Where has the time gone?

That is a good question! Life has flown by me and I really can't complain.  I don't really know what we've been doing that has made this last three months so busy.  I guess I could blame it on having a full time job, which makes me tired and then behind on everything.  I really don't know how people do it.  (Sometimes, I feel like I'm drowning.) The facts are that our Maddy girl is just growing up so fast and is getting cuter by the second!  There really isn't one complaint we can have about her.  (Just about her lack of BMs.)  She turned 11 months on Christmas Day.  I will update on our Christmas with our families in the next couple days. Here is a little taste of our Maddy Muffin...

11 months old

P.S. It is really hard to get a good shot of her, because she just wants to crawl away!

Maddy's Photo Shoot

Maddy had her second photo shoot with her photographer, Jennifer Bellah, about a month ago.  We love how Maddy's newborn pics turned out and we felt the same this second time around.  Jenn is so easy going and makes beautiful pictures! Here are some of our favorites...

They turned out awesome, considering Maddy's mood that day.  She usually loves every second of life, but that day she decided to not always wear her smile.  I still love them!

That's Life...

Well, we've just been livin life!  As you can tell, I'm no longer off. We've been back in the swing of things now, for a month and a half.  I myself have been figuring out how to be a mom, a wife, and a teacher all at the same time.  So far I have found it is not easy! Doable... not easy!  Especially, when your sweet little red head is just sooo cute! Lots, lots, lots, and lots has happened since my last posts.  There is no way I could finish this in one sitting if I told you it all.  The most important thing is a Maddy Update! 

Maddy turned 7 months on August 25

Then she turned 8 months on September 25

Can you believe it?  Madeyln... Maddy Girl is 8 months old!  She is growing up so fast.  She has so many tricks and her personality is really starting to shine through.  She is obviously a very happy girl.  Loving life is her favorite thing to do! She is still very easy going and sociable.  Her new tricks include... army crawling or carpet swimming, attempting to drink from a sippy cup, trying her hardest to put puffs in her mouth, and selecting her favorite color out of a group of toys.  Yes, she can do this.  We've discovered that Maddy's favorite color is now red. I know our house is red and one of our college colors in red, so you would think that we persuaded Maddy or brain washed her into loving red.  She loves red all on her own.  We figured this out because she flipped out when she saw a Clifford stuffed animal.  From then on, we've noticed that if there is a red toy in a whole bunch of other toys she will go for it first.  Today, I did a test for a friend. I lined up three of Maddy's stuffed animals. Her lovey doggie she sleeps with, the Clifford, and her Aristocrat. Then, put Maddy a few feet in front of them.  She crawled straight to the Clifford, proving she LOVES red.

Last Sunday, we visited Dewberry Farms with our friends. 

Lots more Maddy cuteness and Haywood details to come.  Stay tuned... I will try to do better. 

THINGS I LOVE TO COOK: My Top 5 Favorite Recipes

I would not consider myself a chef by any means, but I love good food!  I figure if I'm going to take the time to cook it might as well be something tasty.  My college years is really where I found my very amateur culinary skills.  Yes, I learned a few things from my mom, but that didn't really come until later in life.  I mostly learned cooking and cooking lingo by making meals for me and my roommates in college.  For years I mostly followed recipes.  As I became more comfortable I started creating things by using techniques and flavor combinations I adopted from recipes I had used before. I would have to say Rachael Ray and Food Network are big contributors to my "Recipe Box." These are my signature dishes and meals that I have made for many year now. 
In no particular order here are my Top 5 Favorite Recipes...


This is probably one of the first meals I cooked for my roommates Jen and Cor.  I still make this at least once every 2 months.  It has a lot of ingredients, but literally only takes me a total of 40 minutes to cook start to sitting at the table eating it.  This will also last two nights or dinner and then a lunch. Thank you Rachael Ray for this unique easy dinner. 
 
