Becoming a walker

Oh man…this event in Josie’s life has changed mine FOREVER.  I’m going through shock with this mobility.  I’m chasing, following, searching for the pitter patter of those little feet and worst of all…silence.  I always know if there is silence, she’s doing something she knows she shouldn’t be doing, every.single.time!  When I open the refrigerator door, she is right there to remove all the items she can lift out of the door.  I’ll bring the laundry basket up full of clean laundry, she is there to drag clean folded laundry all over the house.  If the pantry door is left open enough for those little fingers to open it all the way, she’s thrown whatever she can get her hands on to the floor, oh and carrying them around the house. 

Yet, I have to laugh at some of the things we didn’t think to baby proof.  It’s always those standard household things that have been there your entire life.  The things you never thought to lock down, take off the roll, unplug, hide, etc because she is mobile and quick.

Needless to say, the pictures are proof we have a walker that is into everything!!!

...and we're off and running with powered sugar

It's a heavy bag!

She need's a basket for all these groceries!

It's a heavy bottle of apple juice

ah, forget the juice, the syrup bottle is much eaiser

just sticking with OJ

one last try for the apple juice

Bean and Kielbasa Cassoulet

The second easy dinner from last week is another one pot meal.  This one pot thing is genius!  Open cans, cut meat and veggies and you’re done!  I served it with rice.  It took me 10 minutes to put together.  Serves 8.

Bean and Kielbasa Cassoulet

1 can white beans, rinsed and drained

1 can red kidney beans, rinsed and drained

1 can low-sodium black beans, rinsed and drained

1 can tomato sauce

1 lb. polish kielbasa sliced into 1-inch pieces

1 cup carrots, thinly sliced

2 small onions thinly sliced

½ c. beef broth

2 Tbsp brown sugar

2 Tbsp thyme

2 cloves garlic, chopped

Preheat oven to 375°.  Mix all ingredients in un-greased 3-quart casserole.  Cover and bake until carrots are tender, about 1 hour or until hot and bubbly.

Enjoy!

PS...will work on taking pictures.  It was so fast, it escaped me...

Beer-braised chicken

We tried this last week and it was a hit!  Josie, 15 months, ate the house down!  SUPER easy, one pot meal and perfect for a last minute dinner!  I’m not a dark meat girl, so I used half thighs and half breasts.  40 minutes from start to finish, serves 4. 

 

Beer-braised chicken

{adapted from Food Network Mag}

¼ lb bacon, cut into ½ inch pieces

8 skinless, boneless chicken thighs {about 2 ½ pounds)

Kosher salt and pepper

All-purpose flour

1 Tbsp. EVOO

1 12oz bottle beer

1 small onion quartered

1 c. carrots, bite size pieces

½ c. celery, bite size pieces

½ lb small red potatoes, halved

2 Tbsp whole-grain mustard

2 Tbsp packed brown sugar

2 tsp fresh thyme

3 Tbsp chopped parsley

1.  Heat a large pot over med-high heat.  Add bacon and cook until browned.  Remove with slotted spoons and transfer to paper-towel-lined plate.

2.  Season chicken with salt and pepper and lightly dredge in flour, shaking off excess.  Add EVOO to the drippings in the pot.  Add chicken in batched and cook over med-high heat until golden on the bottom, then flip and sear the other side. 

3.  Add the beer, onions, potatoes, carrots, celery, mustard, sugar, thyme and 1 cup of water to the pot and stir.  Make sure the chicken is fully submerged.  Simmer until chicken is cooked through, 15-20 minutes.  Stir in bacon and parsley.

Enjoy!

New York City

The week after we returned from San Diego, Frank, Randy and Lisa came to visit for two weeks!  It was awesome for a few reasons, 1.  We don’t get to see them as often as we’d like, 2. Our basement is almost finished and 3. Kyle and I went to New York City just the two of us!

We had a fun week of shopping and hanging out before Kyle and I left for NYC.  It was the first time we had both left Josie and I’m not talking a quick weekend.  We were gone for 4 FULL days.  I hated leaving her when I went to San Francisco, and it felt even worse to leave her again knowing how long it was going to be.  I just don’t like to leave my little bug.  It doesn’t matter who’s watching her, I don’t want to leave her. 

Needless to say, Kyle and I arrived in NYC and we had a fabulous time.  We were typical tourists, walking miles all over the city seeing the sights.  We made a list of all the things we wanted to do or see and I planned our days accordingly.  I really wanted to eat at a couple of celebrity chef’s restaurants, the Today Show, H&M, Dean & Deluca, and FAO Schwart.  Kyle wanted to go to Times Square, Wall Street, take the subway and eat NY pizza.  We did all off the above and more.  If my calculations are correct, we walked about 8 miles a day, stayed up later than we have seen in a couple of years and have our next trip to the city planned.

Our trip in pictures...

Top of the Rock {Rockefeller Center}

Statue of Liberty in the back ground

 

 Chelsea Market, my favorite area!!!

 Chelsea Market is where the food network is, such an awesome building!

The High Line

Self explanatory...

A great dinner

I want to stay here next time

FAO Schwarz, the Big piano

Central Park

I loved it, Kyle laughed at me

Soon, very, very soon...we'll have one in Denver

Grand Central Station

Meal Planning Monday

 It's a strange dinner week, really only three to plan.  Nonetheless, two new recipes that we're both excited about.  Last week's new recipes were great and I'll post them this week.

Monday: General Tso's Chicken

Tuesday: Grilled chicken with chimichurri sauce and broccoli {linking up with Apron Strings and Foodie Strings for the Broccoli challenge}

Wednesday: Spaghetti with meatballs

Thursday: We have a food event…Josie will have leftovers

Friday: I’m out, haven’t figured out what I’ll make for K&J

What are you dishing up this week?

Mr. & Mrs. Sovacool

Like I have previously mentioned, we tag teamed weddings we had this summer.  The first weekend of August, Josie and I headed to San Diego for my cousin Kristi’s wedding.  It was a fun weekend with my family and of course a beautiful bride and groom…

Mr. & Mrs. Mike Sovacool

Most of the family

Meal Planning Monday

Ah yes....this week is planned, from a dinner standpoint, and I've already been to the grocery store!  It's a week of four new recipes, which included last night's Shrimp and Grits.....YUM!  Kyle took the reins, I've never made grits before...pssst, I'm from Colorado.  That is one ingredient that is hard to find in a restaurant, let alone which isle it's on at the grocery.  He's not a recipe follower, so with a few changes....dinner was served - it was delicious! 

Here's what's cookin' this week...

Monday: Tacos / Salad Bar / Taco salad...a combination of both our wants
Tuesday: French Dip Sandwiches  {new}
Wednesday: Beer-braised chicken {new}
Thursday: Red Beans and Rice {new}
Friday: Josie and Kyle are on their own...I have a trunk show!

I also did my first fall baking...Pumpkin cake with lemon drizzle.  It's so good and a few bites in he said, "It tastes like Fall".

Happy Monday!!

Proudly linked up with Menu Plan Monday at ORGJUNKIE.COM