D-day, doomsday, end of the world day - for me, it feels like June 13th. That's the day I officially go back to work full time. Now, this has nothing to do with where I am working or the wonderful people there. No, it is just due to the fact that I have to work full time. Sigh. Len is going to school full time this fall, and so it is necessary. I keep telling myself we will make it, that things like long Christmas breaks and spring break will help us get through. But honestly I feel like I can't even begin to think about life after that point. It's like life has two categories - BFT and AFT - before and after full time! Thank goodness Jesus knows all my anxieties about leaving the boys. If this is what he has for us (You can still say no, Lord!), then he will take care of all of us.
In the spirit of d-day, and survival, I have brought you the breakfast of champions!!!
No really, it's really good, and amazingly good for you. And fairly simple. It's Quinoa!
Just like oatmeal, only better.
Boil 1 cup of water and one cup of milk in a pot, stirring now and then to keep milk from burning. When it boils, add one cup of quinoa and cook, stirring occasionally, for 18-20 min. Let sit for 5 min. Spoon into a bowl, add raspberries, (I just add frozen ones right in) brown sugar to taste, a handful of pecans, and a sprinkling of cinnamon. SOO GOOD! And it keeps you full, which is the really fabulous thing. This recipe makes a lot of quinoa, enough for at least four servings. I make a whole recipe on monday, and just keep the rest in the fridge for the rest of the week. Makes my mornings happy!
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Chapter 8 - In which there is Much Rejoicing
Winter quarter is done, yessss! That means no more night classes, hopefully forever! This last quarter was brutal, Len was always camped out in front of the computer, and got home really late on class nights. So tuesday he had his final, and even got home before I put the boys down! It was just a happy night. I revisited an old faithful recipe for supper, and it made me as happy as ever. I couldn't stop eating it. And I made chocolate cake, with caramel frosting. My mom made that for us when she stayed the week after Izzy was born, and it was ridiculously good. I think this is the second or third time I've made it. The middle sank ( I blame my oven), but it did not matter in the least - we are devouring it.
So I will write out these recipes for future posterity. The pasta I have altered enough, I think, to call my own, the cake could never be improved upon, I will write it exactly as it is in the cookbook.
Cajun Chicken Pasta
2T. olive oil
3 t. cajun seasoning
2-3 boneless skinless chicken breast
half a green pepper, sliced
half a red pepper, sliced
8 oz. mushrooms, cleaned and sliced
3 green onions, sliced
1/4 t. salt
1/4 t. lemon pepper
1/8 t. garlic powder
1 - 2 c. half and half
1/8 t. pepper
6 -8 oz. linguine, cooked
Grated parmesan, to taste
Cut chicken into thin strips and toss with cajun seasoning. Saute chicken in olive oil. Add peppers, mushrooms, and onions, saute and stir until veggies are softened. Add half and half and seasonings. Heat through, add linguine, and toss. Sprinkle with parmesan.
Notes - This is spicy! For less spice, use less cajun seasoning, or more meat. The original recipe calls for cream, which is also very good, but this is the healthy way. I really could not tell much of a difference.
Chocolate cake with quick caramel Icing.
Judy Beachy
3 C. flour
2 c. sugar
1/2 c. cocoa
2 t. soda
1 t. salt
2 t. vinegar
2 t. vanilla
1 c. salad oil
2 c. water
Preheat oven to 350. Put all ingredients in big bowl and mix well with a wire whisk. Pour into 9x13 pan, or 3 round pans. Bake 30 -40 min.
Quick caramel frosting
2/3 c. butter
1/3 c. milk
1 c. firmly packed brown sugar
3 c. powdered sugar
Melt butter in sauce pan. Add brown sugar, cook over low heat for 2 min, stirring constantly. Add milk and cook, stirring until mixture comes to a boil. Remove from heat, cool 10 -15 min. Gradually beat in powdered sugar until icing is the right consistency.
Notes - The icing is what really makes this cake. Judy says you can also put all the ingredients in the microwave and cook at 50% power until they boil, make sure you stir a few times. The important thing is to make sure the sugar crystals are dissolved.
Sigh - yummy supper, amazing cake, watching the Maltese Falcon with my husband, who really has nothing better to do - Excellent!
