Tuesday, October 24, 2006

SHAKE AND BAKE

1 C flour
1 C finely crushed saltines (I used blender)
1 T salt (used scant)
1 1/2 tsp rapadura (sugar)
1 tsp garlic granules
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp pepper
2 tsp paprika
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp basil
1 tsp thyme
(1/4 C oil - I didn't use at all)

Mix all dry ingredients. (Drizzle oil over mix, combine to make fine particles). Store in fridge in air tight container. Recipe said to dip in egg, milk or water and then mixture. I simply put the mixture in a Ziploc and added chicken, shook and baked. I had enough to fix chicken for tonight and have 1/2 left over in the fridge.

Boneless, strips etc...Bake at 350* for 20 - 30 minutes
bone in bake at 400* for 45 min ...

I did 400* for about 30 - 45 min.

Roasted Veggies

Cut up red potatoes (or if you are lucky enough to have tiny ones wash and toss)
Chunk up some carrots
Onions
Red Peppers

Pre-heat oven to 425*.

Amounts determined by your family size. Toss with olive or coconut oil (about 2 - 3 T is what I use for a 9 x 13 pan).

Add salt and pepper if you'd like (I don't).

Bake for 35 - 45 minutes, until veggies are cooked through and the onions are carmalized.

I toss in a couple of handfuls of an Italian seasoning that Frontier Herbs makes (marjoram, thyme, sage, basil, oregano). Bake 5 minutes longer.
Parenting Study

Months ago I began a parenting study. I posted thoughts and a few things back then. You can go back and find those things by clicking the "parenting" link at the end of this entry. In fact, if you aren't familiar with me and wonder about my "spirit" or my "attitude" it would be well to go and read WHY I'm doing a study. {G} I won't rewrite it all at this time.

Frankly, I haven't posted further because I chickened out. I have been working on my study but I don't really like being a target for my convictions any more than the next person. Some have asked about my study. I guess I'll have to come clean and post. In the near future you will begin to see more notes from my study.

Please know from the start that I am NOT condenmning or judging anyone who has parented or currently parents different than me. I'm simply sharing what I have learned in my study of the Word. It has been a good study for me. I've been renewed during my study. I've been thrilled and delighted and convicted at various times. Maybe reading an entry called "Disputable Matters" posted with the label of heart thoughts would help you to know that this is NOT a "defining issue" for me.

I fully realize that many of you will disagree with a few of my conclusions. That's fine. I also fully realize that there are lists of experts who disagree with me. The thing is that there are also lists of experts that will agree with me. THIS is the very reason I did this study and have committed not to read another single parenting book until I am done. I want the WORD to speak to me and not another.

These are principles we've lived out in our home. This is not new ground to me personally. Often I study something, figure out why I want to do what I want to do, and then don't remember all the research that went into making the decision (food choices, laundry brand etc). I wanted to get all my thoughts in one spot...and really....can you ever get all your thoughts on parenting in one spot????As soon as you finish one aspect a new aspect pops up.

So....if you've forgotten or not read other thoughts I had on parenting....check out the link, scroll to the end and see what I've said before...because I am going to try hard not to be redundant: Compliance vs Obedience, God's discipline, Where's the Grace?

As always - you are FREE to have your own convictions. I simply share mine.
My Dad update

He's out of surgery. Mom reports that he is doing much better at this point, than he has at this point in either of the other surgeries. (Forgive that sentence).

They did the bone graft. Please continue to pray for Dad's outlook, for pain and for recovery.

Mom says thank you - and I say THANK you too!
Whew - Thank God the Day is over!!!

Stacia was up late and early. Need I say more?

