Special Supper Sunday

I love that as my family is growing, we're getting our own traditions. I love to think about when Princess and Tobes start school and get older, and what things we'll do as a family. Special Supper Sunday is one I hope we always keep. Usually it's an occasion for Hubbyman to flex his creative muscles, and his amazing talents in the kitchen by trying new or more involved recipes, but lately (like tonight) it's just been a chance for us to cook together as a family, especially since Princess likes to participate.

We rarely miss an opportunity for family dinner, unless I'm working or Hubbyman is away. Or unless it's Tuesday, when Princess dances. But I want to make sure that even as our lives get busier, we make sure to sit down at LEAST once a week to have dinner together, and Special Supper Sunday gives us that chance.

So keeping with the theme of this blog (and I promise I'll come back and post about my 21 days of cleaning tomorrow. I promise), I present this week's Special Supper Sunday (I want to come up with something more clever eventually... I hope!)

This week was inspired by a recipe I found in a magazine yesterday at the spa. It was a simple chicken dish, but it's something we've never tried. I glanced through at the instructions (I would have ripped that page right then and there but I was wearing a robe with no pockets, and the girl doing my manicure was right there) and tucked it away in my memory. We also attempted a potato cake thing we saw on the food network, but it didn't quite go as planned (still good though!)

First step we took a boneless skinless chicken breast and pounded it flat(ter). I say "we" because everyone got into it (minus Tobes).

While Hubbyman and Princess flattened the meat, I got to work on the stuffing. The one from the magazine that caught my eye was breadcrumb-based, but I decided to make up my own. I used salsa, some seasonings, breadcrumbs, and mozzarella.

I spread the mix onto the chicken, and then rolled them up and placed them in a baking dish. We hummed and hahh-ed as to whether or not we should top them with more cheese, but decided to forgo it.

 

They were place in the oven at 400F for about 20 minutes(ish). I know it sounds like a really short time, but they were pretty thin pieces. Meanwhile, we got the side dishes ready, including the failed-but-yummy potatoes, and asparagus (my favorite way is to blanch it, then place it single-layer in a casserole dish with lemon juice and parmesan cheese, then put it under the broiler until the cheese browns. See pictures below)

Blanching

And ice bath (this will come in handy in a minute...)

We like a LOT of cheese... Usually I brown it a little longer, but the littles perfer it like this)

That bowl of ice water comes in handy for later when you burn your middle finger on one of the baking dishes. So just keep that in mind ;)

The littles set the table, and we sat down for dinner :) It was a fantastic evening! We sat down and talked about our weekend (I had a mommy-day yesterday, so they told me more about their day) and we talked about the plans for the week.

I could have rolled it more, instead it basically was a stuffed chicken breast, which was delicious.

On the bed of potatoes, with the asparagus. We have freakishly large plates.

Princess wanted us to take a picture of them eating, but she didn't want to look at the camera. Tobes, on the other hand...

Things I learned:

1. Next time I'm going to try the breadcrumb filling I saw - it was breadcrumbs, butter, rosemary and thyme. It's a completely different flavor palate
2. This is an easyish dish for a weeknight, I can always butterfly the chicken too
3. We need to figure out something different for the potatoes. We know a ton of potato dishes, but the cake seemed like a good idea!
4. This would also be great with quiona.
5. It's embarassing how little I know about our new stove. Seriously. It's touchscreen with a ton of different settings (including convection) and complicated! *lol* Apparently I need to spend more time with it...

It's Not an EPIC Fail...

So Hubs is gone, and my whole world has been topsy-turvy. So my junk drawer is still junky, the linen closet has been left untouched (except to add more to it. I did get laundry done.) and the front closet still scares me. ;) I will start my 21-day project in a few days, but for now we're in survival-mode *lol*

(though I will say that not only have I done laundry, but dishes as well, and I even got the floor swept!)

21 - Day Challenge

Thanks to a friend who shared this link with me on my other blog, I have decided to start a 21-Day Challenge! I'm going to change it a little bit (we don't have a computer desk, and our tupperware storage was just organized), but I think it's the PERFECT project to start my blog off with! And during those 21 days, I will start coming up with new plans and new challenges for after :)

Here is the original list:

• Join the Challenge (at any time)
• Day 1 - Junk Drawer
• Day 2 - Computer Desk
• Day 3 - Tupperware Cabinet
• Day 4 - Linen Closet
• Day 5 - Under kitchen sink
• Day 6 - Dresser Drawers
• Day 7 - The Pantry
• Day 8 - Coat Closet
• Day 9 - Toy organization
• Day 10 - Laundry Room
• Day 11 - The Freezer
• Day 12 - Spice Cabinet
• Day 13 - Medicine Cabinet
• Day 14 - Under bathroom sink
• Day 15 - Medicine/Vitamin Storage
• Day 16 - The Fridge
• Day 17 - The Mail
• Day 18 - Keepsakes
• Day 19 - Master Closet
• Day 20 - Photos
• Day 21 - You pick!

And my list:

• Day 1 - Junk Drawer
• Day 2 - Linen Closet
• Day 3 - Front Closet
• Day 4 - Back Closet (by garage)
• Day 5 - Under kitchen sink
• Day 6 - Dresser Drawers
• Day 7 - Home Binders
• Day 8 - Erie's Work Stuff
• Day 9 - Toy organization
• Day 10 - Laundry Room
• Day 11 - The Freezers
• Day 12 - Master Bathroom Vanity
• Day 13 - Master Bathroom Medicine Cabinet
• Day 14 - Kids Bathroom
• Day 15 - Sideboard
• Day 16 - The Fridges
• Day 17 - The Mail
• Day 18 - Keepsakes
• Day 19 - Master Closet
• Day 20 - Photos
• Day 21 - You pick! (Still Deciding on This One!)

 Kids are a little crazy today (no one slept well last night, but for no good reason), so I might wait and start the challenge tomorrow, but we'll see. At the very least, I have my list!

The Plan

So what does this Domestication mean? While I have visions of clean counters, a clutter-free livingroom, pearls, crinolines, and aprons (I was born in the wrong decade I should have existed in the 50's... With maids and cooks, that is), it's not entirely practical, especially for the purposes of this blog.
So let's start with some actual plans, and then set some goals!

First off, in cooking:

1. I want to eat out no more than once a week, which means that I want to make every meal at-home otherwise.
2. I want to cook fancy things sometimes. I want to try out new recipes that I see in magazines (I actually have a collection of fun cookbooks! I do!) and I want to have the time and energy to try them out.
3. Meal Plan!! It's a wagon we keep falling off of. We used to monthly meal plan, because we make good use of Cheap Tuesday at our local grocery store. We can get back to it, but it means that the last weekend of the month, we need to plan our meals. We usually plan at least 5 of the 7 meals in a week, leaving days for leftovers (usually when my daughter has dance or we're not eating together for whatever reason), and days for switching things up as desired.
4. Make use of farmer's markets/co-ops/etc for fresh, local, produce in-season.
5. Keep "Special Supper Sunday" - my husband LOVES to cook, and "Special Supper Sunday" is his chance to try out new and exciting recipes. 

And then in housekeeping:

1. Put everything back where it belongs. Always.
2. Redo my chore chart for the new house. Our old one is for the old house, and we now have more rooms, and different needs (hardwood floors, garage, extra fridge, etc.)
3. Decorate! We've unpacked *most* things, and for the most part everything is decorated and organized, but I'd love to go room to room and FINISH things. The kitchen needs paint touched up, my daughter's room needs pictures hung, etc.