This will probably be the shortest, most boring blog post ever. I'm totally ok with this.
The morning went off exactly like every other morning; I didn't get to see Oliver again, I haven't seen him once this week and it's really starting to suck. Bo dropped him off at daycare and I headed off to work with hopes that we'd have grass in the back yard when I got home.
Work was nice and easy today, I didn't have a lot of work to do and was in a meeting at 10, which turned into a work lunch at 12:30, so really I didn't look at anything until 2. I headed out the door at 4 at usual and picked Oliver up at 5:15.
When I got there Kris told me that Oliver had just started to act a little fussy, and that she figured he was getting hungry but she didn't want to give him a bottle and ruin his dinner. Perfect! Bo had a meeting at 3 in London tonight so he was going to be late anyway. I totally cheated tonight though. I was just exhausted feeling, so Oliver and I stopped at Sobey's and picked up half a chicken for his dinner (ok, so I helped a little bit). He sat in his chair in the office and ate with me while I talked to Jen (her and Alex got back from Europe on Monday!) and emailed her the photography tutorial that I found.
Oliver started to get really fussy because he was tired, so I cleaned him up and then we headed upstairs so that he could eat his bottle and relax. He was asleep in seconds, and I mean REALLY asleep. Bo called at 6:00 to say that he was just leaving, then he let me go so that I could take a nap with Oliver (I was exhausted too). I slept until Bo was 20 minutes from home and he called so that I could order us a pizza for dinner (we were supposed to have turkey parm but I was just too tired after a week of getting ready for the appraiser, Hank, to come on Friday). Between ordering the pizza and Bo getting home with it I did tidy up the kitchen, empty the dishwasher, fold the laundry, organize the towels and organize our bedroom.
We ate dinner fairly quickly, and while Oliver briefly woke up to have a few bites of Daddy's pizza and a couple swigs of milk, it wasn't long before Bo was getting him in his pj's and into the crib. I quickly fluffed up the couch and tided up Oliver's toys, and then it was off to bed for both of us. All day I felt like it was Friday, so I'm a little concerned about how tomorrow will go.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Glazed Roast Peameal Bacon, Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Sweet Carrots
You all may think, my god, could that roast be any sweater???
Well, no, probably not, but it's only the outer crust that is coated with sweet carmel goodness, so it's really not that much when you eat it. Unless you're like me and hog both the ends. Yumm! I also pour the meat sauce over my mashed potatoes, it's heaven!
Glazed Peameal Bacon
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Bake Time: 45 minutes to 1 hour
Serves: varies depending on size of the roast, expect three ¼" slices per adult.
Ingredients:
1 peameal bacon roast
2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup orange juice
2 tsp ground mustard
Directions:
1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
2. Place your roast in an oven proof baking dish (yeah corning ware!), making sure that it's big enough to leave 1 or 2 inches around the roast.
3. In a small bowl mix together 1 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup orange juice, and 1 tsp of ground mustard. Pour this over the top of the roast, then put the roast in the oven. Use a turkey baster to baste the meat every 15 minutes.
4. When the roast reaches 110 degrees (about 30 minutes into cooking) mix together the rest of the glaze (1 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup orange juice and 1 tsp ground mustard). Use this to bast the meat with every 10 minutes until it's finished cooking (the internal temperature is 170 degrees)
5. Remove the roast from the pan and let rest for 15 minutes, tented with foil. Pour and of the juices back into the pan with the glaze "sauce" and use to pour over the meat if that floats your boat.
Enjoy!
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Serves: 4
Ingredients:
6 large russet potatoes, peeled and cut into large chucks (the size of a golf ball)
1/4 cup sour cream
1/8 cup milk
1/4 cup butter
2 large garlic cloves, minced or pressed
2 tbl grated Parmesan cheese
salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
1. Place potato chunks into a large pout and cover with water.
2. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook until fork tender, about 10 minutes.