It seemed we had barely begun school and it was time for me to head for the base. Today was the monthly Parish Advisory Council - ummm - guess it is a bit like an elder board or a lay leadership board in a civilian church. The meeting went past the one hour mark.... I was supposed to have contacted one of our Catholic ladies to see about doing a joint Thanksgiving "something" for the students. We didn't connect all month. {G} This turned out to be good because others had more ideas of things they wanted to do and it was good that we hadn't agreed on a plan already. We were going to have turkey sandwiches and such at the big student center - The Crossroads - on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Now, it appears that we'll have bands playing in the parking lot and such. I'm sure it will all come together....delegate, delegate...that's what I'll do. Kathy already agreed to handle all the publicity (fliers, getting word to instructors, and out on the global email at base) because my computer is crashed!!! I can handle getting it in the Protestant News and getting sign ups for food and volunteers. I simply need a bit of quiet time to get my thoughts together. LOL

We DID manage to have tea today. I figured school was a bust anyway. That is NOT true. I have always prioritized our school and had to laugh at the timely message last night at Mom's Night Out. The lady was talking about reading to your children. A favorite past time around here. She went on to say that she had prioritized her school and did the most important things first. For HER that was devotions and reading. Those are mine too....it cracked me up that TODAY would go so awry that all we got done were devotions and reading (well the kids did table school on their own). What a timely reminder Becca provided last night. I took it in stride and we enjoyed tea time with our freed up time instead of stressing about cramming one more subject into the short amount of time. I bought some cute tea cups on sale. I was looking for something for PWOC and these will fit the bill perfectly AND they are great for family tea. They are special and yet not TOO SPECIAL. In other words, they are nice, pretty and delicate (not a mug) but they aren't terribly expensive and won't bother me if one of the kids breaks one. They were marked down to $19.99 too. The only problem is I forgot that I have more than *6* in my family and so I need to go back and see if they have any others. Unfortunately, during tea, Zander was so excited for his yummy AhLaska hot drink that he took a big gulp and royally burned his tongue and mouth. Poor baby. He cried and cried....asked for milk, ice cream and smoothie and finally fell asleep holding his tongue. He is fine now.

Ah bummer...the photo of Arielle with the tea cups won't load. I'm thinking that these will make a darling set to give her when she is older...after they are filled with memories of family tea time. We'll see.

I made "shake and bake" tonight. I still don't' have my computer and my recipes but I found several on line and combined. We really liked it. We also had a salad, fruit, bread and roasted veggies!!! YUMMM....I LOVE roasted veggies.

Tonight was PWOC. Study went well. Fellowship was sweet. The ladies like the new tea cups. I FORGOT TO TAKE THE KEY and couldn't get into the chapel. I did have my cell phone and called Marty to have Mandy bring a key. She was gracious enough to stay longer than she wanted so we could clean up and lock up. I think the tea tasted better in real cups instead of Styrofoam. :::gag:: The secret is out - I really hate Styrofoam and have a thing about using it. ::snort::

I came home and read 3 chapters out of Pinocchio to the crew (age 1 - 17). I really liked the name of the town Pinocchio visited tonight "land of the blockhead"...I think I've been there a time or two. :::snort:::

Weigh In -

WooHOO! I KNEW it was only a matter of doing what I KNEW I needed to do. My "paper brain" is really helping me. I made a sheet up a long time ago with the Thin Within Observation/Correction chart on it, Food Log and hunger scale. I added a box to chart exercise and water consumption. I also added a spot to write my last weight and a spot to mark my thyroid meds. Oh yes...and I wrote out "my" hunger scale to help me objectively evaluate where I am on the hunger scale. It's all in one spot. It's clicking. I lose two lbs last week and three lbs this week. I'm sure it will shortly settle back down to 1/2 - 1 lb a week...but at least something is moving.

A friend began doing weight watchers and commented a couple of weeks ago about how the food log/points really helped her because she didn't want to WRITE down that extra bit of food etc. Bingo - I remembered my paper brain....I knew she was right. Thin Within aims to have you internalize the principles but offers these tools to help you until you do. I HAD internalized the principles...but had slipped. Until I can do this by second nature again, I'll use my paper brain. Now - if I could just get out every day for 30 minutes....
Bosch Question....

The last two days when I make smoothies (which I do one - two times a day) it seeps out the bottom of the blender. I've checked and can't figure out why. I do not have a manual. I suddenly realized that I bought it from a distributor in AK - she sold grains and mills and mixers out of her home...but she didn't give me paperwork or a manual or anything....

Anyone have a clue what would be causing this? Do I need to go get a blender JUST for smooothies?