Merry Christmas

Our little family of 4 (yes sous-chef counts as an equal member of the family) had a beautiful, quiet Christmas and a wonderful 4-day weekend. There were gifts galore, amazing food, delicious cookies and refreshing drinks, and a lot of slobbery kisses.

Hope your weekend was filled with much love, laughter and happiness! 

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!!!! 

Curried Rice with Shrimp

It's no secret that we love rice and shrimp. But we only usually make one or two different dishes, and I was ready for a change. As I was perusing my Evernote, I found a recipe that I saved almost a year ago... Curried Rice with Shrimp. I loved it without even trying it.

As I was putting Kiki to bed and cleaning up the upstairs, the smell of curry traveled through the house and I couldn't wait to sit down and enjoy the dinner. The recipe was awesome - so so so good.

The recipe called for some basil, but we didn't have any, so the chef suggested some green peas. I vetoed the peas, but now I regret it as it would add a great little "spark" to this photo. Plus a hint of some greens would have been great. Oh well.  Lesson learned, listen to the chef, he knows what he's doing!!! 

So the recipe...here you go:

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 large onion, chopped

2 carrots, chopped

2 cloves garlic, chopped

2 teaspoons curry powder

1 cup long-grain white rice  jasmine rice

kosher salt and black pepper

1 1/2 pounds peeled and deveined large shrimp

1/2 cup fresh basil

Directions:

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and carrots and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, 6 to 8 minutes.

Add the garlic and curry powder and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 2 minutes.

Add the rice, 2½ cups water, and ½ teaspoon each salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 15 minutes.

Season the shrimp with ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Nestle them in the partially cooked rice.

Cover and cook until shrimp are opaque throughout, 4-5 minutes, fold in basil (If you have some)

Dear Santa

Dear Santa:

All I want for Christmas are my front two teeth....

Love Always, Lexi

P.S. You can throw in a few toys too, I won't mind :)

Tuesday Things

1. The holidays are stressing me out. So what do I do - I go shopping, for myself.

2. In my defense, I only bought a pair of Christmas PJs. I didn't feel like trying on anything else. Now I regret it, as Ann Taylor had an amazing sale of 50% off on any single purchase.

3. I will be going shopping again tomorrow. But tomorrow, the only things I will be looking for are the Christmas gifts. I am so behind on Christmas gifts. At this time, all I have are two gifts. It's sad. Do I need to remind you that I still have to mail them, both in the US and Croatia. I think our family and friends will be enjoying gift opening after Christmas. Or so I keep telling myself.

4. Our Christmas cards finally arrived from Tiny Prints today. They will be mailed out tomorrow. Some may even arrive before Christmas day. I am completely in love with our Christmas cards... but than again, wouldn't you be too?

5. Completely random, but even if I could, I would never... Would you? Would it be worth it? I mean $25,000???? Really???

Weekly Menu

In my efforts to eat more veggies (Sanity Challenge) and power foods, aka healthier than what I have been eating, the weekly menu will look something like this:

Sunday: veggie burger and kale chips for me and Chipotle for the Chef
Monday: BBQ Turkey Patties with sweet potato fries
Tuesday: curried rice with shrimp
Wednesday: lightly breaded tilapia and black bean salad
Thursday: grilled chicken and avocado tomato salad
Friday: DATE DAY more about this later;)

I am also hoping to do some baking this week. The plan is to pick 4 recipes and make some cookies for Christmas weekend. What shall I make? Since it's our first Christmas as a family of 4 (you bet the Sous-Chef is the equal member of our family), I want to have a proper Christmas dinner (a blend of Croatian and American tradition) and a Christmas day brunch (my tradition). A lot to think about. A lot to plan for. Very little time left....

Q: What will you be eating this week?

Saturday Shenanigans

Last night I completely passed out on a couch at 8:30pm and than when I woke up at midnight, I could not sleep due to my ongoing sinus problems and newly acquired soar throat. This morning I still felt terrible despite my efforts with sudafed, amoxcilin, tea, gargling salt, etc. But life most go on when you have an active 7-month old. 

Every weekend I make a long list of things to get done and I rarely ever get anything crossed off and than feel disappointment. Probably because I pack it so much it's almost impossible to get it all done. So this weekend, I eliminated the to-do list. I've decided to just go with a flow. It felt a bit odd not to have anything to cross off, but I enjoyed the freedom and no direction.

The day was packed with good stuff. We acted silly, we played, we laughed, we walked, we napped, we fought naps, we shopped, and I had two hours of ME time. It was truly a glorious day. 

Thanks to an expiring Groupon that I purchased months ago, I went to a yoga class for an amazing 1.5 hours of stretching. The Blue Sol Yoga studio was calming and the class was great. I haven't done any stretching or yoga since my prenatal yoga classes and I definitely felt it. I can only imagine how I will feel tomorrow. My goal is to get to class once a week. It will be part of my Sanity Challenge - keep moving.

After yoga, I did some quick shopping at TJ Maxx and Target. 

Don't you just love these little tags in the dressing rooms - Possibly and Definitely! I certainly had some items on the Definitely. 

After my ME time, I came home to two silly turkeys and joined the self-portrait party!

Shortly after, we took Kiki to the close by park and did some walking and playing on the swing. Since it was towards the end of the day she wasn't the happiest camper but we managed. 

Quickly after she went to bed and we enjoyed the "everything in the sink salad" and movies. We watched "Debt" - I say go rent it, it was good! We also watched "Hangover II", I say skip it. Save yourself $3.00.

