Tomato enchilada bake

This is another favorite. Hmmm... I bet that it would be pretty good with leftover turkey too.

Tomato Enchilada Bake
Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Cook Time: 30 Minutes
Ready In: 45 Minutes
Yields: 4 large servings

INGREDIENTS:
3 cups cooked chicken meat
1 cup sour cream
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 cup chopped onion
2 green onions, chopped
1 tomato, diced
1 (6.5 ounce) can canned tomato sauce
1/2 cup salsa
2 teaspoons chili powder
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon dried parsley
8 (8 inch) flour tortillas
6 ounces shredded Cheddar cheese

DIRECTIONS:
1. In a large bowl combine the chicken, sour cream, canned diced tomatoes, 1 teaspoon chili powder, chopped onion, green onion, and fresh diced tomato. Mix well and set aside.
2. In a medium saucepan combine tomato sauce, salsa, 2 teaspoons chili powder, oregano and parsley. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes.
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
4. Fill tortillas with chicken mixture and fold together, laying snugly in a lightly greased 9x13 inch baking dish. Pour simmered sauce over the top, then sprinkle with shredded cheese.
5. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Ratings (out of 5):
Adam - **** (with jalapenos added)
Melanie - **** 1/2 (as written)

Little turkey

I know... it's out of focus, but I still thought that it was cute.

Elf yourself

I hope that Adam forgives me for posting this (click the picture for more fun!)! Ha! Try it yourself here!

Enter His gates with thanksgiving

I've been mulling over the idea of a Thanksgiving post for the past few days now, but to be honest I'm having a hard time putting all the things for which I'm thankful into words. This past year has been such an amazing journey through so many different feelings and emotions and to try to organize those in a way that makes sense to others seems impossible right now.

As the generations of parents before me understood - the love from a parent to a child and the resulting love that invades the surrounding family of that child is impossible to describe... which is probably alright because I don't know that it can be understood until you've been there. At least, I know I certainly didn't understand.

That love and the things that have come from that love encompass so many of the things for which I'm thankful. Such simple description with such complex meaning. It just seems that there should be more profound language to describe things so important and precious.

In light of the fact that I'm all caught up in my emotions this week, I'm going to let one of Addy's books do the heavy hitting. This is one of my favorites and I rarely get through it with two dry eyes.

On the Day You Were Born
By Debra Frasier

On the eve of your birth
word of your coming
passed from animal to animal.

The reindeer told the Artic terns,
who told the humpback whales,
who told the Pacific salmon,
who told the monarch butterflies,
who told the green turtles,
who told the European eel,
who told the busy garden warblers,
and the marvelous news migrated worldwide.

While you waited in darkness,
tiny knees curled to chin,
the Earth and her creatures
with the Sun and the Moon
all moved in their places,
each ready to greet you
the very first moment
of the very first day you arrived.

On the day you were born
the round planet Earth
turned toward your morning sky,
whirling past darkness,
spinning the night into light.

On the day you were born
gravity's strong pull
held you to the Earth
with a promise that you
would never float away…

…while deep in space
the burning Sun
sent up
towering flames,
lighting your sky,
from dawn until dusk.

On the day you were born
the quiet Moon glowed
and offered to bring
a full, bright face,
each month,
to your windowsill…

...while high above the North Pole,
Polaris, the glittering North Star,
stood still, shining silver light
into your night sky.

On the day you were born
the Moon pulled
on the ocean below, and,
wave by wave,
a rising tide washed the
beaches clean for
your footprints…

…while far out at sea
clouds swelled with water drops,
sailed to shore on a wind,
and rained you a welcome
across the Earth’s
green lands.

On the day you were born
a forest of tall tress
collected the Sun’s light
in their leaves,
where, in silent mystery,
they made oxygen
for you to breathe…

…while close to your skin
and as high as the sky,
air rushed in and blew about,
invisibly protecting you
and all living things on Earth.

On the day you were born
the Earth turned, the Moon pulled,
the Sun flared, and, then, with a push,
you slipped out of the dark quiet
where suddenly you could hear…

…a circle of people singing
with voices familiar and clear.

“Welcome to the spinning world,” the people sang,
as they washed your new, tiny hands.

“Welcome to the green Earth,” the people sang,
as they wrapped your wet, slippery body.

And as they held you close
they whispered into your open, curving ear,
“We are so glad you’ve come!”


I’m thankful for our little family and the love that holds it close. Adam and Addy – I’m so thankful for the two of you.

just because I'm ready!

Over the past week, I've been working on a children's apparel line for Just Because. I'm pretty excited about it and wanted to plug it here (because if I can't plug it here, where can I?) =) So, if you're interested, please check it out here. Thanks for looking! =)

Favorite Salad

So, we didn't do our weekly 'dinner and a movie' night this week, but I thought that I would post my favorite salad recipe. It's one that my Mom often would serve at Thanksgiving and/or Christmas and I would always look forward to eating it. Truly, I know that it sounds a little icky with the sour cream, but trust me, it's wonderful!!

Raspberry Marble Salad:

Makes 8 servings

2 packages raspberry gelatin
2 cups boiling water
1 package (10 oz) frozen raspberries
1 small can crushed pineapple
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
8 ounce box dairy sour cream

Dissolve gelatin in boiling water. Add raspberries, stirring to thaw. Chill until partially set. Add pineapple and walnuts. Put half of mixture into 11 x 7-in pan or casserole dish. Spread sour cream over this and add second half of gelatin mixture over sour cream layer. Chill until set.

I've been tagged!

Deanna tagged me with this meme. Here goes nothing!

Two names you go by: 1. Mel and well, um, hmm... I don't think that I really go by anything else other than that. 2. Adam calls me babe. Does that count?

Two things you are thinking right now: 1. I need to make a list of grocery items for Thanksgiving. 2. I really need to get those thank you notes sent! (Can you tell I'm a little behind?) =)

Two of your favorite things to do: 1. Play with Addy. 2. Shop (isn't that bad?). I do love looking for deals though!

Two things you want very badly at that moment: 1. A cuddly, rainy, snuggle-up-under-the-covers-morning with Adam and Addy. 2. Thanksgiving grocery shopping to be done.

Two favorite pets you have had/have: 1. Nutmeg - the dog that we had when I was in high school. 2. Credit and Debit, of course!

Two people who will fill this out: 1. Anna. 2. Amanda.

Two (non-household) people you last talked to (email does not count): 1. The Wash U people asking for money. 2. Mom.

Two longest trips you have been on: 1. Our 'backpacking' trip through Europe. 2. Our trip to Israel.

Two favorite holidays: 1. Christmas. 2. Thanksgiving. It's the perfect time of year for me now! =)

Two beverages: 1. Wild Cherry Pepsi. 2. Raspberry Lemonade.