Fettuccine with Sausage, Peppers and Onions

In my quest to use up random things in my fridge/freezer/pantry I happened upon some turkey sausage.  Knowing I also had some bell peppers and onions, my first thought was sausages with peppers and onions. 

But my second thought was - you should mix it with something in the pantry, to use up more of what you have in there.  And so sausage with peppers and onions became fettuccine with sausage, peppers, and onions.

This stays pretty true to the classic, without adding a lot of extraneous flavor.  What it adds is a nice heartiness that you find when mixing sausage with pasta.  Something that sticks to you, and leaves you comfortably full.  So that you don't need any kind of heavy sauce, just a light drizzle of olive oil.

Fettuccine with Sausage, Peppers, and Onions

 8oz fettuccine noodles

1 bell pepper, chopped

1 onion, chopped

8oz turkey sausage, sliced

olive oil, salt, and pepper to taste

1. Cook fettuccine according to package directions,  Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of pasta water.
2. Heat 1 Tbsp olive oil in a large pan.  Add peppers and onions and saute until onions are translucent, about 5 minutes.
3. Add sausage and cook another 5 minutes, until sausage is heated through.
4. Add the cooked fettucine, tossing to coat.  Add as much pasta water as you like to create a bit of a sauce and keep the noodles from sticking together.
5. Season with salt and pepper to taste.  Drizzle olive oil over and serve.

N's Birthday

We had a couple week break from birthday parties, so it should come as no surprise that last weekend we were back in action.  Actually, N's birthday was the last on our schedule, so it'll be a couple weeks of reprieve - and a couple cake-free weeks for us.


N was very much in his element at his birthday. After all it was at his home turf.  Literally.  And all his favorite toys and friends were there.  While N was busy hosting, Thatbaby was pleased to see his buddy LittleHW.

But Thatbaby was even happier to see cake.  N was pretty excited about it too.  He sat himself down at his little table and told me he was moving things to make room for the cake.  He got a little help blowing out the candles.  It's hard to be the center of attention.

N was nice enough to share his space with his friends once the candles were taken care of. 

And when N decided he was done with his cake, Thatbaby moved over to sit next to his buddy. 

After all they shared cake faces.

Following cake, we headed to the backyard for a little pinata time.

This was a far different experience from Little Pirate's birthday where Thatbaby walked away with two lollypops. This time, knowing what to do, Thatbaby came home with a huge bag of candy.

Another birthday party success!

Easter Wrap Up

I know it's a little late, but I've been a little busy.  A lot busy really.  But now seems like the perfect time to catch up and share with you how we spent our Easter vacation.

 

As is our tradition, we headed up to TMIL's house for Easter.  This was our first plane trip with Thatbaby in almost a year!  On the blegh side, this meant we had to buy him his own ticket.  On the plus side, this meant we didn't have to deal with him on our laps.  We still had to deal with him not wanting to sit down, and roam all over the plane.  And scream.  We did our best to keep him occupied.

He got a lollypop for landings, to help his ears, which was the highlight of the trip apparently, because when we got home and his teacher asked what he did over break, he told her he ate a lollypop.  And he also got juice as a special plane treat.

Our first day there, we dyed eggs with friends and family.

On Easter Sunday, we went to church with the family, and Thatbaby got to participate in the egg hunt.

He also spotted the Easter Bunny.  He was pretty excited to see him...from afar.  He didn't want to get within touching distance, but wanted me to stand next to E.Bunny so he could stand near me.

We came home, and after nap, joined in with the extended family for more Easter Egging.

We got home late Monday night, which is part of the reason I've been so busy lately.  It's just one thing after another.  One of these days I'll catch up, if life would just slow down a little!

Mommy Mondays: Life for Two Year Olds

I haven't done an update on what's going on with us in a loooooong time.  So now that Thatbaby is chugging his way to 3, I thought I would share some of the great hallmarks of 2.

1. Eating. Oh the joys of 2.  Like 1, but with attitude.  We get a lot more "I don't yike (fill-in the blank).  He's still great with breakfast, where he'll eat a cereal bar as soon as he's up, then cereal with Thatboy, then either eggs or oatmeal with me.  Lunches often come home uneaten, because he apparently spends the lunch period socializing with his friends.  And dinners are hit or miss.  This week he's been great about eating dinners, but the weeks prior, not so much.  His new favorite dinner time phrase is "I try it, if I no yike it, I get some other thing to eat."  Favorite food?  M&Ms.