Chipotle Cashew Chicken 

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 large onion, 1/4 onion finely chopped, 3/4 thinly sliced
• 2 cups quick cooking brown rice
• 4 cups chicken stock
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 pounds chicken meat: tenders, boneless, skinless breasts or boneless, skinless thighs, cut into 2-inch pieces
• 2 tablespoons grill seasoning blend (recommended: Montreal Steak Seasoning blend by McCormick)
• 2 to 3 tablespoons tamari dark soy sauce, eyeball it
• 4 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, seeded and thinly sliced
• 10 to 12 water chestnuts, whole
• 1 cup frozen green peas
• 3 tablespoons chipotle in adobo (2 peppers and their sauce), available in cans on the international foods aisle or substitute 1 1/2 tablespoons ground chipotle powder
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin, a palm full
• 2 to 3 tablespoons honey, 2 healthy drizzles
• 1/4 to 1/3 cup real maple syrup, eyeball it
• 2 to 3 tablespoons chopped cilantro or parsley leaves, your preference
• 1 cup raw cashews

Directions

In a medium pot over medium heat combine 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, 1 turn of the pan, and 1 tablespoon butter. When butter melts into oil, add in the chopped onion, cook 2 minutes, then add rice and cook 3 minutes more. Add stock and cover the pot. Raise heat to bring stock to a rapid boil. Once the stock boils, reduce heat to low and cook, stirring occasionally, until rice is tender, 17-18 minutes.

While rice cooks, make the chicken. Heat a large skillet over high heat. Add vegetable oil, 2 turns of the pan, then the chicken. Season the chicken with grill seasoning. Brown the chicken on both sides, season with soy sauce then move off to one side of the pan. Add the remaining onions, garlic and peppers. Cook 2 to 3 minutes then add water chest nuts. Glaze the mixture with honey and maple syrup and turn off the heat. Add in the chopped cilantro or parsley and the cashew nuts. and green peas and mix vegetables and meat together. Add the chipotles and cumin. Toss to coat.

Top rice with cashew chicken and serve.

This is really probably the first thing I made from Rachael Ray.  Her cook book featured this recipe in a photo and I just had to try it.  This is one of those dishes I take bits and pieces from sometimes to create new things.  I don't always have all of the ingredients so I change it up a bit to create a whole new meal. I've made a few changes to the recipe here to reflect how I usually make it.  Click the name of the recipe for the link to the original recipe.

Pecan Crusted Chicken Tender Salad with Tangy Maple Dressing

Ingredients

• Vegetable oil, for frying
• 1 1/3 to 2 pounds chicken tenders
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 eggs, beaten with a splash of milk or water
• 1 cup plain bread crumbs
• 1 cup pecans, processed in food processor to finely chop
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, freshly grated or ground
• 1 orange, zested

Dressing:

• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1/4 cup honey barbecue sauce
• 1 navel orange, juiced
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 bag of romaine lettuce
• 6 radishes, thinly sliced (if desired)
• 1/2 sliced red onion
• 6 scallions, trimmed and chopped on an angle

Directions

Heat 1 1/2 to 2 inches of oil over medium high heat. Season chicken tenders with salt and pepper. Set out 3 shallow dishes. Place flour in 1 dish, eggs beaten with water or milk in a second. In the third dish, combine bread crumbs with ground pecans, nutmeg and orange zest. Coat tenders in batches in flour, then egg, then bread crumb mixture. Fry tenders in small batches 6 to 7 minutes. Drain tenders on paper towels.

Combine maple syrup, barbecue sauce and orange juice in a bowl. Whisk in oil and season with salt and pepper.

Combine romaine, radishes, onion and scallions in a large salad bowl or on a serving platter. Toss with 3/4 of the dressing. Season with salt and pepper, to your taste. Top salad with pecan crusted chicken tenders and drizzle remaining dressing over top.

This is a favorite of me and Brandon's, but doesn't get made as often.  I have made this dish for lady dinner parties.  Not all husbands may like this or feel like it is a dinner.  This would be great to be used as a party appetizer.

Thai Chicken Pizza

 

Ingredients

• 1 pizza dough, any brand
• 1/2 cup duck sauce or plum sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 package (2 cups) shredded Monterey Jack cheese
• 1/2 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 rounded tablespoonful peanut butter
• 2 teaspoons hot sauce
• 2 teaspoons grill seasoning (recommended: Montreal Steak Seasoning) eyeball it
• 4 chicken breast cutlets, 1/2 pound
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar or cider vinegar
• 1/4 seedless cucumber, peeled and cut into matchsticks
• 4 scallions, chopped
• 1 cup bean spouts, a couple of handfuls
• Palm full cilantro leaves, chopped
• 1/4 cup chopped peanuts, 2 ounces

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Form pizza crust on pizza pan or cookie sheet. Top with duck or plum sauce - spread it around like you would pizza sauce. Sprinkle the pizza with some crushed red pepper flakes then top with cheese and peppers. Bake until golden and bubbly, 15 to 17 minutes.

