My forgetfulness is at an all time high. I am typically one of those people who loses their keys, phone and purse quite often. Lately it’s been other things that completely slip my mind – dangerous ones. Yesterday I left the oven on like all day. I kept forgetting to turn it off. (It’s a gas oven and it can really heat up the kitchen!) This morning I fixed my scrambled eggs, slid them on my plate, stuck the pan in the sink. 30 minutes later, I walked by stove and the burner was still ON! Gas burner just a flaming! I mean if it was just the first time I have ever done that then, well you know – no big deal, just thankful no damage was done. NO, that is the fourth time THIS week I have done that.
If I am this forgetful and scattered now, what will I be like when I am 70?
Turning in early Monday night, I passed by our bookshelf. I stopped to try and find some kind of leisure reading that would help me unwind. It had been a LONG day. The kids and I were like oil and water that night and I felt mentally exhausted. I see this tiny little book – one I haven’t look at in SO long – my first pregnancy journal. I climbed in the bed and propped myself up. Just as I was about to open it I thought maybe I should call #1 in and read this to him. I honestly did not feel like spending any more time with any of my kids that day, but I called to him. He was awake and immediately came and snuggled right up to me. As I read each page to him, huge tears streamed down my face. I looked down at him and his eyes met mine. He never knew I had this journal and he was glowing.
It was so special to relive those moments of my first pregnancy with the kid I wrote every word for. When I think of how I loved my child so incredibly much – before he ever took his first breath or even knew his own name – it makes me grateful for how God first loved us. We did NOTHING to earn or persuade him to love us. It’s all so beautiful. I am so thankful for the precious gift of each one of my kids. Loving them has truly helped me understand just how great and HUGE and deep God’s love for me.
Two scrambled eggs (NO MILK) have been on my breakfast plate almost every morning for over a year. I didn’t start eating them because I loved them – I was just trying to break away from all the other typical morning dishes that all seem to be loaded with sugar. (Except oatmeal – I just can’t make myself like it.) If I want to add a bit of variety to my cheap store bought eggs .. I add ketchup.
Well a few months ago, a friend of mine gave me a dozen eggs laid by her very own chickens. As I cracked the first egg, I was shocked by the color difference. When I tried my first bite – I truly fell in love with scrambled eggs for the first time. The taste was so rich, buttery … amazing! I couldn’t get over it. Now, when I buy eggs at the store, I buy the expensive kind. I really think they are a grade above the others. But when I get the chance to get my friend’s eggs (I am eating two right now for dinner!) I cherish each one. She must have some magic chicken feed because those eggs are out of this world!
A little Salty and Peppy is all these little beauties need.
Right now my kids are being little chefs in the kitchen by making their own lunch – french bread pizzas from a leftover loaf that needs to be eaten. Now if I had fixed it, they would not have been too happy with the results – but since they have made it – all I can hear is rave reviews about how perfect the pizza is. (I love it!)
Last night I fixed a pasta sauce that I love. Although no one else in the house likes it I give it 5 STARS! I seriously wanted to lick the leftover sauce off the plate.
Now, I only made the sauce last night – though I have made the entire dish. I added some leftover Mexican style chicken to it. I didn’t have Tequila so I added extra lime juice. I also just used regular whipping cream instead of heavy.
* 1 (16 ounce) package fettuccine pasta
* 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
* 2 tablespoons minced garlic
* 2 tablespoons minced jalapeno peppers
* 3 tablespoons butter
* 1/2 cup chicken stock
* 3 tablespoons tequila
* 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
* 3 tablespoons soy sauce
* 1 1/4 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves – cubed
* 1/4 red onion, sliced
* 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
* 1/2 yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
* 1/2 green bell pepper, sliced
* 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
DIRECTIONS
1. In a medium saucepan, saute the cilantro, garlic and jalapeno pepper in 2 tablespoons of butter or margarine over medium heat for 4 to 5 minutes. Add the stock, tequila and lime juice. Bring the mixture to a boil and cook until reduced to a paste-like consistency. Set aside.
2. Pour soy sauce over the chicken and set aside for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, In a medium sized skillet, saute the onion and the red, green and yellow bell peppers with the remaining tablespoon of butter or margarine, stirring occasionally.
3. Meanwhile, cook fettuccine according to package directions.
4. When the peppers have wilted, add the chicken and soy sauce. Toss and add the reserved tequila/lime paste and cream. Bring to a boil. Gently simmer until chicken is cooked through and sauce is thick. Toss with well drained fettuccine and garnish with cilantro. Serve.
I know – it really did horrible things to me before, but my man is gone for week and I just couldn’t help it. I had to buy it. The first bite was freakin’ incredible. I don’t know how they made it soooooo good – but they did.
So, if I get close to you this week, please excuse my smell. It’s temporary.
That’s me, holding my beloved – Sabra with precious roasted pine nuts.
