smile!

It's Monday! Now go attack a zebra!

3/25

This Sunday went as the past few Sundays have.

One of these...

 

 ...on this.

Always fun, and so nice to get out early and start our day with some exercise.

Then it was the usual Sunday stop at Bishops for coffee (and this time a muffin we split).

We saw this...very interesting. I guess the feeling IS mutual? ;)

We headed to TJMaxx and did some random shopping, and once we got home I made some lovely hibiscus lemonade and I now have a Key lime pie in the oven.

Pictures  and recipe for the tasty limey deliciousness to come.

I'm working on house things while Ricky works on the floors for the rest of the day. We might take a little break and head to the beach for a bit.

Oh, and tonight is the season premier of Mad Men. 

I'll have to drink something virgin out of a martini glass.

I nearly forgot. Last night for dinner I made a yummy Greek-ish meal.

Chicken quarters marinated in lemon juice, olive oil, fresh thyme, and garlic with a roasted vegetable moussaka. The moussaka was red bell peppers, zucchini, eggplant, onions, garlic, and tomatoes all baked with greek yogurt, 2 eggs, and topped with feta and fresh parsley. Talk about a protein-packed meal.

It was amazing, by the way. I'm planning on eating the rest of those wonderful veggies for lunch tomorrow.

365 Days with D's: One year since my reduction.

One year ago today I had my breast reduction surgery. It's hard to believe, it feels like just yesterday I was bandaged, sleeping sitting up, popping percocet for the pain, and needing Ricky to help me wash my hair. How the time flies!I'm still really happy about my decision. There were some people who asked, "What if you regret it?" While I knew that wouldn't, it was hard  to get people to understand that.Some days I still get a little bothered by the scars, but that's a rare occurrence. I do, however, wish that they were smaller still. Going from a G to a D was a big change, but I really wanted to have small breasts. A D is smaller than I've been since middle school, but still large to me. Of course, now that I'm pregnant they've gotten a little bigger. I'm somewhere between a D and  DD, but the change is small and to be expected. From what I've been told they should go back to their post-surgery size afterwards. If not, I can have the surgery revised. I'm completely willing to do that.My one concern now, and a year ago actually, is breastfeeding. It was the only roadblock I ran into during my decision-making process. While we still don't know if I'll be able to, I've done a little research and from what I've read it can be possible. It's really a case by case sort of thing. Some women produce just fine, some need to supplement, and some can't produce at all. We'll have to wait and see. As much as I'd like to be able to breastfeed, I still don't regret having the surgery. If I do have to have it re-done, I'll want to go to a different doctor. The doctor that I saw had a terrible bedside manner, and never once asked me what size I'd like to be or anything like that. I understand that my procedure was more medically necessary than cosmetic, but still. That's the only part of my experience that I would have changed.

grits

Tonight I made cobia and creamy roasted poblano grits.

I'm really tired, so that's all I'm going to say about it.

It was yummy.

Sunday Morning

Ricky and I decided last weekend that we should do a 5k every Sunday that his work schedule allows. So far we're 2 for 2.

We left at around 7 am and did our 5k out on Navarre beach, walking the first part on the actual beach. It was nice to be near the water, watching all the old people sweep the sand with metal detectors or sift through for pretty shells. They crack me up.

 Pelicans!

What wasn't so nice was all of the trash left out. Beer bottles, chip bags, socks, cigarette butts, bikini tops...

I can't wait for Spring Break to be over. Why can't you come to a place and not trash it? 

Brats.

Once we finished, we headed down to my new favorite coffee place, Bishops Coffee and Tea.

Ricky had his usual skim latte and I had a vanilla latte made with almond milk.

The almond milk is one of the reasons that I love Bishops, it's the only place around here that I can get it. I think we have a new Sunday tradition.

The rest of my day will consist of hanging pictures in the nursery, washing my smelly Westies, making cobia for dinner, and probably some cupcakes. The lovely baked goods at Bishops inspired me.

Have a great Sunday everyone!

♥

5k, decorating, and Indian food.

 Ricky got up early this morning, around 6:45, and walked/jogged a 5k on the beach as the sun came up. On the way home we stopped and got coffee. Nonfat latte for him, double tall half-caf skinny mocha for me. It's nice to start your day with that "I feel awesome" feeling.

Back at the house, it was cleaning/decorating time.

I moved the large picture hanging above our bed into the living room a few days ago, so it looked lonely up there.

This is what I came up with. I'm pretty happy with it, even though I suck at taking pictures of my house.

 We also pretty much finished the nursery, it just needs baseboards, and Ricky built a stand for our washer and dryer. 

We pretty much kicked ass today.

 

 At the amazingness that is TJMaxx, I found this cook book. 

I already have "the food of france" and I love it. This was $6. I love that damn place.

 

Tonight we had Murgh Masala, and it was pretty legit.

Cumin, coriander, garam masala, and turmeric rubbed chicken thighs simmered in sauce of pureed onions, garlic, ginger, tomatoes, and yogurt. Cinnamon sticks, cloves, and cardamom pods made this pretty exciting.

