Chicken Marbella

It's what's for dinner. Serve with rice and salad. Ooooh it's SO good!


2 chickens, 2 1/2 lbs each, quartered
1/2 head of garlic, peeled and finely puréed
2 Tbsp dried oregano
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 cup pitted prunes
1/4 cup pitted Spanish green olives
1/4 cup capers with a bit of juice
3 bay leaves
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white wine
2 Tbsp fresh Italian parsley or cilantro, finely chopped

1 In a large bowl combine garlic, oregano, salt and pepper to taste, vinegar, olive oil, prunes olives, capers with caper juice, and bay leaves. Add the chicken pieces and coat completely with the marinade. Cover and let marinate, refrigerated, several hours or overnight.

2 Preheat oven to 350°F.

3 Arrange chicken in a single layer in one or two large, shallow baking pans and spoon marinade over it evenly. Sprinkle chicken pieces with brown sugar and pour white wine around them.

4 Bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour, basting frequently with the pan juices. Chicken is done when thigh pieces, pricked with a fork at their thickest point, yield clear yellow juice (not pink).

5 With a slotted spoon, transfer chicken, prunes, olives, and capers to a serving platter. Add some of the pan juices and sprinkle generously with parsley or cilantro. Serve remaining juice in a gravy boat.

Serves 5 (yeah, right!)

Recipe snitched from the Silver Palate Cookbook.

Tired and Cranky

Danielle Bean has a great post today. She's a couple of weeks further along than I am, but we're sharing the same experience:

www.daniellebean.com

Very funny, but only because it's true!

Blessings,

Nissa

It's 4AM, Do You Know Where Your Laundry Is?

Ours was out on the line. In a thunderstorm. The same thunderstorm that spawned tornadoes in the midwest the night before. I woke up at 4, as usual - pregnant mommy stuff, you know - to hear the rumble of distant thunder. I knew that a drying rack had been left on the back porch, so I brought it in and went up to bed. Then it occured to me that there might be laundry on the lines. Laundry the kids forgot to bring in before dinner (I know I asked them to).

"Nah, they brought it in. I'll just try to get back to sleep."

Suddenly, I was haunted by visions of newly washed baby clothes being tossed in the wind - and found in the next zip code. At the very least they would be a soggy mess. Did they leave laundry out??? I get up - no mean feat at 8 months pregnant - and waddle to the window. Cupping my hands around my eyes, I spy... laundry! "Oh, for Heaven's sake, " I utter silently to myself in exasperation

At least I thought I was silent. Brian woke up and asked what was wrong. I told him. I began to dress myself to go rescue my laundry from impending doom when he orders me to get back to bed, he'll bring it in. I follow him downstairs, empty a basket, open the door and switch the outside light on. ... I said, switch the outside light on... Drat! The bulb's out and Brian is risking his life to save my laundry.

I run to the bathroom and put up the shade, switching on the bathroom light in the hope that it will help at least a little. A few minutes later, my brave, strong husband returns with a basket of laundry. And not a moment too soon. Just as we get back to bed, the storm breaks over us. Some of the brightest lightening and loudest thunder I've ever heard. The rain beat down on the roof and on the trees outside. My children sleep on, blissfully unaware of our pre-dawn rescue mission.

The children thought this story very amusing. OBJECT LESSON: If you want a job done right, do it yourself.

Productive Day...

Well this restricted activity has proven to be very useful. I'm working on our new website (family/homeschool). Well, I'm actually having Brian debug at the moment so I can finish. And I got my Letter of Intent (LOI) written for the Superintendent.

That got me wondering about what your state's procedures are for homeschooling?
Massachusetts is ranked 49th of 50 for homeschool friendliness. We have to request approval each year from our individual school district. I can tell you, it's a pain! If you move to a new town, you have to find out what their procedures are and start over again. UGH. On more than one ocassion we'd considered establishing a private school. Until we found out that the procedures are the same! The private schools in any town have to seek approval from the local public school district annually in order to continue!

Absurd!

On my to-do list tomorrow is more web design (I need to finish by Sunday) and more lovely schedule building!

Blessings,
Nissa

Announcing...

I'm am about the most excited cyber-auntie ever! Mary Ellen at the Bonny Blue House has just posted photos of her divinely beautiful twins Bridget and Sean. Please go by and offer your congratulations. And keep Mary Ellen in your prayers as she continues to recover from the birth.

(Image is "The Magic Palace" by Margaret Tarrant)

Restricted Activity

It's going to be a LOOOOONG eight weeks until delivery. I'm supposed to restrict my activity - keep my feet up. I don't *do* relax very well. I'm extremely hyperactive. Restricting my activity could tear a hole in the universe.

Some of my dear online friends have compiled a list to keep me busy. They include games, puzzles, knitting, embroidery, writing and driving my husband and children 'round the bend! I'll get to practice all my princess skills - bell ringing, requesting foot massages and pedicures, and dining on meals prepared specially for me according to my whimsical cravings.

And speaking of food... I've been ordered to eat. Eat a lot. Protein and iron are wanted. So I guess it's a side of beef with a truckload of spinach every night for dinner. But unless I'm capable of defying the laws of physics - i'm not going to fit that into my pea-sized stomach. At least not in one sitting.

Here's what I'm craving tonight:


Chicken and Broccoli Orecchiete Alfredo
(I had this dish while on a business trip to Washington D.C. several years ago)


1 lb. Orrechiete (ear shaped pasta)
1 lb. Boneless chicken, cooked and cut up
1 lb. Broccoli, steamed (I separate the stems and florets - and peel the stems)
Salt and pepper
Parsley
1 pt. heavy cream
1/2 c. Parmesan cheese
1/4 c. milk
2 T Butter

Prepare pasta according to directions; drain, return to pot. Add butter, broccoli and chicken; toss. Add cream, milk, salt, pepper parsley and Parmesan cheese, mix well over low heat until well blended and heated through. This serves my family of seven without leftovers. Add some fresh tossed salad with bermuda onions and black olives. A glass of wine would be nice, too, but it'll have to be the fake non-alcoholic kind for the next few weeks!

Ting-a-ling! Ho-o-o-o-o-o-ney, I'm hungry!

Blessings,

Nissa

A Garden Party - First Carnival of Yum!

You are most welcome to join us in Donna Marie's Garden of Roses and Lilies as we celebrate Our Lady's Assumption! Bring along your book and pen to save all of the delicious receipts the ladies have shared!

Here is my humble offering:

Pink Lemonade (1 gal)

2 cups freshly squeezed (or bottled) lemon juice
2 cups organic sugar
1 cup Knudsen “Just Cranberry” juice
Ice cold water

Combine juices and sugar, top up with ice cold water to make 1 gallon. Serve in pretty glasses rimmed with colored sugar, or freeze edible flowers/petals in ice cubes for a festive touch!


Lavender Shortbread Cookies
Brian and I have been dreaming of a lavender farm for years. This recipe would definitely be on the menu for summertime visitors!

3/4 c. butter (NO substitutes)
1 c. organic sugar
½ tsp. salt
1 egg
1 tsp. lemon rind
2 tsp. culinary lavender
1 tsp. pure vanilla
2- ½ c. flour
1 tsp. baking powder

Cream sugar, salt and butter. Beat in egg, vanilla, lemon rind, and lavender until light and fluffy. Stir in flour and powder. Roll out to 1/8” thick and cut with a glass or fancy biscuit/cookie cutter. Bake at 350 F for 10 minutes. Frost with royal icing or lemon glaze, sprinkle with lavender buds.

** Lavender is said to derive its scent from the swaddling clothes of the Newborn Savior, where they were laid by the Blessed Virgin to dry. Lavender (spike variety) is a main ingredient in spikenard which is used to anoint the bodies of the dead and was used to anoint the feet of Jesus***



Blessings,

Nissa

Managing a Family-Centered Household

Takes extreme organization. The willy-nilly method used by my parents (who only had one exceptional child!) does not work with a family with 6 exceptional children. Ask me how I know that...

I have made several attampts over the years to organize my children, but demands change as the family grows larger and older. I've tried making chore sheets and organizational charts, schedules, reward systems. I've used cajoling, loud noises, threats of trading children for clothespins (which I didn't need until this year when I got a glorious washing line in the yard). The trick is a multi-channel approach - a comprehensive plan. No one tool is going to do the job, it must be a system of tools and strategy.

(Donning steel helmet complete with star)...

OK, I've been looking around the web for some inspiration for making chore cards for the kids. The cards are the easy part! I'm trying to devise a system for using them with least clutter. Most of the systems have a HUGE wall board for the cards - and for only one child...

Of course, I have different chores for different kids, so I'll either color code or personalize with names. I want their chore packs to be portable, but not get lost. I also want an efficient way for kids to put their finished chores in a central location where I can see what they've done...
I also have to make special cards for each day of the week depending on that day's special duties... This could be lots of fun, and I can make them age appropriate (which some of the packs don't do).

How do you manage your chore cards?


Blessings,

Refashionista in Training

Michele Q of "The Family Centered Life" (GMTA!) alerted me to a club called Wardrobe Refashion. I'm so very excited that there is an entire groups of women as nuts as I am when it comes to re-using or recycling clothing. I was ashamed to share this side of me. I thought it might be just 'too strange'. But there is safety in numbers!

