changes are good

I've been thinking about my blog a lot lately. I often find myself posting more because I feel like I have to post rather than I want to post. I've decided that I will post Tasty Tuesday recipes as I have them. I will also continue doing ABC Photo fun, but I'm moving it to Friday.

That is all I will promise. Yep, I'll probably lose readers, not that I have many now anyway, but I'm going back to basics. I started blogging for two reasons, a place to vent about everyday life, and to share how teaching has influenced my parenting styles. Blogging is supposed to be fun, not work, not an expectation. So, that's what I'm making it.

I will still have my page on Facebook, so you can contact me there or e-mail me Lori.Mommyto2@gmail.com. I won't be around as much, but I'll still be around. (o;

4th Blogoversary

I can't believe that Teacher Turned Mommy is now 4 years in the making. Want to read my first post? Go here.

Over the years my blog has changed, my sons have changed... a LOT, and well I've changed. I'm still a stay at home mom. I still love that I have this opportunity. I now have friends and playdates. We now go to the Y and I get time alone every day. I now am a better mother because I'm a better person. I've grown as my boys have grown, and I hope you can see that in my blogging.

I've tried lots of things on my blog, some have worked and some not so much. I will continue to do Tasty Tuesday for the fact that I really like it. I am not doing project 365, but will instead try doing a photo challenge on my own blog starting Wednesday. Tune in for more information on Wednesday.

I am sure things will progress and change in this next year, but one thing I'm sure will stay the same... I'll be here posting about life.

Thank you to all my readers. Hope you have enjoyed this journey with me and continue to read along on my adventures of Mommy-hood!

2011 Review Extravaganza (part 2)

It's Friday so it must be time for the second installment of the 2011 Review Extravaganza!


Grumpy Grateful Mommy

April started off with a trip to A Day out with Thomas. Both my boys love trains. We took them in 2010, but then Colby got big into Thomas so we went in 2011 too. At this rate you might see us there in 2012 also (o:



I discovered the joy of making hummus. Which I'm totally addicted to still!

We also painted the house. That was a long week, but so worth it!

May was a busy month. I only seemed to manage to post project 365 pictures and Tasty Tuesday recipes. But that month had a few yummy ones like sticky chicken.

One decent post was called How dare you ask me? It was about in interaction at a splash pad with another person who questioned why I was a stay at home mom.

June is Colby's birthday!

I read and raved about the book Room. If you haven't read it... I suggest you do!

I finished up by talking about our summer schedule and trying to keep life sane.

Just to finish it off.... one picture. Blake played t-ball for the first time this summer. He liked it, but it was parent torture!

Pretzel-Crusted Chicken

This is a recipe that I've mentioned before on my blog, and some how never managed to post it as a Tasty Tuesday.  Pretzel crusted chicken! 

Pretzel-Crusted Chicken Breasts With Cheddar Mustard Sauce

Ingredients

• 4 quart-size plastic food storage bags
• 4 small, boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 5-ounce bag of salted pretzels, any shape
• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves, chopped
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 eggs
• Vegetable oil, for frying

Yields: 4 servings

Preparation

Preheat a large non-stick skillet with a 1/4-inch of vegetable oil over medium-high heat.
Sprinkle a little water into four medium food storage baggies. Place 1 chicken breast in each bag and seal it up, pushing out excess air. Use the bottom of a heavy pot or pan and pound each breast until flat, just shy of busting out of the bag. Repeat with the other 3 chicken breasts.

Place the pretzels in a food processor or blender and grind until fine. Transfer the ground pretzels to a shallow dish, add the thyme and some salt and pepper. Crack and beat 2 eggs in a second shallow dish with a splash of water. One at a time, coat each chicken breast in the egg and then the ground pretzels. 

Add the pretzel-coated chicken breast to the hot oil. Cook in a single layer, in 2 batches if necessary, about 3 or 4 minutes on each side, until the juices run clear and breading is evenly browned.
 
