Recipes, Please!

So I have been trying to put together a recipe book for the longest time. I won a free Tastebook last year from one of my friend's blog giveaways and have been trying to fill it up with recipes from myself and my friends. I already have some recipes in it, but have about 85 more to add. I would like to add some of your recipes to my cookbook. Do you have a favorite dip? Favorite main dish? Favorite dessert? Or maybe you have a "secret" recipe that you take to every potluck or party. Whatever recipe it is, I WANT IT!!! Also, if you have pictures of your creation, that would be great too. I am giving credit to each person who sends me a recipe by putting your name on the recipe and possibly your picture (send me those too!). You can email the pictures to me at brizner@hotmail.com. I can't wait to hear your yummies!! Oh, and THANK YOU!!! :)

Who would have thought...

that these two things would be delicious together? It is my new "food love" (although the rice cake is very comparable to a piece of styrofoam). :)

YUMMY!!

Houston, we have a ....WINNER!!

And the winner is.....Jennifer! Congratulations Jennifer, you won the Panko Breadcrumbs Giveaway!! I hope you enjoy this awesome box of goodies. Please email me with your info (name, address, etc.) so I can get your prize to you. Thanks for the recipe too!

Progresso Panko Bread Crumbs....and a giveaway!

**The Progresso Giveaway has been extended a couple of days.

The winner will be announced on Sunday afternoon.**

So, I LOVED the panko breadcrumbs! I cannot wait to make baked/fried chicken with them. I am also going to make a big pot of chicken soup with the chicken stock that was also in my goodie box. Want to see what MyBlogSpark sent me? Here it is:

Do you like? Do you want to win one of these goodie boxes for yourself? Here's how!

Leave me a comment telling me your favorite thing to make using panko breadcrumbs, or if you have never used them before, what food you would love to make with them.

The contest winner will be announced on Friday morning. Can't wait to hear your comments!!

Chicken Parmesan (Parmigiana?)

Panko bread crumbs. I have always wanted to try them and finally had the chance to. The difference between Panko and regular bread crumbs is that panko (or Japanese) bread crumbs are made from the white of the bread instead of the crust (this also makes them more expensive). I recently signed up for MyBlogSpark and they sent me a box of Progresso Bread Crumbs to try, as well as a box of Progresso Chicken Stock and a few other goodies. So... I decided to make Chicken Parmesan for dinner.

Chicken Parmesan (or Chicken Parmigiana, if you want to get fancy) is super easy to make -- and affordable too! All you need is chicken breasts, bread crumbs, pasta sauce, and mozzarella cheese. That's pretty much it!!

I used a few more ingredients than are pictured, just to give it a little more flavor. I marinated the chicken breasts in Italian dressing, then rolled them in the bread crumbs (flavored with Italian seasoning and garlic powder). I then browned them in the skillet using a little olive oil.

Once the chicken breasts have browned and cooked through, I transferred them to a small baking sheet (one of the goodies in the package) and topped them off with marinara sauce and shredded mozzarella cheese. (I should probably pause here and change the name of my recipe to Chicken Mozzarella instead of Chicken Parm because I just realized that I am not using parmesan cheese at all in this recipe!)

Put the chicken breasts in the oven on 350 for about 10 minutes or just until the cheese is melted. You can also put them under the broiler, but watch them very carefully. Here is what they should look like:

Pair this with a side of pasta and there you go! A quick and easy meal for two. Bon Appetit!

Stay tuned for an awesome giveaway coming up in the next couple of days! You will LOVE it!!

A Great Saturday!!

Today we went here. It was great this time! Shared this with my husband:

Huber’s Country Platter Dinner
Served “Family Style”

Country Fried Chicken AND Huber Honey Ham
Fried Biscuits and Apple Butter
Country Slaw
Chicken & Dumplings, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
Greenbeans and Corn
15.99

Bought three of these for $4.99.

Had one scoop of Blackberry Cobbler Ice Cream. Took Isaiah's picture with a Cow and a Horse. Stopped by a roadside stand and bought two of these (one of them was purple):

Had a fabulous time with the fam!! :)

Pay a Quarter, Save a Bundle!!

My husband and I are trying to "conserve" our money right now and are cutting back on every possible thing that we can. The main thing we are cutting back on is eating out, followed by not purchasing unnecessary items (books, CDs, etc.) and only getting the essentials when grocery shopping.

