Bucket

Here is a list of things I would like to do by the end of the year....a bucket list of sorts.

• Make this bread
• Finish folding chair re-do project
• Make Jam Butter
• Take Pickle to see Santa
• Finish reading this
• Get back into doing yoga at least 3 times a week
• Applesauce for the freezer
• 5 random acts of kindness

Only 8 things I should be able to cover that you would think....

Stay tuned....update in 2014

Dinnertime...

I'm in lacking in posting of the pickle's party (for which I was sicker than a dog) and our recent vacation because I do not have the pictures organized as of yet.   But in the meantime.....

This was a crowd pleaser for both of the boys.  Changes I made to the recipe are in green.

 

recipe here

1 pound ground beef or turkey

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 large yellow onion, diced

1 red or green bell pepper, diced

2-3 cloves garlic, minced

coarse salt and fresh black pepper

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon smoked paprika (used regular)

1 teaspoon oregano, preferably Mexican

1/4 teaspoon cayenne or red pepper flakes, optional

1 (10-ounce) can Ro-tel tomatoes and green chiles 

1 (14 ounce can fire roasted diced tomatoes with juices

1 (14 ounce) can petite diced tomatoes with juices 

1 can corn (could use fresh or frozen as well)

1 can mild green chilies (would use two next time) 

6 ounces elbow macaroni (any pasta will do)

1 + 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, plus more for garnish

coarse salt and fresh black pepper

1. Heat a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned all the way through breaking it apart as it cooks. Remove the beef to a bowl and drain off the grease.
2. Heat the olive oil in the same pan and add the onion, pepper and garlic. Season with salt and pepper. Cook until softened about 6 minutes stirring often. Stir in the spices and cook 1 - 2 minutes
3. Add the ground beef back in along with the Ro-tel and diced tomatoes. Season well with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook 25 minutes, stirring often. Taste and season as needed.
4. After 25 minutes cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain and add to the beef mixture, stir to combine then mix in the cheese. Serve with more cheese on top

You could make this and freeze it before the pasta as well.   I might do that for the future.   Would also use a chicken sausage or different meat next time.   The ground beef was what I had on had and was fine but there was room for improvement there. I also might add some tomato sauce next time for a little more saucyness.  Especially if you make this ahead of time.

Needless to say this made enough for two meals plus some for the freezer.  

Bon Appetite!

Opposites

Yesterday my baby boy turned one - so hard to wrap my head around..

The year has been full of opposites.....

This past year as flown by yet some moments have gone on forever
          Hard to believe my baby is a toddler
          Sometimes I thought the crying would never stop

Times I have felt like a champion and yet others a failure
          J loving the pasta I made for him and getting excited when he sees it
          J not wanting anything I give him and instead is feeding it to the bubba

          Panicking during his first bath when I thought he was choking
          Getting a few more toys to play with in the bath and viola! no more screaming
         

Never have I had so much joy in my life and yet never have I been more exhausted

Never have I had more colds yet never have I had more energy

I wouldn't trade any moment for anything................

Uh oh......

Spaghettios.....

Depending on your age you may or may not be very familiar with our dear chef Boyardee and this lovely concoction......  

image

And when looking for an image I am reminded of the time a rodent was found in a can but I digress....

There were many things I longed for as a small child but did not get which I understand why now and many of these things fall under the catagory of processed foods:   Pop Tarts, Icees, various sugared cerals.......  There also was not a lot of Chef Boyardee in our family cupboard.   And like any child you want what you cannot have and sadly no of my other friends had these things as well so it wasn't like I could go to their house to get them.   Amazingly enough I survived childhood without these things and most of them I will not give to J either.   But when I came across this recipe I just couldn't resist!

 

Recipe found here 

I made this on Sunday and G's response was - that taste exactly like spaghettio's.   Then he proceeded to tell me he wasn't a big fan of them.  Sigh......   Shows he doesn't pay attention when I discuss the week's menu with him.   Needless to say he ate a big whooping portion of it so I guess it all worked out ok.

I pretty much followed the recipe but used ground beef (about a pound) instead of chicken.   This makes enough for a family of 20 growning boys.   Well maybe not exactly but geez it seemed to expand in the pan as I went.   Needless to say plenty for two meals as well as some to go in the freezer for later and it couldn't be any easier to through together.   Bonus was that J had it for dinner Monday night and loved it as well.  Try to ignore the amount of butter and remember there its for a pound of pasta.   You will have left over ranch dressing mix and so I sprinkled that over the califlower and carrots I was roasting in the oven and it was perfect!  Definetly a fall meal with the pasta and veggies straight from the oven.

Bon Appetit! 

And this is why.....

........people have more than one child

We are almost at the year mark and we have survived - we less bumps and bruises than expected for all parties involved.....

At this point you have conquered the big things (in no particular order).......

.......when to switch from the bassinet to the crib

.......first bath

.......introducing solid food

.......sleeping through the night

.......ear infections

........which bottles to use

........diaper rash from h*ll that won't quit

........how to get them to nap

........when to quit swaddling

........how to swaddle

........how to pick a daycare

........leaving them with a babysitter

And then there is also the point you realize that your days of enjoying this are numbered.....

......snuggles with his bottle

That sweet, sweet face sucking away on his bottle all happy and content right up against me where I am  able to kiss his sweet forehead and tell him how much I love him.   Those days are numbered......

......this I am convinced is why people have another.  After all you won't have all the questions the second time.  You will know how to do things and do it with more confidence.   Also, pregnancy would be easier the second time as you would know what was going to happen and what to expect there as well. 

My pickle is not a baby anymore and I'm not sure how that happened....

I know snuggles are not over completely but they will be less in numbers.

I hope for him to be a happy, loving, and compassionate person who will always know how much I love him and that I will always be there for a snuggle....

Truth

here