Bitchin in the Kitchen

  • Mardi Gras 2018! Part 1 – Preparation

    Mardi Gras came hot on the heels of Christmas, and together those holidays sandwiched a Disney trip – so basically it’s March and I’m exhausted.  But exhausted by fun! First – we came back from Disney on Thursday.  We almost didn’t make it, as the previously mentioned polar vortex froze up all of I-10 – but it melted in time for us to leave on time, thus saving us the thousand or so bucks we had considered spending on an extra day at Disney, to wait out the snow.  Anyhow, though I was disappointed not to have another MK day under my belt, I was pleased to save the dolla…

  • Sunday Morning Meal Planning

    I owe a quick Disney clean-up post, and a much belated New Years’ Resolutions post, and also want to share some photos and stories about this year’s Mardi Gras – which had some really special moments.  But first, it’s been a while since I did a meal planning post and the boys are occupied right now and there’s some stuff I’ve made recently that you guys HAVE TO try. Creamy one-pot garlic parmesan orzo with spinach and mushrooms. I live with people who don’t particularly love mushrooms, but once in a while I make them suck it up because I love them.  I truly think I could become a pescatarian and replace…

    Comments Off on Sunday Morning Meal Planning
  • Christmas Menu

    The last time we had Christmas at home was 5 years ago, in Alabama, and while we enjoyed it very much, it was somewhat marred by tornadoes, which is a natural disaster I do not weather well (pun intended).  Earthquake this California girl any day, hurricanes you’ve got plenty of notice, but a tornado . . .  Anyhow, I made a delightful meal that tasted like ash in my mouth as I watched stalwart news reporters calmly telling us when it was time to shelter, so I’m excited to give that meal a do-over.  (Knock wood, salt over shoulder, etc.) So I’m excited to once more be holiday meal planning! …

    Comments Off on Christmas Menu
  • Christmas is Settlement Season

    I have never been so slammed in December.  Last week I pulled an all nighter – basically worked 36 hours straight, with an hour or two break here and there to give the kids dinner, sleep for an hour, take a shower.  I’m digging out . . . it won’t be this way forever . . . but it’s a real pain in the neck that this is happening in December.  Now I did take the morning following my work marathon to sleep in, wrap some presents, and all around regain my composure, before arriving at the office at 11:30 to bill a full 8 hour day.  That break did help,…

    Comments Off on Christmas is Settlement Season
  • Saturday Morning Meal Planning and Train Track Engineering

    My shirtless three year old son (soon to be four!  FOUR!) is studiously banging a wooden hammer on some wooden train tracks, to make them “stick together.”  Our Christmas tree lights are a-twinkle – the boys decorated it and so it is predictably bottom heavy with ornaments and bare at the top.  I artfully arranged some glass ball ornaments in bowls and vases around the house, and Liam keeps helpfully emptying them and putting the ornaments on the tree.  “I found these over here so I hung ’em up for ya, mom.”  Thanks bud. The Christmas season is upon us.  Halloween is probably my favorite time of year, but it kind of…

    Comments Off on Saturday Morning Meal Planning and Train Track Engineering