I have discovered a little jewel here in Louisville (not a major discovery as I am sure everyone has heard of this place, but a great discovery for me!): Aldi. This store is my new best friend. I love it! I was a little skeptical at first just because they carry hardly any name-brand items. However, I used to shop at Save-A-Lot and they do not carry name brands either. So...I ventured over to this little market today to purchase our groceries.

As I pulled into the "shopping-cart-free" parking lot (large but still a hop, skip, and jump away from the front door), I noticed several elderly men and women making their way into the grocery store. This is promising....I thought. I ventured over to the corral area where the shopping cars were. You must pay a quarter in order to get your shopping cart. Now some people would put up a fuss over this, but I think it is kind of fun! You insert your quarter, unlatch your buggy from the chain, and take your buggy. I proceeded into the store only to discover that I had gone into the "out" door (unlike Walmart and other stores, these doors only open one way). I turned my buggy around and went in the correct door.

I was immediately greeted by rows and stacks of boxed items, canned items, and candy. It was overwhelming! Especially since I am the kind of shopper that has to go down every aisle to make sure I do not miss a bargain. :) They have everything you can think of from spices to baby diapers to even crockpots! Plus, they have awesome produce, cheeses, and meats.

I won't make you go through my entire shopping trip with me, but I do want to show you some of the bargains I picked up along the way. You will not believe the deals I got! Here is a glimpse of what was in my cart yesterday:

$1.50 for these grapes!!

Oh.my.goodness! These cookies are so soft and chewy -- wayyyyy better
than the Keebler Soft Batch ones (and for only $1.99). Seriously!! Check them out for yourself:

Yummmmmmm!!!



And these....well...have you ever had those Pepperidge Farm Pirouette wafers? These are quite similar - rich, chocolatey, delicate. Oh.My. For only $2.49!

And last but not least:

This bottle of Extra Virgin Olive Oil was a great deal for $3.99. I have put off buying a new bottle forever just because I refused to pay $6 or $7 dollars for a tiny bottle.
This one is 16.5 oz of goodness!

So there you have it. I save a BUNCH of money by going to Aldi. Oh there is one other thing I forgot to mention. There are no baggers so you have to bag your own groceries. You can either bring in your own bags or purchase some from the cashier for 5 or 10 cents each. The good things is that there is a shelf the length of an entire wall where you can push your buggy to and take your time bagging your groceries. How neat!

I hope you will take Aldi into consideration the next time you want to save some money on your groceries. Or if you just need a bouquet of flowers to brighten up your dinner table (yep they have those too!)!

Now I do confess, I had to go to Walmart to get some other things on my list that Aldi did not have: hairspray, pop, cheese, etc. There are some things that you just cannot mess with when it comes to name-brand (Pepsi, Borden cheese). :)

The Nursery

So... I realized that I haven't even put pictures of Isaiah's nursery on here. I absolutely love it (and so does he!)!! First of all, let me give you a little background. I....LOVE...Turtles!! Ever since I was little, I have adored these cute little reptiles (amphibians?). Even as a freshman in college, the turtle was our sorority mascot. I have a huge collection of them and thought, since I have so many, why not incorporate them into a nursery theme?

I surfed the web trying to find a cute turtle theme, something that could be for both a boy and a girl (just in case!). I found several, but my favorite was the Turtle Bay theme from Cocalo. Now I have to tell you, it was not easy trying to find everything I needed for the nursery...especially since after I registered for everything it was disontinued! After many a website, I finally found all of the items I needed: bedding, curtains, pillows, mobile, wall hangings. There was a lamp as well, but it was $45!! Ummmm...no way. Anyway, here are some pictures of our little boy's favorite room in the house:

He was only a couple of weeks old here...notice the bumper pad

No bumper pad (started rolling over at 3 weeks, so we were afraid he would roll next to the bumper pad and smother)

LOVE this glider and ottoman (Thanks Ann & Chas!)

Changing table/Dresser &
Name blocks (each letter has a scripture on the back - Thanks Holly!!)

I hope you have enjoyed your little nursery tour. Blessings on your week!

