Sad Bird

Do you think Birdie is sad I'm leaving?

Heading out to Colorado tomorrow morning to visit my Dad while he is home on a short break from Afghanistan. I will also get to see my sister Emily and Kevin while I am out there! Looking forward to a break from school and student teaching - a breath of fresh mountain air will do me good. Wish I could squeeze Greg and Birdie into my carryon...

Massive Zucchini

An updated photo of our HUGE zucchini plant that is growing in an Earth Box on our deck. There are two separate plants growing and they are out of control. There are 4 baby zucchini that have developed and we'll get to eat the fruits of our labor before too long!

Zucchini and Katie (please disregard our distressed deck!)

New Favorite Recipe

Need something quick, easy, and healthy?

I found this recipe on the Weight Watchers website...

only 4 points per serving.

The recipe makes 4 servings.

They taste as if you've fried up some chicken - but it is the opposite!

Here is the recipe below, try it out and let me know how you liked it!

The husband was speechless and satisfied :)

Ingredients

	2 Tbsp honey mustard
	2 Tbsp buttermilk
	1/2 cup(s) dried bread crumbs
	1 pound(s) uncooked boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 12 equal strips
	6 Tbsp barbecue sauce, hickory-flavored preferred

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 450ºF. Place a large baking sheet in the oven to preheat.
  
  
• In a shallow dish, whisk together mustard and buttermilk. Place bread crumbs in a separate dish. Add chicken to mustard mixture; turn to coat. I let the chicken sit in the liquid mixture for a few minutes while the oven preheats. Transfer chicken to bread crumbs and turn to coat.
  
  
• Remove the hot baking sheet from oven and coat with cooking spray. Place chicken on baking sheet and bake 6 minutes; flip and bake until golden brown and cooked through, about 6 minutes more.
  
  
• Serve chicken fingers with barbecue sauce on the side. Yields about 3 chicken fingers and 1 1/2 tablespoons of barbecue sauce per serving.

A Note

I get tons of letters and art work every day from my sweet 1st graders.

I've only been in this class for 4 weeks but have enough artwork and notes to last a lifetime!

I wanted to share this one, as it melted my heart when I read it.

I translated below if you are unable to make out some of the words!

It reads:

"Mrs. Clemits | I love you | you love me |

I will miss you when it is the end of the yaer (year)

but you will be in my Gratfull hrat (grateful heart)."

We're working on complete sentences this week :)

Vacuum Fried Snack

A favorite new snack I was introduced to by my Aunt Les who found these at Fresh Market. I have to share them on here because they are fantastic! The beans are vacuum fried (resulting in less fat than traditional frying methods) and lightly salted for the ultimate snacking sensation! They have a salty and sweet flavor. I'm in love!

They also offer okra prepared in the same way - and they are just as great.

If you're ever near a Fresh Market, try them out!

They have been husband tested and husband approved.