Mystery Ingredient Monday: Mustardy Chicken

Linking up with Jessica, for more mystery ingredient fun. 

This week's ingredient was mustard, and I must be such a devoted blogger that I made this recipe, last Thursday, in 90 degrees temps in our kitchen without a/c.    But hey...we gotta eat...and we don't have a grill, so the oven it is.   When I do use the oven in the summer, I basically just turn it on and then run out of the room and sit in front of the a/c in the next room while the kitchen swelters away. 

So, here's my recipe...that I invented myself.  

Amelia's  Moist and Juicy Honey-Brown Sugar-Mustard Chicken

I used brown sugar instead of honey because I wanted Elsa to be able to taste it (no baby mush for this baby) and "they" say you aren't supposed to give honey to babies under one.  And, since I am a rule-follower (of some of the rules anyway)  I make sure that honey does not pass that fair baby's lips before her first birthday. 

I decided to get all fancy.like a real foodie blogger and took pictures of the ingredients.

You will need

About 2 lbs chicken breasts

1/2 cup lemon juice

1/2 cup mustard

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

1 tsp hot mustard

1/2 cup butter

Melt butter, add rest of ingredients (except chicken) and mix well.  Place chicken into a 9 x 13 inch baking pan.  (Mine was actually still frozen, because I was never a boy scout and am never prepared). 

Pour sauce over chicken 

and bake at 425 degrees until done (time depends on the size and frozen-ness of your chicken breasts).

Notice, all that delicious sauce left in the pan.

I also cooked up 2 cups of Jasmine Rice (that's my favorite type) and poured the sauce over the rice.  

Delicious!!

It's quick, it's easy and it's GOOD. 

WIWS, My thoughts on cry rooms and a blog every day for a week

So, Jen at Conversion Diary put forth a challenge to bloggers to blog every day for a week.  Since, I already try to post at least 4 or 5 days out of  7, I figure that it shouldn't be too hard for me to blog all 7 days...right?  So, I'm in...a post a day for an entire week.  I know you all are simply thrilled to be reading more drivel. 

And, then Kendra at Catholic All Year put a link-up about cry rooms and since I am totally a joiner, I'm hopping on that bandwagon and putting my 2 pennies in.   Kendra thinks they should be filled with cement.

Me...I think they can be used appropriately in certain situations.   

Here's why. 

Kendra writes this:

I've never been inside one where families were making an attempt to participate in the Mass. I have experienced children loudly playing with baskets of noisy toys and parents chatting in full voice about their plans for the weekend.

This, however, has NOT been my experience.  Maybe, it's different parts of the country, or different areas or something, but that just hasn't been my experience.

Now, let me say, that of the churches we have attended regularly, I would say that at least 50% of them didn't have a cry room..so it wasn't even an option.  I think a lot of the older churches don't have them...and in my experience, the older churches tend be a bit more...traditional and we tend to gravitate towards attending those churches.  

Also, my children are spaced 2 2/3 years, 3 1/3 years and 4 1/2 years apart..so since becoming a parent 11 years ago, there have been several periods of time where we simply had no use for a cry room, so I didn't really pay attention to what they were like.

All that is to say that my cry room experience may be much more limited than that of other parents.

In my opinion/experience a cry room is generally only appropriate for kids between 12 months and maybe 2 or 2 1/2.  There are exceptions...I do have a few friends with children that honestly weren't really able to sit still during Mass until age 4 or 4 1/2 and in those cases, the child, in question, did have an "issue" (ie. sensory integration disorder or something)..so there are children who may reach that milestone later.

But, generally (as in for all my kids), babies less than 12 months are usually content enough being held/nursed/fed either sitting in the pew or being held/walked along the back of church (a sling can make that SO MUCH easier).   By age 2 1/2, I think many kids are developmentally able to sit through Mass, with maybe the aid of a few (preferably religious) books to look at.  At least my children have been.  However, the period of time between about 12 months and 2 or 2 1/2 is REALLY, REALLY hard for Mass behavior, with the worst being between 14 and 22 months.  I think developmentally, young toddlers just aren't there yet...they have a really, really, really hard time sitting still or being held when they want to get down and they just aren't developmentally able to understand consequences or rules the way an older child is.   So, in those cases, I think a small, enclosed room where they child can walk around and quietly look at books while the parent prays along/follows the Mass can be very helpful.

And, we HAVE been in cry rooms where that is exactly what happens.  The child is is happy to have a small amount of freedom and the parent can pray along/still follow the Mass.

