White Bean Chicken Chili

Items needed:

2 Bone-In Split Chicken Breasts 
Olive Oil
Salt & Pepper (to season)
1/2 cup Onion (finely diced)
5 cups Chicken Broth
2 (15-ounce) cans Great Northern Beans (drained)
1 (8-ounce) can Whole Kernel Corn (drained)
1 (4-ounce) can Chopped Green Chilies
1 teaspoon bottled Minced Garlic
1 ½ teaspoons Ground Cumin
1 ½ teaspoons Oregano
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1/8 teaspoon Pepper
2 Tablespoons Cornstarch
1/4 cup Half & Half
Fresh Cilantro
Sour Cream
Shredded Monterey Jack Cheese

Place chicken in a roasting pan. Season each breast with salt and pepper, then rub with olive oil. Bake in a preheated oven at 400 degrees on the 3rd rack for 50 minutes. Remove chicken from oven and let cool, remove skin and shred into chunks enough to equal 3 cups, then set aside. In a large heavy pot and over medium heat. Combine chicken, onion, chicken broth, northern beans, corn, green chilies, minced garlic, cumin, oregano, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce heat to simmer for 40 minutes. Stir together cornstarch and half & half, then pour into mixture. Stir and cover. Let simmer an additional 4 minutes. Serve soup topped with cilantro, sour cream and monterey jack cheese.

I love  this Kids Academy app.  Brings of of fun while learning, too.  My kids just cannot play with it enough. Lots of learning games and I like that it reinforces what my child has already leanrned.  Great for preschool aged kids!

Kids Academy Releases Preschool Education Center for iOS and Android!

I am always looking for fun and educatiopnal apps for my kids.  Kids Academy has just that!  I highly suggest you check out these apps and download them to yur devices!  Kids Academy – the team behind some of the top educational apps for kids with over 10 million downloads worldwide just released the long-awaited version of their flagship app – Preschool Education Center. As the name suggests, Preschool Education Center is an all-in-one educational app for kids and toddlers. The app covers all aspects of early childhood education from the alphabet and reading to writing, building vocabulary and developing math skills. Based on the proven Montessori method the app offers a number of fun games that help master essential learning skills through play.   I love  this Kids Academy app.  Brings of of fun while learning, too.  My kids just cannot play with it enough. Lots of learning games and I like that it reinforces what my child has already leanrned.  Great for preschool aged kids! Until now, Preschool Education Center has only been available on iTunes but today's release makes it finally available for Android device on Google Play! This fun and free app is currently being featured in the Family section of the Android store in the USA, Australia and Canada.

Get the app free on Google Play!

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For iOS devices:

Kids Academy have also updated the iOS version of the app: Preschool & Kindergarten Early Learning Games adding new games, books and educational cartoons and shows as well as printable worksheets. - The update boasts a bunch of cute little monsters that will teach your kids about money and how to count it. - Kids Academy TV now has a 24/7 Live Zoo channel offering web-cam views on real-life animals.

Grab your free copy of the update on the iTunes App Store!

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BONUS! Free Preschool & Kindergarten Worksheets for Kids

Kids Academy is also finding a way to expand beyond the screen and help master pen and pencil with free printable worksheets. You can get free preschool worksheets on a variety of subjects from alphabet to math (the library is being constantly updated). Download, print out and get start practicing with good old pen and paper in seconds!

Head over to to the Kids Academy to get your FREE PRINTABLE WORKSHEETS and get your kids busy!

Olive Garden Never Ending Pasta Bowl 20th Anniversary

Where are all of my Olive Garden Fans?  Now through November 22, 2015 Olive Garden is having the 20th anniversary of the  Never  Ending Pasta Bowl!   This is my favorite time of year to get some great pasta from Olive Garden.  And who doesn't love the bread sticks?  Make sure to visit your Olive Garden to take advantage of this offer.  I did and it was delicious. 

Never Ending Pasta Bowl includes options to please the entire family:

·         Pastas: Rigatoni, Cavatappi, Spaghetti, Whole Wheat Linguine, Gluten-Free Rotini, Tri-Colored Penne, Fettuccine, Angel Hair and Mezzaluna Ravioli.

·         Sauces: Five Cheese Marinara, Traditional Meat Sauce, Asiago Garlic Alfredo, Alfredo, Marinara, New Chicken Pomodoro and Pesto Alfredo. 

·         Toppings: Meatballs, Italian Sausage, Chicken Meatballs, Crispy Chicken Fritta or Crispy Shrimp Fritta can be added to any combination starting at $2.99.

Tell me what Pasta Bowl you would get! 

I was compensated for this review iwith a gift card.  

Riverbanks Zoo and Garden

Here are a few pictures from our trip to Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in Columbia SC.

Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake

Here is an easy and chocolate filled Bundt cake recipe. I avoid all the hassle by buying boxed cake mixes. 

Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake

Ingredients:

1 (16-ounce) box Duncan Hines Dark Chocolate Cake Mix

1 (5-ounce) package Chocolate Instant Pudding Mix

1 cup Sour Cream

1/2 cup Warm Water

1/2 cup Vegetable Oil

4 large Eggs

2/3 cup Milk Chocolate Chips

Vegetable Shortening (for greasing)

Directions:

Grease a bundt pan with vegetable shortening, set aside. In a large mixing bowl and with an electric mixer, beat together cake mix, chocolate pudding mix, sour cream, warm water, vegetable oil and eggs. Stir in chocolate chips. Pour batter into pan. Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees on the 3rd rack for 50 to 55 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack for 20 minutes, then turn over and remove from pan.  You can drizzle some chocolate sauce over the cake, if you LOVER chocolate! 

Spooktacular October Event

Ready for some Halloween giveaways?  There will be many winners in this one!  Don't be scared to enter!

Pear Salad

This is a super easy recipe and a Southern favorite.  You can have this ready in a jiffy.  Not only is it easy to make, it is very appealing to the eye and it tastes great!

2 can halved pears, drained
Mayonnaise
Grated sharp or cheddar cheese
Maraschino cherries
Head of lettuce

Tear off large pieces of lettuce leaves and arrange on large platter, making sure to cover entire platter. Place pear halves on platter.  Use a dollop of mayonnaise in the center of each pear.  Sprinkle each pear with grated cheese.  Top each pear with a maraschino cherry. Refrigerate until ready serve.  I have never fixed Pear Salad and had any leftovers!