Served on basmati, naturally.

 I'm off to paint another table and then hit the hay.

Happy weekend everyone!

Da Spicy Beef

I like Moroccan food. Alas, the Florida panhandle has little to offer as far as African food goes. 

Now, normally when I have skirt steak, I make fajitas. I don't mean to be so uncreative, but it just happens that way. Yesterday I pulled some skirt steak out of the freezer, knowing that I'd probably end up making fajitas.

No! Not tonight! A little voice inside my head was screaming at me.

I thought, "Why don't I ever make anything Moroccan with beef? I always use chicken."

Well, it was time to expand my protein horizons.

I marinated the skirt steak in a mixture of vegetable oil, lemon juice, coriander, paprika, cumin, turmeric, garlic, salt, pepper, cinnamon, and ginger for about an hour.

I then chopped it up and cooked it with onions and garlic, adding water and letting it reduce down a few times. Then I added green olives (I only had the pimento stuffed kind, which are pretty salty. Just soak them in water before adding them), parsley, cilantro, and preserved lemon peel.

 You can make your own very easily, or you can find them jarred. I think either way is fine. 

(Never heard of 'em? Learn here)

 After that I just simmered the whole thing until the sauce was nice and thick and served it over couscous.

It was lovely, and we were both quite pleased with it. I'll be adding this to my "simple weeknight dinners" list.

 

leftovers

 The other night I made bolognese sauce in my slow cooker. I used three of the the five Italian sausages in the package, and wrapped the other two up, hoping that i would find something to do with 2 sausages before I had to throw them out.

I did think of something!

Tonight at work, Dr. Dyson said that she was making chorizo and black beans for dinner.

I like beans. 

I have sausage, but it isn't chorizo...

I came home and knew that I wanted to do something with those Italian sausages and a can of cannellini beans. I ended up with this soup.

Sausage, cannellini beans, one zucchini, one carrot, two stalks of celery, a white onion, 3 cloves of garlic, fresh thyme, fresh bay leaf, a chopped tomato, and crushed red pepper, with a chicken stock base.

Just brown the sausage in olive oil, add the zucchini, celery, carrot, onion and garlic. Sweat those for a minute, then add the beans, herbs, crushed red pepper, and tomato. Cover with stock. Bring to a boil and let it bubble for 5 minutes. Reduce the heat and simmer for 10 more.

I sprinkled parsley and a drizzle of olive oil on top, but it would be lovely with some pecorino romano. too.

Let's hear it for soup! Hazaa!

chocolate is a good thing.

 

  I wanted to make a chocolate tart.

I ended up with a dark chocolate tart with vanilla and Jameson Irish Whiskey in a walnut crust with smoked grey salt. 

It was a lovely upgrade 

Interesting tidbit: When writing "whiskey," it's appropriate to include the 'e' for Irish whiskeys and American whiskeys. For Scotch whisky, it's just the 'y.'

Hm.

 Recipe is here at Ever So Sweet.

♥

Slow cooker bolognese

Today was a crazy day. Sugar test on Eglin at 7 am (which meant up at 5, left by 6), dentist appointment at 11 am 40 minutes from the hospital, then a prenatal appointment back at Eglin at 2.

Ridiculous.

I don't have diabetes, by the way. My blood barely spiked during my glucose test. 

Anyway, between the dentist and leaving for my 2 o'clock appointment, I had about an hour at home. 

I chose to spend said hour prepping dinner and facebooking.

Mostly prepping dinner. 

I put a quick bolognese sauce together in my slow cooker (which is actually a Cuisinart Multi-Cooker, you should get one.) 

I'm not a fan of beef sauces, so mine uses hot Italian sausage. I also don't add pancetta or prosciutto or cream, but if you're a traditionalist, feel free.

Slow Cooker Bolognese

-recipe by me-

olive oil

3-4 links hot Italian sausage, casings removed

2 cloves of garlic, smashed. Don't even worry about chopping them.

1 small white onion, diced small

3 stalks celery, diced small

2 medium carrots, grated

2 fresh bay leaves or 1 dried

2 sprigs-worth of fresh thyme leaves

pinch of fresh oregano

crushed red pepper flakes

dry red wine, about 1/3 cup (I used a Spanish red, but use whatever you have open)

1 28 oz can crushed San Marzano tomatoes

chicken stock to thin, if desired

In your slow cooker (or a skillet if you can't brown in your slow cooker) heat the oil, then add the sausage, breaking it up as it cooks. Toss in the garlic cloves, onion, celery, carrots, herbs and crushed red pepper. Season with salt and pepper and allow the vegetables to sweat a little. 

Add the wine, then the tomatoes. If it's too thick for your liking, add a little stock.

Cook on low for 4-5 hours.

Now all you have to do is toss some pasta in boiling water once you're home, and dinner is done in 10 minutes. 

I like to top mine with fresh parmigiano reggiano and chopped parsley, because it's tasty and looks pretty.

Mostly because it looks pretty.

Photos from the week

 Global warming at it's finest! The Eastern Bluebirds are nesting... in February. 3 eggiwegs already.

