Food

This morning while Nik was golfing, I spent time in the kitchen. Over the years, I have really learned to enjoy cooking and baking. That being said…I am not a gourmet-cook by any means…and I have to have a recipe! There is no “wing-ing it” for me in the kitchen. I admire those who can walk in the kitchen with no plan of any kind and no recipe and throw an amazing meal together in 30 minutes -  but that is not me!

I am also not a “foodie-blogger”!

But - I know there are a few of you who like to know what I am cooking/baking and might enjoy a little peak into my kitchen today….

So I took pictures!

First thing I made today was a Quinoa Salad. For the record, this is a very new food for me. It is a very trendy food right now, and is also what people call a “super food”. I really don’t know what that means, except I guess it is at least a little bit healthy. I’ll take it!

Anyway - I have made this salad twice now, and everyone has loved it, so I thought I would share it with you guys…

Quinoa

Cook per directions on box 

(I used 1 cup of vegetable broth for 1/2 of the liquid it calls for)

Once cooked, I let it cool

Then I cut up carrots

And mozzarella and stirred it together

I added about 1 cup of Zesty Italian Dressing…

and there you have it! Delicious.

Fresh, easy, light and very yummy. I took it as a side dish to a cookout today and it was a hit. Last week, Nik and I ate it with sandwiches for lunch. And Nik even ate it one night as a snack before bed!

Next up…Protein Bites. And don’t ask me how much protein is in each bite…I have no clue. I was given this recipe from a co-worker of Nik’s. But they are super easy and very yummy!

Ingredients: 1 cup Oatmeal, 1/2 cup Peanut Butter, 1 tsp Vanilla, 

1/2 cup Flaxseed, 1/3 cup Honey and 1/2 cup Chocolate Chips

Mix the ingredients together

Roll into balls and refrigerate to set...

Nik and I love these as well as Jaxen! He loves them as his afternoon snack or I will even give him one at lunch sometimes. They are a tasty little treat. I like to have one or two in the afternoon as a snack. 

I also made (boxed) brownies (boring), marinated chicken breasts in a steak marinade (such a great flavor) and a put together a salad with carrots, cheese and fresh cucumbers. I was making dinner for a friend who just had a baby so I was trying to get a head start because we had plans for the majority of the day. 

Everything turned out great! 

And if you were wondering what Jaxen was doing while I slaved away...

He played right next to me!

I should have taken an after-shot of my kitchen when I got done. It was a mess. Not from me…Jaxen pulled a majority of his toys in the kitchen and I could barely walk without stepping on something of his! But I’m glad he was happy and playing while I was able to accomplish a few things.

So…will anyone try one of my new recipes? Let me know if you do!

Are you interested in seeing more from the Davis kitchen? I know I always love to hear of what others do for meals and snacks. Keeps me from being stuck in a rut! 

Hanging On...

Where has this week gone?! It has flown by! I’m so sorry you have not had anything to read on this blog this week. I meant to post but this week just got away from me!

I am hanging on to the last bit of summer...

Monday we went to the Zoo with some friends and had a great time (no pics). 

Then Tuesday, I looked at the weather...

and made a quick decision that Jaxen and I needed to hit the beach!

Our beach bag all packed and ready to go.

Jaxen’s friends: Kendall, Trinity and Sage.

He had the best time playing on the beach, and in the water!

He wore himself out…and after 4 hours (and him laying face down in the sand)

I decided it was time to go home.

He passed out. Cold. On the way home.

While he was napping, I picked up a little summer treat for Nik and I!

(Strawberry Limeade add Lemon for me. Lemonberry slush for Nik.)

My plan was for Nik to take off of work and go with us to the beach.

He did not really agree to that plan. He had lots of work to do. Bummer.

He was in charge of re-doing one of the large rooms in the church.

This room is used for the youth, but also an adult sunday school class and a fellowship area.

So that took a big majority of his week.

I helped most of the day on Wednesday and today - 

and when he arrived home tonight - it was completed!

And it looks great.

And guess what? Nik did not take any pictures of the before or after!!!

Can you believe it?

