A to Z, Asparagus, Exercises.

I have done about 15 posts for the A to Z Challenge. I think last year I had them all done which gave me lots of  time for visiting. I am one of the few bloggers who is used to posting 6/7 anyway so it shouldn't be too difficult for me to catch up, I hope. The madness all starts on Friday, April 1. If you don't know what this is all about, just click on the A to Z badge on the right where you can find all the information and the sign up list which allows you to join in if you would like to do so (the one on the left is not linked but there is a URL you can use. The whole blogfest/challenge was started by Arlee Bird and has grown to be a very big blogging event. I believe there are something like 1,500 people signed up, a lot of whom will drop out before it begins and more will drop out during the month of April for various reasons. The list is regularly culled by our own Ninja Captain, Alex J. Cavenaugh, Each of the people responsible for running this Challenge does so with the help of Minions which are part of their teams.  I volunteered a couple of years, it is pretty hard work.

Many, if not most, of the entrants have a theme for their A to Z Challenge. In my case it is food related. Big surprise. I am taking an ingredient, talking about it and then giving a recipe using this ingredient.

By the end of the month I am hoping the asparagus will be ready. I keep getting lots of recipes in my

email for my favourite green stuff, but don't expect it just yet awhile. However, we have had such a mild winter that with any luck, it will be available before the end of April. My fingers and anything else I can cross, will be crossed. It is already available in the States, local I mean, not the stuff imported from Mexico or such places. I only ever eat local asparagus because it is so much sweeter, more tender and you don't need to waste any by snapping off the ends as you obviously do with the plants shown in this picture.

I was delighted to find that tomorrow we can go back to our exercise classes. The super's wife who told me we couldn't use the Party Room for 3 years must have got it wrong unless she meant 3 weeks. I am told a lot of the chairs are missing but the landlords are going to buy some more.

Crock Pot Cream Cheese Chicken

By Dawn at FoodTV

I got this recipe from a nurse at work. We're always sharing easy and family-pleasing recipes. The sauce tastes like a creamy Alfredo sauce. This is great with noodles.

Servings 6 

• 3 lbs chicken pieces
• 1 (2/3 ounce) package Italian salad dressing mix
• 4 tablespoons melted butter (divided)
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 garlic clove, chopped
• 1 (10 1/2 ounce) can cream of chicken soup
• 8 ounces cream cheese
• ¹⁄₂ cup chicken broth 

Directions

1. Place chicken pieces in crock pot and sprinkle Italian seasoning over chicken. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons melted butter.
2. Cook on low for 4-6 hours.
3. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a sauce pan and saute onion and garlic. Add Cream of Chicken Soup, cream cheese, and chicken broth. Stir until smooth.
4. Add this mixture to crock pot and cook on low for an additional hour.

Have a great day