Easy Peezy Hump Day: Rotisserie Edition

Awe Wednesday. I am so tired today that my family is lucky they got dinner. Two nights in a row my one year old has actually slept a good stretch of the night. Last night she slept til 6:45am. Unfortunately my four year old didn't get the "let mama sleep" memo. She was up 3 times and I'd have to walk her back to bed.
Well I am continuing with the chicken. Tonight we have a quick pseudo Mexican dish: Chicken Quesadillas.
I really don't think you guys need a complete recipe. Use as much of the shredded chicken as you'd like plus whatever cheese you'd like. Mix in a can of green chiles if you want to spice it up. I will recommend making them with the uncooked tortillas from Costco. My sista-cousin Alicia turned me on to making them this way they're fantastic.

Tuesday Dynasty Rotisserie Edition: Kung Pao Lettuce Wraps

Okay, now to make a yummy dinner with the rotisserie chicken while using an Asian flare. I decided to make Kung Pao Lettuce Wraps. Now people I know my rule is that the kids eat what I cook but tonight I wanted extra spicy kung pao so Ellie and Sophie got mac and cheese (which they enjoyed of course).

Kung Pao Lettuce Wraps
serves 2 (makes about 8 wraps)

2 stalks of celery chopped
1/2 red onion chopped
1/4 cup peanuts
1 cup cooked chicken chopped (I used the rotisserie of course)
8 leaves from your favorite lettuce (i went with romaine but Scott said he would have preferred iceberg with its NO nutritional content)
1 packet of kung pao mix (mix it up according to directions: usually adding sugar, soy sauce, and water) and set aside.
a few sprigs of cilantro
1/2 cup red cabbage
chile garlic sauce if you want more spice

In a large skillet heated to med/high and sprayed with Pam, stir fry the first 4 ingredients. When the celery and onions are softened add in the kung pao mix already made according to directions. Continue to cook on medium heat until the sauce thickens.
When sauce is thick (about 10-15 min) serve on the crisp cold lettuce leaves. Top the meat mixture with red cabbage and cilantro.
I made white rice and Asian cole slaw. Asian cole slaw is just cole slaw mix tossed in Sesame salad dressing and it's super. Scott loved this one and thought it would also make an awesome app to take to a party.

