Enjoying Every Day

Stationery card

2011-12-10T18:29:00.001-07:00

With Love Christmas Card

Creating Christmas cards has never been this easy.

View the entire collection of cards.

Cilantro Lime Chicken

2011-08-31T18:37:00.000-06:00

I found this recipe on the 17 Day Diet message boards. It's a really good chicken marinade. The chicken came out juicy and moist. And, it was the first time I used the outdoor grill all by myself! It was so easy, I think I'll do it again. I made homemade salsa and guacamole to go with it. Yummy!

Cilantro Lime Chicken

Ingredients:
4-6 boneless, skinless chicken breast portions
1/2 Cup fresh cilantro leaves
1/4 Cup fresh parsley leaves (flat leaf)
1 or 2 whole fresh basil leaves
3 cloves of garlic
1 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
2 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Juice of 3 limes

In the bowl of a food processor combine the cilantro, parsley, basil, garlic, onion powder, cayenne pepper and olive oil. Process by pulsing until everything is roughly the same size in the bowl. Add the lime juice and pulse 2 or 3 times to combine. Cover the chicken with the mixture in a storage bag or bowl with a lid and allow to marinate about an hour (longer = more flavor).

Grill or broil and enjoy!

Allie-isms

2011-08-29T20:32:00.000-06:00

Allie asked me if I remember when her pee-pee fell off. A few days later she asked me when Ryan's was going to fall off. When I told her that only boys have pee-pees and that they never fall off, she asked me if Daddy has one too. I said yes.

17 Day Diet

2011-08-29T20:29:00.000-06:00

If anyone is interested in losing weight, I have found a wonderful book called "The 17 Day Diet." I have lost 14.5 lbs in 6 weeks. I lost 8 in the first 17 days. Some people lose 12 lbs in the first 17 days! The thing I love about this diet is it very healthy and very easy to follow. If you want to learn more, pick up the book or let me know and I can post some details about the diet. I'm about half way to my goal! I'm going to try to post some of my favorite meals I've made on the 17 Day Diet. Happy eating!

By the way, the banana bread I just posted is not on the diet!

The Best Banana Bread Recipe

2011-08-29T20:23:00.000-06:00

This is one of my favorite recipes. I make it every time I have very ripe bananas in my house. I found this recipe on SimplyRecipes.com.

Banana Bread Recipe

Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 1 hour

INGREDIENTS

3 or 4 ripe bananas, smashed
1/3 cup melted butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
Pinch of salt
1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour

METHOD

No need for a mixer for this recipe. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). With a wooden spoon, mix butter into the mashed bananas in a large mixing bowl. Mix in the sugar, egg, and vanilla. Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the mixture and mix in. Add the flour last, mix. Pour mixture into a buttered 4x8 inch loaf pan. Bake for 50-60 minutes. Cool on a rack. Remove from pan and slice to serve.

Yield: Makes one loaf.

A New Chapter of Our Life

2011-08-03T10:02:00.001-06:00

New city... new job... new school... new blog! What a great time to start blogging!!

I tried to blog a couple of years ago and ran out of steam. But recently I went back and read my old blogs. It is so much fun to read about the little day to day things that happen, cute things the kids do or say, things that you would forget otherwise. My now 5 year old daughter loved hearing about the silly things she did at 2. I really want to have a record for Allison and Ryan to read when all of these cute things are distant memories. So, hold on and here we go!!

New City - For the past 5 years Nick has been commuting from Colorado Springs to Denver (60-80 miles each way!) This summer we finally decided (for the sanity of our family) to pack up our house and move 40 miles north to Castle Rock, Colorado. We found a beautiful former model home, in a great neighborhood, filled with young families. We have amazing neighbors that have been so friendly and welcoming. It's been a wonderful experience.

New Job - A couple of weeks ago, Nick got a promotion. He is now the GM of Go Chrysler Jeep on Broadway. Yay Nick! All that hard work finally paid off. He is really enjoying the new position.

New School - And today, Allie started kindergarten. No tears from Mom or Allie. Guess who was crying? Ryan! I'm not sure if he missed Allie or was just sad he couldn't go to school with her. She had a great first day of school with many more fun days to follow.

I'm not sure if things are going to slow down for a while or are just getting started. With two kids, things never seem to slow down!