I'm baaaaack!! Haven't you missed me? :)

Okay, things have been a complete whirlwind around here lately. I haven't blogged in over a month!! I just have not had the time with everything going on: A) We are trying to sell our house and move closer to the church, B) I have had more stomach issues and have to have another colonoscopy (oh what fun!!), C) I still haven't recovered from my c-section (yep, it has been 5 months!!), and the everyday thrill of taking care of a new baby is a whirlwind in itself. Whew! I could list other things but I will spare you from reading them.

So, since my last blog post Isaiah has grown so much! He will be 5 months old on September 3. At his 4 month checkup, he weighed 16 lbs and was 25 inches long! He is going to be a linebacker for sure. :) He has also started eating rice cereal, baby food, and is taking 8 oz. of formula at each feeding. This boy sure likes to eat! Here are some pictures of his first "feedings":

First Rice Cereal (mixed with formula - Yummy!)

First taste of green beans (he actually gagged several times!)

So far he has had carrots, sweet potatoes, and sweet peas. The next veggie is squash and then it is on to fruits. Next thing you know it will be a steak and baked potato!! I am really looking forward to when he begins table food. It will be so much fun to see what his "premature palate" will have to say about the variety of foods this world has to offer. :)

Taking a break....

Hey friends! Since becoming a new Mommy about 3 months ago, I have found that I do not have any time to devote to food blogging, much less cooking! I know that sounds crazy -- I, too, thought I would have all the time in the world once I became a stay-at-home mom! I have such a great respect for those of you who are full-time SAHMs. How do you get anything done? I have discovered that no matter what I put on my "to do" list each day, it never gets done. Just a few minutes ago, I managed to fold a load of towels, put a load in the dryer, unload the dishwasher, load the dishwasher, make a couple of bottles, fold another load of clothes and put them away, and make myself a tortilla/cheese rollup in the microwave. I'm pooped!!! But the only way I can get that stuff done is to do it when my little one has been put down for the night. So at 10:00 p.m. I turn into supermom/wife/maid/etc.

That being said...I think I am going to take a break from food blogging. Don't worry, I am still going to blog, and I may even post some recipes/restaurant reviews/etc., but most of my blogs will be about my little one and being a mommy. I spend so much time with my little one that I don't even get to write in his baby book each day. So, I thought if I start blogging about him and what we do each day, maybe I can have a record of it and can go back and fill in his book. I will also be posting some pictures of our "adventures" and other things.

I hope you will continue to read my blog, and I promise I will post "food things" too! I am just taking a little "break" from the food world and diving in to the "mommy world". Come and join me! :)

Some things I have been making lately:

Semi-Homemade Pizza

1 refrigerated pizza crust (I like this one)

1 small jar pizza sauce

1 bag shredded mozzarella cheese

Toppings of your choice (we like pepperoni or hamburger)

Bake dough for about 10 minutes at 400 degrees (for a crisper crust). Spread pizza sauce on dough and top with ingredients. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until cheese is melted and crust is cooked through. Enjoy!

Caesar Salad

1 bag romaine lettuce, chopped (I think they come 3 hearts to a bag)

1 small bag shredded parmesan cheese
1 small bag garlic croutons
Equal parts of Creamy Caeser dressing and Caesar Vinagrette

Toss all ingredients together. Enjoy!

Happy 4th of July!!

What is better than grilling hot dogs, hamburgers, roasting marshmallows for s'mores, and eating cold watermelon? A refreshing Flag Cake! (well, it comes REALLY close to the S'mores...)

For the 4th this year, I am making a Betty Crocker Poke Cake decorated like a flag. It is super easy! All you need is one white cake mix (I'm actually using Pillsbury brand this time - on sale), the ingredients for the cake mix, one small box of strawberry gelatin (I use Walmart brand), one tub of whipped topping, strawberries and blueberries.

Here is what your cake should look like:

You can also use raspberries instead of the strawberries and raspberry gelatin instead of the strawberry. Here is the full recipe:

Strawberry Poke Cake

1 box white cake mix
(Water, vegetable oil and egg whites called for on cake mix box)
1 small box strawberry-flavored gelatin
1 cup boiling water
1/2 cup cold water
1 container frozen whipped topping, thawed
Fresh strawberries
Fresh blueberries

Heat oven to 350°F. Make and cool cake as directed on box for 13x9-inch pan. Pierce cooled cake all over with fork. In small bowl, stir gelatin and boiling water until smooth; stir in cold water. Pour over cake. Run knife around sides of pan to loosen cake. Refrigerate at least 2 hours (or overnight). Frost with whipped topping; garnish with strawberries and blueberries. Store covered in refrigerator.

