Recipe: Garlic Chicken Pasta

I really love the Garlic Chicken pasta dish at the Brown Bottle restaurant here in Iowa City.  I have created a close match.  It is pretty darn good.  Invite some friends over or get ready to eat left overs for awhile.  It makes a lot (easily serves 6-8)!

Garlic Chicken Pasta

2 lbs boneless/skinless chicken breasts (about 3 large breasts)

12oz. -16 oz. pasta (linquine or rotini work well)

Veggies:

1 package fresh sliced mushrooms

1 cup frozen peas or fresh peapods

1 red onion, chopped

1/2 cup sundried tomatoes, sliced (I use the jarred variety, in oil)

Sauce:

2 cans cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup (Meghann- I used one of each for the batch last night) 

1 cup milk

1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

2 TBSP dried parley

6-8 cloves of garlic

1/4 tsp. black pepper

Cut raw chicken into small chunks.  Saute in olive oil to cook through.

Meanwhile, cook pasta in boiling water as directed.

Saute veggies in a seperate pan (or they can be added to the chicken)

In seperate pan, combine all of the sauce incredients until nice and hot- no need to bring to a boil.

Combine cooked chicken, veggies, pasta, and sauce.  Serve and enjoy!

Oh and here's a picture of Jack from this morning.  Such a cute little bear!

2 weeks old

In the past week Jack...

• Had a bit of a goopy eye so he has spent the past week with medicine in his eyes. Good thing it doesn't seem to bother him one bit.
• Took his first trip to Chicago- he was so good and slept the whole time while traveling
• Lost his umbilical cord
• Had his first full soak in the tub with me...he wasn't sure about it at first, but I think he will learn to love it
• Learned to nurse while I'm laying down
• Holds his head up for 10-15 seconds and looks around (then his head flops down when he stops focusing :)
• Continues to be a great sleeper, just getting up once each night. How did we get so lucky??
• And had his first Christmas! We were able to spend Christmas Eve with my family and Christmas Day with Andy's family. Everyone got lots of Christmas snuggles with little Jack.

Also, I have to note that Jack gained over a pound from day 2 - day 9. He is a good eater!

And a few pictures...

Baby Jack Slideshow

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Please Vote

http://extraordinarymeasuresthemovie.com/#/quilt

I'm never sure who is all reading my blog, but I'm going to hope everyone who is will visit this link and vote each day for this family.  The mom is a fellow GGP employee in Chicago.  What a horrible thing to see your children going through.  Voting is one way to help.  Thank you! 

1 week old

It's been an amazing week.

We have the sweetest baby.

Catch up

Hopefully my blog readers like LOTS of pictures of Jack!  I'm going to try to be a good blogger so that my family and friends stay updated on our new little guy.

Day 3

Meeting his Great Grandma Frieda for the first time. 

Day 4

Hey Dex,

Thanks for the awesome hat!  It's cold here in Iowa so I'm sure I'll wear it a lot. 

From your buddy, Jack. 

Dear Santa

Dear Santa,

I have been a very good boy the past 5 days.  I am a good eater, sleeper, and snuggler for my mommy and daddy.  Please bring me swaddle wraps, warm wipes, and fuzzy blankies.  Those are the things that make me happy.

Love,

Jack Litton

What Jack has been up to

Nico meets Jack for the first time,

I think he likes his new cousin!

He's even ready to start playing games with him!

We were feeling great so we broke out of the hospital a day early to come home. 

Jack with his mama after coming home from the hospital.  It feels so good to be home with our baby!

All sweet and swaddled up.

And here's a good opened-eyes picture of Jack with Grandma.

And of course today we had to dress him in his Hawkeye hat and booties.  He looks good in black & gold!  Thanks Uncle Brian and Auntie Meghann!

More pictures of Jack! Surprise Surprise!!!

Baby Jack has Arrived!!!

John (Jack) Andrew Litton

Born Saturday December 12, 2009

8:44 a.m.

6 lbs 15 oz

20 1/4 inches

Lindsey did awesome!  She started having contractions at midnight and pushed about 4 times and then baby Jack was born!  She did an all natural birth and handled everything beautifully!  Auntie Desiree got the phone call that she was in labor at 4:15 am and literally made it into the delivery room from Wheaton, IL right as she was starting to push.  It was so amazing to see that precious boy being born!  Of course, he is just perfect!

Oh, Christmas Tree

Andy told me that I needed to do a blog update tonight.  I told him, "but there is absolutely no baby news to share".  To that he said, "no, our tree is too beautiful not to share with everyone!".

This is funny because he LOVES the huge multi-colored bulbs.  I on the otherhand love the classic white lights.  I have had my way each year and this year I'm letting him have his multi-colored bulbs. 

Look at how happy he is? 

Here we are at the Barn's Christmas Tree farm picking out our tree. 

Andy was in the Christmas spirit, drinking out of his Christmas mug and listening to his Nutcracker CD as he turned on the lights for the first time.

And here is our completed tree.  All of my pretty Waterford ornaments kind of get lost amongst the big multi-colored bulbs, but I sure do have a happy husband!

(Side note: I didn't give in completely.  The stair garland, outside garland, and evergreens in the urns are all decked out in beautiful white lights.  Compromise- the key to have a great marriage!)

Warning: BIG tummy!

And here it is- the 39 week belly.  Jack is pretty darn happy in there so I'm not sure we'll meet him anytime too soon.  Come next week at this time I will probably be taking advice on how to induce labor.  For now, we're pretty content just finishing up the few things on our to-do list while we wait around for him.  I'm still sleeping through the night, wearing my wedding rings, my ankles aren't swollen- I have nothing to complain about!

I do have to take a double take when I look in the mirror though.  That is a BIG tummy!