Folksy

David's school had their Folk Dance program this past Friday.

He looked so cute in my hillbilly hat...

I forgot that the audio capture is hosed on our camera so I had to add in a quick substitute...

Comforting

Last weekend we were watching an episode of DDD that featured Lito's Mexican food's Pork Posole.

The last time I made Pozole was when Emi was a baby. I am not a huge fan of hominy having been forced to eat the bland stuff as a child, but Scott loves hominy so I made pozole that one time. It was good but I never made it again because, like I said, I am not a fan (and I am selfish that way).

So, back to Lito's version, it looked very different than the recipe I used years ago because I did not have all of the additional goodies (toppings) included. It never occurred to me to include such goodies with this stew like we do with pho.

DDD did not post the exact recipe so I used Elise's recipe as a guide. I cut pork steaks that were priced to move and boiled the cubed meat (didn't fry like Elise did but that does sound yummy) along with the bones and onion for a little over an hour.

I didn't want to mess with the steps to rehydrate the peppers and blend so instead I added in a can of El Pato Jalapeno Sauce (which I love) along with a big can of hominy (drained). Note: Next time I will likely use more hominy (maybe not canned) and more pepper sauce. I was generous with the garlic I added (of course) and I added in a can of roasted diced tomatoes too.

I am also not a fan of radishes. I don't like hominy, beets and radishes as a rule but I am ALWAYS open to trying a new recipe with these ingredients just in case.

Everyone in my family ate 2 bowls of this stuff -- very satisfying!

The soup turned out yummy as a base for all of the TOPPINGS which really do make the POZOLE.

Not pictured - Avocado and LOTS of cabbage!

I would totally recommend you make this soup because it makes wonderful leftovers too. I had it 2 days in a row for lunch!

Putting a Bird on 2013

I was able to edit down the photos from last year, accept my music selections and condense last year into a 10:27 slideshow.

As usual, I enjoyed reflecting on the last year.

We started off 2013 road-tripping back from a much needed visit with friends and family in Florida. At the end of February I scored a great work trip escape to Oahu. I apparently like the sweater I bought at SFO on the way back from HI because I think I'm wearing it (black & white striped number) in every photo of me in every season except for Summer. Can you say "favorite?"

In the Spring we cleaned out the Frog Pond (and guess what, we have more bullfrogs!!!). We survived (the family was to the South of and I was NorthWest of) a very scary tornado. And instead of going on a vacation, we resurfaced the pool and converted it to a salt water system.

I wish I could say I had loads of time in the pool but between traveling, basketball and The Bronchitis from Hell, I didn't get much time in the pool. I vow to get more pool time this year!

July found me in Texas for basketball and family and then off to Virginia for work. In August it was Napa for a wine-tastic (work) trip to a place where one of my closest friends now lives (Hey Gail-San!)

One kid started middle school while another started elementary school. David started his Kindergarten Adventure and started losing teeth (I believe he's lost 3 total to date). Lots of transitions last year and this year will not be outdone with 3 kids in sports. Bring it!

For Fall Break we found a cool cabin retreat.  We made a politically-incorrect pinata for David's birthday celebration. We hosted Thanksgiving at our place and went to all of the family Christmas gatherings scheduled by everyone. I don't know exactly how except that one gathering was re-scheduled to earlier this month, and my mom was in town for my nephew's wedding.

Looking back, I see that during all of the flurry of activities that define our lives now, we still ended up with some quality time with family and friends. I think I probably need to make my kids watch this slideshow a few times just so they don't forget...

Enjoy!


Morgans in 2013 from Nolita Morgan on Vimeo.

Life is Good

 

Moms Eat Groats

And dads eat groats 
And little lambs eat ivy...

When I was putting together breakfast for me and the hubs last night I was totally stoked about the outcome for me, but not sure how he would like it. I have eaten and liked overnight oats before, but this was a little different and I wasn't sure Scott would like it.

First off it involved groats which sounds a little too close to "gross". I was ambitious though and bought two bags of whole oats (which is all groats are, by the way).  I conveniently had 2 perfect sized jars in the pantry.

I used Food Babe's recipe for Parfait Porridge but subbed in some Decadent Blend chia and flax seed with cocoa and coconut because I did not have any plain chia seeds.

The result was yummy!!

Before eating my parfait, I imagined I would want to heat it up and add butter and salt, but I just stirred it up and enjoyed it at my desk at work.  The groats were chewy and the parfait was very satisfying. It was so good that I made more tonight for us. Emi was intrigued and even made up her own "parfait jar".

Create a Pause

My main goals this year involve incorporating words like "calm", "zen", "quality" "bliss" and "me" into my life as often as possible. To that end I have restarted reading Scream Free Parenting by Hal Edward Runkel. I can't recall exactly when I started reading the book or why I set it down (to yell at the kids?).

Last night I was looking through the bookcases to count how many different Bibles we have when this book popped out at me. (hmmmmm) We have at least 7 different Bibles in our home, FYI.

The holidays have been particularly draining for us this year with so much extra going on in such a concentrated amount of time and I have been feeling at my wit's end frequently with the kids.

They have made gatherings and outings a challenge to enjoy and no amount of threats through gritted teeth have helped deter the rotten behavior. For a while I was thinking that I might just need to invest in an aspergillum.

I know my getting onto my kids in front of others makes others uncomfortable, but I cannot just ignore behavior (and I don't think I should). My problem is that I lose my cool when the inevitable Bad Behavior starts and that apparently fuels the fire with the children. (Here's my Emotional Remote Control! Have at it!)

SFP has been a good read so far and is helping me to have some hope again. We have agreed all along about not having a world centered around kids and we know that kids these days are plagued with entitlement issues and we do not agree that you should get a trophy for showing up. We want our kids to be independent, self-directed adults but we have fallen into a few traps. I read something tonight that hit home:

"The ‎entire family's emotional life is now tied to the whims, frailties, and growing pains of the least mature members of the family." (excerpt from SFP)

WHOA! What a concept... definitely shifting things around here....

Anyway, yesterday I was picking up some fleece rain boot liners in preparation of the ugly weather headed this way and on the way out of the store, this little makeup bag caught my eye. I think God was speaking to me again and knows I need to constantly have reminders in my face (and purse).

I hear Ya and I am trying to be still and listen a little more often...

Sketchy

New Year's was a low key affair at my house this year. We'd been so busy with my nephew's wedding, my mom in town over the holidays, various Christmas gatherings, winter storms, etc so it was nice to just chill....

Looking forward for more opportunities to chill out in 2014...