Recipes

I love when people post recipes on their blogs. I don't know about you but if you're anything like me thinking of a different meal to cook my family everynight is one of my biggest challenges. Yesterday Oprah's guest gave a cooking lesson where she made TWO roasted chickens (you can buy the already made ones if you'd like) and made three meals for a family four. What was even better, each one was different and could be frozen if your family complains of too much chicken that week!

Here's the Roasted Chicken recipe:

Roasted Chicken:


2 chickens , 4 1/2 to 5 pounds each
6 lemons
A poultry mix of fresh herbs: Rosemary, sage, thyme, parsley and oregano work well
Marinade for one chicken:


1 cup Dijon mustard
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup juice from fresh lemon (don't discard lemon rinds)
To make marinade: Place all ingredients in a nonreactive bowl. Whisk with a wire whisk until ingredients are incorporated well—the marinade should have a smooth and creamy consistency.

To make roasted chicken: Preheat oven to 425°.

Clean chickens well and pat dry. Place each chicken in its own baking dish.

Stuff cavities with lemon rinds and fresh herbs. A poultry mix is fine, usually consisting of rosemary, sage, thyme, parsley and oregano.

Pour marinade over chicken. Add cracked pepper and remaining herbs to the top of each chicken.

Place an oven thermometer in each chicken and cover with aluminum foil. Place on the lower rack of the oven. Bake for 1 1/2 hours, then remove the aluminum foil. Baste with a basting bulb. Keep basting often, ever 15 minutes until the thermometer reads 180°.

And here are the three recipes (links to them)

Chicken Enchiladas

Pesto Pasta with Roasted Chicken

Chicken Pot Pie w/CornBread Crust (sounds fattening but it's not too bad!)

And here's a Chicken Tortilla Soup that she didn't make on the show but sounds delish

Feel like chicken tonight? :)

Pumpkin Patch

Yesterday Brian and I took Livi to the Pumpkin Patch and she was pretty much in heaven surrounded by all those "bahs" as she calls them. She REALLY loves pumpkins for some reason and notices them whereever we go...on our walks, driving by people's homes, and the huge displays at Safeway. Her eyes were huge as you will see below!







I am just loving experiencing all these "firsts" with my little girl!

Dancing Fools

Here's a video I took (the wrong way again - I always have my camera long ways!) the other day of Liv and her bud Sawyer dancing. Cortney and I were dying of laughter...ok, I guess it's really funny to us since we're their moms but you'll get a chuckle too! OH and pardon the song, my iPod was on shuffle and that was what came up!

Fall Fun

I love Fall...the leaves, the hot drinks, and football! Growing up a So Cal kid I have vivid memories of perusing pumpkin patches with my shorts on and longing for cooler weather! Washington is a wonder in these months. I love it! Sure, in January I'll be dreaming of the California sunshine but for now I'll bask in the perfectness of the low 60s, grab a latte, put on my puffy vest and stomp some leaves with Livi!

Here are some pictures we took in our backyard this weekend!

I'm so over this Election...

and apparently so is this guy!! This is funny.

Happy Birthday Mom and Shannon!

First to my mom:

Happy Birthday Mom! Thank you for always being there for me! You always show up when I need you most. You are a godly woman, the best wife, mom and grandma and someone everyone loves to be around. I look forward to our talks everyday. I miss you so much and I hope you have a great time this week in Florida visiting Shannon!

Shannon,

I know our visits are too few and far between. We live at opposite corners of the country but you are never that far in my heart. I admire your dedication as a mom. You are such a hard worker and always putting others needs before your own. I miss you and promise we will come visit soon!

Love you both!! Happy Birthdays!

I Always Fall For These!!

35 Things about ME

I pulled this from Julie's blog - one of my faves!!

1. Do you like blue cheese salad dressing? yes, but not as much as my husband does

2. Do you own a gun? I do not

3. What's your favorite drink at Starbucks? this time of year, Pumpkin Spice all the way!!
4. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? coffee

5. Do you do pushups? not in a really long time

6. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? My wedding ring.

7. Favorite hobby? blogging, walking with Livi

8. Do you have A.D.D? No only room for one of those in our family!

9. What's one trait that you hate about yourself? Procastination and doubting my decisions and abilities

10. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment: I wish Brian was coming home tonight, How do John and Kate raise eight, I wish I was out with the girls tonight celebrating Tricia's birthday

11. Name 4 drinks you regularly drink. coffee, crystal light, wine - c'mon, I live in Wine Country, iced pomegranate raspberry green tea with a pump of raspberry syrup

12. Current worry right now? the next president

13. Current hate right now? the coming winter

14. Favorite place to be? my bed after a long day :)

15. Do you like to travel? Yes, I did more before I had a child!

16. What color shirt are you wearing? hot pink

17. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? yes!

18. Can you whistle? yes, but the sound is like nails on a chalkboard to me

19. Favorite color? brown

20. If you could would you be a pirate? Yes!! but, only for the fashion...i think an eye patch could look fierce!

21. What song do you sing in the shower? I'm usually talking to Liv who is in her pack n play or just enjoying the minutes of silence

22. Favorite girl's name? Olivia, my runners up were Meredith or Mallory

23. Favorite boy's name? Jonah, Reed, or Dane

24. What's in your pocket right now? no pockets, still in my workout clothes!

25. Favorite bedsheets as a child? Strawberry Shortcake

26. Worst injury? a sharp cupboard handle going through my knee...still have the scar

27. Do you love where you live? learning to love it more and more

28. How many TVs do you have in your house? 3

29. Who is your loudest friend? Hollie Gorsh - HOOOOOLLLLLLAAA!!

30. How many pets do you have? zero

31. Does someone have a crush on you? Hopefully my husband does.

32. What is your Favorite Book? The Bible

33. What's your favorite candy? peach rings (me too Julie!) and Milk Duds at the Movies

34. Favorite Sports Team? USC Trojans - Fight On!!! And now, the WSU Cougars - Go Cougs!!

35. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up? COFFEE!!!!!!!!!!!