So I will write out these recipes for future posterity. The pasta I have altered enough, I think, to call my own, the cake could never be improved upon, I will write it exactly as it is in the cookbook.
Cajun Chicken Pasta
2T. olive oil
3 t. cajun seasoning
2-3 boneless skinless chicken breast
half a green pepper, sliced
half a red pepper, sliced
8 oz. mushrooms, cleaned and sliced
3 green onions, sliced
1/4 t. salt
1/4 t. lemon pepper
1/8 t. garlic powder
1 - 2 c. half and half
1/8 t. pepper
6 -8 oz. linguine, cooked
Grated parmesan, to taste
Cut chicken into thin strips and toss with cajun seasoning. Saute chicken in olive oil. Add peppers, mushrooms, and onions, saute and stir until veggies are softened. Add half and half and seasonings. Heat through, add linguine, and toss. Sprinkle with parmesan.
Notes - This is spicy! For less spice, use less cajun seasoning, or more meat. The original recipe calls for cream, which is also very good, but this is the healthy way. I really could not tell much of a difference.
Chocolate cake with quick caramel Icing.
Judy Beachy
3 C. flour
2 c. sugar
1/2 c. cocoa
2 t. soda
1 t. salt
2 t. vinegar
2 t. vanilla
1 c. salad oil
2 c. water
Preheat oven to 350. Put all ingredients in big bowl and mix well with a wire whisk. Pour into 9x13 pan, or 3 round pans. Bake 30 -40 min.
Quick caramel frosting
2/3 c. butter
1/3 c. milk
1 c. firmly packed brown sugar
3 c. powdered sugar
Melt butter in sauce pan. Add brown sugar, cook over low heat for 2 min, stirring constantly. Add milk and cook, stirring until mixture comes to a boil. Remove from heat, cool 10 -15 min. Gradually beat in powdered sugar until icing is the right consistency.
Notes - The icing is what really makes this cake. Judy says you can also put all the ingredients in the microwave and cook at 50% power until they boil, make sure you stir a few times. The important thing is to make sure the sugar crystals are dissolved.
Sigh - yummy supper, amazing cake, watching the Maltese Falcon with my husband, who really has nothing better to do - Excellent!
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
The winter day
Today has been a great winter day. The boys woke up this morning around 7, Len took Ben downstairs for his milk and medicine, and I fed Izzy and got him ready for the day - new diaper, saline for his nose, lotion for his face. We ate breakfast. Len and Ben had granola, I had coffee and a banana, the former being an essential and lovely part of the morning. Len left for work around 830, and I decided I would attempt to make bread today, which I rarely if ever do. So I brought up a box of toys that Karissa gave me awhile ago for Ben, and he played and played, and I kneaded and kneaded (still don't have that kitchen aid - pout pout). I used this recipe from Joy the Baker. I'll let you know how they turn out - still waiting for them to cool at the moment. Right now both boys are sleeping (thank you Jesus!), and I am plotting about the rest of the afternoon and supper.
I'm planning to make Chili soup for supper. Probably I will regret it tonight, as Izzy's stomach is still sensitive to beans, but a winter's day calls for soup, and I have been wanting to try this recipe. One of my friends at the bank made it for a cookoff, and I thought possibly it was the best I had ever had! I'm hoping this will be my go-to recipe from now on.
I've also been thinking it would be nice to have all my g0-to recipes in one place, and what better place than here, where you can try them too? So I will start out with this chili recipe, and if I don't like it I will take it off. And if I have time between crying children, I will post a few more I've made in recent weeks that have been big hits.
All-American Chili
6 oz. hot Italian sausage 1/4 t. salt
2 c. onion, chopped 2 bay leaves
1 c. green pepper, chopped 1 1/4 c. merlot or other fruity red wine
8 cloves garlic 2 28oz. cans whole tomatoes, undrained and
1 lb. ground sirloin coarsely chopped
1 jalepeno, chopped 2 15 oz. cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed
2 T. chili powder 1/2 c. sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
2 T. brown sugar
1 T. cumin
3 T. tomato paste
1 t. oregano
1/2 t. black pepper
Heat a large stock pot over medium heat. Remove casings from sausage. Add sausage, onion, green pepper, sirloin, jalapeno, and garlic to the pot. Cook 8 min. or until sausage and sirloin are browned, stirring to crumble. Add chili powder, brown sugar, cumin, tomato paste, oregano, black pepper, salt, and bay leaves and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Stir in wine, tomatoes, and beans. Bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Uncover and cook 30 min., stirring occasionally. Discard bay leaves. Serve sprinkled with cheddar cheese.