He should know by now, being married to a blogger, that you always take pictures!

So Wednesday night, the youth met on the Battlefield in Sackets Harbor.

While Nik was speaking, Jaxen felt that he needed an assistant.

He was pretty much by Nik’s side the entire time (except for a drink and snack break).

Pretty cute.

Although I ended up painting 2 days this week, I am still hanging on to the end of summer.

I have just 2 items left on my End of Summer Bucket List and 

I’m blaming Nik as to why they did not happen this week -

Here’s to next week!

I do have to tell you, however, that fall is creeping in on us.

I used my crock pot this week and put it by one of my fall prints and new pumpkin candle.

(to get the full fall effect)

And as I sat outside on my front porch, I started noticing some changes in the leaves.

See the leaves on the ground…already falling and changing colors.

Nik is watching football - which for men, means fall has arrived! Ha ha!

Weekend Update

Our weekend consisted of…

A walk on the Black River Trail - I have started running (a little bit) again, and so Nik suggested we go on this trail…so I could do my running and he and Jaxen could follow along. It was actually a lot of fun! I would run and get ahead of them and then walk back to them and then do it again.

We took Jaxen’s wagon, in case he wanted to ride…he did not...

Once he saw me running, he wanted to follow right along!

So Nik and/or Jaxen pulled the empty wagon the whole time! 

Finally, towards the end of the trail and after throwing all the rocks he could find into the river, he decided he was tired enough to ride.

Drink in hand and the water-pack on his back…that’s how he rolls!

Fresh green beans - Okay, nobody laugh at me…but I have never had home-grown-hand-picked-from-the-garden-fresh green beans. I know. Crazy. What can I say…I grew up in a household that ate canned vegetables. And there is nothing wrong with that mom (I’m just a bit deprived!) :)

This past week, someone was kind enough to bring us some fresh green beans, a zucchini, and cucumbers. I (of course) had to search Pinterest for the best way to cook them….and ended up roasting them in the oven with some olive oil and seasonings. They were pretty good. I think I needed to cook them a bit longer though, and they would be perfect! I’ll have to try this again someday!

Our dinner: grilled pork chops, corn on the cob and green beans - YUM! 

And Minion Pajamas - Jaxen pretty much always needs pajamas. I am constantly on the lookout for ones that are on sale. While at Target last week, I found these…

And I just had to buy them. When we first interviewed here in NY, the pastor told us that Jaxen’s speech reminded him of a minion from Despicable Me. And Jaxen loves those movies, so I just had to purchase them! 

We dressed Jaxen in his new pajamas and let him watch Despicable Me 2!

He pretty much could not be any cuter!

Oh, wait…

This is him, dressed and ready to go to church Sunday morning...

Yup. CUTE!

Our weekend also consisted of a very fun Sunday afternoon out on the lake - but I have NO pictures. Can you believe it?! I can’t. So just imagine Jaxen playing in the water and throwing rocks (his new favorite activity) and then imagine us all on a boat for a very fun, fast ride! Jaxen did so good on the boat. He loved the speed and loved it when Jeff (the boat driver) did really sharp turns. At one point, I looked back (Nik was holding Jaxen in his lap) and those two were the cutest. They already look a lot alike, but with Jaxen’s new hair cut and his hair line exactly like Nik's and having the exact same expression as Nik….it was just pretty sweet, to see them together.

After a few boat rides, we ate and played lawn games until the sun went down. Then we headed home and on our way home, the Scion had a few issues. Thankfully, we knew the people right behind us and they were kind enough to follow us all the way home, just in case we broke down. We were able to get it in the shop and after a few repairs and some money dished out…it is like new again!

For the few men who read this blog…if you care to know what was actually wrong with our car, you will have to call Nik. I don’t remember and don’t want to take the time to ask him again, and listen to the explanation and then type it. Lazy - and keepin’ it real! Ha!

And on that note…I will leave with you with one last picture from today:

Ha ha ha ha! No words :)

Rain, Rain...

