Taco Bell Tostada's

Those exhausting weekday nights. The last thing most people want to think about is what to make for dinner.  I imagine how nice life with be if I had a fairy doing everything for me.  But then again, that is not what the gospel teaches us. We all are here on this earth to work. It's good for us.

Some days, it's more stressful then it should be. That is why there are some nights where having a can of beans, corn tortillas, and toppings on hand, makes for a pretty quick dinner to through together.

I remember when I started high school.  They had a Taco Bell in the cafeteria. I thought this was the next best thing in my life.  I remember my youth, and all the times I went to Taco Bell after a movie for a quick dinner. I never could get enough.

So Sophomore year, I had seminary right before lunch.  I sat in the back row. I remember never paying attention very well. Instead, I was drawing pictures of my lunch. Crazy isn't that? Lots of pictures of tostada's and burritos. Hey, it helped my stomach to stop growling.

Our seminary teacher was way cool, He let us leave for lunch about 5 minutes early. That is where I would run, not walk, to the cafeteria to be the first one in line for my Taco Bell fix.

So what did I end up getting?

It was always the same.  Tostada, maybe 3 of them, occassionally a bean burrito with a side of sour cream or chicken soft taco, and maybe a dozen Taco Bell mild sauce packets. I love that stuff, and I even discovered the mild sauce at the grocery store.

I would literally inhale the food. I was starving and growing and my metabolism was very fast. I din't gain a pound from this fatty food.

And remember, I am lactose intolerant, but back in high school, I didn't care. I put up with stomach aches and all the downfalls from dairy. It was worth it to me back then. So worth it!!

I know Taco Bell is crap food now, but it's still so good, right?

So, in making these beautiful tostadas, I remembered my days of Taco Bell.  It's kindof cool you can buy Taco Bell kits at the grocery store to really re-create that taste you love.

                                                             My staple food in high school


Easy Taco Bell Tostada

Corn tortilla's fried in oil until hard (or already prepared ones)
1 or more can of refried beans, heated up
sharp or mild cheddar
shredded ice-berg lettuce
chopped tomatos
Taco Bell Mild or Hot salsa

Spread beans on top of tostada, then add rest of topping.  Enjoy!

Chocolate Chip Cookie With Peanut Butter Reeses Cup Center

I have this rule I set for myself. I try to reduce my sugar as best I can during the week, but on weekends, bring on the sweets.  My favorite thing in the history of ever is chocolate chip cookies. Not just any though. I have made some horrible recipes. My favorite is the classic Nestle recipe, which is found on the back on the chocolate chip bag. That one is great.

I love my cookies with just the right balance of sweet n salty. If the salty factor is missing, the cookie is a no go for me.

If you add my favorite candy bar to the equation, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, then I might be in trouble.

Today, we had some leftover chocolate chip cookie dough in the freezer and left over Easter candy, which happened to be Reeses Eggs.  Oh yum!

So before I get onto the cookie recipe, I want to share a little bit about Sunny.  She changes so frequently and I am not too great at running to my blog to record every little cute thing or not so cute thing so does.

So, while fresh in my mind, let me first brag about this little bugger.

1. Call me biased, but she is the cutest and smartest little girl I have ever seen.

2. She knows how to spell her name, count to 20, do her ABC'S, knows all her shapes, including what a octagon and hexagon is, has incredible comprehension skills where she can name the character's of a movie or book after she has read/seen it.

3. She is completing complex puzzles for ages 3 and up. I can't even do them.

4. Her vocabulary is impressive. A week ago, on our way into town, she was sitting quietly in her carseat when she said, "Mom, change lanes, okay."  My first thought was who on earth taught her about lanes???
5.She can identify all the letters of the alphabet and numbers 1-12. She is currently working on wrting them.
6. She has amazing artistic skills and patience.She paints almost daily and makes amazing abstract art. When she colors, she stays in the lines very well.

