Deep thoughts by Shawna

ANXIETY. That is a word that I am sick off using, hearing, and feeling. You see since November I have had this weird feeling.....What kind of feeling? I have no idea what kind of feeling it is but I know it is not right. I get anxious thinking about going to work, going to the store, or going anywhere. I get anxious about being sick. I don't know how to explain and I don't know what I am feeling. I am not depressed though. Last night my husband said "just snap out of it". What a great idea..I NEVER THOUGHT OF THAT. The truth is you can't just snap out of it. There is something in your brain that makes you want to just curl up and cry. I am in very good spirits today and actually BELIEVE that I am on my way to a whole new Shawna. Go me! No, you can't just snap out of it but I believe that I can make myself good. I don't want my kids to come home from school and think that their house is depressing. I want my kids to come home to a happy mom. Look around you though because half the world is on some kind of pill. It makes me feel a bit better knowing I am not alone. The pill did not work for because it made me really sick so I am healing myself. I am on my way. I actually do feel REALLY good today! Summer is almost here. I can not wait!

Stomach bug is no joke

What a pretty day it is out today. I am the kind of person who is on the go with weather like this. It was my turn to get the stomach bug and of course I was the last one. I think the bug knew I had to take care of everyone else first and then it really got me. It got me hard too. All I could think of was how on earth did my boys live through this. The first night of the bug I was begging to go to the hospital. I had given up on life at that time....I could not throw up anymore. Luckily, I made it through the night. I wouldn't let my husband sleep because he had to watch me in case I died. I am now in day 2 of recovery. Still feeling the bug but not as bad. I am way skinnier though! So friends if anyone wants to lose 4 pounds in one night then come and sit in my house....there is no escaping this bug!

Mole Recipe

I made some mole sauce last week...go me. It was so good and smelled the house up like a Mexican restaurant. Easy to make and I just added shredded chicken. We ate our mole with tortillas. So fun to make.

4 1/2 cups chicken broth
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup finely chopped onion
3 tablespoons chopped garlic
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 ounces dark chocolate, chopped (I usually use Hershey Special Dark, it has a sweetness that mellows the sauce)
Change Measurements: US | Metric

Directions:
Prep Time: 5 mins

Total Time: 53 mins
1 Heat oil in a large saucepan over med.
2 low heat.
3 Add onion, garlic, oregano, cumin and cinnamon.
4 Cover and cook until onion is almost tender, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes.
5 Mix in chili powder and flour, stir for 3 minutes.
6 Gradually whisk in chicken broth.
7 Increase heat to med. high.
8 Boil until reduced, about 35 minutes, stirring occasionally.
9 Remove from heat.
10 Whisk in chocolate; season with salt and pepper


Read more: http://www.food.com/recipe/mole-mo-lay-sauce-35659#ixzz1JzISjTnK

part of being a mommy

Saturday we had the greatest time at our vacation home AKA my parents 5 acres. They were away for a couple of days and we took advantage of that. My boys played all day...all day! That night when we got home I thought I bet one of those boys is going to wake up with a fever. So at 3:30am I here what sounds like a dog trying to throw up after eating grass. I thought oh please let it be the dog. Nope, my 6 year old throwing up. Once he threw up the first time he asked me "does this mean I am king of the house?". Yep he was king of the house. Thirty minutes later another round of the puking....thirty minutes later another round and it happened that way until noon the next day. Well, hubby thought he should go to the 24 hour clinic. The clinic right away sent me to the ER because he needed fluids. Long story short the ER sent us home with nothing but Zofran and a plastic cup of water. All was ok today but as I sit here and type this I have a 4 year old that has been throwing up since 8pm and now it is 11pm. Let's hope we can sleep tonight. He is a bit harder to take care of because he gets mad! I have a feeling I was a lot like him at his age. Mad at the world because he is sick. Praying this is the end of the stomach bug and I will not be in that stomach bug club.

Bearnaise Sauce

Tonight I tried Julia Child's Bearnasie sauce. I did mine a little different by keeping the shallots in the sauce. Here is the recipe and pics
Don't mind my stove looking really dirty.