Hope you enjoy your holiday! May we rejoice in our freedom!

We interrupt this program....

...to bring you a recipe from Weight Watchers! I purchased the "Pure Comfort" cookbook from Weight Watchers about a year or so ago and it has some awesome recipes. All comfort foods -- 150 of them, actually. The best thing about this cookbook is that it tells you what a serving size is and how many points it is. From Curried Popcorn to Ham and Bell Pepper Calzones (I know - YUM!) to Warm Chocolate Pudding Cake....these recipes are so easy and delicious! I know your mouth is watering right now, so I won't hold you in contempt any longer. The recipe for today is

Warm Chocolate Pudding Cake

3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup + 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon instant coffee powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup low-fat (1%) milk
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 2/3 cups boiling water

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9-inch square baking pan with nonstick spray.

Combine the flour, granulated sugar, 1/3 cup cocoa powder, baking powder, coffee powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the center and pour in the milk, melted butter, and vanilla. Stir just until blended. Spoon the batter evenly into the pan.

Combine the brown sugar and the additional 1/4 cup cocoa powder in a small bowl. Sprinkle evenly over the batter. Gently pour the boiling water in a zigzag fashion over the top; do not stir. Bake until the top of the pudding is set, about 35 minutes. Cool on a rack at least 30 minutes. Cut into 9 squares and serve warm or at room temperature.

Points: 3 points for one square (when cut into 9 squares).

The Perfect Snack for a Shower

If you are looking for a recipe to take to a shower, whether it be a bridal shower, baby shower, or even just a party, this is the easiest snack to make...in your slow cooker!

Sweet and Saucy Meatballs

1 bag frozen meatballs

1 small jar grape jelly

1 bottle of your favorite barbeque sauce

Empty meatballs in to slow cooker. Pour jelly and barbeque sauce over meatballs. Cook on Low for 3 or 4 hours.

Now that is the easy way to do it. What would make it even easier is to melt the grape jelly and barbeque sauce together in a saucepan (or in the microwave) and then pour it over the meatballs. This would make the sauce very smooth.

If you wanted to put a little more effort into this snack, you could make your own meatballs. Actually, I prefer homemade over the store-bought meatballs for the simple fact that you can make them with lean ground beef and put your own ingredients in them. Here is a recipe I use:

Meatballs

1 lb. lean ground beef

1 small onion, minced (or 1 T. dehydrated onion flakes)

1 egg

1/2 cup oats

1/2 cup bread crumbs

1 T. mustard

1 tsp. worcestershire sauce

Mix all ingredients together (using your hands to mix works really well). Roll into bite-sized balls. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to an hour, or until meatballs are cooked through and brown. Or, you can brown/cook them in a skillet on the stove (faster method).

*This is also the recipe I use for making meatloaf. Just form the mixture into a "loaf" instead of rolling it into balls.

It's Fiesta Time!

Here is a Crockpot recipe I posted a while back from my friend Benita. Check it out here!!
Hope you all have a great week!! :)

Pot Roast with/without Potatoes and Carrots

I know I am not "branching out" much with these first two slow cooker recipes, but some new and exotic recipes are coming, I promise! We are just starting with the basics for now.

Pot Roast with/without Potatoes and Carrots

1 chuck roast (about 3 or 4 lbs. is good)
4 or 5 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into quarters
4 medium sized carrots (sliced) or 1 small bag baby carrots
1 small onion, sliced or chopped or 1 tsp. dehydrated onion flakes
1 teaspoon minced garlic (or 1 tsp. garlic powder)
Worcestershire sauce
Seasoned salt
Enough water to cover the roast

Turn slow cooker on Low. Brown chuck roast in a skillet until there is a good brown color on all sides. Place in slow cooker. Top with a few shakes of worcestershire sauce, garlic, seasoned salt, and onions (or onion flakes). Cover with water and cook on Low for about 8-10 hours or until tender (falling apart).

Now, if you want to add the potatoes and carrots (I usually just make the roast by itself), you can add them at the beginning when you add the roast, or about halfway through. I don't usually put the veggies in just because they either turn out too mushy or not done enough.

