Funny how one thing changes a meal

This past Christmas I asked M to buy me some new pans for gifts. I was specific in what I wanted, clipped out photo's gave him stores to go to etc.  I was overly thorough for these things. I did not want to be stuck returning them after the holidays.

One of the pans was this:

 

credit : shopping.com

I really did not "have to have it" but really wanted it.  I loved seeing grill marks on the TV cooking shows I watch. I wanted THAT look!  And C loves the lines on his grilled cheese! (So my boy looking at the small details of food!)

I also asked for this

 

credit: shopping.com

And I find myself using it DAILY! It cleans up beautifully, is a great weight and for health reasons I rarely have to use oil in the pan for cooking on it.  I love love love it!

The last one I asked for was this

 

credit: shopping.com

I wanted it for when I make smaller batches of my award winning (yes, award winning---3 times thank you  very much.....from the neighborhood Chili Cook Off!) This just had a cute factor to it and was not as deep as the pot I had been using.  It is a great pot for smaller dishes as well.

M came through on all three!  He did exactly what I had asked (basically bought them online with the links I provided!  ha!).  I love them all.  

Now, I am dreaming of more cookware, but these have helped my addiction collection!  I am dying for one of these

 

credit: shopping.com

But the price tag is a little steep for me (even though we have a LeCreuset outlet close by) and really it is because I love the colors it comes in.  Chili cooking would be turned into an art form with that baby!

It is amazing how in 10 years of married life that I never really looked at my cookware (that my mom bought me when I moved into my first apartment!).  I still use all of the pieces, the function well, and were not cheap.  She (like me) invested in good cookware.  But now, as I delve more into cooking meals, cooking healthy and spend more time in my kitchen I want better cookware.  Not because it will make my meals better (except for the amazing grill marks on grilled cheese) but because I think that when you like what you are doing, with what you are working with, you will try harder.  I try each night to make dinner just a little better. I try to make it different, and pretty on the plate.  I try to make it healthier, but filling.  I try to let my family know that this is just another way of me saying I LOVE YOU.  

Do you have any tools in your kitchen you can live without (and that I need?)???

MUST. BUY. TODAY.

Last night I went to bed after M.  That does not happen often but I have been getting so much volunteer work done after the boys go to bed lately that I have been sacrificing my own sleep to work in the quiet. 

While I usually have no problems falling asleep, last night (and in the past few weeks) M has been keeping me up with his new habit.....SNORING.....I tossed and turned from 11pm to 1am listening to the various ranges he can now produce from his nose. I love this man, I really do, but tonight I MUST INSIST 

he wear one of these!

 

I am grateful my list can be post poned today due to the fact that I will be needing a little down time to rest.  I am also grateful that M got a good night sleep and was thinking early this morning, as the tooth fairy forgot to make her "visit" last night to J.  At 6am I heard M sneak into J's room to fix that. 

Making Lists

I am a huge fan and believer of lists. I always have been.  Since I can remember my mom was buying me cute paper to make lists on.  I function better with lists.

 

My typical list!

When I sit down to make my list, I even put down the things I do daily (like laundry!) to remind me to do it. I am easily distracted so if it is on the list I am more prone to actually do it.  If I do not get it down, that is OK.  Life happens, kids get busy or need me or the phone rings too much. If it is not crossed off for that day, it goes on the next days list.  Poor Amy might never get her baby gift.  It seems like getting to the post office is too difficult for me these days!

While I make my daily lists I do have BIG lists too.  I have the "wish list" for the house, a list for projects to do, and the newest addition to the list pile is the packing list for our spring vacation west to see my parents for nine days!  Now, one might think it is easy to pack, but I am a detail girl and for a trip away, the list is long!  I include every little thing on the list (underwear even!) This year, thanks to the airlines, we are shipping most of what we need to avoid the expense of actually checking luggage.  That means I want to be thorough with my lists so I do not miss anything!  My goal is to have everything ready to ship by March 1 (really that means March 7!).  Then we will carry on 2 suitcases, carry on bags for the 2 boys and M & I for the 4.5 hour plane ride.  No checking bags, no more $$ going to American Airlines!  (they got enough from us when we bought our tickets thank you very much!)  

