Roasted Chicken

First I rinse and dry the chicken, being sure to remove the gizzards. Which in human means, the guts and neck. Set aside on a piece of parchment/wax paper. While it is "resting" I prepare my carrots and potatoes. I peel and cut the carrots into slices, about and inch thick. I wash the potatoes and chop then in for sections. The carrots take longer to cook so make them smaller. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

I stuff the chicken with one whole lemon, sliced in half. One whole garlic bulb, sliced in half, basically slicing each individual bulb in half. One whole onion quartered.

This is what it should look like when the bird is stuffed.

Next you put all the vegetables in the bottom of the pan. Then put the chicken on top. So this is what the chicken will look like when it is all stuffed and ready. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. And if you want a healthy dinner then at this point you put the chicken in the oven. But if you need some comfort food then do the next step!!!

So if you need some serious comfort you spread a cube of softened butter on top!! Then sprinkle salt and pepper on top. Now place in oven!

Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes, then drop the temperature to 350 degrees and bake for another 60 to 90 minutes. The potatoes and carrots should be fork tender. Remove the chicken from the pan and let rest for about 15 minutes before carving. I put my vegetables back in for this time. I like my potatoes and carrots really roasted!! This dinner is great served with home made bread.

Keeping Busy

I have 2 cute neighbors who have new babies. One was born on Christmas day and the other the 28th. Yipee!! I get to snuggle babies. So because I love them both and really need to stay busy so that I do not kill anyone while waiting for the cravings to go away, I made cute blankets. Well I made 1. The other I will save for tomorrow. Same concept, minky on one side, super cute cotton on the other, cute fabric to make binding with. All together, honestly it does not look like it should take me 4 hours to make. But it did, so is that more about me or the process, or the lack of caffeine? Either way I sorta love the colors on this blanket.

Farewell My Friend

Today marks 8 days with no caffeine. Can I get a Woot Woot? Anyone who has spent 5 minutes with me know how huge this is. I love Pepsi, I love the energy burst from all the caffeine and sugar. I love the taste. I need it with pizza and Mexican food. But...I have given it up. It seems to be sticking.

The truth is, this is hard. I have been grumpy and mean this week. Charlie being the devil told me that having gone 6 days with no caffeine I should drink one on the 7th day. EVIL!!! I think he was just a little afraid of me at that moment. Substituting was torture this week, 20 screaming kids...YIKES! So I have put Weight Watchers on hold for one more week. I really am determined to stick to this no caffeine goal. I have managed to get to the gym this week most days. I am putting my energy toward the most important goal this week. SURVIVAL!

For those friends who are behind me, not Charlie, thanks and here is your update.

Simple Sunday

John 3:16-19

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Remembering my Childhood

It all started with this pattern.

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My daughter collects American Girl dolls. She loves them. Every Birthday she frets over what to ask for then in the end she asks for another doll. Then Christmas comes and she asks Santa for another one. So She now has four. Yikes. I have to admit that I really don't mind. She plays house and puts their p.j.'s on them at night. So when I found this pattern I just had to make some clothes for her.

In keeping with my goals, I made this little outfit from fabric I had in the cupboard. Also, I find sewing quite relaxing. So I manage to stay Pepsi free while making them.

Cookie of the Week; with a twist!

This week the "cookie" I made was especially simple. It does not even have a name.

It is what you make when you are desperate and happen to have pretzels and rolos laying around. The basic idea was to unwrap the rolo and place it on top of the pretzel, being sure to spray the cookie sheet with a cooking spray first. Then "bake" the "cookie" for about 5 minutes at 300 degrees. After taking them out place a second pretzel on top of the rolo, which is now squishy and warm. Let cool about 5 minutes and enjoy!

This cookie was an effort to clear my home of extra Christmas Junk! I sorta bit off more then I could chew. No Pepsi/caffeine, weight watchers and up before 6am is really hard. Top that with a nasty cold, I won't mention names (Tara, Trevor, Cameron, Mitchell!) and keeping goals becomes really hard. So I made a decision. I would keep with the no caffeine this week, and add on one more each week. So this is really the last week of cookies at our home. Poor, Poor kids! Watch for the healthy family recipe of the week from now on!

A Brand New Year

This past year my family has been very blessed. We have enjoyed many fun and exciting adventures. Mostly simple little adventures but adventures none the less! For the coming year we have set a few family goals. I myself have set a few goals. Truth be told I am not great at keeping goals. These goals I have made are so important that really I can not stand to be flaky. I have decided that the best way to keep my goals is to share them out load...can you say SCARY!! OK in no particular order....

FAMILY GOALS

1. Establish a house of order....hhhmmmm neat and tidy? Sure..but more! We want to have a year supply of food we will actually eat. Set a routine to keep us from being over burdened with busy stuff! Make a home where the Spirit can reside...so that would mean less contention...softer replies from mom and dad; and less unkind words to and from siblings!

2. Right along with the first goal...we are trying to save more money....and to do that #1 is make do! Sometimes in this life we forget that it is OK to do without. We have shared a car for over a year...somehow we have survived!! Our children both have some fun opportunities this summer and we want to pay cash for them or not at all! YIKES!!

3. Be healthier...ride bikes as a family more...walk the dog as a family more...not eat so many super yummy cookies!! That one will be hard! And....no more caffeine! OH MY! Charlie and I knew it was not good for us, both swearing off from one time or another...but when the leaders of your church publish an article about it in the Ensign we decided to give it a little more effort!

FOR ME

1. I have always been heavy, I really don't like that and now I have high blood pressure. That is not good at all. So my goal is to go to the gym 5 days a week. I commit to walk at least 2 miles each day!! First and foremost the plan is to lower my blood pressure....next is to shrink my bottom!!!

2. No more PEPSI!! This one will be tough!! I know I can do it..it is just going to get ugly around here for a little while!! I drink way too much and well to go without it will help me reach my first goal.

3. Wake everyday at or before 6am...and read my scriptures, pray and workout before the kiddos wake!! That saying "if momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy" is too true in our home. And momma needs a little alone time! Right along with this is to go to bed earlier, everyone!! There is a reason there are all those little sayings about early to bed and early to rise..it is true, at least for me...so to bed before 10pm and up by 6am.

4. And just for fun....this year..I want to paint all 3 bathrooms...finish my laundry room and food supply rooms...triple the size of our veggie garden...and sew and scrapbook more....so to accomplish all this I have set rules for computer/TV time for myself....1 hour on the computer each day...and 1 hour of TV....hold on to your hats...of that 1 hour TV..no more crap..by that I mean...Desperate Housewives, Real Housewives of OC, Big Brother..or anything else that I can not watch with my kids in the room!! Thank goodness for Little House reruns!!

Some of these goals will be hard for me to keep and for our family...but 2009 is the year the MacQueens prioritize!!!