Happy New Year 2014

I shared the following last year also but think it’s worth sharing again!
 
“I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. 
 
Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world.
 
You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're Doing Something.
 
So that's my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself.
 
Make New Mistakes.
 
Make glorious, amazing mistakes.
 
Make mistakes nobody's ever made before.
 
Don't freeze, don't stop, don't worry that it isn't good enough, or it isn't perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family or life.
 
Whatever it is you're scared of doing, Do it.
 
Make your mistakes, next year and forever.”

― Neil Gaiman

 

 

Wishing you glorious mistakes along with good health, happiness and prosperity!

Children Gone Wild

Pictures That Will Make You Pee Your Pants!
 

“ONLY THOSE WHO LOOK WITH THE EYES OF CHILDREN CAN LOSE THEMSELVES IN THE OBJECT OF THEIR WONDER”

 

Bernhard Arnold

 
With this powerful quote in mind, we would like to invite you into the world of children and more importantly, what they are capable of doing if left unattended. This totally put a massive smile on our faces so we simply had to share...Parents, enjoy!
 

 
Do any of these pictures look familiar?  Have you children ever pulled anything similar?    

Courtesy of Living360 

Cider Chicken

I had leftover spiced cider and decided to try using it to cook some chicken…actually came out well.  It’s little sweet due to the brown sugar in the cider but still good…IMHO!
 
Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons grapeseed oil
• 8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 2 pounds)
• Salt
• Fresh ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 large or two medium onions, chopped
• 1 apple, peeled, cored and sliced (approx. 1/8 inch slices)
• 3 cloves garlic, crushed
• 2 teaspoons dried thyme
• 2 teaspoons dried rosemary
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 4 cups spiced cider

Directions:Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

1. Pour cider into roasting pan.
2. Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
3. Season the chicken with salt and pepper, add to skillet and sear until golden, about 4 minutes each side.
4. Remove chicken from skillet and place in roasting pan.
5. Add butter, onion, apple, garlic, thyme and rosemary to skillet.
6. Sauté until apple begins to color up and onions soften.
7. Pour over chicken.
8. Put lid on roasting pan and place in oven until chicken is cooked. (approximately 30 – 45 minutes)

To make gravy:

1. Remove chicken and apples from roasting pan.
2. Place pan on stove and bring to boil.
3. Place cornstarch in jar, add 3/4 cup cold cider, secure lid tightly and shake well. 
4. Pour slurry into boiling pan drippings and stir until thickened.
5. Serve over mashed potatoes.

 
Notes:

• I used grapeseed oil but you could easily use olive oil or any oil you prefer.
• May need to add a bit more oil when browning chicken.
• You don’t have to use spiced cider…can use plain instead and just add the juice of one orange, 1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon and a sprinkle of nutmeg.  Would probably omit the brown sugar or just use maybe a tablespoonful.
• You can also use plain cider without the orange, cinnamon and nutmeg.
• You could add carrots and potatoes to the roasting pan and serve over them rather than mashed potatoes.

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask and if you try the recipe, as always, I would love any feedback you would care to give.

Orange Tilapia

Had my first Christmas celebration last Sunday with my youngest and then had another on Christmas day with my Mom.  Since I did all the cooking for both, this means I’ve had “Christmas food” all week.  Am now getting a bit tired of it so even though I still have leftovers, I decided to fix some fish last night.

Have a surfeit of oranges (don’t ask) so created a new recipe.  May already be a popular one that I’ve never heard of but it’s new to me!

Anyhoo…here it is!

Ingredients:

• 4 tilapia fillets, about 6 ounces each, approximately 1 1/2 pounds total
• 2 oranges (well washed)
• Caribbean (or Jamaican) Jerk Seasoning
• Fresh Cilantro
• Cooking spray

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400°

1. Lay foil on baking sheet and spray with oil.
2. Place fillets on foil.
3. Zest both oranges over the fish.
4. Cut oranges in 1/2 and squeeze the orange juice over the fillets.
5. Sprinkle to taste with the Jerk Seasoning.
6. Wrap the sides of foil up to create a steam pouch and place in oven.
7. Bake fillets for approximately 20 minutes, or until fish flakes easily with a fork.
8. Sprinkle fresh chopped cilantro over cooked fish.

Notes:

• I use grape seed oil spray but you can use PAM or whatever you prefer.
• I didn’t give a measurement for the Jerk Seasoning because you are just sprinkling over the fish so you can go lightly or more heavily depending on how spicy you want.
• Baked fish is very easy to double or triple but you will need to increase your baking time by approximately 5 minutes - just keep a close eye on it.
• I made oven baked sweet potato fries to go along with the fish but you could also serve with regular fries, baked potatoes, rice…whatever you like!

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask and if you try the recipe, as always, I would love any feedback you would care to give.

Yes Katie...am cooking the chicken right now...if it turns out well, I will write up and post that recipe tomorrow!  

 

Thoughts for the Day

Parents and Rock Stars

A Wonderful Day!

 If ya didn’t get your gifts, it was either because you were very naughty or this happened before Santa got to you!

 





I can’t lie…it really is!

 

Not sure I want to know how grandma got such a ‘good’ fit.   

Oops…don’t think Mrs. Claus is buying it.
























Hope y’all had a wonderful day with family and/or friends!

Merry Christmas to All and to All a GOOD NIGHT!

May you all have a joyful, loving and very Merry Christmas!