snow happy

Today we had a winter wonderland hit our city! Though there wasn't as much snow as they predicted last night, we did get quite a bit of ice and periods of pouring snow! Our winter storm definitely ellicted squeals (from me) and lots of jumping up and down and snow dancing from all of us (yep, Chad too)! We're hoping to get more snow tonight, so we can wake up on a Saturday morning, get bundled up and play, play, play!

Introducing. . .

"SPARKY"

As you may know from reading this post a year ago, we have a budding marine biologist in our family. Luke is mesmerized by all animals of the sea! There hasn't been a day for over a year, when he hasn't claimed to be a sea creature, or talked about a sea creature, or read about a sea creature. Our house is filled with books we own about sea animals, books we've checked out from the library about sharks, stuffed sea creature lovies, and buckets filled with sea creature toys! Luke is passionate about ocean animals!

So, imagine his excitement when Great Grandmommy and Great Granddaddy sent him his own aquarium for Christmas! At first, Luke thought it was an aquarium for playing with his sea creature toys. However, once we explained it was for a REAL fish, he was thrilled! We took Luke to peruse some fishies and let him pick out his very first fish! He picked a fish in his favorite color, blue. We gave him a few choices for names, (otherwise our new fish would be named "Fishy" of "Bluey") and Sparky was the winner!

It took quite a while for Sparky to eat, but he seems to be hanging in there now. We had some frigid temps a couple of weeks ago, and Chad and I were quite concerned we might be running back to replace Sparky as he wasn't looking so great. But, he's a fighter so far! Sparky loves attention and he sure gets it! Luke and Charlie are both eager to greet him in the mornings, when we return home from outings and to wish him good nights. Thank you Great Grandmommy and Great Granddaddy for bringing a small part of sea life to our family!

Ginger Mustard Pork Chops

So, like I mentioned last week, I am trying to make a new recipe once a week. Last Monday's meal was a hit! Chad raved about it, I really liked it, and the boys ate it all up too--both of them--even little Charlie who seems to be getting quite opinionated about food! We will definitely be adding this to our meal mix!

Ginger Mustard Pork Chops (from Le Bonheur Club's Key Ingredients) Charlie and Luke give it 2 forks up!

4 (4 oz. 1/2 inch thick) boneless, pork loin chops
2 T. flour
1 T. butter
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
4 tsp. fresh ginger, minced (I used 3)
4 tsp. Dijon mustard
4 tsp. grainy mustard (I use Grey Poupon's Harvest Coarse Ground mustard)
4 green onions
salt and pepper

Dust chops lightly with flour. Melt butter in a large skillet. Add chops and saute over medium-high heat for 2 to 3 minutes per side or until done (because our chops were a little thicker than suggested, I sauted about 5 minutes per side). Remove chops from skillet and keep warm. Add broth to skillet. Increase heat and bring to a boil, scraping up brown bits from bottom of pan. Add ginger and cook, stirring frequently, for 2 minutes. Stir in mustard and onions. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon sauce onto individual serving plates and top with chops! Delicious!!

New recipe Monday

Towards the end of last year (last month), when it came to making dinner, I wasn't motivated. I felt like we kept having the same meals over and over. I seemed to have enough meals that we liked to only rotate over two weeks. Depending on how often you cook, that might sound like a lot, but it isn't! Our meals, while good, were getting boring because we kept having them!

So, I challenged myself (this was still only in my head, and to be told to no one, so I couldn't be held accountable, if I got lazy) to make a new meal a week for the year! And now, after completing 3 Mondays worth of new meals, I'm getting a little confident and feel like this shouldn't be too much of a challenge. So not only have I shared my secret challenge with you, but I will share the recipes I use too! This way you can, in fact, hold me accountable, and you can use these recipes to spice up your meal plan! Do feel free to add any recipes you love in the comment section, if you know, you are feeling generous! I may be begging some of you for new recipes, anyway! My cookbooks my get worn out---it's tough for a girl who doesn't eat cheese to find many recipes to use!

On with the Monday recipe. . .Last week I made fajitas (Chad's request for his birthday). I've never made them before, but remembered having a recipe from my friend Staci. They were delicious!! Enjoy!