I like to pair the roast with mashed potatoes, green beans, and "Almost Spoon Bread". Here is the recipe for the bread:

"Almost Spoon Bread"

1 box Jiffy cornmeal mix
1/2 stick butter, melted
1/2 cup sour cream
1 can whole kernel corn, drained
1 egg

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease a 9x9 baking dish or spray with cooking spray. Mix all ingredients together. Pour into baking dish and bake for 30 minutes or until bread is lightly golden on top (and cooked through in the center).

Hope you have enjoyed these recipes! A few more posts of "the basics" and then we will get into some amazing, and a little shocking, slow cooker recipes!

The Crockpot (aka Slow Cooker)

I LOVE my Crockpot! If you do not own a Crockpot, you do not know what you are missing! There is absolutely nothing easier than fixing a meal in the slow cooker and having it ready by the time you get home from work...except running through the drive-thru at McDonald's or KFC or some other fast food joint, that is. But why would you want to take home a greasy bag of fries and a smashed burger when you can have: Pot Roast with potatoes and carrots, Santa Fe Soup (sort of like taco soup), Barbecued Ribs, and even dessert (such as hot fudge cake)?

Over the next few weeks, I am going to be posting some slow cooker recipes for you to enjoy...and I am dedicating them to my sweet friend Ann Claire who is about to become a new bride! Ann Claire is going to be cooking a lot for her new husband and wants something that is easy and that she can put in the slow cooker (since she and hubs will both be students and will be very busy!). Soooo..let's get "slow cooking"!!

One of my favorite things to make in the crockpot is barbecued ribs (and one of the easiest!). Here is what you need:

Barbecued Ribs
1 package boneless ribs (pork or beef)
1 bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce
1 cup Coke or Pepsi

Place ribs in slow cooker. Pour entire bottle of BBQ sauce over top of ribs, followed by cola (or, you can mix the BBQ sauce and cola together and pour the mixture over). Cook on Low for 5-6 hours, or until they are tender and cooked through.

These ribs are so yummy! You can pair them with mashed potatoes and mac-n-cheese for a very satisfying meal. :)

More slow-cooker dishes to come! Stay tuned!

Kickin' it into gear...

Okay, today I "officially" start Weight Watchers again -- on my own, that is. I simply cannot afford to pay $40 a month to go to a meeting just to have someone weigh me and tell me that I have gained 2.4 pounds. So, I am trusting in the Lord to help me with this journey.

I have already gotten rid of almost all of the sweets in the house (except those cheesecake bites I just posted about which are 1 point each, I think) and the only "sweet" thing we are going to have from now on are 100 calorie packs. These are actually not that bad, if you are looking for a little snack. Plus, there are TONS of 100 calorie foods out there in the snack world, including these and these. My favorites, though, are the 100 calorie candy bars made by Hershey. They make chocolate covered pretzels, York peppermint patty sticks, and the best one so far....

These taste like those Reese sticks that you find in the candy aisle at your grocery store, but only 100 calories! And actually, most 100 calorie products are only about 2 points on WW. So...I can indulge for only a couple of points. Hey, it's hard enough trying to lose weight...don't take my sweets away too!!

Anyway, I hope you will pray for me and with me as I begin this weight journey. I don't think it will be too hard since I lost 50 lbs. before I became pregnant. But, you never know (especially now that I have a little one and a lot of "baby fat" as they call it). My husband is going to do this with me, and my sister, so be praying for them as well. Thank you! :)

If you like cheesecake...

you have GOT to try THESE!! I discovered them in the freezer section of Walmart (plus I had a coupon). Oh my gosh - these hit the spot if you are craving cheesecake but feel guilty for buying a whole cheesecake just for yourself. They have several different kinds...and I plan to try them all!!! So far I have only had the cookies and creme one, but they all sound yummy. :) Enjoy!!

Menu for the week of May 11

So I didn't post my "menu of the week" yesterday because, well, I had no idea what I was going to make this week! I have some sort of an idea now, but it could change. Anyway, here is my "tentative" menu for this week:

Monday

Chicken and Biscuits casserole

Pineapple Casserole (this is sooooo yummy! My friend Sarah made it for us one time...although I can never get mine to come out or taste like hers....)

Tuesday

Leftovers (hey, when you're only cooking for two people you always have enough for another meal!)

