I am sure most of you are experiencing the same bitter cold and snow we have had in Pittsburgh. The cabin fever has also already set in with my boys!  So I wanted to share with you some of my favorite things that get me through these cold winter months.

Wintry Eats

We love comfort foods in the winter and one of our go to meals every week is soup.  Here is one of our favorite recipes.

Chicken Meatball & Orzo Soup

 

Ingredients

1 lb. Ground Chicken

1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese

1/2 cup Italian Bread Crumbs

1 Egg

1 TBSP. Garlic

1 TBSP. Italian Herb Seasoning

Salt & Pepper

1 Onion

6 cups Chicken Broth

1 cup Orzo Pasta

1-2 Cups Chopped Spinach

1.)  Mix Ground Chicken, Parmesan Cheese, Italian Bread Crumbs, Egg, Garlic, Italian Herb Seasoning, and Salt & Pepper in bowl.  Once combined roll mixture into meatballs (mine made about 40)  (I used a small cookie scoop so all the meatballs were the same size) Then set aside

2.) Dice Onion and saute with Olive Oil over medium heat in large pot.  Once cooked add in Chicken Broth and bring to a simmer

3.)  Once broth is at a simmer add in Meatballs and Orzo (cook about 10 minutes)

4.)  Chop Spinach

5.)  Once Meatballs and Orzo are cooked add spinach and cook for 2 minutes

6.)  Serve and sprinkle with Parmesan Cheese

Chicken Enchiladas 

Last weekend Nick and I had tortillas, jalapeno’s, and some chicken we needed to use up so we came up with these chicken enchiladas which were amazing and we even made them again a few days later because we loved them so much.  They definitely are not the healthiest but oh-so-yummy!

Ingredients

1 lb. Chicken Breasts (You can use ground chicken or even cooked Rotisserie Chicken too)

1 Onion

Salt & Pepper

1 TBSP. Cumin

1 TBSP. Chili Powder

2-3 Jalapeno’s

Flour or Corn Tortilla’s

Green Enchilada Sauce

Cotija Mexican Cheese

Queso

1.)  Dice Chicken, Onion, and Jalapeno’s (leave seeds in if you want extra spice!) and cook in skillet over medium heat.  Add in Cumin, Chili Powder, and Salt & Pepper

2.)  Spread a thin layer of Green Enchilada Sauce on the bottom of your baking dish

3.)  Lay out your Tortilla’s and place Chicken mixture in each tortilla and sprinkle each with Cotija Cheese (make as many as you would like)

4.)  Roll each Enchilada and place seam side down in baking dish.  Spread remaining Green Enchilada Sauce on top of each Enchilada and then top with Queso and sprinkle Cotija Cheese

5.)  Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until bubbly

Beauty Favs

My skin gets so dry in the winter especially my hands.  They get dry and cracked so I have to keep my skin hydrated everyday.  For my hands & body I love this Shea Butter Body Cream because it is thick like whipped butter & contains shea butter & vitamin E which leaves my skin feeling deeply conditioned.  

 

I swear by Climate Control which is essentially a drink of water for your face and hydration in the purest form.  (Can’t get any better than that, right?!)  Not only does in hydrate your skin but it helps to bring new skin cells to the surface to reduce fine lines and wrinkles and keep your skin glowing.  Plus it has anti-aging properties to keep your skin looking youthful!

I am obsessed with lip products (I am talking I have lip products in every room of the house, car, purse, you name it) and in the winter need something extra moisturizing so that is why I love this Moisturizing Lip Balm.  I love that it contains natural ingredients (like all of my other beauty favs!) including coconut oil and cocoa butter which help to soften the skin and protect your lips from any environmental influences.

Just because it is winter doesn’t mean you have to give up a sun kissed glow.  I have tried many self tanners and they all left me streaky but I finally found one that doesn’t!  I am loving this Self-Tanning Bronzing Coconut Milk.  You just spray and gently rub it in and it will give you a glow for days!

Warm and Cozy Must Haves

On these blistering cold days I just love to stay warm and cozy at home with my boys.  So these are some things that are keeping me cozy this winter.

This sweatshirt is so soft plus I love the saying!  I also love these slippers because even when I am all cozy at home I need a little sparkle!  I also pretty much live in these velour pants on those rare days when we have nowhere to go.  (Best part is they are on clearance now too!!)  Also a hot cup of coffee gets me through the day but I love it even more on cold days.  So a great mug is a must have and I just picked up this Valentines mug!

I hope some of my favorite winter must haves will help get you through these cold days too!  Stay warm and remember spring will be here before we know it!