Secret Life of the American Sex-o-holic

Okay, have you people ever seen ABC Family's Secret Life of the American Teenager? Who in the hell is writing that drivel. I was an American teenager about 12 years ago and I can say for a fact that my high school friends and I did not talk about sex that much. I decided to sit down and attempt to watch this and wow... Every scene revolves around sex. EVERY SCENE. These kids are supposed to be high school sophomores which is the scariest part. I went through 2 years of jr. high and 4 years of high school being acquainted with many kids that did have sex and I never in those 6 years heard the subject discussed more than I did in 30 minutes of programming.
My kids are still far off from the scary years of teen but I am already starting to freak out. Kids get sexually aware younger and younger these days. I go to my sons elementary school and there are girls in short skirts, huge earrings and make-up! I was 13 when make-up became allowed and that was also the year I had my first kiss. I'm not saying the two were tied together but Ellie and Sophie will not be slapping on the maybeline at 7. I didn't dive in to boy girl alone time early for my one reasons and I am glad. I had a scary experience with my first real "boyfriend" in jr. high and that put me off the idea of boys for a good, long time. When I did get to high school and watched all my friends have sex I wasn't jealous and I wasn't dying to fit in either. I wish I knew how that happened. I wasn't raised in a religious home although I was aware that sex before marriage was "wrong". I wasn't raised by parents that I couldn't talk to. Well, I would never talk about that stuff with Big Daddy (he responded to my first pregnancy by stating "I guess you're not a virgin anymore" I had been married 7 months), but Joy and I have been able to be fairly open with each other. I want to guarantee that my kids go through their teens just like me without having them go through a semi-traumatic experience like I had. Watching this dang TV show is not helping my panic attack.
One of the dumb girls on this show already has a baby and another is pregnant. After each commercial break they have a mini PSA about how most teens don't talk to their parents about sex until they're pregnant. This show is not a realistic story of what happens when you do get pregnant young. I had my first child at 22 and I was flying blind. One of my best friends in high school got pregnant her senior year. I was with her when she took that test and I cried my eyes out with pity. Her story had a happy ending in that her parents didn't murder her and she and the father have been married over 10 years now. That story isn't even a good representation. Then you have complete crap like MTV's Teen Mom and the total trash on that show don't display any growing up or responsibility.
I'm not going to get on my moral high horse and say sex out of wedlock is wrong (although I do think people should wait) because that's not what my blog is about. However I wish I could strangle these teens that think having sex is so super cool and that they won't regret it. I would love to hear from some people that are glad they had sex with a ton of people before marriage. Glad they played the field 300 times and dodged VD's left and right. If you are glad you lost your virginity at 14 please let me know because I would love to be proved wrong (although I never am). I guess through writing this I've decided that I'll be very open and honest with my kids. I will tell them whatever they need to know because saying nothing leads to excessive curiosity. I will tell them stories about people I knew that made horrific decisions regarding sex and were hurt in the end.
I have only kissed 4 boys in my life. From age 13 til age 19 (when I met Scotty). Everyone thinks that's wierd (even my goody too shoe friends) but I am very proud of that fact. I decided at an early age what my personal value was and decided not to tarnish it. I was not an angel but dammit I was no slut. In the year 2011 I guess that is all I want my kids to say about their teen age years. Is that sad?

Layered Pasta with Chicken

Okay I already made a small fajita lunch for 2 with my store bought rotisserie chicken. Tonight I thought I'd try something new and easy for dinner. I made two of this dish, one for me and one for my friend. I would also point out another thing. A Cooper quirk if you will--we are not hearty eaters. My store bought chicken will last more than another family mostly because we don't celebrate it. So if you are not little birds like we Coops then add more chicken to the recipe.

Layered Pasta with Chicken

1 package of penne cooked according to the directions
1 jar of your favorite pasta sauce (either red or white whatever you choose will give a different feel to the dish) or make your own--you'll need about 3 cups.
1/2 cup of chopped rotisserie chicken
1/4 cup chopped prosciutto
1/2 cup chopped sun dried tomatoes
1 cup shredded mozzarella
1/4 shredded Parmesan

Heat oven to 350. Spray a casserole pan with Pam and start to layer. Put down a thin layer of sauce, then pile on half the penne. Then more sauce, the chicken and some of the half of the cheeses. More sauce, rest of the penne, the prosciutto and the remaining sauce and the sun dried tomatoes. Then top with remaining cheese and cover. Put in the oven for 25 min covered then uncover and cook for 20 more. Serve immediately.

Ode to the Rotisserie Chicken Week

Good Monday y'all. I decided to mix it up a bit and dedicate most of my recipes this week to the supermarkets rotisserie chicken. I get mine at Costco because I think theirs has the best flavor.
I bought 2 chickens at $4.99 each although I usually only buy 1. I bought the extra bird for two reasons--I am taking a meal to a friend that has an addition to her family tomorrow and I wanted to make enough recipes to give more ideas to my 2 dozen actual fans. So go out and buy your chickens.
When you get your chicken home immediately remove the meat. If you don't and just put in your fridge while in its container the fat will get all nasty--just saying. I removed all the meat and skin from the chicken and put in in a big container for the fridge. Scott came home for lunch and I made my first meal out of the chicken--fajitas! So that's one down.
Also-don't discard the carcass. I put mine into freezer bags so I can make chicken stock, gravy and soups later on. Rotisserie chickens really are the gift that keeps on givin'.
So look forward to tonight's recipe!

