Work at Home Moms Articles – WAHM Articles

Every now and then, my husband helps choose a meal to have for dinner. A few days ago, he sent me a recipe on Facebook. I have to be honest and say that my mouth immediately began to water. The picture on the left is called “Chicken Bombs” and they were, well….the bomb! Here is how to make them!

Chicken bombs

Ingredients

5 boneless, skinless, chicken breasts

5 jalapeño peppers

20 strips of bacon

4 oz cream cheese, softened

1 cup grated colby jack or cheddar cheese

salt and pepper to taste

1 cup BBQ sauce (I like Sweet Baby Ray’s)

Directions

1.) Slice chicken breasts in half WIDTH wise (Each half will make 1 Chicken Bomb). Place between two pieces of wax paper and pound to 1/4 inch thickness. *A rolling pin also does the trick. Season each with salt a pepper.

2.) Slice jalapeños in half LENGTH wise and remove seeds, ribs, and the end with the stem.

3.) In a small bowl, mix your softened cream cheese with your grated colby jack.

4.) Fill each jalapeño half with about 1 Tbs cheese mixture. (Sometimes I use more)

5.) Place 1 jalapeño half at the end of each pounded breast piece. Roll over and together. *It doesn’t always close the way you think it should. No worries! The bacon will pull it all together.

6.) Wrap each breast piece with 2 slices of bacon. I do 1 at a time (obviously), and just sort of wrap tightly and tuck the ends of the bacon under the strips. It all comes together in the cooking process. I promise you do not need toothpicks!

7.) Preheat your grill to 350 degrees. Cook over indirect heat for 20-25 minutes; turning every 4-5 minutes.

Baste chicken with BBQ sauce each time you turn it. Giving it one final basting right before it’s done. Chicken is ready when it reaches an internal temp of 165 degrees. If you don’t have a meat thermometer, pierce chicken with a fork. If juices run clear, it’s done!

*Makes 10 Chicken Bombs

To Bake: Bake, uncovered, at 375 degrees for 30 minutes. Basting with BBQ sauce a few times during cooking. Baste once again when finished, and place under broil setting for a few minutes so bacon can crisp completely.

Even though it gives instructions on baking them, I would suggest grilling them. The juices made the bacon soft on the bottom. I prefer bacon crispy, so that is just my opinion. Once again, I hope you enjoy these as much as my family did!

Amy Royce has two children and has been married since 1995. She is an affiliate marketer and a Virtual Assistant. She enjoys helping others through the programs she markets and the tasks she performs as a VA.

“Our lives are one big puzzle and all of the puzzle pieces must fit together. If not, the picture of life is distorted and has little to no value.”

This quote is from a book called FaithLeaps: The Christian Mom’s Guide to Passion, Purpose and Profits. It was written by Alyssa Avant. This quote really made me think about how my life was a few years ago. I was in a job (or two) that I hated. I kept feeling like I just wasn’t in the right place, but I was scared to move on…scared to take that “Faith Leap”. I was finally forced into it. The company I was working for started to decline financially and they were laying people off left and right. It turns out that it was the best thing for me. I really wish that I would have read this book a couple of years ago. I honestly don’t think I would have spent 4 years of my life being miserable.

Have you ever felt led to make a career change? Do you feel like God is telling you that you should work from home to be with your kids? Maybe you are like me and He is telling you that you simply shouldn’t be in the job you are in. If so, I suggest you get the book “Faith Leaps”. It will help you decide what path you should take.

Get your copy of Faith Leaps: The Christian Mom’s Guide to Passion, Purpose and Profits in paperback here or in the Kindle version here.

Amy Royce has two children and has been married since 1995. She is an affiliate marketer and a Virtual Assistant. She enjoys helping others through the programs she markets and the tasks she performs as a VA.

