Cheesy Tomato Chicken and Rice

This was one of my favorite recipes growing up!  Now I make it for my family, and it is easy-peasy!

Cheesy Tomato Chicken and Rice

Ingredients :  diced chicken,
1 cup cooked brown rice,
2 medium-large fresh tomatoes (or 1can of diced tomatoes)
1 med. block of Velveeta cheese.

 Directions:  In a 9X13 casserole dish, layer rice, diced chicken, diced tomatoes, cubed chunks of cheese.  Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes until hot through and through. 

Menu Plan Monday...A Different Approach

I wanted to share my new approach to meal planning with you!    Momstheword always inspires me to do things that make life easier for my family, and on Mondays she encourages me to share how I Make My Home Sing!  Please take a minute to check her out, she is a very inspiring Christian Mom, and her blog is super fun!

I have decided, recently, to take a slightly different approach to meal planning.  Instead of planning meals for certain days of the week, I am now making a meal list (1-7).  Some days I find that I just don't feel like cooking what is planned, a last minute invite from friends/family comes up, or I simply don't get the meat thawed, any of these can throw off the entire plan!  (Oh, the horror!)

Using this plan, I have found that I can incorporate Leftover Buffet days more effectively.  If  I don't get to a meal on the list, then I already have one planned for the following week.

It has been a long little while since I posted my menu plan...but here goes!

I am cooking a whole chicken in the crock pot on Sunday, so we will be eating a lot of chicken dishes this week!

1. Cheesy-Tomato Chicken and Rice, Green Beans
  (crock pot chicken, fresh diced tomatoes from the garden, velvetta cheese, brown rice...casserole style!)

2. Venison Cheddar Meatloaf, Creamed Corn, Broccoli

3. Poppyseed Baked Chicken, Brown Rice, Green Beans
    (crock pot chicken, 8oz sour cream, 1 can cream chicken soup, topped with cracker crumbs and
     poppyseeds)

4. Chicken and Dumplins, Sweet Peas

5. Sausage and Cabbage, Scalloped Potatoes

6. Leftover Buffet (when needed)

7. Leftover Buffet (when needed)

Bottom of the List

I am a list maker.  One of my many lists is the one that I only keep in the back of my mind, the things I know I need to do but will put off until they absolutely have to be done.  I so very much despise these "things to do" that I DON'T EVEN WRITE THEM DOWN! 
The horror! 

These include but are not limited to:
-getting my yearly pap smear
-changing the sheets
-checking my voicemail
-going to the dentist

When my hubby and I were dating, he called me one night, and my Mama had to tell him that I couldn't talk because I was laying in the floor in horrific pain from a tooth I refused to go get looked at.   Yeah, I will put it off, a little!

I come from a long line of those afraid of visiting the dentist.  Well, not that long of a line, just my Mama and me.  My Mama once asked the dentist if he did pap smears, so she could go ahead and get it ALL over with in one visit!  It could have been the valium that they have to give her to even get her in office.  I think there were some legs raised and motions that when along with her request, I've tried to block it out.  Thank goodness he told her no, that he wasn't allowed to perform those procedures.  But if they ever invented a place...folks like us just might sign up!

For several visits, over the course of several years, I was known to them as the daughter of the "Pap Smear Lady". 


Several years ago, again in severe pain, I mentioned my situation to a secretary at the school where I was teaching.  She referred me to my current dentist.  She went on and on about him.  She wanted me to meet him and, I was skeptical.   I had been hurt before.

I called and made an immediate appointment...in Dental Heaven!!!!!!!

Dr. B (we will call him) was the first dentist that didn't laugh off, or dismiss my fears.  He was gentle and kind, explained to me what he was going to do "before" he did it.  He also has the sweetest assistant, V.  She literally  stroked my arm like the frightened little child I was being, the entire procedure.  They may have laughed themselves into hysterics behind my back after I left, but they were  sweeter than I could have ever imagined!!!  I had given up on dental relationships.  But this guy, he was different.

I still put off going to my dentist, but not until I am contemplating putting my head through a wall, anymore. 

They have me on the "special list" I am sure.  I see the most tender and gentle hygienist that works there.  She actually told me the other day that some people don't feel as if their teeth have been properly cleaned if they don't get a "rough" cleaning.  Those folks are just plain crazy!!! But I guess there are always two ends of the dental spectrum. 

I am so thankful that my friend set us up, where would I be without Dr. B?
If you too have dental commitment issues, or you are just not happy in your dental relationship,  I urge you to break it off.  There are dentists out there who know how to treat a girl, or patient.  I found my guy, and going to the dentist is no longer at the bottom of my list!