Try It Tuesday - Crunchy Thai Chicken Salad

Crunchy Thai Chicken Salad...

We just love Thai food. And now that Jackson is 3 years old he can have peanut butter. This has opened an entire new group of recipes up for us to try. It seems he is not allergic to peanut butter, which is good since I consider peanut butter to be a food group onto itself!

This salad has a bit of kick to it, some sweet and spicy, plus several different textures that crunch. It's Pad Thai without the noodles! This does call for several items that you may not have just stocked in your pantry.

Ingredients and Directions:

3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 cup sweet chili sauce

1/2 cup rice vinegar

1/2 cup lite canned coconut milk

4 garlic cloves, pressed or finely minced

2 Tbsp creamy peanut butter

2 tsps ginger, grated

2 limes, juiced

1 Tbsp low sodium soy sauce

The sippy cup in the background is an optional ingredient!

Ready to cook

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a baking dish with non-stick spray. Season chicken with salt and pepper, then place in the baking dish.

Combine chili sauce, vinegar, coconut milk, garlic, ginger, peanut butter, soy sauce and lime juice in a saucepan, whisking to combine. Bring to a boil, the reduce to a simmer and cook for 3-4 minutes until slightly thickened. Remove from heat and pour half of the sauce over the chicken, turning chicken to coat completely. Set remaining sauce aside to dress the salad with.

Bake chicken for 25-30 minutes, or until it is cooked through.

Salad

1 small napa cabbage, chopped

1/2 small red cabbage, chopped

6 green onions, sliced

1 large cucumber, peeled, sliced and quartered

2/3 cup chopped or sliced carrots

2/3 cup edamame

2/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro

2/3 cup chopped peanuts

While chicken is cooking, combine all salad ingredients, except for peanuts, in a large bowl and toss. When chicken has finished cooking, let cool for a few minutes then either shred or cut into chunks. Serve salad, top with chicken, top with peanuts, then top with dressing.

Salad with some crunch and some bite...try something new and healthy! Why not. its Tuesday!

Sharron

Try It Tuesday...Salmon with Black Bean & Corn Salsa

Salmon with Black Bean & Corn Salsa...

As usual I am attempting to sneak some fish into Jackson's life. He is a really good eater but I am always afraid that the true toddler in him will rear its ugly head during meal time. This salsa is super good and can really be paired with almost anything or be eaten alone on a chip...that's what Luke is looking for in a meal!

Ingredients:
1 pound of Salmon Fillet
1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
1/2 lime, juiced - I usually use the whole lime
1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained
1 can (15 oz) corn, drained
1/2 red pepper, diced
1/2 red onion, diced
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
4 Tbsp. olive oil
2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
salt and pepper

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 F.
Spray a baking dish with cooking spray. Place salmon in prepared baking dish.  In a small bowl, mix soy sauce and lime juice; pour over salmon.
Bake for 15 minutes, or until flaky.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, mix black beans, corn, red pepper, red onion, cilantro, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper. Set aside.

Notice the dinosaur that helped me prepare this tasty dish!

Serve salmon with black bean mixture spooned on top. I served this over rice.

Dinosaur approved!

Super easy, quick, healthy, and yummy...its Tuesday, try something new!
Enjoy!
Sharron

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Daylight Savings Time a Terrible Idea...

