Folks, it’s about here. I can feel it. I can smell it in the air. Spring!
It’s just about here, and we can pretty much say winter is behind us. We just turned the clocks ahead, and the days are officially getting longer.
It’s honestly hard to believe it’s March already.
What do you look forward to the most in spring? Something that just tells you, “Yup, spring is officially here.”
Seeing the first robin? Smelling the first lawn being mowed? Looking for that very first flower bloom? I think mine is when we officially hear the frogs chirping at night. It’s either Chris or I who get excited to hear them for the very first time and then be the ones to tell each other. I love sitting out on the front porch listening to them when dusk turns into nightfall. You know what the McElroy family also loves? A good thunderstorm! We all have the radar app on our phones. (Kenzy has hers on her tablet.) On days we know storms are going to pop up, we all check out the app and then screenshot the size of the storm to one another.
“This storm is going to be a bad one.” Chris will text me.
“Did you get the clothes off the line yet?”
Ah, another one of my favorite things when spring arrives. Hanging things out on our clothesline! Especially sheets.
I just don’t love being at Wegmans and getting a text like that from my husband. Walking out of the store and looking up toward Jersey Shore-way and seeing nothing but black skies, knowing my sheets are flowing in the breeze at home, about to get dumped on.
I hurry to the car, load my groceries, and high tail out of there. Trying to get home as soon as possible without driving like a maniac.
It always seems as soon as I hit a mile or so from home, the raindrops start dropping on the car window. I drift into the driveway while quickly taking off my seatbelt. I jump out of the car like it’s on fire and tear a** up the yard to our clothesline, where my upper body is running faster than my legs, and I am about to topple over. It’s truly a sight to see, honestly.
I then grab my basket and see how fast I can pop clothespins off the line while just throwing the clothes into the basket without folding them. I won’t tell you where I shoved most of the clothespins to hold them at that moment! Bahaha!!! (You probably already guessed it if you truly know me.) Ain’t nobody got time to fold clothes when thunder is cracking, and you can smell the rain about to dump. Even though my OCD kicks in from just chucking shirts in the basket, at least I know they will be dry when I go in the house to fold everything and dump all the clothespins out of my boulder holder. *Enter cheesy smile here*
See, when I hang everything on our clothesline, I hang all of Chris’s shirts together, and I hate to say it, but I do it by color. I don’t know why. I just do all the black, blue, gray, and brown shirts. Then I hang all my shirts up next — dress shirts, t-shirts, then my tanks. I feel that as I fold them and take them down, they are easier to put away. I don’t know. There’s just a method to my madness, okay?
Sheets, of course, are my absolute favorite, and I hang them out anytime I can.
My laundry in warmer weather literally revolves around the weather. Jeans and towels get done when it’s raining. (Who likes crunchy jeans hanging out on a clothesline anyways?) Then shirts and sheets get done on the nice days. It’s perfect. But once in a while, on those nice days, a storm can brew up. That’s the only downfall. They make laundry detergent that smells like rain, so other than having the mess of saturated clothes, at least they will smell rain fresh right? It doesn’t happen too often, but it does occasionally. It’s the cross we bear.
Next week, we will continue our talk on spring. More thunderstorm talk. Weather apps and gardens. Maybe more chattin’ on where else you can hold clothespins in a hurry??
Sike. Just kidding on that part. See y’all next week you crazy critters!
Creamy Garlic Parmesan Tortellini with Chicken
Ingredients:
• 12 oz cheese tortellini (fresh or frozen)
• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Directions:
Step 1: Cook the Tortellini
In a large pot of salted water, bring the water to a boil. Add the cheese tortellini and cook according to the package instructions, usually 3-5 minutes for fresh tortellini and 8-10 minutes for frozen. Once cooked, drain the tortellini and set it aside.
Step 2: Cook the Chicken
While the tortellini cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken pieces and cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes—season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Once cooked, remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside.
Step 3: Sauté the Garlic
In the same skillet, add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute or until fragrant. Be sure not to let the garlic burn, as it can turn bitter.
Step 4: Make the Creamy Sauce
Add the heavy cream and chicken broth to the skillet, stirring to combine. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the cheese melts and the sauce becomes creamy.
Step 5: Combine Everything
Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Add the cooked tortellini and toss everything together to combine. If the sauce is too thick, add a little more chicken broth or some reserved pasta water to reach your desired consistency. Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt, pepper, or Italian seasoning as needed.
Step 6: Serve
Transfer the creamy tortellini mixture to serving plates. Serve hot and enjoy!