Wednesday - Fellowship Dinner at Church

Fried Chicken

Not sure what I am contributing yet...the Broccoli Cheese casserole didn't make it last week - I made Spoon Bread and Brownies instead....maybe we'll try it again

Thursday

Pizza Pasta

Bread of some kind

I would love to put "salad" here too, but as much as I love it, I cannot have it due to my UC

Friday

Probably leftovers again....or maybe we'll grab a bite somewhere

Saturday

Traveling again, this time to Mt. Sterling to see my family - yay!! I think Mom and Dad are having a cookout for us that afternoon so we will probably have a grilled cheese or quesadilla for dinner (we probably won't get back until late)

Sunday

Something easy -- Sundays are pretty busy for us with Jason being a pastor and all....maybe Pork Chops or a Pork Tenderloin sandwich

Well there you have it. I told you I was not really sure about the menu....subject to change. Hope you all have a great week! And if you have any suggestions on easy recipes I could make, please send them my way!

Happy Mother's Day!

I know this is a day late, but I wanted to wish all of you moms and moms-to-be out there a very Happy Mother's Day!! I celebrated my first Mother's Day yesterday and it was amazing! My Mom was here and it was so special to get to spend this day with her. We had a great morning at church (all of the moms received a beautiful carnation) and a great lunch at Red Lobster. Yum!! Here are a few pictures of my first Mother's Day:

Me with my two wonderful boys!

Me and my Mom! Isn't she beautiful?!

Me, Nana, and "Little Man"

This will be a Mother's Day that I will never forget. I pray your Mother's Day was as special as mine. :)

Menu for the Week of May 4

Well, since I am now a "stay-at-home" MOM! :) I have a little more time to cook and come up with recipes. One thing I am going to try and start doing is posting a "Menu for the Week" to help me come up with ideas for meals (particularly for supper). My friend Kim does this on her blog and I always enjoy reading what she is going to be making/eating every week.

So, for this week I am keeping things simple. Plus, I just started Weight Watchers again (on my own this time using all of my WW books) and have to cut back on the fast food and sweets. Trust me, this is VERY hard to do - especially since I ate whatever I wanted while I was pregnant. The Lord will give me strength..... :)

Here is my menu for this week:

Monday

Meatloaf - very easy recipe - look for post soon

Mashed Potatoes

Green Beans - from my Dad's garden - yum!

Biscuits

Tuesday

Homemade Chicken Pot Pie (you can use a refrigerated or frozen pie crust, or biscuits on top)

Leftover veggies

Wednesday (Church Fellowship Meal - only have to bring a side dish!)

Roast - main dish

Broccoli Cheese Casserole (my contribution) - will post recipe for this soon

Thursday (our sweet friends Zach and Missy are bringing us supper on this day! No cooking for me - Woohoo!!)

Maple Apple Chicken - I'll have to get this recipe from Missy and post it for you

Mashed Potatoes

Green Beans

Rolls

Cake or Cupcakes (hey, it's okay to splurge a little on WW...just don't overdo it) :)

Friday

Spaghetti...or maybe leftovers

Saturday

Supper will probably be on the road - we are going to a friend's wedding in Ohio

Sunday - Mother's Day (my first one!!)

My mom will be here, so we will probably take her out for a nice lunch after church, then just a light supper (maybe a homemade quesadilla)

Hopefully this menu will work out. I'll let you know!! :)

Isaiah Benjamin Lowe

Hello again blogworld!! It has been way too long!!

Some things have been taking up most of my time lately, which is why I haven't posted in 3 weeks....mainly my 3-week old son!!! Yep, according to my Doctor I was supposed to have my little one TODAY, but instead he decided to come quite a bit sooner -- 20 days sooner!

Isaiah Benjamin Lowe was born on April 3 at 5:14 p.m. He weighed 8 lbs. 4 oz. and was 20 inches long. He is soooooo precious!! When you wait for someone for so long (4+ years), it is a blessing beyond belief when they he/she finally arrives. I can't even begin to explain the whirlwind of emotions I have had over the past 3 weeks (if you are a mom, new mom, or pregnant I am sure you can relate to this). I have felt blessed, excited, overjoyed, happy, sad, anxious, overwhelmed, weepy, and stressed just to name a few. Things are getting back to a somewhat normal state, though. Please keep us in your prayers! It is definitely a huge life change when a little one comes into your life.

