February Roundup

• Firsts

James is walking with a push toy. It only took a few days for him to master the skill and he's fast!

We also had the mother of all thunderstorms one night this month. I don't ever remember a big storm like that in February. The weather has been very strange, unseasonably warm and we're loving it. 

Catherine had her first Little Debbie cake. Healthy; no. Delicious and priceless watching her eat it; absolutely.

JM first Valentine's Day. It was fun because C was excited about it this year, and she made special valentine's to send to family.

• New Food

I made change your life chicken from a blog I "follow". I actually only occasionally glance at my blogs lately. I just don't have time. J has been gone a lot this month and we're all ending the month with a bad cold virus. Anyway, the chicken didn't change anyones life but it was easy and good.

Recipe: 

• chicken thighs with the bone and the skin
• two handfuls of vegetables per person
• olive oil, salt, and pepper

1. Preheat the oven to 500 degrees.
2. Line a baking sheet with heavy duty foil. Your pan needs to hold your vegetables comfortably - not too close together, not too far apart. Heavy duty is less likely to tear, i.e. to get dirty from chicken grease.
3. Cut your vegetables, and toss with olive oil, more salt than you think you need, and black pepper. These are the sizes to go for: large bite-sized. Carrots take the longest, so make those thinner than the rest. Consider cooking speeds with the vegetables you choose. Green beans don't need cutting, so those get tossed with the rest.
4. Peel the skin back from the chicken. You want to generously season both sides of the chicken with salt and pepper, but you want to season under the skin. So pull back the skin, season, and fold the skin back over.
5. Pat the chicken skin dry with a wad of paper towels. This is how you get magic crusty chicken skin. The best order is to place the chicken skin side down on the vegetables, season, flip, pull back the skin, season, put the skin back, and pat dry.
6. Place the chicken skin side up directly on top of the vegetables. Here's what happens: the fat from the chicken skin will seep into the vegetables underneath, imparting flavor and moisture while the exposed vegetables get a tiny bit charred.
7. Bake at 500 degrees for 50 minutes. 

• Latest Reads

I finished Upstairs at the White House: My Life with the First Ladies by J.B. West. Excellent!

I also read You Learn by Living by Eleanor Roosevelt. Good; there are very wise and wonderful bits, and others a bit cliche and repetitive. 

And Last Train to Istanbul by Ayse Kulin. This was more intense than I anticipated. It also took a little getting used to because it's translated into English. The writing isn't brilliant, but I'm certain it has to do with the translation. The story is engrossing.

I'm currently reading 2 different books: Pride and Prejudice, the audio book version read by Rosemund Pike which is truly superb. Also, finally reading Blue Like Jazz (it's been on my 'to read list' forever) which is brilliant, convicting, and hysterical. 

C unearthed Goodnight Mr. Darcy from our home library and we've been reading that a lot. JM is also enamored with The Wheels on the Bus Raffi board book that we have. I got several Sandra Boyton books out of the library this month and C really loves them. We've read The Going to Bed Book before, a new favorite of hers is Happy Hippo, Angry Duck. 

• The Good

C and JM went to their first super bowl party. C was super excited! JM, not so much but he was surprisingly social during the whole event. 

Valentine's Day, or I Love You Day. I went and got donuts and we delivered flowers to Amanda and I got chocolate strawberries from J. It was a fun day.

We survived J being gone a lot this month, like a whole lot. And we have a pantry full of food and beer from Belgium and Germany now. 

I also had a nice birthday complete with a cake from my favorite bakery back home, new tea, books, balloons. My sweet neighbor Amanda and her daughter made a delicious dinner for me and came over to celebrate since J was gone on the day of.

• The Bad

So sick. We have been dropping like flies. A virus that started with a fever, then morphed into a horrific cough and cold and sorta has ended with a rash. Except the kids are still coughing. I say ended because after a week we've finally gotten back to James sleeping at night.

• Visitors

My childhood friend, her son and my Momma made the road trip over for my birthday this month! 

• Favorite Photos
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

January Roundup

• Firsts

We had our first snow, not just of 2017 but of the winter. What a huge change from ND. C was ecstatic. It snowed again later in the month, but that one melted by lunchtime.

JM was given some of his sisters chocolate chip cookie, a new food for him! He also got his first little cheese pizza, made with lots of love by C. He LOVES pizza. 

• New Food

Tried a new chicken Parmesan recipe from the Pioneer Woman. It's lighter and in her 16 minute meals collection. Everyone here liked it.

Recipe:

Ingredients

One 24-ounce jar good-quality marinara sauce
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 large egg whites, lightly beaten
1 1/2 pounds chicken tenders
12 ounces whole-wheat angel hair pasta
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup shredded fresh mozzarella

Directions

Preheat the broiler to medium. Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
Combine the marinara sauce and balsamic vinegar in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a shallow dish, combine the breadcrumbs, half the Parmesan, half the parsley and some salt and pepper. Put the beaten egg whites in a separate shallow dish. Coat the chicken tenders in the egg whites first, then dredge in the breadcrumb mixture.
Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook according to the package instructions.
Heat the oil in a large ovenproof nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook, turning once, until golden, about 3 minutes per side. Pour the tomato sauce over the chicken, scatter the mozzarella and remaining Parmesan evenly over top and broil until the cheese is melted and bubbly, about 2 minutes.
Drain the pasta. Serve with the chicken and garnish with the remaining parsley.
Recipe courtesy of Ree Drummond

• Latest Reads

This month I read Persuasion by Jane Austen and Gilead by Marilynne Robinson. I started Upstairs at the White House: My Life with the First Ladies by J.B. West. I'd forgotten how much I really love Persuasion; I had a hard time putting it down. 5 stars. Gilead was 4 stars; very good but a different type of writing. Very rambling and slow paced in a good way and on purpose. I loved Upstairs as soon as I started it...  I also started a new devotional this year. The Songs of Jesus by Timothy Keller. Thanks Mom, I love it!

The kids have been reading a lot as well. I discovered there are Little House on the Prarie books for toddlers! C loved the one I borrowed from the library. She also is into Peppa Pig, Little Critter, and Elephant and Piggy. JM likes the BabyLit board book, particularly Sherlock Holms, the Usborn touchy feely books, and anything you sing (ie. The Wheels on the Bus book).

• The Good

The kids latest game is "race". JM gets in his walker and C rides her elephant and they chase each other around the house howling and laughing like banshees. C hates it when JM is upset or cries; she fake laughs her heart out in an attempt to get him to smile. 

• The Bad

JM continues his erratic and not great night sleep. C has been cutting her 2 year molars and added a night of not sleeping in this month as well. She's also been in quite a defiant and limit testing mood. I love my kids, but I could use an unbroken nights sleep and a little (a lot) less attitude. 

• Visitors

Grandma Cathy came to help me during my no-lifting the kids weeks in early January. 

• Favorite Photos