Sanity Challenge

It's no secret that I have been feeling a little stressed out lately - trying to do one too many things, taking on way too much, trying to do it all. And the saddest part, not doing the right things for myself - taking care of myself has fallen to the back seat [is this even a right saying, hahaha]. December is traditionally a busy month, but adding to it a 7 month old and a new role as a mom, things got a little out of hand.

While I've been thinking about it for some time now, I haven't really done anything about until I read a post from "City Life Eats" - December Sanity Challenge 2011. While I might be a little late to start the challenge [yup I am starting it on December 15th], I am a firm believer that any time is a good time to make a change as long as you are truly ready.

What is this challenge about - it's about making holidays sane, happy and healthy. My hope is that the habits I create this month will carry on and the stress levels will magically disappear. OK, I know they will not disappear, but hopefully habits I "pick up" will help me cope with stress better.

I decided to concentrate on three areas that will help me gain sanity.

1. MOVE MORE - it doesn't matter to me what I am doing, as long as I am moving - walking with Kiki, running, doing yoga, weight lifting - any of it and all of but as long as I am moving EVERY DAY. Doing something like this for myself always makes me feel better, so I will make an effort to do something every day. For a Type A person like me, to-do lists are essential for my daily survival, so I am placing "MOVING" on the to-do list so it's there every single day until it's part of my routine.

2.GO TO BED EARLIER - I have being "fighting" going to bed earlier for years now, and you would think with a baby going to bed at 7pm every night, and getting up by 5 or 6am every day as exhausted as I am somehow I still can't get myself to bed before midnight. So my resolution is to start going to bed only 10 minutes earlier than the previous night and change that time every 3 days. My goal is to start being in bed by 10pm, reading, actually reading a book and no blogs (sorry blends) and lights out by 10:30pm. I bet if I do this, the "Moving More" part will be easier.

3. and last but not least, EAT MORE VEGGIES - notice I didn't say healthy, but eating more veggies. I eat pretty good. I start well with healthy breakfast, mid morning snack and lunch and than evenings unless the chef is in town, are terrible. My dinner consist of cereal, or banana chocolate bread or ice-cream - terrible, terrible, terrible. I eat a lot of fruits, but not enough veggies. My goal is to incorporate veggies in all of my meals. I know I can do this. After all, I read enough of healthy food blogs to have ideas for a whole year and never eat the same thing.

I know it's a middle of a month, and right before we all start making New Year's Resolutions, but I believe no time is better than NOW. I need this, I want it and I know I can do it.

Since today is the day, I have completed my moving more challenge. I went for a really nice 45 minute walk with the sous-chef and Kiki and everyone loved it. And as of now I have 3 minutes to get to bed 10 minutes earlier than yesterday, so I better get going. The eat more veggies part - total fail today, but tomorrow is a new day.

Q: How about you? Do you need more sanity in your life? Do you want to start some new habits? Join me! It's a party!

Saying Goodbye

I am feeling a little sad today - my parents went back to Croatia. 10 days went by so fast. The 10 days were just not enough, but I am grateful for them for coming back in just six months since the last time they were here.

So much has happened in 6 months.... Let's see, Kiki is about to start crawling, she has three front tooth coming through, she laughs all the time, points at things that she wants - mostly my iphone and TV remote and reaches out to be picked up. My oh my, has she changed in six months.

There is a reason why they say "They grow up so fast". I better get started on her baby book. Before I know it she will be celebrating her first birthday, which by the way, I have already started planning through Pinterest, and I only have her first two months recorded. I think baby photo book is in order too.

While my parents were here, most of our time was spent playing with Kiki, and the rest, shopping and eating and drinking a lots of good wine, my favorite activities. Something I absolutely love doing with my family and we did it so well. I didn't buy too much, but I did find some amazing deals both for Christmas gifts and me, of course;)

Let's talk food - delicious!!! Whenever they are in town, we always make the same meals- it's comforting and it always brings back such great memories.

I miss them so much already and wishing we all lived closer, but...it is what it is, and we made the best out of the time we had together.

The Night of Twihards

I saw it. I loved it. I need to see it again.

[Yes, I am 33 years old and not ashamed to say I am obsessed.]

People, run, don't walk, you need to see it!

Meatless Monday

My mom and dad are in town and I am extremely happy and busy, what can I say I am a busy bee these days. But in the midst of all the craziness, I couldn't resist posting this recipe...this is my childhood favorite and who would have thought the family of carnivores ate vegetarian meals at least once a week. No wonder I love my vegetarian nights!

Before my parents even landed, I knew I wanted to have breaded spinach patties. These are the best vegetarian patties I have ever had! Pure deliciousness...

My mom usually serves the veggie patties with tomato sauce and mashed potatoes. This is an ultimate comfort food. I've been feeling so much stress lately, that this was a perfect "Meatless Monday" comfort.

The breaded spinach patties are so delicious...you must try them. As far as I understand, the preparation process takes awhile, but the end result is well worth it. I believe my mom cooks the spinach, than cuts it in tiny pieces, mixes in some bread crumbs, salt, pepper and an egg to hold it all together. Once you make the patties you put them in the heated pan and cook on high (I will check the heat and get back to you on that one) until golden. To take away some of the excess oil, she places them on the paper towel, and once they cool off a little bit, they are ready to be served.

I am always hoping for some leftovers, that is yet to happen... it's that good!!!! 

I am off to spend some more quality time with the family and think about all the other meals that I want to eat while the parents are in town....yum, yum, yum!

Thankful Thursday

This week, I have a lot to be thankful for, but most of all I am thankful for 

FAMILY

&

FRIENDS.

With them, life is complete!

And now, let the craziness of December begin...