Here are some pictures for you to enjoy of the "little man". :) I love him so much! Isn't he the cutest thing you have ever seen?? (I am not just saying that because he is my son, you know... ) :)

Spring is in the air...time to GRILL!!!

Okay, being 37 weeks pregnant and on semi-bedrest is never any fun - especially when you spend most of each day sitting in the recliner (feet elevated) staring out your back door at the beautiful sun shining down over your deck and glistening off of your grill. Talk about cabin fever!

I am so glad excited that Spring is here, and even more excited that our baby boy will be here in a week! I am READY for him to come into the world. April 9th will be his birthday! :) Please pray for our family as we welcome this new bundle of joy.

Alright, back to the grill. I have been craving a grilled steak for a while now and picked up a couple of thin cut ribeyes at the grocery about a week ago. My husband fired up the charcoal grill (we only had a few brisquettes, but it was enough to get it going) and I went to work marinating the steaks. I used worcestershire sauce, Lawry's seasoning, a little coarse salt, pepper, A1, and a little orange juice (the acid makes the meat tender). Then, to finish things off, I topped the steaks with a little melted butter and threw them on the grill.

For a side dish, I decided to make potato pouches. I sliced up several russet potatoes and tossed them with a little Lawry's seasoning, olive oil, and ranch dressing. I put several slices into a square piece of aluminum foil and topped the slices with a little salt and a pat of butter. Then I placed the pouches on the grill (they should be on the hottest part of the grill because it takes them longer to cook).

Since the steaks were thin cut, they didn't take long to cook. Let me tell you....those steaks were delicious!!! Tender, juicy, and just enough charcoal flavor to not be overpowering. And the potatoes....just enough seasoning and fork tender. Yummmy!!! Just what a pregnant girl needed. Hey, you can't keep a girl down for long! (Don't worry, that was the extent of my day. After that I went back to the recliner!)

MIA

Sorry I have been MIA from blogworld recently. I have had some health problems and other things going on, to say the least. Here is a short update (non-food related, unfortunately) of what has been going on.

Last Wednesday I had an OB appointment to check on Baby Isaiah. He is doing great! Unfortunately, Momma hasn't been doing so well. My BP was elevated, there was evidence of protein, and my legs/feet were swelled double in size. These are all signs of preeclampsia. The doctor sent me straight to the hospital for overnight observation (I did get to go home and pack a bag first, thankfully).

While in the hospital, I was on "bed rest" the entire rest of the day, and pretty much for 24 hours. I had to lay on my side and could only get up to go to the restroom (I also had to give a 24 hour "sample" if you know what I mean). I did not enjoy this very much. Although I did have plenty of visitors to keep me entertained - praise God for that!! :)

When they dismissed me, I had orders to come straight home and do pretty much nothing but sit in a recliner all day with my feet elevated. No work, no house work, nothing. Let me tell you how boring that can get!! I always thought I would enjoy "sitting back, relaxing in the recliner, watching TV, taking it easy"....but not when you have to do it as an order, and not for an entire week and a half! Needless to say, I had cabin fever pretty bad.

I actually had another doctor's appointment this past Monday and discovered that I have bronchitis on top of everything else. Argh!!! She did give me a Z-pack to take, though, so I am finally "on the mend".

So there you have it - these are the reasons why I have been MIA in the blogging world for the past few days. I haven't been out of this house to eat anywhere, thus no critiques. I haven't been cooking or baking, thus no recipes. But I will tell you that since I have been "down and out", our sweet members of Morningside have been providing meals left and right! Here is what we have had for dinner so far (I knew I could incorporate food into this blogpost somehow!):

Fried chicken, Chili, Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans, mixed veggies, applesauce, stuff to make deli sandwiches, baked beans, potato salad, macaroni salad, coleslaw, chocolate cake (that was to die for!), awesome baked ziti, italian bread, and banana pudding plus all of the leftovers.

We are soooo blessed!! They had a schedule set up for meals the day I got out of the hospital. :) We couldn't ask for a better church family. :) Also, a couple of our closest friends brought over spaghetti, salad, garlic bread, and dessert and ate with us the day after I got out (they called to let us know they were bringing it while I was still in the hospital!).

