MmMmTasty

Thankful

 

 

  
 
 

 

More room with a view

Despite the rocky start with, well, EVERYTHING malfunctioning in the first month after our move-in, we have finally settled down in our new home.  It is lovely to have so much more space for our growing family. But our favorite part?  The autumn views from the kitchen table and from the sun room leave us feeling like we live in a treehouse.   Would you believe Brian swept the deck free of leaves just a few days earlier?  ;)

The other side

I think we have finally made it to the other side of the newborn phase.  The colic has ended and we have been greeted with a very social and smilely little boy. (Yippee!) He, of course, has moved straight into the teething phase.  He drools buckets, and soaks through bibs like a sumo wrestler at a rib shack.  

But, IT'S ALL GOOD.

The girls are having a great time getting giggles out of Porkchop.  It merely requires rushing into his face and shouting, "BOO!"   Perfect for this season, and a good warm up for Halloween. 

We started the day at the bakery, where they were giving out giant oatmeal and chocolate chip cookies to kids in costumes.  With that insulin jump start, we moved onto a massive neighborhood party with an entire room dedicated to homemade sweets (and another room with an endless row of chili-packed slow cookers).  Sticky-Butt chose a green cookie shaped like a severed fingers oozing blood. And Sizzles, having a bit more refined pallete, choose some cream cheese fudge brownies.  Then in the cold, windy drizzle the went trick-or-treating.

Then we slept.

Downshifting the pumpkin patch

It has been a week of down-shifting around here.  Our idea of going apple picking in Elijay was down-shifted to visiting pumpkin patch closer to home, and then that was down-shifted to visiting the 'pumpkin patch' at our church where the Boy Scouts have the annual fund-raiser.  Although I would love to do the flashier outings, when it comes time to pull the trigger it just seems way to daunting with a crying (yes, it's back thanks to major constipation) baby and his rambunctious sisters.  The good news, is that it is always a reminder to me that simple is best.  We all still had a nice time and Porkchop is always happier to be outside and distracted from his achy tummy.

We also celebrated Sticky-Butt's third birthday.  We had the party at a newly renovated park where the kids played on the playground and then gathered around for some glittery purple cupcakes.  I even gave myself a break and bought them from the store!  Of course, I had to enhance them just a little with pink sugar glitter and some teeny tiny wands.  

Sticky-Butt was very impressed.  A few balloons and a handmade banner from Auntie Woo Woo's Etsy Shop and we had ourselves a party!

 

Once upon a time

Once upon a time this was a food blog of sorts, a chronicling of cooking with my very young girls.  I haven't posted recipes in forever, as I have been busy reproducing.  (Now the girls are 5 and 3, and we have an almost 3 month old boy).  We are still cooking around here though.  Our usual muffins, steel-cut oatmeal and homemade breads are starring in the rotation, now that the weather is cooling off.  And I certainly have some fun fall cooking activities up my sleeve.

But now, with so many little ones, I am turning to my slow cooker like never before.  Unfortunately, we aren't a big fan of heavy and dark flavors on a regular basis, which seem to be the result of a lot of crock-pot cooking.  Last week, however, I merged a couple of recipes from the Food Network and found a real winner.  It wasn't heavy AND it had vegetables in it.  

 I didn't take a picture of the particular dish (the picture above is actually from a hybrid soup recipe from The River Cottage Family Cookbook, which I highly recommend despite having cooked little from it).  But, here is the slow cooker recipe.  I think it is unique enough to call it original.  :)  

Tomorrow, a post about Sticky-Butt's 3rd birthday!

Slow Cooker Chicken and Squash

• 4 frozen boneless, skinless chicken breast (this is what I had, but I am sure you could use defrosted skinless chicken breast with bone in)
• I medium sweet onion, sliced
• 2 Tbsp tamari or soy sauce
• 2 large cloves of chopped garlic
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 cup of quality sweet orange marmalade (some orange marmalade says bitter on it - you could try this too but I don't know what it will taste like)
• 1 Tbsp worcestershire sauce
• 1 large yellow squash or 2 small ones
• 2 small zucchini
• 8 oz. of quartered or whole button of baby portebello mushrooms (although I use any mushrooms, I plan to next time)

Put onions in the bottom of slow cooker, then place chicken and vegetables on top.  Mix up the soy sauce, garlic, salt, worcestershire, and marmalade.  Pour it over the chicken and vegetables.  Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours.  I served this with brown rice, which you can get frozen at Whole Foods and microwave in about 2 minutes per serving, this stuff is a real treasure for me right now.

I hope you like it!

What we have been up to

I was doing so well for a while there, about posting daily.  Things have been hectic for me around here lately.  Porkchop and Sticky-Butt have been sick, as have I, and Porkchop hasn't pooped in three days.  A sick mama and a congested constipated baby, combined with a sick almost 3 year old lines our usual chaotic days with a thick coat of crying.  :(

But, Porkchop just cleared his bowels (or the things a mama will mention in a blog) and he is happy enough to put done for a few moments to blog.

The weather has been fabulous the last two days - tons of sparkly blue skies, sunshine and a crisp cool air have pushed us outside.  

(Well, now Sticky-Butt wants on my lap and to lay on her brother so blogging time is UP).  Oh well, maybe more tomorrow....I can't wait to show off the "reading cave" and "book nook" I created for the girls!

Some pics: