Foodie Friday–Best of the Week

Lately I’ve been much better about making sure dinner gets on the table. The days are becoming more and more predictable and my desire to get back in the kitchen has come back in full swing. The past week or two we’ve had some really good meals so I thought I would share what has made it onto our table.

In the past week or so these meals have been made and enjoyed wholeheartedly by all three of us! Elizabeth’s favorites were the Barbacoa and chicken and dumplings. She’d bang her hands on the high chair to make sure we would give her more:)

-Barbacoa - This was SO GOOD; I cut the recipe in half and wish I wouldn’t have

-Teriyaki Chicken – good

-Lighter Chicken and Dumplings – AMAZING…this will be in our rotation

-Pepperoni Rolls – These are a staple and so, so good

-Lasagna (my mom’s recipe)

-Penne with Italian Sausage Ragu (my recipe)

-Ina’s Pork Tenderloin with Ratatouille's Ratatouille – Really delicious

 

I’m in need of some new recipes so what have you made lately that’s been a hit?

Does Horton have it right?

I’m going to side with Horton on this one and that is not a difficult conclusion for me to come by. I believe with all that I am that life begins at conception. I think deep down most people would agree with me but most begin to waver when other life circumstances get in the way.

When they find themselves laden with an unwanted pregnancy. When they are navigating the road of infertility treatments. When certain legislation may limit their choices.

Yesterday, while mulling over my Twitter feed, I came across this policy posted by Resolve, the National Infertility Association. It’s asking people to vote no to “personhood legislation” because of how muddied the waters will become for those seeking pregnancy through treatment for infertility.

It made me think. Mainly because it may affect our ability to conceive again.

For three years we walked the road of infertility and I still consider myself infertile even with Elizabeth at my side. Unless pregnancy restarted my reproductive system, which it could have, I still am. And we may need to walk down that same road if we desire siblings for Elizabeth.

There is nothing in me that wants to go down that road again. The hurt, the pain, the wanting and waiting, the constant mind and heart checking, the refinement. It makes me want to selfishly keep Elizabeth an only child. That road still has lingering affects on me. On how I view motherhood.

This issue of personhood and the affects it will have on the world of infertility breaks my heart in two. I personally know more people than I ever thought possible who have walked this road. Who have conceived children via IVF, IUI, fertility medications. Who may not have been able to if personhood legislation would have passed.

Elizabeth may not be here if personhood legislation would have passed.

And I would wholeheartedly vote YES if presented the opportunity.

See the problem.

Last October when we had our first ultrasound, Elizabeth was 5 weeks old and I was 7 weeks along. The average person finds out they are pregnant when they are 5 weeks along and the fetus or what I will continue to call a baby, is 3 weeks old. Just 2 weeks past that point and we heard a real live heartbeat.

Elizabeth at 7 weeks old

That means from the time egg and sperm joined a heart was being formed. At that point the gender of the child is set. All DNA is contained in that cell. And by the time that baby is just a couple of weeks old, oxygen is being poured in, sustaining life.

And this legislation would define life differently. So that certain procedures could take place. Procedures that help aid in the creation of life. Just like eating a gluten free diet can or taking this supplement or that. But there’s the flaw in our thinking.

Infertility treatments are NOT creating life.

Your holistic lifestyle is NOT creating life.

God alone creates life.

He alone allows for egg and sperm to join.

He alone sustains that life.

You may not agree. But the numbers illustrate just that. IVF only holds a 50-60% chance. They are creating a life in a dish. This, scientifically, should have a 100% rate of success. But it doesn’t. And when you walk through infertility you are acutely aware of how precious life is. You know when life is created. Because when two pink lines appear, you rejoice that there is LIFE WITHIN!

And when we go through procedures, when we desire with all that we are to have children, we should be thinking of what we are doing. We should take everything into consideration. We should have moral grounding. We should be held accountable for what we are doing.

But how to walk forward, how to answer the questions, how to pave the way where personhood and the treatment for infertility are given respect, is not an easy road to walk.