3. Drain the potatoes in a colander.
4. Use a potato ricer with fine holes, and rice the potatoes back into the pot (not over any heat). If you don't have a potato ricer, just put them back in the pot and mash them.
5. Add the sour cream, milk, butter, garlic, salt and pepper to the pot and mix well with a wooden spoon, making sure that the garlic is evenly incorporated through the potatoes. If they still seem a little dry, add a but more butter and milk.
Enjoy!
NOTE: Instead of using the butter and garlic, you can just use some of my garlic butter if you have it on hand in the fridge!.
A NOTE ON POTATO RICERS:
I was a huge skeptic on potato ricers, I thought they were a waste of money, I thought it would be faster to just mash the potatoes, or drag out the hand mixer and beat them into submission. I was wrong though. Walking through the grocery store one day I saw one on sale with 2 disks (different sized holes) for $10. I figured ok, I guess I'll try it. It is SO much faster then mashing by hand, and the texture can not be beat. They turn out so fluffy and so smooth. I really do highly recommend getting one.
Sweet Carrots
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Bake Time: 15 minutes
Serves: 4
Ingredients:
8 medium to large carrots, peeled and sliced into ¼" rounds
1 tbl honey
Directions:
1. Place the carrots into a medium pot and cover with water. Add 1 tbl honey and bring to a boil over med-high heat. Cook at a rolling boil for 10 minutes, until fork tender.
2. Drain and serve.
Well, no, probably not, but it's only the outer crust that is coated with sweet carmel goodness, so it's really not that much when you eat it. Unless you're like me and hog both the ends. Yumm! I also pour the meat sauce over my mashed potatoes, it's heaven!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Bake Time: 45 minutes to 1 hour
Serves: varies depending on size of the roast, expect three ¼" slices per adult.
Ingredients:
1 peameal bacon roast
2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup orange juice
2 tsp ground mustard
Directions:
1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
2. Place your roast in an oven proof baking dish (yeah corning ware!), making sure that it's big enough to leave 1 or 2 inches around the roast.
3. In a small bowl mix together 1 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup orange juice, and 1 tsp of ground mustard. Pour this over the top of the roast, then put the roast in the oven. Use a turkey baster to baste the meat every 15 minutes.
4. When the roast reaches 110 degrees (about 30 minutes into cooking) mix together the rest of the glaze (1 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup orange juice and 1 tsp ground mustard). Use this to bast the meat with every 10 minutes until it's finished cooking (the internal temperature is 170 degrees)
5. Remove the roast from the pan and let rest for 15 minutes, tented with foil. Pour and of the juices back into the pan with the glaze "sauce" and use to pour over the meat if that floats your boat.
Enjoy!
Out of the oven
Resting
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Serves: 4
Ingredients:
6 large russet potatoes, peeled and cut into large chucks (the size of a golf ball)
1/4 cup sour cream
1/8 cup milk
1/4 cup butter
2 large garlic cloves, minced or pressed
2 tbl grated Parmesan cheese
salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
1. Place potato chunks into a large pout and cover with water.
2. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook until fork tender, about 10 minutes.
3. Drain the potatoes in a colander.
4. Use a potato ricer with fine holes, and rice the potatoes back into the pot (not over any heat). If you don't have a potato ricer, just put them back in the pot and mash them.
5. Add the sour cream, milk, butter, garlic, salt and pepper to the pot and mix well with a wooden spoon, making sure that the garlic is evenly incorporated through the potatoes. If they still seem a little dry, add a but more butter and milk.
Enjoy!
NOTE: Instead of using the butter and garlic, you can just use some of my garlic butter if you have it on hand in the fridge!.
A NOTE ON POTATO RICERS:
I was a huge skeptic on potato ricers, I thought they were a waste of money, I thought it would be faster to just mash the potatoes, or drag out the hand mixer and beat them into submission. I was wrong though. Walking through the grocery store one day I saw one on sale with 2 disks (different sized holes) for $10. I figured ok, I guess I'll try it. It is SO much faster then mashing by hand, and the texture can not be beat. They turn out so fluffy and so smooth. I really do highly recommend getting one.
