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Tuesday's Tidings for May 7, 2013

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1. The weather at the beginning of last week was kind of blah. So the girls painted face masks that I got for $1 a piece at Joanne's! The girls pretty much thought it was the best thing ever.

2. I was browsing through Pinterest yesterday looking for some ice cream recipes when I came across this Peanut Butter and Honey Ice Cream. It looks amazing and I really want to make it!


3. Yesterday at 3pm, Christian screamed bloody murder forevvver! His toother's were hurting the poor guy. We haven't put in our air conditioner's yet, so all of our windows were open so I'm pretty sure my neighbors thought I was abusing the poor guy. I promise, I wasn't!

4. Christian has started showing an interest in our food and his appetite seems to have increased, so I think today we're going to buy some oatmeal cereal tonight when we go grocery shopping. His pediatrician said that oatmeal is less constipating for him, since he has issues with that.

5. I finally finished level 2 of the 30 Day Shred! I loved level 2 and I can't wait to start level 3! This is probably the best home workout video I've ever done. And I've done a few!

6. I think I'm falling in love with Rhubarb!

7. This girl is turning 9 years old on Saturday! Can we just take a second and bow our heads in a moment of silence? I just don't think I can handle this.

8. Our Farmer's Market opened up for the season near us. We went last Saturday and it was really good. Usually, there isn't a lot going on at the first of the season, but I was pleasantly surprised by how many tents were up and selling stuff.

9. How was your Cinco de Mayo? We made Fajita's and they were amazing!

10. Last night, Josh and I perfected our copycat version of Red Robin's Whiskey River Barbecue Chicken Wrap and it is so so good! Tastes like the real thing, except ours is healthier. I think I'm going to have to put them on the menu for next week too.

Weekly Menu 5/6-5/12

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We've had a beautiful stretch of warm weather. For instance, I sat outside for 15 minutes yesterday after church soaking up the vitamin D and I got lightly burned. That was the only time I was directly in the sun too! Amazing!


This week, my little Grace is turning 9 years old and I cannot believe it! Is it insane for me to actually admit that I'm old enough to have a 9 year old?! We're going to be celebrating her birthday on Saturday and we're all very excited. She has requested that I make her the Carrot Cake I made a few months ago.

Monday
BBQ Chicken Wraps
Tuesday
Tuna Lemon Pepper Sliders
Wednesday
Turkey Burgers with Fries
Thursday
Lemon Pepper Chicken with Sweet Potatoes and Green Beans
Friday
Grilled Pizza and Salad
Saturday
(Grace's Birthday Party)
Grilling Hot Dogs, fresh fruit, and cake
Sunday
Honey Mustard Pork Chops with Baked Potatoes and Corn on the Cob

Chicken Chimichangas

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For as long as I can remember, chimichangas have been one of my favorite types of "Mexican" food. I say "Mexican," because chimichangas aren't authentically from Mexico, or even from the category of Latin food in more general sense. We group them there, simply because they are built on the foundation of a Mexican classic - the burrito - and use ingredients we normally think of as Latin. The reality is that they are more of an Americanized, Tex Mex style meal. Ultimately, though, who cares? They're delicious.

Chimichangas, much like steak or big beef burgers, should be one of those meals you make a couple of times a year, not every weekend. Why? Well, first, they're a bit of work, and secondly, they're not very good for you. Sad, I know. But, if you take a step back and say - what is a chimichanga? - the answer is, a deep-fried burrito. Sounds delicious and unhealthy, and that's about where it's at. But with Cinco de Mayo approaching, one of those appropriate days for celebrations involving chimichangas is definitely coming up!

