Photo Shoot 2011
Gracie and the Book of Mormon
Her new favorite toy in our room.
January 21, 2011
January 15-18
Visitors!
Over the weekend we had our first family visitors.
We had been looking forward to their visit for a long time and it was well worth the wait.
We had a wonderful time.
G-Ron and G-ma with the kids in front of the theatre and museum.
We took them to Piedmont Park.
JTC loved the swings! It's been awhile since he's been to the park
~ their house is buried in many feet of snow.
We also went to the Georgia Aquarium ~ The largest aquarium in the world!
We celebrated David's 40th birthday!!!
And finally got to see...
As I have mentioned before, I am so proud of my husband. He has been working very hard over the past 2 months and it shows! The show is amazing, I only hope you all have a chance to see it one day!
Thanks to the RP and AC families for a fabulous weekend. We miss you tons already!
Thanks AEC for photos!!!!
January 18, 2011
January 10, 2011
January 10, 2011
My new best friend...the Crock-Pot!
As I have mentioned before we don't have an oven here at the hotel, so I make most meals in the crock-pot. Prior to moving to Atlanta DP did most of our cooking. If I did attempt cooking, it usually ended with me pouting over something that didn't taste right, was dry, or just plain burnt.
But the crock-pot has changed all that.
I've decided I'm going to post my favorite crock-pot recipes.
A.) So that you can enjoy them if you have a crock-pot and
B.) so that I will remember them when we get back home.
I usually get my recipes from 3 different places...my favorite being the website "A Year In Slow Cooking." Stephanie O'Dea made a New Year's resolution to use her Crock-Pot slow cooker everyday for a year and write about it on the Internet in 2008. I thank her for her wonderful recipes!
Chicken Parmesan
--2-4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
--1/2 cup bread crumbs
--1/4 cup parmesan cheese
--1/2 t Italian Seasoning
--1/4 t black pepper
--1/4 t kosher salt
--1 T olive oil
--1 beaten egg
--sliced mozzarella cheese
--favorite jarred marinara sauce
The Directions:
--spread the 1 T of olive oil into the bottom of your crockpot stoneware insert
--whip the egg with a fork in a separate bowl
--mix the bread crumbs with the seasonings and the parmesan cheese in another separate dish
--dip the chicken into the egg, then into the bread crumb mixture, coating both sides with crumbs, cheese and seasonings
--place the chicken breast pieces in the bottom of the crock
--layer 2-3 slices of mozzarella cheese on top
--cover with entire jar of marinara sauce
--close lid and cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4. If your chicken is still frozen, it will take longer.
Serve with your favorite pasta.
above from http://crockpot365.blogspot.com
Slow Cooker Chicken Divan
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 10 3/4 oz cans of cream of chicken
1 cup mayonnaise
1 10 oz package frozen broccoli spears or chopped broccoli
curry powder to your taste
Directions
1. Spray the slow cooker with Pam or use a liner.
2. Place chicken breasts on the bottom of the slow cooker.
3. Place the broccoli over the chicken.
4. Mix together the soups, mayonnaise, and any seasonings. Add to the slow cooker.
5. Cook on High for 4-5 hours. Serve plain, over noodles, with stuffing, or even add crushed potato chips to the top!
I add a little chicken stock to the bottom of the crock-pot. I also add about a cup of grated cheddar cheese and bread crumbs over the top of the soup mixture. We serve it over rice. This is one of G's and DP's favorites.
above from http://slow-cooker-collection.yumsugar.com/
Turkey and Roasted Red Pepper Meatloaf
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds ground turkey
- 1 small yellow onion, chopped
- 1/2 cup bread crumbs
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1 cup grated Parmesan
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard (I usually use yellow mustard, we rarely have Dijon around the house.)
Combine the turkey, onion, bread crumbs, egg, Parmesan, 2 tablespoons of the mustard, the parsley, red peppers, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a large bowl. Shape the meat into an 8-inch loaf and place in a baking dish.
This is our favorite meat-loaf recipe, but you can use your own if you'd like. Now the most exciting thing I learned when it comes to crock-pot cooking. You can actually put a meatloaf pan inside of the crock-pot and it will cook! I used a disposable meat-loaf pan so it could bend a bit, but if you have a large enough crock-pot your regular meat-loaf pan will fit!!!
Anyway, you will cover, and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or on high for 3 to 5 hours. You'll know the loaf is done when it's brown on the top and it starts to pull away from the sides. If you're not using the loaf pan, the meat will cook faster---check after 4 hours on low, 2 to 3 on high.
Anyway, you will cover, and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or on high for 3 to 5 hours. You'll know the loaf is done when it's brown on the top and it starts to pull away from the sides. If you're not using the loaf pan, the meat will cook faster---check after 4 hours on low, 2 to 3 on high.
When thoroughly cooked, turn off and unplug the cooker and let the meat sit for about 15 minutes before removing from the pot. I also poured out the fat that had collected at the bottom of the meat-loaf pan. DELICIOUS!!
above from RealSimple.com
Crock Pot Cheeseburger Soup
-4 cups chicken broth
--1 T dried onion (or 1/2 of a white onion, diced finely)
--1 lb lean ground beef, browned and drained on the stove top
--1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
--3 potatoes, cut in 1-inch cubes
--2 small garlic cloves, minced
--1 cup milk (to add later, soy is fine)
--24 oz Velveeta, cubed (to add later)
--Tabasco sauce, optional
--crumbled bacon, optional
The Directions.
Brown the meat on the stove top with the onion, and drain fat. Set aside to cool a bit.
