Lots of cookbook cooking going on here. I am getting anxious to have all my existing recipe concepts finished so I can move onto thinking of new ones and finish up this part of my cookbook. Hey Sheena! Respond to my e-mail so I can send you recipes to photograph!
Monday: Steak and Cake with Verbecky's.
Tuesday: Grilled flank steak with chimichurri sauce, steamed broccoli and brown rice pilaf
Wednesday: Penne with shredded chicken with citrus herb vinaigrette and watermelon.
Thursday: Spinach artichoke turnovers and steamed broccoli.
Friday: Chicken and grilled veggie tacos, refried beans and rice.
Saturday: Sesame udon noodles with chicken and broccoli.
Sunday: Grilled ribeyes, loaded mashed potatoes, roasted asparagus and mint brownies.
The ones in orange are cookbook recipes. The spinach artichoke turnovers are like making a traditional dip part of a meal. All the goods of a dip put into puff pastry and baked. I am quite excited about this one. I am also going after the perfect refried beans for the 5th time. I am pretty sure I have the right idea this time. Refried beans are an art form, believe me. It has been so hard getting it right.
The sesame udon noodles are something I have been making for a while, but I recently decided to add them to the book. There seemed to be a spot for them. No noodle recipes in the book! For shame! Grilled ribeyes are in the book so you can wow your man with your ability to give him a restaurant quality steak. And the mint brownies are bound to be delicious. I think I might have an idea on how to get perfect homemade brownies. Cake flour instead of all-purpose.
This is Jack's last week of school. I am pretty nutso about him continuing school work through the summer. One of the things he will be doing is a summer reading chart. Reward is going to Lagoon with Mom and Dad. The kid is not big on reading and I am trying so hard to get that to change.
Violet is currently recovering from a bit of strep. We caught it early, so she isn't suffering too bad. But she has watched more movies and drank more chocolate milk in the last two days than she has in 2 months. But whatever.
Van's birthday is right around the corner. He keeps telling me he needs a big boy bike. So that is what he will be getting. As with the Razor scooter, I am sure he will master it quickly. He also doesn't want a birthday cake but pecan shortbread caramels instead.
Ethan and I have a bit of business maintenance this week. Write a few new online specials, organize the storage unit and find a ton of money somewhere. The last one has been a bit more tricky this year.
My main focus this week is not eating like a moron. I ate SO MUCH CRAP this weekend. Burgers, fries, cupcakes, donuts, candy, steak, cookies, ice cream, chips. Ugh. I woke up today and apologized to my body for abusing it so much. A Costco trip is in order so I can load up on more fruits and veg and fix the damage. But I did hike the Y over the weekend with Kalli and it was lovely. She had us hike to the very top and it was worth it. Lots more hikes with Kalli planned this summer.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Friday, May 25, 2012
Shrimp, Cinnamon Rolls and Freaky Dreams
Today started out the same way all of them too. My alarms sounding at 6:45 and 6:50. After the last one, Van came in and was ready for some morning cuddles. He always does. Soon Jack followed and then they were both sent off to take a shower. It was then that I got myself dressed and whatnot and then went into find Violet and her hair. It deserves it's own mention because in the morning, it is pretty out of control. As always, she is the happiest in the house in the morning. She then made her way into my room to go wake up her daddy. "Daddy! Ake up!"
Breakfast and "Super Why" commenced. Strawberry smoothies, English muffins and Whyatt saving the day. Lazily, I decided to get Jack to school. I am quite over the whole going-to-school routine. But Jack did get to school, only a few minutes late.
Once home, I got us ready to go back to the school and watch the grand Meadow Elementary tribute to Broadway in the form of a dance festival. When I first heard they were doing a tribute to Broadway, I was sort of hoping it was "Les Miserables" and "Chicago" or something more adult, just because it would be fun to laugh at. Imagine a bunch of 1st graders singing and dancing to "I Dreamed a Dream". But it was actually just a bunch of Disney songs. Jack did fabulous. But he isn't much of a dance.
After the festival and after Van was scolded for shutting his sister's head in the car door, we went over to Shirley's Bakery for a cinnamon roll for Van. He asked for it for lunch. So he got a cinnamon roll and Violet got a coconut swirl roll. Once home, that is really what I gave them for lunch. I am cool like that.
I then took a nap with my kids and had the most vivid dream that I was so glad to wake up from. Here, I will show you my text to Ethan.
After that freak out of a dream, it was back to the school to pick up our Jack. I asked my usual questions:
"Did anything great happen today?!"
"Did anything horrible happen today?!"