Sweet Carrots
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Bake Time: 15 minutes
Serves: 4
Ingredients:
8 medium to large carrots, peeled and sliced into ¼" rounds
1 tbl honey
Directions:
1. Place the carrots into a medium pot and cover with water. Add 1 tbl honey and bring to a boil over med-high heat. Cook at a rolling boil for 10 minutes, until fork tender.
2. Drain and serve.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
There's just too much to do...
Tuesday started off perfectly normal. Bo dropped a happy Oliver off at daycare, and I made it to work early for the second day in a row. The downside to these mornings is that Oliver keeps sleeping in so I don't get to see him before I leave for work, which totally sucks. I'm almost ashamed to admit this though...it's easier. It's easier on me when Oliver doesn't wake up before I leave for work. When he does and it's happy it's excruciatingly difficult for me to tear myself away and out the door. When he cries when he sees me leaving it's only worse, and I end up fighting tears of remorse for half of my drive because I HATE that I have to go to work every day and can't just be a fun stay at home mom.
I was out of work on time (when am I not), and I picked Oliver up from daycare. He saw me from down the hall as soon as Kris opened the door and was all smiles. Nothing in this world is better. According to Kris he had a great day at daycare, was all smiles and enjoyed playing with the other kids, and he even took a two hour nap. Awesome!
What wasn't awesome was what Kris told me about the other Mom there when I arrived. Her nephew was killed in Afghanistan. It's been all over the news the past week, but it's especially present in our town, a small town on the edge where the city meets the country, full of old time values and a sense of community that's rare today. The entire town has been mourning, all flags at half mast, all signs dedicated to our soldier Brian, only 24 years old. There's one house in our subdivision with big yellow ribbons on their porch, and I kept praying that it wasn't their son (it wasn't). I realized today though that it doesn't matter who's son it was...because he was everyones in this small community. I'm not a supporter of the war, but this also isn't a political issue. It's just a loss.
I had hoped that I wouldn't run into the family for selfish reasons. I do not handle death well, especially because of a few very personal deaths that have left me riddled with guilt. I've been known to say the wrong thing at the worst possible time, and to muddle my words. I didn't want to embarrass myself to a family that deserved the utmost respect. I'll slowing been writing a letter to them in my head over the last day, since Kris explained everything to me. I think I'll try to write it here later, then copy it to a letter to send to them once the emotion of this week (the viewing is tonight) has passed.
Ok, after that it's hard to get back into the swing of the night, but I'll try.
I'm making a fantastic dinner tonight (a roast of pemeal bacon with orange glaze, garlic mashed potatoes and honey boiled carrots), but it takes a bit of prep, so I cut out or early play time and sat Oliver in his high chair right away. He was fantastic drinking his milk and eating some goldfish crackers while I emptied the dishwasher and prepped everything for dinner. I threw the meat in the oven and had the carrots and potatoes ready to go on the cook top so I took Oliver up for a bath. Straight from the bath I put him in his bouncer with his bottle where he immediately passed out. Poor tired little guy.
While Oliver napped I got his laundry going, then cleaned the tub in the guest bath (there was still grout in it from tiling), and cut off all the excess orange stuff peaking out from the yet unfinished edge of the time. Bo got home just as I was finishing that and Oliver was waking up. Perfect timing! Because Oliver was in a fairly good mood we put him in his crib while we installed the new mirror in his bathroom. I had cranked on the potatoes and carrots before we started this mirror, but it went so well we had time to put the two new mirrors up in the master bath as well. Oliver quite enjoyed being able to play in Mommy and Daddy's bathtub while we did that.
Bad news of the night (and disgusting): When Bo went down to the basement to get the tools, he was confronted my a tray of vegetables and half a watermelon...remnants of Oliver's birthday three weeks ago. SO GROSS. Even worse, our main floor powder room toilet has been leaking. This is especially bad because it means that the guest bath is probably leaking as well because they were both installed the same way. Because the builder didn't install the tile the height is kinda all screwed up and it's just a mess for us now. I'm not sure what we're going to do.
