Holiday Photo Recap

Just a recap of the holidays in photos. For starters, we had a lovely visit with Dylan's family in Oklahoma {ate some yummy food too as you can tell by my round, chubby face}.  We played lots of fun board games, made eggnog, played with baby Stryker, opened gifts.  Overall, a great time with the best in-laws in the world!  After a few wonderful days, we traveled back to Georgia.  I was quite overjoyed with having an extra day off work after we returned.  Even told hubs that I would be more than happy to be a "stay at home wife" if he needed me to be.  His response-a laugh and a snide "yeah right."  Oh well, at least I tried! 

Stryker, Mike, Tara, Mae, Me, Dylan

Uncle Dylan and Stryker {note: Stryker's cute Rebs shirt!}

Our cute {super soft} monogrammed blanket from Tara

Uncle Dylan, Aunt Kelly, baby Stryker

We all live in a yellow submarine...

Jolly good time!

{Note: I left the Nikon at home for our OK trip...too chicken to travel with my new friend.  This is my good ole half broken Kodak that's on its last leg}

Uncle D making funny faces

Cute family! Tara, Mike, Stryker

Somebody has a super fun mommy!

Back for a few days before the next round of holiday visits, the Bowden's celebrated and cozied up at our home.  Our first Christmas as newlyweds was perfecto!  Could not ask for more.  I love my husband and our lil ones!  
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Thanks mama and daddy for our first Christmas ornament!

Fun evening of wrapping presents!

Fire pit night #2

Stocking time for the babies! Here, we have Christmas Sushi

Next up, Christmas Abbey

Frustrated after chasing Abbey for a picture with these reindeer ears on her head-to no avail of course. 
Dog + reindeer ears + picture taking = not a chance

Our cool birdcage Christmas card holder!

Cozy fire, glass of red, pesto and bruschetta crostini, local cheese from Roswell Provisions 

Ham, creamed corn, Texas toast, green beans, deviled eggs. Yums!

Being little piggies as usual!

Next up on the holiday docket, we had Christmas with my parents, sisters, aunt, nieces, bro-in-law and cousins in south Georgia.  We laughed and laughed {literally my face hurt from all the sillies}.  What a joyous, fun time!  The time flew by but doesn't it always when you're having fun.  I'm very thankful for this fabulous time of year and being able to spend it with loved ones. 

See....sillies

Domestic abuse? I think not.  Just a lil fun with the candy cane

Christmas colors taste good too!

Story time:  Of course it wouldn't be a Banks family Christmas without a funny story.  This year, we planned lunch at my grandma's house outside of Cuthbert, Georgia {note: in the country}.  As we sit down to feast on our lovely Christmas lunch, my cousin Tommy, casually and calmly asks...."Is it weird that there are cows in our yard?" Pause.  Gasp.  Look out the window.  Cows are literally in the yard!  Not one, not two, but about ten!  Needless to say, lunch was temporarily put on hold until we dealt with our Christmas cow situation.  The owner of the land across the street soon arrived and after a good half hour of the cows roaming from one side of the yard to the other, then into the street, then down the street and back{you get the point}, we finally were cow free.  Never a dull moment! And we like it that way.  : )

Christmas Cows.  Thank you Santa!

All is well and ready for the annual 12 Days of Christmas sing along

Hubs plays guitar for this year's rendition

Our new toy!

Merry Christmas!

Next up, New Year's Eve!  Park Tavern here we come.  Cheers!

Super Quick and Easy Chicken Enchiladas

As a wedding gift from friends Sandra and Denise, we received many, many wonderful cooking essentials.  One of which was the Simply Delicioso cookbook.  For the slightly crazy food fanatic in me, this was a perfect gift!  I've mentioned my adoration, well slight obsession we'll say, for the Food Network in prior posts.  I certainly don't wanna knock my girl Ina, but this recipe book by Ingrid Hoffman is superb, fab, easy, and quick!

You are getting real homemade food without a lot of fuss.  Simple recipes are a blessing during crazy weekdays especially when arriving home late from a stressful day at work.  Fear not my friends, you can still prepare a quick meal that even the harshest foodie will love! Hence this blog recipe, Chicken Enchiladas with Fastest-Ever Salsa.  Yup, that's really the name of the recipe.  Tell it like it is Ingrid.  Seeeee....

Ingredients

Salsa:  Make this first and set aside

1 (14 oz) can diced tomatoes with chiles, drained

2 scallions, finely chopped

1 jalapeno, finely chopped

1/2 cup finely chopped cilantro leaves

Juice of 1 lime

Pinch of Sea salt

Enchiladas:

1 Rotisserie chicken

2 cups grated cheddar cheese

1 cup sour cream

1/2 small red onion

Salt and Pepper

6 (8 inch) flour tortillas

{note: I use butter to grease the baking dish for a more decadent enchilada}

Once chopped, combine all salsa ingredients in a bowl...hello simple!



Preparing the Enchiladas:





Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Butter your baking dish.  Set aside

Shred the rotisserie chicken {meat only, no skin} into large bowl. 

Add half the grated cheese, sour cream, and onion and season with salt and pepper.  Stir well.

Place tortillas on your work surface {a round dinner plate or cutting board works great}.  Spoon the chicken mixture down the center of each tortilla.  Roll em up and place them seam side down in your baking dish.

Pour salsa all over the tortillas.  Cover with foil and pop into the oven.  Bake 40 mins. 

Remove the foil and sprinkle the top of them with the remainder of the cheese.  Back into oven for about 5-10 mins {basically to melt the cheese and brown the tortillas a bit}.

This picture is hilarious...slow down Paula Dean!  Ha! 

I wiped the majority of the butter off.  

 Heavy handed, why, yes I am!

Hay que ir! Serve it up with some spanish rice, black beans, refried beans, whatever your heart desires!

We went with rice!  Yum yum!

This is hubby's plate...mine was much smaller portions. Wink