Preheat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Combine vegetable oil, soy sauce and peanut butter with hot sauce and grill seasoning. Use the microwave to loosen up peanut butter if it is too cold to blend into sauce, 10 seconds ought to do it. Add chicken and coat evenly with mixture. Let stand 10 minutes then grill chicken cutlets 2 to 3 minutes on each side, until firm. Slice chicken into very thin strips.

While chicken cooks, mix honey and vinegar and add the cucumber. Turn to coat evenly.

Top the hot, cooked pizza with chicken, scallions, sprouts and cilantro. Drain cucumbers and scatter over the pizza. Garnish pizza with peanuts, cut into 8 wedges and serve. 

If you invite me over for dinner or to a party and ask me to bring an appetizer there is a 98% chance this is what I'll bring.  It is always a crowd pleaser and I love it, so why change.  My best friends know they will always find this on my bar if they are coming over for any type of gathering or party. 

Cheesy Spinach and Artichoke Dip  

Ingredients

• 1 can (14 oz.) artichoke hearts, drained, finely chopped
• 1 pkg.  (10 oz.) frozen chopped spinach, thawed, well drained
• 3/4 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
• 3/4 cup Light Mayo 
• 1/2 cup Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
• 1/2 tsp.  garlic powder

Directions

Heat oven to 350°F.

Mix ingredients; spoon into 9-inch quiche dish or pie plate.
Bake 20 min. or until heated through. 
Serve with your favorite tortilla chips 

 

This can also be made in advance and then covered and stored in the refrigerator and put in the oven right before serving.  

This is my very own recipe.  Yes it is very simple, but this is one of my favorite breakfast my mom made me growing up.  Whenever I visit my friend Cor we always make this for breakfast together and reminisce about our fun times being roommates with our best friend Jen.

Southern French Toast  

Ingredients

this is for 2 people, adjust amount according to amount you are serving

• Wheat bread, 1/2 a loaf (any kind you have)
• 3 large eggs
• splash milk
• 1 tbsp. cinnamon 
• 1 tsp. nutmeg
• 1 tbsp. brown sugar
• cooking spray 
• favorite syrup
• powder sugar

Directions

Whisk eggs, milk, cinnamon, nutmeg and brown sugar together in a bowl using a fork.  Heat a skillet on the stove on medium heat and spray just a little cooking spray.  Dip a slice of bread into the egg mixture so that is covers the whole piece of bread. Place the bread in the skillet. Flip after about a minute, watch for a medium brown color.  Depending on the size of your skillet you may be able to fit two pieces at a time.  Put two pieces of toast on  your plat and drizzle with syrup and then sprinkle with powder sugar.  Drink a tall glass of milk while you are eating it or your favorite morning coffee!

 

If you are a traditional cook some of these might seem a little different, but I promise they are good.  I hope you might give one of them a try. I've made all of these for people before and then they requested the recipe.  

Oh, look I just made a blog post that wasn't about Maddy!  Hmmm, maybe I will do this every once in a while.   

Happy 1/2 Birthday to our Maddy Girl

6 months

Our sweet Maddy girl turned 6 months, yesterday!  That's a half of a year, only 6 more months until she is one!  Oh my, how time is flying by!!!  She is growing so much its hard to keep up with her new tricks.  It begins to all run together.  She is now sitting up completely on her own for long periods of time.  She will sit and play with her toys independently for 15 minutes or more.  She likes to be reassured that mommy or daddy are right around the corner or in her line of sight, but talks and giggles to herself and her toys.  Maddy loves to play with her dog Jax.  She laughs as we chase him around holding her.  Jax doesn't want to be her best friend yet, but he is coming around.  Maddy enjoys her fruits and veggies.  Now that she is six months we will start mixing things and adding some mild spices.  She likes mommy and daddy to read to her, but also likes to put the book in her mouth sometimes.  Everything else she can get her hands on also ends up in her mouth... our iPhones, paper, remotes, all her toys, the shopping carts (eewww,) and her feet of course. Here are some highlights from this past month...

Cor and Brynn came to visit!

Madelyn 5 weeks older than Brynlee

My pretty blue eyed girl!

Looking for toys in her basket

Photo shoot for the cute dress

Yesterday, as we had our little 6 month photo shoot we played dress up in some clothes Maddy hasn't had a chance to wear yet.  This outfit (from her Nana) is super cute, but its just too hot to wear it out and about right now.  I was surprised to see that it is a little big, so there is hope it may fit in the coming months. 