Anyway, with the mirrors installed dinner was ready and it was absolutely fantastic. Oliver really liked it too, so now we're two for two when it comes to flavourful dinners! After dinner I cleaned up the kitchen then headed upstairs to watch tv with Bo while I folded Oliver's clothes. By 10 I could barely keep my eyes open, and Oliver was already asleep so we all packed it in. Well, Bo had a bath first, but I was asleep before it made it to bed so I don't know how much later he was.
I was out of work on time (when am I not), and I picked Oliver up from daycare. He saw me from down the hall as soon as Kris opened the door and was all smiles. Nothing in this world is better. According to Kris he had a great day at daycare, was all smiles and enjoyed playing with the other kids, and he even took a two hour nap. Awesome!
What wasn't awesome was what Kris told me about the other Mom there when I arrived. Her nephew was killed in Afghanistan. It's been all over the news the past week, but it's especially present in our town, a small town on the edge where the city meets the country, full of old time values and a sense of community that's rare today. The entire town has been mourning, all flags at half mast, all signs dedicated to our soldier Brian, only 24 years old. There's one house in our subdivision with big yellow ribbons on their porch, and I kept praying that it wasn't their son (it wasn't). I realized today though that it doesn't matter who's son it was...because he was everyones in this small community. I'm not a supporter of the war, but this also isn't a political issue. It's just a loss.
I had hoped that I wouldn't run into the family for selfish reasons. I do not handle death well, especially because of a few very personal deaths that have left me riddled with guilt. I've been known to say the wrong thing at the worst possible time, and to muddle my words. I didn't want to embarrass myself to a family that deserved the utmost respect. I'll slowing been writing a letter to them in my head over the last day, since Kris explained everything to me. I think I'll try to write it here later, then copy it to a letter to send to them once the emotion of this week (the viewing is tonight) has passed.
Ok, after that it's hard to get back into the swing of the night, but I'll try.
I'm making a fantastic dinner tonight (a roast of pemeal bacon with orange glaze, garlic mashed potatoes and honey boiled carrots), but it takes a bit of prep, so I cut out or early play time and sat Oliver in his high chair right away. He was fantastic drinking his milk and eating some goldfish crackers while I emptied the dishwasher and prepped everything for dinner. I threw the meat in the oven and had the carrots and potatoes ready to go on the cook top so I took Oliver up for a bath. Straight from the bath I put him in his bouncer with his bottle where he immediately passed out. Poor tired little guy.
While Oliver napped I got his laundry going, then cleaned the tub in the guest bath (there was still grout in it from tiling), and cut off all the excess orange stuff peaking out from the yet unfinished edge of the time. Bo got home just as I was finishing that and Oliver was waking up. Perfect timing! Because Oliver was in a fairly good mood we put him in his crib while we installed the new mirror in his bathroom. I had cranked on the potatoes and carrots before we started this mirror, but it went so well we had time to put the two new mirrors up in the master bath as well. Oliver quite enjoyed being able to play in Mommy and Daddy's bathtub while we did that.
Bad news of the night (and disgusting): When Bo went down to the basement to get the tools, he was confronted my a tray of vegetables and half a watermelon...remnants of Oliver's birthday three weeks ago. SO GROSS. Even worse, our main floor powder room toilet has been leaking. This is especially bad because it means that the guest bath is probably leaking as well because they were both installed the same way. Because the builder didn't install the tile the height is kinda all screwed up and it's just a mess for us now. I'm not sure what we're going to do.
Anyway, with the mirrors installed dinner was ready and it was absolutely fantastic. Oliver really liked it too, so now we're two for two when it comes to flavourful dinners! After dinner I cleaned up the kitchen then headed upstairs to watch tv with Bo while I folded Oliver's clothes. By 10 I could barely keep my eyes open, and Oliver was already asleep so we all packed it in. Well, Bo had a bath first, but I was asleep before it made it to bed so I don't know how much later he was.
