Wordle

There is a box on the right hand side of my blog with jumbled words that I think of when I look at Kenzie. I got the idea from Alyson Costner's blog. It's a site called Wordle and I love it! It's fun! You basically type in a bunch of words and then it creates a very cool graphic of all of your words. I could have typed in a lot more on my subject but... Check out Alyson's blog post about it, she explains it better than I do! Try making one and let me know if you do so I can see it!

Another great recipe!

I made this for dinner tonight and it was oh so yummy. I even got the compliment from Matt that it was even better than when he had it at one of the Italian restaurants a little while back. WOW. Is that a compliment or what! This is a killer dish, thanks to the Food Network!

Chicken Piccata

• 2 skinless and boneless chicken breasts, butterflied and then cut in half
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• All-purpose flour, for dredging
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/3 cup lemon juice
• 1/2 cup chicken stock
• 1/4 cup brined capers, rinsed
• 1/3 cup fresh parsley, chopped

Season chicken with salt and pepper. Dredge chicken in flour and shake off excess.

In a large skillet over medium high heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter with 3 tablespoons olive oil. When butter and oil start to sizzle, add 2 pieces of chicken and cook for 3 minutes. When chicken is browned, flip and cook other side for 3 minutes. Remove and transfer to plate. Melt 2 more tablespoons butter and add another 2 tablespoons olive oil. When butter and oil start to sizzle, add the other 2 pieces of chicken and brown both sides in same manner. Remove pan from heat and add chicken to the plate.

Into the pan add the lemon juice, stock and capers. Return to stove and bring to boil, scraping up brown bits from the pan for extra flavor. Check for seasoning. Return all the chicken to the pan and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove chicken to platter. Add remaining 2 tablespoons butter to sauce and whisk vigorously. Pour sauce over chicken and garnish with parsley.

More!

I took this one today before we left this morning. She had to put on her pink boots, so I let her.

She decided to dump her yogurt and cheerios on her head. Do you know how hard it is to get mushy cheerios out of an almost 2 year old's hair when she is kicking and screaming in the tub? Yeah, that was a fun day.

As promised, here are the pictures!

Saying bye bye to daddy before leaving to go camping with Mimi and Papa

There they go! Off to Rockport!

Kenzie just being cute!

We stopped to see Auntie Lisa at work

Future football player?

Bath time struggles

Is it just my kid that gets so excited to take a bath until we actually put her in the tub? Is it just my kid that kicks and screams when it comes time for hair washing? It is like full on fright fest! It's absolutely crazy. I need some tips people! I have a shampoo cup that forms to the forehead but she won't even let me use it. I've tried a squirt bottle. I'M AT A LOSS!!! I want bath time to be fun and enjoyable for Mackenzie.

On a side note, I have not forgotten to put on pictures. They are STILL on my camera and things are STILL busy. I promise I WILL put them on soon!!!! For now, I AM BEGGING for bath time tips!

The best pumpkin pie

I made this pumpkin pie for Christmas this year. I found the recipe on the food network. Let me tell you, it was AMAZING. The best pumpkin pie I have ever had. This recipe actually made 2 pies total. Thank you Paula Deen!

• 1 (8-ounce) package cream, softened
• 2 cups canned pumpkin, mashed
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg plus 2 egg yolks, slightly beaten
• 1 cup half-and-half
• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) melted butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger, optional
• 1 piece of premade pie dough
• whipped cream for topping

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Place 1 piece of pre-made pie dough down into a (9-inch) pie pan and press down along the bottom and all sides. Pinch and crimp the edges together to make a pretty pattern. Put the pie shell back into the freezer for 1 hour to firm up. Fit a piece of aluminum foil to cover the inside of the shell completely. Fill the shell up to the edges with pie weights or dried beans (about 2 pounds) and place it in the oven. Bake for 10 minutes, remove the foil and pie weights and bake for another 10 minutes or until the crust is dried out and beginning to color.

For the filling, in a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese with a hand mixer. Add the pumpkin and beat until combined. Add the sugar and salt, and beat until combined. Add the eggs mixed with the yolks, half-and-half, and melted butter, and beat until combined. Finally, add the vanilla, cinnamon, and ginger, if using, and beat until incorporated.

Pour the filling into the warm prepared pie crust and bake for 50 minutes, or until the center is set. Place the pie on a wire rack and cool to room temperature. Cut into slices and top each piece with a generous amount of whipped cream.

Busy Busy Busy

I have totally lacked on the updates here! Shame on me! I have to admit that the blog comes last these days. Studies come before blogging, so sad to say! This quarter is going alright I suppose. I had a rough start but it's getting better! I learned how to start IV's though I haven't had to do one on a patient yet. I love my clinical instructor too, she's great. Here's a pic of me doing an IV start on my friend Whitney. Poor girl was scared out of her mind. I don't blame her.



Mackenzie is doing AWESOME! She knows all of her colors now and is even starting to count. She went RV camping with Mimi and Papa for one night and she had a blast! She is 21 months now and weighs 22lbs. I thought she would weigh more but she's healthy! Mackenzie loves chapstick to no end. It's so funny. We love to read books before bed and I constantly yawn while doing so. She says "tired, mama" when it happens. She is sleeping great now too. However, she will not let Matt put her to bed. He can read her books but as soon as it's time to go to sleep she freaks out and wants me. She always thinks it's play time when daddy is around. It's cute to watch them together.

I have a ton of pictures that I need to post but they are still on my camera. I am slacking these days, I know! I will post them soon!

Not much else going on here. Keeping busy busy busy!