All of that being said, while a chimichanga is simply a deep-fried burrito, it is important to make a few modifications to the classic burrito recipe. First, don't put anything inside that shouldn't get fried. For example, with a chimichanga, the lettuce, cheese, sour cream, salsa, guac, and tomato go on top when it's done, not inside. In fact, the only things that should really go inside are meat, beans, an seasoning, though you're welcome to experiment, of course! Secondly, while you can grill chicken breast for this meal as well, oftentimes it's much easier to just grab a rotisserie chicken from your local deli and shred that. Third, while we're fortunate enough to own a deep frier, if you don't, you can do this in a deep pan with hot oil - you'll just have to do a bit of turning and it could get messy! Lastly, have some toothpicks on hand. You're going to need something to pin these bad boys down so they don't unravel on you in the fry basket - that's a mess you don't want to deal with!

Chicken Chimichangas
How do you make a classic burrito even better? Deep fry it, of course!

Serves: 6

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: about 45 minutes

Ingredients
1 can pinto beans
2 cups shredded chicken breast
1 cup shredded cheese (Mexican blend recommended)
2 diced tomatos (4 if using small Romas)
half a head chopped iceberg lettuce
6 10-inch ("burrito size") flour tortillas
taco sauce or hot sauce
sour cream
vegetable oil for frying

Directions

  1. Combine pinto beans and shredded chicken in a small saucepan over low heat and simmer, stirring frequently, for about 5 minutes. For additional flavor, you may add cumin or chili powder to the mixture, to your own personal taste. Heat oil in deep fryer or in deep frying pan, depending on what you have available. If using a frying pan, ensure that the oil is at least an inch to an inch and a half deep.
  2. Warm tortillas per packaged directions, normally by microwaving under a damp paper towel for about 45 seconds.
  3. Lay out the tortillas one a time, and cover the side closest to you with the beans and chicken mixture. Spread out the mixture so that it covers your side of the tortilla, extends out to about an inch from the edge on the right and the left, and about three to four inches from the far side. Fold the uncovered right and left sides of the tortilla in, and then roll the tortilla tightly away from you, ending on the uncovered portion on the far side. Promptly use two toothpicks to hold the burrito together while you prepare the remaining chimichangas. 
  4. Preheat the oven to 170 degrees, and prepare a cookie sheet, covered in paper towels. Set a cooling rack or similar structure on the paper towels, and place in the oven.
  5. Fry the chimichangas until light brown and crispy. In a frying pan, carefully turn the chimichangas from time to time to ensure an even frying on both the top and the bottom. 
  6. As each chimichanga is completed, use tongs to move it to the rack in the oven, which will allow some of the oil to drip off. 
  7. Remove the toothpicks from the chimichangas and serve topped with cheese, lettuce, tomatos, sour cream, and taco or hot sauce. Enjoy!
Nutrition Information
Approximate, per chimichanga
Calories: 420
Carbs: 61 g
Fat: 8 g
Protein: 26 g
Sodium: 1012 mg
Linked up with: Taste and Tell's Thursdays, 

Tuesday's Tidings for April 30, 2013

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1. Josh doesn't know how to make short burgers. We made these burgers as a way to say thank you to the guys for making our garden, which you can read about by clicking the link.


2. Last night, I made Carbonara for dinner. I had Josh to dispose of the bacon grease. That was a big mistake because when I went to read my emails this morning from all of the foodie posts that had been written, there were these waiting for me to drool over by Something Swanky. I'm totally drooling over these now!

3. My girls had their graduation night from Awana last week. Eden is going on to Sparks, which I can't believe! And Grace will be going on to her 2nd year of T&T. They both completed their books and Grace even got done a lot of extra credit! I am so proud of them in their diligence and faithfulness to learning God's word and hiding it in their hearts.

4. We've got this area in our backyard that needs help. It's the back side yard and there are so many weeds!!! The sun doesn't stay in that area for long, so gardening back there is out of the question. The only thing I can think to do with the space would to be to put some sort of shed back there for all of Josh's lawn care stuff...but I don't want to buy a shed...unless it's free. Anyone have a shed they want to get rid off for free?