It’s raining here. Again. Last week I'm pretty sure it rained 6 out of the 7 days and this week I think it has rained at least 3 days, maybe 4. Needless to say, it rains a lot in Watertown. Or maybe I just feel like it is a lot because I came from never-ending-drought-country (TX)!

I like the rain, but it does put a damper on what we can do outside. And winter is coming...! (everyone keeps reminding me!) Which will also put a damper on our outside activities. And since I have a very busy 2-year old, I am trying to plan for some indoor stuff we can do together.  

I'm pretty sure this fall I will join another Bible study group one morning, and I hope that our church brings back Tot Time one morning. But that is not enough…so in my planning-mode, I took Jaxen to the Library this week to get us each a Library card! I can't even tell you the last Library I stepped into. But we did it. I was not blown away by the Library here, and honestly Jaxen has some really super-great books already, so we didn't even check any books out!

But they do have story time and movies and crafts that they do through the school year, for toddlers...so we are in!

We are official….our library cards!

Also in my planning-for-indoor-activities-mode, I need to focus some more effort on learning activities that Jaxen and I can do at home to help with his speech and other skills.

So I recently purchased these flashcards with shapes and colors on them!

**********

Because yesterday was rainy, Jaxen and I joined Nik on quick trip to Syracuse. He bought us lunch at a great barbecue place (Dinosaur BBQ) and then Jaxen napped in the car while Nik was in his meeting.

All ready for the day!

Jaxen proudly sporting his new Dinosaur BBQ Tattoo!

And napping in the car.

Jaxen’s Artwork

I decided awhile back that Jaxen needed to paint a picture for his playroom.

Thank you, Pinterest!

A blank canvas +

a little tape (and a helper) +

(who also enjoyed taping himself)

paint (and the cutest 2 year-old artist, ever) =

a MASTERPIECE!!!

Random Pictures from Last Week

Saturday -

We went to a BBQ and the hosts had a pet rabbit! 

They allowed the kids to go in the pin to play with it.

Jaxen really liked it, but after awhile he kept wanting to carry it around.

That was the end of the rabbit time!

Sunday -

We ran a grocery errand…and of course, we had to get Jaxen a snack while we shopped.

Every time he gets in a shopping cart (does not matter where) he thinks he

needs a drink and a snack. That is how he rolls!

I think he is a bit spoiled…!

Monday - 

Jaxen and Nik play pretty much every afternoon when Nik gets home.

This particular day, Nik kept sitting in front of Jaxen and leaning back. 

Jaxen thought it was hilarious!

As we were playing outside that evening, he (of course) found mud and had to play!

Tuesday -

We had VBS every morning last week. 

Tuesday after Jaxen ate lunch I let him watch a little TV before nap time 

(while Nik and I were eating!). This is how I found him...

After nap, we colored.

And then he saw Curious George “drumming” in the picture on the back of his book.

He started drumming with his crayons on the drums from the book.

He was having a great time - It was pretty cute!

Wednesday - 

Everyday after VBS Jaxen was kind of on-his-own while Nik and I finished up our jobs.

So that means…he ran around the sanctuary (which I don’t normally allow).

And everyday, we would find him up front, middle stage, talking.

Some say preaching… Ha ha ha!

And then of course, that night, he found all the puddles to play in!

Thursday -

 I had almost forgotten about that morning, until I saw this picture!

Wednesday night, Jaxen woke up around 11:15, in a panic (not a normal wake-up). 

So I brought him to bed with us. That is just never a good idea - I should learn. No one sleeps!

Around 4:30, Jaxen and I made our way downstairs to watch a movie.

At 7:30, after I had gotten ready and it was his turn, I found him asleep.

Friday -

I finally got to Sonic!

This place is packed though and I have only been once.

They have the entrances closed off with people standing guard,

only allowing cars to come in (after being in a line down the street) when there are spaces available!

The line most days is 10-20 minutes (before you can even enter!)

I don’t have time for that…hence the one time at Sonic!

Oh, and guess what time there was no line? 4:15pm on Friday. Crazy. Who knew!

And this past Saturday -

Jaxen, eating a corn dog for lunch!

Hope you enjoyed a few bits of our last week!