Contest Almost Over!

Dear Readers,
The Love Stinks Contest ends Sunday, January 31. If you're going to enter, please leave a comment under the original post. I am willing to ship the candy to anywhere in the continental United States. Good Luck!
Bitterroot Mama

Breakfast Casserole

This is one of my favorite breakfasts! My mom used to make it on Christmas morning, to stave off hunger until our big Christmas dinner. To carry on the tradition, I made it for my family this past Christmas morning. The actual amounts of food are relative, so feel free to up or downsize them based on how many people are eating it. (Or my mom can comment about how much she usually makes.)

Breakfast Casserole (Serves 2)

1 Tbsp. butter

4 eggs

a smidgen milk or water

salt

pepper

4 pieces of bacon

1/2 c. cheese, grated

a dollop of sour cream

1. Preheat oven to 350 º.

2. Melt a tablespoon of butter in a skillet. Whisk eggs with a little milk or water. Add salt and pepper to taste. Pour into skillet and scramble as usual.

3. Cook bacon. I do this in my microwave, but you can cook it however you want. Crumble bacon when cool enough to handle.

4. Mix bacon into scrambled eggs in the skillet. Add a dollop of sour cream and mix well. Pour into a pie dish. Top with cheese. Bake in preheated oven for 10-15 minutes, or until cheese is melted and all is warm.

Having a Baby Does Change Everything

I didn't know what life would be like post-baby. Sure, I read books, saw other smiling cherubs at church, and had my own experiences as an older sister. But I had no idea what was coming.

Don't get me wrong. My baby is very sweet and accommodating. We started her in the crib on night one and she's been in there ever since. She also started sleeping through the night around 10 weeks. She started nursing great at the hospital and has continued through all 6 months of her life. All blessings!

But, there are trade offs too. The baby loves her crib so much, she refuses to sleep anywhere else. She loves nursing so much, she won't take a bottle or sippy cup. She loves her mommy so much, it's hard to leave her with anyone else.

People say this is just a phase. They'd long to be back in the time when a baby depended on them for everything. To smell that sweet milk breath and have them nestled into a shoulder. It is a precious time.

Last night at Life Group (like a Bible study), we had a very unsuccessful time with her. She either jabbered, or whined, or needed to go to sleep because it was past her bedtime. My husband took her driving out on the icy roads so she could fall asleep in her infant car sleep. But when he came back, she was awake (and fussy) again.

It seems like the only solution is for one of us to stay at home with her during Life Group. Sure, we can go together on a short outing every now and then. But babies like routines and if nap time comes up when she's out, prepare for the onslaught of tears! We can't really leave her for dates or so that I can go out and have fun. Sometimes I feel like a prisoner in my own house!

My husband is compassionate. Last weekend he watched the baby so I could go out to two parties - one involved fondue, the other Bunco. But I had to leave both after about an hour because the baby "needed" me. I keep telling myself it's just a phase, other people have the same problems, there are many worse problems to have. But it's what was on my mind today. Thanks for the soapbox.

Larry's Plumbing Tips: Part 1

When I spoke with Larry of Larry's Plumbing last week, he shared his motto with me: "Doctors cure illnesses, plumbers prevent them." Well, Bitterroot Mama wants to prevent plumbers.

Larry was kind enough to share a lot of information with me about how to prevent household clogs. Today I'll share information about the kitchen. Next Wednesday, I'll share about the lavatory and what he says about trying to get rid of clogs yourself. I'm also linking this post to Works for Me Wednesday. Now, onto the kitchen tips. (Please don't judge me on the picture of my sink. I'll do dishes right after I post my blog. Promise!)

1. Don't put food down the sink drain. Everyone knows not to put grease straight down the drain (right?). I typically let grease cool and then double bag it in old grocery store bags. Then it goes straight in the trash can outside. Larry said that putting food down the drain causes clogs. Put 90-95% of the food from your plates in the trash. But, you say, I have a garbage disposal. Keep reading!

2. Keep your garbage disposal blades sharp. Larry said that garbage disposal blades typically dull after about a year of use. When food is put into a disposal with dull blades, it does not liquefy and go down the drain easily. It forms clumps and can stick to the pipes. (He also said never to put eggshells or stringy items like celery into the garbage disposal because it can wrap around the blades.) He said an easy way to sharpen the blades (and I don't know because I don't have a disposal to try it on) is to turn the water on to just a trickle. Pour some dry scouring agent (i.e., Comet, Ajax) on the blades and turn on the disposal. Keep it going while you pour in a tray of ice, a handful at a time. He said the double action of the scouring agent and the ice acts as a file to sharpen the blades. (I am not liable for any problems if this doesn't work. I'm just sharing what the plumber said.)