I'm planning to make Chili soup for supper. Probably I will regret it tonight, as Izzy's stomach is still sensitive to beans, but a winter's day calls for soup, and I have been wanting to try this recipe. One of my friends at the bank made it for a cookoff, and I thought possibly it was the best I had ever had! I'm hoping this will be my go-to recipe from now on.
I've also been thinking it would be nice to have all my g0-to recipes in one place, and what better place than here, where you can try them too? So I will start out with this chili recipe, and if I don't like it I will take it off. And if I have time between crying children, I will post a few more I've made in recent weeks that have been big hits.
All-American Chili
6 oz. hot Italian sausage 1/4 t. salt
2 c. onion, chopped 2 bay leaves
1 c. green pepper, chopped 1 1/4 c. merlot or other fruity red wine
8 cloves garlic 2 28oz. cans whole tomatoes, undrained and
1 lb. ground sirloin coarsely chopped
1 jalepeno, chopped 2 15 oz. cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed
2 T. chili powder 1/2 c. sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
2 T. brown sugar
1 T. cumin
3 T. tomato paste
1 t. oregano
1/2 t. black pepper
Heat a large stock pot over medium heat. Remove casings from sausage. Add sausage, onion, green pepper, sirloin, jalapeno, and garlic to the pot. Cook 8 min. or until sausage and sirloin are browned, stirring to crumble. Add chili powder, brown sugar, cumin, tomato paste, oregano, black pepper, salt, and bay leaves and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Stir in wine, tomatoes, and beans. Bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Uncover and cook 30 min., stirring occasionally. Discard bay leaves. Serve sprinkled with cheddar cheese.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
too much to do!
I have SOOO many projects I want to do. I even have a gift card to Jo-ann fabrics just waiting for me, but I seem to have the hardest time actually getting out of the house.... ! My priorities are on things for the downstairs, but I keep seeing a million things I'd love to do for the boys room. Today I am inspired by this room. It's even the same color as the boys room! I love the reading tent, and especially the play pad with the mirror and mobile hanger for the baby. Now where could I fit that in my house?! I also love this truck and dumptruck from 20x200. Those should go above Ben's bed. Or I could do these trucks, from Make it Love it, who incidentally has a ton of free tutorials that I want to try. (Look at your own peril, crafters!) I did finally come up with a solution for Ben's bed that requires a lot less effort and skill than a quilt. I am planning to get him a cotton duvet from ikea (washable!), and make a duvet cover with some of this material I've been stashing away. And while I was looking for a picture of my fabric, I found this amazing fabric site. Ack! Project overload - .........must stop now!
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
It's winter, the wall cracks are showing
I generally dislike the first half of the year. Really almost everything that's fun comes in the second half - all of our birthdays, the best part of summer, fall, Thanksgiving, Christmas, vacation, etc... all in the second half. So January is not my happiest month. But fun things have been happening, and there are more coming down the pipeline, which is nice. Last weekend we went to a belated Christmas party with a bunch of friends. No kids, (except for little marley, who barely made a peep!), lots of amazing food, and enough uninterrupted conversation to make any parent happy! I wish I had a picture or two, but I guess no kids means no cameras as well.
This weekend we are seeing people who we haven't seen in awhile. Sat. we have supper with Kevin mayer fam., who I think we've seen once since they came back from spain. And sunday we have lunch with len's fam. and his cousins collin and shelley and their little girl, amelie.
And valentine's day is coming! I'm going to get benny some jelly beans, as he keeps asking for the ones Len had after Christmas, even tho they've been gone for at least two weeks! And Izzy will get a stuffed bear or something. Len and I will go out somewhere, though we haven't figured out where yet.
March brings my favorite part of winter - our anniversary! 8 years this year. We like to do it up big for our anniversary, partly because we don't do much for birthdays. (It's fun to tell people you have the same birthday, but when it comes down to it, it's actually not so fun.) A list of things we have done for our anniversarys.
