Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Jason Rolling Over at 11 weeks old
Jason has been rolling over from his tummy to his back since the second week of his life. We thought it was a fluke because he took a couple of weeks off, but now he is right back at it, rolling over anytime we place him on his tummy.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
St. Patricks Day
One tradition I have carried into our marriage is the celebration of St. Patricks Day. My family has celebrated St. Patricks Day as long as I can remember. We are pretty serious about it...the option is wear green OR get pinched! No sooner had I walked out of the room with Jason in our pajamas than my 5 year old niece was pinching us because we didn't have green on yet. I asked her "what if we have on green undies and you just can't see them?" She wasn't buying that explanation. :) We always have on something green, and we always have corned beef, cabbage, carrots and potatoes for dinner. This year my sister even made green noodles for lunch (spinach pesto with pasta).
I should add that we celebrate the day because we are part Irish. We don't just celebrate it as an excuse to drink green beer.
Michigan
A few weeks ago we made the decision to take a quick trip to Michigan to introduce Jason to my family there. It was a great decision and a wonderful trip! We love road trips, but we were slightly concerned that Jason might not love them as much as we do. He did so well the entire time! When he wasn't sleeping he was talking away to his little friends hanging from his car seat. We are certainly blessed to have such a happy, sweet baby.
It was fun to see my oldest siblings and their families, and I loved getting to introduce Jason to them. He got lots of snuggles for sure! We celebrated our Irish heritage with 2 different meals of corned beef, cabbage, potatoes and carrots...YUM!! We basically sat around and visited the entire time and ate lots of delicious food. We also enjoyed a visit from my best friend Andrea while we were there. I wish we lived MUCH closer to Andrea, she is really a great friend, and I miss her so much. It was great to see her again, and have her meet our little man. I would sum the trip up as short and sweet, and I am thankful the Lord gave us the opportunity to go up there.
In other news, well...there isn't much other news. Aaron is playing on a DTC softball league, I am playing Bunco once a month with DTC wives, Jason and I are doing BSF each week, and we are all enjoying all this beautiful weather.
It was fun to see my oldest siblings and their families, and I loved getting to introduce Jason to them. He got lots of snuggles for sure! We celebrated our Irish heritage with 2 different meals of corned beef, cabbage, potatoes and carrots...YUM!! We basically sat around and visited the entire time and ate lots of delicious food. We also enjoyed a visit from my best friend Andrea while we were there. I wish we lived MUCH closer to Andrea, she is really a great friend, and I miss her so much. It was great to see her again, and have her meet our little man. I would sum the trip up as short and sweet, and I am thankful the Lord gave us the opportunity to go up there.
In other news, well...there isn't much other news. Aaron is playing on a DTC softball league, I am playing Bunco once a month with DTC wives, Jason and I are doing BSF each week, and we are all enjoying all this beautiful weather.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
The remaining 4 of my top 5 favorite foods
For you Kim. : )
#1. World's Best Lasagna (Lasagna has always been my favorite, it is what I choose for dinner on my birthday.)
1lb. ground beef
1/2 c. chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 (28 oz.) can crushed tomatoes
2 (6oz.) cans tomato sauce
2 (6oz.) cans tomato paste
1/2 c. water
2 tbls. white sugar
1-1/2 tsp. dried basil
1 tsp. italian seasoning
1 tbls. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
4 tbls. fresh parsley, chopped & divided
12 lasagna noodles
16 oz. ricotta cheese
1 egg
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 lb. mozzerella cheese
1 c. parmesan cheese
Directions
1.) In large saucepan cook ground beef, onion and garlic. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce and water. Season with sugar, basil, italian seasoning, salt, pepper and 2tbls. parsley. Simmer covered for about 1-1/2 hours, stirring occassionally.
2.) In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese with egg, remaining parsley and 1/2 tsp. of salt.
3.) To assemble, spread 1-1/2 c. meat mixture in bottom of greased 9x13" baking dish. Arrange 6 noodles over meat sauce. Spread half of ricotta cheese mixture over the noodles. Top with 1/3 of the mozzerella, and 1/3 of the parmesan cheese. Repeat Layers. Finally, spread remaining meat mixture over the cheeses. Top with remaining cheeses. Cover with foil.
4.) Bake at 375 degrees for 30-45 minutes (until heated through.) Cool for 15 minutes before serving.
NOTE: I spray the foil with cooking spray to prevent the cheese from sticking to it.
#2. Wet Burritos
2-6oz. cans tomato paste
3-1/2 c. warm water
1 packet burrito seasoning
2tbls. taco seasoning
-Mix together in a medium bowl
3 lbs. ground beef
1 can refried beans
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 c. of above sauce
-Brown the meat and add the remaining ingredients.
6-8 flour tortillas
Cheddar cheese
To assemble:
Put 1/2 c. meat mixture into each tortilla. Sprinkle desired amount of cheese into each tortilla, then roll up and place in a greased 9x13" pan. (You may need more than 1 pan.) Pour sauce over the burritos and sprinkle with cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes, or until cheese is melted.
Serve with sour cream and salsa if desired.
#3. Lone Star Roast
Chuck Roast (1-1/2 lbs. approx.)
1 can rotel tomatoes
2 tbls. taco seasoning
2 tsp. beef boullion granules
1 tsp. sugar
Directions:
Brown the roast on all sides in vegetable oil. Place in crockpot, on low. Mix remaining ingredients together and pour over the roast. Cook 3-4 hours on low in crockpot. (The time may be more or less depending on how hot your crockpot cooks.)