3. Use your dishwasher (if you have one) or really hot water. I was a bit surprised about this tip because I thought washing all the dishes by hand was green. However, I have heard experts go back and forth on the green-ness of dishwashers. Anyway, Larry said that washing all of our dishes by hand causes two problems. At the end of washing, all of that greasy, lukewarm water goes down the drain. The water is not warm enough to dissolve the grease and keep it going far enough along the pipe (causing clogs). Also, the water is typically not warm enough to properly sanitize the dishes, which can sometimes spread illnesses. The dishwasher solves both problems, as the water is hot enough to both send the grease running and sanitize the dishes properly. My grandmother said that her mother was always afraid of getting tuberculosis, so she poured a pot of boiling water over her dishes after she washed them by hand. That's always another option for those of you without dishwashers.

Come back next week for the exciting conclusion of Larry's Plumbing Tips. (I don't have any blogging tips to share, since I'm new at this thing.) If this is your first time at my site, please look around and feel free to enter the Love Stinks contest.

Another Eclectic Collection

With the elegant snow falling outside, it seems like a perfect day to curl up with a book and a mug of hot chocolate. Here are some suggestions:

What I'm Reading

The Baby Food Bible by Eileen Behan (G)

I'm not very far into this book. It has a lot of charts showing the nutritional value of different foods, which is not sticking in my memory. I really wanted a step-by-step guide on how to introduce food to my baby, but so far this doesn't have it. To its credit, I think it has more recipes and tips in the back. However, I've just been kind of winging it because the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner we went to see said it's hard to mess up on introducing new foods (as long as I stay away from honey, corn syrup, red meat for a while, and a few other foods). I may flip through it a bit more, but I doubt I'll read the whole thing through.

Recommended

Fearless by Max Lucado (G)

This was classic Max Lucado. His books read a bit like an amplified Bible due to the constant repetition. He is an excellent storyteller, though, and I enjoyed the many stories he included. This book was a wonderful reminder that worry does nothing for us. True trust in God puts the results in his hands. I wholeheartedly recommend it.

The Color of Water by James McBride (PG-13 for brief language and thematic elements)

I re-read this book because I picked it for my book club and wanted to see the references to food in the book. (We usually prepare a meal based on food mentioned in the book.) The author grew up in a home with 11 other kids and a light-skinned mother, who only revealed later that she grew up in a Jewish home and left it to marry a black man. She is quite a character and has lived quite a life, which is chronicled in this book along with the story of her son. For some reason, I enjoyed it more the first time, but still find it a recommendable and satisfying read.

Not Recommended

The Good Thief by Hannah Tinti (PG-13 for violence and thematic elements)

This was loaned to me by a good friend, who usually has impeccable book taste. Only after I read it did she tell me it wasn't her favorite. It wasn't mine either. Critics likened it to Oliver Twist, but I thought it more in the vein of Upton Sinclair's The Jungle. It was dank, dark, and depressing. And it just kept going on and on with more harrowing action. I thought she should have ended it two-thirds of the way through and said, "And they all got eaten by mice. The end."

Closures, Recalls, and the Just Plain Bizarre

Happy Monday! Today's blog is a mishmash of news and happenings.

Pediatrician Office Closing
I found out over the last week that my pediatrician's office is closing (he's nearing 80) and the recycling center in town is closing due to budgetary concerns. I'm torn now because I don't want to have to drive all the way to Missoula if my baby is sick, but I do want a doctor who specializes in kids. If you have any local family doctor recommendations, please let me know.


Recycling Center Closing
Closing the recycling center makes me very sad because we already have limited recycling here. There's no where else to take it except up to Missoula. And I just feel plain guilty for throwing stuff away! I used to have quite the glass jar collection on the top of our fridge until my husband kept complaning about it. I threw them all away in one fell swoop, but I still feel bad about it. We don't have any glass recycling facilities here. Anyway, if you receive a large cardboard box in the mail from me that's filled with other empty cardboard boxes, please recycle it.