7.  She is extremely friendly, drawing attention to us each time we are out and about. When she sees a small child, either boy or girl, she will wave and shout, "Hello, little girl, Hello, little boy."  How adorable is that?

8. She gives most kids hugs when she sees them.

9. She loves her dance class and it must be the highlight of her week.

10. She talks about Disneyland and Mickey Mouse often.  We decided we are taking her there a few weeks before her 3rd birthday as a birthday gift.

11. Loves to sit in her carseat and go on car rides. This is a huge change from when she was under 2 and screamed in her carseat.

12. Loves to jump on trampoline and LOVES to sing. I find it hilarious that she asks when choir practice is so she can sing first, and then play with "little boy"

13. Loves having her hair cut, curled, and her nails painted. She actually holds very still.

14. Loves to help in the kitchen. Whenever I am at the counter preparing dinner, or Rodney is baking, she will pull a chair up and try to help. Not sure this is a blessing or a curse.

Now onto the NOT SO GREAT STUFF:

1. The older she gets, the pickier she gets. She refuses all meals I serve.  My rule is eat or go hungry. She prefers to go hungry. Sad, but true.

She has gotten so picky, that the only foods she willingly eats now are bread, chips, cheddar cheese, cookies, pancakes, muffins, banana and once in awhile maybe a cucumber or carrot.

She is sassy and strongwilled, I have said this on every milestone update.  To clarify, she doesn't like authority or being told what to do.

Still hates sleep. Stopped taking naps shortly after she turned 2.

Hates having her teeth brushed.

Absolute refusal to sit on potty. Might sit on it once in a blue moon.

Still gets out of her bed at night.

Loves watching cartoons a little too much. I'm working on no more then an hour a day as they say.

Phew! Well, that's her milestone updates for now. Next month, she turns 3!!! Yikes!  A lot of my family and friends tell me that age 3 and 4 is much harder then age 2.  I am learning there is truth to that for sure. She is getting so much more independant and determined and I know things will get more challenging.  I need to get prepared.

As I wrap up this post, I would like to mention how nice this rain is for the past 3 days. I love loud thunder and I know our grass needs this.  The air is cold and chilly, but what better way to enjoy this Sunday, then enjoying some freshly baked cookies.


Chocolate Chip Cookie With Peanut Butter Reeses Cup Center 

Ingredients:

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 2 cups (12-oz. pkg.)   Nestle Chocolate Chips (Milk or Dark
• 1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
• For the center: Reeses Peanut Butter cups. I used our left over Reese's Chocolate Eggs from Easter.

What You'll Do:

PREHEAT oven to 375° F.

COMBINE flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels and nuts. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets. 

BAKE for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. 

PAN COOKIE VARIATION: Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease 15 x 10-inch jelly-roll pan. Prepare dough as above. Spread into prepared pan. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool in pan on wire rack. Makes 4 dozen bars. 

SLICE AND BAKE COOKIE VARIATION: 
PREPARE dough as above. Divide in half; wrap in waxed paper. Refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm. Shape each half into 15-inch log; wrap in wax paper. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.* Preheat oven to 375° F. Cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices; place on ungreased baking sheets. You may now place a peanut butter cup in the center of each cookie, or you can choose to place the  candy on the cookie immediately after coming out of oven. Both work.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. Makes about 5 dozen cookies. 

Source: Verybestbakingbynestle.com

I Can't Fight Those Pregnancy Cravings

It's 10:35 pm right now. I should be a asleep, but I'm not. Instead I'm in bed thinking of all the foods I wish I could eat right now. Those obnoxious pregnancy cravings! They hit you anytime, anywhere, anyday.

It's been a rough week.  I decided to take Sunny into the doctor today because she has had this chronic cough that keeps her and everyone up all night and a runny nose that won't stop.

I was told to give her delsym every 12 hours and bring her back for an anti-biotic in about 5 days if no improvement.