I really enjoy cooking. I love vegetables but I am pretty much eating them solo at meal times, if I ever take the time and actually prepare them. As long as I can remember, I have never been scared to try a new dish. Desserts on the other hand – I do get nervous like a small child and I am very reluctant to open my mouth to try out a new treat. So, I have come to the conclusion – it must be in the genes as to what a person feels comfortable trying and not trying.
Today I made a new dish. I knew from the get go – it would be all mine – but I did manage to pry the mouths open of my kids to get in one small bite. They hated it, as I knew they would but I really really enjoyed it. It’s a great twist on an old classic – potato salad.
Ingredients: (I cut this all in half knowing I was the only one eating it – and maybe I’ll take some to my neighbor b/c it still made a large amount.)
8 large Idaho Potatoes (about 4 lbs), well scrubbed, cut into 3/4-inch chunks
1/2 tsp salt
4 cup chopped broccoli (about 1 bunch)
2 cup favorite light ranch salad dressing (16 oz)
3 cup chopped fennel (about one large bulb), with core and tops removed
1 large red onion, quartered and very thinly sliced (about 1½ cups)
1/2 cup diced green olives with pimento (optional) *
1 pinch salt and pepper, or to taste
1 bed of leaf lettuce and cherry tomatoes or sliced tomatoes (garnish)
Directions:
Fill a large stockpot half full of water, add salt and bring to boiling over high heat. Add potatoes and bring back to boiling over high heat; reduce heat to medium and boil 3 minutes.
Add broccoli to the potatoes and bring back to boiling over high heat. Reduce heat to medium again, and cook until desired doneness (1 – 3 minutes). Potatoes and broccoli should both be firm. Drain well in a colander.
Transfer potatoes and broccoli to a large mixing bowl, add ranch dressing and let cool. Stir in fennel, onions, and olives, if using. Taste and season with salt and pepper, if desired.
Serve on a bed of leaf lettuce, with ripe tomatoes as a garnish.
This past Thursday was just a fake out. The kids are still sick. I am sick of them being sick and I KNOW they as VERY SICK of being sick. I feel just terrible for them – especially my oldest. He’s been running a fever (over 100) for 6 days. (He was tested for the flu, but the blood work came back negative, but they said it what he had was viral.) UGH. He has had zero appetite and has been glued to the couch. Finally tonight he said he felt like tacos, so I loaded up the clan and hit the drive thru at the local Taco Bell.
So, this week has been very uneventful. My middle lost another tooth. I trimmed her hair today. We decided to do an open house today. I am so thankful for that decision. Our house was looking pretty chaotic since the kids have been cooped up and I haven’t pressured them to clean up after themselves.
Now I sit in a clean home typing on top of a clean dust free desk that is stuffed full of crap and bills I need to go through. It feels good just to look around and see everything straight and forget what is lying beneath my hands oh and the laundry basket loaded with misc. junk I took to the car that I didn’t have time to deal with.
This is me and my niece. We hung out with the fam last weekend. I normally don’t like posting pics of me. Funny how I am totally cool with my hair showing my age, but the wrinkles and spots on my face – uh, no. When I see a picture of me – I have to edit and erase some of the lines away.
Another niece. She adores him.
My boys.
Look at those gaps in her teeth! (please come in straight – please come in straight) – that was me praying for her new teeth
My kids have been sick for the past few days. #1 was the sickest I think I have ever seen him. The house was quiet and their little tooshies rarely got up off the couch. Well, today they are feeling about 75% better. They’ve all been bathed. I have tons of laundry to do. We’ve resumed school work. I am hearing laughter again and I have had to referee lots of wrestling already this morning. Their energy is almost through the roof and almost on my nerves. I wish it weren’t so cold out so I could let them run around and get it out.
Early Thursday morning I head to the gym to take a 6 a.m. yoga class. As I walked in I quickly realized, it wasn’t yoga it was my favorite aerobic class – Body Attack. Our normal instructor is out for awhile so the gym brought in a man – to a ALL ladies fitness center – to fill in while she is gone. I seriously wish I had a video to show you of this “manstructor”. The first time he taught my class – I didn’t know if I could make through the entire thing due to the fact I got the giggles and I thought they would never go away. He is SO over the top. He is SO expressive. He says, “AHHHHHHHH” countless times into the mic and I think I am going to lose it every time. He’s very manly but his aerobic charisma is just almost too much. Well he was there completely energized and ready to share a whole new routine to us. I am like yawning walking in and not in the mood to move as much as I know I am about to have to do. The music comes on and here we go. I was sweating during the warm up. By the time we were a quarter of the way through I was exhausted. This guy was wearing us out and competitive part me would not me let up. I had to match his energy. By the end – I was dying – seriously whooped. Later that night, I could already feel the pain in my legs setting in. When I woke the next morning my body hurt all over. I was shocked. I take that class regularly but this time it kicked my butt. My calves hurt just to touch them. My abs hurt when I coughed or laughed. It’s been 4 days since and I still have some soreness.