Tylenol Recalls
Maybe I'm just out the loop, but my dad told me last night about the Tylenol recalls. Some bottles have a nasty smell coming from a chemical used on wooden pallets. Some people have gotten stomach aches from using the contaminated products. This recall has also been expanded to include Motrin, Benadryl, Rolaids, Simply Sleep, and St. Joseph Heart something or rather. To check if your bottles are part of the recalls or not, just enter the lot numbers on their site.



Facial Hair Mapping
I try to be patient. I was patient when my husband decided to take up wet shaving. And when he purchased three different razors. I politely refused when he offered to make me shaving cream with his fancy brush and shaving soap. I was patient when he started using Tabac products. I politely refused when he asked me to try his Tabac aftershave so he could know how it smelled. I should have known that another bizarre request was coming when he started printing off blank drawings of men's faces. Then he asked me for another favor. Could I map his facial hair?


Turns out, facial hair doesn't just grow in one direction. In fact, it grows in multiple different directions. Knowing where it grows can help the wet shaver get an even closer shave. So, I took about 10 minutes and mapped his facial hair by drawing little arrows on the drawn faces. The things we do for love.

Herbed Pork & Biscuits

This was a scrumptious, fairly easy meal that we enjoyed earlier this week. Today, I'll share with you the pork and biscuit recipes.

Herb Roasted Pork Loin
(from the Food Network's Ellie Krieger - see the short demonstration video)
medium pork loin (3-4 lbs.)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
2 tsp. olive oil
1 Tbsp. sage
1 Tbsp. rosemary
1 Tbsp. thyme
1/2 tsp. pepper
1. Heat oven to 350º. Mix garlic and kosher salt well. Place in a medium bowl. Add the olive oil. Mince the herbs (go fresh if you can!) and add to the bowl. Add pepper and mix all well.
2. Rub the mixture into the pork loin. Let sit in the fridge for 1/2 hour if you have the time. If not, place the loin on an edged cookie sheet and bake at 350º for 1hr, 15 minutes.
3. Allow the loin to rest 15 minutes to redistribute the juices. Slice and serve.

Herbed Drop Biscuits (makes 4)
2/3 c. all-purpose flour
1 Tbsp. herbs (I like thyme)
1 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
2 Tbsp. butter, chilled and cut into small squares
1/3 c. milk

1. Heat oven to 450º F. Grease a cookie sheet.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients. With a pastry blender or 2 knives, cut in the butter until it resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces. Add milk and mix with a fork until a moist dough forms.
3. Spoon 1/4 c. of dough onto the cookie sheet for each biscuit, keeping biscuits 2" apart.
4. Bake 10-13 minutes, or until the bottoms are golden brown. Serve warm.

The Love Stinks Contest

I used to hate Valentine's Day. You know, back when I was single and hated the idea of other people being in love. In college, my girlfriends and I would have UFO (Unattached Females Only) parties. I also created a custom shirt one year with green electrical tape. One side had a heart with an X through it. The other side said "Boycott Feb. 14."

In that spirit, I am happy to announce the first contest on my blog. All you have to do is leave a comment describing the worst Valentine's Day you have ever had. Entries must be submitted by 11:59 PM on Jan. 31. The winner will be announced on Feb. 3 and will receive 1/2 lb. of chocolates from Big Sky Candy. (If you can't break your diet for this, we can work something else out.) Also, if you submit a comment through the anonymous option, please leave some kind of clue so I can find out who you are. I'm looking forward to your entries. Ready, set, go!

Little Britches Sale Schedule

Little Britches in Hamilton is a consignment store featuring children's, women's, and maternity clothing. They also usually have a small selection of used furniture for sale. Typically, they have a bag sale the last Saturday of every month, where items are cheap, cheap, cheap! Because it's January, they're having a sale every Saturday this month. This weekend the orange tags are $1.00 and the red tags are $0.25. They are picky in what they accept (as I found out when I tried to sell some of my maternity stuff), so they have a nice selection. In addition, they have some new maternity clothes discounted. Check out their website for more information.

Super 1 Foods Sale

For all of my Montana friends, I would like to inform you about the Super 1 Foods 12-hour sale tomorrow from 8AM to 8PM. This is a great opportunity to stock up on some canned goods. Below are some highlights. For the complete list, visit the Super1Foods website.

