Rainy Day Essentials...

In honor of this slightly dreary day I will lay out for you a rainy day survival kit...lol

First off chase those tired and blue thoughts away by reminding yourself it is Saturday, only the greatest day of the weekend (in my opinion), so stop worrying for a minute about how much you need to get done and focus on the fact that there are many more, seemingly unimportant, things that don't need to be done but definitely should be done-like jumping in the puddles with kids or making s'mores just because you can and, finally, listen to this song just so you know the sun will come out tomorrow :)

The next tool in this rainy day survival kit is a good book-I've read a few lately (all located in your local library), In the Company of Others, Water for Elephants, The Pirate Queen, and Tuesdays with Morrie. The one I recommend for your pending survival of this dreary day though is Tuesdays with Morrie, it is non-fictional and wonderful!

This book goes over the meaning of life in a whirlwind 192 pages! Tuesdays with Morrie lures you into the story of a teacher who changes the life of the author by showing him the true reasons we're put here on the earth and what we should hold dear to our hearts. The book isn't written by a Christian author, so there may be a few points you don't necessarily agree with but as a whole I believe the book gives examples of the kind of traits I would like adapt myself into having. I haven't finished it yet but I can already tell you I give it 5 bespectacled old men out of 5. Great for reading while snuggling under comfy covers and listening to the pattering of rain on a tin roof (good coffee to sip is optional but certainly encouraged)!

Finally the last tool in the must have survival kit is comfort food! Although simple, this recipe is yummy!

Ingredients

• 4 skinless, bone-in chicken breast halves
• 2 stalks celery, cut into thirds or
  • • • 1/4 teaspoon celery salt
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 1 cup cooked rice
• 6 ounces sour cream
• 1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
• • • • 1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed broccoli and cheese soup
• 1/8 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 cups crushed buttery round crackers
• 1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Bring to a boil the chicken breasts, celery, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon pepper, and enough water to cover. Cover, reduce heat to medium low; simmer for 35 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup liquid. Cool chicken, remove meat from bones, and cut into bite-size pieces.
3. In a large bowl, stir together sour cream, soup, broth, celery salt, onion powder, garlic powder, and salt and pepper to taste. Mix in cooked rice and chicken. Spoon mixture into a 9x13 inch casserole dish. In a resealable bag, shake together crushed crackers and melted butter. Sprinkle crackers over the top.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes.

This goes great with silver Queen Corn on the cob and Southern Sweet Tea!

Now you have your complete rainy day essentials! Feel free to substitute a good movie for the book when needed :]