She Eats! Miracles in Cooperville

Remember that scene from A Christmas Story where Ralphie describes his brother as the child that never eats. It came down to the mother getting Randy to eat like a little piggy. Well Sarah don't do piggy time. I'm a complete clean freak so I will never tell my kids to eat like pigs in a sty but I do have a kid that never eats--Ellie (4). She has made a goal of living off of chocolate milk, strawberry nutrigrain bars, cookie cereal, yogurt and the occasional nugget. Dinner time in our house is a fight of getting her to eat without giving her a negative feeling towards family dinner time. Ketchup has gotten us pretty far since she'll eat at least a bite of something smothered the stuff. Sadly for my daughter I have a very strict rule about our family meals; Mom is not a short order cook and if you don't eat what she cooks you starve. Now I'm not a cold blooded fool and I do usually make at least one child friendly side dish if I am serving something they'd consider odd. I watched Joy make bowls of cereal and countless hot dogs in her attempt to get my brother to eat and at age 10 I knew that was BS. With my kids I only offer a different meal when it is something really spicy and even then I usually just make a little less spicy version of it. For example on taco nights Ellie refuses to eat her taco generally but she will eat her weight in beans, rice and tortillas. Well, tonight I made something called "Brick Chicken" and she ate a ton of it! Plus we got her to cheat on broccoli with cauliflower and she loved that too. The sky is shining down on me because I now know that my daughter is capable of eating actual food. Here is the recipe which Aiden says tastes like turkey dinner. Expect to see a Sarah-fied version of this in the next couple weeks since I have thought of some different ways to make this meal.

Brick Chicken with Thyme and Sage
8 small boneless skinless chicken thighs ( I actually used thighs!)
8 cloves of garlic smashed
8 sprigs of fresh thyme
3 chopped sprigs of sage
1 tbs olive oil
dash of crushed red pepper (or more if you like)
couple dashes kosher salt

***
In a large bowl toss all of the ingredients together. Heat up your skillet to med heat spray with non stick spray. Place the chicken in the skillet, pour and remaining stuff from the bowl on top. Place a second smaller skillet on top of the chicken and use 3 cans of soup or beans to weigh it down. (see pic). After 10 min flip the chicken and do this process again. As soon as chicken is at your desired crispness you're done (obviously make sure it's cooked through). We served artichokes and cauliflower.

Easy Peezy Hump Day! Sweet and Savory Ravioli

There are a couple of items that you can snag at your grocery store that make for an easy dinner that appears fancy. These items are prosciutto and stuffed raviolis. This time I bought the butternut squash kind and also really wanted to use the new pourable cream cheese from Phily so I pulled this recipe out of the air and rolled with it. I also like to have a jar of sun dried tomatoes on hand because they make everything yummy. Also, try to keep fresh herbs on hand for added flavor.

Sweet and Savory Ravioli
serves 6

2 packages store bought butternut squash raviolis (I got mine at Fresh and Easy)
1 tub of the Philadelphia pourable creme
1 cup of chicken stock
5 strips of prosciutto chopped up small
1 cup sliced mushrooms
2 garlic cloves sliced
1/4 cup sundried tomatoes sliced into strips
1 tbs dried oregano
1 small yellow onion sliced into big chunks
dash of salt
2 tsp pepper
palm full of chopped fresh Italian parsley
couple of extra sun dried tom strips
fresh grated parm cheese
***
Prep the rav's as directed on the package. In a large skillet heat about 1 tbs olive oil and add garlic and onion. Sweat them out on med heat for about 5 min. Add prosciutto and mushrooms. After the mushrooms start to soften add the chicken stock, sun dried tomatoes. Bring heat up to med/high and begin adding the cream a large spoon full at a time. Stir it up until its well blended. Add oregano,salt,pepper and stir again. Place cooked raviolis in bowl and pour sauce over it. Add fresh parsley, extra sun dried tomatoes and cheese. Add more salt if needed.