Nonetheless, She is still such a happy little girl. Always singing, laughing, asking to play with a friend, jump, swing, and all the things that 2 year olds love to do.

So, anyway, what else is there to discuss this time of night.

My appetite is huge lately. I am gobbling down portions I never would before.

Sometimes I am so close to getting in my car and going to those places that house my cravings.  My biggest pregnancy cravings are Carbs and Cheese. (Subway sandwiches with pepperjack cheese, enchiladas and ALL mexican food, cottage cheese, lasagna, etc.

The problem is, I can't eat cheese. I am lactose intolerant. I always will be.  But I discovered something a couple weeks ago. A pill that I can take that lets me have dairy now.  It works! Hallelujah!!!

I have heard a lot of pregnant women talk of their cravings. Some our salads, some are veggies, some are meat, etc. I craved salads in my first trimester, the very few times I was able to actually eat.

I crave none of those things now. Not this time, anyway. In fact, the thought of a salad makes me want to puke. My body doesn't want it. I have tried forcing down all the healthy stuff. The result is not good.

Instead, I eat a small side of veggies alongside a meal, but I eat them very slowly and carefully.  So far, it is working out okay.

This pregnancy is so different then with Sunny. With Sunny, I ate very low carb, lots of salads and veggies, even smoothies. But this time around, I just can't.

I once heard the saying that whatever your body craves is what it needs. I am trying not to feel guilty for wanting to eat what I crave because I know a lot of of those things aren't the healthiest.  However, my new approach to battling guilt is: What baby wants is what baby gets. I am eating for two.

One thing that has never made me sick is tomatoes.  I have always been a huge tomato lover. My favorite being toasted sour dough bread with mayo & fresh salty garden tomatoes.  Our tomatoes are not even close to that point yet, so while on a grocery run today, I had the brilliant idea to make my favorite soup EVER. It's called Gazpacho. It is so tasty and healthy. I have been eating it for years and never have gotten sick of it.

While searching around for the perfect Gazpacho recipe, I stumbled upon the Pioneer Women's recipe. I love that woman. She makes me want to eat.

Probably the best soup I have ever had.

And the bonus is, I am finally getting some veggies in and they aren't making me want to gag.

Pioneer Women's Gazpacho Soup

                                              It taste so much better then it looks, trust me!

• 2 cloves Garlic, Minced
• 1/2 whole Red Onion, Diced
• 1 whole Large Cucumber, Diced
• 5 whole Roma Tomatoes, Diced
• 1 whole Zucchini, Diced
• 2 stalks Celery, Diced
• 1 dash Salt To Taste
• 1/4 gallon Tomato Juice
• 1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1/8 cup Red Wine Vinegar
• 2 Tablespoons White Sugar
• 6 dashes Tabasco
• 1 dash Black Pepper To Taste

Instructions:  (Please Note: This is Ree's recipe. If you want to alter it, go ahead. She loves to go all out on every dish she makes which only makes me wish she was my own personal chef).

• In the bowl of a food processor or in a blender, combine the minced garlic with half the red onion, half the cucumber, half the tomato, half the zucchini, half the celery, half the tomato juice, olive oil, red wine vinegar, sugar, Tabasco, and a dash of salt. 
  
  Pulse until all ingredients are blended well; mixture will have a nice speckled, colorful texture. 
  
  Pour into a large bowl and add the rest of the tomato juice, and half of the remaining onion, cucumber, tomato, zucchini, and celery. (Reserve the rest of the diced vegetables for garnish.)
  
  Stir mixture together and check seasonings, adding salt if needed. Chill soup for at least a couple of hours; soup needs to be very cold!
  
  Remove the soup from the fridge and stir. Check seasonings one last time. Ladle into a bowl and garnish with remaining diced vegetables, a sliver of fresh avocado, sour cream, and cilantro. Finally, place a grilled shrimp on the top and serve with grilled slices of bread.