One of my favorite BLOGS is IHeart organizing and I found this travel checklist.  Now while I love lists, I can re-make one just for me that will have spaces for all of our needs.   It might not be as cute or colorful, but I will be dammed if I forget something this year!  

Do you make lists everyday?  Or just for the grocery store?

New Idea Brewing....

I love these!  But do not love the price tag (or the labels!)

photo credit: Amazon.com

My new hunt is to find something similar for my mantle. I am itching to re-do it.  I want to paint the frame of the large mirror above my fireplace (perhaps the same brown that I painted the nightstand for M? ) and mantel and fill Apothecary jars with different colorful items to make it all pop and look lovely!  Right now the mantel has many candle sticks in varying height (glass and sterling) on it.  It is lovely when lit but kind of boring too....

Goodwill and Homegoods will be good hunting grounds, but my boys HATE both stores (and I hate taking them because of the little hands touching everything!) so I will have to hunt slowly when I can sneak away from them for pure mommy time (when is that exactly?)  

So excited

My favorite author of all times is Jodi Picoult!  I just read online that her new book Sing You Home: A Novel is coming out March 1, 2011...Just in time for my spring break vacation out west to visit my parents!

If you have not read any of her books, you MUST!  The first one I read, thanks to a dear friend hounding me for weeks to read it was Nineteen Minutes and I literally stopped caring for my family because I could NOT put it down!  From that day on, I went online, the library, where ever I could get the books and read every single one of them....Do not get me wrong, every author does have books that are less than fantastic at times, but honestly Jodi did not disappoint in almost ALL of her novels! 

So, if you need a book, look up Jodi's site and get the list...I promise you will NOT be disappointed! 

Off to pre-order Sing You Home: A Novel! 

Race to Nowhere

Tonight I am going to see Race To Nowhere with some girlfriends at a local high school.  I have heard about this documentary from many friends, and many teachers and has been the topic of many conversations in our circle of friends.  I am most eager to see it.

This is one comment that struck a cord with me "A call to mobilize families, educators and policymakers to help disprove the notion that the educational system is 'one-size-fits-all.'”  Jewish Weekly.  I am thrilled with the opportunity to see this film with some of my closest friends who believe in the same things as me when it comes to education.  


If you can, check out to see if they are screening this film in your area, I am told it is a MUST SEE for anyone that cares about children and education.

 

Day Off

No school for the kids today, and it is rainy and gray.  It has been a lazy morning around here with the boys watching a movie and playing games while mommy makes phone calls regarding the Harlem Wizards event in April. 

While I do love lazy days, it does not mean that chores can become a low priority.  Laundry is piling up, the the house is hardly tip top.  Tonights dinner is a favorite for all of us...After looking at the weeks calendar it is a busy week, so a yummy dinner tonight will make up for the quick meals for many nights this week!

Chicken Puffs
2 c cooked, diced (or shredded chicken)
3/4 pkg of cream cheese softened
2T bread crumbs
4T melted butter (divided)
1 cup finely chopped mushrooms (canned or cooked)
1 pkg of crescent rolls

Mix, chicken, cream cheese, bread crumbs, 2T of butter and the mushrooms.

Unroll the crescent rolls, and divide them according to the lines on them.
Take a crescent (triangle) and a heaping spoonful of the mixture and place it on the bottom of the triangle. Roll up the sides and then roll into a ball. Do with the remaining rolls and mixture.

Baste the tops of rolls with remaining butter.
Bake at 375 for 11 - 15 minutes until golden brown, and serve

I  use any other veggie have in the house too....Have used asparagus, broc, cauliflower, whatever we have on hand!  I often used leftover chicken in this recipe too. I start a container at the start of the week and dump cooked chicken leftovers in it. Then by the end of the week I have enough chicken for the recipe!