And he responded with his usual answers.
"No."
"No."
He came home and started writing his summer novel. I told him he needs to keep writing in his journal all summer and he chose to write a book. Today was chapter 1. It went something like this. "Once upon a time, there was a superhero named Jack. But that wasn't his real name. His real name was Agent Z."
While Jack wrote, i took "Lady and the Tramp" and put it on the shelf up high where Vi can't see it and told her we needed a break from "La La Lu". She then chose "Winnie the Pooh" to be addicted to. So with her pink silky blankie, she sat on the couch and watched her new favorite movie.
Next was dinner. A cookbook recipe to fine tune. I was going to call it paella, but it isn't authentic enough to do that. So it has been named "Yellow Rice with Shrimp and Smoked Sausage". And it was a huge hit. So happy about the way it turned out.
Dinner was eaten, popsicles taken to the front yard and Ethan's truck pulling up wasn't far behind. He came home and laid on his perfect green, lush lawn. And as expected, he told me all about how he has gotten it to look so beautiful, as if I haven't been seeing him babysit and obsess over it for weeks.
Now, Violet is on her 2nd viewing of "Winnie the Pooh" and the boys and Ethan are playing dodge ball on the trampoline. Actually, it's more like Ethan pelting the boys with a bouncy ball and the boys finding it hilarious. Next it me cleaning the kitchen. I am still doing all the dishes by hand because Mrs. Dishwasher died on Mother's Day. But next week it will be fixed.
Once the kitchen is cleaned, I am going to ditch Ethan and the kids and go to the gym. I am timing it perfectly so I don't have to bathe kids. How's the gym? Pretty good. I weigh less than I have in 8 years. Since my first OB appointment when I got pregnant with Jack. That is always a good thing.
Breakfast and "Super Why" commenced. Strawberry smoothies, English muffins and Whyatt saving the day. Lazily, I decided to get Jack to school. I am quite over the whole going-to-school routine. But Jack did get to school, only a few minutes late.
Once home, I got us ready to go back to the school and watch the grand Meadow Elementary tribute to Broadway in the form of a dance festival. When I first heard they were doing a tribute to Broadway, I was sort of hoping it was "Les Miserables" and "Chicago" or something more adult, just because it would be fun to laugh at. Imagine a bunch of 1st graders singing and dancing to "I Dreamed a Dream". But it was actually just a bunch of Disney songs. Jack did fabulous. But he isn't much of a dance.
After the festival and after Van was scolded for shutting his sister's head in the car door, we went over to Shirley's Bakery for a cinnamon roll for Van. He asked for it for lunch. So he got a cinnamon roll and Violet got a coconut swirl roll. Once home, that is really what I gave them for lunch. I am cool like that.
I then took a nap with my kids and had the most vivid dream that I was so glad to wake up from. Here, I will show you my text to Ethan.
After that freak out of a dream, it was back to the school to pick up our Jack. I asked my usual questions:
"Did anything great happen today?!"
"Did anything horrible happen today?!"
And he responded with his usual answers.
"No."
"No."
He came home and started writing his summer novel. I told him he needs to keep writing in his journal all summer and he chose to write a book. Today was chapter 1. It went something like this. "Once upon a time, there was a superhero named Jack. But that wasn't his real name. His real name was Agent Z."
While Jack wrote, i took "Lady and the Tramp" and put it on the shelf up high where Vi can't see it and told her we needed a break from "La La Lu". She then chose "Winnie the Pooh" to be addicted to. So with her pink silky blankie, she sat on the couch and watched her new favorite movie.
Next was dinner. A cookbook recipe to fine tune. I was going to call it paella, but it isn't authentic enough to do that. So it has been named "Yellow Rice with Shrimp and Smoked Sausage". And it was a huge hit. So happy about the way it turned out.
Dinner was eaten, popsicles taken to the front yard and Ethan's truck pulling up wasn't far behind. He came home and laid on his perfect green, lush lawn. And as expected, he told me all about how he has gotten it to look so beautiful, as if I haven't been seeing him babysit and obsess over it for weeks.
Now, Violet is on her 2nd viewing of "Winnie the Pooh" and the boys and Ethan are playing dodge ball on the trampoline. Actually, it's more like Ethan pelting the boys with a bouncy ball and the boys finding it hilarious. Next it me cleaning the kitchen. I am still doing all the dishes by hand because Mrs. Dishwasher died on Mother's Day. But next week it will be fixed.