Who is the idiot scientific genius who thought of time change? Time travel good; time change evil. Daylight savings time sounds like a wonderful idea especially if your toddler goes to bed ONLY when it's "dark outside". And when your baby is finally on a really great sleeping schedule, hey let's move the clocks forward. This daylight savings guy is currently my enemy. And honestly I'm not sure that I am acknowledging the time change.
I'm certain that I didn't care or even remotely notice time change in my 20's. Likely I welcomed the "fall back" as a weekend with one extra hour for drinking or sleeping. And "spring forward" meant one less hour of work. But as a sleep deprived parent tiptoeing around the house trying no to spill my wine when I trip over a matchbox car when the inmates are sleeping, I notice every minute that passes that I don't have to say something like, "Take my phone out of your nose" or "Please don't head butt the cat again."
Luke of course schedules himself to be on call the weekend of the time change...he says it was just coincidental, but I have video footage of him laughing all the way to the hospital. I will get him back, don't worry. So Saturday night we get the terrorists in their cells and we have a few minutes of adult conversation...you know, "Blah, blah, blah...my wine glass is nearly empty...Blah, blah, blah, let's discuss Jackson's poop" We realize that we better get into bed because 11:00 is really 12:00. Let's just say that how I pictured the morning going and how it really worked out was quite different, it's like my mind was dreaming of a TV family.
5:55 am, Jackson needs to pee. 6 am Blake needs to eat. I get up to go to the bathroom; kick wake Luke to respond to either one of the screaming kids. Here's where the morning really goes off track...
I come back into our bedroom, expecting to find a large empty bed to which I would get into the middle of and finish my dream about "silence and wine"...Snap out of it...Blues Clues is blaring (Steve not Joe, I don't like that Joe guy, he creeps me out) Luke is a feeding a very awake Blake, and Jackson and Rocket are sprawled out on my side of the bed. There's just about enough room for my prebaby body to get into the bed. I guess we're up!
Luke quickly gets dressed, runs downstairs, makes a pot of coffee for me as if it were some sort of peace offering and "Has to get to work". I was mentally slashing his tires. It was still dark outside but the shenanigans were underway. I spend the next 3-5 hours playing and entertaining the boys...but I look at the clock and its only 8:30?! How is this even possible. I make breakfast, Jackson ordered oatmeal and bacon. Which he decided he would like to eat without pants on..."fine!" Blake is of course a complete train wreck. He can't decide if he wants me to hold him constantly (not an easy undertaking since he weighs a feathery 30 lbs) or run around screaming, crying and eating cat food. The morning continued on in a similar fashion. I tried to put Blake down for a nap, no dice...Just as he passing into a peaceful slumber, Jackson started yelling for me.
Let's just go outside. Sidewalk chalk, bubbles, bike riding, it was a beautiful day. Our new single, neighbor came out around 11, he was heading to Starbucks..."take me with you!", I cried. He looked at me like I was out of my mind. Later I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror - not good- no wonder he skidded out of the driveway.
Luke made it home by 1 or so, actually I have no idea what time it was then or now. You see half of the clocks have the right time and the other have the wrong time and then there is the occasional clock that was never reset last time...who cares! He comes home just in time for naps. He has the audacity to fall asleep with Blake, "I was tired Sharron."
Somewhere around 8:30 pm, on some clock in the house, I blacked out!
Daylight savings time...not a good idea.

I hope your time change experience has been less memorable and a smoother transition...

Sharron

Try it Tuesday - Taco Tuesday

Taco Tuesday...well actually Taco Salad Tuesday...

healthy, fast, easy...and kid friendly

This is a super fast and easy dinner that I have made several times. Jackson and Luke like to have Taco Tuesdays so I like to try to switch up different taco recipes. This one happens to be an old standby. The ingredients can easily be switched out for other items of your choice. This recipe does not require any measuring and very little cooking.

Ingredients:
1 (1-2 pounds) package of ground meat - I use ground turkey but you can use chicken, buffalo, pork, or beef
1 package taco seasoning - I use McCormick's Low Sodium Taco Seasoning
1 can black beans, drained - I sometimes use pinto beans
1 can corn, drained
2 tomatoes - diced
2 avocados - peeled, pitted, and chopped
1/2 bunch cilantro, chopped
1/2 lime, juiced
1/2 package shredded Mexican cheese - or whatever type of cheese you have in your fridge

Other items you might want to include:  Jalapeños and sour cream

Directions:
Cook meat according to taco seasoning directions.
Meanwhile, mix the above ingredients in a large bowl.

Spoon salad onto plate and top with taco meat...enjoy!

This is my plate and I like to go "cheese less"

Give this a try and start your own tradition of Taco Tuesdays!...
Sharron

Try it Tuesday - Gluten Free...

Gluten Free...
Recently a friend decided to go "Gluten Free"...and I hear once you go Gluten Free (GF) you never go back! (couldn't resist). And in doing so she has had some difficulty in her meal planning. I will also explain to you that she is only going GF in support of her boyfriend, which makes her a true doll or totally nuts. Either way I applaud her desire to continue having meals with her boyfriend. But what I didn't realize is that this endeavor would involve me. I am happily gluten-full and have no plans on changing my wheat loving life. Yet here we are experimenting with some GF recipes. I told Luke that we were being supportive and that we should also be sensitive to the needs of others...He gave me a dirty look and asked when this would be over and he could have a bagel, pretzels, whiskey and chocolate cake. I'm not sure if he wants that in one meal, but I'll make it happen!
So here is the main thing that I learned on my GF adventure....if it says GF it will no doubt cost double.
Well, Caleene and Corey and all you other GF friends out there here's a couple recipes for you...