• Western Family Vegetables, Selected Varieties, Beans, Corn or Peas - $0.48
• 12 rolls of Western Family Toilet Paper - $4.78
• Western Family Fruit & Pears - $0.78
• Western Family Tomato Sauce (15 oz.) - $0.48
• 3 rolls of Western Family Paper Towels - $1.78
• Getting knocked over by other shoppers trying to grab the last box of cookies - priceless

Other notable items that are on sale this week:

• Hunt's spaghetti sauce - $0.58 (first 2 with coupon)
• Italian Chef spaghetti noodles or elbow macaroni (48 oz.) - $1.48 (first 2 with coupon)
• Value Pack of Tyson Drums or Thighs - $0.78/pound
• Texas Rio Star Ruby Red Grapefruit - $0.25/piece

I love Super 1, but I don't like their coupon policies. No double coupons, no internet coupons. You can only use printed manufacturer coupons and paper coupons printed by the store. That being said, I do all of my shopping there because they have low prices anyway and a great produce section.

Unlocking the Mysteries of Cooking

Today I want to share my favorite cookbooks - the ones that have explained the mysteries of cooking and saved me time.

The New Best Recipe by the Editors at Cook's Illustrated
Trust is the most important ingredient in a recipe. The editors of this cookbook have never let me down. There are illustrated recipes and tips for everything from cooking asparagus (that was a new one!), to making cinnamon rolls, to finding the right cut of pork for the best pork chops. This book is perfect for all cooks. If you have time, read the explanation of how they arrived at the perfect recipe. Each recipe is methodically tested and does come out perfect every time. This book is not known for being healthy, so if that's your style, try out The Best Light Recipe by the same authors.

Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day by Jeff Hertzberg and Zoe Francois
The theory behind this book is that if you mix a very wet bread dough (no kneading!) in a container and leave it in your fridge, you'll have three different loaves that you can whip out and use over the course of a week. I liked the theory and it did work out fairly well. I liked making the olive oil dough and using it for pizza crust and focaccia. It's worth checking out and trying. They also suggest using a baking stone and using steam to make the loaves turn out well.

Ratio by Michael Ruhlman
Of all the new books at the library, I gravitate toward the cooking ones. This one was well worth it. In it, he shares the ratios used by an instructor at the Culinary Institute of America. Included are guidelines for pie crust, bread doughs, sauces, custards, sausages, mayonnaise, and more. I probably won't be making sausage anytime soon, but I did get inspired to purchase a kitchen scale and make a chicken pot pie on a whim without a real recipe. It turned out OK. I'm only through the first section, so I'll be hoarding it for a little while longer. It's fascinating to see the very simple ratios that compose the essence of a pie crust versus a cookie.

That's it for this week of books. What are your favorite cookbooks?

Career Idea: Horse Massage Therapist

DISCLAIMER: If you are a horse lover, please don't read this post. Otherwise, you might brand me as a heretic and run me out of town.

We were in a parking lot yesterday when we spotted a vehicle advertising the Western Montana School of Equine Massage. For the logo, two horses were enclosed in the yin and yang symbol. I was amazed. Was this for real? Do they have a website? The answer to both questions is "Yes!" For around $1,000 and 5 days, you can receive your Level 1 equine massage certification. Advanced classes include Reiki Acupressure and Reiki Immersion. (If you don't believe me, please visit their website.)

Horses hold a special place in the hearts of the people here. My next door neighbors moved out of town so they could have more acreage for the horse they bought. (City regulations don't allow horses, sadly.) Back during frontier days, horses were used to herd cows, to transport goods and people, and to provide friendship. Now, they are used in local parades and to scare people from hiking trails, due to their large deposits of smelly poop. They make our pastures look postcard-pretty.

Therefore, it should not have been a surprise that there are horse massage therapists running around this valley. But some things never cease to amaze.

Flicka prepares for her hot stone therapy.

Dutch Oven

Dutch oven (n) - an oven owned or used by a Dutch person

Since my household has one full Dutch person and one half-Dutch person, I believe this qualifies.

Sorry! I'm just having a little fun with a friend's question. According to the Wikipedia article, dutch ovens are usually either cast iron or enameled pots (with lids). They can be used cooking over a fire, handy for people who actually camp. I do not own one and so usually substitute a large soup pot. For some better pictures, see this Amazon link.

Lazy Stew

This is an easy, tasty recipe from my sister-in-law. It's great served with a salad and some warm bread. Enjoy!

