Snap, Crackle, Pop Chicken

If we are what we eat, then I am made of pumpkin spice creamer.  At this point, I'm considering entering a 12 step program after the holidays to curb my addiction.  (And yes, I am already listening to Christmas music and thanks to my friend, Christine, I have a Christmas tree proudly displayed on my desk at work.  It's never too early to start celebrating the holidays.)

 

And on that note... if my mind is made of what I watch, then I'm Breaking Bad.  A few weeks ago I started watching this 5 season series that aired from 2008-2013.  We bought a Netflix subscription and I am in hog heaven watching episode after episode of this show.  The nature of the show is nothing that I'm interested in and in fact, I don't usually watch movies, shows, programs, etc. that have to do with drugs.  But, this series is so gripping and so well done that it's hard to stop watching it.  It's affecting my life - I haven't had a real conversation with Matt since before I started it.  The second the kids go to sleep at night, I'm plopped on the sofa, with a glass of cabernet, totally engrossed in the show.  When I start nodding off, I pause the show, head upstairs, get ready for bed and then pull it up on my phone to continue watching for another 30 minutes.  Sometimes I tell the kids I'm going to the bathroom when really I'm sneaking in more precious moments of the show.  Fortunately, I'm almost done with the series and I will soon resume my normal life.  Until then, I shall enjoy every exciting moment of the show. 

Oh yea - and the show?  It's about a 50 year old high school Chemistry teacher who finds out that he has lung cancer.  He wants to make sure his family is provided for after he dies, so he starts making (or "cooking") Crystal Meth and selling it.  Again, typically I would not have any desire to watch something like this, but it is an amazing show.  It's no wonder it has won so many awards. 

When I'm not shuttling kids around, watching football games or watching Breaking Bad, I'm working!  Ahh.. the life of 40+ hours a week... It has been a big change of pace but everyone has handled it really well.  The boys are so busy between school and sports that they don't really notice much of a difference, honestly.  Brooke has adapted to our new schedule beautifully and it's completely normal to her that I work every day.  I'd be lying if I said it doesn't rip at my heart strings every now and then...But then I look at my three happy cherubs and they are thriving and doing great, and I love my job and am so happy to be contributing in my little way, so it all works out just right. 

I have so much to share with you!  I have to get back to my show so I'm going to leave you with this delicious chicken recipe that I made back in September.  Below is the post I started way back when...

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The angels just sang all around me when I took a bite of the little chicken nuggets I just made.  Oh my... I know I've ranted and raved about certain recipes being good - this one is equally as GOOOO-OOOD.  I got my (soon to be) 3 year old (see pictures below) all set up at the table with paints and paper and away I went, cutting up chicken, dipping it in egg - then in (okay, get ready....) crushed Rice Krispies cereal.  Then I cooked it in a combo of Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Canola oil until golden brown.  These little nuggets are golden brown, crispy on the outside, tender on the inside and just plain perfect.  I made some honey mustard sauce for dipping...

I can't wait for the boys to get home from football so that they can try this.  Busy moms, you can't beat 4 ingredients!  This doesn't even justify a real recipe.  Just cut up your boneless skinless chicken breasts, dip the pieces in egg and then crushed plain Rice Krispies (I crushed mine in my Cuisinart) and cook in some olive/canola oil until golden brown.  That's it!  They were light and crunch - gluten free, of course and delicious!  The kids devoured them. 

 

Don't they look perfect?  With a little salt, they were just that... perfect.

 

Life is just as sweet as can be.. and that's not the pumpkin spice creamer talking....

 

 

Fishing, Tranquility and Patty Melts

We left yesterday for a quick 24 hours at the farm and honestly, I could have used another day or two... the beauty is that it's only one hour away so we can enjoy trip after trip when the boys' sports schedules allow us to go.  We fed horses, rode dirt bikes and four wheelers, pet the horses, watched the chickens, hiked the trails, fished, enjoyed a glass of wine on the front porch... We did all the things that make us all unwind from the craziness of city life.  Yesterday afternoon Brooke and I walked down to the pond where the boys were fishing...

 

 I love this picture because it reflects how quiet and tranquil it really is. 