Kale Salad with Chicken 

Ingredients:
4-5 cloves garlic, minced
1/3 cup olive oil
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 tsp lemon zest
1 Tbsp Dijon mustard - Grey Poupon is GF

2-4 cups kale, chopped
1/2 cup red onion, diced
1 red pepper, diced
1 small fennel bulb, diced
1 cup walnuts, chopped
2 cups dried cranberries
2 chicken breast, cooked and chopped - to make this super easy, I bought a rotisserie chicken at Publix

Directions:
Whisk together garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, zest, and mustard. Season with salt and pepper; set aside.

In a large bowl, combine kale, onion, pepper, fennel, walnuts, cranberries, and chicken. Pour dressing over and toss to coat. Serve.

This was really good, a bit tangy which I enjoyed. This kale was a nice surprise.

Chicken Piccata

Ingredients:

1- 1.5 pounds chicken cutlets - I used chicken tenders, its what I had available

salt and pepper

4 Tbsp olive oil

1/3 cup lemon juice

1/2 cup chicken stock - gluten free

1/4 cup capers, drained

1 Tbsp butter

1/3 cup parsley, chopped

Directions:

Season chicken generously with salt and pepper. 

In a large skillet, heat oil over medium/high heat. Cook chicken in oil for 3-4 minutes on each side until golden brown. Remove chicken from pan and cover to keep warm. 

Stir in the chicken broth, lemon juice, and capers, scraping up any bits in the pan. Simmer until sauce is reduced and slightly syrupy. Return chicken to the pan and simmer for 5 minutes; remove from pan. Add butter to sauce and whisk vigorously. Pour sauce over chicken and garnish with parsley.

Serve and enjoy...

Another easy meal would be Fajitas - chicken or steak....corn tortillas are gluten free and according to McCormick's web site, their seasoning packets are also generally gluten free...

http://www.gfreefoodie.com/are-mccormick-spices-gluten-free/

 Just a few ideas for you and your GF life...it took me awhile to type this because I was eating pretzels...don't worry they were GF.

Once this bag is gone we are back in wheat, rye, etc. action!
I hope these recipes are enjoyable and helpful....Just give them a try...its GF Tuesday!
Sharron

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Try it Tuesday - Chicken Strips for Everyone

Baked Chicken Strips for Everyone...

Baked Parmesan Chicken Strips

Most of us love chicken tenders, chicken fingers or chicken strips. Generally the best versions of these chicken strips are fried and unhealthy. I originally found this recipe for Jackson but after I tried them I figured out that they were wonderful and really versatile. There are few ingredients and no real skill involved! That's likely what makes them so good.
I slice these up and put them over any salad; Luke likes them on Caesar salad. They can be chopped up and put in a wrap for lunch. Or simply eaten alone...I'm sure there are other ways to incorporate these into your meals...But you will have to give them a try.

Ingredients:
1 package of chicken tenders - I like Publix Greenwise
2 cups buttermilk

right next to the bread crumbs

1 1/2 cups panko bread crumbs - Lemon Pepper is so yummy  
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
olive oil














Directions:
Preheat oven to 425 F.
Place chicken tenders in a shallow dish, pour buttermilk over the chicken and let stand 15 - 30 minutes.

In another shallow dish, mix panko and Parmesan cheese.
Prepare baking sheet. What has worked for me is a wire baking wrack over a baking sheet.
Dredge each chicken strip through the panko mixture to coat completely, pressing to adhere. Place on prepared baking sheet. Repeat for each strip.

Dredge...

Ready to bake

Drizzle 2 Tablespoons olive oil over the chicken strips. Bake for 20 minutes, until golden brown.
Serve...however you see fit.

Golden Brown and crispy!

You're going to love these I promise! But you'll never know unless you give them a try...it is Tuesday!
Sharron

Don't Pee on My Floor and Don't Push out a Toot

Potty training an inmate...

Before you even start reading this...just be forewarned that if you don't want to talk about pee or poop, we can no longer be friends. I spend the great majority of my day discussing these two riveting subjects with one small terrorist and it somehow spills over into all my adult conversations.
Who ever thought that potty training a 2 year old is a good idea? I mean honestly a toddler has a long enough attention span to get them though the flushing part of the process. And why is wearing diapers until middle school frowned upon? I obviously assumed that Jackson, you know the future Bill Gates, would be potty trained by the time he was 2. And that potty training would take about 3 tries and we would all move on with our life. Hahaha, again you will find that Jackson is always "winning" and I'm generally just searching for another glass of wine. I frequently wonder how these things happen to me...

