rickiloves

Stuffed Chicken

Hey y’all this recipe is delicious but it is also special. A friend/co-worker shared this with me almost 10 years ago. She made it for our team at work and when I asked her how to make it she wrote out the recipe for me. Now you already know people don’t like to share their stuff sometimes but she did it with no problem and also gave me a cake recipe which I will be sharing with y’all in the future. But the real reason this recipe is so special is sadly my former coworker passed away in 2017. But she will live on in my heart and I think about her generosity every time I make it! I truly hope you make this and share with your friends and family because I know she would have wanted that.

Ingredients:

Chicken- Note: I normally use Chicken breast but they weren’t on sale (I feed six ppl who all eat like adults) so this was my very first time trying it with chicken thighs and I’ll never go back to breasts! I prefer boneless skinless but the bone is fine just pull off the skin.
Chopped onions, bell peppers and mushrooms
Olive oil
Seasonings of your choice
Dry ranch dressing seasoning
Worcestershire Sauce
Shredded Italian cheese mix
Frozen spinach, cook it in the microwave and squeeze out excess water
8 oz block of cream cheese

Directions:

Sauté your onions, bell peppers and mushrooms in olive oil or butter

While your veggies soften mix up your cream cheese and spinach. If you forgot to take out your cream cheese earlier like me then pop it in the microwave for about 30 seconds or so with the spinach and that will make it soft and easy to mix.

Now add the softened veggies and cheese to the spinach and cream cheese and mix together. Add the dry ranch seasoning. Season to taste with your spices of choice. I used garlic powder, Tony’s, black pepper and onion powder.

Set your oven to 350 degrees and in a large frying pan on about medium high heat place in about 2 tablespoons of olive oil or oil of your choice.
Set your mixture aside and wash your chicken. Now I know washing chicken can be controversial but it’s what I do. Do what you do and we won’t have any issues.
Cut a small slit in your chicken. It doesn’t have to be real deep and PLEASE don’t cut yourself. You just want to make a pocket to put the stuffing in. Season your chicken.

Stuff your chicken with the mixture and then set aside until you’ve stuffed each one. Don’t try to overstuff because you will have stuffing left over. Don’t worry, my family doesn’t let me waste food so we will use it!

Now I place each piece in the pan to sear and brown. This sears in the juices and also I don’t like light chicken. It is just not appetizing. Put some brown on that chicken so I know it’s real!!!
Also don’t worry about the stuffing coming out. Just use your tongs and stick it back in. Or leave it out. I wouldn’t but you are an adult so you make that decision.

After you have browned the chicken place it in the baking pan. Pour the leftover stuffing over the chicken. Told you we would use it! Bake for about an hour. You may need more time if you used breasts as those are bigger pieces. I encourage you to try the thighs though because they were so juicy and tender! Chicken is done at 165 degrees but if your seasoned like me you know to just cut it open in the biggest part to check lol.

And you’re done!!! I served this with roasted potatoes and a salad but I just had the salad because I am not eating carbs (sad face). This dish is Keto and Low Carb friendy for all my people trying to lose weight in the new year like me! No judgment! I hope you try this and make sure you share this post so my friend’s generosity can live on thru her recipe.

Love Ricki

Closet Goals

My closet is definitely something I am working on this year and this dress was a must have!

So probably by this date you are sick about hearing about goals and all that jazz so I won’t carry on or be long today. All I want to say is that you can write your goals down, pray over them, memorize and meditate over them whatever you do but none of that means anything if you don’t take action! Those same goals will be sitting in that pretty planner until next year and the year after that until you get up and start taking some steps even if they’re tiny ones. I think everyone wants to talk about the pretty side of goal setting but you have to know that nothing works until you do. And that may mean sacrificing time or money on other things or doing something toward your goal when you don’t feel like it (kind of how I felt today lol) but I say if you REALLY want something you’ll do whatever it takes. So go ahead and write that goal down (and subscribe to the blog so you can get your goal action plan download 😉 but make sure you put in the work too!!!

Dress: Zara (sold out) similar Boots: Shoedazzle

Now on to this dress hunny!!! This dress was definitely apart of my closet goals. To me closet goals is being able to go into my closet and wear whatever is there and look and feel good in it. No more never feeling like I have anything cute to wear! Am I the only one that feels like that? Anyways I absolutely love this dress except even though it fits everywhere else it is quite snug around my chest. Ugh!!! Fashion retailers if you’re listening you need to create sizing for us larger busted women. Okay rant over now let me tell you why this dress is amazing. First the pattern is classic and it’s a midi length shirt dress so it’s perfect for the office or church but I certainly think that you can dress it down for a brunch or happy hour (check out that split). And this Zara beauty is also goals because I can rock it with boots now but later in the spring some sandals and a colorful belt would look good too. You will definitely see me in this again just in a different way. Now tell me do you have closet goals too?

