Pesto Hummus Chicken Breasts

Last night I created an amazing dinner that I must share!! (For you Kristin!)

Pesto Hummus Chicken Breasts

Ingredients:

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Athenos Pesto Hummus

1 wedge Lite Laughing Cow Garlic Herb Cheese

1 or 2 slices of white cheese- I used reduced fat smoked provolone- but motz would do equally well

Seasoning

Directions:

Preheat Oven to 350 degrees

Season Chicken- however you like- I used salt and pepper, Tastefully Simple Garlic Garlic and a little Jack Stacks Seasoning Salt

In bottom of a baking dish – spread ¼ of the Athenos Pesto Hummus – place chicken breasts directly on top. Then spread Hummus on top of chicken (amount may vary- I used a tablespoon per chicken breast) then spread Laughing Cow on top – Side note- in hindsight- I would have mixed the hummus and laughing cow together before I spread it on the chicken- probably would have been easier!  Finally I sprinkled a little basil and oregano on top of the chicken. I also drizzled balsalmic vinegar over the entire dish- not a lot.

Chicken before covered and put in oven

Close-Up

Cover baking dish with aluminum foil. Bake in preheated oven for 25-30 minutes- until chicken is cooked but not firm. Take out pan- Turn oven on to broil - remove foil- place cheese on top of chicken and place back in oven until cheese is browned- roughly 3-5 min. Let sit for 5 min. Serve and enjoy. I topped mine with parsley and a little more fresh cracked pepper.

Finished Dish!

*Variation*

Afterwards I thought some crushed red pepper flakes might be delish with this dish with pepper jack cheese on top.

Red Onion or Shallots might also pair nicely with this- diced and mixed with the hummus.

I served the dish with a nice greeny salad- with radishes, cabbage, red onion and low fat sharp cheddar cheese and balsalmic vinegar dressing.

I also paired the chicken with fresh asparagus .

To make the asparagus – I chopped off ½ inch off the ends, laid them in a single layer on a cookie sheet, drizzled with 2 tablespoons of olive oils – seasoned with fresh minced garlic, salt and pepper and a little lemon juice. Put in the oven on broil until cooked- roughly 5ish minutes- keep an eye on them! (sorry- didn't get pix of this one!)

Fall Wrap-Up

So- for those of you that don't know- all the photos you see on my blog are via the Blackberry lens! And last night I began to realize that the memory card is filling up! Time to do some photo clean up...

Welcome to the hodge-podge of my blackberry photos!!! I am going to attempt to put these in some sort of sequential order!!!

Tyler, Cory, Lyndsey and I had a pretty epically fun night out at a Habitat for Humanity Fundraiser- followed by some bar hopping in Westport- clearly fun was had by all!

Oct. 21st

This year my boss took a few of us to a Chiefs game- great seats! Complete with tailgating and an Elvis Sighting!!! We watched a GREAT Chiefs Win!!

Oct 24th

Now for a few birthday pics... you can see more on Facebook- courtesy of Lyndsey!! But a brief wrap- up on the birthday: IT WAS AMAZING! We traveled to Extra Virgin, then on to 801 and a final at The Quaff! It was epic and so much fun. Too many shots - well- maybe that's worded wrong- A LOT OF SHOTS!! My name made it on the Quaff Birthday Board: "April Iowa Zobel"!! My cake from the Quaff was Jello-Shots and a candle. But the best part of the day- were the amazing friends that celebrated with me!

Lynds, me, Sherri and Steve

Neighbor Kelly, me, Lynds and Rita - such sweet friends! Kel brought a cake and balloons- and thanks to Lyndsey the balloons were clipped to my pants for the remainder of the evening!

One of the best friends a girl could ask for...and my partner in crime!

And finally- the best birthday cake!

Let's move on to some more random photos!!! The birthday clearly was wonderful... but I've equally enjoyed the amazing fall this year- fun times with friends from all over and amazing weather!

Recently my "little brother" from back in the Itown days moved to the KC area - Tyler is a great kid and good friend. We have so much fun together- its like old times hanging with him. We spent a great Saturday at the Other Place watching the HAWKS kill Michigan State- great day. Oh- and check out that sweet Koozie wrist band! 

 Tyler rocks the pink!

And finally- lets get current - this past weekend I spent Friday night with a best friend who came to town. We went and saw Due Date- hilarious! Then we moved on to Harrah's - we played some blackjack- and I'm proud to say that I WON!!! We then ventured to the Quaff and caught up- apparently we were celebrating my birthday STILL!! I'm not complaining! Thanks Duder! 

And then Saturday Lena and I packed up and rolled north to see the boys. Kegger and Football watch party! It was so great to see the crew again- oh how I've missed them. Lena was such a good girl- she made new friends and played nice!

Lena loving on Mark and Autumn! I think she stole a few hearts!  

I also was super surprised and got to see Emma and Miss Molly- oh my gosh how amazing it was to spend some short - but oh so sweet time with them. I adore and treasure them so much. Amazing weekend! Thanks everyone!

WHEW!!! Blackberry is cleaned up and I feel better - hope you all do too- now that you are caught up on my life's adventures! 

Lena and Friends

I feel like I should rename my blog to "Life's Adventures with Wiggle Butt"...
For those of you that have not experienced the Wiggle Monster- I apologize- I wish it on everyone! She can turn any bad day around.

