Tuesdays with Judith, Unexpected Snow Day, The Chick is Coming, Quotable Quotes, The Pioneer Woman's King Ranch Chicken Casserole AND Pinterest Stuff (Random Acts of Christmas Kindness)

Good Friday morn!

Once again, I'm turning things upside down!

I am going to stick the Randomness at the bottom, and start with "things of substance."

Quotable Quotes - You can find the following in a book called Unwrapping the Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp. It is a book meant for families, but I have found it fills a need for me in the daily devotion and scripture writing department this month. Having a hard time finding even "moments" of Christmas this year, the following made complete and simple sense to me.

I've been looking in the wrong places for Christmas, and as a Christian, I should know better.

"Jesus is our Light in the dark that we could never light with a switch - Jesus is the Light we can only find.

"Just like Christmas - Christmas can only be found.

"Christmas cannot be bought in a store. Christmas cannot be created in the kitchen. Christmas cannot be made by hand, lit up, set out, dreamed up. Christmas can only be found - right there in the manger."

A very timely reminder, I thought.

The Pioneer Woman's King Ranch Chicken Casserole

You will need the following:

Butter, for the baking dish
1 can cream of chicken soup 
1 can cream of mushroom soup 
1 can Rotel
2 tablespoons chili powder 
1/2 teaspoon cumin 
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 cups chicken broth 
16 corn tortillas, torn into pieces 
1 roasted whole chicken (rotisserie chicken works well), cooled and torn into chunks
1 large white or yellow onion, finely diced 
1 red bell pepper, seeded and finely diced 
1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and finely diced 
1 jalapeno, finely diced 
1 1/2 cups grated sharp Cheddar
1 1/2 cups grated Monterey Jack cheese

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9" by 13" baking dish.

2. Make the soup/tomato mixture. In a large bowl, combine the soups and diced tomatoes and peppers. Add the chili powder, cumin, salt, pepper and chicken broth. Stir it all together.

3. Line the bottom of the baking dish with half of the torn tortillas. Layer on half the chicken. Add half the onion, bell pepper and jalapeno. Sprinkle on half the cheese and pour on half the soup mixture. Repeat the layers, beginning with the rest of the tortillas, and ending with the rest of the soup.

4. Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake until bubbling, another 15 minutes.

Okay. This is VERY good, but it is also kinda hot...

AND, it also makes a very large casserole, so it is perfect for company!

Pinterest Stuff

Random Acts of Christmas Kindness

1. Leave quarters at a laundromat.

2. Leave the correct amount of change on a vending machine.

3. Leave dollar bills in the toy section at the Dollar Tree.

4. Pay for the tab of the person behind you in the drive-thru line.

5. Find a dirty car and leave a car wash gift certificate. 

6. Leave diapers and wipes on a changing table in a public bathroom.

7. Adopt a classroom in need (send holiday party treats and craft box).

8. Buy a hot cocoa or latte for Salvation Army bell ringers.

9. Bake and deliver Christmas cupcakes to library employees.

10. Leave present in mailbox for mail carrier.

RANDOMNESS #1 - Tuesdays with Judith - Whenever Judith comes to visit in December, it is my plan to "do something Christmas" with her. It doesn't have to be big...

Or expensive...

Or over-the-top.

At least that is what I keep telling myself.

As you can see, the first Tuesday of December I kept it very SIMPLE.




After our customary washing of the dirty dishes...


We read Christmas books.

Specifically, we read the new pop-up Christmas book I recently purchased 73 times...

I kid you not.


I bought this "sticky" Christmas tree three years ago at a Hallmark After Christmas Sale for about $2.


So glad we finally got to use it.


It was worth the wait.

RANDOMNESS #2 - Unexpected Snow Day - Mikie was able to spend a Snow Day at home. A very rare occurrence, indeed!

And, oh me, of little faith...

I went to bed NOT expecting any measurable snowfall significance.

I rarely am so happy to be so wrong.


First, Mikie picked Little Man up from daycare to avoid potentially dangerous roads, and we played with him a little while before everyone else got off work.


And when Mikie walked up the sidewalk carrying Little Man, this is what I was feeling.


It was all pretty beautiful.

RANDOMNESS #3 - The Chick is Coming! The Chick is Coming! - This has been the L-O-N-G-E-S-T S-E-M-E-S-T-E-R in the history of the world!


SO glad Roxie is coming home this evening!

I could use a bunch of adjectives right about now, but I'll just leave it at that!

Have a grand December weekend. I'll be back sometime before Christmas to check in and share something festive!

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda