The Recipe I Promised . . .

Mediteranean Cavatappi and Green Beans

(GREAT time to go to the Farmer's Market and get some beans and red onion!)

1 lb. cavatappi pasta (or any other you choose)
3ish boneless, skinless chicken breasts, chopped in small bite-size pieces
handful of fresh green beans, chopped into inch lengths
1/2 to 1 red onion, chopped small but not minced
Juice of 1-2 lemons
3-4 sprigs of fresh oregano, finely chopped/minced
2-4 cloves garlic, grated or chopped/minced
1/2-1 cup feta
s & p
extra virgin olive oil (or as Rachael Ray says, EVOO)
Reserved pasta cooking water

Cook pasta according to al dente directions. Make sure you salt the water when it comes to a boil and reserve 1-2 cups/ladle fulls of the pasta cooking water. In the meantime . . . Heat up a large skillet add 1-2 turns of the pan of EVOO. Cook chicken till mostly cooked and remove from pan and set aside. Add some more evoo if needed and then saute onion till almost soft and add garlic, s&p, then green beans. Green beans take a little while to saute. May need to cover the pan and add a little water to steam for 4 or so minutes. This is a little tricking cause you want a little bite left to them. Uncover to cook off most the water.

Then when pasta is done add drained pasta, chicken, oregano, s & p (to taste) and some pasta cooking water, squeeze one lemon at a time (to taste). Stir up till all flavors combine and right before serving stir in the feta. It starts to melt into the sauce and coats the pasta nicely, but make sure there are still a few chunks to bite into, YUMM!

Sorry the recipe isn't more scientific and specific, but it really depends on your tasting and how strong you like your flavors.

Did I miss anything?

ENJOY! Let me know if you try it and if you changed it a bit. Curious to see what you would do to change it . . . maybe add some red pepper flakes, olives, or another veggie?

DIE SQUIRRELS, DIE!

THIS IS THE LAST STRAW!!!! I need to find a way to kill these squirrels. They left all 7 of my heirloom tomato plants bare - it's basically a tomato graveyard and they nibble on my zucchini and cucumbers AND now my ONE-AND-ONLY pepper. AND they don't even bother to eat it, just chew some holes in it and leave it to rot! I am so peeved. ANYONE have ANY ideas for next year? How can I wage war on these annoying squirrels?

PROMISE, the recipe for the mediterranean cavatappi with green beans is COMING SOON! I've just had some things come up that require more attention than blogging. Our sister-in-law's mother passed away this week and went to be with Jesus. So I've been cooking for them and planning for our weekend at the cabin (and trip back to the northern suburbs for a memorial service AND back to the cabin, Phew!). So, next week, hopefully more blogging.

Taste of Summer

YUMMM! You know you want some . . . my recipe for Mediteranean Cavatappi with Green Beans

I'll post it soon . . . promise!

Just one more photo . . . their favorite "afternoon snack" (Stoneyfield Yogurt-frozen-mmm) - especially good on a hot day
(which has been every day for a while, until this weekend : )

Really want to blog . . .

BUT I need to find my way out of this pit first. Well, clean it up anyway. AND deal with crabby kids (as you can see in the corner of the top photo). SO, hopefully today . . . at some point (maybe at midnight) . . . I'll have some sort of blog posted. I see story telling about the rain last night and maybe a scone recipe in (near?) future blogging. Stay tuned! In the mean time enjoy a dose of real life in my constant mess -that is the dining room and kitchen (where we live most our life). : )

Something that may inspire more creativity . . .

TheCreativeConnectionEvent.com  (to visit - click on title of this blog)

I really, REALLY want to go to this event just to be inspired more.  I've always had this deep desire to be creative and a confidence that God desires for me to create for His glory.  It's only been in the last 6 months that my creative juices have really started to flow and I believe it's because I've been exposed to so many awesome blogs.  Seeing other's creativity really helps me to come up with my own ideas for cooking, organizing, decorating, sewing, baking, refinishing-furniture, etc.  So, does anyone else want to go with me?

Where have I been?

I've been HERE, home, doing all the normal activities . . . so . . . why haven't I blogged in a while? See those two sweet little kids above - it's their fault! : )

Let me explain by sharing my journal entry this morning:

Wesley is one as of 2 days ago. He is such a delight to have. He is ALL boy, ALL the time -- ALWAYS moving "full-boar," a steam engine that never stops (until he hits the mattress and falls instantly asleep-most of the time). He climbs through and over everything - ALWAYS looking for the most difficult way to get from point A to point B. It's as if he's running, but in a crawling form! Cement or other hard surfaces don't slow him down, he just crawls on his hands and feet! He makes all the "boy sounds" you can think of and is constantly experimenting with new ones. He eats with vigor usually leaving a disaster behind. Don't even try to wipe him down or clothe him or change his diaper without a wrestling match! He's getting stronger and stronger by the day - maybe I'll withhold the "spinach" for a while : ) Wesley almost always has a smile on and a giggle to go with it. I'm so thankful to God for giving me this sweet, wild animal for a son!

Madison also loves her brother and always greets him with an enthusiastic, "Hi/Good-Merning, Wes-e-ley!" in her best "talking-to-baby-voice." She's very rough - sometimes mean, but Wesley likes the rough play - it makes me crazy. She's a very passionate, busy, relational, manipulative, controlling, with a little sweetness here and there. Madison is learning to obey right away, all-the-way with a "Happy Heart" - love how clear that is to understand for a 2 1/2 year old and for mommy to decipher when she is disobeying!

I am still loving Mommyhood, but I constantly feel SO scattered, crazy, confused, and just relationally, emotionally, and mentally TIRED! Praise the Lord, at least physically, most days I feel up to the task! BUT there is no escaping - as all you mommy's know it's a 24/7 kind of job! AND I can't keep up - probably so I always realize my need for Jesus . . .
The kitchen is always in disarray, the dining room and kitchen floors have remnants of every meal of the day scattered all over. (AND of course when I go to sweep, sweet-Wesley wants to be the family dog and clean the floor for me - another wrestling match). The bathroom is always on the verge of smelling like a port-a-potty with training and accidents every day. Wesley's room is one big diaper genie. Laundry seems to always be in baskets, whether dirty or clean - always a scavenger hunt to find clothes! AND toys somehow always explode into every room!

In the midst of the mess there's always screaming, crying, whining, begging - or naughty silence, discipline that needs to be done, clinging children or suspicious disappearing children - or children that just need Mommy to stop obsessing about the chaos and bend down to hug and cuddle - or tickle/wrestle on the floor - one or both sweet little children!

AND I'm trying to at least remember all day, THIS IS my spiritual act of service to the Lord! SO that is what I've been doing and the thought of having time for blogging is almost impossible, hopefully I will have more time soon!

update my buffet

Come on people, I know you have an opinion! Tell me what you would do to this buffet to update it!

Please I need ideas, leave a comment below!