Teriyaki Chicken, Roasted New Potatoes and Broccoli
This was a nice and easy meal to make, though it did require a little bit of prep work on the teriyaki sauce.
Teriyaki Chicken
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Serves: 6
Ingredients:
1 tbl cornstarch
1 tbl water
1/2 cup white sugar 1/2 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
Directions:
1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees
2. In a small saucepan over low heat, whisk together the cornstarch, water, sugar, soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, ginger and ground black pepper. Let simmer, stirring frequently, until sauce thickens and bubbles.
3. Coat your chicken with the sauce and the place it on a cooling rack over a rimmed cookie sheet (if you're like me and dread the clean-up, line the sheet with foil first). Baste the chicken with the sauce every 10 minutes during cooking.
4. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Turn pieces over, and bake for another 20 minutes, until no longer pink, juices run clear and the internal temperature is 180 degrees. Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes, lightly tented with foil to absorb all their juices.
NOTES: Because Oliver was having a major freak out during cooking, I didn't baste the chicken at all during cooking and it still tasted quite good. I just threw some sauce on at the end and cranked the broiler up for a minute. I've also made chicken thighs like this (boneless, skinless), by putting them in a glass baking dish and just covering with the sauce (no basting) and it was great too.
Roasted New Potatoes
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Bake Time: 45 minutes
Serves: 6
Ingredients:
2 lbs small new potatoes (I prefer red)
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 tbl salt (I prefer freshly ground sea salt)
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1 tsp Old Bay Seasoning (this stuff is like gold, check your spice isle)
Directions:
1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees
2. Slice the small potatoes into halves, and medium to large potatoes into quarters. Just try to make the potato pieces close to the same size.
3. Put the potato chunks onto a rimmed baking sheet and top with the oil, salt, Italian seasoning and Old Bay Seasoning. Use your hands to mix it all together, making sure that each piece of potato is well and evenly coated with oil and the spices. Make sure that the bottom of the pan is covered in oil too.
4. Arrange all the pieces skin side down. Doing this first ensures that the cut edges cook a bit, and means that they won't stick to the baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes, and then toss the potatoes so that they're now cut side down. Bake 15 minutes and then toss again. Bake for a final 15 minutes.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Serves: 6
Ingredients:
3 heads of broccoli, tips cut into manageable pieces and stalks removed
4 tbl butter
salt and pepper to taste
Directions
1. Add the broccoli and butter to a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir frequently until softened and bright green in colour, about 8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
NOTE: A few other tasty additions to this broccoli are minced garlic, slivered almonds, chopped peanuts, sliced bell peppers or red pepper flakes (for some heat)
The best oatmeal chocolate chip cookies you, your Momma, your Grandma and your Grandma's Daddy ever tasted!
Seriously. The title can not lie (it's like incapable or some shit).
4. Place cookies with about 1½ inches between them (I get 12 per sheet). Bake for about 12 minutes, until the cookies are a nice golden brown around the edges, and light brown in the center. Turn the sheet half way through baking to avoid overcooking or under cooking a side beside of hot spots in your oven.
5. Let the cookies cool on the sheet for a few minutes, then move to a cooling rack.
Enjoy!
I had been on the hunt for YEARS (really, close to a decade) for the best oatmeal chocolate chip cookie because it's Bo's favourite and he really doesn't ask for much. I thought that I had it, Bo always requested it, the guys at his work always looked forward to them. They were the shit. Until I tasted Jen's (my cousin via Bo). She kicked my cookies ass to the curb, stomped on them a bit, dug her heel and and spit while she was walking away. The abuse was rough, I'm surprised she didn't need a cigarette afterwords. Anyway, here's Jen's recipe, which she actually got in a high school home-ed class (go figure).
Don't doubt it by the ingredients, just make them. You'll never go back.