Once the kitchen is cleaned, I am going to ditch Ethan and the kids and go to the gym. I am timing it perfectly so I don't have to bathe kids. How's the gym? Pretty good. I weigh less than I have in 8 years. Since my first OB appointment when I got pregnant with Jack. That is always a good thing.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Quinoa and Black Bean Taco Salad
This is going on my 2012 dining awards. This was AWESOME. And I didn't feel a bit guilty eating it. No creamy dressing. No sour cream or cheese.
This salad started with the picture from Lizzy's Instagram feed. A quinoa and black bean salad. I took my method of cooking quinoa and beans (a salad recipe in my cookbook uses this method) and then topped it with loads of fresh veg. Oh heaven. You must try this!
Quinoa and Black Bean Taco Salad
recipe by Whitney Ingram
2 1/2 cups water
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup quinoa, rinsed well1 15 ounce can black beans, rinsed
Chopped romaine lettuce
Chopped tomatoes
Fresh salsa
Diced avocado
Minced fresh cilantro
Lime wedges
Set a large saucepan over high heat and add water and salt. Once boiling, add quinoa and black beans. Boil, uncovered, until most of the liquid is absorbed and the quinoa is sputtering, about 10-12 minutes. Turn heat to low and simmer until all liquid is evaporated, about 5-7 minutes. Remove from heat and allow quinoa and beans to cool.
In a bowl, add a scoop of quinoa and beans. Top with lettuce, tomatoes, salsa, avocados, cilantro and lime wedges.
Monday, May 21, 2012
Premature thanks regarding my cookbook
Two people have been on my mind when it comes to my book.
Mom. Mom, thank you. Thank you for the great food base you gave me growing up. As I am writing about my recipes and editing, I am realizing how much of what I create has roots in how I was raised. So much of my cooking is influenced by you. Memories, flavors, ingredients- all you. Mom, thank you for feeding us girls well. Thank you for not feeding us crap. Thank you for exposing us to so many different kinds of foods. And thank you for never dumbing down what you fed us.
Ethan. What a guy. Besides Ethan (as cliche as it is) being my best friend, he is incredibly supportive of my cookbook recipe development and writing. I would say that 50% of the recipes in my book have been thought up with the help of my husband. He is honest when I need honesty. He will try anything I need input on. Ethan sees so much potential in my book and because of that, I have been talked down off the cookbook precipice a few times.
Both of you, Ethan and Mom, thank you for much for your influence and your support.
Love, Whitney
Mom. Mom, thank you. Thank you for the great food base you gave me growing up. As I am writing about my recipes and editing, I am realizing how much of what I create has roots in how I was raised. So much of my cooking is influenced by you. Memories, flavors, ingredients- all you. Mom, thank you for feeding us girls well. Thank you for not feeding us crap. Thank you for exposing us to so many different kinds of foods. And thank you for never dumbing down what you fed us.
Ethan. What a guy. Besides Ethan (as cliche as it is) being my best friend, he is incredibly supportive of my cookbook recipe development and writing. I would say that 50% of the recipes in my book have been thought up with the help of my husband. He is honest when I need honesty. He will try anything I need input on. Ethan sees so much potential in my book and because of that, I have been talked down off the cookbook precipice a few times.
Both of you, Ethan and Mom, thank you for much for your influence and your support.
Love, Whitney
Friday, May 18, 2012
At the moment
My two littles are slumbering peacefully in their little beds. Nap time usually happens without much incident. My children inherited their mother's ability to sleep.
I am so happy the weather got nasty. I have been nervous about Jack's class party and it got postponed until Monday. Why am I nervous about a bunch of punk 1st graders? I am certain mine is the biggest punk of them all too. Millie, I don't how you handled being room mom for as long as you did.
I have to a bit of food prep to do for a cooking class of sorts I am doing tonight. Almost 2 years ago, Krista had said she wanted to learn how to barbecue. I volunteered to teach her and now, finally, tonight is the night. I really enjoy teaching people how to cook. My sister Caitlyn is coming and she is always boatloads of fun.
Jack is having his second school lunch day in a row. Yesterday I didn't feel like making him lunch, so I told him that he was going to switch his usual Friday school lunch day to Thursday. Well, he was quite unsatisfied with the school lunch yesterday. Spaghetti with tomato sauce. The kid hates tomato sauce, which is so stupid. Nevertheless, I let him eat school lunch again today in hopes that the menu was more exciting.
I am wearing my Grandma Sally's engagement necklace. My Grandpa Erv gave to her when he asked her to marry him. How did I luck out that out of 6 granddaughters, I am the one that got it?