2. Potty training. We're pretty much still in the same place we've been.  Some days he asks to sit on the potty, other days he doesn't want to.  We'll get so excited when he asks, only to have him pee on the floor later that same day.  We put him in underwear after his last diaper change of the day, since we usually are 10-15 minutes from bathtime.  And he loves wearing those.  And knows that big boys who go on the potty get to wear them.  But, he's still not interested.

3. The little clothes-horse.  I wasn't sure when this was going to happen, so for those of you with younger kids - it happens at 2.  When they start wanting to pick out their own clothes.  Thatbaby is very definite about the clothes he wants to wear and those he doesn't want to wear

4. School.  He loves it!  During spring break he kept asking to go to school.  He comes home singing songs, and loves to show his artwork.  Of course, this doesn't change the fact that he still cries for me to stay about half the time at dropoff.

5. Manipulation.  Thatbaby has already learned that if dad says no, you should ask mom.  And if mom says no, you should ask dad.  Somewhere he picked up  "I not asking you, I asking daddy" after one of us tells him he can't have/do something.  Or flat out lying when one of us asks what the other said.

6. Tantrums.  Oh the tantrums.  English is Thatbaby's second language.  His first is Whine.  Everything is a matter of tears and whining.  Today there was a tantrum about being in the car, not wanting to go home, wanting to go home, not having water to drink, not wanting to eat dinner, not wanting to get his band-aid wet, not being allowed to slam doors, not wanting to wash his hands, wanting me to help him with a bath, wanting me to play with him......

Two is totally trying.  It's exhausting.  But at the same time, it's a pretty fun age.  They are so full of personality and we can't wait to hear the next "pearl" to drop from his lips. 

Sunday Runday: Running With Friends

Today's the day of the race!  As you read this, there's a good chance I'm either running past wineries and cheetahs.  I feel very prepared for this race, despite the fact my new training plan has my weekly mileage far lower than when I normally train for a half.  Especially since my weekday runs have been hit or miss lately given my crazy schedule.  Earlier this week I started putting together my race playlist, when it struck me.  I haven't listened to music on my long runs in weeks, and I probably wouldn't be listening to any music during the race.  Because I'm running today with L&O.

This will be the first Half Marathon I've run with a friend, and I'm really excited about it. L&O and I have been doing a lot of our long runs together.  We spend the entire time talking, and before we know it, 11 miles have passed. 

In addition to the first Half Marathon I've run with someone, this is also the first time I've trained with others.  For my longer runs, I've joined others in my running group if L&O wasn't available.  It's a really great way to go and I recommend it to anyone training for a distance that's long for them. 

I'm looking forward to today's half marathon for so many reasons - the course, the cause, but probably what I am most excited about is running it with L&O.   It's kind of magical when you can find a friend with a similar pace who you train with.  I know we push each other forward.  She makes me stretch my short runs just a little longer, and I know that sometimes she does her workday runs just because I'm planning one too.  Peer pressure is a wonderful thing with half marathon training.  Running with friends also means you have someone to psych you up.  L&O and I have been chatting all week, feeding each other's excitement about the race this weekend.  And, like I said, the actual runs are so much more entertaining with company.

Do you run with friends?

Stay tuned next week for my race recap!

My favorite recent text

This is what happens when I go out for the night, leaving the boys to in charge of dinner.

Crockpot Pulled Chicken

It's funny.  I wouldn't say we're a pork family.  Sure, we eat pork, but not as often as we eat chicken.  In reality, if pork and chicken were in some sort of championship playoff, we would be waving our chicken flags high.  Which isn't really funny, except when it comes to pulled meat.  Because despite our strong chicken alliance, we predictably turned to pulled pork over and over again as an easy crockpot dinner.   I bookmarked Elly's recipe for pulled chicken years ago.  YEARS.  As in, before Thatbaby was even a twinkle in our eye.  But until recently, I'd never made it.  However - and I haven't mentioned this yet, and will go into more detail soon - we're moving soon and trying to use up what's in our freezer.  Which includes quite a bit of frozen chicken (I DID say we were chicken people).  So this pulled chicken was perfect for using that up.  And the taste?  Well, I'm still partial to pulled pork, but this is a definite contender.