Year 1 - spent a night at the Hilton at easton. Cheesecake factory for supper, amazingly ridiculous breakfast buffet at the hotel.
Year 2 - Spent a horrible amount of money for a cabin in hocking hills with a hot tub. The hot tub was nice, but it was too cold to do anything, and not much was open that time of year. Good, but not my favorite.
Year 3- We were feeling poor, so we just went out to eat. We had an AMAZing dinner tho, it was our first trip to G. Michaels in German Village.
Year 4 - we were in Spain! We left our team for the weekend, and went to Nerja and Frigiliana. Best part - we dressed up and had an amazing italian dinner at a tiny place decked out in Christmas lights. Worst part - we paid too much money to see this cave, and Len ended up lugging our bag the whole way through it!
Year 5 - ahh, my favorite year! It was almost derailed, as we were supposed to fly skybus, but were scheduled to leave the morning they stopped flying! But we made it, and had soo much fun. Highlights - our apartment, Giacomo's, having the whole weekend to see the city.
Year 6 - Having just had a child, we opted for dinner out. Went to Tratorria Roma. I had the special, which was squash ravioli with walnuts and mushrooms - fabulous!
Year 7 - went to the German Village Guest house. Really cute little place. We tried to do too much tho, and wished we had spent more time vegging out. The hotel was very much the best part of the weekend.
So what will we do for year 8? I think we're heading to Cleveland! We have some ideas of where we want to go, but nothing nailed down yet. I think the problem again will be trying to do too much, as we are only planning to stay one night. We're both pretty excited about it.
What else? The boys are good - both are teething like mad, especially Izzy, and keeping us up nights far too often. Benny is saying new words like a mad man - I love how he always picks out the most interesting word of the sentence to repeat! (Dizzy? Damage? Sunshine?) Or he sings the word at the end of the line in a song. (Sunshine, Sunshine, happy, gray!) Izzy is growing like a weed. He is 15 lbs., and will be rolling over soon! He'd sleep through the night if only those teeth would leave him alone.
So we are chugging along, making the most of January, and those happy days (like today) when Len doesn't have work and can stay home with us. So nice! Just have to keep remembering that Jesus will get us through this winter too.......!
This weekend we are seeing people who we haven't seen in awhile. Sat. we have supper with Kevin mayer fam., who I think we've seen once since they came back from spain. And sunday we have lunch with len's fam. and his cousins collin and shelley and their little girl, amelie.
And valentine's day is coming! I'm going to get benny some jelly beans, as he keeps asking for the ones Len had after Christmas, even tho they've been gone for at least two weeks! And Izzy will get a stuffed bear or something. Len and I will go out somewhere, though we haven't figured out where yet.
March brings my favorite part of winter - our anniversary! 8 years this year. We like to do it up big for our anniversary, partly because we don't do much for birthdays. (It's fun to tell people you have the same birthday, but when it comes down to it, it's actually not so fun.) A list of things we have done for our anniversarys.
Year 1 - spent a night at the Hilton at easton. Cheesecake factory for supper, amazingly ridiculous breakfast buffet at the hotel.
Year 2 - Spent a horrible amount of money for a cabin in hocking hills with a hot tub. The hot tub was nice, but it was too cold to do anything, and not much was open that time of year. Good, but not my favorite.
Year 3- We were feeling poor, so we just went out to eat. We had an AMAZing dinner tho, it was our first trip to G. Michaels in German Village.
Year 4 - we were in Spain! We left our team for the weekend, and went to Nerja and Frigiliana. Best part - we dressed up and had an amazing italian dinner at a tiny place decked out in Christmas lights. Worst part - we paid too much money to see this cave, and Len ended up lugging our bag the whole way through it!
Year 5 - ahh, my favorite year! It was almost derailed, as we were supposed to fly skybus, but were scheduled to leave the morning they stopped flying! But we made it, and had soo much fun. Highlights - our apartment, Giacomo's, having the whole weekend to see the city.
Year 6 - Having just had a child, we opted for dinner out. Went to Tratorria Roma. I had the special, which was squash ravioli with walnuts and mushrooms - fabulous!