Serve over rice.
#4. Marinated Pork Chops
3/4 c. vegetable oil
1/3 c. soy sauce
1/4 c. white vinegar
2 tbls. worcestershire sauce
1 tbls. lemon juice
1 tbls. prepared mustard
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. dried parsley flakes
2 garlic cloves, minced
6 boneless pork chops
Directions:
Mix all ingredients together in a plastic ziplock bag. Add the pork chops and marinate 6-8 hours. Drain and discard the marinade. Place pork chops in a greased baking dish. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes, or until juices run clear.
The White Chicken Chili replaced Breaded Chicken Breasts as #5. So as an added bonus, I will include that recipe also.
#6. Breaded Chicken Breasts
3/4 c. dried bread crumbs
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
4-1/2 tsp. fresh parsley, minced
3/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/3 c. butter, melted
3 tbls. lemon juice
2 garlic cloves, minced
6 boneless skinless chicken breasts
paprika
Directions:
In a shallow bowl, combine the bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, parsley, salt and pepper. In another shallow bowl, combine the butter, lemon juice and garlic. Dip chicken in the butter mixture and then roll in the crumb mixture. Place chicken in a greased baking dish and sprinkle with paprika. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 35 minutes, or until juices run clear.
I hope you enjoy them as much as we do if you decide to try them out.
#1. World's Best Lasagna (Lasagna has always been my favorite, it is what I choose for dinner on my birthday.)
1lb. ground beef
1/2 c. chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 (28 oz.) can crushed tomatoes
2 (6oz.) cans tomato sauce
2 (6oz.) cans tomato paste
1/2 c. water
2 tbls. white sugar
1-1/2 tsp. dried basil
1 tsp. italian seasoning
1 tbls. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
4 tbls. fresh parsley, chopped & divided
12 lasagna noodles
16 oz. ricotta cheese
1 egg
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 lb. mozzerella cheese
1 c. parmesan cheese
Directions
1.) In large saucepan cook ground beef, onion and garlic. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce and water. Season with sugar, basil, italian seasoning, salt, pepper and 2tbls. parsley. Simmer covered for about 1-1/2 hours, stirring occassionally.
2.) In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese with egg, remaining parsley and 1/2 tsp. of salt.
3.) To assemble, spread 1-1/2 c. meat mixture in bottom of greased 9x13" baking dish. Arrange 6 noodles over meat sauce. Spread half of ricotta cheese mixture over the noodles. Top with 1/3 of the mozzerella, and 1/3 of the parmesan cheese. Repeat Layers. Finally, spread remaining meat mixture over the cheeses. Top with remaining cheeses. Cover with foil.
4.) Bake at 375 degrees for 30-45 minutes (until heated through.) Cool for 15 minutes before serving.
NOTE: I spray the foil with cooking spray to prevent the cheese from sticking to it.
#2. Wet Burritos
2-6oz. cans tomato paste
3-1/2 c. warm water
1 packet burrito seasoning
2tbls. taco seasoning
-Mix together in a medium bowl
3 lbs. ground beef
1 can refried beans
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 c. of above sauce
-Brown the meat and add the remaining ingredients.
6-8 flour tortillas
Cheddar cheese
To assemble:
Put 1/2 c. meat mixture into each tortilla. Sprinkle desired amount of cheese into each tortilla, then roll up and place in a greased 9x13" pan. (You may need more than 1 pan.) Pour sauce over the burritos and sprinkle with cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes, or until cheese is melted.
Serve with sour cream and salsa if desired.
#3. Lone Star Roast
Chuck Roast (1-1/2 lbs. approx.)
1 can rotel tomatoes
2 tbls. taco seasoning
2 tsp. beef boullion granules
1 tsp. sugar
Directions:
Brown the roast on all sides in vegetable oil. Place in crockpot, on low. Mix remaining ingredients together and pour over the roast. Cook 3-4 hours on low in crockpot. (The time may be more or less depending on how hot your crockpot cooks.)
Serve over rice.
#4. Marinated Pork Chops
3/4 c. vegetable oil
1/3 c. soy sauce
1/4 c. white vinegar
2 tbls. worcestershire sauce
1 tbls. lemon juice
1 tbls. prepared mustard
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. dried parsley flakes
2 garlic cloves, minced
6 boneless pork chops
Directions:
Mix all ingredients together in a plastic ziplock bag. Add the pork chops and marinate 6-8 hours. Drain and discard the marinade. Place pork chops in a greased baking dish. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes, or until juices run clear.
The White Chicken Chili replaced Breaded Chicken Breasts as #5. So as an added bonus, I will include that recipe also.
#6. Breaded Chicken Breasts
3/4 c. dried bread crumbs
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
4-1/2 tsp. fresh parsley, minced
3/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/3 c. butter, melted
3 tbls. lemon juice
2 garlic cloves, minced
6 boneless skinless chicken breasts
paprika
Directions:
In a shallow bowl, combine the bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, parsley, salt and pepper. In another shallow bowl, combine the butter, lemon juice and garlic. Dip chicken in the butter mixture and then roll in the crumb mixture. Place chicken in a greased baking dish and sprinkle with paprika. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 35 minutes, or until juices run clear.
I hope you enjoy them as much as we do if you decide to try them out.
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