Lazy Stew
1 lb. hamburger
1 lb. bacon (or as little as a few strips)
6 to 8 medium potatoes, chopped into 1/2 in. squares
4 to 6 carrots, chopped or minced
1 medium onion, chopped
1 bell pepper, chopped
1 1/2 to 2 c. water

In a large dutch oven, brown hamburger. Drain and set aside. Fry the bacon in the same pot. Drain. Combine hamburger and bacon. Add all other ingredients. Sprinkle liberally with Morton's Nature Seasons. Cover and simmer for about 30 minutes, stirring often.

Baby Food

Ever wonder what impression infant toys make? Here are some of the foods that my 6-month-old baby has been eating (and enjoying) lately:

A tomato

A wide variety of pork products

But I do think she has a taste for the exotic:

She's been seen eating octopus,

escargot,

alligator,

a fish steak. and

frog legs!

Feedback

I've been writing this blog for about three weeks now. I hope you have enjoyed my random musings on life in Montana, parenting, and books. To increase your reading pleasure, I would love to hear feedback on your favorite topics and which you could do without. Changes may appear as early as next week. Thank you, as always, for reading.

Haiti

Today is Whatever Wednesday, but I'd like to ask you all a question. How will you respond to the earthquake in Haiti? What an awful mess they have! I feel so bad for these people with so little to begin with. I have been praying and sent a little money to a a relief organization (Partners in Health). That's my typical response to these large disasters (like Hurricane Katrina and the tsunami in Indonesia). What are you going to do?

Back to the Stacks

Today's selection of books is a stack I've read in the last week or so. They all fall under the category of sort-of recommended. I'll let you make up your own mind about them after reading the review.

La's Orchestra Saves the World by Alexander McCall Smith (PG-13 for discussion of WWII)
You may remember this author from last week. I typically love whatever Mr. McCall Smith writes, but this one was a mixed bag. Set in the English countryside, the protagonist (a widowed young woman) helps out a neighboring farmer during the War. I found too much description for my taste, as well as being frustrated with the pace of the story and the ultimate outcome. War stories always make me sad. If you're in the mood for one, I'd recommend The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society instead.

Fat Land: how Americans became the fattest people in the world by Greg Crister (PG)
This book must be digested slowly (pun intended). The author unnecessarily uses very large words and cites many boring facts ancillary to his point, which is that farm subsidies, high fructose corn syrup, McDonald's, aggressive marketing to children, and TV watching have ruined the health of this country. You probably already knew that. However, if you were writing a master's thesis on obesity in America, I would recommend reading this so you could reference all of his many facts and figures. Me, I don't think I'll read it again, although it did make me feel guilty for just sitting there and reading instead of running 5 miles on a treadmill.

The Unlikely Disciple: a sinner's semester at America's holiest university by Kevin Roose (PG-13 for access to a college-aged boy's mind)
I wasn't going to read this one, but my Christian college roommate recommended it, so I dove in. Basically, a Brown university skeptic goes to Liberty University (home of Jerry Falwell) for a semester and pretends to be a Christian. He goes through all of the motions, including dating a Christian girl. In some parts of the book, Christians shine. In other parts, he reveals hypocrisy and fundamentalism. Overall, I thought it was an interesting perspective, although I wonder if he would have had a much different experience at my college, which was a bit more relaxed (no curfew!) and open to ideas. I did love the fact that he sang in Jerry Falwell's choir. There were other funny moments as well.

Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon (G)
This was a recommendation from another college roommate! I didn't actually read every recipe in it, but I did get the core ideas from the beginning section:

1. Eat lots of animals, including livers and other internal organs
2. Eat raw, unpasteurized, un-homogenized milk
3. Ferment whole grains before eating
4. Trans fats are bad
5. Vegetable oils are bad
6. Babies shouldn't be fed any grains until 2 years old

Dr. Atkins does say that he stole the ideas in the beginning of this book for his famous no-carb diet. This leaves me with a lot of questions. How can the government and numerous studies show that saturated fat (as found in animals) is very bad for heart disease while this book has studies showing the opposite? Why is it illegal to sell raw milk in our area if it's so good for us? Why invent pasteurization at all? (You can obtain raw milk as "pet milk" I found out recently.) Is this book legit or the path to an instant heart attack? I want to be able to eat all of the meat I want! There are just too many studies that come out saying things we've done for years were very wrong and very bad. On the other hand, this book does tell you how to brew your own beer and other slightly alcoholic beverages. Maybe this book should come with a warning label.