Be Better!

Don’t say New Year, New me. You’re already good just be better!

Dress: Forever 21 Shoes: JustFab (old) Fur Stole: Forever21 Clutch: 99cent only store

So normally around this time of year everyone is making their New Year resolutions. Well I’m not. I don’t think the beginning of a new year should be an indicator of change. First of all most people are scared of change but it is necessary in life. Without changes there would be no growth. Personally I have learned to embrace change. Without change I wouldn’t have this blog and have met so many wonderful women and men who have helped me grow and learn. So yeah change is scary but it definitely can also be good.

Another thing that a lot of people say this season is new year, new me. To me this is to say the old you isn’t good or something which is totally untrue. I think we are all good people (well most of us, our current world leader is questionable), some of us just get in bad situations, or make not so smart decisions or life just happens and our reactions aren’t well thought out or planned. But we are all still good. So instead of saying new year, new me, say new year, better me. Better decisions, better situations, and better reactions and planning. All that will lead to what I believe the Lord has put in all of us which is greatness! So in 2018, be GREAT!!

So this last minute NYE look is actually not last minute. I’ve had this dress since October from Forever21 (the plus line, it’s a 0x) and these shoes from JustFab for 3 yrs. I added the fur stole (it was on sale under $15) also from Forever21 and the sequined/ velvet clutch is from wait for it…the 99 cent only store! It doesn’t cost a lot to look poppin as the young folks say!!

I hope that you and your loved ones have a safe, happy and prosperous New Year. I will be sipping a little something something from the comfort of my own home for the free 99 but if you turn up make sure to do it responsibly and safely!!!

Love Ricki

The Comfort Zone

This post was supposed to be about a dress but it turned out to be a testimony!

So this started off as a post sharing my last minute holiday look in this gorgeous Eva Mendes by NY&Company dress. However how many of y’all know when we make plans God laughs! Yeah so I decided that I wanted to venture out and instead of taking pictures at my normal spot, which is a hidden park, I went to a busy shopping center in our city. Lawd! It was all a great idea in my head until my daughter, my photographer for the day, and I arrived at the location. I cannot lie y’all!!! I was scared!!! I was already dressed, face beat to the gods but with all eyes on me I was ready to run for the hills. This was a BIG step for me because I am an introvert and I am not comfortable being the center of attention.

Dress and Earrings- NY&Company

[ Fur Stole – Forever21

Well with the help of my hype man a.k.a. My child I had to get over it and on with it because she was not here for my antics. She told me I was a grown woman and I looked good so why wouldn’t people look? Well after that boost of confidence (laugh and side eye at the same dang time!) I had to go ahead shake off my fears and work for the camera! And you know what? I love the way these pictures turned out! So coming out of your comfort zone can reap major rewards! I even had a sweet woman stop me on the street and tell me I looked good and she hoped I took pictures. I explained I did and I was a blogger (I actually said that out loud?) and she immediately asked me for my IG name and followed me! Ain’t God good? He will give you confirmation AFTER you take that step of faith! BUT you got to take that step!

So let me quickly spill the tea on this dress! It’s velvet and gorgeous!!! It really did help me to feel beautiful and confidently take these pictures. I will say it was an act of God to get the wrinkles out but it was so worth it! And I told y’all this fur scarf/stole would be making an appearance on the blog! It helped to make the outfit even more glamorous! If you can’t run out to purchase a new outfit for a last minute function a new accessory is the perfect way to change up an old look. Get you a fur hunny and you will turn any outfit up several notches! I went with minimal jewelry since the dress and fur were dramatic enough. And because this dress is floor length I wore low heels and you couldn’t even tell but you would be able to dance all night if you needed to! I hope you enjoy the pictures and the post and more than anything I pray you step out of your comfort zone!!! Your dreams could be on the other side!

Love Ricki

White Chocolate Mocha Recipe and My Christmas Hot Drink Station

Today I am sharing my favorite coffee drink from you know that place with the green mermaid on the cup lol. I created my version of the White Chocolate Mocha to save my coins and I have to say it’s delicious! This was also the perfect recipe to try out in my new hot drink station! Check out the video of my tour after the recipe.

White Chocolate Mocha

Ingredients:

1/2 cup of Milk or half and half
1/4 cup of white chocolate chips
About 2 tablespoons of Mocha mix or Instant coffee
6-8 ounces of hot water

Directions:

Fill up your coffee mug with the white chocolate chips and the milk.
Melt in the microwave for about 1-2 minutes stirring every 30 seconds.
Once the milk and white chocolate chips are mixed together add the mocha mix (international coffee house makes a good one) or instant coffee and stir to dissolve.
Add 6-8 ounces of hot water to taste and stir to blend.
Add any sweetner and toppings you like. I like to add a little vanilla syrup because I like it sweet and top with whipped cream and chocolate syrup.