{Monday Meal Planning} Edition not sure this one counts

As I cooked through my meal plan last week, I realized I neglected to take the season into account.  It's typically cold and rainy for most of the year in Edinburgh, so soup, pot roast, anything baked in the oven works year round.  Well summer decided to (finally!) show up so, and I laughed as we sweated through eating pot roast and the madras chicken especially since the oven made our house feel like we were eating outside in Houston in August.

Oh wait.  I have no idea what that feels like because that would be crazy.

I thought of those of you in 100 degree heat and was jealous because it is much cooler in your house than mine because even though it was only in the upper 60s here, we don't have the modern miracle known as AC.

In addition to all of this, I scrapped my Thursday meal (pray for my baby portobello's!) because friends invited us to BBQ grill (I will hold onto my Texas lingo) last minute, so chicken fajita marinade was quickly made, chicken was marinated for a quarter of the time it was supposed to be and mushrooms, bell pepper and cherry tomatoes were skewered as fast as humanly possible so I could get out of my stifling flat and into the cool summer evening.

So Monday Meal Planning is still in it's trial and error phase which may or may not last it's whole lifetime.  Here are the tweaks for next week...

I will post my meal plan the week after I actually use it which does indeed mean that there will be no meal plan this week.  Sorry for those of you who were counting on not having to meal plan this week, but then again last week was my first edition, so unless you're brand new to the blog, you probably didn't hold your breath for this becoming a regular thing.  Next week I will post my plan from this week.  This way I can let you know what worked, what didn't, any adjustments I made to recipes, any last minute drop everything and BBQ because if there is blue sky in Edinburgh that's just what you do, and most importantly so you don't know who's coming to my flat for dinner each week and when we're not here for dinner because that's kinda creepy.  This even gives me the chance to post pictures with recipes...

if my camera is charged...

and if I remember.

Oh and I'm considering adding a grocery list after all.  We'll see.


Since I'm leaving your meal plan empty, here are a few of my secrets:

-- interesting side if you're cooking Mexican food (I am a big fan of rice which you will soon find out if I keep this weekly meal plan post going - seriously, if I had to eat one thing for the rest of my life, it would be rice)
-- love my friend, Elizabeth's website.  I'm using one of her recipes this week!
-- I've probably posted this before but I am OBSESSED with these cupcakes.
-- and you can't go wrong with Pioneer Woman.  Anyone who can make me excited about making zucchini is a cooking genius.
-- my chicken fajita marinade recipe:


Chicken Fajita Marinade ( can't remember where I got it - allrecipes.com maybe??)
4 servings

1/4 c beer
1/3 c lime juice
1 T EVOO
3 garlic cloves, crushed and minced
1 T brown sugar
1 T Worchestershire
1 T cilantro, minced (I left this out cause we didn't have any in the fridge.  Shocking, I know - I couldn't believe it either)
1/2 cumin
salt

Throw it all in a ziplock with 4 chicken breasts and marinate in fridge for 2 hours


Have a great week y'all!

Avery's 2nd month

I know...I'm on a blog roll!  Gotta get caught up with the month to month photos now that our girl is 5 months old today! Love you, sweet Avery Girl!

Avery's 2 month milestones:

first passport
first time flying
first time visiting another country (the USA - this is weird to me)
first time meeting her grandpas and the rest of her aunts and uncles
first smile
first laugh
first coo
sleeping from 8:30 pm to 7 am - PTL!

Daddy's birthday lunch - today I begin my second month of life

tummy time

love my bunny towel Aunt Susu!

the day my passport came confirming our trip to the States -
this ridiculously small onesie is how we broke the news to the grandparents

little nugget!

practicing my karate moves

I can sleep anywhere!

British baby

Seth isn't so cooperative during photos anymore...

Happy Girl

Thank you for my cute onesie Aunt Erin!

My biggest baby gift

my pensive look

Love the smirk

See?  Anywhere!

2 month photo shoot by Sarah

Avery's 1st month

So I'm a little behind on this considering Avery turns 5 months old in two days, but better late than never.  I am determined to document my kids' first year month to month photos better.  (Sorry Seth)


Avery's 1st month milestones:

meeting my grandmas: Tutu and Mia
meeting Uncle Mark and Aunt Saray
first Easter
first trip to church
sleeping from 8:30 pm to 4:30 am (started this right at 4 weeks old)

At the Hospital:

Very first photo minutes after being born

First photo with mom

First St. Patrick's Day

First car ride

Newborn Photo Shoot:

Tutu's Visit:

With Tutu and big brother Seth

Meeting Uncle Mark and Aunt Saray for the first time

Daddy already a pro at juggling two

3 generations

Mia's Visit:

With Mia and Seth

My first bath

Swaddle?  Who needs a swaddle?

Snuggling with Daddy

First Easter

One Month Photo Shoot:

{Recipes} Madras Chicken

OK, this is my new favorite meal to make my family.  Not only is it easy, it is also delicious!  The recipe comes from my dear friend, Liz, who we miss like crazy here in Edinburgh, but my family is loving living in her former flat (we moved last month - pictures to come)!

I wish I had photos to go with this recipe, but I'm not making it till tomorrow night and I promised to post it today!

Madras Chicken

6 boneless chicken breasts, cubed

1/3 cup oil (I use olive though original recipe calls for vegetable I think)

2 TBS butter

1 tsp salt

1 small onion minced

1 1/2 tsp curry powder

I jar chutney ( about 10 oz though I use two jars cause we like it really saucy! I prefer mango chutney and Taylor prefers apple/pear.  Any will do!)

Make sauce over medium heat in saucepan, once it boils, pour over chicken and refrigerate 30 min or longer.  Then you can broil, grill or bake it - I put it in the oven at 400 degrees F for 10-15 min or until chicken is no longer pink in the center. Serve over rice (preferably basmati).

I will add photos to this tomorrow (if I remember to charge my camera).  As for now, here is a cute pic of Seth and Caroline while we were in the Highlands.

Pretty much impossible to get two 2 year olds both looking at the camera!