Crockpot Pulled Chicken (From Elly Says Opa)

1 can tomato sauce
3 chipotles in adobo, finely minced

 1/4 cup cider vinegar
3 to 4 Tbsp honey
1 1/2 Tbsp smoked paprika
2 Tbsp tomato paste
2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 Tbsp dry mustard
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
2 tsp chili powder
3 lbs. boneless/skinless chicken thighs and breasts
1 large onion, thinly sliced in half circles
4 cloves garlic, minced

1. Whisk together the first 9 ingredients (through chili powder).  
2. Spray your slowcooker lightly with oil and then place the chicken inside. 
3. Season the chicken with salt and pepper.  
4. Scatter the onions and garlic evenly over the top, and then pour the barbecue sauce over the top. Cook on low for 5 hours.  
5. Shred the chicken with two forks and, if desired, continue to cook for a little bit on  high, with the lid off, to allow mixture to thicken.

Soft Custard

Thatboy loves pudding.  Personally, I think it's a weird thing to love, although I should be more specific.  Thatboy loves homemade pudding.  He doesn't havea  thing for jello pudding, instant pudding, or those little snack packs you can buy ready to eat.  Really his love comes out every time we see a pudding on dessert menu when we eat out.  Despite this small obsession, I have never attempted to make pudding at home.  Like I said, it's an eat out kind of thing- he's never requested it.  But I decided to try my hand at my own version.  Although butterscotch is his favorite, I figured I would start with something easy - a custard.  I've made custard before - as a filling for cakes or pies.  This went over well, which was no big surprise.  It's a baby step to pudding and a surefire way to your loved-one's heart.

3 eggs
6 Tbsp sugar
1/8 tsp salt
2 cups hot milk
1 tsp vanilla

1. Whisk eggs, sugar, and salt in a pan.
2. Slowly add the hot milk, stirring constantly.  Cook over medium heat, about 8 minutes, until custard thickens enough to coat a spoon.
3. Stir in the vanilla and strain into a bowl.  Cover and refrigerate.

Cucumber Salad

We're very into cucumbers lately.  It's one of those vegetables that Thatbaby can't get enough of, and Thatboy and I enjoy equally.  Cucumber seems flavorless, but there's something about their cool, fresh taste.  I think of them as a very summery vegetable.  Like the veggie version of watermelon.  I add a little tang to them for the spring - the vinegar gives them a bit of a kick.


The fun thing about this cucumber salad in particular is Thatbaby helped make it.  If by "helped" I mean he stood beside me while I sliced cucumbers and onions, picking them up and eating them before they made it into the bowl.  Yes, even the onions.  Apparently he likes a little bit of a kick too.

Cucumber Salad

2 cucumbers, sliced
1/2 onion, sliced
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
salt and pepper to taste
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 Tbsp sugar

1 Tbsp olive oil

1. Combine cucumbers and onions in a medium bowl.
2. In a separate, small bowl, combine vinegar, salt and pepper, garlic, sugar, and olive oil.
3. Pour the vinegar mixture over the cucumbers and onions and toss to mix.  Cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes.

Mommy Mondays: Fun in the Sun

In most parts of the country, the weather is warming up.  Summer is coming and we're all going to be spending more time outside.  So here are some of my favorite spend all day outside tips:


The most important thing for any age - infants, toddlers, kids, teens, and adults, is physical protection from the sun.  But this was especially important for me when Thatbaby was....a baby.  The first 6 months is supposed to be sunscreen free, so we relied solely on these protections so he didn't get sunburnt.

 Hats - still one of my favorite forms of sun protection.  A big hat works wonders at keeping the sun off your head, neck and ears.  Plus, who likes having a burnt hair-part?  I know it can be hard to keep a hat on your kid, so find a style he/she likes.  Baseball caps, floppy hats, bonnets, hats that tie, hats you staple on....

Sunglasses - This is probably more a "me" thing than anything else.  My eyes are hypersensitive to light.  My long-time optometrist told me I should never go out without sunglasses.  So I probably take this more seriously than others.  Right now Thatbaby is a fan of sunglasses, but when he was younger we got the ones with a strap to hold them on his face.