So, in that vein...I've come up with some rules/guidelines that we tend to follow when using cry rooms so that our children still learn to behave at Mass and by age 2 1/2 or so.

1. Only use the cry room as a last resort.  We never just go and sit in it right off the bat.  We usually can get through the first 20-30 minutes or so of Mass by nursing (my kids all nursed until age 3...which is partly why they are spaced a bit further...I'll probably write a post on that later this week), looking at books and playing with quiet toys.  So, we do lots of nursing of toddlers and then quiet books and only when things get really bad do we take them in a cry room.

2. Only 1 parent and the child who needs the cry room sit in it...we try not to take older kids that developmentally don't need it, into the cry room.

3. If possible, attend an earlier Mass, where the cry room is likely to be less crowded (or not at all).   I think that is probably the number one reason why I haven't really experienced the crazy cry rooms with the parents talking about their weekend plans.  In my experience, cry rooms are less crowded (and hence less crazy) at an 8 AM Mass, versus at a 10 AM Mass, and I generally prefer to attend a bit earlier, so I would say that most of the time we've been in a cry room, there has been at most 1 other parent/child in it.   And, most of the time, the parent is quietly following along and the child is maybe quietly playing.  And, many times, we are the ONLY ones there..which is even better!

By generally following these rules (there have been exceptions) we've managed to make judicious use of cry rooms with young toddlers and still managed to teach our kids how to sit still and make it through Mass by age 2 1/2 or so.

And, now, since I know you are just dying to know what I wore today....here is my Sunday outfit...linking up with FLAP for this one.

Yeah...so I have no clue why it's such a weird angle, other than the fact that my photographer was being silly. 

The shirt is from Wal-mart.  The skirt and shoes were given to me.  The belt is SUPER old...(like maybe from high school) and I found it when I was going through some things.  Anyway, certain bloggers (namely Rosie and Laura) have gotten me interested in wearing belts..but I'm never quite sure how to wear them.  I'm always afraid that if I wear it too high (like right under my breast) it makes me look pregnant...so I tend to go for wearing it around the hips.but I'm not sure if that's the best.  And, I'm not sure if this belt really adds much to this outfit...but I had just found it and was excited to try it.

So, any belt-wearing tips?

As for Mass behavior goes...Elsa..who is 10-months and quickly approaching cry-room needing stage, gets a C-.  Ben had to take her out into the narthex...where she proceeded to eat a holy card and then when she came back in, she played the I want Mommy, No, I Want Daddy, No, I Want Mommy, No, I Want Daddy game.   Everyone else doesn't get graded, because they are old enough to always get an A. 

And, I think this is my longest, WIWS Sunday post ever.  So, bravo if you made it to the end. 

t

Brightness that is Pretty, Happy, Funny and Real

You guys...this world can have a lot of darkness and sadness in it...lots of grief, lots of suffering, lots of trials and tribulation. 

But, in the midst of the hardship...there is brightness.  Jesus said, 

I am the Light of the World...whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.

So, I today I bring you Pretty, Happy, Funny and Real pictures that show that brightness.   Linking up with Like Mother, Like Daughter and Clan-Donaldson for this one. 

{pretty}

I love the way the sun is shining through the trees...showing little pockets of brightness in the shadows  And, then of course, there is the contrast of the earthy tones to John's BRIGHT, green shirt. 

{happy}

See the little pocket of brightness over in the right-hand corner...the sun peeking out above the bush.  And, of course...Elsa is super happy that Grandpa is teaching her how to walk....and this is just a happy picture....of a grandpa walking with his granddaughter.

{funny}

You can see the brightness on the floor from the window...this is just a funny picture.  

We told Elsa that she was so cute, we were going to eat her up..and this was her response. 

Then, I told her I was just speaking figuratively and not literally. Why yes, I do use big words like that with my 10-month old...doesn't everyone?

And, she was back to this:

{Real}

The house in which we are currently residing is on the market...and these are some pictures of the rooms I took.  There are a lot of windows..and the brightness of the sun is always shining through the window.

This is my favorite...the dark stairway leading up to the light. 

And, I like this one, because it shows the crucifix with the light on either side coming in through the windows and I figure that has to be all figurative or something with Jesus and the light of the world. 

And, of course you can see the computers....which show the world my brightness in my brilliant blogging.  Ha, ha..not!  And, actually, that's not even my computer...my brightness pours forth over the internet via a laptop. 

Best, best, best, best, best ever lemon squares and gluten free to boot.