Movies in Ancient Egypt

Yesterday my husband and I managed to see our first movie without our baby. We enlisted the services of my husband's family to watch the sleeping babe and headed off to the Pharaohplex. The Pharaohplex is the only full-service theater in the Bitterroot and according to their website, the only theater with a Dolby Digital 3D system in all of Montana. Oddly enough, its theme is the Egyptian pyramids. Most themed attractions around here keep with the Old West tradition of hay bales, wagon wheels, and very large taxidermied animals or the refined legacy of the Marcus Daly family. Not so the theater. But business seems to be booming. For the Sunday matinee, the line was out the door with cash-paying customers. We enjoyed our movie (It was one of those ones that if you see the trailer, there's no point in watching the movie.) and came home to a very unhappy baby, who had been crying for an hour for her mommy. I had left her! To make sure I wasn't gone, she woke up at midnight screaming. I'm not sure if it's a sign to leave her more often or not. Someday I'll introduce baby to Ancient Egypt. Just not yet.

Chicken Enchiladas

This recipe is adapted from The Best Chicken Recipes by America's Test Kitchen. It looks a lot harder than it is. It is a little time-consuming to do right before dinner, so I recommend doing steps 1-3 ahead of baking time so that you just have to throw it in the oven about 30 minutes before dinner.

Chicken Enchiladas
Serves 4-6

2 Tbsp. canola oil
1 medium onion, minced or sliced into large chunks (see note below)
3 Tbsp. chili powder
3 garlic cloves, minced or put through a garlic press
2 tsp. ground coriander
2 tsp. ground cumin
2 tsp. sugar
salt
15 oz. can tomato sauce
1/3 c. water
1 lb. (or about 4) chicken thighs (see note below)
10 oz. shredded cheddar cheese
10 6-inch corn tortillas

Onion Note: If you don't like onions, cut them into large chunks so you can strain them out of the sauce later. If you do, cut them smaller and they'll end up with the chicken mixture.
Chicken Thigh Note: The recipe calls for boneless, skinless chicken thighs, which I can't find at my local grocery store. I used bone-in, skin-on thighs, but do try to take the skin off before cooking if that's all you can find. I'm sure you could also use boneless, skinless, chicken breasts, but you'd need to adjust the cooking time.

Directions:
1. Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook until softened, 5-7 minutes. Then, stir in chili powder, garlic, coriander, cumin, sugar, and 1/2 tsp. salt. Stir for about 30 seconds, or until fragrant. Stir in tomato sauce and water. Bring mixture to a simmer.
2. Add chicken thighs, cover with a lid, and then bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until the thighs are cooked through (about 170-175 degrees on a meat thermometer). The recipe says 13 minutes, but it takes me a lot longer than that. Remove chicken to a bowl. When it is cool enough to handle, shred the chicken off the bone into bite-sized pieces.
3. Pour the rest of the mixture through a strainer, saving the liquid in a medium bowl to the side. (This is your enchilada sauce!) If you like onions, add the solids that were caught in the strainer to the chicken pieces. If not, discard the onions. Add 2 c. of the cheese to the chicken mixture.
4. Heat oven to 400 degrees. In about 3 batches, put the corn tortillas in the microwave for about 20 seconds or until they are pliable. You don't want them to be breaking when you roll them. Get out a 13" x 9" baking dish. Divide the chicken mixture into the tortillas (The recipe says 1/3 c. per tortilla, but I've never had that much.) and roll them up sort of like a burrito, placing them in the baking dish with the seam down. Once done with all ten, pour the enchilada sauce over the top and sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 c. cheese. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and place in the oven.
5. Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes, until the cheese has melted and the sauce is bubbling. Remove foil and continue to bake until the cheese on top is browned, about 5 more minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for about 10 minutes before serving.

Gratitude

Christianity is not easy. God requires us to trust him without actually seeing him in the flesh or hearing his voice. Then, he asks us to trust him with everything we have - our health, jobs, finances, family, hopes and dreams. He assures us that he has a plan for our lives, but we usually don't get to see the whole picture. So, we are to trust in God whether he brings the miracle we desperately hope for or whether all seems lost.