5. I made ciabatta bread last week. It turned out really good! It didn't rise as much as it was supposed to, so it came out a little dense and short. I strayed from the recipe only in the fact that it called for unbleached flour and all I had was bleached flour. But that wouldn't make that big of a difference would it? Anyways, I plan on making it again and I'm going to buy a small bag of unbleached flour to see if that actually makes the difference. My hope is to post the recipe for you guys in a few weeks!

6. This week the temperatures are supposed to get close to the 90's! That never happens this time of year here. The sun and warmth will be a nice change though. I hear it is still snowing in other areas of the country, which is nuts!

7. When I was a kid, stores like Justice didn't exist. I've been hearing about Justice from Grace for about a year now. Occasionally, when I've gone scouting Goodwill finds I would come across from Justice articles of clothing and pick them up for her. But it's not the same as going into the store and picking something out that is brand new and in the current season. Seriously, they have some cute clothes and a few things I would never let her wear. But mostly, it's pretty decent stuff. I fell in love with this one maxi dress for her. But she settled on this cute little outfit and I just love it. Do they make one in my size?

8. Since Grace got her outfit, Eden had her first Build a Bear experience. Both of my girls are obsessed with My Little Ponies. Pinkie Pie is Eden's favorite and so Edie got to build her. Twilight Sparkle, who is Grace's favorite doesn't come out till August, so she's got to wait a bit longer. But this is so cool. I would of loved this when I was younger too. Seriously, kids these days!

9. Since we're talking My Little Pony, Rarity is my favorite. She is so cute. She's white, with a Unicorn horn and beautiful purple hair. Back in the day, I played with My Little Ponies too. But they are way cooler now.

10. I don't know about most dad's, but Josh will sit through My Little Pony episodes with the girls. He completely makes fun of it of course, but I secretly think Spike, the dragon is his favorite ;)

Weekly Menu 4/29-5/5

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We had so much fun this weekend it's crazy! How was yours? The weather wasn't as nice as we had hoped for, but we managed to get some stuff done, including my garden! On Saturday, we spent the afternoon/evening treating the girls to some fun. Grace got a new outfit from Justice. Apparently, it is a big deal to shop there and Eden got the new My Little Pony, Pinkie Pie from Build a Bear. Grace is looking forward to August because that's when her favorite pony comes out to build, which is Twilight Sparkle.


Last week was somewhat crazy with our schedules. Josh had to work late a few nights and sometimes the weather was so nice we grilled instead of cooked what was on the menu. So some of last week's meals will be showing up on this week's menu. Awana is also officially over until next fall, so our Thursday night dinners just got a little easier!

And just so you know, Cinco de Mayo is Sunday. So we will have a few fun Mexican posts for ya as well!

Monday
Spaghetti Carbonara with  Roasted Asparagus and Ciabatta Bread
Tuesday
Fried Chicken and Coleslaw
Wednesday
Sausage and Veggie Skewers over rice
Thursday
BBQ Chicken Wraps with Corn on the Cob
Friday
Grilled Pizza with a salad
Saturday
Fajitas 
Sunday
Lemon Pepper Chicken, Artichokes, and Grilled Sweet Potatoes

Tuesday's Tidings for April 23, 2013

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1. Remember I told you about the tree branch that fell into our yard from our neighbors tree? Josh made firewood out of it and he started a fire in the pit last night for the girls. It was cold, the wood was a little wet, but it reminded us that these nights aren't too far off. (Pay no attention to the dead plants around the girls. I haven't had a chance to pull them out yet.)


2. I'm despising baby check-ups. Christian had his on Thursday and it went well. But, since he's had his shots, he has been waking up in the middle of the night. On one hand, I love snuggling and cuddling with him in the early am, on the other hand, I need my sleep.

3. I was going to make our pizza dough so I could go ahead and freeze it for when we want to have our pizza nights and our honey went bad. I'm not sure how this happen since it didn't expire till next year, but I have a theory. Josh turned the bottle upside down so that we wouldn't have to wait for the honey to slowly come out. I'm wondering if that did it? Anyways, because our honey solidified, I was unable to make my dough yesterday. Blah!