I've refashioned all kinds of garments into new garments or home decor items over the years. I am an avid rescuer of buttons, zips and trims as well as single earrings, loose pendants, whatever I can find. I'm starting to look at things in a new way. I think I'm scaring my family, frankly... They don't understand the hard stare at those curtains. They don't know that I'm thinking of turning them into a dress a la Scarlett O'Hara. They don't know (yet) that I expect them to wear the suit made out of sofa slipcovers. Not yet, but they will!

Since it's too late to sign up for this term (meaning I have to wait until the end of September to take the Pledge), I'm in training. I'm flexing my creative muscles and having a go at that bottomeless stash. I may have to dumpster dive for jeans in a few weeks so I've got to get into shape! But wait - I'll have to have a pinch diver since I'm enormously pregnant at the moment... I'll have to subvert one of my children...

Spread the word - the Refashion Revolution has arrived. Oh, and keep and eye on your closet if I come for a visit!

Keep thy Books...

Nesting has begun in earnest and I've pressed my entire family into service. I hope I'm not being too scary. LOL!
Today's task is for the office to be organized and cleaned - a huge nasty job with household, school, and business 'stuff' to contend with. I am determined to get my schedule under control this year. In years past, I've devised schedules and things, but never comprehensive enough. I'm left with too much time standing around looking clueless - you know, that glazed over feeling when you wonder what you're doing here?
I'm FINALLY making myself a binder to keep organized. I want to add pages to the kids' binders with chores, daily schedules, etc. Should they keep those, or should *I* keep those? I'm not sure. Maybe the older ones can do their own, but William will certainly need help.
Several things occured to me while preparing my binder. One of those things is that I *NEED* pretty. I hope that doesn't sound silly, but if it's not pretty, I don't want to touch it - ICK. :D That's why I embroider, paint, decoupage, anything that stands still! I've found lots of great ideas from Small Meadow Press for homeschooling - did you know that her Homeschool Notes are now free and downloadable? (Jumping for JOY!) and Donna Young has some great little schedules that Brian is going to try to copy into our computer so that I can customize. I know that many of you use the MOTH books. I'm curious how they are organized? I don't know if I'd use it, it's a little loud for me - I need soft, calming colors and images because I'm trying to tone me down a few notches!
Also, what about the Managers of Their Chores books/kits? Bridget, I thought you had bought one a few weeks ago? I'd like to make something like that for our own kids but am unsure what it contains. Money is really still too tight to invest in ready-made, so I'm opting for free and DIY.
Recordkeeping is becoming more important now with so many children and one who needs high-school transcripting-type records. I think that Lesley's Homeschool Notes suit our style down to the ground. However, I may need to add in some of Donna Young's ideas - especially for Catherine.
We are also trying to devise a rewards system for the kids, which is a challenge since we have such a wide age range. I'm considering marble jars, or something like that. When you've filled your jar, you earn an age-appropriate reward. If you misbehave, you 'lose your marbles' LOL! Not all of them at once, of course, but I love the idea. Mama and Papa get jars too - days we accomplish extra tasks earn us marbles, days we lose our tempers lose us marbles. I'd like to have the consequences of the removed marbles be some type of service to someone else, but am unsure how that would work. I'm afraid of making service and/or prayer a punishment...
We already have a 'nubbin' jar for pencil ends. When the jar is full, we've worked very hard at schoolwork and have earned an ice-cream party at Friendly's!
I want to be sure that my daily schedule includes prayer time, naptime (long since neglected!), and personal care time as well as meals and school time. How do you all arrange your schedules?
HELP!

Blessings,

Nissa

Have Mercy!

Good gracious me, it's HOT! Yesterday, we got up to 101 degrees with a heat index close to 120 here in Massachusetts. I've been wet for a week - between cold showers, dips in my in-laws' pool and, well perspiration. I've camped out in the living room for a few nights - the only room with A/C. I've drunk gallons of Recharge, Gatorade, water, iced tea, and lemonade. I've eaten so many lime popsicles, I'm beginning to turn green - or is it the heat-induced nausea?

On a serious note, it's hard to keep up fluids in this inhumane heat wave. In Boston this week, a young expectant mother died at a Red Sox game. She and her husband had just moved from bleacher seats to a cooler spot, when her husband turned around to look at her, she was gone. Thank God doctors were able to save their little son Maxwell. He's at Beth Israel Deaconess doing well - having been born more than 2 months early. It's heartbreaking and we're praying for father and son.

I've noticed that my Braxton Hicks contractions are much more intense - almost scary - and relentless. My kids and husband are being terribly solicitous. I've been enthroned in front of the air conditioner. I've been treated to cold drinks and treats and even massages and manicures. I'm enjoying the spoiling, but would gladly trade it for some cool air and a fresh breeze...