Category: BLOG 365

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY, RECIPES & MENUS week 19 of 2025 ~ BLOG 365.132

Be sure to join Happy Homemaker Monday with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

LAST WEEK RECAPPED

The name of my blog, “Chasing MY Life” and my subtext, “It Is What It Is” has NEVER been more fitting than it is right now. Hubby and I have always agreed that we end up where we are the most needed to help. This attitude certainly makes adjusting to the changes life is throwing in our path MUCH more easily navigated.

Things changed quickly last week with my stepdad. He ended up back in the hospital with complications. He was sent home over the weekend and we’re doing what can be done to make him comfortable. There should be some conclusive results early this week, but things are progressing faster than anyone expected. 🙁 

Hubby and I have pivoted to make things easier for my mom to care for him and will unfortunately miss our family reunion. I will coordinate from here and make the arrangements for next year so everyone will have it in place as they leave. We will go see as many of them individually as we can in a few weeks to make up for missing the family reunion. It won’t be quite the same, but as I always say, “It Is What It Is”!

On the flip side, there were a few people having to fill in for me and my regular Eagle’s duties that are relieved I will still be here to make their lives easier. There was also 2 events that we were really disappointed that we were going to miss that we are now going to be able to participate in. We’ll also be around for the city wide garage sale weekend.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

Last week’s glorious weather has returned to our regularly scheduled Pacific North West uncertainty of cold and rain. This week is once again predicted to be in the high 50’s and 60’s for highs with periodic rain.

TO DO LIST, APPOINTMENTS & PROJECTS

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I have a couple loads of laundry to do and some general de-cluttering.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS I will need to do a bit of shopping for groceries since we weren’t supposed to be here this week, but have a clear calendar of actual errands.
  • PROJECTS & TRAVELS ON HOLD
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING this is a day by day category right now.

DVR/TV TIME

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • STREAMING We’re almost done with The Gilmore Girls and have been watching Lucifer and The Librarians.
  • CABLE I have a few Hallmark movies left on the DVR and a couple episodes of Spring Baking Championship and 24 in 24.

READING TIME

FUNNIES

MENU PLANS

BREAKFAST is always a work in progress for me – it will generally be hot water and a fruit yogurt 😀
5/12 MONDAY
5/13 TUESDAY
5/14 WEDNESDAY
5/15 THURSDAY
5/16 FRIDAY
5/17 SATURDAY
5/28 SUNDAY
DINNER
 BBQ PULLED PORK and MACARONI COLESLAW
 SLOPPY JOES and  CHEESY POTATOES
 HAM STEAKS with STUFFED MAC & CHEESE
 VOODOO CHICKEN WINGS and POTATO SALAD
 OUT
 OUT
 BBQ COMPETITION
DESSERT
 
 
 

FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM THE CAMERA

I’m in love with this picture of my niece Olive. Those little pink converse tennies…

INSPIRATIONS

LIFE TIP

HOMEMAKING / COOKING TIP

RECIPES COMING UP THIS WEEK

  • CREAMY HAM & POTATOES
  • TENNESSEE ONIONS

RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

PIZZA EGG ROLLS ~ BLOG 365.126

PIZZA EGG ROLLS

4 cups shredded pizza cheese blend or Mozzarella cheese
1 pound Italian sausage, cooked, chopped into small pieces and drained well
6 ounces pepperoni, chopped small
1 medium red pepper, diced
1 small red onion, chopped
28 ounces pizza sauce + more for dipping
32 egg roll wrappers
avocado oil for frying

  • In a large bowl, combine the sausage, pepperoni pieces, peppers, onion and cheese.
  • Stir in pizza sauce, coating and mixing well.
  • Add 1/4 cup of filling to each egg roll wrapper.
  • Fold bottom up and sides toward center over the filling.
  • Moisten remaining corner with water and roll tightly to seal.
  • Melt 1-2 inches of oil in a heavy dutch oven or large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Fry pizza rolls 1-2 minutes on each side until golden brown.
  • Drain on rack or paper toweling.
  • Serve with additional pizza sauce for dipping.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY, MENUS & RECIPES week 18 of 2025 ~ BLOG 365.125

Be sure to join Happy Homemaker Monday with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

LAST WEEK RECAPPED

Last week was a zoo and MANY parts of it are still ongoing and can’t be put into words just yet, so the zoo continues in a holding pattern – enough said. BUT, the BIG fundraiser for the cancer center is at least over and a few moving parts have been removed from my chore list – at least until the cribbage tournament this next weekend LOL 😂

I hate when you are trying to get serious things done that require phone calls these days. So much of the time there are 3rd party call centers and red tape involved that makes the simplest of things harder than they need to be!