Loli came over in the evening to give Maddy some Half Birthday love.  She even brought her a little gift.  Maddy was very surprised and quite excited about the card. 

Today's doctor's visit was like any other pediatrician appointment.  Once we got in the room there was lots of waiting.  Maddy checked out well and had to get her 6 month shots... three of them.  She also got one vaccine orally and she probably liked it a little too much. She was really sad when it was finished and then continued to cry once she got poked.  She didn't scream bloody murder or out of the ordinary cry, I didn't even realize the nurse had already given her all three shots. Here are her stats from today:

Head Circumference: 41.5cm (23%)
Height:                     25.5 in. (42%)
Weight:                    15 lb. 3 oz. (34%)

Yay! I'm 6 months old!

Pictures from the Lake

July 4th on the Lake

Family Pic with Aunt Peggy

Mommy and Maddy

Chillin on the deck with Loli

Lounging on the dock

Happy 4th!

Hanging out in the Shade

Lake of the Ozarks

Every two years my family takes a summer trip to the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri.  Its been this way since I think I was in Junior High. Two years ago Brandon and Jax were added to the trip.  This year we got to add Maddy to the experience.  This was her first long road trip and first trip out of state, so all in all this was her first vacation!  My Aunt Peggy and Uncle Dave (my dad's sister)  live there on the lake.  Its a great place for a low key, but fun summer get away.  Our families love spending time together and ... well it would take another post or even blog to explain and tell our family dynamics and stories!  
Anyways... It is about a 14 hour drive there that we usually do in two days.  This year to cut down on the price of gas and to all be together we took one car and rented a "large SUV."  Yes, me, Brandon, Maddy, my mom, my dad, Jamo, and Jax rode together.  That's five grown adults, a baby, and a dog in a Dodge Durango. Not gonna lye I was a little nervous when we picked the car up on Thursday afternoon before we left.  That is a long trip to be so close and to have Maddy with us.  Well, I had nothing to worry about.  Maddy did GREAT!  She complained the least about the drive there.   
Once we arrived the real fun began.  The first part of the week is the big party... my cousins Heidi and Jenna were there with their husband and boyfriend.  We do a whole lot of hanging out filled with some drinking, eating, and talking... ya know good quality family time!  The second half of the week is a little lighter... lots of laying out on the dock and swimming in the lake.  My role this year was a little different.  In between all of the activity Maddy had to eat, sleep, be changed, and play.  Even though I had an extra person to take care of she was... SUPER EASY!  Maddy girl went to bed on time every night and then slept till 7:30 or 8:00 every morning.  Umm... that is later then what she sleeps at home.   She had a lot of firsts on the trip... first of all it was her first time to meet anyone from my dad's side.  She got to meet her Great Aunt Peggy and Uncle Dave... her Caunt Heidi, Caunt Jenna, and Cuncle Michael. Yes, I know my cousins are her 2nd cousins, but not in the world where we live.  We all spend so many holidays together and our families our small that they're promoted to aunt and uncle status.  Okay so more of her firsts... first time to stay in a hotel, first time to swim in the Lake of the Ozarks, first time to be on a pontoon boat, first time to play with five dogs at one time, she ate her first bananas and first apples while we were gone, first time to be in Oklahoma and Missouri, and first time to be away from home for over a week!  I'm sure she had a few more firsts, too!  Maddy had a blast! Besides all of these firsts... she got to play in her very own Maddy size pool on the dock, she slept in her float in the lake, she got to see her Loli and Pops every day for a straight week and she got to be held whenever she wanted. I know I'm forgetting something... maybe it will come up in the pics. Here are some or a lot of pictures from the trip... yes now our pictures are consumed with Maddy as well as our life... but we wouldn't want it any other way! 
(Photo disclaimer: Not all pictures from our trip our included.  There are some really cute pictures on Loli's camera that need to be retrieved and when they are they will be posted! ) 

Caunt Heidi and Maddy

Caunt Jenna and Maddy

Driving the boat with Pops

Loli putting Maddy to sleep... her doggies are helping too

Riding on the boat her life jacket that she HATES!

Lounging on the dock

Riding on the boat

Playing in her pool with Daddy

Playing with Jax

playing

Happy Girl at the restaurant

Getting her prayers in before nap time

"I got a monkey on my back."

Playin in the pool with Mommy!

Cute girl

Now there is three...

Our Maddy Girl!

Hope you enjoy!
Love, Sarah