
• At the bottom of a trifle bowl (or whatever bowl you fancy) add a layer of the wafers, followed by the pudding mixture, then a layer of bananas. Repeat ending with the pudding mix on top & I always save a few of the wafers to decorate the top! (I also sprinkle the crumbs from the wafer box on top too just because I thought it made it look prettier lol!) 
• Refrigerate over night!

Root Beer Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

Nothing says summer like BBQ, am I right?! Mr.Hooah and I pretty much love ALL THINGS BBQ so this recipe was a must try back when I first found it... Where? I am not quite sure, but probably on Pinterest. And I'm sure that I already know what you're thinking..."ROOT BEER?!" And the answer is, "YES! ROOT BEER!!!" Sounds like an odd combo huh? It kind of is, but it is actually really delicious. And I know this may not be a new recipe for some of you guys, but I thought I would share it since we love it so much. I know there are different variations of sodas you can use, some people have used Dr.Pepper. I, however, am a HUGE root beer fan, so I was sold at Root Beer! Lol. Most of the root beer flavor cooks out and the soda actually helps tenderize the meat. And when it is time to eat, all you do is drain the meat, stick a hand-mixer (I'm old school, I prefer breaking out the ol' hand-mixer rather than dragging my Kitchen-Aid off the top of our refrigerator lol) in the crock pot with the meat and in a quick minute or two, Viola! pulled pork!!! We eat ours with coleslaw, I guess it's my Southern roots, but a scoop of slaw on a good BBQ sandwich is just where it's at! Haha. Even Mr.Hooah eats his the same way now and we all know how picky he can be! This is easy peasy and with only three ingredients, that's right, I said THREE... I highly recommend you give it a try because you can just set it and forget it!
-XO

Please forgive my photo quality, the site I use has started reformatting the photos :(

   

Slow Cooker Root Beer Pulled Pork

1 small pork shoulder (or whatever you prefer, we use Tyson pork shoulder)

1 (2Liter) bottle of A&W Root Beer 

Your favorite BBQ sauce

• Turn on your slow cooker so it can start heating up while you're prepping everything! 
• Rinse the pork and then pat dry with a paper towel. Spray slow cooker with non-stick spray. Now you can place the pork in the slow cooker and season with your favorite seasoning if you're a "seasoner" like myself! (I have become obsessed with Tony Chachere's cajun seasoning...I have been putting it on everything like Mr.Hooah puts hot sauce on everything!!!) 
• Now comes the root beer! I usually use about half the bottle but it all depends on what size the pork is. You want it to almost cover the roast but not quite. 
• Cook on High for 4-6hrs or you can cut it down low and let it go all day! When its done, drain all the juices off and then shred it up, add BBQ sauce, and there you have it!