Solids!

So, we started Anna on solids today, and she did great! I'm not really sure if she likes carrots... She made a terrible face every time she took a bite but kept reaching for the spoon when I took it away. And, the plane/choo-choo train kinda really does work! It will be a work in progress... a messy work in progress... but we're so excited! 

If you're starting solids with your little one, I definitely recommend you get the bowls with the suction cups on the bottom because they will eventually become little bowl-throwers!

Also, Gerber has an awesome Meal Planner for each stage of food to make sure your little one gets a well-balanced, nutritional meal every time and gets every vitamin and nutrient needed throughout the day:

http://menuplanner.gerber.com/Home/Dashboard

Bourbon Street Chicken!

Okay, you'll soon learn that I love to cook! I love trying new recipes! It's like a science experiment! 

Anyways, Bourbon Street Chicken is a serious favorite of the guys in my house, and Joseph and Sean have been begging me to make it. Joseph was worried that I would make it too sweet or something because apparently it is very easy to screw up. I did some research and found a great recipe though, and when I cooked it last night, they absolutely LOVED it! Like so full they could burst because they ate so much love! Hope you guys love it as much as they did!

• 2 pounds boneless chicken breasts; cut into bite-size pieces
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 garlic clove; crushed
• 1/4 teaspoon ginger
• 3/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (or less if you don't like it spicy)
• 1/4 cup apple juice
• 1/3 cup light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/3 cup soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch (only if thick sauce desired; I didn't use it when I made it)

Preparation:

1. Heat oil in a large skillet.
2. Add chicken pieces and cook until lightly browned.
3. Remove chicken. 
4. Add remaining ingredients, heating over medium heat until well blended and dissolved. 
5. Add chicken and bring to a hard boil. 
6. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes uncovered. 
7. Serve over hot rice.

I also added some onion powder, Italian seasoning, chili powder, Old Bay, and Cajun seasoning... but I add stuff to everything! We served it over Cajun rice instead of white or yellow rice to give the recipe a different feel! It was delicious!

Almost Six Months Old!

Another month gone! I can't believe Anna will be sixth months old on July 10th! 

What's For Dinner?

Probably one of my favorite recipes is my Roast Adobo Pork Loin:

Ready in 40 mins

I use and abuse my GOYA® seasoning, so this is a great recipe to splurge on it! The trick is the olive oil, I believe... I never knew how amazing potatoes could taste if they are rolled in it, and it really holds the seasoning to the pork loin!

Recipe makes 4 Servings (Ingredients):

• 2 tablespoons chili powder (or less if you don't like it very spicy)
• 1 tablespoon GOYA® Adobo All-Purpose Seasoning with Pepper (can never have too much!)
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon packed dark brown sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1 (2 pound) boneless pork loin roast

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 450 degrees F. In small bowl, mix together chili powder, Adobo, cumin, dark brown sugar and cinnamon until well combined. Stir olive oil into Adobo mixture until completely saturated.
2. Using paper towels, pat pork loin dry. Rub pork all over with Adobo mixture. Transfer pork to foil-lined roasting pan. Cook until pork is dark golden brown and instant-read thermometer registers 145 degrees F when inserted into center of loin, about 35 minutes.
3. Transfer pork to platter; tent with foil to keep warm. Let rest 10-15 minutes before slicing. Serve with accumulated juices.

Most of the time, I boil cut up red potatoes for 20 mins, and then I roll them in olive oil, garlic salt, Italian seasoning, and seasoning salt, before baking them with the pork loin until fully-cooked.

Update!

Jesus, it's been a long time since I've been on here! Anna is almost six months old, and she's growing like a weed! I attempted to go back to work after she was six weeks old, and that lasted maybe two months. I felt like I needed to be home with my little angel.

So, officially, I'm a homemaker for the moment, and its incredible to watch her grow, to do things with her, and to watch her learn. I'm already so very proud of her. I'm also very proud of her daddy, who makes it possible for me to be home with her, while he works a full-time job and two side jobs. I adore him, and he is such an amazing human being. I love spending every moment I can with the family we are creating.

Oh, and by the way, I'm pregnant again! I'm about 13 Weeks Along, and we're so excited to find out who he/she is going to be! This might be it for us when it comes to children, but I'm very pleased that no matter whether it is a boy or a girl, he/she and Anna Sophia will always have each other.

Since I've been away from Harley, I have kinda started to become a cooking fanatic: I love to try new recipes on Joseph, my dad, and my brother... Most of the time they like them, sometimes I go a little crazy with the spice and the flavors. I'm pretty proud of myself, and I would love to start sharing recipes!

I've started writing a little family newsletter, so these should update you just a tad!

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