  I usually make these as tenders or nuggets so I don't have to pound it out thin.  I've also started baking them instead of frying, less messy and healthier. (350 for 10-15 min depending on the thickness of the chicken pieces.  I always cut the thickest one open)  I've done it where I add spicy or honey mustard to the egg mixture.  I've also used garlic powder, mustard powder, and more pepper in the mix too.  It is easy to manipulate the way you want.  The saltier pretzels are better.


 




As you can guess since we make them all the time we really like this meal.  It is super easy and yummy.  There are many ways to switch it up depending on what you like on your chicken and or pretzel.  Blake really likes these too.  They are crunchy, salty, and yummy.



I think next time I'm use garlic powder, chili powder and cumin on them... hmmm that sounds good too.  dip them in salsa!

funk?

In a funk. I seem to be in a blogging funk. I know I need to find time to edit pictures, but just haven't found that time yet. I've been busy with life. We are dealing with some health issues with Dixie, so that takes up time.

Monday was Richard's birthday so we did somethings to celebrate that. Yesterday Richard and I were at the specialist vet with Dixie. Today I've already been to the school to sign off papers to get Blake dismissed from speech. Then after we dropped Blake at school, Colby and I headed to BJ's to do a "big" shop. We needed meat, like we only had 1 package of ground turkey and that's it in the freezer. So we picked up chicken, ham steaks, skirt steaks and ground turkey as well as other stuff.

I didn't have a recipe to post yesterday, so there was no tasty Tuesday. Today well, there is lots on my mind, but nothing major to blog about. Little things like, menu planning for the next phase of birthday fun. We are celebrating Blake and Richard's birthdays with our families on Saturday. We are also going to Touch a Truck Saturday morning.

Maybe I'll get back into my bloggy groove soon.

Hope everyone had a great Wednesday.

Weekends

I don't often post much on the weekends. I guess that's because life is busy on the weekends. I also want the weekend focus to by my project 365 pictures. A while ago, hmmm over a year ago, I used to do Random Weekend Thoughts on my blog. This was the opportunity to just bullet thoughts that go through my mind through the week and over the weekend.

I think you might see this popping up again from time to time.

So here are my Random Weekend Thoughts:

--Sleep is a good thing! I went way too many nights without a good night sleep.

--Exercise makes you less tired and less frustrated, but when you have 2 sick kids the gym is out of the question

--The start of the school year is very different when you are the parent than when you are the teacher

--Doing projects with the boys has been fun. I'm now looking forward to finding new and exciting projects to do with them. Hope you check out my Friday posts to see what we have been up to!

--When you don't get many comments it makes it less motivating to post, but then I remember that I blog for myself as much as for others

--When Richard is away I miss making new meals, good thing I had a stock pile of Tasty Tuesday recipes. Check out my facebook page tomorrow if you want to chime in on which recipe I post next.

--Hmmm wonder what kind of picture I will take tomorrow to symbolize Blake's first day of pre-K. Need to get at least 2 good ones, one for tomorrows post and one for Project 365.

Any random thoughts traveling through your brain tonight? Do share!

All over the map

Over the last few years, if you can believe I've been blogging now for more than three and a half years, I've played back and forth on the direction I wanted my blog to go. I've had phases where it has been very much a day by day picture of my life. I've had others where there are a lot of photos and not much "talk". I've had times where I was involved in a lot of memes or other connections to people's blogs. I've been all over the map trying to find what I want with my blog.

I really enjoy doing Tasty Tuesday. I like trying out new recipes and sharing them with my readers. I've really enjoyed Project 365. I like the way it chronicles life in a very visual way, literally! But it's the rest that I've struggled with the last few months. My boys are getting older so there aren't as many "cute" stories to tell. Yes, there are still a lot, but often times I don't feel like telling them to the world.