Shakespeare Cookies (Oatmeal Chocolate Chip)
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Bake Time: 12 - 15 minutes
Makes: 2 dozen cookies
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup flour
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup rice crispy cereal
1/4 c chocolate chips
Directions:
1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Prep two baking sheets with parchment paper or your sil-pat mat's.
2. Cream the butter and sugar, add the egg, and beat until combined.
3. Add the baking powder, baking soda, salt and flour and beat until no dry flour is left. Add the rolled oats, rice crispy cereal and chocolate chips and mix until combined.
5. Let the cookies cool on the sheet for a few minutes, then move to a cooling rack.
Enjoy!
The countdown begins
So it's another Monday, and to make it better I figured I would start a countdown in my head. A countdown to 1 - the long weekend coming up NEXT WEEKEND and 2 - My birthday next Wednesday. Yeah.
Oliver and Bo each got to sleep in today because Bo had a meeting at 10 or something so he didn't drop Oliver off until 8:30. Our little guy was apparently very happy to be back at Kris's and was full of smiles as soon as he saw her house. My day wasn't quite so good. We have a presentation tomorrow to a home builder and of course I left everything to do today (who wants to bog down a Friday with that, right?)
I spent the entire day designing signs, double checking info, printing and setting up for a presentation (that thankfully) I didn't have to be a part of. I do honestly love being able to do all the fun graphic stuff without having to be an actual part of the presentation. Fun fact: I am a ridiculously nervous person. I was on anxiety medicine before we had Oliver, but I've refused medicine since then, just trying to deal with life on my own, and so far I've been ok. Well, I had a pretty rough patch in the weeks leading up to coming back to work, but I managed. Anyway, my nerves are so severe that I will actually start stuttering, not exactly great for presentations.
Back to the day...
Bo's meeting was a few hours long, and a few hours away, so he got to just go home after and picked Oliver up at 4. What a nice short day for the kid! My afternoon wasn't too bad either though, I had everything done by 3 and just took it easy for the last hour. Traffic was even pretty good for me, maybe I should buy a lottery ticket. I arrived home at 5 to find my two guys upstairs on the couch watching tv. I spent a few minutes with my boy, then headed downstairs to start cooking dinner. Tonight we had terriayki chicken breasts with broccoli and roasted potatoes. I also made the best oatmeal chocolate chip cookies you'll ever have. Seriously, they're ridiculous!
Oliver threw an absolute fit tonight though, it had both Bo and I completely freaking out because we couldn't figure out what was wrong, he just kept crying, screaming really. He didn't want a bottle, didn't want to be held, didn't want to be on the floor and play. Eventually Bo got him calmed down by laying on the floor with him and just rubbing his back. Of course, this was all happening once dinner was on the table, lol, Murphy's law.
We finally got Oliver into his high chair and OH MY GOD, he ate, a lot. Especially the broccoli, my kid loves vegetables! He hadn't been eating his dinner well with us for the last couple of weeks, but he eats great for everyone else, it's so aggravating, but there was nothing we could do. On Sunday (with the leftover Buffalo Chicken Bites) we realized that he just wasn't liking the plain food that I had been making thinking it was better for him. Now I've started kicking up the flavour of things and he seems to love it. I'm far to cautious when it comes to Oliver, I need to remember that he's got my DNA in him, and that he'll hopefully like every type of food out there!
After dinner (and after I dropped the baskets of unfolded laundry off in our bedroom), we all retired up to the family room. Bo put the tv on while I read some books to Oliver. Tonight's readings included Scaredy Squirrel (fantastic and hilarious), That's When I'm Happy, Olivia, I Love You Little One, Wild Thing and My Go To Bed Book. I tried just three books, but every time I stopped reading Oliver would start to cry, so I'd grab another book. There are many worse things that Oliver could want, so I think I'll try to encourage this reading thing as much as possible.
Oliver and Bo each got to sleep in today because Bo had a meeting at 10 or something so he didn't drop Oliver off until 8:30. Our little guy was apparently very happy to be back at Kris's and was full of smiles as soon as he saw her house. My day wasn't quite so good. We have a presentation tomorrow to a home builder and of course I left everything to do today (who wants to bog down a Friday with that, right?)