One way to praise God in any circumstance is to offer our thanks. I know Thanksgiving was a couple months ago, but praising God knows no season. Will you join me today in offering gratitude to God for something in our lives?

Water Wipes

Here's a cheap idea for those of you who have (or will someday have) kids in diapers. Purchase a couple sets of washcloths from a discount retailer. I recently saw 12 available for $6 at Wal-Mart. Wet a couple with warm water before each change and wipe down baby's bum. I keep them separate from my bath washcloths by putting the used ones in to be washed with my cloth diapers. If you don't use cloth diapers, just buy washcloths with different patterns or textures from your bath washcloths. Also, it is nice to keep some disposable wipes on hand for outings, but at home we use the cloth wipes.

Mysteries

I don't read many mysteries (although I do enjoy them) because I'm afraid I'll get stuck with a grisly book. Do you like mysteries? I'd love to hear your favorites.

What I'm Reading Now
The Things I Want Most: the extraordinary story of a boy's journey to a family of his own by Richard Miniter (PG-13)
This is not a mystery, but a true story. I can't put it down! So far, there's some language and talk of suicide attempts because the boy came from a rough background. It is well-written and engaging.

Recommended Books
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Series by Alexander McCall Smith (PG)
Start at the beginning and read them all! I love these sweet, easy reads set in Botswana. You'll learn about Botswana culture and a few words. I still like to say "ko ko." They also made a TV series that aired on HBO recently. The library has a copy of the first season, which is good, but adds a main character who was not in the book.

The Claire Malloy Series by Joan Hess (PG)
These books are entertaining because of the main character's teenage daughter and friend. She does engage in solving some grisly murders and has some relations with her boyfriend prior to marriage. Luckily, they don't go into detail.


The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by C. Alan Bradley (PG)
This is a new book starring a young girl obsessed with Chemistry. It was interesting, although the father went on a little much. I must confess that I obtained the Toccata mentioned in the book and have been trying to play it on the piano. When I practice, my husband turns up the music on the computer to drown me out.

Recommended TV Series
Monk (PG-13)
I love the character Monk. He is so strange, and yet the show is very well-written. He is a detective with OCD. My in-laws also loved watching it. Now that it's complete, you can watch the entire series!

Not Recommended
The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz (R)
This is the first in a series about a young lady whose family owns a detective agency. They are extremely quirky. I had a difficult time getting into it and following it. It was too bizarre. It also had some language and drug references.

Anything by Sara Paretsky (PG-13)
Note: Anything is not an actual title. I tried reading some of her books, but I just couldn't connect. She does have a female leading character. I think I read one of her books that was very negative toward Christianity, so I have steered away from the rest of them.

The Secret to Staying Warm

I know that I live in the Banana Belt of Montana. I know we only rarely have weather that dips into the negative realms. However, it's a lot colder here than any other place I have lived.

Therefore, from September to late April, I don my secret weapon of warmth: long underwear. Here are some tips for wearing them:

1. Choose a thin brand, so they don't bunch up under your pants. I like Cuddl Duds.
2. If wearing under a skirt shorter than the ground, please be sure they won't fall down.
3. Tuck them into your socks prior to putting on pants to discourage the ride-up effect. (See photo for proper sock tuckage.) If this is not possible, ask your significant other or roommate to pull them down after putting on pants.

You should be well on your way to feeling warm now. I'd love to hear any other ideas you use to keep toasty.

It's Apparent that You're a Parent...

when you have baby barf on your head. Poor hubby!

Pancake Cake

It's Foodie Friday! Today's recipe is for a pancake cake. I love this idea because it frees me from standing over a griddle and keeping constant vigilance over endless pancake batches.

Pancake Cake
1 c. all- purpose flour
1 Tbsp. white sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 c. milk (or 1 1/2 c. buttermilk)
1 egg
2 Tbsp. melted butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl and whisk to combine. Mix in wet ingredients until just combined. Pour into a round cake pan that has been sprayed with Pam or canola oil spray. Bake in preheated oven for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Tips: I generally substitute from 1/4 c. to 1/2 c. wheat flour for the all-purpose flour. You can always add a handful of blueberries or chocolate chips to the batter as well. The recipe is also great doubled. Just use 2 cake pans. If you make 2 cakes, you could layer them with a little butter in between and use syrup on the top for "frosting." I've never tried this because that's a lot of pancake cake for 2 people.


This post is being linked to Works for Me Wednesday.