Alone time.

I'm rarely alone. Ever. I never grasped the reality of it until I had the third child, but it is really ridiculous. I used to have the couple mornings a week when Ellie was at preschool and Aiden in school and then we added Soph. Sophie, as most know, is a really "spunky" child. She is a serious mommy stalker and doesn't let me go anywhere... I mean ANYWHERE WITHOUT HER. Well this has obviously gotten a little bit aggravating, so my lovely mother in law Deborah has now offered to watch her every other Monday afternoon while both older kids are at school so that I can breathe. Hopefully Sophie will see that I'm always going to come back for her and that even without mommy life goes on. Well I had a lovely couple of free hours of puttering around my beautifully quiet house without anyone whining or hanging off my hip. Pure ecstasy.
While I was pregnant with Aiden I got tons of unsolicited advice. The most popular tidbit was "sleep now because you never will again." That was never really an issue with our kids. We stupidly let them sleep with us and I nursed on command (Sophie does sleep in her crib 60% of the night, so that's progress) and never lost too much sleep. What I wish someone had said was "savor your alone time, its fleeting". Never once heard that one and I was totally not prepared for how much I would miss it.
I am for the most part a lone wolf. I've never required people around me at all times. I loved playing alone as a child and as an adult not much has changed. I do like spending time with the handful of friends I have, but free time is few and far between. Why should I feel guilty about wanting to be alone? I don't argue with myself, start drama, ask for a drink, beg for a snack, etc. I'm a wonderful play date. I made myself a very odd wrap for lunch and sat my butt on the couch without guilt for the first time in years.
Moms out there in blogland--make a date with yourself because it will make you a better mommy. I was mom of the year after my play date alone. Picked Aiden up from the bus stop, took him to lunch, got to actually watch his swim practice, dropped him at a friend, picked up both girls and made a super bomb diggity chicken parm for dinner. I feel great this evening and am praying that the energy lasts. So moms, do alone time because your family will benefit. My husband played in a golf tournie and I stuffed him full of chicken so my house is full of sleeping Coopers. I think I'll read my new Lucky mag and have an extended play date.

PS: You will never receive my chicken parm recipe. Some things are secret and sacred.

Fajitas Cha Cha Cha

I love my husband but when he decided I was the gal to marry he should have thought things through a bit. First- I'm the first brunette serious girlfriend. Second- I interrupt everything he says. Finally third- For years the only cuisine I could actually cook well enough to be consumed was Mexican. My moms family is "Latin". Our precise ethnicity depends on which aunt or uncle you ask. My mother uses the large sphere of "Hispanic". One aunt says we're Mexican and one says Spanish. Grandma would say we were Indian and I even have one uncle that claimed Greek. Whatever they claim to be I know this--they're brown, speak Spanish, wash and keep plastic take out containers, and can make the best Mexican food around. So if it quacks like a duck...
Anyhow, my whole childhood was surrounded by food. We were close and ate many dinners at either our house in Murray, Utah or at my Aunt Irene's. I loved it because it meant my Grandma Alice (and Joy and aunts) would make the best Mexican food; enchiladas (cheese for me!), chili verde, red chile, bunuelos, empanadas, pintos, and of course the creme de la creme...homemade flour tortillas. I learned to make enchiladas, chili verde, pintos etc and married a guy that doesn't really like Mexican food. Scott doesn't hate it but it's definitely not his favorite. He loves my moms chili verde smothered mashed potatoes and Aunt Irenes famous salsa, but he doesn't want to eat it everyday. So my little brown but has learned to make more Italian (his fave) food and spaced out our Mexi nights. Well tonight I was feeling like making something healthy and oddly enough one of my go to health meals is Fajitas. As usual it was a hit!!

Oh one more thing--Scott, babe I love you but I'll always interrupt you (it's what I do), will never look good as a blond and love Mexican food. smooches.