Fajitas --Kiddo rating--Luke and Charlie both gave it 2 forks up!
4-6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 cup medium onion, sliced 1/8 inch
1/2 c. red bell pepper, sliced 1/8 inch (I also used green bell peppers)
2 fresh jalapeno peppers
1/4 c. lemon or lime juice (I used lime)
2 T. Canola oil
2 T. Worcestershire or soy sauce (I used Worcestershire)
1/2 tsp. cumin, ground
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. oregano, dried
salt and pepper

Trim the chicken of fat and cut into long 1/8 slices. Combine all ingredients, except the chicken, in a bowl and mix well. Place chicken in the sauce (in the bowl, or add to a ziploc bag). Refrigerate at least one hour (I did for 4 hours). Cook on the grill or in a skillet until cooked through!

Get a guacamole recipe, some chips and enjoy!

daydreaming

While it's only January, I'm already thinking ahead to July. Daydreaming about it, actually! You may be thinking, "Who isn't?" but normally I wouldn't already be thinking of summer, because I am a winter girl! Love the cold, love the snow, love being bundled up, etc. etc. Even Lukey asked me yesterday while driving in the car (the most profound and random thoughts often come out in the car), "Mommy, since I love the winter, am I a winter boy like you are a winter girl?" I told him if he loves winter and wants to be a winter boy, then great! He asked, "Does that mean I'm not a summer boy?" I told him he can still be a summer boy too, because it's fun to swim in pools, play outside, etc. He was satisfied and then said, "I can be both because when I jump into a pool in the summer it makes me cold and I like cold, like the winter!" Ahhhh, if everything was that easy to figure out!!

I digress. . .so back to me daydreaming about summer. If it's not because I am tired of the cold, then why is it?? Wellllll, July 8th (write it down people) is our 10th anniversary!!!! I'm so excited--it just seems like a special mark to reach. Not that year 9 wasn't or that 11 won't be, but you know what I mean, right?

So, we've been trying to think of somewhere fun and romantic to go. We kind of need to get on this and get some plans in the works. Here's where you come in. . .I'm asking for thoughts on the subject. Where have you been that is fantastic, or for your 10th, or where do you dream of going?? Suggest away and I'll keep you posted when we make our big decision!

on this particularly cold day. . .

I'm feeling warm and snuggly and happy! The boys and I have not dared to venture out in the negative degree windchills and I thought we might go stir crazy as the day started! However, we've played with Play-Doh, colored, had numerous boat and underwater sea adventures (thanks to Luke's amazing imagination) and watched some lingering snow flurries. But our favorite thing we've done today has been making homemade chocolate chip cookies!

And, because I'm feeling so warm and snuggly and happy, I thought I'd share our secret recipe with you. You are welcome! But first, enjoy the pictures and when you are done wiping up your drool, go bake some deliciousness!

First, you have to dump in the secret ingredient. . .

What is the secret ingredient? Charlie is all smiles and wanting to tell you. . .

Then, you add some more goodies. . .

but don't get impatient like Charlie did. Pretzels are NOT as good!! These cookies are worth the wait!

Stir the yummy batter and eat some for good measure. . .

then roll the dough into balls, and maybe pop another into your mouth. . .

Bake at 375 and voial!!

10-12 minutes later your cookies are done and ready to be devoured with a glass of milk!

Lindley's homemade chocolate chip cookies
1 package of Duncan Hines Deluxe white cake mix
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate morsels
3/4 cup oil
1 egg
Preheat oven to 375. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. Bake for 10-12 minutes! **** If you are used to soft and chewy cookies--these are not them. They have a crumble to them, making them unique, but SO yummy!

the worth of a book. . .

The worth of a book is to be measured by what you can carry away from it.

~James Bryce

As 2009 came to a close, I found myself reflecting about my year, probably like many of you did. In fact, while Chad and I were having yummy appetizers on our New Year's Eve date night (thanks Mom and Dad), we talked about some of the highs (so many) and lows (we've had these too) of 2009. We talked about different words that described 2009 and our "key"words, rather than resolutions, we have chosen for 2010.

And, because illuminate is my word for the year, I began making a list of some of the books I hope to read this year and reflected on two of my favorite books I read last year.

My Top 2 Favorite Books that I read last year were. . .

The Help, by Kathryn Stockett

and . . .

A Thousand Splended Suns by Khaled Hosseini

Now, I could review these books for you, but I wouldn't do them justice. If you haven't read them, I suggest you just read reviews at amazon.com and know that I highly recommend them! Both books are completely different, but full of love, courage, heartache, drama, humor--everything that makes me unable to put a book down! Incredible!

Two of the books highest on my list to read in 2010 are. . .

Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss

and . . .

Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson

I'd love to hear if you have read any of these books and what you thought! I'd also love to see what is on your "must read list" for 2010! Do share and tell me what to add to my list!