 Nessie! Bigfoot! No, just another backyard otter sighting. Suckers are big. Excuse the blurry picture.

 Cupcakes! Lavender chocolate with lavender vanilla buttercream. Delicious and cute!

 Posted a little late, but better late than never. My Valentine's Day flowers from Ricky. He did quite an excellent job.

Petite filets with roasted potatoes and asparagus. I still cook I swear! (Ricky has wine, I have cherry juice.)

We enjoyed the aforementioned meal at our new dining room table! We have 6 chairs, but for some reason there's only 5 in this picture. We got it at World Market, I'm in love with it. I find myself searching for reasons to sit at it. I'm at it right now writing this blog!

Curry!

We eat a lot of curry dishes around here, as I've said in previous posts.

It's just so easy and so good! I love that I can come home from work, cook some chicken, add onions, some spices, tomatoes, and some water, serve it over rice, and dinner is done.

I finally found my favorite blend of spices for making a quick yellow curry dish:

(There are no measurements because I just throw stuff in a bowl, sorry)

Garlic powder

Ground ginger

Salt

Pepper

Cinnamon

Coriander

Turmeric

Cumin

Fenugreek

Madras curry powder

Red pepper flakes

I just mix all of these together and add it to the chicken and onions, followed by about 1 cup of water, and let it reduce. Repeat that process three times.

Finish with a little cream and some chopped tomatoes.

Yum.

Lontra canadensis

 

Excuse the very blurry picture.

These live in the pond directly behind my house! Our back yard is separated from the water by our fence and about 8 feet of brush and some trees. For the past couple of weeks, Malo has been getting out of the yard (we did finally find his secret escape spot and repaired it) and mucking around back there, getting into the water up to his chest. We had no idea why, it seemed like an odd behavior to suddenly develop.

This is why. 

Ricky came home, let the dogs out, and walked through the yard with them. Malo and Maggie started losing their minds at the fence. Ricky looked over, and there were 2 3.5-4 foot long otters up on the bank, making this weird hiss-bark noise at the dogs. They scurried off into the water shortly after.

I'm glad he got a picture! I was at the grocery store. =(

How have we lived here for 2 years and never noticed these guys before?

Sneaky otters.

Books.

Everyone has their laundry list of books you must read while pregnant.
I for one found the scare tactics in "What to Expect When You're Expecting" a little too much to handle, but that's just me. I know people who swear by that book. I've heard it called "the bible of pregnancy books."
I skimmed over it and hated it. So I bought these!

 Silly name. Incredibly useful, practical information.

Also an odd name, but don't be fooled. Really interesting information on the science of pregnancy.

I'm a fan of science.

Salvador

On Tuesday, January 3rd, I came home at noon on my lunch break and found that Salvador, our 1.5 year old male cat, had passed away sometime in the morning. I found him laying on our bedroom floor, next to Ricky's side of the bed. 

There were no outward signs as to what the cause was, and I did a thorough check of the house. Nothing was out of place, nothing had been chewed. All the cabinets were closed. Everything was as it always is.He was just... gone.I called Ricky, and as soon as he got home we brought Sal's body to my work so that Dr. Dyson could try to see if there was any reason to be found. Salvador was a healthy, active, energetic cat. He was vaccinated properly and ate a great cat food.She did an ultrasound and found what we had suspected it was. He had a heart attack. Sal had an underlying heart condition called Hypertrophic Cardiomyopethy. Some cats have symptoms, and in those cases it can be found and maybe treated. Unfortunately, Salvador had none, so we had no reason to think that there was anything to be found. He was only one year and five months old.That was that, and we had him cremated. I got his ashes back today in a cedar box with his name on it.We put the box in the small window above our front door. Sal was always trying to get up there, and although he only made the very high jump a few times, he never stopped attempting it.We love you Salvador, you were a wonderfully weird cat, and a cherished member of the family. Thank you for sharing your time with us.

♥

Merry Christmas to me...

Ricky was very proud of himself this year. I love love love my new bag, and I love that the Louis Vuitton Neverfull MM is also large enough to use as a diaper bag. Right?!

Ricky also received a snazzy new bag for Christmas. The Petunia Pickle Bottom Rubicon Rucksack. How awesome is this thing? All leather, all sorts of pockets, messenger style, removable bottle/sippy cup holders, and a laptop sleeve. Whenever I see men out with their wives carrying those big, squishy, pink or blue and brown shoulder diaper bags I feel sorry for them.

Ricky will not be one of those men, I just made sure of it.

I still cook, I swear

I promise I'm not one of those horribly lazy women who stopped just because I'm pregnant.I am, however, really bad at finding the time to blog. 

 Tofu and vegetables over rice. One of my favorites.

 Slow cooker pot roast over egg noodles. Made in the fabulous Cuisinart multi-cooker that Ricky got me for Christmas.

 Pasta with peas and mushrooms.

 Thanksgiving! Ha! Has it really been that long?

Thanksgiving desserts! Pumpkin bread pudding with pepita caramel sauce and apple blackberry pie. Yessir.