My own version of Jambalaya

The closest thing this recipe comes to is Jambalaya...but it's kind of a stretch. Scott adores this dish, my mom made him something similar when she came to visit one time (about 10 years ago) and I was still vegetarian. Back then anything that had meat in it was a treat for him. My mom's good at just throwing things together...so there was no recipe...but this was my version I started a few years ago.

Kielbasa Jambalaya

1 5oz package Saffron Yellow Rice

1 lb Polska Kielbasa (sliced)

1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes (do NOT drain)

1 yellow pepper (sliced)

1 green pepper (sliced)

1 small onion (sliced)

1 Tbls. Penzeys Medium Hot Crushed Red Pepper

Cook rice according to directions on package.

Spray skillet with olive oil and cook kielbasa until heated.

Added can of diced tomatoes, peppers, onion and crushed pepper.

Heat until simmering.

Serve on top of bed of yellow rice.

I had to include this picture of Sawyer. I love it when she helps with dinner!

Personal Legends

While on vacation in Boise, Sarah gave me The Alchemist to read. She had checked it out from the library and told me it was a quick read. I started it at the cabin and wasn't able to get too far into it. But once I got back to the townhouse, I was enraptured. It is a story about a boy's search for his Personal Legend, and I was so inspired by the time I finished the book, I realized that there are more things I can do with my life. I am looking for a book club in town that would be a good fit for me. I'm a quick reader, and I want to join a club where people will read the book and be able to finish it fairly quickly. I've been disappointed in the past, but I am excited to do this. Reading is a passion of mine, and I want to develop it. The second inspiration was to expand my business. I'm happy and content with how busy I am, but I know I could be doing more and I think I would truly be happier if I was out training more than a few times a month. It is a book I will search my Used Bookstore for, and it will be one that I will read at least every other year...for inspiration to keep living life to it's fullest.

Once home, I was able to start The Thirteenth Tale. This was said to be a ghost story but turned out to be so much more. A story about families. A story about siblings. A story about sisters. A story about women trying to find themselves...their lost selves! Such an amazing book. Such a wonderful twist.

The women in my family are starting a book share, where we will each pick out a book to pass around and share with each other....then to discuss when we've all read it. Sarah and I felt like we might be well on our way by sharing one of my favorite Amy Tan novels, The Hundred Secret Senses...but my grandmother wasn't as impressed...so I'm looking for a different flavor, for her sake. I believe The Thirteenth Tale might just be that book.

Corn Tortillas

Scott will only eat white tortillas. I will only eat wheat. We've compromised with corn. I've been experimenting. These is not all that healthy!!! But they are so yummy.



Chicken Enchiladas


1 tablespoon Smart Balance
1/2 cup chopped onions
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1 (4 ounce) can diced green chilies
1 (14.1 ounce) can Amy's Semi-condensed cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup lite sour cream (I used blended cottage cheese)
1 1/2 cups cubed cooked chicken breast (cooked with taco seasoning)
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese, divided
1/4 cup non fat milk
6 corn tortillas


Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Lightly grease a large baking dish.
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter and saute
Add the garlic powder, green chilies, cream of mushroom soup and sour cream.
Mix well.
Reserve 3/4 of this sauce and set aside.
Add chicken and 1/2 shredded cheese to the sauce in the saucepan
Fill each tortilla with the chicken mixture and roll up.
Place seam side down in the prepared baking dish.
In a small bowl combine the reserved 3/4 of the sauce with the milk.
Spoon this mixture over the rolled tortillas
Top with the remaining cheese.
Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly.



5 Layer Tortilla Pie



1 (15 ounce) cans black re fried beans
1 cup salsa, divided
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup chopped tomatoes
5 corn tortillas
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese



Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
In a large bowl, stir in re fried beans, 3/4 cup salsa and garlic.
In a separate bowl, mix together 1/4 cup salsa, cilantro, black beans and tomatoes.
Place 1 tortilla in a pie plate.
Spread black bean mixture over tortilla to within 1/2 inch of edge.
Top with 1/4 cup cheese, and cover with another tortilla.
Spread with black bean mixture, and top with 1/4 cup cheese.
Repeat layering.
Cover with remaining tortilla, and spread with remaining black bean mixture and cheese.
Bake in preheated oven for about 30 minutes.
Cut into wedges, and serve.

Child of My Heart

I just finished Child of My Heart by Alice McDermott and I can't wait to share it. It was a very easy read, but it so easily transported me back into that time between your childhood and adulthood. Where you have to be responsible, but not with the weight of the world. I wanted to be Theresa or at the very least be able to spend time with her. She has inspired a number of fun play times with Sawyer, since I started this book. I recommend this novel as a great way to bring back those times when life still held that childhood magic and innocence.

I read Here on Earth right before Child of My Heart. It's by the other of Practical Magic and has that adult mystery of a little magical obsessive love. It was slightly dark, but very entertaining. The transitions made by her only daughter was one of my most favorite aspects of this novel.

I'm off to Boise with 2 new books on tape to listen to (I'm driving). And 4 new novels. I doubt I'll get through more than one on the trip...but it's all vacation, so you never know.

The Hard Parts of Parenting

"The most important thing that she'd learned over the years was that there was no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one." ~ Jill Churchill
This is my most favorite quote about parenting. And yesterday I the fact that I'm not a perfect mother hit me full force. The morning was easy enough, but instead of being able to purchase a new set of contact lens, I was informed that I needed an eye exam. The first available was right after I picked up Sawyer from school...so I figured it'd be no big deal. I'd just take my sweet little 5 year old with me.
On the way to the eye doctor I told her that I would take her to one of the fast food playgrounds for lunch and some playtime, if she was well behaved at the appointment. I don't normally take her to those places, so she was so excited. I explained that I just needed her to sit and be quite while I got my exam.
I got right in, my appointment only took about 20 minutes...but we headed straight home when we were done.
Sawyer wasn't horrible, she just talked the whole time, and kept getting out of her seat. She went back and sat down after every time I told her, or gave her a dirty look when the doctor wasn't looking...but it was the fact that I had to KEEP reminding her that was disappointing.
Unfortunately after we were done but while we were waiting for them to trace my frames, Sawyer asked about lunch. I asked her if she thought she'd been good and followed directions. She said no. Then she asked about lunch again. I told her no. She started crying. And she kept crying until we right before we got home, when she fell asleep in the car.
I don't think it was hard taking her home.
I don't think I was wrong in not taking her out to lunch.
I do think it was hard to realize, through all the crying, that normally I would have told her she wasn't great, but good enough to still go to lunch.
She was devastated when I told her no.
I never back out. I always give in, even if she wasn't behaving like I'd ask. I am lazy sometimes with my daughter and that has taught her what?
Sawyer knows right from wrong, but there are no consequences if she's wrong....she gets the same either way.
The hard parts of parenting occur when you realize you aren't perfect, and now you have to figure out how to change your own behavior, in the hopes that you can lead your child by example. If I change, can she?

At least she holds nothing against me. Here my darling daughter is,, this morning wanting to help with cleaning day. And after cleaning toilets, she asked if she could vacuum.