Growth Spurts

So far this morning, my children have each eaten: a bowl of cereal, a glass of milk, a cheese stick, a hot dog, an orange, and are now enjoying some valentines candy. Good LORD! Can you say "Growth Spurt"? They also asked me for eggs that they didn't want to eat after-all because I made mexican omelets with mixed cheese and salsa in them.

What's for dinner?

We're both pooped. My gorgeous husband has folded 2 loads of laundry and is snuggling with the girl-child on the sofa while we finish watching Tangled. The boy child is cuddled up with me and asking every few moments if its bed-time after the movie... which it is.

This week we're all getting up at 5:00am so Daddy can get to work at 6:00 and Mommy can have help getting everything together in the morning, so right now, 7:15 feels like a late night.

The kids have had their suppers. Mac-n-cheese for GG and chicken noodle soup for Boo. Yes. I swore I'd be the Mom who made fabulous dinners that were loved and gobbled up by my children, much like the kids in the Hilshire Farm Ranch salad dressing commercial with the kids fighting over the broccoli. But real life "happened", and there are nights when it's just easier to give them something quick, nutritious, and happiness-filled rather than something time-consuming and fight-provoking.

The laundry just buzzed to tell me it's done with its current cycle and the kids are peacefully and happily and quietly enjoying the movie. This, of course, leads me to start thinking of supper for me and My Honey.

Thinking of grilled steaks, fresh corn on the cob, and left-over sweet potatoes from the experimental fantastic gratin the other night.

Time to tuck in the kids, think about details of supper flavor combinations, and cooking techniques to perfect tonight's masterpiece of yummy.

Bean follow-up from yesterday

Good idea, but too smoky for me. Next time I'll use just one wing per pot of beans, and I think it will be MUCH better. I rinsed them off and they'll be super with some added goodies added in. I'll perhaps use them as a base for a bean and vegetable soup. Or I'll add molasses, garlic, and mustard to make a killer pot of baked beans.

I've never used these smoked wings before. Not sure what they're used for, but it has to be flavoring soups and the such. The meat is way too smoky to eat (in my opinion) and salty as all get-out. The smell reminds me very much of a ham hock. The salt level is through the roof, so I'm very glad I didn't add salt to the pot during cooking.

Happy tasting!

Sweet Potato Gratin(ish)

I thought it was GREAT!! The salty Parmesan with the sweet starch... I thought it was dreamy! Both were mild so not too salty or fatty and not too sweet from the sweet potato.

I precooked the sweet potato then placed a layer in a small casserole. Sprinkled Parmesan in a thin layer, really just a dusting. Another layer of sweet potatoes, another dusting of Parmesan. So on until I filled the casserole and ran out of sweet potatoes. I then melted fake butter in the microwave and poured that on top of each slice. Then poured a little 2% milk in just to make a cream sauce, but that might not have been needed.

Baked at 350 until lightly brown and bubbly, as seen here.

Smoky Bayou Black Beans

Tonight's creation is a pot of black beans flavored with two huge smoked turkey wings and a Bayou Cajun spice blend from the super market.

Will report back later...

Welcome Back

No, wait... I'm the one who's been gone. Sorry for my absence, fans. Both of you. Really. I mean it.

Since we've last visited I've discovered I have a gluten intolerance, and that chocolate and red wine trigger my weird headaches. This summer I had a large blood clot in my inferior vena cava, and massive pulmonary embolism. Therefore, my diet has greatly changed. What was once a diet of whole wheat breads and leafy greens is now mostly meats and the occasional veggie.

If you've never been on, or known anyone on the blood thinner Coumadin, then you're unaware of the diet restrictions. Vitamin K screws with the testing results so you need to limit that vitamin, which is abundant in leafy greens. So, what we're taught as healthy is now not good for me.

The gluten intolerance varies, and I can't pinpoint the things that bother me more than others. My symptoms are joint pain, swelling, anxiety, and abdominal pain.

The kids are doing very well. We're working on potty training Genna. Conner is as brilliant as ever. The dogs, cat, and fish are all happy and healthy. My Honey is still the worlds most perfect husband. He's handsome, sweet, helpful, a fabulous father and when no one is looking he snuggles the cat.

I'll try to post more often. Found an ap that let's me blog from my phone which makes things enfinetly easier.