Chicken and Broccoli Braid

Let me start out by saying.. This recipe is really simple to make. The only down fall is if you don't have a chopper thing or even a food processer, you have to use a knife to cut up everything. I, myself did not follow the recipe exactly, neiter does my mother-in-law it's completely up to you. Also, I stink at remembering to take pictures of things. Just type in pampered chef chicken and broccoli braid to see a picture.

Ingredients and Directions:

1	cup (250 mL) chopped broccoli florets
2	cups (500 mL) chopped cooked chicken breasts (boil the chicken)
1/2	cup (125 mL) diced red bell pepper
1	cup (250 mL) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/2	cup (125 mL) mayonnaise
1	garlic clove, pressed
2	tsp (10 mL) all purpose dill-mix
1	garlic clove, pressed
1/4	tsp (1 mL) salt
2	pkg (8 oz or 235 g) refrigerated crescent dough
1	egg white, lightly beaten
2	tbsp (30 mL) slivered almonds From Pampered Chef * I didn't use the bell pepper, garlic, or almonds.  Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Combine broccoli, chicken, bell pepper, cheese, mayonnaise, dill mix, pressed garlic and salt in Classic Batter Bowl; mix well. Unroll one package of the crescent dough; do not separate. Arrange longest sides of dough across width of Rectangle Stone. Repeat with remaining package of dough. Using Baker's Roller®, roll dough to seal perforations. On longest sides of baking stone, cut dough into strips 1 1/2 in. (4 cm) apart, 3 in. (7.5 cm) deep. (There will be 6 in./15 cm in the center for the filling.) Spread filling evenly over center of dough. To braid, lift dough strips across filling to meet in center, twisting each strip one turn. Continue alternating strips to form a braid. Tuck ends up to seal at end of braid. Brush egg white over dough. Sprinkle with almonds. Bake 25-28 minutes or until deep golden brown We bake at 325 for about 35-40 minutes! Yield: 10 servings  Feel free to check out the oringal post on the pampered chef page, my mother in law uses the recipe book or we both go by memory. Email me in you have any questions!

Block Leave

It's been over a month since my last post. So much has happened, Kaleb graduated EMT school! This was a great accomplishment for him. Shortly after we left for block leave, in preparing for his upcoming deployment. Leave included going home to South Carolina and then to Missouri to see Kaleb's mom and brother Justin.

First I will start with our visit to SC, it was a blast everyday we did something. We visited with my family on James Island for the weekend. It was great seeing all of my cousins and having everyone there! Plus Kaleb finally got to meet all of them.

These pictures don't even include all my cousins, 6 are missing from the top one and 5 from the bottom one. Yes, I have a big family. 

The following monday we visited some friends, we stopped by my bestie's house to see her momma. Then saw our friend Skinny B (Brandon). For the first time I went midnight bowling, with our friends Marleighna, Kyle and Brandon. It was so much fun. Tuesday we had a fish fry at my grandparents house, which included yummy catfish stew! Wednesday, we went our separate ways. Kaleb went fishing and I went to see my cousin DJ and Granny one last time. That night the preacher and his family took us out to dinner. It was wonderful seeing them and their sweet girls(: We also went to church that night and got to see alot of people. 

Thursday we went and surpirsed Kaleb's grandma. We went to dinner with his grandma, her boyfriend Dan, Aunt Melena and cousin Autumn at Applebee's. It was great seeing them! 

That night we visited the lovely Mrs. Ellen, it was wonderful seeing her! We also got to see Mr. Tim and Luke. I love getting to see them! Later we went to the movies with Kaleb's buddy Kyle that is also deploying at some point this year, he is in the Air Force though.  Friday we out for our 1 year anniversary of being married(: It was special, we went to Duke's BBQ in rigdeville which is the one and only Dukes we eat at! Then we spent time with our friend's Taylor and Tillman, and got to see Grammy and Pops. 

That night we went to my little "big" brothers football game.  

Then we went downtown and got some sweet pictures for our anniversary(:

 

 Some more pictures from downtown with Taylor and Tillman. We ended the wonderful night with stopping at Marleighna's, I'm blessed to have a best friend like her. She pretty much spent the whole week at my house! It was great catching up with her and Kaleb got to here us talk and talk and talk. The first week of block leave was fun but I was sad to leave my family.

The next week we spent in Missouri, the day we got there we went to Steak n Shake then went back to Plato. My mother-in-laws house in really really nice. Sunday we spent time with his family and just relaxed. Monday we met up with Mrs. Donna at Starbucks, she is a hoot. We also went out to lunch at ChopStix, a good japanese place. Tuesday we went to Springfield to take his mom to the doctor's, we also went to The biggest Bass Pro Shop around! That place was amazing, we even ate breakfast at the resturarant there with his brother. Then after her appointment we went back to Bass Pro, then we went to the mall. Kaleb lost his phone, thank goodness for the find my iPhone app! Wednesday, we went to the Outlet Mall by Lake of the Ozarks. I got new Crocs and Kaleb got Sprocs, we ate a BBQ place called Bandana's. That night we went to Peppers to see our friend Larry Jackson but he never showed but I got to see my girl Tina! Thursday we dropped the puppies off at the spa and had breakfast at Panera's. Me and Kaleb's mom Marta went and got out nails done, and she got her hair done later for their trip to Korea. That night Tammy and her boys Andrew and Ryan came over, it was great to see her! Friday we packed everything up, dropped the puppies off at Mrs. Tracey's. Then off to St. Louis we went. We spent the night, the next morning Kaleb's mom and brother went left for their trip. Kaleb and I left hours later to head back to Washington, we were both sad that we have to go back. The second week flew by fast! I didn't take any pictures, I'm bad about that.  I forgot to mention that I have new recipes to share when I get around to making them, so be on the lookout!

Overall leave was a blast and I can't complain. I love spending time with my man in camo when we get the chance to just relax and spend time together and of course with our family's. Until next time!