Every now and then, life gets a little crazy! I think that statement is a given for everyone on earth. After a long day of work and errands, you don’t really feel like cooking…am I right?? Well, I found a quick meal that even your teenagers can make! In fact, mine did! I am so glad I came across this recipe from “Best Life 4 Moms” Here is her recipe for Cheesy Broccoli Chicken Foil Packs!

Ingredients:

1 package Stuffing mix; chicken flavor

1 1/4 cups Water

4 Boneless skinless chicken breast halves

4 cups Broccoli Florets

1 cups Shredded cheddar cheese

4 slices Cooked bacon; crumbled

4 tbsp Ranch dressing divided

– Oven to 400

Directions:

– Spray 4 large sheets of heavy-duty foil with oil.

– Combine stuffing mix and water.

– Spoon 1/4 of the stuffing mixture onto the center of each foil sheet.

– Top stuffing with a 6oz. chicken breast half.

– Top chicken with 1 c. broccoli.

– Sprinkle with 1/4 of the cheese and 1 slice of bacon, crumbled.

– Drizzle with 1 T. ranch dressing

– Bring up foil sides and fold to seal, leaving room for heat circulation inside

– Place packets on a cookie sheet and bake 35-40 mins (depends on the size of your chicken breasts)

– Remove packets and let stand 5 mins

– Cut sits in foil for steam before opening.

This meal was wonderful! My entire family loved it! I hope you and your family enjoy it too!

Amy Royce has two children and has been married since 1995. She is an affiliate marketer and a Virtual Assistant. She enjoys helping others through the programs she markets and the tasks she performs as a VA.

Like many others, my new favorite website is Pinterest.com. I currently have 19 boards totaling 770 pins!! My two favorite boards to pin to are fitness and food! As I was looking for new things to pin, I came across the picture on the left. My mouth started to water and I knew that I would have to try this meal!!! I made Chicken Enchilada Pasta tonight for dinner and, in my son’s words, it’s a keeper! I don’t hear that very often, so I like to share my “keepers” with others who need a quick, easy, and tasty meal! Thanks to “The Kitchen Life of a Navy Wife”, for helping me make a meal my family loved!

‘Chicken Enchilada Pasta’

Source: Pearls, Handcuffs, and Happy Hour

Ingredients

1 rotisserie chicken, shredded

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 medium onion, diced

1 red pepper, diced

1 can diced green chiles (4 oz)

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoon chili powder

1 teaspoon cumin

2 cans green chili enchilada sauce (10 oz, each)

2/3 cups red enchilada sauce

2 cups shredded cheese (any kind)

1 cup sour cream

Penne pasta

Topping Ideas

Avocado

Green Onions

Black Olives

Tomatoes

Sour Cream

Directions

1. Shred chicken (I recommend doing this earlier in the day, or even the day before to save time, as well as chopping the veggies).

2. Boil pasta according to package. Heat olive oil in a deep skillet and cook onions for 3-5 minutes. Add garlic and red pepper and cook for another 3-5 minutes.

3. Add cooked chicken, green chiles, cumin, chili powder, salt, and enchilada sauces. Let sauce simmer for about 8-10 minutes.

4. Add cheese and stir until the cheese is melted and heated through. Slowly add the sour cream, but DO NOT bring to a boil (so as not to curdle the sour cream). Stir until sour cream is well mixed and heated through.

5. Drain pasta and add to the skillet with the cheese sauce; mix well. Serve and garnish with desired toppings.

Enjoy!

Amy Royce has two children and has been married since 1995. She is an affiliate marketer and a Virtual Assistant. She enjoys helping others through the programs she markets and the tasks she performs as a VA.

The Big Game is almost here! Yes, I am talking about Superbowl XLVII, which will take place on February 3, 2013. While some of you reading this may not be interested in the game, I can almost guarantee that your husband or sons are. Every year, we are invited to a Superbowl party and we are asked to bring a dish to share with other football fans. Here are a couple of easy recipes that are sure to please everyone!

Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers:
6 Fresh Jalapenos
1 pkg cream cheese
1 pkg bacon

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Cut the jalapenos longways and take out the seeds. Soften the cream cheese in the microwave and fill each jalapeno half with cream cheese and wrap with a slice of bacon. Cook in the oven for about 45 minutes. **Note: Cooking times will vary based on how done you want the bacon. Keep an eye on these if you don’t like that bacon really crispy. (Makes 12 poppers)

CrockPot Cheesy Sausage Dip
1 pkg Velveeta Mexican Style Cheese
1 lb sausage
8 oz Sour Cream
Salsa (to taste)
Chips

Cook the sausage until browned and drain any excess grease. Put the cooked sausage, Velveeta Cheese, Sour Cream and Salsa in the crockpot and stir together. Heat on high until the cheese is melted, then put it on low or warm so it doesn’t burn. Serve with chips.

I hope you enjoy these quick easy appetizers as much as we do! Enjoy the game! Go Team!!!

Every now and then, something happens to someone else that makes you realize that the things in your life aren’t quite as bad as you may have thought they were! Please allow me to explain:

On Tuesday of this week, I had client come in to pay her insurance. She told me that when she got to my office, she realized that the $40.00 she had saved for another bill had gone missing. That was that last amount of money she had until her next payday.

On Wednesday, I had another client come in to make a payment and make some changes to her policy. As we were talking, she told me that her son, who is 22 years old, was just diagnosed with cancer.

One thing that these two ladies have in common is that they both found the strength to put on a smile. I’m sure it was very hard for them to tell me about the things going on in their lives, but it got me thinking about the things going on in my own life. For instance, we got a snowstorm on Tuesday night. Wednesday, I went to work and told my co-worker that the snow “ruined my day”. I realized that it is ridiculous to be upset about something so petty!

So, here is my friendly piece of advice. Stop complaining about sitting in that traffic jam. Instead, be happy you have a reliable mode of transportation. Stop whining about the poor weather and be happy you have a warm home to go to at the end of the day. If you have a job outside of the home, don’t complain about how much you hate mornings. Instead, be happy you have a source of income. There are worse things you could be dealing with.

Amy Royce has two children and has been married since 1995. She is an affiliate marketer and a Virtual Assistant. She enjoys helping others through the programs she markets and the tasks she performs as a VA.

As a mom, there is something in our chemistry that says to us “Do whatever everyone else needs and don’t worry about yourself.” We cook 3 meals a day to make sure that our families are healthy. We clean up after our families so that they have a clean environment to live in. We play chauffeur and teacher and we do our best to be the best wife and mother possible all while running a home business or working an 8 hour job outside of the home.

So, how can you break away from the everyday stress of being a wife and mother without running away from home?

The most important thing I have found that relieves stress is to delegate the daily responsibilities. If your kids are old enough to do chores, make them wash the dishes and help with the laundry. They are going to have to eventually learn to cook, so why not ask them to help you prepare dinner a few times a week. Your husband or boyfriend works hard as well, but that doesn’t mean that he gets a free ride at night. Ask him to help the kids with their homework or to straighten up the living room. You don’t have to do it all. You are one person and the rest of the family is there to help you as well as each other.

As I said before, you do all these things for your family. Are you not part of the family? Make time for you!! Use the weekends to do something for yourself. You could go get a manicure or a pedicure. Get together with your friends and have a “Girls Night Out”. How long has it been since you had a date with your husband or boyfriend? Plan one!!! You are important, so treat yourself right!

Amy Royce has two children and has been married since 1995. She is an affiliate marketer and a Virtual Assistant. She enjoys helping others through the programs she markets and the tasks she performs as a VA. To learn more about Amy and what she offers, visit her site by clicking here.

Do you have picky eaters in your family? I know I do!! Ok…I admit it! I am one of those picky eaters! Most of the members of my family enjoy eating beef. Me…not so much. As you can imagine, my family craves it since they don’t get it very often. So, I went out on a mission to find a meal that we would all enjoy that had beef in it! I think I found one, and best of all, it’s an easy crockpot meal! I found this recipe on Pinterest, but here is a direct link to the recipe.

