Cooking & CraftingThursday (on a Friday): Apple Cider Chicken Thighs, Autumn Vibes & Craft Updates

 

Hello dear Friends!

Sorry I'm late to this post - I did start it yesterday and then got so busy I never finished it. So getting back to it today. Yesterday I played pickleball with my new pickleball group for 2 hours (so fun!!) and then picked up my Mom and spent the day with her. Then we got busy making dinner and watching our Packers (who are doing SO TERRIBLE this year🙈). I hope our team can get it together or I think we're going to start watching something else. Lol 

Anyways, I thought I would share the apple cider chicken thighs recipe I made last week. I found it at Sallys Baking Addiction website and I made it just as she suggested. I didn't have coriander on hand - so I substituted per her recommendation as well. It turned out so yummy and has all the wonderful Fall flavors. 🍎 😋 We had ours with twice baked potatoes and a garden salad with homemade sourdough croutons. Mmmm!!

The recipe is below. 

Time out from Autumn for just a sec to say that my garden is still producing some green beans - so we will be having one more fresh green bean side dish soon. And today is mid 60's sunny and warmer so I'm wearing my floral jeans and short sleeves - so still a bit of summer hanging on....

And sometimes when you're taking photos anyways, and the lighting is good, especially since you're pushing 55 - you take a quick selfie too. For posterity when I'm 65. Lol

Okay, now back to Autumn vibes. I did a messy manicure on myself but I did grab all my Fallish colors and created this look. Next time I'll take my time and do a better job but I love the colors for this time of year!

And nights have been CHILLY! I have even had to turn on the heat a few times (shhhh....don't tell Matt - he loves it cold). But loving the cozy glow inside....

And the beautiful Fall colors starting to show more out our windows...

And I love the cozy going on in the kitchen. My oven is going strong already this season!  I baked a french onion chicken pasta last night for our dinner and we both loved it! I will share that recipe soon. 

I also made some sweet and spicy nuts this morning as one of the birthday gifts for my brother, Steven. We are celebrating him here this weekend and my Dad and step Mom are heading back to AZ soon - so we are looking forward to hanging out with them too. And my Uncle is coming for the festivities as well. 💗 

I also think I'm going to make one of my GoNanas mixes since I have bananas to use up. I'm going to make an apple cider loaf and brush it with a little melted butter and sprinkle cinnamon sugar on it when it comes out of the oven. I love these mixes because I just add protein milk, mashed bananas, coconut oil and some maple syrup - so some healthier ingredients too. And they have been so good so far. The cinnamon roll muffins I made several weeks ago were awesome! 

I know my Bro will love these: mixed nuts with olive oil, brown sugar, chili powder, onion&garlic powder, cumin, & salt and pepper. Baked for 15 mins.

Now for the crafty portion of catching up with you folks. I finished one of my embroidery projects for my fellow Autumn birthday gf. I got a cute frame to put it in just for embroidery projects. 

And I've started the next one for my other fellow Autumn birthday gf. I think they will both love them. :) 🎃🕷🕸🧡

And I'm also going to start these. They are Super Mario coasters that I'm going to do diamond art on. They will be for our downstairs media room. Matt's favorite place! They are going to be a little birthday gift for Matt as he is also a Fall baby. 😊🧡💛

We are going to start adding some more "gamer" touches down there soon - stay tuned! 

Love the cute holder they will go in.

Looking forward to celebrating my baby Brother this weekend. This was on a trip to South Dakota over 40 years ago ::gulp:: 

Where does the time go???

Have a blessed weekend Folks! I will come around and visit when I get a chance. Please know I always love and appreciate your visits here. 

xoxo

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Happy Homemaker Monday

Hello dear Friends 🍁🧡

I treasure this date. I know in my last HHM post I mentioned that it's funny we have 2 anniversary dates because of needing to get married at the courthouse to get the correct wedding license. But I think of today as our official anniversary as it's when we had our magical wedding and said our vows in front of our family and friends. And my cousin, who officiated, brought Jesus to the party too. So as of today we have been married 2 years and together for 5 (thank You Lord!) but dream on the many more to come!