Recipe Source: Thepioneerwomen.com

Tired. So So Tired

Here is another random post today. I guess you can say I am just plain frustrated. Extreme tiredness is more like it. Don't get me wrong, I love being pregnant,  It's my favorite, but i'm in that phase of wishing I felt normal again.

Here my vent begins.

During this pregnancy, I have lost count of how many times I have fallen asleep during the day.  I have found myself fighting myself to stay awake to take care of Sunny.

But I am going to admit some things that have been happening around here. Please don't call the Social Services Department on me, but I have fallen asleep on the job a few times a day.  Sunny could be playing with her lego's, I could be watching her, and the next minute, I am out.  I have no idea how long I am asleep, but a few times when I have woken up, Sunny has been in her room playing.

I can't imagine what guilt I would feel if she got hurt or walked outside. This is scary stuff.

The TV is on most of the day for Sunny's entertainment. During that time, I drift in and out of consciousness.

People may ask if I go to bed at a descent hour. The answer is yes. I go to bed as soon as Sunny is asleep. This varies between 9:30 and 10 pm. Some days I am lucky because she goes to bed at 9 pm.  Sunny hates to sleep.

When I do go to bed, I am awoken in the night by the constant need to pee.  I go maybe once or twice in the night.  Then my back hurts and I try to get comfortable.  I am a back sleeper, and sleeping on the back is a huge no-no in pregnancy, mainly the 2nd trimester. So I just suffer with sleeping on my side, with lots of pillows between me and my legs.

                               
Then Sunny comes into our room between 2-3 am. I have no idea why she wakes in the night, but as soon as she gets in bed next to me and feels my body next to hers, she is sound asleep.  The problem is, I can't sleep like that.

Sleeping problems at night and just plain pregnancy haggardness and fatigue, I have found myself just a plain zombie.

Did I mention very sick. I have actually thrown up at the grocery store. This morning sickness lasts all day with me.

About 19- 20 weeks and on, is when I start feeling normal and super great, as was last time. I am almost there.

My hygiene is embarrassing. I hardly do my hair, no makeup, lounge clothes all day and in public. All part of being an official zombie.

Rodney is so great about helping me out. He works 40 hours a week and he goes to school full time, so I hate asking him to watch Sunny all the time. He often does though because he is just that great.

I have found my greatest strength to be God.   The Lord has given me amazing strength in the past when Sunny was sick as a infant, and I know he can help me gain strength during this pregnancy.  All I need to do is ask.  The Lord understands each of us and our needs. This is just the season of life I am in right now. I know my energy will return in about a month. I miss that energy.

Picture source: thedailymail.UK.

Don't Hide That Bump

This is a bit of a random post, but it's been on my mind a lot lately. I needed to write this down.

Last time I was pregnant, I hate to admit, but I did try to hide my growing bump. I wanted to be pregnant for so long, and then when it happened, I tried to hide it with baggy clothing.  Why, Amy, why?

It's so complex. I can't even begin to describe why?  But when I was pregnant with Sunny, I never wore anything that accentuated my stomach, unless around the house.  I often would walk around with my purse over my stomach to try to hide it. When I did go to the store, ward functions, work, etc, I wore anything to deflect notice to my stomach.

Having a baby shower scared me. I did not want one to be honest.

Pregnancy is a wonderful, beautiful thing. It's a miracle.  I decided that this time around, I would take on a different approach. No more hiding from what God blessed me with. This time around, I will celebrate and walk with confidence.  After all, I am a daughter of God. I can't live my life bothered of what others may think.  What about my own feelings.  Nobody should live that way.

It all sounds very silly in the end, but I have a huge sensitivity towards women struggling to get pregnant.  I've been there!

I understand that some infertile people feel pain when they see a pregnant woman.  That is completely natural and expected.  A huge part of why I tried to conceal my bump with Sunny, was out of worry I was hurting someone.  I don't like to hurt anyone. Every once in awhile, I would see a woman alone, glancing at me, then walking away. I wondered if I caused her pain, or if I was a reminder of what she wanted, but couldn't seem to have.

