tasty thursday

Bolognese Sauce over Angel Hair

1 vidalia onion; chopped

1 lb ground beef

2 cloves minced garlic

2 tbsp red wine

1-2 tbsp crushed red pepper flakes

1 jar tomato and basil bertolli suace

2-3 tbsp of heavy cream

angel hair pasta

1. Saute onion, beef and garlic together.

2. Add red wine, crushed red pepper flakes (1-2 tbsp depending on how much "kick"/spice you like), and jar of salsa.  Let simmer together to absorb all flavors for atleast 30 minutes.  

3. Pour sauce into a blender and puree sauce/pulse to the texture you like (chunky, medium, or pureed completely).  Pour 2-3 tbsp of cream into blender and blend some more.  

4. Serve sauce over angel hair and top with parmesan cheese.

Enjoy!

Thanks for walking with us,

JL

goodbye first trimester!

I am officially into my second trimester of pregnancy and have said "so long" to the first trimester!  I must admit, I had a breeze of a first trimester (which is supposedly the roughest) besides a couple of rough weeks in the beginning.  We went on a cruise the first week of January - and let me just tell you....6 weeks pregnant mixed with the motion of the sea is a recipe for DISASTER.  I threw up the e.n.t.i.r.e trip and felt miserable.  It was such a bummer.  Although, there was still a lot of fun to be had and we made some great memories - it truly was a stink to be nauseous and/or throwing up all day everyday.  Once we got back, I threw up a few times (with my equilibrium adjusting back to being on land).

Cruise - January 2014.  6/7 weeks pregnant

After those two weeks passed, (week 6-7), I felt great with no nausea or any issues from there on out.  I am convinced that had I never been on the cruise in the first place, I would've never messed with any nausea at all.  Who knows!  The only first trimester symptom that I am so looking forward to going away is extreme fatigue and being tired.  Let me just tell you that I.do.not.get.tired.  I can be on my feet all day doing one thing after another and I just don't stop until bedtime.  ENTER PREGNANCY.  I was exhausted.  From the time I got out of bed (or dragged myself out of bed) to the time I fell asleep, I had to struggle to keep my eyes open.  I could've fallen asleep wherever, whenever. It is a type of tiredness/fatigue that I've just never felt - so miserable.  But, it was easy to push through and smile knowing that my body was growing a tiny little baby 24 hours a day.  I have already started getting more and more energy back as the days pass and I am in the second trimester.  So happy about that.

We had our 12 week sonogram/NT testing and everything is measuring just on track and our baby looks very healthy.  We have a very sleepy little bean in there, as he/she did not want to move for the doctor so they could look at his/her features, etc.  They had to push my stomach from all sorts of angles, make me drink water, do some jumping jacks, and lay on my side.  The baby would flip around and immediately go back to sleep.  It was so stinking cute.  That being said - we got to watch the baby on the sonogram for a good hour which was such a treat! Crazy how different the ultrasound looks from week 8 to week 12 (in just 4 short weeks).  Already, the baby has doubled in weight from last week (week 13) to this week, (week 14)!  Doubles in weight in just a week; so crazy!  It is mind-blowing has fast the baby is growing and developing just day by day and week by week.

thumb sucker? 12w1d

3d looking down - 12w1d

all stretched out with legs in the air! 12w1d

before our 12 week appointment 

 

12 weeks 1 day

We have just 5 short weeks until we find out the gender of our little one! We are so excited we can barely stand it.  The nursery is golds/cremes/and whites so it is very neutral (hence, why it's basically finished before we've even found out the gender!)

Facts as of Week 14:
Bump? Nope, nothing visible yet!
Cravings? Pretty much anything but the second it hits my mind, I must have it!
Boy or Girl? Not sure...no inkling yet - but 98% of people are saying boy so we will see!
Nausea? Nope! Feeling great.
Facts: Let me just tell you....the "vivid dreams" thing is so real.  I have had 4 nights in a row with the most vivid dreams ever.  Sometimes I have to really sit and think if it was a dream or it really did happen.  So detailed, specific and real.  It's crazy - I've never had anything like it.  Also, I pee 24/7.  I used to sleep straight through the night no problem, but since being pregnant I'm up 2-3 times a night going pee.  It is very annoying - hard to get any good solid sleep around here already!  I don't even want to wonder how often I'll be up once the baby is big and pressing on my bladder!

Growing a tiny little human is the most humbling experience ever.  Everyday I smile as I wake up knowing that the Lord has given us one of HIS children to grow, birth, and raise to know and love Him.  How humbling.

Thanks for walking with us,
JL

first comes love, then comes marriage...

Then comes a baby in a baby carriage!

