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Monday, March 31, 2014

Yaya's Herb Roasted Potatoes


Aaron loves potatoes. He likes mashed potatoes, hash browns, french fries, you name it. I think he would be happy with a meal of just potatoes. We could have loaded potato casserole with french fries and mashed potatoes on the side and he would be in potato heaven.

Sunday, March 30, 2014

Menu for 3/31/14-4/6/14

I'm sure it isn't like this for everyone, but when I'm reading a book I'm completely immersed in the world of the book. When I read Harry Potter my mind was at Hogwarts at least 16 hours a day for the entire time I was reading and up to a couple of weeks after I finished the books.

Saturday, March 29, 2014

Maple Dijon Chicken


I think everyone on Pinterest has tried this recipe or has it on their short list for new recipe night. Most frequently I see the recipe titled "Man-Pleasing Chicken" and sometimes the description will say "...explosion on your taste buds." Almost every blogger I follow has posted some version of it. Who knows where the recipe originated? I certainly don't.

Friday, March 28, 2014

Yaya's Spaghetti (updated)


I was planning on posting the new recipe last night but I was so worn out I just passed out as soon as Bailey was in bed and the kitchen was clean. Plus, when I thought about it I realized that I had never done a proper post for Yaya's spaghetti recipe. The first time I posted the recipe I did not have a decent camera, only my iPod which takes terrible pictures. (Truthfully my new Windows phone takes better pictures than my Canon does).

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

My Crazy, Planning Obsessed Mind

I've spent nap time (and the first few hours of bed time) the past few days on Pinterest and some of my favorite blogs searching for recipes to use for new recipe night. This is a crazy thing to do because I've already planned my menu as far ahead as the end of May! And because I have over 300 recipes pinned on Pinterest that I have yet to try.

Monday, March 24, 2014

No-Knead Peasant Bread


Looking over the posts from last year I was surprised at how few bread recipes I had posted. I love to bake bread and I'm quite good at it. I have several favorite recipes. My garlic knots are excellent, the honey yeast knots/rolls are so versatile, and I have a fantastic sandwich bread recipe.

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Menu for 3/24/14-3/30/14

Bailey had her first visit to the zoo this weekend. We got up early Saturday morning and met Aunt Shelia to go see the red pandas (or Tobies as Bailey calls them) and the meerkats and the prairie dogs. We spent a long time watching the river otters play and there was a chimpanzee that was showing off for us. Bailey particularly liked the meerkats who were playing a game with her, jumping out from a corner of the enclosure and startling her. Some of the other visitors were even amused with Bailey's reactions to the meerkats.

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Pretzel Crusted Honey Mustard Chicken

I have rediscovered the wonderfulness that is oven-fried chicken.


I hand-picked this recipe specifically for Aaron because I know how much he enjoys fried chicken with honey mustard. The catch is that this chicken isn't actually fried. It's dredged in flour and tangy homemade honey mustard sauce and then coated in a combination of crispy panko bread crumbs and salty, chunky crushed pretzels. Then you throw it in the oven and let it bake to crunchy perfection.

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Menu for 3/17/14-3/23/14

I am so tired. I have been all week. I'm having horrible bouts of insomnia. I spend all night trying to sleep, alternating between lying quietly in the dark and knitting in front of the television. By morning I'm too tired to keep my eyes open and then I hear Bailey on the monitor say, "Good morning, Mommy," and I drag myself out of bed and start the day.

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Crock Pot Taco Chicken Bowls


I've found another winner from Budget Bytes. Tonight's meal was filling, satisfying, and delicious. Oh, and did I mention it was cheap? Every recipe posted on Budget Bytes shows the total cost. Once I've tried a few more of the recipes I'm thinking of having a Budget Bytes week each month, choosing cost effective meals to keep the grocery bill down.

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Menu for 3/10/14-3/16/14

This has been one of those weeks where almost nothing goes right. It has a ripple effect. When something goes wrong I spend all night cleaning up the mess. When I'm busy cleaning up the mess I don't have time to cook. When I don't have time to cook I end up with a bunch of extra groceries that either go bad or end up in the freezer and when my menu doesn't go the way I planned it I get confused and don't know what to cook when I finally get the chance.

Thursday, March 6, 2014

Coconut Crusted Chicken with Apricot Dijon Sauce


I have to admit, this was not a hit with the rest of the family. Aaron ate cereal last night for dinner and Bailey had a plateful of fruit and cheese. Aaron did say that he liked the sauce so it wasn't a total flop with him, but he said he would rather have it on plain fried chicken.

Sunday, March 2, 2014

Menu for 3/3/14-3/9/14

Some days all I want to do is sleep and Bailey decides that she is going to wake up crying two hours earlier than usual. I find that incredibly frustrating. I know that she is just a little girl and she doesn't understand that I have hardly slept and I'm cranky and tired. Knowing that doesn't make it any easier to drag myself out of bed and be pleasant while feeding her breakfast two hours early.