Satisfied that I spent an hour and a half folding 8 loads of laundry this morning. I hate that I let it get that out of control. While I folded, Violet played toys in my room. She found all the plastic animals and found a camel. I told her it was a camel. She then started holding it up to her eye and said, "Thay cheeths!" To Violet, camel=camera. I texted Ethan and told him about it and he responded, "I can't take that. Dammit, that's cute!"
Listening to Ingrid Michaelson and remembering how rad her concert was a few weeks ago. Caitlyn, are we still going to Rod Stewart in September? This is the year of the concert for me. So far, I have seen Brad Paisley, The Band Perry, Kelly Clarkson and Ingrid Michaelson. Hopefully Sugar Land and Stevie Nicks will also be on the list. And Rod! Oh Rod! I can just picture him prancing about the stage singing all of his classics.
I am so happy the weather got nasty. I have been nervous about Jack's class party and it got postponed until Monday. Why am I nervous about a bunch of punk 1st graders? I am certain mine is the biggest punk of them all too. Millie, I don't how you handled being room mom for as long as you did.
I have to a bit of food prep to do for a cooking class of sorts I am doing tonight. Almost 2 years ago, Krista had said she wanted to learn how to barbecue. I volunteered to teach her and now, finally, tonight is the night. I really enjoy teaching people how to cook. My sister Caitlyn is coming and she is always boatloads of fun.
Jack is having his second school lunch day in a row. Yesterday I didn't feel like making him lunch, so I told him that he was going to switch his usual Friday school lunch day to Thursday. Well, he was quite unsatisfied with the school lunch yesterday. Spaghetti with tomato sauce. The kid hates tomato sauce, which is so stupid. Nevertheless, I let him eat school lunch again today in hopes that the menu was more exciting.
I am wearing my Grandma Sally's engagement necklace. My Grandpa Erv gave to her when he asked her to marry him. How did I luck out that out of 6 granddaughters, I am the one that got it?
Satisfied that I spent an hour and a half folding 8 loads of laundry this morning. I hate that I let it get that out of control. While I folded, Violet played toys in my room. She found all the plastic animals and found a camel. I told her it was a camel. She then started holding it up to her eye and said, "Thay cheeths!" To Violet, camel=camera. I texted Ethan and told him about it and he responded, "I can't take that. Dammit, that's cute!"
Listening to Ingrid Michaelson and remembering how rad her concert was a few weeks ago. Caitlyn, are we still going to Rod Stewart in September? This is the year of the concert for me. So far, I have seen Brad Paisley, The Band Perry, Kelly Clarkson and Ingrid Michaelson. Hopefully Sugar Land and Stevie Nicks will also be on the list. And Rod! Oh Rod! I can just picture him prancing about the stage singing all of his classics.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Really my life.
Let me set the scene. A little girl in an orange polka dot sundress is sitting by the bookshelf and she is surrounded by picture books. She is singing "Monkeys Jumping On The Bed" in her tiny little girl voice as she turns the pages. "No no munkeeth jumpa ona bed....". Her ringlet pigtails bounce as she dances along to her own tune. She is completely unaware that anyone could be watching her or listening. It's one of those moments where you think to yourself, "Is this really my life?" And then your 4 year old yells from the bathroom, "Mom!!!! I did a huge poop! Come wipe my bum!!!" Yes, this really is my life.
Friday, May 11, 2012
A whole lot of nothing.
***Until I figure out the issues with making this dang blog private, I will keep it public. I have been getting lots of e-mails of people craving my blog. Okay, maybe not that. But at least lots of nice people that are unable to read this crap. So public until private works. (Does that sound kind of naughty?)
I should be cleaning the kitchen, but I am not. Plates with remnants of scrambled eggs and toast crusts need to be rinsed and loaded into my hardworking dishwasher. I also need to put away the two basket of folded laundry from last night. Last night was a late night. We found out that our dog niece Dakota was hit by a car and died. And the people that hit her didn't even stop. Her parents, Jarrett and Jenn, are devastated. And understandably so. Jack suggested that after school, we let off some balloons for her to play with in heaven. So that is what we will do.
This weekend is Mother's Day weekend. I am not one to sit around and wait for my family to do nice things for me. It's just not who I am. And frankly, they aren't very good at that. So I decided that this year, I start a new Mother's Day tradition. Breakfast in bed for the little people that made me a mother. Candied bacon, scrambled eggs and buttery english muffins. They will be so happily surprised. Becoming a mother truly made me a better person. I became less self-involved and I found out that I am quite capable of doing hard things. Becoming a mother has been empowering. So my day will be spent focusing on them, instead of expecting my husband to be my live in servant, which I have done in the past and it just doesn't seem right.