I struggle with telling stories about milestones with my boys because in many ways they are above their peers. I do not want people to think I'm bragging over my boys. I don't want people to think I'm "puffing them up" to be more than they are. I don't want people to judge their own children based on what my sons can do. The fact is, Blake can read and does on a 2nd grade reading level. This is not typical for a 4.5 year old. Colby knows his letters, sounds, numbers, colors, shapes and can spell many names, again this is not typical for a young 3 year old (especially since he's been doing it for close to 6 months now). Now I'm not saying I won't share and tell stories about them. I just choose what to share and what not to share.

I've decided to go back to the original reason I created this blog. The reason it is named what it is names. To go back to sharing with people how being a kindergarten teacher influenced how I parent. I often say that I parent very differently than a lot of people. When I make statements, please do not take offense, it is not geared at anyone specific, just life in general.

I hope you enjoy reading posts about my life as a "Teacher Turned Mommy!" because it's "not as easy as it sounds".

I've added Teacher Turned Mommy. not as easy as it sounds, to Facebook. Pop over and "like" me on Facebook to get more post and incite from me.

cookies

I've been on a cookie baking kick lately. I have two more cookie recipes to post for Tasty Tuesday, hmmm maybe 3 I made another batch today. I go through this phases when Richard works crazy busy hours. Both my boys enjoy baking, and I do too. I actually like to bake more than I like to cook.

Richard has been working crazy hours lately. The boys only see him in the mornings and well me too for the most part. He is in a major push at work and it will last for 2 more weeks. It's crazy, but hey at this time if you have a job that needs you, that is a GOOD thing!

I like to bake fresh cookies at least once a week for him to bring into his co-workers. They like them and a sugar boost is always a good thing when you are working 12+ hour days/ 7 days a week. Yes you read that right.

So today I decided to make apple oatmeal cookies, because I realized I was always learning towards chocolate cookies. I guess I just love the chocolate rush myself. What is your favorite cookie to eat? To bake?

chocolate hummus.... yes you read that right!

I love to try out new recipes no matter if they are ones I created in my head, ones I found on-line or in a  cookbook. Over the years, I have tried recipes from a lot of chefs, one who seems to match my cooking style is Rachael Ray. As a mother, you've got to appreciate the concept of a 30 Minute Meal! Rachael Ray often says that her recipes are just methods. She encourages her viewers to take her recipes and make them their own. I "Lori-ize" almost everything I cook, tailoring the recipe to my families taste. I decided to combine these two ideas and what you see here is the result. Each week I'll create a meal based on a recipe and let you know what we thought. I will give you the original recipe and let you know how I "Lori-ized" it.  Hope you enjoy Tasty Tuesday!


Heather from Out of the Box, Into the Kitchen, sent me a link to chocolate hummus on day on Facebook.  I was totally intrigued.  I decided to test it out a week or so ago, and loved it. 



The first time I made the chocolate hummus I made it to recipe, except I cooked my own chickpeas instead of using canned. 
Chocolate Hummus


1 (15 oz.) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
2 tbsp. olive oil
1/2 cup cocoa (I used dark chocolate cocoa powder)
1/2 cup splenda (or sugar)
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. salt
2 - 4 tbsp. warm water


Mix everything in a food processor. Add water as needed for consistency.  

I made it again for Colby's birthday party and made a few changes to the recipe. 

Chocolate Hummus

16 oz cooked chickpeas
2 Tbsp. EVOO (more if needed for smoothness)
1/2 cup cocoa (I used dark chocolate cocoa powder)
1/3 cup agave nectar (more if needed for sweetness)
1.5 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. salt
2 - 4 tbsp. warm water


Mix everything in a food processor. Add water as needed for consistency. I tend to add more EVOO and water than they say, but I like mine smoother.









Heathy chocolate... can you say more?  This is really good.  It was the hit at the party and even a lot of the kids were eating it up.  I had made cinnamon chips (bake tortillas with cinnamon, sugar and nutmeg) and most people were eating it with those, but I had pretzels out too. 

The original recipe is good, if you don't want to go out and buy agave nectar, but it is a bit grainy.  You might want to make the sugar and water into a simple syrup first to take away the graininess.