Sunblock- I should have started with this one, right?  SOOOO Important.  Thatboy has skin cancer is his family, I don't in mine, but I'm fair skinned and burn easily, so we are very good about applying sunscreen.  Here's a little info about sunblock:

Sunscreen v. Sunblock:  Sunscreen is a chemical blocker that reflects the sun's rays.  But the chemicals are not great for you, me, and especially our children.  Sunblock is a physical sunblocker - like wearing clothing.  You want sunblock, not sunscreen.

So how do you tell?   Look at the active ingredients.  If it has Avobenzont, Homosalate, Octisalate, Octocrylene  and/or Oxybenzone, it's sunscreen.  Sunblock active ingredients are Titanium Dioxide and/or Zinc Oxide.

What are some examples of good sunblocks?  We used Neutrogena for a long time.  Their "Sensitive Skin" and "Pure and Free" formulas are both sunblocks.  Right now we're fans of Blue Lizard.  It's Australian, and if anyone knows about sun protection, it's the Aussies.



If you're spending any time at the beach, here are some further favorites:

Rashguards - I'm not going to lie, I'm not a fan of babies in bikinis.  I don't think they're inappropriate or sexual, I just think that they need more sun protection!  I would put Thatbaby in swim-pants instead of shorts if I could!  For at least the first year he was in long-sleeved rash guards to cover as much of him as possible.  Now we keep him in short-sleeved rash guards.

Swim Diaper - We're big fans of the reusable kind.  But we spend a lot of time in the water - pools and beaches.  The reuseable ones get a lot of use, and we don't have to pull them off as soon as he gets out of the water. They hold in poop (we've experienced that, although always at home after the pool trip.)

Tents - a must have in my book.  Thatboy loves the beach.  I knew we'd spend a lot of time there, so I told him we needed a tent if he wanted Thatbaby and I to join him.  This way we can spend long periods at the beach and out of the sun. It's also a place where we can sit off the sand - which is key for eating! We got ours at Costco.  It's 3-sided, with screen windows that can be zipped open or closed.  And most importantly, it's fairly easy to set up and tear down.

Cornstarch - speaking of sand, this is my secret magic trick for dealing with sand.  Get a tub of cornstarch you can just keep in your beach bag.  When you want to remove sand, rub some on your hands and then the area you're trying to de-sand.  It comes right off!!  And because it's cornstarch, you don't have to worry about it getting on your hands, your child's hands, or in your child's mouth (because we use it a lot on the face.)

Sunday Runday: The Neon Run

My last fun run!  Or walk, really.  Because any races that involve Thatbaby are really walks, not runs.  You may remember Thatboy and my complete and utter disappointment in the Electric Run.  So you may wonder why I would sign up for another, similar run.  3 reasons my friends:

1) During the Electric Run, I thought it would be a fun idea to combine the Electric Run (glow in the dark, night run) with the Color Run (throwing colorful powder on you).  The Neon Run does exactly that.

2) The Neon Run was being held at Qualcomm Stadium, the same location as The Color Run.  Which I thought, logistically, went really well.  Easy to get in and out!  

3) Thatboy, an ex-raver, loves stuff like this.

So a couple of weeks ago, we left Little Pirate's birthday, donned our best neon clothes and glow accessories, and headed to the event.

Check out the skirt I made at my running club party! I made it especially for this race!  Thatbaby took control of a majority of the glowsticks, tucking them under his blanket to keep safe.

Like the Color Run, they handed out packets of neon colors.  Taking a hint from Kim (along with the idea of covering our stroller in garbage bags and using goggles) we decided to have our own little color tossing instead of joining in the post race giant mosh pit.  We decided to do it before the race, so he could enjoy it in the light. 

And boy did he enjoy it.  He loved getting the packet thrown on him, and throwing it on Thatboy.  And seriously, thank goodness for those goggles!

Before too long, it started to get dark, which meant it was almost show time!

But not before getting a blacklight family photo!

We got in line - before our actual wave time, but we figured with the line and a tiring child, we should get in line sooner than later. 

Eventually we got to the front, and we were off!

Thatbaby was such a trooper.  Until we got to the blacklit tunnel.  The crowd came to a dead spot....AND Thatbaby conked out.  Fell asleep.  In the middle of the race.  With music blaring, crowds, and glow everywhere.  It was 8:30pm.