I know that this legislation is not being looked at through the lens of a God who creates life. I know that in our lifetime personhood legislation will probably never pass in favor of life.

But I know that I can vote YES, a person is a person no matter how small, and I know that one can undergo treatment for infertility in a way that respects life.

It’s possible.

I’m sorry Resolve, but if given the chance, I won’t be voting no.

Elizabeth–8 months old

Change is upon us…our baby is growing up!

Our sweet, even tempered, brown eyed girl has accomplished so much this past month. Most days I look in her eyes and wonder what on earth is going on in her little head. She’s taking in information as fast as she can and it’s so much fun to watch her learn.

8 weeks old

8 months old

My how she’s grown!

This month has proven to be the most filled with change yet. She’s learned to crawl, sprouted four more teeth!, taken a strong interest in solid food, begun babbling more, and began sleeping (mostly) through the night. Quite the month.

Elizabeth has 6 teeth already and I’m certain the next two will be in soon. But like everything else she has gone about teething in her own way. After the bottom two came up the next pair to come in were the lower lateral incisors. And after those she sprouted her upper lateral incisors. So the next two we are waiting for: those 2 FRONT TEETH!

This has probably been my favorite month for so many different reasons but mainly just because I love watching her determination and curiosity grow. She is SO determined; nothing stops her. A fall down and get back up kinda girl. She’s keeping us on our toes literally as she went from taking a few cautious crawling steps forward to now being able to quickly crawl wherever she wants to be. And just this last week she’s been insistent on trying to pull herself up and then trying to stand all on her own. I’m thinking walking may not be that far away!

And as far as food is concerned, purees are out and food is in. Watching her master eating has been one of the most fun things we’ve seen her do. It’s crazy to think she only has 6 teeth but can manage to eat a wide range of food. This month her favorites included Baracoa with guacamole, teriyaki chicken and roasted vegetables, lasagna, and steel cut oats. Getting excited to eat is an understatement!

As far as everyday life, our curious little girl keeps us on our toes as everything that isn’t a toy has become her favorite. From computer cords to playing cards, everything is fair game. We’ve stepped up our baby proofing around here although somehow she still finds things she shouldn’t have!

the BEST chocolate chip cookies

I’ve made a lot of cookies in my lifetime even though I tend to not enjoy baking. And ever since I married someone without a sweet tooth for baked goods, I’ve done far less than ever before. But there comes a time when you just need a chocolate chip cookie. At least that happens to me.

This past weekend I made my now go-to recipe for chocolate chip cookies and they were met with accolades. I take none of the praise since my recipe for cookies comes right off the back of a certain yellow package. But that being said, I’ve made a few minor changes that I think really helps these to shine.

 

3 things I’ve changed:

I bake on a rimmed, uncoated jelly roll pan lined with a silpat

I only use Kosher salt. For cooking and baking.

I change the ratios of sugar in favor of brown to create a chewier cookie

 

Tollhouse Chocolate Chip Cookies

*Replace sugars with 1 Cup Brown Sugar and 1/2 C White Sugar

*Replace Salt with Kosher Salt. Same measurement.

 

Happy Baking!

Foodie Friday: Vegetable Pad Thai

I really like to cook.

Unless of course I’m extremely sleep deprived and only have a short amount of time. Then I just like to cook…and that’s only if take out is not an option.

That’s where this recipe comes in. Wednesday night we returned from the gym with a 30 minute window before both of us would be calling the delivery guy from Jimmy Johns. We were on the verge. And because I had just made this recipe for some dear friends who just had twins, I knew it was fast, easy and delicious.

So dinner was freaky fast and homemade too.



Pad Thai is one of my favorites. I have a lot of them. But this is up there in the top 10. Alex, on the other hand, could take or leave it. Not sure what he’s thinking. Pretty sure the fish sauce scares him off. He hates seafood.

But every once and awhile I make him succumb to eating something I really like. And Wednesday night was one of those nights. This recipe is so delicious and once you have made it once or twice you will realize it’s actually really easy too. It seems like a lot of work at first but again, once you’ve done it a couple of times, it’s old hat.