Year 7 - went to the German Village Guest house. Really cute little place. We tried to do too much tho, and wished we had spent more time vegging out. The hotel was very much the best part of the weekend.
So what will we do for year 8? I think we're heading to Cleveland! We have some ideas of where we want to go, but nothing nailed down yet. I think the problem again will be trying to do too much, as we are only planning to stay one night. We're both pretty excited about it.
What else? The boys are good - both are teething like mad, especially Izzy, and keeping us up nights far too often. Benny is saying new words like a mad man - I love how he always picks out the most interesting word of the sentence to repeat! (Dizzy? Damage? Sunshine?) Or he sings the word at the end of the line in a song. (Sunshine, Sunshine, happy, gray!) Izzy is growing like a weed. He is 15 lbs., and will be rolling over soon! He'd sleep through the night if only those teeth would leave him alone.
So we are chugging along, making the most of January, and those happy days (like today) when Len doesn't have work and can stay home with us. So nice! Just have to keep remembering that Jesus will get us through this winter too.......!
Friday, December 24, 2010
Christmas Eve
The festivities have begun! This morning feels like recovery morning, after my week spent getting ready for Ben's party. He turned two yesterday, and we had both families here to celebrate. Last year I made soup and a bunch of appetizers, so I did the same this year. It went really well, but I was a bit worn out by the time everything was done! Thankfully my sister came over in the afternoon to entertain the boys, and Len was wonderful and did all my dishes afterwords. He's so sweet about that - I was putting food away, and he said babe, make sure you aren't doing any dishes!
Benny had soo much fun at the party! He loved playing with the balloons, and opening presents - really got into that! Uncle scotty had the gift of the night - a remote control car with a pretty simple control. The car lights up and makes sounds, and Benny already knows how to turn it off and on. He also got a tricycle, some elmo videos, clothes, coloring book, blocks, and a few other things I know I'm not remembering. This morning he came down and saw all his gifts still sitting there and said OOOOOOO! The other highlight of the night was the cake that Rita made. She is amazing! Len had the idea to make Benny a cheese cake, because he loves cheese. A cake that looks like cheese, that is. She saw something online, and made a truly amazing cake - I will try to post a picture.
Check out the little mice! Benny ate that first.
So this morning we opened our presents as a family, and then went to First watch for breakfast with my sisters. Very fun - Izzy wore his santa hat.
Benny opened a few tools that actually make noises and spin, and has not put them down.
Izzy got a tiger that is as big as he is! We named it Timmy the tiger.
It was a lovely christmas.
Tonight we are headed to Stephen (amber's boyfriend)'s house to celebrate his birthday, and then we will drive up to my parents to spend the night and Christmas day with them. Then we're with Len's parents, and then Christmas with my grandparents on monday! Five days of presents for Benny - pretty sure he will have present withdraw!
Merry Christmas, everybody! Remember that Jesus came to draw us to God.
Benny had soo much fun at the party! He loved playing with the balloons, and opening presents - really got into that! Uncle scotty had the gift of the night - a remote control car with a pretty simple control. The car lights up and makes sounds, and Benny already knows how to turn it off and on. He also got a tricycle, some elmo videos, clothes, coloring book, blocks, and a few other things I know I'm not remembering. This morning he came down and saw all his gifts still sitting there and said OOOOOOO! The other highlight of the night was the cake that Rita made. She is amazing! Len had the idea to make Benny a cheese cake, because he loves cheese. A cake that looks like cheese, that is. She saw something online, and made a truly amazing cake - I will try to post a picture.
Check out the little mice! Benny ate that first.So this morning we opened our presents as a family, and then went to First watch for breakfast with my sisters. Very fun - Izzy wore his santa hat.
Benny opened a few tools that actually make noises and spin, and has not put them down.
Izzy got a tiger that is as big as he is! We named it Timmy the tiger.
It was a lovely christmas.
Tonight we are headed to Stephen (amber's boyfriend)'s house to celebrate his birthday, and then we will drive up to my parents to spend the night and Christmas day with them. Then we're with Len's parents, and then Christmas with my grandparents on monday! Five days of presents for Benny - pretty sure he will have present withdraw!
Merry Christmas, everybody! Remember that Jesus came to draw us to God.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
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