Thatboy and I enjoyed the rest of the race as an almost "date night" - sleeping baby, just the two of us walking and talking.  Enjoying the music and lights.

We stopped for an "after" family picture in the black light, and you can see what has become of our littlest racer.

In review, we liked this race much more than the Electric Run and it was a truly enjoyable evening for all of us.  However, all that being said, I have come to realize I'm really not into these kind of races.  The crowds, the prices, and the lack of actual...racing. Everytime I sign up for one I get so excited, only to show up and question why I'm there.  Thatboy on the other hand - these are the only kind of races for him!  So we'll have to see what participation in the future looks like.

Lemon Tarts

Have you guys been missing my pie posts?  They were all over the place for a while, and then...poof!  Nothing.

Now that Passover's over, I can share some more pie-love with you.  Like lemon tarts.

There's really something about lemon in the spring, isn't there?  The bright color yellow, the sour zing, it's like spring personified.  Or fruitified?  And lemon desserts are a great way to ring in the season.  Fabulous for springtime tea parties or brunches.

Lemon Tarts

1 cup flour

1/2 tsp salt

  1 stick + 6 Tbsp butter

1 egg yolk

1 1/2 cups sugar

grated rind of 2 lemons

juice of 3 lemons

6 eggs

1. Mix the flour and 1/4 tsp salt in a bowl.
2. Cut 6 Tbsp butter with your fingers until it forms pea-sized balls.
3. Whisk the egg yolk and 2 Tbsp water and add to the flour mixture, mixing until it forms a smooth ball.  Wrap in foil and refrigerate 20 minutes.
4. Preheat the oven to 375.  Press the dough into 6 small tart pans and prick with a fork.  Bake for 10 minutes.  Cool and remove from tins.
5. Mix the remaining butter, sugar, lemon rind, lemon juice, and eggs in a pan and cook over moderate heat, stirring constantly, until thick.
6. Cool in the refrigerator.  Fill the tart shells with the lemon filling and top with fresh whipped cream.

 

 

Chicken and Hominy Stew

You guys, Passover is finally over!  And once again I made it through unscathed.  Despite spending it with my inlaws who, despite 14 years of me reminding them that Passover is ALWAYS on Easter (Last Supper = Passover Seder and all), still refuse to bend or make any accommodations for us.   This year, to add insult to the injury, TMIL decided that our matzah would make a great snack for her, leaving me in the uncomfortable position of having to choose whether Thatbaby or I would get to have lunch our last day there.

Now that it's all over, we're back to our typical ways.  Which means we've already enjoyed our pizza night celebration.  This is a recipe I really wanted to make for a couple of weeks, but hominy isn't exactly Passover-friendly.  And I certainly could have made it without the hominy, but it wouldn't have been the same.

I'm such a fan of hominy - it has that fabulous corny flavor you love in corn and grits, but has some heft to it, like wheatberries or beans.  It makes everything seem fuller, heartier, and more filling.

This stew does have a bit of a kick to it, because of the chipotle, but you can moderate that as your family sees fit, adding more, less, or none at all.  Unlike the hominy, it's not a necessity, I just like a little spice in my stews.

Chicken and Hominy Stew

 1 Tbsp olive oil
1 chipotle chile in adobo, chopped

2 onions, diced
2 carrots, diced
1 celery stalk, diced
1 tsp cumin
6 cloves garlic, minced
6 cups chicken broth
1 sprig oregano
1 sprig thyme
2 chicken breasts
2 red potatoes, chopped
1 can hominy, drained
1/4 cup heavy cream
2 tomatoes, seeded and chopped

1. Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat.  Add the chipotle, onion, carrot, celery, garlic, and salt and pepper.  Cook until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes.
2. Add the chicken broth and bring to a boil.
3. Add the chicken, oregano, and thyme and reduce heat.  Simmer for 30 minutes.  Remove from heat and let cool.
4. Remove chicken from pot.  Place the rest of the mixture in blender and blend until smooth.
5. Pour back into the pot and add the potatoes and hominy.  Bring back to a boil, then  lower to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes.
6. Shred the chicken and return to the pot.and stir in the heavy cream too. Simmer for an additional 5 minutes.  
7. Add the heavy cream and cook for another 5 minutes.
8. Remove from heat.  Stir in the tomatoes, salt, and pepper to taste.