New Recipe

I am always trying new recipes so my family will not get bored with my cooking. I don't love to cook, but obviously I love to eat! I am always looking for easy meals that are yummy and do not require more than 5 ingredients. I love to watch the Food Network and some of the cooking shows on PBS. They always make it look sooo easy and it seems like no matter what they are making, even if its something I dont like, they make it look REALLY good. I recently watched a cooking show called "Simply Ming". If you have ever watched this show you know Ming has a way with Asian dishes that make your mouth water. I swear if I were rich before anything else I would hire Ming to cook for me. So, anyway he made fried chicken using these Japanese bread crumbs called panko. So, I tried to find the recipe tonight, but really didnt have much luck. However I found a recipe called "Deviled Chicken Drumsticks" that looked really good. They turned out so yummy! It was a winner with my family and it isnt really hard to make so I thought I would share it with you.

Deviled Chicken Drumsticks

12 chicken drumsticks (2 1/2 to 3 pounds total)
1/2 cup dijon mustard

3/4 cup panko (found in the same place as shake n bake)

3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

3/4 teaspoon cayenne

3 tablespoons butter, melted

preheat oven to 450 degrees with rack in upper third.

Pat chicken dry, then toss with mustard until evenly coated.

stir together panko, cheese, cayenne, and 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper

drizzle with butter and toss.

Dredge each drumstick in crumb mixture to coat, then arrange, without crowding, in a buttered large 4-sided sheet pan.

Roast until chicken is browned and cooked through, about 30 minutes.

I love this recipe because it is easy, yummy and you dont have to fry the chicken in oil.

Adventures in Potty Training: Day 5

With eyes closed I have jumped into the world of potty training once again. Its day 5 and I finally can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Morgan has been showing signs of potty readiness for a few months now. She was excited about going potty and went several times a day, but also had a wet diaper. So, I decided it was time to train her before she lost interest. I decided the best approach would be to go cold turkey. no more diapers or pull-ups! I figured that if I kept putting a diaper on her she would not get into the mode of holding it until she went to the potty. So, we went to the store and I got her a barbie and some new underwear. I put the barbie above the fridge and told her that if she could stay dry for a whole week she could have it.

The first day I was ready to quit! She went through 6 pairs of underwear before lunch. She would go on the potty but wouldnt get it all out and so she would go in her pants too. I was so tempted to put a diaper on her again and wait six months. But, I didnt. Day two was a little better only 2 accidents. Day 3 was Friday and she had lots of accidents. I kept thinking "Is she really ready for this". I didnt count Saturday or Sunday because we werent home alot on Saturday and I wasnt going to bring her to church in underwear so both days she wore a diaper. Surprisingly she took off her diaper to go and was mostly dry through the weekend. Yesterday she did really well only one accident. That brings us to today. I think we have turned a potty training corner. She is doing so well and has gone potty without me once asking her to go. I am crossing my fingers that she will continue to do well and that we are done with diapers!

The Greatest Discovery

I was playing around with my playlist this morning and I came across a song that I havent heard in a very long time, but one that I have always loved. It is an OLD song by Elton John and not one that I have ever heard on the radio. So, I dont think many people have heard it. But, it has sweetest words and always brings tears to my eyes. I included it in my playlist as no. 1 (The Greatest Discovery). Give it a listen and let me know what you think!

Monday

On August 3rd we celebrated Riley's 5th birthday. I can remember the details of the day I went into labor and delivered Riley. It feels like it was yesterday. I can not believe how quickly the time goes. Nathan and I decided last year that since his birthday was so close to the cut off and because he is only 15 months younger than Camden that we would wait another year before starting him in school. So, this year he is going to go to preschool. He is so excited! Only a few weeks till he starts. Today his teacher, Miss Lisa, came to visit him. He was so excited for her visit that he asked me if he could wait for her on the porch. She came and read him a story about making friends.



He was shy for a while, but by the time she was ready to leave he had warmed up. I am eager for him to start and have something fun to do. Miss Lisa is a great teacher with lots of fun ideas for the kids and even has a field trip planned for each month. The best part for mom is that she just lives at the end of our street so I can walk Riley to school.


Riley is going to do great. So, that just leaves Morgan and I for a few hours a week. Morgan is going to miss Riley. Good thing its only a few hours a week. They have been spending a lot of time together while Camden is at school.

I love this picture because of the expression on Riley's face. What a sweet big brother!

Some pictures I took of Riley and Morgan one day while Camden was at school.

Morgan in her cute hat that I got at the Children's place for 5 BUCKS! WOOHOO! I LOVE the Children's Place!

My sweet girl with her buddy Riley

Today was a busy day. We also celebrated Camden's teacher, Mrs. Joffs, birthday. Her birthday was yesterday, but we decided to celebrate it in her class today. Jacie, my friend and our room mother, called me over the weekend and told me that Mrs. Joffs likes "some hot diggity dog chocolate thingy that they sell at Smiths". So I was on a quest. I went to the bakery and asked them if they knew what I was talking about and after some laughs they told me I was looking for a "devil dog". So the kids and I got the devil dog and some balloons and headed to school.

Mrs. Joffs was surprised and the kids enjoyed eating some hostess cupcakes.

But Camden really enjoyed seeing his brother and sister.

Hicks family picnic

Every third Saturday is our Hicks Family get together. It usually is an adult get together where we have some of Nathan's moms good food and sit and talk and become better friends. This time we decided to have a family picnic. It was our last summer get together. We met at West Jordan Park and ate food, talked and played games. It was such a nice saturday--I think it only got to 84 degrees. I didnt get too many pictures, but I thought I would post a couple.

Morgan showing me her racket. She had fun playing with all the cousins especially Robert.

Camden had fun playing at the fort and running around with his cousins

Camden

I have been so focused on other things that I havent picked up my camera in a little while. So, tonight I decided to take a few pictures of Camden. He really wanted to wear his Star Wars shirt and hold his light saber for the pictures, but I promised him if he took them the way mom wanted them first I would take the star wars ones later. He was a great sport and followed my every wish--except for sitting on the ground because he was afraid he would sit on an ant. I think I might use one of these as his first grade picture.

not really a smile, but I love all of the flowers around his face.

Breaking Dawn

I really should have posted a picture of the mountain of dishes that were piled in my sink yesterday, but my sweet husband did them for me before I got up this morning. I wasnt sure if I wanted to read Breaking Dawn at first because I read some of the spoilers and I wasnt sure if I would like it, but when I finished it at 3:30am this morning I felt satisfied with the story. Actually I loved it! It had my heart racing and I even had a few tears. Not a dull reading moment and I had a hard time putting it down. What did you think?