New Favorites

Some new favorites that I discovered recently:

Brand new scriptures-although I am scared to touch them for fear of ruining them already! Can you tell which ones are new and which ones are falling apart? I am looking for a cute scripture tote if you know where I can find one, but I made one in the meantime.

Snowcake-I don't know what drew me to this movie. Maybe Alan Rickman. But both Boyfriend and I loved it!

#1's new haircut-it is short, short, short. But so cute. It makes her look so much older though. And I guess I am proud that I cut it. (She just woke up, so it is messy!)

Sleeping in-with no school and no work we are all able to sleep in a little bit (some of us more than others-she is still in bed!)

My new Bed-Buddy-that's what I call it at least. My sister made me one for my birthday. It is filled with rice and when put in the microwave for a couple of minutes stays nice and toasty. I put it in my bed right before climbing in, so the sheets aren't freezing. Then I wrap it around my toes as I fall asleep. (Can you tell I was not made to live in cold weather?)

Getting an A in my "Family Finances" course!-One class down, 16 more credits to go!

Tom Kha Gai

Thai chicken coconut soup.

Boyfriend and I made some for our dinner last night. The kids? They got mac & cheese. We usually do this on Friday nights. We LOVE to cook together, after the kids are in bed, and eat in peace. Just the two of us.

It is especially fun when we make something we have never made before, and maybe have a few laughs over our mistakes and the gross food we are cooking (see below). And we have become more adventurous in our dinners, too.

Our Sunset magazine came earlier this week and we found a recipe for Tom Kha Gai. I have had it before and was able to talk Boyfriend into trying it (not too difficult these days).

Although we grossed out as a couple of the ingredients (I almost lost it when we opened the fish sauce), it was most delicious (and not terrible as far as calories go). I thought it would be more time consuming and/or difficult, but it was actually really easy and fast. We will definately make this again!

Ingredients
1 can (14 oz.) coconut milk
1 can (14 oz.) reduced-sodium chicken broth
6 quarter-size slices fresh ginger
1 stalk fresh lemongrass, cut in 1-in. pieces
1 pound boned, skinned chicken breast or thighs, cut into 1-in. chunks
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon Thai or Vietnamese fish sauce (nuoc mam or nam pla)
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon Thai chili paste
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup fresh cilantro

Preparation
In a medium saucepan, combine coconut milk, broth, ginger, and lemongrass and bring to boil over high heat. Add chicken, mushrooms, lime juice, fish sauce, sugar, and chili paste. Reduce heat and simmer until chicken is firm and opaque, 5 to 10 minutes. Discard lemongrass. Garnish servings with basil and cilantro.

Note: Nutritional analysis is per 1 1/2-cup serving.

Nutritional Information
Calories: 357 (63% from fat)
Protein: 29g
Fat: 25g (sat 19)
Carbohydrate: 7.2g
Fiber: 0.5g
Sodium: 484mg
Cholesterol: 79mg

So Far

Well so far 30 year old Summer...

...still has zits!

...got to buy new clothes.

...will learn from her stupid and humiliating mistakes! And not do that ever again!

...enjoyed not picking the older kids up from school (Boyfriend took sick leave for my dr's appt and picked them up for me).

...watched "A Christmas Story" for the first time this season (too, funny!)

...got a new cookbook and some cute and comfy jammies.

...had an excuse to eat cake!

You Would Cry Too...

Guess what! I am turning 30 tomorrow! And I have to say, unlike most people, I am actually pretty excited. Not necessarily about getting older, but about what I have to look forward to in the coming years.

As another decade draws to a close I am remembering two other similar birthdays. When I turned 10 and when I turned 20.

The day before my 10th birthday Dad took me to Disneyland (not an uncommon occurance, but one I ALWAYS loved.) Unfortunately I got food poisoning which I discovered the next afternoon during Primary as I was throwing up all over the place. I spent all that day sick in my bed (when I wasn't running for the bathroom.) I couldn't even enjoy my birthday dinner or cake. What a bummer.

My 20th birthday wasn't THAT bad, but still not spectacular. I was ill with morning sickness. And as miserable as can be. I think all I did was go to work briefly and then sleep that entire day. Yuck!

So, here's to hoping tomorrow brings no nausea!