So- yesterday was one of my fave fall days this year. I got off work and promptly leashed up Lena and out for our walk we went- when we neared the park in our neighborhood we saw Devon and Kingston playing with a beautiful Golden Retriever - now- Lena likes big dogs... she is not quite a fan of the little kids... so she instantly was ready to play. For nearly and hour Lena played with the "big dogs".... she ran and ran... she would take the stick they were all munching on and let them chase her. I like to call her my little hussy - she teases the boy dogs so bad... she will run up to them- wiggle her butt in their face and then make them chase her... such a riot!

Lena and her pal Kingston

It was a beautiful fall afternoon- leaves and sticks on the ground - I in my vest and scarf (who's shocked?!) Lena in her purple collar - we had the most wonderful time. She is becoming quite the social butterfly - again- who is shocked?!

After we got home last night- Lena munched on a rawhide and played with her toys for a bit  - but was out by 9 p.m. - sound asleep! Needless to say- we're going to the park again tonight!



For those of you that don't see if often- she does nap sometimes! And her napping with another dog was something I thought would NEVER happen!!! We've come along way in 3 months!

Lena and boyfriend Hank snoozing!

Happy Halloween from Lena

I am going to let the pictures speak for me today...
October is officially over...but it ended on a high note. Lyndsey and I dressed up our little Boston's for some Halloween fun...the trick or treaters loved them and everything they did was cuter while in costume! I wish you all could have seen the 2 hot dogs chasing each other around Lyndsey's house. It was so much fun. And for anyone wondering- (Aunt Barbie) - they left the costumes on for nearly 3 hours...neither one tried to get them off! So fun.
Thanks Lyndsey for letting us crash your house for Halloween and making yummy chili!!! Cheers!



Lena and Hank in Costume!

Climbing on the furniture in their costumes!

Too much Candy...errr playing for this girl!

This one kills me!

Such a sweetie...looks so innocent doesn't she!?

In her signature pose...

"I'm an angel!"

The kids playing... we had to have their leashes on so we could corral them when the kids came to the door!

Lena liked her costume so much she wore it on the ride home... she was a sleeping dog minutes later!

I love Shoes

I love shoes. I love everything about shoes. I love how shoes can change your outfit, can change your mood, can change how you feel about yourself... I LOVE shoes!

So today is my 28th Birthday...and about 4 years ago I started a new tradition for MYSELF. I bought Birthday Shoes. Why? Because I love shoes! And I wanted a pair of Giraffe print Steve Maddens so bad I could taste it. But they were expensive- and impractical... but it WAS my birthday! To this day- they are my most favorite pair of shoes - they are now torn, tattered, weathered and beaten... but I still have them... they were the FIRST! So the following year I bought dark purple, alligator print Jessica Simpson Peep Toes. Last year I sported a pair of cobalt blue, suede Steve Madden Peep Toe Pumps. Its my thing.. Its something I truly look forward to. 

You see- Birthday Shoes are shoes that you wouldn't normally buy. They CANNOT be practical...Cannot be a pair you NEED. They have to speak to you- they have to be FUN...and make you feel like a million bucks! Its a hunt- but when you find them- you just know!

This year came around - and I have been so busy... I've actually had a pretty spectacular social life- and the Birthday Shoe shopping fell by the wayside. But yesterday at work- something kicked in...I felt it in my bones- I HAD to go find the pair... its tradition...its what I do... So, after work I went on the search - I found them. The perfect pair of Birthday Shoes! They were nestled in amongst other beautiful shoes- but there they were- in all their Snake Skin glory...and gold heel... a pair of glorious BCBG Pumps!

So here is to year 28! I look forward to the opportunities and excitement this year will provide! I am not a huge fan New Years Eve- its like an amateur holiday.... and so my New Years is my birthday -its like 2 holidays in one! Lets hope these shoes bring me good luck!!!

Bad Dog

So....
Last night I had a date - yes- a date. And before we talk about said date- we need to talk bout the aftermath!
Lena has been so good lately.. .so I thought- since I was going to be out for a few hours-  I would leave her out. Now- I have done this before and she has been an angel. But I have a feeling that she sensed my happiness and became fearful that I might be gone a few more nights... so - in her devious nature - I walked in to find my apartment looking like this:

Another look

Not sure if she went through my laundry- but that's my bedtime tank top... and a lot of stuffing...from her Tigger toy and she also managed to rip the head off a stuffed Halloween Black Cat my mother gave me... which is now in the garbage... sorry mom....

Here is the black cat: and the culprit...standing in her mess...

Lena is now relegated back to her kennel. You give them an inch and they take a mile....

and yes...there WILL be a second date- weather Lena likes it or not.

The Beauty of Fall - via the Combine!

As a kid, growing up in northern Iowa - I can honestly say I didn't appreciate fall and all its beauty. Harvest didn't intrigue me. I really didn't care... I was merely concerned with the next volleyball game or where we played football that week! But now- as an older, wiser adult (funny!) - I have grown to appreciate all the beauty of the Harvest season. Well- and the fact that I work for a company that leases and hauls combines doesn't hurt!

That being said- a good friend of mine at work is on the road the entire harvest season and sends me pictures of random parts of the world. This years pix included south Texas, middle of boring Kansas and even a few where he sunk a Case Combine in Minnesota!
But today's entry comes to  you from my old part of the world...IOWA! My friend sent me pictures from the view of his combine as he helped one of our customers finish up his harvest... I found the pictures breathtaking and reminded me of the simplicity in life...

I love this one...

The sun starting to set on the fields... BEAUTY

And here it is...the glorious colors in the sky!