So, needless to say, we are blessed "beyond belief". Is it possible to be so blessed that you are overwhelmed?? :)


I'll be back to blogging about food soon, now that I am "off of work" due to doctor's orders. Be on the lookout!! :)

Jessie's Family Restaurant

Ever been to one of those "whole in the wall" restaurants? You know, the ones that are not too pretty to look at but have the most amazing food ever? Well, we came upon a little place called Jessie's Family Restaurant after church last Sunday. We had passed this place several times on our way to/from church and the parking lot is always full, so we decided to give it a try.

Now this place is definitely country -- gravel parking lot, country food, country feel. There are even paper placemats at every table featuring local ads and a crossword puzzle for you to attempt while you wait. They also have "daily specials" and you can get breakfast any time of day. The specials are written on small chalkboards that are randomly placed around the restaurant, and there are wooden paper towel holders at every table in the shape of the restaurant.

On this particular day, our friends Mark and Alyson came along with us for "Sunday dinner". We were greeted by the aroma of homemade pies and fried chicken. The customers were mainly older people with a few younger couples here and there. The decor was nothing to brag about, just a little ole' country place with tables, chairs, and a few booths.

We sat down at a little table and checked out the menu. The little chalkboard above our table listed the daily special for that day: Turkey & Dressing with 3 sides, rolls or cornbread for $7.95. What a deal! My husband and I decided to go for it. He had corn, green beans, and mashed potatoes with his T/D and I had mashed potatoes, green beans, and baked apples. We each had a piece of cornbread as big as our hand! Mark and Alyson each had fried chicken with 3 sides and rolls. It - was- delicious!! We even had enough leftovers for another meal (dinner that night). I realllllly wanted a piece of homemade pie, but could definitely not hold it. Next time for sure.

If you are ever in Louisville or in the PRP neighborhood, I highly recommend trying Jessie's Family Restaurant. Remember - never judge a book by its cover. You never know what is on the inside!!

Morningside Baptist Church

Last Sunday was my hubby and my first "official" Sunday at Morningside Baptist Church as Pastor and wife. The people of Morningside are so sweet and wonderful! They welcomed us with hugs and love. We are so blessed to have found a church with such an amazing congregation. We cannot wait to serve alongside each member, and to see what God has in store for this church.


After church was over on Sunday, the members had a very nice reception for us (the cake was AWESOME!!). They also gave Jason some really nice gifts, including a Samsonite cowhide satchel-bag, a leather planner, and a gift card to Lifeway. Here are some pictures from the reception:




And here are some pictures of the church:










Isn't it beautiful? Morningside is located right off of Dixie Highway on Arnoldtown Road. Services are 9:45 Sunday School and 11:00 worship on Sunday mornings, 6:00 pm Fellowship dinner and 7:00 Bible Study on Wednesday evenings. We invite you to come and worship with us!!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Happy Valentine's Day to all of you single and married people out there!!! I hope you have had a day full of blessings and chocolate! :)

My sweet husband and I celebrated Valentine's Day last night (Friday) because I had to start a special 3-day diet today (bleh) as part of an extended glucose test for my pregnancy (the first one was elevated). So, needless to say, I cannot have any chocolate today. :( It's okay, though, I had a couple of pieces last night. Jay got me a heart-shaped Hershey's Pot of Gold, the sweetest card that he made himself, and a dozen yellow roses (my favorite!!). I got him one of those "singing" cards that plays "So Happy Together" and the new Keith and Kristyn Getty CD, plus made him some chocolate-covered strawberries.

We ate at O'Charleys for dinner and headed to Lowe's Home Improvement store to pick out our real gift to each other (not really, but that is our story) -- a washer and dryer. Yep, our dryer (nicknamed "Old Faithful") bit the dust a couple of days ago. We tried everything to revive it - cleaned out the vent, cleaned the outside vent, flipped the breaker -- but to no avail. His friend, washer, was just about to bite the dust and probably wouldn't have lasted long without him, so we replaced it too. Besides, Jay has had the pair since 2000 when he purchased these refurbished appliances from a scratch-n-dent place. So they have served their term well.

We ended up purchasing this set (on sale):



We figured since we would be doing double (or even triple) the amount of laundry we do now when the baby comes, we had better have something reliable and that would last a long time. Despite the dryer not fitting into our laundry space and us having to deplete the bank account, we are pleased with our V-day gift. :)

How was your Valentine's Day? What did you get? Did you cook/bake anything special? I would love to hear your stories!