Now, my new approach is to walk tall, stand tall, as the daughter of God we are. Pregnant or not, we all deserve that walk of confidence. If people don't smile, turn the other cheek and continue to maintain that confidence.

Pregnancy is such a short chapter in one's life. Embrace it and love it!

Easter 2016

I have so many fun memories of Easter. The magic is so strong when you are a child, but somehow having a child now, the magic returns.

Easter a a time to celebrate Christ's birth, his resurrection, the atonement, renewal, birth, and all things fresh and alive, just like Spring symbolizes.

As a kid, I remember sugar overload right before church. It never fell on a fast sunday, and my morning before church consisted of lots of sugar cookies and easter eggs filled with yummy treasures.

We are trying to set more traditions in our family, so this year we decided that we would start the tradition of bisquits and gravy with all the fixins'  on Easter morning. This year was fast sunday in our ward, so we had it Saturday night and it was amazing!!

I am not opposed to cinnamon rolls like we have Christmas morning, but a hearty breakfast just sounds better.  (To make bisquits and gravy, use the McCormick brand country gravy packet. So easy, to make. Then just use your favorite homemade bisquit recipe).

Sunny was so excited this year. She must be growing up.  We had a little Easter egg hunt, just the three of us, in our backyard after dad and I spent a few hours painting the outside of our house. She was so thrilled to find all these eggs hidden.  Then she got to color eggs that night with daddy. She is starting to love hard boiled eggs and I hope colorful ones will make her want to eat them more.

My favorite part was shopping for the easter candy. Dad's too.  There are so many varieties out there, but you know me, I ended up getting tons of chocolate favorites. Dark chocolate eggs, reeses eggs, robin eggs, chocolate bunnies. Then I saw the cadbury eggs. I think I wanted them all. But had to pass on them this year. Too much candy around here is not safe, mostly from me.

                                                     Her Easter egg hunt collection

                                                                    Easter Morning.

                                                              She really dug in. Sugar High.

                                                               So happy it's Easter!

                                                         
                                                              After church pictures.
                                                      She really tested my patience at church
                                                      today.  I think she teaches me more then
                                                      I could ever teach her.

                                                                      What's that?

                                                            Sunny will be 3 years old in less
                                                            then 2 months.  How is that
                                                            possible. Wasn't she just born?


I haven't done an update for awhile, so here it goes. Sunny is growing up so quick.  Just last night, she actually got herself out of the tub on her own, grabbed her own towel and walked right into the room where I was. She insisted in dressing herself.

I can't say she isn't potty trained, because she is. She understands the concept 100%.  Her problem is defiancy.  There are days where she will wake up and say she needs to use the potty, and there are other days she absolutely refuses. It all depends on her mood.  She still refuses to poop in the potty.  I don't understand why, but she just won't.  I am just patiently waiting for her to choose to use the potty all the time. I will not force her to use it.

One of the things she is doing now is shushing us whenever she is scolded.  It will end like, Shhhhhhh, Shhhhhhh, Shhhhhhhh with her finger up on her lips.  It's cute now, but won't be when she's 4.

She still doesn't obey or listen too well.  She has a mind of her own and what she wants, she is determined to get.  That is our biggest challenge going on.

What Sunny is teaching me most of all is how to be a calm, soft spoken mother.  Thast is so not me, but when I am that way, she is a better behaved child. I also notice she is better behaved when I validate her feelings, rather then be annoyed by how she is reacting.  Ignoring her attention getting behaviors, rather then reacting to them, also helps her behavior in the long run.

Oh, I am learning so much. I wish I could be consistent with her daily, I am working on it, but in the gist of it all, I am so glad she's our and that we are a family.  I love who she is. She makes me laugh everyday, and she is my best friend. I love her with all my heart.

Live & Learn: What I learned from Baby #1 that I won't repeat again.