 

Brooke and I were frolicking along the bank looking at the fish that Matt and the boys were reeling in.  Then very quickly, Brooke felt heavy on my shoulder as she fell asleep.  I found a shady spot on the bank and enjoyed watching her sleep in my lap.

 

I'm a busy body by nature.  My mom genetically handed this down to me.  We have a hard time sitting still, she and I...this is the case for me unless I am exhausted (which is often) - and then I can really sit still - which usually leads to sleep.  Anyway - I soooo enjoyed sitting on the bank with a sleeping Brooke and watching and listening to the boys fish.  I was forced (happily and willingly) to sit and enjoy my surroundings.  First of all, it's so quiet up there at the farm.  No traffic, no planes, no noise except for the sounds of nature (and the occasional gun shot of nearby hunters)... Have you ever had your power go out and you suddenly realize how loud all the sounds of your house were?  And before the power went out, you didn't even realize how much sound was filling your ears - that's how being at the farm is... it's God's country, really... and just as the landscape is so peaceful, so does this peace fill your spirit when you're there. 

I watched the boys cast line after line and reel them in - sometimes catching a fish, sometimes not.  When they'd catch one, the other would run over to help get it off the line.  I love this picture of the boys working together....

I was filled with peace and joy yesterday afternoon sitting on the bank with my family.  And Papa, if you're reading this, I must say a big THANK YOU for sharing this wonderful and amazing place with us.  Even though most of the time when we're there, you are in Atlanta, everywhere we go, your spirit is there and we think about how much you must enjoy your time at the farm.  Our boys are slowly becoming men at Whispering Pines Farm - they are learning how to do all these outdoorsy type things like fish and drive a four-wheeler, drive a dirt bike, ride a horse, etc. - but they're learning life lessons like what they can accomplish when they work together, what it means and involves to take care of their things (washing the dirt bike and four wheeler when they're done), what it means to respect animals - they're size and power...

They're learning what life without technology is like.. and I'm loving that they're experiencing and FEELING that.  They're learning to think beyond just themselves.  Papa, thank you for these memories that we're making and for all the growing up that is taking place when we're there.  Our experiences are priceless...

 



 

 



Back at home now - laundry going, pouring down rain outside, Matthew is on the baseball field and Champ, Brooke and I are heading out shortly to watch him.  Life is wonderful - it truly is...

This rainy weather reminds me of a dish I made a few weeks ago - Patty Melts!  They were easy, delicious, comforting, and GREAT for a weeknight meal.  Instead of regular whole wheat bread, I used our Rudi's brand gluten free bread and we devoured them.  First, I sautéed the onions.

 

Then I made patties out of hamburger meat, Worcestershire and salt and pepper.  We grilled them but with patty melts, usually you cook them in a skillet.  Then we added Swiss Cheese and onions and cooked the whole sandwich (buttered) in a skillet...

 

Look at how golden brown the bread is!  DELICIOUS, I tell you!  Enjoy!

 

Click here for the recipe. 

Beef Stir Fry

Warning:  Focus on the fact that I'm finally posting something - NOT on the grammatical errors and misspelled words.  Have you wondered where I've been?  I'm still here!  Still doing my THANG...mommy-ing it, wife-ing it, working it... I've started half a dozen blog entries since mid-June.  Problem is... I've had no time to finish them.  My goal is to have a "take-away" with every post - be it a recipe, a tip, some great "Friday Favorites"... and the truth is... it takes time to upload the photos and organize the post, and my time has been stretched so thinly that here we are almost 3 months since my last post and I'm just finding a few minutes of time.

Our Summer was terrific.  I'm able to add a new role to my resume:  Social Coordinator, 6/1/2013-infinity.  It's truly a job in and of itself - the phone calls, the emailing, the texting, the driving, the arranging, the attitudes of our young when they come home having had zero sleep...

Matthew and Champ played baseball which was great fun (and tiring) for us all.  Tournaments every weekend, practice every night, spend the nights frequently, out of town tournaments, parties several times each week for 5-6 weeks... I was exhausted by it all and I was merely a spectator.  When baseball ended, that's when the social coordinator role really kicked in.  They are at the ages where they want to be with their friends - be it at our house or friends' houses - all the time.  I found it difficult this Summer to make all three of my kids happy with an activity or outing at once.  The boys wanted to do things that Brooke was too young for and when I was making Brooke happy, the boys were bored.  For that reason, I welcomed our end of Summer beach trip (where everyone is happy ALL the time) and the start up of school. 