My stepdad is having some serious health issues that honestly would have been better addressed BEFORE they came home from the desert! The health care system in the desert (unlike here) is set up with a fully staffed facility and is prepared for geriatric health care. Here, not so much. In fact, NOT at all. I’m doing what I can for my mom and I’m trying to research their options, but ultimately, it’s up to them to decide what route to take. 🙁

So, on to Monday and trying to move forward. Since so much is in a holding pattern around here, we will probably still go to the family reunion since my elderly SIL and blind niece are dependent on us for a way to get there, but we’ll just make it a shorter whirlwind trip so we can get back to help my mom.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

There MUST be a change coming. The weather prediction for this week is low-mid 70’s all week for the highs and partly cloudy EVERY day with nights in the low 40’s. EVERY day is NEVER the same around here, so I’m waiting for the other shoe to fall!

ON MY MIND

For those of you planning on hand making Christmas gifts for this next year you have

TO DO LIST, APPOINTMENTS & PROJECTS

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING A good cleaning is scheduled for tomorrow…
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS I have a few appointments this week, but no real shopping since we are supposed to leave next Monday for the family reunion.
  • PROJECTS & TRAVELS We have a whirlwind trip for the upcoming family reunion that we are still scheduled for, but we’ll see with everything that’s going on around here.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING Either way, I won’t do much menu planning until the end of May. I am looking for some crisper spring recipes with lots of salads for the summer months.

DVR/TV TIME

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • STREAMING We watched the original WAR of the WORLDS from 1953 and the remake with Tom Cruise and Dakota Fanning from 2005 as well as THE VIKINGS with Kirk Douglas, Tony Curtis, Ernest Borgnine and Janet Leigh.
  • CABLE I think we’re finally caught up with things from the DVR except for Next Level Chef, Beat Bobby Flay and a couple of oddball shows.

READING TIME

FUNNIES

MENU PLANS

BREAKFAST is always a work in progress for me – it will generally be hot water and a fruit yogurt 😀
5/5 MONDAY
5/6 TUESDAY
5/7 WEDNESDAY
5/8 THURSDAY
5/9 FRIDAY
5/10 SATURDAY
5/11 SUNDAY
DINNER
 MEATBALLS in MUSHROOM BUTTERMILK SAUCE and GREEN PEA CASSEROLE
 BUTTERY PARMESAN CHICKEN and FRIED CORN
CRACK CHICKEN and MACARONI COLESLAW
 CORN/YOYO clean out refrigerator night OR you’re on your own
OUT – working CRIBBAGE TOURNAMENT WEEKEND
OUT – working  CRIBBAGE TOURNAMENT WEEKEND
??
DESSERT
 
 CHOCOLATE CHIP CHURRO CANNOLI CUPS
 

FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM THE CAMERA

My friend surprised me with this cute plant stake that she made out of Pandora beads, charms and crystals last night. It really brought a smile to my face. 🙂

First blooms of a garden always make me happy!

INSPIRATIONS

LIFE TIP

HOMEMAKING / COOKING TIP

RECIPES COMING UP THIS WEEK

  • PIZZA EGG ROLLS
  • CHICKEN CORDON BLEU
  • DRIED CHERRY SALAD
  • GRUYERE POTATO CASSEROLE

RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

SALSA VERDE CHICKEN CASSEROLE ~ BLOG 365.121

SALSA VERDE CHICKEN CASSEROLE
1 tablespoon butter
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 teaspoon Hatch chile seasoning
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
1/2 cup sour cream
3/4 cup chunky salsa
3/4 cup salsa verde
2 cups chopped tomatoes
1/4 cup FRESH chopped cilantro
2 cups Mexican blend shredded cheese
2 green onions, sliced thin
1 small mini red pepper, diced
1 can Green Giant Mexican corn, drained well
8 corn tortillas
OPTIONAL TOPPINGS – avocado slices, sliced green onions, FRESH chopped cilantro, sour cream or guacamole

  • Melt butter in a medium skillet.
  • Season chicken breasts on both sides with the Hatch chile season and FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper.
  • Sear chicken on both sides 4-5 minutes until cooked through.
  • Shred chicken into small pieces.
  • Combine chunky salsa and salsa verde until well blended.
  • In a mixing bowl combine chicken pieces, corn, 3/4 cup salsa mix, green onions and pepper pieces with the sour cream.
  • Spread 1/4 cup of the salsa mixture on the bottom of an 8 inch greased baking dish.
  • Layer half the tortillas on top of salsa.
  • Spread half the chicken mixture over the tortillas followed by half the cheese.
  • Repeat layers ending with remaining salsa and a couple pepper rings for color.
  • Bake 20-25 minutes until bubbly.
  • Serve with additional toppings.

NOTE: This recipe converts well to a dip or “loose” casserole that I often serve over tortilla chips. I find the leftovers keep better that way.