Ingredients:
1 ½ pounds beef tips or cubed beef stew meat
½ pound mushrooms, quartered
1/2 onion, cut into slivers
1 (1-ounce) package dry onion soup mix
1 (10-3/4-ounce) can cream of mushroom soup
1 (10-1/2-ounce) can condensed beef broth
¼ cup red wine
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

Directions:
Place the beef in slow cooker
In a separate bowl, combine all remaining ingredients and pour over beef
Cover and cook on low heat until meat is tender

This recipe has a lot of my favorite ingredients in it and when it is cooked all day in a crock pot, the meat just melts in your mouth. I don’t personally care for the red wine in food, so I did not put it in and I thought it was wonderful! We put it over garlic mashed potatoes for a little garlic taste. You can also put it over noodles or rice. Hope you enjoy it as much as we did and don’t forget to check out more recipes from Mr Food here.

Amy Royce has two children and has been married since 1995. She is an affiliate marketer and a Virtual Assistant. She enjoys helping others through the programs she markets and the tasks she performs as a VA. To learn more about Amy and what she offers, visit her site by clicking here. Also visit her new Health and Fitness blog by clicking here.

When I was growing up, one of the meals that we had a lot was tator tot casserole. Now don’t get me wrong, I think it was good, but I never really liked red meat. I would eat it, but it wasn’t my favorite food! I am now married and I have two teenagers. My family is always asking for meals like that. I have made them, but I wanted something different. That is when I found the Cheesy Chicken Tater Tot Casserole on Pinterest. This recipe is courtesy of The Country Cook.

Ingredients
1 (32 oz.) bag frozen tater tots
1 (3 oz.)bag bacon pieces
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
3/4 cup milk
salt & pepper, to taste

Directions:
Spray slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray
Layer half of the frozen tater tots on the bottom of the slow cooker
Sprinkle with 1/3 of the bacon pieces
Now top with 1/3 of the shredded cheese
Add diced chicken on top. Season with salt & pepper
Now add 1/3 of the bacon pieces and another 1/3 of shredded cheese
Put the rest of the frozen tater tots on top
Finish with the remaining 1/3 cheddar cheese and remaining 1/3 of bacon pieces
Pour 3/4 cup milk all over the top
Cover and cook on low about 4-6 hours.
Please note: Some slow cookers run at different temperatures. If you are using an older slow cooker (older than about 6 years old), your cooking time may take longer. Newer models run a bit hotter so keep an eye on this around the 4 hour mark. You want to make sure the chicken is cooked thoroughly (to 165F degrees)

This recipe can also be made in a conventional oven, which is how I made it. To get the directions for the oven and for other delicious home cooked meals, visit her site here. It was so easy and best of all, my family loved it.

Amy Royce has two children and has been married since 1995. She is an affiliate marketer and a Virtual Assistant. She enjoys helping others through the programs she markets and the tasks she performs as a VA. To learn more about Amy and what she offers, visit her site by clicking here. Also visit her new Health and Fitness blog by clicking here.

A friend of mine on Facebook put up a new status a few weeks ago that went like this. “NIKE has the best slogan. JUST DO IT! Seriously, stop making excuses, and they are all excuses, trust me! If we have time to sit on Facebook or any other sedentary thing we definitely have time to MOVE!”

The definition of sedentary is this: A Sedentary lifestyle is a medical term used to describe a type of lifestyle with no or irregular physical activity. A person who lives a sedentary lifestyle may be known as a couch potato. Sedentary activities include sitting, reading, watching television and computer use for much of the day with little or no vigorous physical exercise.

What is your excuse? I’ve heard a ton of them…from I don’t like to workout in front of people to I just don’t have the time. I’ve even said some of them myself. My biggest excuse was that I didn’t like to have people I didn’t know watching me sweat. So I bought an elliptical machine for my home. Problem solved!!

To continue reading this article, click here.