4. I will say it over and over again. I love Goodwill. Ya know, I like to make my rounds. This past weekend, I found two more of the soup bowls that I've been collecting for about 2 years now and I finally have four of them. However, I'll need to find another one for Christian, lol! And then when I went to another Goodwill this weekend, I found a brand new The Loft (with tags still on) white scoop neck t-shirt! Holla! Along with a really pretty periwinkle blue thermal Gap Body shirt. I don't mind discounted stuff when it's brand new or nearly brand new. This is how I'm saving money, yo!

5. We got plans for our front yard this year. There is this really ugly, bushy stupid plant on one of the sides of our property that we just want to get rid of and we're going to plant some sort of little tree there instead, and then I'm going to plant some perennials, and then...Hydrangeas. I love these flowery bushy plants and I want one. My mom found the perfect spot for one the other day and now I'm itching to go buy one from the store.

6. I finally got a new suet feeder the other day. We love the birds that come and visit us, but I only had one feeder that you could see from the window by our dining room table, so I got another one for the big tree in our backyard, which is near our one and only bird feeder (I need more) and the cute little bird house Eden painted in Cubbies. I need to have Josh fix the position of the bird house, I think it should be higher. But I couldn't reach, lol!

7. We got out the Jumperoo a few nights ago and I think Christian really enjoys it, even though he is a little short for it. He played in it for over an hour the other day! I couldn't believe it!

8. I'm thinking about making a Ciabatta Starter tonight. It's one of Josh's favorite kinds of bread and I think it would be fun to know how and be able to successfully make it myself.

9. Josh got new jeans this last weekend because he's lost so much weight his other jeans are falling off of him. We bought him a pair from American Eagle. Seriously, I'm in love. He is never going anywhere else for jeans. I couldn't stop checking him out, lol! Sorry, I know TMI!

10. With all the Goodwill trips I've made lately, you would think I would find a Popover pan. Nope, not yet. Stupid!

Weekly Menu 4/22-4/28

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This week, the weather is supposed to be sunny and near the 70's on most days, FINALLY! The weather changed on us so many times last week that I am really looking forward to having some sunny weather. It really does a lot for ones mood.

Because the weather is going to be so much nicer this week, we plan on grilling a lot more. This makes Josh very happy because he is itching to grill almost every night.

Monday
Spaghetti Carbonara with Garlic Bread and Salad
Tuesday
Chicken Tacos
Wednesday
Grilled Pizza-Canadian Bacon and Pineapple
Thursday
Polynesian Chicken with Broccoli and Rice
Friday
Smoked Sausage Kabobs with Rice and a salad
Saturday
Teriyaki and Pineapple Turkey Burgers with Fries
Sunday
Grilled Pizza

Angel Food Cake French Toast

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Listen up, readers who are fathers...or sons! Do I even have readers who are of the male persuasion? Okay, well forget it then. Listen up, readers! I've got a breakfast here that I insist you make for you dear, sweet, mothers. Mother's Day is just around the corner and I don't know any moms who wouldn't love this breakfast served to them in bed. I know, I would!


I'm kind of in love with angel food cake. I could just stand in a corner of my kitchen and eat it straight out of the package. I saw this recipe posted a few weeks ago and I pinned it and then I couldn't get it out of my mind. In fact, I even talked about it on this week's Tuesday's Tidings. I was tempted to make a bread pudding out of it, but the french toast won out, and so here it is!

I happen to find french toast to be a very decadent breakfast. I mean, you can do so many things with it, and Josh and I have compiled about six different variations of it alone on this blog. This one, though, is Aaaamazing! The sweetness and fluffiness from the angel food cake lends its flavors so nicely to the traditional vanilla and cinnamon pairing. The whipped cream and fruit makes this breakfast seem like something that you would order from your hotel suite. This french toast is a vacation from all of the other french toasts.

