Real Simple Pasta

Have I mentioned that REAL SIMPLE is my favorite magazine?



I read it from cover to cover



I always have mixed feeling about their recipes.



For example, in a special 'party dip' article, the red pepper, walnut, and tahini dip doesn't sound as appealing as the pimiento cheese dip. However, I did try the spinach and white bean dip, and it was not good. Some recipes are good, and others are a disappointment.



I did find a good pasta dish in July's magazine. Click HERE to see the original recipe. I added chicken and garlic, and I used angel hair pasta because it was in my pantry.



Pasta with Goat Cheese and Basil Oil



You will need:

pasta

3 cups of fresh basil

1/2 cup olive oil

4 ounces of crumbled goat cheese

1 garlic clove, minced (more if you like more garlic)

salt and pepper



Directions:

Cook chicken. We cooked ours on the stove. You could grill the chicken or buy a rotisserie chicken from the store. Cook pasta and drain.Combine 2 cups of fresh basil leaves with 1/2 cup of olive oil and minced garlic in a blender.

Blend until smooth and pour through a fine-mesh sieve. Discard solids.

Toss the basil oil and pasta together. Add chicken, goat cheese, and fresh basil.Season with salt and pepper to your liking.

This would also make a good side dish if you don't add the chicken.



Next I would like to try their flaky tomato and mozzarella tart using puff pastry. Recipe found HERE. Let's hope this is a good one to try.

Photographing My Life

I've been trying to come up with a new name for the blog for a while. I didn't really like the original name 'The Freeman Club.' To come up with a new name, I tried to think about my reasons for having a blog. My main reason for blogging is to remember the big and little things in life. I do not have a good memory, and I am not a good scrap-booker. I'm not going to forget Millie's birth, but it is fun to have the photos of meeting her for the first time.



The blog is also a good way of sharing our lives with friends and family who live out of town. Having the blog allows me to save all my memories and photos in one place, and I hope to print it all out into a book some day.



As for the name, when I was younger my mom would say, "you can live your life or photograph your life." My mom, who never takes pictures, chose to live her life. I chose to photograph mine. Therefore, since I chose this lifestyle, and my blog is my virtual scrapbook of those photos, I decided to name the blog "Photographing My Life." I'm not promising to never change the name again, but I think it suits for now.



As for today's photo:

All the pictures from baby showers, Millie's birth, and her first month of life

I said I took a lot of pictures. I didn't say I was speedy at organizing them.

Silly Millie

Millie is almost 11 weeks old!

She weighs 12 lbs 7oz and is 23 1/2 inches long.

Millie is in the 85th percentile for weight and height.

Go girl!

She has started smiling back at us.And making some silly faces.

We think she's sweet!

She is also sleeping at least 7 to 8 hours at night.

Last night she slept 10 hours!

Whoo hoo!

I feel like a new woman.

Dinner Menu

Last week I used sister's food blog as inspiration for our dinner menu.

I cooked the beef and broccoli stir fry one night.

Chicken delight was dinner the next night, and it was wonderful. I don't know why I haven't made this before. I over ate.

Meatball subs were also on the menu.

I also made these brownies for Bible study last Monday, but one of the pans did not get eaten. So that means I got to eat this batch. I do not remember where I got this recipe, so if I copied it from you, I'm sorry.

BROWNIES

Ingredients:

8 oz semi sweet chocolate

1 stick of butter

3/4 cup of sugar

3 eggs

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup flour

3/4 to 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350, grease and flour pan.

Melt chocolate with butter in double boiler until smooth.

With electric mixer, beat sugar with eggs and salt until thick.

Stir in vanilla and flour.

Stir in chocolate and butter mixture.

Stir in chips.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.

This is the damage I did in just 2 days. They are good brownies.

I am guilty of reading blogs or magazines and liking a recipe that I never end up cooking.

So if you are in a dinner rut like I was, write down the recipes you like as you see them. Then actually cook them. It never hurts to experiment in the kitchen.

Now I'm off to make this week's menu. What should I have?

Sip and See

During my week in Greenville we had a 'Sip and See' for my mom's friends to come see my Millie baby.

Millie had to take a pre-party nap.

We enjoyed these beautiful flowers.

Tiny Bubbles

Delicious strawberry cake from Sugaree was our something pink to eat!

Catfish Dip

Millie cried through most of her party, but I think everyone still liked her.

We did a lot of sipping.

And eating.

The party lasted into PJ time.

I'm glad everyone got to meet my sweet baby. She had a good time!

We're Back!

Happy Monday!

We are back from our week long vacation in Mississippi.

Mississippi is the land of wine, food, free childcare, and medicine.

Our vacation started at Nick's parents' house, and we had to leave early because of my 104 temperature. We headed North to see the Doc.

A few days and a many tests later we found out I had a kidney infection. I don't think I've ever felt so bad. Giving birth was easier than having a high fever.



I'm better now, but it was bad for a little while. Needless to say, my week in Greenville did not go as I had planned. I'm thankful I was in MS because it would have been worse without Doc and Lovie.

I'm planning another vacation to MS where I can drink wine, eat good food, and enjoy my life!



While we were there, Nick dressed up like my dad and attacked the jungle in the backyard. The fence in the background has not been seen by any of us in 19 years.

We also had a 'Sip and See' for Millie, but that will get its own post.



I recovered just in time for my cousin's wedding in Greenwood, MS.

Greenwood is a lovely little town. The Alluvian Hotel is fabulous! It has good coffee and margaritas and really soft beds.

Millie enjoying the beds

Goodie bag in the room Enjoying the hospitality room

My new blue rehearsal dinner shows Rehearsal Dinner My uncle Ronnie was the rehearsal dinner entertainment Bridal Brunch at the Viking Cooking School Wedding Time! Mr. and Mrs. John George Archer These babies were even there enjoying their first wedding. More cousins! Siblings and dance partnersThe husbands were sweet to take the babies back to the hotel so we could boogie.

Auburn and Mississippi State shakers to send them off!

Congrats to the bride and groom!

I'm now home the Monday morning after our vacation, and I feel much better than last week! Don't you hate to mess up a good vacation with an illness?



Oh well, at least I'm better. Which reminds me I need to go take my medicine.



Thanks for all the helpers with myself and Millie throughout the week.

And on a side note, Millie is 2 months old today. I keep telling her she is a 'pretty lady.' And she keeps getting prettier with each night she sleeps through!

Hope you and me have an illness free week!