Pasta with Chicken and Sausage

Yesterday we had friends over for lunch and I grilled chicken and sausage. Today when I was deciding on dinner I remembered a pasta dish that would be perfect for using my leftover grilled meats.

The original recipe calls for 16 oz. of kielbasa and 2 cans of diced tomatoes, but I had a tomato or two that needed eating, so I substituted (I tend to do that a lot!). This is a lighter pasta dish that is perfect for summer, as well as being a good way of using leftovers.

12 oz. pasta

6-8 oz. grilled chicken

6-8 oz. grilled sausage (I used Aidells')

1 can organic diced tomatoes

1 medium/large tomato, diced

1/2 tsp. sugar

1 Tbs. minced parsley

grated Parmesan cheese

Prepare pasta according to package directions. While pasta is cooking, heat 1 Tbs. olive oil in a skillet on med/hi heat. Toss in tomatoes, chicken, sausage, sugar, and parsley. Cook until heated through and moisture begins to reduce (about 15 minutes). Drain pasta when done and toss with meat sauce. Serve with Parmesan cheese.

Serves 6-8

Happy eating!

linking up with Made by You Monday

{this moment}

A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Story

Stories are meant to be grandiose. Full excitement, promise, romance, and happy endings.

Or are they? That might be the definition of a make believe story, but a real story is the story of real life and real people. And most real people don't get a make believe story or life.

My story is messy and vile, at times filled with evil and horror. But it's also beautiful and full of love now.

I was abused repeatedly in horrible ways by a variety of people when I was young. I was raped twice by the same person as an adult. And it's taken me years of therapy and crying and praying to realize that, sadly, I am not alone.

But it's not my fault that my life doesn't read like a Disney fairy tale. And truth be told, I'm glad it doesn't. Fairy tales end once everything is as it should be. But I'd rather live the whole story -- warts and all -- than have my story just be "happily ever after".


linking up with Five Minute Friday

My Morning Drive

My drive varies from day to day as my work schedule is fairly flexible. I head out between 7:15 and 7:45 most mornings. Depending on the day it takes me 5 to 10 minutes to get to work. 

Oh who am I kidding. I crawl out of my bed, run my hands through my hair, go to the bathroom, and staggering down the hall and through my living room. I open the dog gate that leads into the kitchen and my "office". I have arrived at work. There is no driving involved. But there is routine. 

I check out the neighborhood and weather through the big windows in the living room. I flip on the teapot as I head to wake-up my computer, and then let the dogs out into the backyard. I pour my tea to steep, feed the dogs, and check Facebook, blogger stats, and email. Once the dogs are settled (i.e., back asleep), I sit down at the computer with my tea and begin to write and read. 

Later I'll make my list of "to-dos", but first and foremost it's checking in with the cyber world, and waking up by talking (writing) about whatever is on my mind.

I've got it good -- don't think I don't know that.


linking up with The Writer's Workshop

{TH} read

New crafting magazines for reading, perusing, and crafting ideas -- 

and my training book for Nitrox certification --

I finished my bathroom curtain --

and still working on my half granny square shawl --

linking up with {TH}read

Fresh Clean View

linking up with Wordless Wednesday

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY . . . July 30, 2013

Outside my window . . . it's cloudy, but cooler this morning. We may get some more rain later today. 

I am thinking . . . too many things! I need a chance for some meditative quiet.

I am thankful . . . to be feeling better again.

In the kitchen . . . last night was a summer pasta dish that I hadn't made in quite a while. Tonight is looking like hamburgers.

I am wearing . . . my cotton batiste nightgown.

I am creating . . . a new curtain for the back bathroom (almost done -- just lack the final hem); a sewing machine cover (which I've kind of gotten stuck on); the corner to corner afghan (which is in basket. That counts as working on, right?); and the half granny square shawl. Here's my progress on it.

I am going . . . nowhere today because my bestie, Linda, is coming over for another sewing day. It's amazing how much more productive I am with her here to chat with while I'm working.

I am wondering . . . Enriched Air Diver course I'm working on right now. Dh and I are headed back to Cozumel in August, and I'm working on nitrox certification.

I am reading . . .  The City of Shadows by Michael Russell on my Kindle Fire which is moving slowly, and still listening to The Girl with No Shadow by Joanne Harris although I'm not really enjoying it.

I am looking forward to . . . autumn. We've had an odd summer, weather-wise, around here. I'm curious if our change in season will follow suit.

I am hearing . . . the dogs whining for breakfast and dd packing her lunch.

Around the house . . . dd cleaned for me over the weekend, so things are looking quite well. It's so nice and relaxing having things in order.

I am praying . . . for my husband's friend who had a tumor (benign) removed from her pituitary gland. She is a young married with a small child. I am praying for a quick and full recovery.

One of my favorite things . . . is chatting with my daughter while she gets ready for work each morning. I sit at the computer while she cooks her breakfast and packs her lunch, and we chat about her plans and mine.

A few plans for the rest of the week . . . meeting in the morning, yoga tomorrow afternoon, more crocheting and sewing, dh's 50th birthday is Saturday and I'm still not sure what all we are doing to celebrate, so it could be a very busy weekend!

Here is a picture for thought I am sharing . . . 

my dd (and her friend Audrey) in their natural environment!

for more visit The Simple Woman's Daybook