Three Days and Counting!

I am so super excited — Monday we are leaving for a week’s long vacations! No cooking, no cleaning, just fun with my family. For the third year in a row we’re going to stay at Woodloch Pines in the Poconos. It’s been a great mid-winter getaway for us, especially with little ones. They have a lot of different activities geared toward kids, but lots of things that are fun for parents (and kids at heart, LOL!). One thing I am really looking forward to is the food. Oh, goodness! There is so much of it and it’s so good. My favorite stuffed pepper soup comes from their kitchen. Last year I was never hungry for a moment. I’m just going to let myself enjoy every bite and worry about getting back to healthy eating when I get home. If I wasn’t pregnant, I might think about researching the best weight loss pills to get a jump start, but that’s not an option for me right now, so I guess I will be sticking with lots of protein and veggies But I’m not even thinking about that right now. Nope, I’m thinking about their bacon… and their Scandanavian pancakes… and their chantilly potatoes… and, well, you get the idea!

Random Stuff

And so another week begins! There’s actually a lot going on this week. I have an OB appointment, an interview for a feature article I need to write (and writing the article, of course), a field trip for Jake, and a visit up to  my parents. Noah will enjoy that for sure. This morning he was saying how Dziadziu has a tool store, LOL. Actually that is not so far from the truth. My dad has a room off the garage where he probably has everything from random sized screws to ball lock pins. He’s the man we go to if we are looking for something. Hopefully the weather will be nice and the boys can play outside in my parents’ yard.

Yesterday they had so much fun playing out in our yard. The weather was relatively warm and they were out there for well over an hour. Poor Noah was in tears when they came in. Jake was freezing, but Noah wasn’t quite ready to warm up yet! I was able to bribe him with cocoa and chocolate chip cookies, though.

Anyway, lots going on over here. We also have to think of somewhere to go for Valentine’s Day. I’m hoping my parents will watch the munchkins for a bit so Drew and I can go out to dinner. We don’t need to go somewhere fancy. In fact, we might just go to the Olive Garden or something. Well, hope your week is off to a good start!

Brr!

Oh my goodness, it is so cold out today! I ran upstairs to get something and it was 59 degrees up there. (We keep the upstairs set to 60 during the day since no one really goes up there). The heat had just kicked on. It would be so awesome to get out of cold and grey New York and go somewhere warmer and exciting. I know a few people who have recently gone on Vegas vacations and that totally fits the bill! Though I imagine it would be much more fun if I was pregnant and could have a drink or two, LOL.

Actually we are going on vacation in a few weeks, but it’s to the family resort in the Poconos that we’ve been to the last two years. Sure it will be just as cold as it is here, but maybe by the end of February we won’t have to bundle up quite as much. At any rate, it will be relaxing, that’s for sure. I’m looking forward to three meals a day cooked for me, seeing some shows, and playing with the boys. Should be great!

Delicious Chicken Curry Recipe

I’ve craved Indian food quite a bit during this pregnancy. On Tuesday nights, a local Indian restaurant has a buffet and I so wanted to go, but there is no way the boys would it. So I decided to make some curry at home, and boy did it come out great! I found that for our tastes, one seeded jalepeno pepper and one with the seeds gives just enough heat. Even still, I could have used some safety equipment when I was cooking — specifically, goggles! After I added those peppers, wow! My eyes stung a bit, so I immediately put the vent fan on. Anyway, if you are looking for a quick and easy recipe, here you go:

Ingredients:

2 chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 cup thinly sliced onions
1 cup chopped tomatoes
1-2 green chilies, finely chopped
1 tsp cumin seeds
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp turmeric
1 tbsp coriander powder
1/2 tsp garam masala
2 cloves of garlic, diced
1-inch chunk of ginger, diced (or shredded)
salt, to taste
2 tbsp cooking oil
chopped cilantro leaves for garnish

Heat oil in a deep pan and add cumin seeds. Wait till they start to sizzle, then add sliced onions and green chilies. Fry till onions soften and lightly brown. Add turmeric, chili powder, coriander, cumin, garlic, and ginger, and fry till fragrant. Add tomatoes and a bit of water. Cook for a few minutes until the tomatoes get pulpy. Add in salt and chicken pieces and allow to come to a simmer. Add about a cup of water, and cover. Cook on medium heat for 15-20 minutes till chicken is cooked through.

Sprinkle with garam masala and fresh chopped cilantro. Serve with rice and plain yogurt.

I actually like to make this early in the day and let it sit so that the flavors really come together.

What’s That Old Wive’s Tale?

Isn’t there something about when you’re pregnant with a girl, she steals the mother’s beauty? Well, I know that’s not really true, but some days it feels like it. My face is blotchy, I randomly have two plantar warts, and my hair looks nowhere near as good as it did when I was pregnant with my boys! Maybe I just need some pampering. I could use a haircut and a highlight, but I’m waiting until closer to spring. I could, at the very least, give myself home pedicures and use some of the masques I have in my linen closet. That might help a little. I also have to make sure I start wearing my eyeglasses more because I’ve been experiencing some eye strain lately. My prescription is weak, but I am supposed to wear my glasses to help alleviate strain. I just never think of it because I don’t really have trouble seeing, you know? Clearly I am not very high-maintenance!