This past weekend we went and spent time with my Mom and step Dad Friday and helped them with some things in their apartment. Then Saturday we went to church in the evening and then went out to celebrate our anniversary by going out to dinner, walking around a beautiful rose garden park at sunset, and then came home and sat by a cozy fire on our deck. A perfect anniversary evening with my Hubby in my book. Tonight, per our tradition, we will watch our wedding video. ❤️

Then yesterday I went to a fun outdoor Fall event called Gourd Days with my Bestie, Mrs. C. We shopped and snacked and had Autumn beverages. And then later in the day both her and Mr. C came over to watch the big Packer Vikings game. Unfortunately, the Packers lost spectacularly. No one was happy about that but Mr. C - the big Vikes fan. Boo! But it was still fun watching with them and hanging out and having pizza delivered for dinner. 😊

Today it's so very gray and feels like it gets darker every hour that goes by. It's going to rain so I guess that only makes sense. But I didn't sleep well last night so this gray day is not helping my energy level! Lol Oh well, a new week begins, pep or not...

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING:

 

coffee with protein creamer and a little granola cereal

ON MY TO DO LIST THIS WEEK:

Ruby lab appt, errands, projects to get done around here, hospice work

THINKING ABOUT: 

Another fun thing this weekend was that I accomplished getting out my Fall decor around the house. I haven't done things outside yet, as I still have some flowers blooming and hanging in there. But I will decorate outside soon too. It's so cozy around the house now. I have many things on timers that pop on and give a soft glow at night. With these chillier nights (it has been in the 40's some nights and early AM's) it feels so wonderful to have that cozy Autumn feel everywhere. Here are a few peeks:

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY:

When my hands are cold but I make a hot cup of tea and wrap my fingers around that ceramic warmth and breathe in the steam.  

CURRENTLY READING

I've been truly terrible because I have either been watching shows, looking at magazines, or working on crafts I'm giving for gifts. But I have some fun Fall books lined up!

 

ON THE TV TODAY:

Big Brother (& still old seasons too), Ted Lasso, Need to finish the series Ride or Die we've been watching, I need to check the Fall tv lineup - haven't dont that yet. Jeopardy, Taping Halloween Baking Championship 

ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:

    MONDAY - leftovers from the weekend

TUESDAY - skillet apple cider chicken,  salad with sourdough croutons

WEDNESDAY - creamy potato soup, veggies, rosemary onion sourdough bread

THURSDAY - marinated chicken Matt will grill, cucumber salsa (in a cucumber flavored balsamic I have) to top the chicken, asparagus

FRIDAY - out for dinner 

TO RELAX THIS WEEK I WILL:

working on holiday and other gift projects 

TIPS OR SOMETHING TO SHARE:

 

FROM THE CAMERA:

perfect anniversary evening with the Hubs 😍

chilly Fall mornings means hot coffee in Autumn mugs

Wonderful day out with my fellow Fall loving Bestie (there she is living her best life 😂) I caught that pic of her while I was in line for my pumpkin latte with pumpkin cold foaM. 😋 She was nibbling a croissant but had gotten us a bag of pumpkin spice mini donuts to share a few (& she brought the rest home to Mr. C) 😉🍁🧡

Are you ready for some football? Why yes....yes I am! Go Pack Go!💚💛

This day 2 years ago ❤️

PRAYER LIST:

 For an end to the conflicts all over the world and anyone living in war & fear, especially everything going on in the middle east right now. For peace and unity in this country, especially from hate and shootings or violence.  For anyone sick, suffering, in pain, fear, loneliness etc ... that God bring them comfort and peace. For my friend Sandra and her brother's healing right now. For Matt & I to have many more anniversaries ahead. 🌻💛

For the Lord's love and peace to fill all ❤️'s.

For Christ's Light and Love to cast out the darkness everywhere and help the world find its way to loving our neighbors as ourselves. 🙏🏻

PRAYER, INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OR DEVOTIONAL:

❤️❤️❤️

Blessings to you Friends. 

I'm sharing this with Sandra of Diary of a SAHM for Happy Homemaker Monday.