Italian Chicken Rice Pot

In procrastinating doing my homework a while back, I ran across a YouTube video by Laura Vitale for one pot chicken and rice. I have learned that some of the greatest dishes are super simple, and this is definitely one of them. I didn't have all of her ingredients on hand, but I had enough to make a most delicious variation for a college student such as myself.

By the way, this makes a lot food...and I didn't get to eat any of the leftovers!

Italian Chicken and Rice

Inspired by Laura in the Kitchen
I've linked the original video and recipe here if you are interested.

Ingredients:

Vegetable oil (or olive oil, etc.)

2 pieces of boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed

1 green bell pepper, diced

1 can tomatoes, diced

Salt

Pepper

Garlic Powder

Italian Seasoning

2 cups of white rice
3 cups of water + 3 bouillon cubes (chicken-flavored)

[or three cups of broth...]

It's almost easier than Rice-a-Roni, and tastes a lot better.

Instructions:

Heat oil in skillet and cube chicken breasts.  Fry cubes until they start to develop color.
Meanwhile, dice bell pepper.
Add pepper to chicken and fry until color starts to change.  Season with salt and pepper.
Add rice and cook for about a minute to let brown.
Add water, bouillon, can of tomatoes, and seasonings.
Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat, and let simmer.
In about twenty five minutes, your yummy chicken and rice should be ready to eat.

This one is sure to be a classic in my house (assuming I ever have not-frozen chicken!)

Finally, I would like to thank Mrs. Vitale for inspiring this wonderful dish.

The Ultimate Spring Cleaning... Book?

A Book that Sparks Joy

Hello, world!

It's that wonderful time of year when our cars are covered in pollen and cleaning supplies are on sale. Three cheers for spring!

Anyways, a book found its way into my life a few weeks ago after my husband found an article about the author in the Wall Street Journal.  He showed me the article and asked if I might be interested in what she had to say.  Well, it more than piqued my interest.

What book was it?

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo.

How can you resist a title like that?

(I'm a sucker for a clever name and a pretty cover)

I immediately looked up information about this lovely little book and only found positive things.  Plus, decluttering and living in a tidy apartment sounds rather appealing to me, especially as someone who doesn't lift her feet very high when she walks (thus is likely to stumble, knock my shin, or hit my toe...)

This book was lovely.  It introduces the art of tidying by using the systematic KonMari Method to train you in how to thank objects for their service and either appreciate them for longer or let them go give someone else joy.

Kondo's philosophy of tidying leaves you surrounded only by things that make you happy.

Think for a second: how awesome would that be?

Honestly, it sounds pretty appealing.

There is a reason this book is a #1 bestseller.  Check it out for yourself.  Maybe it will even have a side-effect of a clean house.

My closet has already been trimmed down, drawers rearranged and folded nicely, and who knows what will happen to the rest of the house once I find some time...like that will ever happen!

Have you read this book?  What do you think?