I haven't participated in a Mystery Ingredient Monday in a few weeks, because I just haven't gotten it together to make a recipe...but when I saw that this week's ingredient was lemon,

Insert random lemon picture off the internet here. 

 I knew I just have to post my recipe for long squares...a recipe that got RAVE reviews at our recent family reunion AND, it's gluten-free to boot.  (Isn't that a funny expression, to boot, I'm not sure why I'm using it, other than I must want to channel my mother who probably used quaint expressions like that in the 50's .

Lemon squares are basically lemony goodness on top of a rich shortbread cookie and shortbread is actually a cookie that comes out REALLY WELL gluten-free...in fact, one could argue that shortbread is better gluten-free.  I could argue that...but I won't because I don't like arguing on my blog.

And, this is going to be a super lame blog post, because I don't have any pictures of my lemon bars or the baking process.  I'm just too busy living life to photograph it.  (Actually, I just didn't think to take pictures..but I like to come up with pithy sayings like that, just for kicks). 

Lemon squares are a great summer recipe, because they are a nice cool cookie.  And, these squares are very lemony and the perfect blend of sour and sweet. 

Best, best, best, best ever lemon squares. 

1 cup butter softened

1/2 cup sugar

2 cups flour (I used Namaste brand Gluten-free Perfect Flour blend)

Beat butter, sugar and flour together. 

Press into bottom of ungreased 9 x 13 inch pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes until firm and golden.

Meanwhile, beat together:

4 eggs

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/4 + 1/8 cup flour

3/4 cup lemon juice.

Pour over baked crust and bake another 20 minutes in hot oven. 

Sift powdered sugar over top.  Cut into squares and resign. 

So, go check out the Bazin Chronicles for more lemony goodness. 

WIWS: Seersucker edition.

Let's be honest right off the bat though...I did not wear the seersucker.  I do not own any seersucker. 

No, this is the edition in which I learn the term seersucker...and lo and behold discover that I had been dressing my baby in seersucker outfits for several months, all without knowing the proper term for it.  Oh...I'm so embarrassed. 

It all started this morning when my mother saw Elsa dressed in this adorable dress

and said Oh, she looks so cute in her seersucker dress and I was all what the heck is seersucker?

So, my mom told me to google it, which led me to see everything from seersucker suits to a seersucker  wedding dress.   Now, I kinda like the seersucker suits on men.

..but the seersucker wedding and bridesmaid dresses....not so much. 

But I did see several other adorable seersucker dresses like this:

And seersucker seems like it would be so lovely and cool in the summer...instead of what I wore today...which was incredibly hot (I think I need more light-weight clothing).  On of my biggest pet peeves in clothing is when the cut of the shirt/outfit does not match the weight of the cloth.   The short-sleeved sweater is the classic example of this...I have never understood how anyone could wear a short-sleeved sweater...because it if's warm-enough for shorts sleeves, it's too hot to wear a sweater.   But, I am digressing.

So, here is what I wore:

Notice seersucker baby peeking out from behind my leg.  Oh..and I forgot to put on shoes for the picture....but I did wear shoes to Mass..promise.

So..the shirt is thrifted.  The skirt is super old...but probably from wal-mart.   You can't tell from the picture, but it actually has tiny white polka dots on it. 

And, I'm thinking seersucker would have been a more comfortable fabric.

 And, now I have managed to write an entire blog post about seersucker.  This here blog is going downhill fast, me thinks.  

Go forth and visit FLAP to see what everyone else wore Sunday. 

7QTF all about food and what a good mom I am (or not).

1.

This baby 

is addicted to these:

or these:

About 2 weeks about we took a long car trip with family...a whole bunch of us in a big passenger van.  My brother and Heidi were sitting next to Elsa, and she'd cry and then get quiet, so I was all 

What's going on with Elsa?  And, they were all Oh, she's crying so we're feeding her cheesy puffs and she quiets right down..she loves them.  Me: Oh, ok..carry on then. 

So, now we have a new strategy to get through LONG car rides.

2.

My sister and brother are/were in town, so we've been having A TON of parties lately..like two a week, which means Elsa has been eating an obscene amount of these, because we bring them out at every party.

Get her addicted to salt and artificial flavorings young I say.

3.

Oddly enough though, I am adamant that she doesn't eat sugar..so she hasn't been allowed to have all the ice cream and cakes the rest of us have been partaking in.  Not sure why I let her eat potato chips but not cake....but hey...I never claimed to be rational or logical or consistent. 

4.

Speaking of potato chips, Sr. Veronica claims that Herrs potato chips (only available in PA) are the best.   But, she also really loves these (blech)

so, I wouldn't trust her taste buds.

