Keeping to my goal for the year, February's new recipe was a hit and super simple to make! I cheated a bit with this recipe, mostly because I just didn't have time to make homemade sauce. I bought a jar Vodka Sauce and it turned out great. Instead of plain chicken sausage I used the Archer Farms (Target) brand called Italian Chicken Sausage and the best part is the the casings were already removed.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound chicken sausage, casings removed
1/2 cup roughly chopped onion
1 jalapeno, chopped
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/2 cup roughly chopped green pepper
1 teaspoon Hungarian hot paprika
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 (28-ounce) can whole tomatoes with basil
1/3 cup vodka
1 cup heavy cream
1 pound rigatoni
1 cup grated Asiago cheese
3 tablespoons freshly chopped parsley leaves
Directions
Bring a large pot of water to boil for the pasta. In a large saute pan over medium heat melt butter with oil. Add chicken sausage and brown, 3 to 4 minutes, breaking up large chunks with a wooden spoon. Add onions, jalapenos and garlic and saute until softened, about 5 minutes. Add green pepper, paprika, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper, to taste, and cook 3 minutes more. Generously salt the pasta water and add the rigatoni. Cook until al dente, about 12 minutes. Meanwhile, add tomatoes to the sauce and bring to a simmer, for about 10 minutes. Add vodka and cream and cook a few minutes more. Toss in cheese and chopped parsley. To serve, drain the pasta well and add to the sauce. Mix until pasta is nicely coated. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
I am truly blessed and amazed by the love Jack has for Ella. At the ripe age of three he is her protector, biggest fan and makes her laugh like no one else. I hope they always feel this close.
Sometimes being a brother is even better than being a superhero. ~Marc Brown
While I've always dabbled in cooking and baking, this year I have decided to try to make something new each month. My goal is to not only expand my culinary knowledge to but to get us out of meal-rut rotation we are in. I work full-time so I don't always have time to prep a complicated meal that takes hours....did I mention I also have a toddler and infant and husband and a dog and a cat and laundry...you get the point- I'm a busy girl, but I love food and my busy life shouldn't hinder my passion. To me food is love- we celebrate with food and we grieve with food. Below is the January recipe. It comes from Cooking for Real, and of course, I tweaked it a bit. Enjoy!
Zesty Chicken Meatballs
Ingredients
• 1 pound ground chicken
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 egg, whisked
• 3 tablespoons unseasoned whole-wheat bread crumbs
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 2 teaspoons onion powder
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh oregano leaves, about 1 small sprig
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves, about 5 sprigs
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro leaves
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar
• 1 lemon, zested
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
Directions
In a large bowl, gently mix the chicken, garlic, egg, bread crumbs, Worcestershire, paprika, chili powder, onion powder, oregano, thyme, cilantro, brown sugar, lemon zest, 2 healthy pinches of salt and a few grinds of pepper in a bowl. Form into mini meatballs, slightly smaller than a golf ball; it should make 28 to 30 meatballs. Warm the butter and oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Transfer the meatballs to the pan and do not disturb for 3 minutes to brown well. Turn, cooking another 3 minutes without disturbing. Keep cooking until browned and cooked on all sides, but still juicy and plump with a spring to the touch. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Serve atop fettuccine with basil pesto (fresh or store bought).
Just a few of my favorite quotes about what it's like to be a mom....
A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie. ~Tenneva Jordan
To nourish children and raise them against odds is any time, any place, more valuable than to fix bolts in cars or design nuclear weapons. ~ Marilyn French
A mother's arms are more comforting than anyone else's. ~Diana, Princess of Wales
The phrase "working mother" is redundant. ~Jane Sellman
The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness. ~Honoré de Balzac
She never quite leaves her children at home, even when she doesn't take them along. ~Margaret Culkin Banning
Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible. ~Marion C. Garretty
A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts. ~Washington Irving
The Crist family experienced quite a few changes, celebrated a few miletstones and added a new member to the family in 2010. Here's a recap of our year.
January: We announced to our friends and coworkers we expecting a new edition to the family. Jack was helping me decide what big boy bedding he wanted in his new big boy room. Jon and Uncle Josh painstakingly painted his new room two shades of brown before the new furniture arrived.
February: Katie turned 31 and we found out we were expecting a little girl! Jack moved into his big boy room. Now it was time to start thinking about girl stuff.....decisions, decisions. Jack had his first sleep over at Papa Joe and Lala's house.
March: Jon turned 34 and Katie was promoted to manager at work! We decided to name our little girl Ella, but the middle name was still undecided. Jack was begining to potty train.
April: Jon's parents came to town to celebrate Easter and help paint Ella's Room (lavender ice). We also got to see our baby girl via a 3D sonogram. Jack's imagination was in overdrive and he now feared monsters lived in his room.
May: Jon received an award from the local Rotary Club acknowleding his Paramedic of the Year status he received by his fire department in December. I had my last ultrasound- we were now in the final weeks of preparation before Ella Grace (yes we picked a middle name!) was scheduled (via c-section) to arrive.
June: Jon and Katie celebrated 5 years of wedded bliss. Jon was busy with an annual charity golf tournament honoring a former fellow fire fighter. Jack saw his first movie in a theater (Toy Story 3). Ella Grace arrived at 7:26am on June 28th. Jack was so excited to be a big brother.
July: We celebrated the 4th of July with family and fireworks (and midnight feedings)! We were learning to adjust to our newest edition. Jack started "swimming" better in the pool.
August: Mimi came to visit and help with Ella Grace. We took Jack to the circus and enjoyed out door activities- the splash park, water park and pool.
September: Katie returned to work. Summer starting winding down and the pools and splash parks closed (now what would do to burn some of Jack's energy?!?) We started planning Jack's 3rd birthday and Ella's baptism.
October: Our little man turned 3! Where did the time go?? Ella was baptized the same weekend as we celebrated Jack's birthday and we were blessed to be joined by so many family and friends. Aunt Amy and cousin Zoe met Ella for the first time.
November: Mimi came to town to celebtrate Thanksgiving. We dined on a delicious herb-roasted turkey, creamy mashed potatoes, cream casserole, peas (for Jon), rolls and dessert. Uncle Josh joined our celebration. Jack was officially out of diapers and potty trained!!! Ella started cooing and grabbing at things. She also tried rice cereal for the first time.
December: Our first family vacation to Colorado to celebrate Christmas with Jon's family! On the way there we got upgraded to first class! Ella sat up for the first time and Jack started eating everything bagels and cream cheese! (This is huge for us- Jack is the world's pickiest eater!) Jack wrote a letter to Santa to make sure he knew where to find him and we counted our blessings from the past year.
