Two months...

While busy with daily life and working on getting a house for our family time was flying by...
Today February 5th marks two months left before Dan leaves for training and then is overseas for his deployment.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Grandpa!
Happy Birthday Dad!
Hope you have a great day!

Life

Remember when I told you one of my top favorite television show is Life on NBC back on tonight with all new episodes. Finally...

And I am going to miss it. I will be enjoy a mom/women night out playing with glass at a glass fusing studio! I'll take my camera to post about it tomorrow.

Have a wonderful evening everyone!

Finally things are moving along and hopefully we'll soon be moving ourselves...
We got our appraisal and we'll have $4,000 instant equity- Whoo hoo!
All the paperwork is done except for the last review and soon we should close and move! We're hoping to move next weekend so wish us the best with that.

[Cyrus drew the above picture- it is our house with rain falling on it- we do live in Oregon- Dan is playing a video game with Solomon inside the house and the big creature in the middle is "Iggy" our pet lizard. Apparently Cyrus and I are going on an errand- probably to the grocery store where Cyrus can try to get a treat]

In other sort-of-related-news we are not getting a tax refund so gift certificates for paint, IKEA, toilet, and Best Buy [where we plan on getting our fridge and dishwasher] would make lovely housewarming gifts *hint hint* For more exciting news we won't be able to get our big dining table until next year so the boys are excited about the big empty dining room to play in the meantime...


Another picture of the house by Cyrus but with a sun shinning this time. Once again Solomon and Dan are home while Cyrus and I are going somewhere- is Cyrus trying to tell me something??? Do I always take him on my errands?

Monday Menu Plan

Monday (tonight): Since Pasta has been such a big hit we're having pasta noodles with a meat sauce and salad.

Tuesday: Fish, wild rice, and sweet potato fries [although baked and not fried]

Wednesday: Curried Sweet Potato Soup for lunch and leftover. Marinated Flank Steak, Carmelized Onions and Cheddar Quesadillas with rice and beans for dinner.

Thursday: Continuing on with my Mexican food craving is Shredded Pork or Beef Taquitos, with coleslaw, rice and beans.

Friday: Leftover shredded pork or beef with Corn Fritters

Saturday: Leftovers

Sunday: Chicken, broccoli or cauliflower [depending on grocery store prices] stir fry with peanut sauce over rice...

As always, more recipes and menu ideas over at Organizing Junkie!

Superbowl

Hope everyone had a great time watching the Superbowl...

Like a girl I was cheering on the pretty little red birdies... The Cardinals came so close to wining- I wish they had.

Dan worked yesterday so the boys and I started watching it together then during halftime- Dan came home and we drove over to friends' house where my camera didn't take pictures of their cute baby but here is one of Cyrus giving the dog some tummy rubbin' ...

Happy National Chocolate Cake Day

Yep- there really is a National Chocolate Cake Day and that is today!

I made Beatty's Chocolate Cake by Barefoot Contessa but used marshmellow creme for the frosting. The cake was moist and very good but only one layer of marshmellow creme should have been used and maybe a dusting of powdered sugar on top. Amazingly baking a chocolate cake makes me a hero to the boys...

Monday Menu Plan

After a trial of keeping food post separate from this blog it got to be too much work so *drumroll* Please welcome back Menu Mondays and recipes here!!!

If you want to see last week's go here! I made some changes- we ate out Friday night at a fish place, had Turkey soup Saturday, and never made the Bourbon Beef Noodle bowl even though it sounds so good!

Monday [today]: Quiche [Bacon, onions, bell peppers, and spinach...]

Tuesday: Whole roasted chicken, carrots, and bread

Wednesday: Leftover chicken into a Chicken and Dumpling soup

Thursday: Homemade pizza [Have I mentioned my wonderful father-in-law got me a Pizza Baking Stone so I can make my own bread and pizza crust!- I am just delighted]

Friday: The fabulous Chicken Carbonara Pasta that I made last week that got rave reviews from all the boys.

Recipe Spotlight: Chicken Carbonara [courtesy of Cuinsine at Home special Pasta edition]

Bread Crumb Topping:
Toast in 2 T Olive oil-
1 c. fresh bread crumbs [I used a packaged of bread crumbs from Trader Joe's]
1/2 c. walnuts, chopped
2 Tablespoon fresh parsley
2 teaspoon lemon zest

For the Carbonara:
Saute and Drain-
1/2 lb diced thick-sliced bacon
Add and Saute-
1 lb chicken tenders, seasoned with salt and pepper [I used cut up chicken breast and seasoned with Trader Joe's 21 Seasoning]
1 t garlic, minced
Deglazed with-
1/2 c. dry white wine
1 T fresh lemon juice

Cook-
3/4 lb dry spaghetti [NOT the whole 1 lb package!]

Whisk together-
3 eggs
1 c. frozen peas [I ran mine under warm water as Trader Joe had these HUGE peas in their frozen section]
1/2 c. Parmesan cheese shredded
1/4 c. heavy cream
Toss with-
Sauteed chicken
Reserved bacon pieces
Hot cooked spaghetti
Garnish with-
Bread crumb topping

Large pot of salted water to a boil for the spaghetti.
Toast bread crumbs and walnuts in oil in saute pan then toss with parsley and zest. Set aside.
Saute bacon in large pan until crisp. Remove cooked bacon to towel lined plate and remove all but one 1T in drippings.
Add chicken to the pan and saute over med-high heat until cook through and add garlic. Then deglaze with wine and lemon juice, reduce until nearly evaporated [3-4 mins]. If you don't have wine on hand, chicken stock would be a good substitute.
Cook spaghetti according to package directions.
Whisk eggs, peas, Parmesan, and cream together in a large bowl. Add the just cooked and hot spaghetti and toss- the heat of the noodles will cook the sauce. Add chicken and reserved bacon. Garnish with the lovely bread crumb mixture.
Enjoy! [This week I'll be sure to take a picture!]


As always- more menu ideas are found at Organizing Junkie

Swimming lessons

Cyrus enjoyed his first swimming lesson. He'll be swimming Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoons for two weeks.