Recently I started working full time again!  I was very happy in my part time role as working part time is, in many ways, like having your cake and eating it, too. You stay engaged in the professional arena, enjoy dressing up and commiserating with other adults... AND you get to wake up and fix breakfast for your kids and hang with them doing the stay-at-home mom thing, too.  The down side to part time, as I found it, was that I was never fully engaged from a work perspective - and I was spending a lot of my time at home doing things like cleaning the house, laundry and errands. 

Several weeks ago, an opportunity at work presented itself and long story short, I took it.  I'm two weeks in and really enjoying my schedule and the kids seem really happy.  We have two nannies, each is with the kids 2 days a week, and my mother-in-law takes the third day.  My friend, Margaret, articulated the major advantage of having two nannies over one which is - no one is with my kids more than me.  I love that!  They also help with laundry and cleaning so that when I'm home, I can hang out with them.  At this point, I'm really enjoying both my time at work and my time at home.  I'll keep you posted on life as a working woman with three kids as time continues to unfold...

Speaking of Margaret, she and her family accompanied us to the farm and we had so much fun.  It's a place where our kids can really run free... they run, they fish, they drive the four-wheeler, they ride horses, they hunt, they hike through the woods... It's good for their little souls - and for ours.  I love it and it brings us immense joy to share that with others.

 

Here's the big question - have I been cooking this Summer?  During the month of June, I'd have to say no, not really - with the exception of salads which doesn't really count as cooking.  I made salads for every single party I attended.  Now that school is back in, I've done better.  And now that I don't have as much time to spend cooking, I'm constantly searching for quick recipes which don't take much time to prepare.  Last night, I made turkey meatballs over pasta, spinach salad with strawberries and blue cheese and a toasted baguette.  I'll share that soon.  A few weeks ago, I made the Pioneer Woman's Beef Stir Fry and it was delicious and loved by all family members.  This was in her 16 minute recipe section.   

Super easy to prepare - lots of flavor and a dish that appeals to all eaters.  Start with a nice cut of flank steak and slice it super duper thinly.

 

Mix together soy sauce, sherry, brown sugar, cornstarch, and ginger. 

 

Pour half of this mixture over the meat and toss to combine.  While that is sitting, add oil to your pan and add the snow peas.  Stir for one minute and then set the snow peas aside.  Add the meat to the pan and let that cook.  (Might be a good idea to check the real recipe at this point).

 

Next, add the snow peas to the meat - toss to combine.

 

Put the rice of your choice into a bowl and add the meat mixture.  YUMMO!

 

 

This is a great back to school meal because it's easy and QUICK.  Try it.  You won't be disappointed.

I would like to dedicate this blog post to my parents who have been married FORTY years today.  Mom and Dad, I love you dearly and thank you for the life that you have paved for me...I feel so blessed and happy that you united many moons ago... Here's to many more!!

Better than _ _ _ Trifle

Look what I just found!  I was just looking through all the posts I have started but haven't finished and I came upon this that I wrote last Summer after baseball season ended. 

July 2012:

Matt and I are trying to ramp up our exercise routine.  After a Summer of baseball tournaments, beach trips, late nights, sleeping in, it's time to get back in shape.  While I lose the craving for sweets when I ramp up my exercise, Matt's sweet tooth grows.  I thought it would be nice to surprise him and the boys with one of their favorite desserts- Better than _ _ _ Trifle.  Now, I call it "The Heath Bar Brownie Dessert" when I'm talking to my kids.   

It was brought to me originally as part of a Just Had a Baby meal.  I couldn't get enough of this stuff.  I would wake up in the middle of the night to nurse my newborn and would sneak into the kitchen to scoop myself a bowlful.  It made those middle of the night feedings tolerable - plus, I was nursing, so I figured that the calories zeroed themselves out. 

Many of you have probably made this or some version like it, but here is mine. 

Here are the players:

Bake a box of brownies according to the directions on the box.  Let them cool and then crumble them onto the bottom of whatever dish in which you plan to serve it.  Top the crumbled brownie with chopped up Heath Bar. 