So ladies, start dropping hints to your husbands and sons. Print out these pictures and start taping them in places where the men in your life are bound to find them. For example: if your husband plays with tools, tape it to his pegboard above is workbench. If your husband is a gamer, tape it to his computer. If your husband wears a suit and tie, tape it to his tie rack. For the sons, anywhere in the fridge, freezer, or tv stand should work well. Eventually, they should get the message. And if not, well, then you can always email them the recipe, because some guys seem to need a bit more help, lol!

Angel Food Cake French Toast
If there was a monarchy of French Toasts, this one would be the queen.
Serves: 4
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Ingredients
1 angel food cake loaf, sliced into 9 pieces
3 eggs
¾ cup milk
1 TB flour
2 tsps vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
2-3 TB butter
Directions
  1. In a measuring cup, whisk flour into two tablespoons of the measured milk until it's completely dissolved to create a bit of a thickened milk. Add this back to rest of the milk. 
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, vanilla, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside.
  3. Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium-low heat. Place a tablespoon of butter in the skillet.  Dip the angel food cake into the egg mixture until completely coated. Allow the excess egg mixture to drip off before transferring it the buttered skillet. 
  4. Place the cake onto the skillet and cook until golden, about 2-3 minutes per side. 
  5. Repeat with remaining slices, adding a tablespoon of butter at a time. 
  6. Serve with maple syrup, whipped cream, fruit or berries. 

Tuesday's Tidings for April 16, 2013

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1. We went to the beach for a few hours the other day. It was so much fun! I don't think Christian cared much for it...yet. But, given time, I think he will.

2. This morning I woke up to find out that my favorite and stupid guilty pleasure game The Sims Social is being removed in June. I think The Sims is fun, but it is just a game. I decided to not wait till June. I took it off my profile and I'm done. No sense in playing a game that's not going to be around anymore. The upsetting thing, I had finally just rearranged and decorated my houses the way I wanted them. Blah! #firstworldproblem


3. I'm getting my hair done today!!!! YAY!!!!

4. Christian is going to be 4 months old on Wednesday. Can you believe it? He also has a Dr. appointment on Thursday. He is going to hate me so so much!!!

5. I bought a bag of cuties at the grocery store the other day and I cannot stay out of them. They are the best 35 calories ever!!!

6. I bought some angel food cake the other day and I am so tempted to make this french toast with it.

7. I started the 30 day shred back up again yesterday. I had to take a break and let my body heal from the strain it puts on my lower knees. I'm going to try and do the shred 2-3 times a week along with my running at the gym on the other days.

8. OMG! I just realized that Bruce's Candy Kitchen ships SeaFoam Chocolate!!!! This could become dangerous for me. Seafoam is my favorite!

9. Grace finished History and Language last week which means only her Math and Spelling class is left!

10.  I just thought all of you should know that I do not have the Beiber fever :) The End!

Weekly Menu 4/15-4/21

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We went to the beach for a few hours. It had been about 2 years since we had last been and we missed it so much! We went to Cannon Beach to visit our sister who is going to Bible College down there. It was really nice to get away, even if it was just for a few hours.

We're also in the midst of finalizing some of our plans for vacation in May. We're going to visit my sister-in-love, Jenn (from KitchenJoy) and her husband Travis in Cusick, WA.

A lot of my menu will once again look much like it did last week. We were just so busy that we had a lot of cereal nights, lol!

Monday
Garlic Spaghetti, Garlic Bread, and a Salad
Tuesday
Croque Madams and fresh Fruit
Wednesday
Bacon and Cheese Lentil Pie with Green Beans
Thursday
(Awana)
Creamy Crockpot Chicken and Brocoli over Rice
Friday
Pizza Night with a side salad
Saturday
Pork Chops with Red Wine and Garlic, Mashed Potatoes, and Corn
Sunday
Cheese Burgers and Chips