In short a few weeks, I will learn what the gender of our baby is.  This time I am so ready. I didn't want to know with Sunny, but this time around, I really do.

Oh man, I'm nervous to find out. Having a girl would be so nice. I came from a family of all girls. I don't know how to relate to boys. I was a nanny for two toddler boys before.

But, I know a lot of mom's who say that having a boy is wonderful. You don't know until you have him. That is reassuring to me.

I am making some strong commitments to myself this time. I have tendencies to not follow through with stuff, so writing this down, will only help me remember and stick to my words.

So, here is my list:

1. I will not nurse,  Let's see if I end up eating my words. My solution: Breastmilk in a bottle from the very beginning.

There are many pros and cons to nursing and I have a huge list for each, but Sunny showed me what a nightmare nursing ended up becoming. She would never take a bottle, she depended on me day and night, she would not go to sleep on her own without nursing, and she wouldn't give it up until she was 2.5. I tried and tried, and nothing I did would seperate her me.

My conclusion to nursing: Never again.

2. I will never puree another fruit or veggie again. I made this mistake with Sunny. When she was about 5 months, I started giving her puree's and I spent so much time making her food in my blender, then freezing it, that I was exhausted. She became picky and to this day is picky.

There is a method to solving picky eaters. It's called, "Baby Led Weaning" and I wished I would of done this with Sunny.  It involves introducing baby to normal human food at about 6 months. The food can be fed through a mesh or can be given in simple form in small, un-chockable peices.  Foods can include, avocado, a chicken thigh or leg that they can gnaw on, small pieces of rasperries, scrambled eggs, etc.  By introducing babies to this way to eating, studies have shown that picky eating is reduced significantly.


3. Start sleep training immediately. No baby will sleep with me again. This leads to more then one problem.

4. No more wasting money on baby shoes, until they start walking. They kick them off and lose them.

5. Have a diaper pail with a neutralizer and oder remover. Newborns go so often, and this will become a huge lifesaver.

6.  Don't use a baby bathtub. I wish I never wasted money on buying one. It is so much more work and not worth it.  Bathing baby in the kitchen sink saves your back and is so much easier.

7.  Don't worry about germs so much. With Sunny, I was paranoid about her coming in contact with germs. That's first baby syndrome for ya.  I would never put her on floor without a blanket and insisted she be in a playpen.

I don't think I will use a playpen again and I am certainly not opposed to baby scooting all over the carpet and playing with germy stuff on floor. The more germs, the better immunity for baby, seriously.

8. Get rid of all hand sanitizer.  I rarely use the stuff. Not only does it dry your hands out bad, but is it really necessary to use it all the time, or before holding baby. Ridiculous if you ask me.

9. Take baby out in the world after it's born.  When Sunny was born, I was literally afraid to take her out in the world for at least a month.  The sooner baby is held by friends and family and around it's natural environment, the better stimulation it will recieve, and may even sleep better at night.  Babies are not fragile or breakable. They actually enjoy interacting, staring at people and getting fresh air.

10.  The more relaxed you are when holding a newborn, the more relaxed a newborn will be.  With Sunny, I was so tense for the first month or so.  I was constantly wondering if I was holding her head and supporting her neck properly. I began to over-analyze everything. I simply was not relaxed.  In turn, Sunny absorbed that and felt un-relaxed as well.  Holding a baby in a relaxed position may take practice for some.

11. Stop being a helicopter mom.  I was and am still a bit that way with Sunny, but I blame that on her being my first.  I have gotten so much better now that Sunny is getting more independent and no longer needs me as much.

When I was a nursery worker, we had this sign on the door outside that said, "Your're children need a break from you, and you need a break from them. Please do not come inside unless absolutely necessary."

This is so true. I still notice from time to time a few moms who will not allow their child to stay in nursery alone, and insist on being in there with them.  My opinion on that is mom needs to relax  and learn to enjoy herself away from her child.

So here is my list I better remember.  I am sure I will think of more along the way.