What's For Dinner Wednesday

While I was pregnant with my daughter this last year, I got this sudden urge to cook a lot. Was it because I was having a girl and I got in touch with my feminine side? Was it because I had the time to explore? Maybe, it was because I received this fantastic Trader Joe's cookbook from my Dad and loved everything I made out of it. Whatever the case, I soon realized I had a knack for cooking, and kept going with it. I've been experimenting and enhancing my skills ever since.

I'd like to start a weekly blog entry about my cooking adventures. Unlike Martha Stewart, I actually try my food before I tell you about it and give you the recipe. That said, I'm going to avoid any bad adventures in food. Besides my blog being about my parenting adventures, I'd also really like to include tips and advice on living green, and raising kids. Cooking meals is one thing all parents do, so here it goes.

Fresh Summer Kabobs

Ingredients Needed
1 sweet (yellow) onion
1 each orange, yellow, and green bell peppers
1 package whole mushrooms
7 cherry tomatoes
2 chicken breasts
salt and pepper to taste
brown rice

Supplies Needed
7 skewers
foil
9x13 glass pan
knife and/or kitchen scissors
cutting board

Directions
1) preheat oven to 400 degrees
2) line your pan with foil
3) cut chicken breasts into one inch pieces. I love using my kitchen cooking scissors for this job
4) cut your peppers and onions into one inch pieces as well, a knife might work better here
5) alternate ingredients in any order you wish, onto your skewers (Ex. mushroom, chicken, onion, green bell pepper, chicken, tomato, orange bell pepper, onion, chicken, onion, yellow bell pepper, mushroom)
6) lay the skewers across the pan and sprinkle with salt and pepper
7) cook on center rack of oven for 15-20 minutes
8) serve with brown rice

Makes 7 servings


This is an easy to make, yummy to eat recipe. The flavors are fresh, the colors are so summer, and it's healthy for you! The best part about this recipe, is how easily you can alter it. Add any veggies you like, (zucchini, artichoke, something else) and take out any you don't like, for a whole new look and taste. I for instance, LOVE onions on mine. Brown rice is really good for you too, but if you haven't acquired the taste for it yet, white is just fine to use. Have fun experimenting with this simple dinner. Better yet, try to get your veggies from your local farmer's market, for ultimate freshness and flavor.

Older kids will love picking their colorful foods off the stick, but please make sure to take the food off the sharp skewer before feeding it to a young child. These sticks can be very dangerous.

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New Babies Bring Joy and Stress

Before we had our daughter, life was simple, easy and calm. We are pretty relaxed parents, though we do stand our ground when we have to, to raise our son with respect and teach him right from wrong. We certainly didn't plan on acting different with our daughter, but somehow, things have changed.

We are still the same people, the same parents, but we have a lot more on our plate. Now, there are many pressures facing us that we are basically new to. I feel like all the things they say new parents go through, didn't hit us until baby number two. (Likewise, all common pregnancy complaints didn't effect me until pregnancy two) In the past 2 and a half months since our daughter was born, I have seen day after day of non-stop cooking, cleaning, washing, bathing,visiting, errand running, reading, laughing, napping, writing, eating, exercising, loving and so much more. Every single day has been filled to the max with something that needs to be done. So much so, that I started to feel an immense pressure coming down on me that I thought I couldn't handle.

Our relationship has taken it's tolls as well. Ultimately, we've been working through issues together, to get through these rough times. My husband has felt many of his own pressures this whole time, so together we've been a mess. Hanging on by love and enjoying every good moment. Although there are some temporary dilemmas putting added stress on us, for the most part, it's just the hectic life of having a new baby.

I keep saying to my friends and family, "I wasn't a Mom, until I had my second child". Boy, did my son spoil me or what? Now, with all this work I have everyday, and all these (mostly amusing) events that go on each day with two kids, I finally understand everything other moms have always talked about. The need for mommy time, the need for mommy and daddy time, the peace and freedom of having family take the kids for a little, how exciting one hour to yourself can be, how you can actually let the house get and stay dirty.

I'm having a great time even though we are under a lot of stress right now. What keeps me going, is knowing that this won't be so stressful forever. Things will calm down, she is still a very new baby. We will adjust to life with two, and of course, she will get easier as she gets older. I am doing what I can to get everything done each day, hang onto our love, spend time with myself, and make sure family gets to see the kids too. The pressure has gotten so much better in the last couple weeks, so I think we might finally be on the downhill. I sure hope so.

I am prepared to live a crazy hectic life, possibly forever :) but I do look forward to finding the peace and balance in all that craziness.

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I Understand Vacations Now

I used to think vacations were just a chance to go somewhere new, goof off, get away or just spoil yourself a bit. I have a whole new outlook on the subject now.

Now that I have two kids, and my life is crazy and hectic, I have figured out why I think most people take vacations. I will really respect and appreciate every vacation I have from here on.

I find myself living in a world now fully consumed with chores, errands, bills, kids, relationship stuff, school, and so much more. It has gotten to the point where I am so sick of hardly having a moment to breathe. Currently, I am sick of stressing over money. I have come to get very annoyed with always having something to do, someone to please, or somewhere to go. Not that I don't want to do these things.... I've just been spread way to thin in the last two months.

I understand now, that a few days away from the madness can really give one a chance to relax, step away, and reconnect with what matters most. Family. Being with those you love, and not having to run around like a chicken with its head cut off. This is something extremely valuable. Something extremely important for our own sanity. All moms should get government paid time off throughout the year. It would make the whole world a better place. :)

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