a chicken and a turnip

Hey guys!  Yet again, it has been way too long since I have updated the blog.  The semester has kicked off and hasn't stopped!  Travel season at work has begun and I will be gone at least 2 days every week until November visiting my high schools.  It's crazy how fast time is flying by. Are we really already halfway through with September??  I'm taking a stats class this semester, have to do a directed individual study, pass my comps, then I will graduate with my masters in December!  I get a little stressed out when I think about the directed individual study and comps, but I'm trying to take it one day at a time.  I applied for graduation last week.  It feels like just yesterday I was trying to decide if I should start my masters or not... and here I am, less than 3 months away from graduating.

Speaking of how fast time is flying by, I am in my 17th week of pregnancy!  Week 18 begins on Tuesday. That means a little over two weeks to halfway there! I went to the doctor a few weeks ago and got to hear the precious heartbeat again.  That is so amazing. I wish I could hear it everyday. Instead, I pray for this little life every day. This week my baby weighs 5 ounces this week and is 5 inches long, head to bottom.  Its the size of a turnip!

Baby English is making itself more known to me and to the world, as my belly is growing!  People have been telling me that they don't think that I am showing yet, but I just think they are being nice.  I can definitely tell.  Jesse can too.  He is sweet to place his hand on the bump, put his ear to it (as if he can hear anything), and say, "Hello Baby!"  I'm really looking forward to the next months of pregnancy!  I'm excited to feel the baby move for the first time, watch my belly grow, and find out the gender of the baby.  We're planning to have a "reveal party" at our tailgate on November 5 at the Homecoming game!  If you are on campus that day, stop by!



Here are the most recent photos I have.  Please ignore the articles of clothing in the background.  (You have to get more of those too!)





Just kidding!  That was me trying on the baby bump pillow at Motherhood Maternity. Here are the real ones:





I'll do my best to update you with photos as we go along! I've been buying some maternity clothes... one pair of jeans and this shirt in the picture. I had to, it's MAROON! I don't really need the shirts yet, but I am definitely in the jeans!  Mine don't button anymore... My sweet cousin has lended me some of her maternity clothes that she no longer needs.  Praise God!  It is so amazing to have basic needs provided by the Lord. It's expensive to have to buy an entire new wardrobe!

Well, I've been enjoying having this weekend with NO PLANS.  I love college football, but I'm glad our game was Thursday, so that this weekend would be chill.  I slept in and spent what was left of my morning in the kitchen making our favorite chicken salad recipe!

Homemade Chicken Salad.   I'm not sure if I should say where I got this recipe from, however, it is a VERY POPULAR place to get chicken salad in MADISON or RIDGELAND.  It is particularly good on a BAGEL.  If that doesn't clue you in, then you have never been there.

ORIGINAL RECIPE
Ingredients:

• 3 boiled chicken breasts
• sliced grapes
• sliced almonds
• 8 oz. sour cream
• 3/4 c. mayo
• 1 tsp. dried thyme
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. pepper

Directions:

• Let the chicken cool - put it in a food processor - until texture of breadcrumbs.
• Hand mix the "sauce" and add to the chicken
• Add grapes and almonds
• Let chill in the fridge/freezer before serving

AC'S CHANGES

I follow these instructions, almost exactly, but here are some changes that I make.

• Instead of boiling chicken breasts, I buy a rotisserie chicken already cooked at the store. Call me lazy. This time I bought the lemon pepper chicken.  Remove skin, and pull chicken from bones.  I just tear apart the chicken with my fingers, and separate into small bits.  No food processor needed!

• Instead of specifically almonds, I use whatever nut I have on hand... almonds, walnuts, pecans, etc.   I put grapes, and recently have started adding craisins to the mix as well... adds texture, flavor, and color!

• Note:  when you first mix together all of the ingredients, the mixture looks pretty wet.  It is really important to chill in the fridge for a few hours before serving, because in that time, it firms up to a nice consistency.  

Yummy!  We had the chicken salad for a late lunch.  Jesse likes with with a piece of lettuce on bread.  I prefer it on crackers.  I like the crunch of Ritz!

I hope that you enjoyed this post and that you will give this recipe a try!  Enjoy the cooler weather and have a great weekend!