An example of why toddlers shouldn't be allowed in a bathroom alone..."just getting the toilet paper ready"

I have felt that Jackson was ready to be potty trained for months, he felt otherwise and did not hesitate to tell me so. I would ask do you want to use the potty..."No, not yet!" I asked my pediatrician when it would be time. This was my largest tactical error as a parent, to date. I asked this question in front of the  scheming diaper lover. Dr. Cohen said stop asking him about the potty...WTF?...(I ignorantly thought that if you wanted someone to learn a new skill, you must introduce that skill.) He explained that Jackson knew that using the potty was an option and that "When HE is ready, HE will use it." These words were like were like the magical sound of a new package of gummy spidermen being opened to Jackson's ears. By December I was done with Jackson singing to me, "Momma, guess what... I'm peeing!" Or, "I just peed and burped at the same time." He said that as if I should run to his baby book and add that to the page of developmental milestones...I looked, no where is there a spot for peeing and burping at the same time.
We made a deal - NO, I have not learned not to deal with terrorists...I continue in my negotiating efforts. The deal was New Year - No Diapers. Jackson looked at a box of diapers and said with sadness, "I guess that's my last box." You can bet your happy little ass that's your last box, is what I wanted to say!
We were ready...7,000 pairs of little boy underwear, potty books, Clorox wipes and 6 cases of wine. The underwear went on and we had constant potty talk. "Do you have to pee?" "Do you think we should go sit on the potty?" It goes on and on. Jackson immediately decided that he will not sit to pee. He needs to do it just like daddy. And really only girls sit to pee because we pee out of our butts. This standing to pee thing is not a good idea for grown men who understand the concept of proprioception, much less a toddler. Jackson will turn to talk to me when he is standing to pee and where his head goes so too does is pee...Hence the Clorox wipes.
Then there are the step stools. There is a step stool in front of each of our toilets, which is great when Jackson says "I need to poop right now" but not so fantastic at 3 am when you stumble into the bathroom...my shins are taking a beating. And then I am angry that I may have woken a child with my loud cursing. I'm also pretty sure that Luke is standing on these stools when he uses the bathroom just for fun.
The step stool does come in handy for the reading of the books. Jackson likes to be read to while he is attempting to poop. This was cute the first 20 times that I was sitting on the bathroom floor. But then I realized that I was being had and that he just wanted to hear about Josh and his his new potty. One day I read through all the potty books and still no poop...then you must not have to go. But I forget that he has an X and a Y chromosome so this pooping thing is a lengthy process. So he looks over at a basket full of magazine and says "what about some of those?" So there I sit reading ESPN the magazine to him. And like a moth to the flame...one article about LeBron James and we had poop. Live and learn.

Here he has roped Luke into reading the potty book

Notice the step stool and the pile of books

One night after he pooped, I left him naked because we were heading upstairs to the bath. He says "Oh, I think I have to poop some more. No. It was just a toot." And he walks past me...that was not just a toot...
Then there is the constant need to examine the poop. "How many poops?" "That poop looks like bacon."  I don't even know what to say to that, except yet another reason I don't eat bacon!

But the beauty of all this has been, it has gone really easily. He has had few accidents. And I have only thrown away 2 pairs of his underwear. And I have learned to say things like, "Don't pee on my floor" and "Never push out a toot." If you are starting your adventures in potty training I will allow you to take those phrases on as your own.
And of course, because I am not suckered enough in this relationship with the prince. There was of course a potty present. The first week that he went all day, including naps, dry he got a potty present...Cars, duh!

opening the potty present

Posing on a table in his undies with his potty present - just like momma

So one down, one to go. I'm pretty sure that Blake will potty train himself when I am not looking. This second child thing is a whole different experience.
If you are gonna potty train your toddler, just remember, accidents do happen...but running out of wine is unacceptable.

Peaks - As if having one kid out of diapers wasn't delightful enough! Little B is eating so many things now and is oh so happy about it...and he is starting to walk.

Great, walking - another possible escapee

having some cheese...its good

 Pits - My house is not getting any cleaner with all this bathroom time. I've started allowing Blake to cook...my Try it Tuesdays are really recipes that he invents. And Jackson now thinks he is a rockstar since he pees in the potty

This took only 4 potty books to happen...

But he swears he didn't do it!

Just getting some ingredients

No photos please...unless you want to see my undies

I saw this and thought is was a wine glass...I was  hopeful

Have a wonderful week...and try to talk about your own pee and poop, its very liberating!
Sharron