“I know I’m kind of a wuss when it comes to spicy foods.” ~ Eve Torres

Eve Torres is not the only gal who is a wuss when it comes to spicy foods. My IBS makes it a roll of the dice when I’m eating anything spicy as to whether I will survive with my gut intact or not. There’s a picture of a buffalo up there . . . you may have noticed. How “buffalo” came to be known as “spicy” will require more research on my part, however . . . . . If it refers to the “oh shit” factor between being chased by one of those boogers and eating some hella hot spicy food, I can see the connection. Kinda.

Chicken does not last long at our house. Doesn’t matter how it’s cooked. Enchiladas. Stir fry. Chicken Wings. Baked Chicken. Chicken casseroles. Smothered Chicken. Before you can blink, it’s gone! And so it was with the Buffalo Ranch Chicken recipe I’m about to share below. Fork tender with just a bit of spice, easy to prepare and cook – pleased the kids and this momma.

We served this with roasted carrots topped with honey, and garlic mashed potatoes. You could substitute any vegetables you choose as I don’t think there’s really much with which this dish wouldn’t pair well.

In other parts of life:

• Child #7 has gone back to nursing school and is avidly writing papers and sending them to me to proofread. As I have done with past nursing employees, this will make my 5th or 6th, maybe my 7th nursing degree.
• Child #8 is fast approaching her senior year of high school and all the decisions that come with it – college, career, military, scholarships – so many overwhelming decisions that SHE has to make.
• Child #9 has a wee bit more time as a junior in high school, but is considering the military and studying for his test while trying to balance work, school and saving money. After a rough few months, he has gotten motivated and realized that he can choose the direction his life will go.
• Child #10 is sadly lacking any motivation of any sort. After the same rough few months, she is required to attend the alternative school for at least half the school year before being able to return to the high school. It doesn’t seem as if she finds any of this to be her fault (it is) or upsetting. As a sophmore, she still has a few years to mature (hopefully) and get headed in a better direction.
• Child # 11 will be starting his freshman year of high school and has to decide whether he wants to still be in band, basketball, and soccer. Unfortunately, his school does not have the online gaming team available.
• Child #1 has moved his shop to the new location and is battling time and bureaucracy in getting his permits approved so he can re-open.
• Child #2 has begun a career with a new delivery company, always striving for better pay and benefits, but who can blame him — aren’t we all?
• Child #3 – who knows what’s going on with that one, she has been incommunicado for 11 years now.
• Child #5 is intently working on raising her kids and going to cosmetology school. December is her graduation date and it appears that she is absolutely enjoying herself.
• Child #6 continues to work as a hairstylist and raise her family with her husband – currently working on getting out of debt but such a hoot to have conversations with this one, she’s on the spectrum as well as being bi-polar and you never know where the conversation will lead or how you even ended up there.

Momma has been working on getting her own business up and running, getting licenses and taxes and supplies. We are almost there, but not quite. It’s officially a business, but not ready to launch quite yet. Every morning that I’m not working in nursing, I head over to my home office to work on things and the joy it brings to me is indescribable.