I think I will make this again.  It is very rich, but a yummy and healthy desert.

Amish Sugar Cookies

I love to try out new recipes no matter if they are ones I created in my head, ones I found on-line or in a  cookbook. Over the years, I have tried recipes from a lot of chefs, one who seems to match my cooking style is Rachael Ray. As a mother, you've got to appreciate the concept of a 30 Minute Meal! Rachael Ray often says that her recipes are just methods. She encourages her viewers to take her recipes and make them their own. I "Lori-ize" almost everything I cook, tailoring the recipe to my families taste. I decided to combine these two ideas and what you see here is the result. Each week I'll create a meal based on a recipe and let you know what we thought. I will give you the original recipe and let you know how I "Lori-ized" it.  Hope you enjoy Tasty Tuesday!


Colby wanted to bake sprinkle cookies.  He likes the ones we get at the grocery store, but I've yet to make ones here that he likes... other than the dough.  So I decided to try out Taste of Home's Amish Sugar Cookies. 




The only alteration I made this was to add sprinkles to them.  I did make some small ones and some larger ones.









These were really good butter cookies.  They reminded me almost of a Russian Tea cookie.  Blake really liked them too.  Colby, well he took one bite and said "Mommy these are yummy" but then would never take another bite.  Silly boy!



I think I will make these again, but might roll the balls in sugar to get more of a sugar cookie quality than a butter cookie. 

Yes, I did say on Facebook last week that I'd post the chocolate hummus recipe today, but I still haven't taken a picture of it.  So you will just have to tune in next week instead (o:

project 365 (134-140 /2011)

Well.... better late than never?

134/365

We went to the dump to get a load of compost to fill in the holes from the bushes we dug up. Blake and Colby had a blast playing in the dirt in the truck

135/365

Let's go fly a kite!

136/365

The boys started swimming lessons.

137/365

Blake can you read me a story?

138/365

I loved this moment with them chatting as they passed each other

139/365

Colby was helping make ice cream, and taking pictures of each step. Guess he has seen me photograph Tasty Tuesday a few times

140/365

Whenever Blake gets quiet in the house, I almost always know he is tucked away somewhere with a book. If you ask him what he likes to do at home, he says read!

Honey Soy Skirt Steak.

I love to try out new recipes no matter if they are ones I created in my head, ones I found on-line or in a  cookbook. Over the years, I have tried recipes from a lot of chefs, one who seems to match my cooking style is Rachael Ray. As a mother, you've got to appreciate the concept of a 30 Minute Meal! Rachael Ray often says that her recipes are just methods. She encourages her viewers to take her recipes and make them their own. I "Lori-ize" almost everything I cook, tailoring the recipe to my families taste. I decided to combine these two ideas and what you see here is the result. Each week I'll create a meal based on a recipe and let you know what we thought. I will give you the original recipe and let you know how I "Lori-ized" it.  Hope you enjoy Tasty Tuesday!



I had picked up some skirt steaks at BJ's and wanted to try something different with them.  If you follow my Tasty Tuesday recipes, you will know that I've posted two other steak recipes that I LOVED! (Teriyaki-beer skirt steak and  Marinated Steak with Caramelized Onions) But, change is good so I decided to try Honey Soy Skirt Steak.



I added both Balsamic Vinegar and Balsamic dressing, ok I added the dressing first by mistake so I added the vinegar to cover myself... lol.  I grilled these on the grill not in a pan.  I can grill year round here so it seems silly to grill on the stove when I can do it on the grill instead.










This steak was good, but it wasn't exactly what I expected.  It wasn't as sweet as I thought with the honey and the soy didn't have a strong presence either.  It was cooked perfectly. 



I liked the concept of this recipe, I just think it needs more work.  Maybe a bit of brown sugar and more soy?  Maybe add grill seasoning to up the season factor?  Not sure.  If you try it let me know.  Or if you are looking for a go to steak recipe, click on one of the other two I posted at the top.