In a 5-6 quart crockpot, pour in chicken broth. Add garlic, bell pepper, and potatoes. Stir in the browned meat and onion.
Cover and cook on low for 6 hours, or until onions are translucent and potatoes are tender. Stir in milk and Velveeta 15 minutes before serving.
Garnish with Tabasco sauce and crumbled bacon if desired.
above from http://crockpot365.blogspot.com
Shepard's Pie
--3 cups leftover mashed potatoes
--1 lb ground turkey or beef
--2 cloves garlic, chopped
--2 cups frozen vegetables (I used roasted corn and peas)
--1 medium onion, chopped finely, or 1 T onion flakes
--1/2 tsp seasoned salt
--1/2 tsp onion powder
--1/4 tsp black pepper
--1/4 tsp paprika (then a bit more for garnish)
--1 cup water
--2 cups shredded cheese
The Directions.
I used a 4 quart crockpot---it was the perfect size. A larger will work, but it will cook faster.
Brown the meat and onion on the stove, and drain any fat. Toss the meat with the spices and garlic---I didn't but next time I'd probably put the garlic and spices in with the meat in the frying pan, it would be easier.
Spray the inside of your crockpot with cooking spray. Put the meat in the crockpot and stir in the frozen vegetables, and a cup of water. Add two cups of cheese on top. Press the mashed potatoes down on top of the cheese and meat. Sprinkle with a bit of paprika.
Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or high for about 3, then remove the lid and cook on high for 30 minutes to release the condensation and allow the potatoes to brown a bit on top. Everything is cooked already, so you're really just allowing the flavors to meld and the potatoes to crustify.
above from http://crockpot365.blogspot.com
above from RealSimple.com
Crock Pot Cheeseburger Soup
-4 cups chicken broth
--1 T dried onion (or 1/2 of a white onion, diced finely)
--1 lb lean ground beef, browned and drained on the stove top
--1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
--3 potatoes, cut in 1-inch cubes
--2 small garlic cloves, minced
--1 cup milk (to add later, soy is fine)
--24 oz Velveeta, cubed (to add later)
--Tabasco sauce, optional
--crumbled bacon, optional
The Directions.
Brown the meat on the stove top with the onion, and drain fat. Set aside to cool a bit.
In a 5-6 quart crockpot, pour in chicken broth. Add garlic, bell pepper, and potatoes. Stir in the browned meat and onion.
Cover and cook on low for 6 hours, or until onions are translucent and potatoes are tender. Stir in milk and Velveeta 15 minutes before serving.
Garnish with Tabasco sauce and crumbled bacon if desired.
above from http://crockpot365.blogspot.com
Shepard's Pie
--3 cups leftover mashed potatoes
--1 lb ground turkey or beef
--2 cloves garlic, chopped
--2 cups frozen vegetables (I used roasted corn and peas)
--1 medium onion, chopped finely, or 1 T onion flakes
--1/2 tsp seasoned salt
--1/2 tsp onion powder
--1/4 tsp black pepper
--1/4 tsp paprika (then a bit more for garnish)
--1 cup water
--2 cups shredded cheese
The Directions.
I used a 4 quart crockpot---it was the perfect size. A larger will work, but it will cook faster.
Brown the meat and onion on the stove, and drain any fat. Toss the meat with the spices and garlic---I didn't but next time I'd probably put the garlic and spices in with the meat in the frying pan, it would be easier.
Spray the inside of your crockpot with cooking spray. Put the meat in the crockpot and stir in the frozen vegetables, and a cup of water. Add two cups of cheese on top. Press the mashed potatoes down on top of the cheese and meat. Sprinkle with a bit of paprika.
Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or high for about 3, then remove the lid and cook on high for 30 minutes to release the condensation and allow the potatoes to brown a bit on top. Everything is cooked already, so you're really just allowing the flavors to meld and the potatoes to crustify.
above from http://crockpot365.blogspot.com
TO BE CONTINUED...
January 07, 2011
January 7, 2011
BIO
and a
BIRTHDAY
I highly doubt I thank my husband enough for providing for us.
Without his hard work, I would never get to have the greatest
job in the world...a stay at home Mom.
Grace and I are often without DP on our adventures,
he is working and having a great adventure all on his own.
I am so excited, proud, total stage-wife, amazed, and thrilled to be apart of my husbands career.
He truly is the most talented guy I know. Some say he's the nicest guy in show business....and I couldn't agree more. It's his birthday this weekend. And not just any old birthday, his 40th birthday!
Happy Birthday to my DP!
The older the fiddler, the sweeter the tune. -English Proverb
The cheerleaders convinced him (with very little persuasion I may add) to do one of the stunts from the show while waiting for the subway.
BIO previews begin January 15th.
I will have the chance to see a performance on the 16th and I can't wait.
I'll be the one walking around beaming with pride and telling everyone my husband is the music director!
December 30, 2010
December 25, 2010
Traditions
Part II
Tradition: You must leave out cookies, milk, and carrots for Santa and his reindeer.
Gracie and I spent the afternoon of the 23rd decorating the cookies.
Grace spent most of the time eating the cookies while I frosted.
Here are some pictures of G before Santa's arrival...
and after Santa's arrival.
Here's Grace seeing her presents for the first time. It's a blurry picture, but not in my mind. It's a face I'll remember forever. She came around the corner and her smile went from ear to ear. I know she has no idea what Christmas is and what it is all about, however it was a glimpse of Christmases to come. I read recently that as you grow older you can lose the magic of Christmas, but once you are old enough to have little ones of your own the magic returns through their eyes. It was a wonderful, magical morning and I'm counting down the days till next year already.
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