Here I am unwrapping each little miniature heath bar and chopping.  This is a fun thing to let your kids do and a great way to let them practice chopping with a knife. 

Make a box of instant chocolate pudding according to the directions on the box. Spread that on top of the heath bar and then add more chopped up Heath Bar.

Top the whole thing with Cool Whip and then... you guessed it!... Top with more Heath Bar (and I used some extra brownie that I had). 

Whala!  You have yourself a heavenly dish that lives up to its name!  Enjoy!

Heath Bar Brownie Trifle

1 box of brownies
1 6-serving instant chocolate pudding box (made according to directions)
1 bag miniature Heath Bar
1 container Cool Whip

Bake your favorite box of brownies according to directions on the box.  Let them cool and then crumble and lay in the bottom of a big dish (or you can divide into smaller dishes to give out as little gifts). 

Make a box of 6 serving chocolate pudding according to the directions on the box. 

Unwrap and chop the heath bars into little pieces.

Time to layer away!  On top of the brownie, spread the chocolate pudding and on top of that, sprinkle a hefty portion of heath bar pieces.  On top of that, spread some Cool Whip.  Then sprinkle with the remaining heath bar pieces.  This is SO simple but the combination of flavors is to die for.  Perfect for a new neighbor, a new mom, your kids... enjoy!

Friday Favorites 6/7/2013

I love sharing my favorite things. 

For years I have been hearing about a product called Iron Out.  A lot of my baseball mom friends use this on their kids' baseball pants to get the red dirt out. 

I don't know what took me so long, but this stuff is amazing.  So amazing, in fact, that I would probably feel okay about going door to door to sell this stuff.  It's like magic!  All these years, I have accepted the red stains and lived with them.  Well, no more, folks!

I pour a half a cup of the powder into a big Home Depot bucket and fill it with about a gallon of hot water.  I put dirty pants like this in:

Before I started using Iron Out, I would spray pants like this with Shout and wash them, and they always came out of the wash still red and stained. 

I let them soak for about 10 minutes - sometimes longer.  I rinse them well with water and then spray the grass stains with a product called AWESOME (Dollar Store!!) and let them sit a few more minutes.  When finished, they look like this:

Can you believe it?  It's magic!  Now, I must warn you that it produces some fumes.  In fact, I have inhaled so much of this stuff (while adding the hot water to the powder) that I've convinced myself I may have some abnormal cells growing in my lungs.  In all seriousness, do consider wearing a painter's mask or something of the like, when doing this.

On to my next favorite THING - and I love it!  First of all, let me just say that I LOVE the Container Store.  I feel like an organized woman just because I shop there from time to time (when the reality is that I'm really not).  I went in a few weeks ago to pick up a magnetic strip to hang all of Brooke's artwork, and I came across this sticky note weekly calendar.  Check it out:

http://www.containerstore.com/shop/office/calendarsNotebooksPlanners?productId=10032527

It's the most wonderful little $9.99 purchase I have ever made.  I write all that we have coming up each week - so this Summer so far, it's full of baseball practices and games, doctor's appointments, reminders, etc.  I peel it off, place it at eye level on the wall beside my fridge and the kids can reference it whenever they want.  I LOVE this product!  I think it comes with 50 weeks, so you're set for almost a year!

And to wrap up this week's Friday Favorites, let's talk about eggplant.

I am having a love affair with this cute purple vegetable.  I eat it 5 times a week.  I can't get enough!  I wash it, slice it and sprinkle it with salt.

Then I cover it with a paper towel to soak up all the moisture that the salt brings out.  I let it sit anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours.

Can you see how wet the paper towel is?  The next step is that I squeeze each piece in a paper towel to remove just a bit more of the moisture - then I toss the slices with some olive oil - that's it - no need to add salt because you have already done that.  Lay them out in a single layer.

Then roast them in a 420 degree oven for 30-40 minutes.  I like mine pretty well cooked.

They are good hot or cold - but the best temperature is room temperature.  Mmm mmm - so delicious!  Eggplant is a good source of Vitamin K, Thiamin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Potassium and Manganese, and a very good source of dietary Fiber.  Sounds good to me! 

Have a super weekend!