I am sort of hitting a wall with my healthier eating. I feel like if I eat another salad, I might cry. Big fat tears over a pile of beautiful mixed baby greens. I need to find a way to change things up.
Does anyone have any good ideas on how I can get Jack to wear flip flops? He claims skaters don't wear flip flops, so he won't either. Have I looked through pages and pages of Google Images looking for a picture of Shawn White wearing flip flops? I am getting desperate. It sort of sucks when your kids grow up and actually care what they wear. Like he WILL NOT wear polo shirts or button up shirts. It was hard enough to get him to start wearing shorts. When we had family pictures last summer and he wore a polo shirt, I had to bribe him with a pack of gum. While it is irritating, it's also funny. Jack is one quirky dude.
Violet turned 2 and it was relatively boring. I mean, she's 2. I am not one to throw big parties and expect her to care or her party guests to care either. In fact, I think huge parties for babies and toddlers are incredibly self-indulgent. And a waste of money. "But it's for the pictures!" Liar, it's for the mom and her own self-involved reasons. (Cue the nasty comments from people that will never read my blog again. Don't care.) But back to Violet. On her day, we probably sang happy birthday to her 10 times. I took her to Cabela's to see the dead animals, she ate a sugar cookie for lunch, played outside, did bubbles and played with her brothers. All things that make her truly happy. Dinner was her favorite- spaghetti. When it came time to blow out her #2 candle, she cried. I think all the singing and fire were too much for her. She loved her Yo Gabba Gabba beanie babies and she takes them everywhere.
Well this was sort of a long post. I really should get on those dishes and laundry. Have a wonderful day and if you are a mother, have a happy Mother's Day and love up those littles that made you a mom.
I should be cleaning the kitchen, but I am not. Plates with remnants of scrambled eggs and toast crusts need to be rinsed and loaded into my hardworking dishwasher. I also need to put away the two basket of folded laundry from last night. Last night was a late night. We found out that our dog niece Dakota was hit by a car and died. And the people that hit her didn't even stop. Her parents, Jarrett and Jenn, are devastated. And understandably so. Jack suggested that after school, we let off some balloons for her to play with in heaven. So that is what we will do.
This weekend is Mother's Day weekend. I am not one to sit around and wait for my family to do nice things for me. It's just not who I am. And frankly, they aren't very good at that. So I decided that this year, I start a new Mother's Day tradition. Breakfast in bed for the little people that made me a mother. Candied bacon, scrambled eggs and buttery english muffins. They will be so happily surprised. Becoming a mother truly made me a better person. I became less self-involved and I found out that I am quite capable of doing hard things. Becoming a mother has been empowering. So my day will be spent focusing on them, instead of expecting my husband to be my live in servant, which I have done in the past and it just doesn't seem right.
I am sort of hitting a wall with my healthier eating. I feel like if I eat another salad, I might cry. Big fat tears over a pile of beautiful mixed baby greens. I need to find a way to change things up.
Does anyone have any good ideas on how I can get Jack to wear flip flops? He claims skaters don't wear flip flops, so he won't either. Have I looked through pages and pages of Google Images looking for a picture of Shawn White wearing flip flops? I am getting desperate. It sort of sucks when your kids grow up and actually care what they wear. Like he WILL NOT wear polo shirts or button up shirts. It was hard enough to get him to start wearing shorts. When we had family pictures last summer and he wore a polo shirt, I had to bribe him with a pack of gum. While it is irritating, it's also funny. Jack is one quirky dude.
Violet turned 2 and it was relatively boring. I mean, she's 2. I am not one to throw big parties and expect her to care or her party guests to care either. In fact, I think huge parties for babies and toddlers are incredibly self-indulgent. And a waste of money. "But it's for the pictures!" Liar, it's for the mom and her own self-involved reasons. (Cue the nasty comments from people that will never read my blog again. Don't care.) But back to Violet. On her day, we probably sang happy birthday to her 10 times. I took her to Cabela's to see the dead animals, she ate a sugar cookie for lunch, played outside, did bubbles and played with her brothers. All things that make her truly happy. Dinner was her favorite- spaghetti. When it came time to blow out her #2 candle, she cried. I think all the singing and fire were too much for her. She loved her Yo Gabba Gabba beanie babies and she takes them everywhere.
Well this was sort of a long post. I really should get on those dishes and laundry. Have a wonderful day and if you are a mother, have a happy Mother's Day and love up those littles that made you a mom.
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