Fajitas
serves 2

1 boneless skinless chicken breast
1 top sirloin steak
2 tbs Sazonadors Supremas
2 limes
1 yellow onion sliced
1 green or red bell pepper sliced
handful of fresh cilantro (optional obviously for those without taste, like Joy)
1 can of low fat re fried beans
sour cream
flour or corn tortillas (corn are lower in calories)

***
Spray saute pan with Pam and set to med/high heat. Slice chicken into thin strips. Cut up one lime into wedges. Place chicken in pan, sprinkle with two lime wedges and 1 tbs of Sazonadors and stir fry for 1 minute til it begins to brown. Add onion and spritz one more lime wedge. Slice steak into same strips and add to pan if you like it medium to well done. Set aside if you like medium rare. Add peppers. When veggies begin to soften and chicken starts to appear cooked now you would add in the steak if you like medium rare. Sprinkle 1 more lime wedge, add cilantro and last tbs of Sazonadors. Once meat is cooked and veggies are soft turn off heat. Warm up beans and tortillas.
Serve with meat mixture and beans. I use remaining lime wedges for fresh sprinkles and also add shredded colby jack and sour cream.
Enjoy

Long time no write...

Okay, I know I've been MIA for a bit now but it's not without good excuse. I had the flipping flu and it sucked!!!!! 7 days later and I still don't feel right. Anyhow that's not saying nothing has gotten on my nerves enough for me to write about though...come on now.
Today I listened to someone that actually thinks if they shield their child from even the mere existence of alcohol that they will somehow be preventing said child from partaking. If that is how you've chosen to raise your child, more power to you, but I'm fairly sure you won't be preventing anything.
I was raised in the great state of Utah. Parents in Utah invented bubble raising and it's an art there. The poor kids I went to school with were completely sheltered from any real world experiences. Those kids are taught that people are always perfect, never drink, gamble, swear, have in indecent thoughts, have sex outside marriage, etc. I wasn't raised amongst heathens but my parents didn't lie to me either. I had cousins that got pregnant young, drank, had trouble in school and I knew of people that weren't perfect. My parents let me watch the Simpson's and Married with Children when no one else would dare let their kids see that "filth". Guess who wasn't having sex at 12...Sarah! Guess who wasn't drinking at 9...Sarah! I didn't need to because I wasn't told how taboo it was my whole dang life. Now I am not saying that you should let your 5 year old watch R or even PG 13 rated movies and expose them to Eminems greatest hits but I definitely think that sheltering them is setting yourself up for a heap of disappointment. I may just be an odd duck but from my extensive research (judging my friends and family) I have discovered that those friends that were "bubble raised" did a whole lot more living than I did. Aiden knows how the world is run. He knows that I'm not perfect and he knows that people aren't always nice. We haven't got to sex ed just yet but I can guarantee I won't be telling him that babies are brought by storks. On occasion I have saved a Dr. Phil episode that deals with out of control kids to show Aiden what crap doesn't fly in Cooper town. He knows what alcohol is and gasp we even keep it in the house (I know how awful!) but he is also well aware of what happens when it's abused (also thanks to Dr. Phil episodes). I decided a long time ago that I wasn't going to keep real world experiences from my children. This all being said I'll admit I was no where near the perfect teenager. God gave me a "spunky" mouth. Unfortunately I used it poorly and Joy was usually at the receiving end. I got in fights and spent a fair amount of time with Stockdale Highs dean of students but dangit I wasn't drinking and hoeing it up so give me that.
Not much has changed over the years. I still have a loud mouth and am not much of a drinker but I think if my kids turn out like me I'll be lucky. I credit my rather successful life with the fact that my parents didn't "protect" me from life. I was raised a realist and I'm raising 3 more. If anything I've said offends you then talk to me in 10 years when you can prove me wrong.

Please God Cooper children, don't screw up as teens because it's going to make your mother seem like such a jackass.