By far, the cutest nephew I have in St. Louis!!
Friday, January 30, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Cole Turns 9!
Monday was Cole's birthday, January 26th. What a fun day it was! He woke up to his parents singing "Happy Birthday" then headed off for a fun day at school.
Actually, his fun started a couple days before. Several of our friends came to Cole's basketball game on Saturday and then out to lunch afterward. Our friend, Michael, who loves to dance with Cole to Irish music, made a CD of Irish songs for Cole. He was so excited! Cole felt so special being celebrated by his honorary uncles and aunts!
Sunday afternoon we had a few of his buddies over to play games and eat cake. This wasn't a big party year so we kept it low key.
Then it was time for sweets #3. He had already had a cake and cupcakes, so for this celebration we got a cookie cake!
Actually, his fun started a couple days before. Several of our friends came to Cole's basketball game on Saturday and then out to lunch afterward. Our friend, Michael, who loves to dance with Cole to Irish music, made a CD of Irish songs for Cole. He was so excited! Cole felt so special being celebrated by his honorary uncles and aunts!
Sunday afternoon we had a few of his buddies over to play games and eat cake. This wasn't a big party year so we kept it low key.
Monday he took cupcakes to school to share with his class at snack time and I surprised him mid-day to eat lunch with him. After school we met the grandparents for dinner at Applebee's (one of Cole's favs). He didn't want dessert there, but he did want the wait staff to sing to him. Aren't we adults the exact opposite! So after the special song, we headed back to our house for presents!
His primary gift was waiting for him as he walked in the door -
Yes, it was time for a new piano so with the help of the grandparents, we got him a (slightly used) new piano. Was he excited?
There were a few other things to open. He was most excited about his metronome!!
Here he is opening a DVD hidden in a Capri Sun box.
Then it was time for sweets #3. He had already had a cake and cupcakes, so for this celebration we got a cookie cake!
Here is a little video montage of various parts of the evening:
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Pesto Chicken
As requested, here is the recipe for the Pesto Chicken pictured in the post below. This is from the Easy Recipes application on the iPhone. I'm typing exactly how the recipe reads, but I took several liberties with "sprinkling" and "spreading" based on the size of my chicken breasts.
Pesto Chicken
Makes 4 servings.
Ingredients:
1 tsp salt and ¼ tsp pepper
4 boneless chicken breasts, pounded ¼ inch thick
4 tbsp basil pesto or sun-dried tomato pesto sauce
½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese blend or mozzarella
4 tsp extra virgin olive oil
2 tbsp Dijon mustard
4 tbsp dry bread crumbs
Instructions:
1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
2. Cover the bottom of a baking sheet with parchment paper.
3. In a small bowl, combine the salt and pepper. Sprinkle and pat this mixture onto both sides of the chicken.
4. On a large plate, place one chicken breast smooth side down, with the narrowest end closest to you.
5. Place 1 tbsp of pesto onto the center of the breast. Spread the pesto evenly over the breast using a pastry brush.
6. Sprinkle 2 tbsp of shredded cheese over the pesto, keeping a ½ inch cheese-free border around the breast.
7. Starting at the end closest to you, carefully roll up the chicken breast.
8. Using 4 toothpicks, secure the end of the breast. Place the breast, toothpick side down, on the prepared baking sheet.
9. Repeat steps 4 to 8 with the remaining chicken breasts.
10. Slowly pour 1 tsp of oil over each breast. Use a pastry brush to coat the top and the sides of each breast.
11. Place 1½ tsp of Dijon mustard on top of each breast. Use a pastry brush to coat the top and sides of each breast.
12. Carefully sprinkle 1 tbsp of bread crumbs over the top and along the sides of each breast, using your fingers to pat the crumbs onto the sides.
13. Bake until the chicken is firm and no longer pink inside, approximately 20 to 25 minutes.
14. Remove the chicken from the oven and let stand for 5 minutes before removing the toothpicks.
15. Using a chef’s knife, slice each breast ½-inch to 1-inch thick on the diagonal before serving.
Pesto Chicken
Makes 4 servings.
Ingredients:
1 tsp salt and ¼ tsp pepper
4 boneless chicken breasts, pounded ¼ inch thick
4 tbsp basil pesto or sun-dried tomato pesto sauce
½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese blend or mozzarella
4 tsp extra virgin olive oil
2 tbsp Dijon mustard
4 tbsp dry bread crumbs
Instructions:
1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
2. Cover the bottom of a baking sheet with parchment paper.
3. In a small bowl, combine the salt and pepper. Sprinkle and pat this mixture onto both sides of the chicken.
4. On a large plate, place one chicken breast smooth side down, with the narrowest end closest to you.
5. Place 1 tbsp of pesto onto the center of the breast. Spread the pesto evenly over the breast using a pastry brush.
6. Sprinkle 2 tbsp of shredded cheese over the pesto, keeping a ½ inch cheese-free border around the breast.
7. Starting at the end closest to you, carefully roll up the chicken breast.
8. Using 4 toothpicks, secure the end of the breast. Place the breast, toothpick side down, on the prepared baking sheet.
9. Repeat steps 4 to 8 with the remaining chicken breasts.
10. Slowly pour 1 tsp of oil over each breast. Use a pastry brush to coat the top and the sides of each breast.
11. Place 1½ tsp of Dijon mustard on top of each breast. Use a pastry brush to coat the top and sides of each breast.
12. Carefully sprinkle 1 tbsp of bread crumbs over the top and along the sides of each breast, using your fingers to pat the crumbs onto the sides.
13. Bake until the chicken is firm and no longer pink inside, approximately 20 to 25 minutes.
14. Remove the chicken from the oven and let stand for 5 minutes before removing the toothpicks.
15. Using a chef’s knife, slice each breast ½-inch to 1-inch thick on the diagonal before serving.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Lately?
What have the Jacksons been up to??
Out cat was de-clawed this week and must wear a collar for several days to prevent her from chewing her paws. Pitiful and cute!
Brice turned 29 this month. One gift was a deluxe Scrabble game and we've been playing constantly!
We had some friends over for dinner and I used our beautiful china. I love the chance to set a pretty table!
Watching some NBA . . .
Trying new recipes. This Chicken Pesto is from one of Brice's iPhone apps "Easy Recipes" and is SO good!!
So that's our life lately. A little of this and that. Good stuff.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Basketball Has Begun
This is Cole's third basketball season and he still loves it! A friend and former teammate is on his team again this year which makes it more fun. Most of them are finally learning how to play as a team! Here are some photos of my big boy:
"I got it!"
"You're not getting by me!"
"Mine!"
"I see it, I want it!"
"I may fall, but save the ball!"
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