Veggie Pad Thai

(adapted from Cooks Illustrated – for no adaptations see here)
Serves 4 as a main dish

1/3 C water and 1/3 C lime juice combined
3 tablespoons fish sauce
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
3 tablespoons brown sugar
¾ teaspoon cayenne pepper (this packs some heat, lessen if you don’t like spice)
4 tablespoons peanut oil or vegetable oil
8 ounces dried rice stick noodles, about 1/8 inch wide (the width of linguine)
2 large eggs
¼ teaspoon table salt
3 cloves garlic, pressed through garlic press or minced (1 tablespoon)
1 medium shallot, minced (about 3 tablespoons)
6 tablespoons chopped unsalted roasted peanuts
3 cups bean sprouts (6 ounces)
5 medium scallions, green parts only, sliced thin on sharp bias
¼ cup fresh cilantro leaves (optional)
Veggies: Your choice…we used baby bok choy, carrot shreds, snow peas, yellow peppers

1. Stir fish sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, cayenne, and 2 tablespoons oil into the water/lime juice mixture and set aside.

2. Cover rice sticks with hot tap water in large bowl; soak until softened, pliable, and limp but not fully tender, about 20 minutes. Drain noodles and set aside. Beat eggs and 1/8 teaspoon salt in small bowl; set aside.

3. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in 12-inch skillet (preferably nonstick) over high heat until just beginning to smoke, about 2 minutes. Add vegetables and some water. Cover with lid so they steam. After approximately 10 minutes check for doneness. Should be tender but still crisp. Set aside.

4. Off heat, add remaining tablespoon oil to skillet and swirl to coat; add garlic and shallot, set skillet over medium heat and cook, stirring constantly, until light golden brown, about 1 1/2 minutes; add eggs to skillet and stir vigorously with wooden spoon until scrambled and barely moist, about 20 seconds. Add noodles and veggies to eggs; toss with 2 wooden spoons to combine. Pour fish sauce mixture over noodles, increase heat to high, and cook, tossing constantly, until noodles are evenly coated. Scatter 1/4 cup peanuts, bean sprouts, all but 1/4 cup scallions over noodles; continue to cook, tossing constantly, until noodles are tender, about 2 1/2 minutes (if not yet tender add 2 tablespoons water to skillet and continue to cook until tender)

5. Transfer noodles to serving platter, sprinkle with remaining scallions, 2 tablespoons peanuts, and cilantro; serve immediately, passing lime wedges separately.

NOTE: I’ve also made this with chicken. To cook the chicken I simply bake it in a pan with olive oil, salt, and pepper at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until cooked through.

from our love bug

everyday is a good day to spread some love

the days ahead

my heart is so fickle.

everyday is a new chance at balancing its affections. pulling back, opening up, growing in grace. finding its home in the One who never changes.

today marks the beginning of lent. my heart needs lent. i need to see and savor the One who gives me grace upon grace. i find so often i tend to consume myself with grace but what is grace without the torment and agony from calvary. how can i rightly forsake, ever so unintentionally, the blood stained hands.

“looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.” Hebrews 12:2-3

and the advent reading begins, to point me to the one who gave, who endured, who was despised. i'm praying my heart will see and savor…will turn from the things of the world that so easily play for my affections, and that we will together, consider him.

consider Jesus.

CONSIDER the blood stained hands

CONSIDER the suffering of Christ

CONSIDER the beating of branches and the cutting of thorns

because as hebrews says, he endured, SO THAT we will not grow weary or fainthearted.

SO THAT we can beckon the throne of grace and find mercy

SO THAT we could stand before the throne and not be cast down

SO THAT we would be forgiven. stains removed

incredible mercy. incredible sorrow. incredible suffering.

so that we could experience incredible joy.

in these days ahead, will you join me in walking through lent with hearts so desiring to remember, to contemplate, to consider him who bore the sin of the whole world.

consider Jesus.

*our favorite lent devotional can be found here*