John and I are SO excited and thrilled to announce that our family will be growing come September 2nd, 2014!  We are blessed beyond measure and couldn't be more happy.  We announced to all of our friends and the public on Valentine's day with the following announcement:

We have a little Valentine, although it's still brand new.

You'll meet our BABY valentine, in September when we're due!

We found out we were pregnant on December 20th, 2013 (right before Christmas) and it has been the hardest secret I've ever had to keep! I called my family soon after we found out (since we would not see them for Christmas) and shared the news over the phone.  We told the Peters Family on Christmas eve since they were in town and staying with us - but beyond that it was top secret until Valentine's day!  I am currently in the third month of pregnancy, measuring at 12 weeks along.  We plan to find out whether our little peanut is a boy or girl in early April and can't wait to share the news!  

Christmas Eve, the night we told The Peters Family

The nursery (which I've planned to be gender neutral for a long time - cremes, golds, and whites) is already underway and over halfway done. (I know, no one is surprised here).  Pictures to come once our glider comes in (we ordered a few weeks ago) and our crib is set up!  It is so fun putting the nursery I've dreamed up for years into reality.  

I have waiting my entire life for this day and I've never seen my husband light up more than the day we found out and I told him we were expecting.  We have so looked forward to this time in our lives! 

The day we found out, December 20, 2013. 

Our first sonogram on January 22nd, 2013; 8 weeks 1 day

God is good. God is faithful. We are blessed beyond measure.  

Thanks for walking with us,

JL

tasty thursday

Beef and Broccoli - Crockpot Style

1 pound boneless beef chuck roast, sliced into thin strips
1 cup beef consumme
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon sesame oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons cooled sauce from the crock pot after being cooked
Fresh broccoli florets (as many as desired)
Hot cooked rice - we loved jasmine rice with this dish

1. Place beef in a crock pot (after sliced into thing strips).  

2. In a small bowl, combine consomme, soy sauce, brown sugar, oil, and garlic. Pour over beef. Cook on low for 6 hours.

3. After 6 hours of cooking, take 2 tbsp of sauce from crockpot and mix it in a small cup with 2 tbsp cornstarch until smooth. Add back to crock pot. Stir well to combine. 

4. Add broccoli to the crock pot. Stir to combine.

5. Cover and cook an additional 30 minutes on high (the sauce has to boil for it to thicken).

6. Serve over hot cooked rice.

Enjoy!

Thanks for walking with us,

JL

one year, today!

Exactly one year ago, I started this blog as a fresh clean start to something in 2013.  It is so hard to believe that 2013 has come and gone, but I am very excited to see what 2014 has in store!  Although I am not as good as I'd like to be in keeping up with this blog, I am so encouraged to get personal messages and comments from people that they love my recipes, keeping up with our family, and weekly (sometimes monthly) encouragement.

This year, my new years resolution is to spend more time reading God's word and carving out quiet time.  It is so important yet so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life.  I also want to give control to Him and trust His plan and timing over my own - I tend to struggle with this on a daily basis.

Cheers to a new year, a fresh start, and a COLD January up here!  We are expecting a snow storm tomorrow morning - good thing it's just in time for our family to head down to Fort Lauderdale and set sail on a CRUISE! So excited for a relaxing getaway with the ones I love!

HAPPY NEW YEAR, friends!  2014 is going to be a good one; I can feel it!

Thanks for walking with us,
JL

tasty thursday

Chicken Coconut Curry 

- crockpot style - 

2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts; cut into large cubes

1 whole onion; peeled and cut in half

2 cloves garlic; peeled

1 small green bell pepper; seeded and quartered

1 can tomato paste

1 can coconut milk

1.5 tsp salt

1 TBSP curry powder

1TBSP garam masala

2 TBSP water

1.5 TBSP cornstarch 

1.  Place chicken cubes inside the slow cooker (covering the bottom).

2. Place the rest of the ingredients (except the cornstarch and water) in a blender/food processor and process together until mixture is smooth-ish (with still some texture to it).

3. Pour sauce mix on top of chicken in crockpot, mix well and cook on LOW for 6 hours.

4.  An hour before serving, mix together water and cornstarch until cornstarch is completely disolved.  Add to the chicken curry in crockpot and mix well; Place lid back on for the rest of cooking time (1 hr).

5.  Serve on top of steaming jasmine (or basmati) rice.  Top with coriander if desired.  

Y'all, this recipe is SO GOOD and SO easy.  You will not be disappointed! 

Enjoy!!! 

Thanks for walking with us,

JL

walking in a winter wonderland...

Just a few pictures of the lovely snow we have falling as I type....we got around 3 inches sunday and another 2-4 (and counting) today! It is so beautiful. Enjoy!

Sorry....I had to do it! :)

Stay warm (and dry!) BRRR!!!!

xoxoxo

Thanks for walking with us,

JL