I spent the entire day designing signs, double checking info, printing and setting up for a presentation (that thankfully) I didn't have to be a part of. I do honestly love being able to do all the fun graphic stuff without having to be an actual part of the presentation. Fun fact: I am a ridiculously nervous person. I was on anxiety medicine before we had Oliver, but I've refused medicine since then, just trying to deal with life on my own, and so far I've been ok. Well, I had a pretty rough patch in the weeks leading up to coming back to work, but I managed. Anyway, my nerves are so severe that I will actually start stuttering, not exactly great for presentations.
Back to the day...
Bo's meeting was a few hours long, and a few hours away, so he got to just go home after and picked Oliver up at 4. What a nice short day for the kid! My afternoon wasn't too bad either though, I had everything done by 3 and just took it easy for the last hour. Traffic was even pretty good for me, maybe I should buy a lottery ticket. I arrived home at 5 to find my two guys upstairs on the couch watching tv. I spent a few minutes with my boy, then headed downstairs to start cooking dinner. Tonight we had terriayki chicken breasts with broccoli and roasted potatoes. I also made the best oatmeal chocolate chip cookies you'll ever have. Seriously, they're ridiculous!
Oliver threw an absolute fit tonight though, it had both Bo and I completely freaking out because we couldn't figure out what was wrong, he just kept crying, screaming really. He didn't want a bottle, didn't want to be held, didn't want to be on the floor and play. Eventually Bo got him calmed down by laying on the floor with him and just rubbing his back. Of course, this was all happening once dinner was on the table, lol, Murphy's law.
We finally got Oliver into his high chair and OH MY GOD, he ate, a lot. Especially the broccoli, my kid loves vegetables! He hadn't been eating his dinner well with us for the last couple of weeks, but he eats great for everyone else, it's so aggravating, but there was nothing we could do. On Sunday (with the leftover Buffalo Chicken Bites) we realized that he just wasn't liking the plain food that I had been making thinking it was better for him. Now I've started kicking up the flavour of things and he seems to love it. I'm far to cautious when it comes to Oliver, I need to remember that he's got my DNA in him, and that he'll hopefully like every type of food out there!
After dinner (and after I dropped the baskets of unfolded laundry off in our bedroom), we all retired up to the family room. Bo put the tv on while I read some books to Oliver. Tonight's readings included Scaredy Squirrel (fantastic and hilarious), That's When I'm Happy, Olivia, I Love You Little One, Wild Thing and My Go To Bed Book. I tried just three books, but every time I stopped reading Oliver would start to cry, so I'd grab another book. There are many worse things that Oliver could want, so I think I'll try to encourage this reading thing as much as possible.
Cinnamon Banana Chocolate Chip Pancakes
Cinnamon Banana Chocolate Chip Pancakes
I put this recipe into the folder marked "How many foods can I fit into another food". It's a fun game, and I keep raising the stakes (like, if I can get up to 5 foods into another food, I'm totally taking myself to Dairy Queen for a blizzard, the holy grail of putting one food into another!).
Anyway, these are delicious, and Oliver approved, so you really can't go wrong!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Bake Time: 10 minutes
Makes: 8 largish pancakes (I prefer small ones, so I probably get 15)
Ingredients:
3/4 buttermilk
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 1/4 tsp cinnamon
Pinch ground nutmeg
1 very ripe medium banana, mashed (optional)
1/4 cup chocolate chips (optional)
1. Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt.
2. Add the milk, egg, melted butter, cinnamon, nutmeg, banana and chocolate chips, and give a quick whisk until combined.
3. Heat a griddle over medium-high heat (coat the surface with non-stick spray ONLY if your griddle or pan is not non-stick). Pour 1/4 cup of the batter for each pancake, flipping only once the surface is full of bubbles and is starting to look a little dry. Cook on second side until browned.
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