I guess I am going to have to accept the fact that summer means less writing. I am working on a project right now, well supposed to be. I have been writing a lot less than I would like. One thing I have been doing a ton of is reading. I borrowed a few books from a friend and read about three in a month ( the last time I read a book was back in 2008, when I was obsessed with the twilight series). It only took me about five months to finally pick up one of these borrowed books, but once I did I haven't stopped. I need to find a good balance between reading and writing.
My cell phone has also been on the fritz and that's usually what I write on. That will hopefully be fixed soon too. I have been cooking a quite bit. That's something I will never stop doing. I mean when you need to eat 4-5 times a day there are endless possibilities. Nothing makes me happier than H telling me she loves her food. I love that I have a mini me Foodie.
She on the other hand has not been all peaches and cream. Raising a three year old is about twenty times harder than a two year old. Mere months make a world of a difference. Two was cute. Time consuming, but oh so loving. She just wanted to help, always around, but loved without a doubt. Three. Not at all. She is demanding, manipulative, and whiney. I describe her as a sour patch kid. But more sour than sweet.
H has always been a sleeper. She was in a little leg brace up until she was six months old. The night we were able to take it off, she rolled over and slept through the night like a champ. She also was a good napper, 2-3.5 hour average. Now, it's a three hour fight to nap and she doesn't want to sleep at night. She needs a little one; I'm not asking for marathon naps daily, but an hour does wonders. She's a monster without one.
I know all kids go through phases but I hope she shakes out of it.
Sunday we had H playing out In the sun all morning, we filled up her little pool and even took a good walk. I thought a nap was without a doubt in our future. H is upstairs, after about the third time tucking her in and giving her big hugs and smooches, I think I finally hear silence. No thumping around, no water running. Then I hear rustling in the bathroom.
((Now rewind about seven years ago, I got completely conned at one of those make up stands in the mall. Eye shadow that you can use as lipgloss, nail polish, eye liner - add coconut oil, clear polish, water- and probably more applications I don't remember. Well after making me look gorgeous I spent about a whole paycheck on powder, bronzer and ten shades of shadow. I didn't realize how much it would cost until she swiped my card and there was no going back. It really was a good product I still have the bronzer and all of he colors. Well I forgot about this little makeup box in the bottom cupboard of the bathroom. I thought it was empty and I probably haven't touched it since we have moved in. H found it. Guess what color was left in this box? Obviously black.))
I come upstairs and see H taking a running jump into her bed, hiding her hands. Then I look and there is black handprints smudged on the white door, her white bed frame, all over her dresser, yup that was white too. She finally shows me her hands, they were the color of charcoal. Not to mention smudged under her eyes like a football player. Then I peek into the bathroom. DISASTER. Black on the bathmat, all the cupboards, in the bottom of the shower, all over a towel, in the sink.
At this point I calmly go into H's room and rip off her black streaked sheets, change her bed, wash her hands (they were tinted for at least a day), and tell her she is going to lay her head down and shut her eyes while I clean up the mess. After all that she finally passed out. I wanted to yell and scream and make her clean it up. I have never had such a hard time cleaning. The makeup smeared all over the shower walls and floor would not come out, even massive amounts of bleach didn't cut it. I had a sample of serious degreaser and scrubbed, it is so much better than it was but you can still see a black tint on everything. I am not sure how one ounce of black shimmer made such a disaster. My best friend asked why I didn't record any of it. By the time I thought it was funny, it was about three hours later. I was not at all thinking of Americas Home Video, but it probably would have won us the big prize. Shucks I missed my chance of winning it big.
That's a three year old moment.
She will grow out of it, right? Maybe when she turns 25.
She's cute though right?
Okay any one who knows me, knows I love Racheal Ray. She basically taught me how to cook. On one of our first dates we went out and bought a cook book, we would pick a recipe and go shopping each date following. I really like her style of cooking; she makes fun easy meals and a variety at that.
A while back I found an awesome recipe that I couldn't wait to try. Chicken Parm Pizza. But not chicken parm on a pizza. A chicken parm in the shape of a pizza. Yup! I think the recipe called for two smaller pans and a lot more freezer time but I got this brilliant lightbulb of a dinner idea mere minutes before I was going to cook.
(Bare with my pictures for a little while I only have my iPad as of right now, pictures don't come out as well but you get the idea)
In a large mixing bowl I combined
2 stalks chopped celery, 2 shaved carrots, 1/2 bell pepper chopped, palmful of sundried tomatoes chopped, 1/4 grated yellow onion, hemp seeds, dried basil, garlic, onion, 21 Salute (trader joes spice blend), red pepper flakes, panko breadcrumbs, tomato sauce, squeeze of tomato paste, splash of coconut milk, Parmesan, one tablespoon of chai seeds mixed with water (I only had one egg and used it for the breading), one package of lean ground turkey.
Mix it all together with your hands, don't over mix or it will become tough. Pour onto aluminum foil covered pizza pan ( I used a perforated one). Shape into a giant circle. I left mine I the freezer for maybe 30 minutes, if you have time do it longer so it holds it's shape.
Make your wet and dry mixes
Wet- egg, splash of milk, Sriracha, tomato paste, flour, basil
Dry- panko, parm, basil, 21 salute, garlic
I poured half the egg mix to one side and spread it on with my hands (they are your best tools), and then sprinkle your dry mix ontop. Next is the tough part, flipping the chicken and do the same to the other side.
Bake at 400 for 20 minutes then top with sauce, Mozzarella and provolone.
The only photo I snapped was before cooking so this is the naked chicken. It was delicious. Something totally different.
I made it with lemon Parmesan Brussel sprouts the first night and leftovers with kale and pasta. Delicious, nutritious and almost carbless. H loved this she ate two pieces both times I served it, usually she's a leftover snob. I also realize I call this chicken parm but it's really turkey, turkey parm doesn't sound as good.
I haven't had poached eggs in a little while and was craving them after my gym session today. I made an Egg Salad. Fresh spinach with baby Bella's, broccoli, sausage, tomatoes, hemp seeds, goat cheese and Sriracha. I love eggs.
H wanted a "cheers" picture. "Cheers lunch"
Cheers,
K
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