5

Okay...enough about junk food, so you don't all report me to CPS.  My baby does actually eat a few healthy foods and actually loves this vegetable. 

5.

Ok...enough of that healthy stuff...back to junk food.

John made up his own recipe for dessert pizza.

Here it is.  A (gluten-free) sugar cookie crust with chocolate sauce, ice cream, and sprinkles.

6.

So, of course, Greta wanted to come up with a recipe for her own dessert pizza.  Hers is a gluten-free sugar cookies crust with chocolate sauce, chocolate sprinkles (for cheese) and gluten-free oreo cookies (for pepperoni)...all shaped like a heart. 

7.

And, whenever Sr. Veronica comes to visit, she always makes us ice cream cake.  It's like famous in our house-hold...this year, Heidi helped. 

Now, go check out Jen for more quick takes. 

How We Met

I've been meaning to write this for awhile so one day my kids can read it and laugh and giggle about what dorks their parents are.  And then I noticed that Grace at Camp Patton is having a "how we met link-up" and it was JUST the motivation I needed to get my fingers in gear and type this up. 

So, we met Labor Day, 1999 in Cumberland Falls State Park, KY. 

The End.

Ok, ok...so I guess you all want the WHOLE story. 

I had just moved to Lexington, KY a few weeks prior to pursue a Master's Degree in Reproductive Physiology of dairy cows (seriously people..not joking there at all, you can actually get a degree in that) from the University of Kentucky, and Ben was in his second year of his Master's Degree program in Medieval Spanish Literature (sadly..not joking on that either...as I said...we're dorks) at that same prestigious university that had just the year prior won the 1998 NCAA basketball championships.  One of the first things I learned upon arriving in the land of the Bluegrass is that in Kentucky, basketball is religion. 

Anyway, the Newman Center on campus was hosting one of its famous KY mountain hikes.. and as fate would have it, both Ben and I found ourselves in that big passenger van heading into the mountains of Kentucky for a Labor Day hike. 

We didn't actually "meet", however, until the van stopped, we both stepped out, and I noticed that Ben was hiking barefoot.   For some reason,  I was very impressed by that.  Now I just think it's weird...but it definitely explains why our children run around barefoot everywhere. 

Anyway, we spent that whole hike talking...a lot...and discovered that we had a lot in common.  We were both vegetarians and both very "Franciscan" in that we liked simplicity and didn't put a high value on material possessions.  Now, we're both avowed meat-lovers and not nearly so simple.   

We ended up becoming best friends pretty quickly and somehow both volunteered to lead a graduate student bible study that no one else ever showed up for.  Ha ha...so we got lots of time together.

Our first official date was to Mass and then to a crunchy, healthy, vegetarian restaurant called Everybody's in Lexington.   Where, as legend goes,  as we were walking there, I walked on the opposite side of the sidewalk as Ben...that's how he tells the story, anyway. 

In October, we took another trip to Cumberland Falls to watch the moonbow where we had a serious talk and decided that we were either going to get married or Ben was going to become a monk...yes, this was only about 6 weeks after we met and before we "officially" started "dating."  

In November,  Ben chose me over the monastery and we officially became a couple.  That Thanksgiving, we took a trip together with another friend to her home in Michigan (Hi Kathy!) and stayed with her wonderful family over Thanksgiving break.  We had a great time.

On Feb. 6th, 2000, so about 5 months after we started dating, Ben proposed and I think I said something profound like of course, I'll marry you., like there was never any question...because when you know it's the right person, you just know. 

I think during spring break that year we went to Nashville and I met his family, and during the summer we went to Rhode Island and he met mine. 

I also was doing my master's thesis research trial and spent that summer and the following fall writing my thesis...and planning a wedding.

In August 2000, Ben finished his master's thesis, was awarded his master's degree and then moved to Louisville, KY and took a job teaching Spanish at a small Catholic school.  I stayed in Lexington until Dec. 15th when I defended my thesis and got my M.S. degree.  Then, two short weeks later, we flew to RI, and I got my M.R.S. degree on December 30th, 2000 in Newport.

Despite the snowstorm, it was a beautiful wedding surrounded by family and friends.

I moved to Louisville with Ben, and we started our life together...and the rest, as they say, is history.  Four children, two many moves to count (from KY to TN to NH to RI to FL and back to RI...and we ain't done moving yet).  We'll be celebrating our 13th anniversary this December.   Life has definitely been an adventure, with lots of ups and downs, but I know that God put the right person in my path that fateful Labor Day back in 1999.