This classic French sauce is made from a reduction of butter, vinegar, and wine mixed with tarragon and thickened with egg yolks. It is served with meat, fish, eggs, and vegetables.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients:
1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter
4 shallots, finely chopped
2 tablespoons fresh tarragon leaves
4 white peppercorns, crushed
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
1/3 cup dry white wine
4 large egg yolks
1/4 teaspoon salt
Pinch of cayenne
Preparation:
Heat the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat just to melt. Boil shallots, tarragon, and peppercorns in vinegar and wine in a nonreactive medium-size saucepan over medium heat until reduced to about 1/4 cup. Strain into the top of a double boiler. Whisk in the egg yolks. Place the top over the bottom of the double boiler containing simmering water. Make sure that the top of the water is below the bottom of the upper part of the double boiler. Whisk constantly. The second that the yolk mixture begins to thicken slightly, remove the top of the double boiler from above the hot water and continue whisking. Turn off the heat. Add four ice cubes to the bottom of the double boiler to cool the hot water a little. Put the pan of yolks back above the hot water. Whisk in the melted butter, drizzling it in very slowly. If at any time the sauce looks as if it is about to break, remove the top and continue whisking to cool it down or whisk in 1 teaspoon cold water. With constant whisking, whisk in the salt and cayenne. When all the butter is incorporated, taste and add more salt or cayenne as needed.

Fried Green Tomatoes

The other day I ironed for 2 hours. I very much enjoyed it because I was watching Fried Green Tomatoes. OH it has to be one of my favorite movies ever. I had forgotten about it until I watched it again the other day. Easily one of my top 5 movies. What ever happened to Mary Stuart...I can't remember her last name. Masterson? She is awesome in this movie. Watch it if you haven't ever seen it.

My new Friend

Ok I have to tell everyone that my post about the wonderful book "Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt" the author commented! That's right I met someone famous. Ok I just had to tell it to the world. So, all you 4 readers can be jealous.

Well....

So I didn't get to the garlic mashed potatoes. Imagine that! I did not have cream (who has cream on hand) or enough garlic. Here's hoping for tomorrow? Yesterday my mom helped me in my little garden. We planted all kinds of things from green beans to cabbage. I really hope it turns out. Here are some pics my mom took of me while planting.

This week

This week...maybe even tomorrow I will make Julia Child's garlic mashed potatoes. Now let me first say that my family likes the regular old way of mashed potatoes. SO I probably will hear "why didn't you make our mashed potatoes the regualar way". Well get ready family we are trying something new! Here is the recipe and tomorrow I should have pics!
Garlic Mashed Potatoes


Printable recipe here

¼ cup roasted garlic cloves
½ cup milk {reduced fat is fine, but not skim}
½ cup heavy cream or crème fraîche
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
Kosher salt
2 pounds potatoes, preferably Idaho or Yukon Gold, peeled and quartered

Purée the garlic, milk and cream in a blender or food processor until smooth. Transfer to a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in butter; cover and keep warm.

Meanwhile, bring a large a 3-quart or larger pan of water to a boil. Add 2 teaspoons salt and the potatoes. Cook until tender, about 15 minutes; drain.

Arrange a potato ricer over a large heat-proof bowl and press the potatoes through it. If you don’t have a potato ricer {go out and get one - it makes super-smooth mashed potatoes!} just mash the potatoes in the bowl using a potato masher or wooden spoon.

Dribble in the hot milk mixture beat until the potatoes are creamy. Taste and add more salt if you think they need it. I find that they almost always need some – start with ½ teaspoon kosher salt or ¼ teaspoon table salt and go from there.

Serve warm, sprinkled with some freshly chopped parsley or chives.

Makes 4 generous or 6 modest side servings.
Inspired by a recipe in Mastering the Art of French Cooking, page 52

Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt

I am loving stories of the South. This is a really good book and as one reviewer said it best....it is "The Help" and Steel Magnolias in one. I really recommend this book.

birthday boy

Oh here is a pic of my little guys invitation. Sorry bad picture

Logan's Cowboy party

Wow this weekend flew by! It was a perfect day to have a party on Saturday. I woke up calm on the big day until I started trying to piece the cake together....then a phone call to mom. MOM! HELP! She came and helped make it look great. Thank you mom!