Month: August 2009

I made the BEST baked chicken nuggets today — enough for the slew of kids running in and out of my house. I was making them for lunch for the boys and then Mr. Hospitality (Bob) yells to all his friends, “You can eat with us!” lol

So I cut up chicken breast into bite sized pieces, dredged them in flour seasoned with salt and pepper, italian seasoning and garlic powder. Then I made a “buttermilk” dip using plain greek yogurt thinned with a little milk. The final step was to coat the chicken pieces in pulverized cornflakes and bake them on preheated stones to 425 for 15-20. The three step coating made the crust extra thick and crispy. Next time I would add a little more salt and pepper to the flour and maybe try a spicy or chili version with cayenne, paprika and chili powder. Yum!

You learn something new every day. I found out that mangos contains urushiol oil, the same oil found in poison oak that causes my skin to blister and itch.

If you google: “mango allergy poison oak” there’s way more info than you ever wanted to know about the itchiness of these two plants. ick.

So I hop in the tub with my next book With this Ring, I’m Confused: light, chick-lit about a girl planning her wedding with lots of funny disasters, very much in the Shopaholic/Bridget Jones style. I had heard that the author was a Christian and I was 1/2 way through the first chapter and I thought, “maybe it’s just a clean romance, not a christianese type of romance” and then it happened. On the last page of the first chapter, the main character says to herself, “Turn the other cheek. That’s what being a Christian is all about.” The statement would be annoying enough by itself, but the fact that it’s in response to a bossy sister-in-law who has taken over the wedding plans to the point of picking out the bride’s dress and choosing the theme of Gone with the Wind makes it even more ridiculous.

And then starting in the second chapter we have Christian Mad Libs. Looking for the perfect man? Insert veiled reference to God, including the use of the capital “H” in “He.” Playing music in the car? Make sure it’s Chris Tomlin, so we know you’re a Christian. Now if the author had incorporated a particular song, where the lyrics would be applicable to the situation, that would be fine. It’s just the insertion of a Christian artist for no other purpose that seems forced.

I was already annoyed with the book because the premise of the first chapter was so ridiculous — like any bride, Christian or not, wouldn’t throw a hissy fit if their sister in law insisted on having them walk down the aisle under a sword arch manned by groomsmen in confederate soldier uniforms. Um, hello. And who would be ok with the sil designing southen belle gowns for the bridesmaids? It’s your wedding, don’t suffer in silence! The fact that the main character didn’t fire her “wedding planner” on the spot made this book suspect, the rest put it over the top.

Now there’s drama w/the ex boyfriend. I may give it another chapter or 2, but this book is on thin ice. 😛

I ran for 1 hour today — down Farragut to Aguajito, and then down around El Estero park and back, including running all the way up Farragut hill. A new run route while Josh was out at Spirit West Coast. That’s the even bigger progress. 🙂

Listened to Crazy Love by Francis Chan while I was running. It’s one of the most convicting books I’ve ever read. I have to take some time to process it all and probably re-listen to it when I finish to capture it all.

Not at the same level as the Bob/chapstick fiasco, but still nasty:

Heather Evangelista made cupcakes for Alex’s birthday and we were hanging out on their front lawn and the kids were playing. So Carter comes over to ask me a question and he’s chewing on this wierd looking gray gum.
I ask him, “what is that?”
He says, “it’s the wrapper from my cupcake. I’m trying to get out all the chocolatey goodness.”
EW!
And then another mom tells me that when he had a cupcake at her house he chewed up the paper and eventually swallowed it! You’d think I don’t feed them or teach them any sort of manners, huh?